Chapter Six
On the Surface
"It's Ginny!"
"Huh?" Harry was startled back to reality.
"Course, it's Ginny. Who else could it be?" Ron's expression seemed at once superior and somehow almost coy.
"Um, yeah. Ginny," Harry stumbled, quickly adding, "But like I said it could never work out."
"Too right," Ron agreed. "She had that tremendous crush on you and she's my sister and all, but really she's not for you."
For a moment Harry wondered if he meant this in a protective big-brother sort of way. But staring into his eyes he felt confident that Ron had only been speaking matter-of-factly.
Ron excused himself and temporarily left the room.
Somehow this conversation had set Harry's mind on a train of thought he didn't understand. Maybe it was his nerves. Maybe all the stress of finally defeating Voldemort had been more than he realised. Why was he feeling so tingly today? Why did discussing girls with Ron make him so nervous? He was feeling embarrassed and he didn't know why. Something was going on inside him and he didn't know how to deal with it. All he knew was that if he talked about it with Ron he was sure it could only lead to even more embarrassment.
When Ron returned Harry tried to deal with his confusion by changing the subject. This seemed to work successfully. Within a few minutes they were talking about Quidditch and who would win the next World Cup. This conversation drifted into a silly one about Cornelius Fudge and what a buffoon he had been. Ron could be quite the mimic when he wanted to be, and he kept uttering silly Fudge-like statements that had them both in stitches.
By late afternoon, Harry had forgotten his earlier embarrassment. Feeling his old self again he became restless.
"Want to have a swim before dinner?" he asked during a lull in the conversation.
Now it was Ron's turn to go pink. Harry noted this as being unusual.
"Without swim trunks?" Ron stammered.
"You don't have to worry about anyone seeing you. It's just the two of us here, and we know now that Hermione won't be arriving for days. No one else can come here. It'll be alright."
Ron still looked hesitant.
"Not chicken are you?" Harry challenged with a grin.
That did the trick. Without another word Ron began to take his shoes off. Harry turned to the bedroom for a couple of towels. When he returned Ron was down to his underwear. Harry handed one of the towels to him and also stripped down.
They walked outside the House and turned towards the lake. The early evening sun was still fairly high in the sky. It was slightly cooler than earlier in the day, but not cold. The breeze had lightened up considerably and the water was smooth and inviting.
Standing near the edge of the water they both stared out at the lake. For a moment it almost seemed they'd just stand there and return to the Retreat House. Then Ron threw aside his towel and removed his undershirt and shorts. He walked purposefully into the water a few yards and began to swim. Harry did the same and in seconds had joined him in the water.
True to the message from the Management, the lake was quite nice. The temperature was pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold. The water was clear, clean and refreshing. He could clearly see the bottom, which was smooth and free of debris. He swam out into the middle of the lake, unconcerned about tiring. Ron was drifting around enjoying himself.
Harry had never had much practice at swimming. The Dursleys had never set him up for lessons. The first real swim he had was during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He remembered the murkiness and chill of the water at Hogwarts. He remembered the lake grass and the merpeople he had encountered. At that time he had chewed some gillyweed Dobby had given him, which temporarily gave him gills so he could survive underwater. His task was to save what he loved most, which had been Ron. Now as he swam about and lay on his back drifting on the surface of the water, Harry was remembering again how worried he had been.
Suddenly, it struck him to wonder why Ron had been chosen for him to rescue. Cedric Diggory had Cho, Viktor Krum had Hermione. Either could have been chosen for Harry; Hermione was a dear friend, and at the time Harry had a great crush on Cho. Fleur had her sister, but being that she was half-Veela it made sense only a Veela could truly love a Veela. But why Ron?
It had been three years ago. Harry felt suddenly embarrassed. How had they chosen Ron? Had the Goblet spit out their names? What did it mean that Ron had been chosen the one for Harry to save?
He was pondering all this and thinking incoherent thoughts.
"Hey, up periscope!" Harry looked around and realised that Ron had swum near him. He was watching Harry drifting on his back in the water and was laughing. Harry blushed and moved to a sort of 'sitting-swimming' position. Ron laughed and kicked water in his face as he turned around in the water.
"Race you to shore!" he shouted and they both started swimming.
Harry was determined that this time he'd beat Ron, who had managed a good head start before challenging him to race. He stroked and kicked his legs as hard as he could. Ron was ahead of him and a few feet to one side. He saw him lunging forward with an ease that made Harry wonder at how elegant a swimmer he was. Ron was going to win; there was no way around it.
"On to the House!" Harry shouted as he neared the shore. Ron was still in the lead but this would at least give him the chance to win the second part of the race. He knew he could outrun him. Still Ron's lead on emerging from the lake was a good one. He almost flew out of the water, slowing only to grab his towel and underwear, which he held in his hands as he dashed for the Retreat House.
Harry also jumped from the lake. Ron had lost some of his lead by slowing down to pick up his things. Harry wouldn't make the same mistake. Dripping and feeling the breeze to be somewhat colder now that he was out of the water, Harry ran forward at breakneck speed for the House. Ron was still in the lead but Harry was gaining. He ran slightly to the left so he could get around him. Ron was only a few feet ahead of him now. Harry was going to win!
Just as he was about to pass him, Ron took a step to the left, Harry's leg tripped up against Ron's, and they both tumbled to the ground. They fell onto the soft grass one on top of the other. They lay there panting. Harry had a stitch in his side as he rolled over on his back.
