Chapter Three
Bed and Breakfast
He lay in the bed for a moment longer gazing at Ron and their entwined position. Lying with him had been so comfortable that Harry marvelled at how long it had taken him to notice. Carefully, quietly, slowly, he began to un-entangle himself and get up. Now he stared at Ron, still peacefully sleeping, lying on his back, slightly turned towards his right side.
It seemed odd that in seven years, after too many adventures and so much time spent together, he had never really looked at Ron before. He had always just been Ron; big feet, tall and gangling. However, now that he was looking at him, undressed and asleep, Harry noticed that Ron was indeed quite a nice looking young man. He had grown to have a rather pleasant face and despite not being extremely athletic had a sturdy yet smooth frame.
Thinking how awkward it might look if Ron were to wake up and find him staring at him, Harry went to the bathroom, feeling oddly aware of his body. He returned to the bedroom and dressed, occasionally glancing over at Ron still sleeping. After dressing, he went into the sitting room.
The house elves must have been in overnight as the cupboard was replenished and the table set for breakfast. The bags they had brought with them had been fully unpacked and sorted so that it would be easy to put clothes and other items away. Seen in the glow of midmorning light, the room was quite cheery, without the usual assortment of wizard world decorations - no moving suits of armour or paintings waving back at him. Just a simple nicely furnished little room that invited one to relax.
He went to the door and looked outside. The sun was lazily moving towards its peak. Cotton-like clouds also graced the sky, giving the morning a sunny yet pleasantly colourful appearance. The meadow around the Retreat House was grassy and had a bit of a roll to it. The trees at some distance also looked warm and friendly. Harry wondered whether there were any restrictions on exploring them.
He crossed over to the side of the meadow fronting the lake. The water looked warm with a smooth calm surface. There certainly didn't appear to be any giant squid or merpeople to contend with. "One way or the other," Harry thought, "I've got to have a swim today."
When he returned to the Retreat House Ron was just coming out of the bedroom. Harry noticed that he looked still a bit sleepy. He was also aware that he was watching Ron's movements a little more attentively than usual.
"Morning!" Harry cheered.
"Oh g' morning," Ron replied with a yawn.
"Sleep well?"
"Yeah. Very well," he replied stretching. "That bed'll do, alright. Can't remember when a good night's sleep was so comfortable."
Harry gave him a glance before assuring himself that Ron truly had no clue they had snuggled in their sleep. He decided that it would most likely embarrass Ron to know about it so he didn't mention it.
Instead, they treated themselves to a hearty breakfast. Like the Great Room at Hogwarts, the plates on the table magically filled themselves with appropriate breakfast fare and Harry and Ron enjoyed a tasty meal.
"So what do you want to do today?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. A walk in the woods might be nice, if it's allowed."
"Dobby didn't mention anything about that."
"Fancy a game of chess later?"
"Yes, that would be nice."
That ate on for a few minutes in silence.
Without looking up, Harry casually commented, "I expect I'd also want a swim in that lake sometime."
Ron went a bit pink.
"Harry, I'm really sorry about not bringing the swim suits. No one mentioned anything about a lake."
"Don't worry about it," Harry smiled reassuringly.
They had finished breakfast and were still idly chatting as the remains of the food disappeared from their plates. As he leant back in his chair Harry once more surveyed the room. For the first time he noticed that away in the back corner near the fireplace was a small table.
He walked over to it and saw a piece of parchment, quill and ink.
The parchment had a note written on it.
Bed and Breakfast
He lay in the bed for a moment longer gazing at Ron and their entwined position. Lying with him had been so comfortable that Harry marvelled at how long it had taken him to notice. Carefully, quietly, slowly, he began to un-entangle himself and get up. Now he stared at Ron, still peacefully sleeping, lying on his back, slightly turned towards his right side.
It seemed odd that in seven years, after too many adventures and so much time spent together, he had never really looked at Ron before. He had always just been Ron; big feet, tall and gangling. However, now that he was looking at him, undressed and asleep, Harry noticed that Ron was indeed quite a nice looking young man. He had grown to have a rather pleasant face and despite not being extremely athletic had a sturdy yet smooth frame.
Thinking how awkward it might look if Ron were to wake up and find him staring at him, Harry went to the bathroom, feeling oddly aware of his body. He returned to the bedroom and dressed, occasionally glancing over at Ron still sleeping. After dressing, he went into the sitting room.
The house elves must have been in overnight as the cupboard was replenished and the table set for breakfast. The bags they had brought with them had been fully unpacked and sorted so that it would be easy to put clothes and other items away. Seen in the glow of midmorning light, the room was quite cheery, without the usual assortment of wizard world decorations - no moving suits of armour or paintings waving back at him. Just a simple nicely furnished little room that invited one to relax.
He went to the door and looked outside. The sun was lazily moving towards its peak. Cotton-like clouds also graced the sky, giving the morning a sunny yet pleasantly colourful appearance. The meadow around the Retreat House was grassy and had a bit of a roll to it. The trees at some distance also looked warm and friendly. Harry wondered whether there were any restrictions on exploring them.
He crossed over to the side of the meadow fronting the lake. The water looked warm with a smooth calm surface. There certainly didn't appear to be any giant squid or merpeople to contend with. "One way or the other," Harry thought, "I've got to have a swim today."
When he returned to the Retreat House Ron was just coming out of the bedroom. Harry noticed that he looked still a bit sleepy. He was also aware that he was watching Ron's movements a little more attentively than usual.
"Morning!" Harry cheered.
"Oh g' morning," Ron replied with a yawn.
"Sleep well?"
"Yeah. Very well," he replied stretching. "That bed'll do, alright. Can't remember when a good night's sleep was so comfortable."
Harry gave him a glance before assuring himself that Ron truly had no clue they had snuggled in their sleep. He decided that it would most likely embarrass Ron to know about it so he didn't mention it.
Instead, they treated themselves to a hearty breakfast. Like the Great Room at Hogwarts, the plates on the table magically filled themselves with appropriate breakfast fare and Harry and Ron enjoyed a tasty meal.
"So what do you want to do today?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. A walk in the woods might be nice, if it's allowed."
"Dobby didn't mention anything about that."
"Fancy a game of chess later?"
"Yes, that would be nice."
That ate on for a few minutes in silence.
Without looking up, Harry casually commented, "I expect I'd also want a swim in that lake sometime."
Ron went a bit pink.
"Harry, I'm really sorry about not bringing the swim suits. No one mentioned anything about a lake."
"Don't worry about it," Harry smiled reassuringly.
They had finished breakfast and were still idly chatting as the remains of the food disappeared from their plates. As he leant back in his chair Harry once more surveyed the room. For the first time he noticed that away in the back corner near the fireplace was a small table.
He walked over to it and saw a piece of parchment, quill and ink.
The parchment had a note written on it.