For the second time today he found himself lying with Ron, naked with arms and legs intertwined. They lay there for a few minutes catching their breath. As Ron shifted his position and Harry felt his leg rub against him, he simply thought how much he liked it.
The thought didn't come as a revelation. Perhaps because he had been almost subconsciously thinking about Ron all day he now found himself simply living the moment and his thoughts came with an immediacy that didn't bear further reflection. It just felt good to feel Ron's skin touching his. Harry was so completely relaxed that he didn't even surprise himself when he leaned over and playfully lay his arm on Ron's chest, his hand caressing his neck.
"Umm, what was that, 'the Weasley Feint'?" He asked in a laughing sarcastic tone.
Ron chuckled. "Had to tackle me at all costs, eh? That's a Yellow Card, that is!"
"Yellow Card!" Harry laughed. "How could I avoid it when those big feet of yours got in my way!"
"Can't help it," Ron smiled devilishly glancing down at himself. "I've just always had big feet and all."
They were still smiling. They were also still looking deeply in each other's eyes. There was a moment of silence punctuated only by the light breeze. Then slowly Ron stood, taking up his underwear and towel.
"Better get ready for dinner, eh?" He said while offering Harry a hand up. Harry stood and Ron motioned behind them. "Don't forget your things."
Harry turned around to collect his underwear and towel. As he stepped towards them, Ron slapped him smartly on the bottom and ran to the door of the Retreat House.
"Guess the `Weasley Feint' worked after all, didn't it?" He gleamed as he disappeared inside.
Harry picked up his things and turned towards the House. As he walked forward he smiled to himself. "I love Ron so much," he thought.
And then as he opened the door to the House it struck him to wonder, "Am I in love with Ron?"
On the Surface
"It's Ginny!"
"Huh?" Harry was startled back to reality.
"Course, it's Ginny. Who else could it be?" Ron's expression seemed at once superior and somehow almost coy.
"Um, yeah. Ginny," Harry stumbled, quickly adding, "But like I said it could never work out."
"Too right," Ron agreed. "She had that tremendous crush on you and she's my sister and all, but really she's not for you."
For a moment Harry wondered if he meant this in a protective big-brother sort of way. But staring into his eyes he felt confident that Ron had only been speaking matter-of-factly.
Ron excused himself and temporarily left the room.
Somehow this conversation had set Harry's mind on a train of thought he didn't understand. Maybe it was his nerves. Maybe all the stress of finally defeating Voldemort had been more than he realised. Why was he feeling so tingly today? Why did discussing girls with Ron make him so nervous? He was feeling embarrassed and he didn't know why. Something was going on inside him and he didn't know how to deal with it. All he knew was that if he talked about it with Ron he was sure it could only lead to even more embarrassment.
When Ron returned Harry tried to deal with his confusion by changing the subject. This seemed to work successfully. Within a few minutes they were talking about Quidditch and who would win the next World Cup. This conversation drifted into a silly one about Cornelius Fudge and what a buffoon he had been. Ron could be quite the mimic when he wanted to be, and he kept uttering silly Fudge-like statements that had them both in stitches.
By late afternoon, Harry had forgotten his earlier embarrassment. Feeling his old self again he became restless.
"Want to have a swim before dinner?" he asked during a lull in the conversation.
Now it was Ron's turn to go pink. Harry noted this as being unusual.
"Without swim trunks?" Ron stammered.
"You don't have to worry about anyone seeing you. It's just the two of us here, and we know now that Hermione won't be arriving for days. No one else can come here. It'll be alright."
Ron still looked hesitant.
"Not chicken are you?" Harry challenged with a grin.
That did the trick. Without another word Ron began to take his shoes off. Harry turned to the bedroom for a couple of towels. When he returned Ron was down to his underwear. Harry handed one of the towels to him and also stripped down.
They walked outside the House and turned towards the lake. The early evening sun was still fairly high in the sky. It was slightly cooler than earlier in the day, but not cold. The breeze had lightened up considerably and the water was smooth and inviting.
Standing near the edge of the water they both stared out at the lake. For a moment it almost seemed they'd just stand there and return to the Retreat House. Then Ron threw aside his towel and removed his undershirt and shorts. He walked purposefully into the water a few yards and began to swim. Harry did the same and in seconds had joined him in the water.
True to the message from the Management, the lake was quite nice. The temperature was pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold. The water was clear, clean and refreshing. He could clearly see the bottom, which was smooth and free of debris. He swam out into the middle of the lake, unconcerned about tiring. Ron was drifting around enjoying himself.
Harry had never had much practice at swimming. The Dursleys had never set him up for lessons. The first real swim he had was during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He remembered the murkiness and chill of the water at Hogwarts. He remembered the lake grass and the merpeople he had encountered. At that time he had chewed some gillyweed Dobby had given him, which temporarily gave him gills so he could survive underwater. His task was to save what he loved most, which had been Ron. Now as he swam about and lay on his back drifting on the surface of the water, Harry was remembering again how worried he had been.
Suddenly, it struck him to wonder why Ron had been chosen for him to rescue. Cedric Diggory had Cho, Viktor Krum had Hermione. Either could have been chosen for Harry; Hermione was a dear friend, and at the time Harry had a great crush on Cho. Fleur had her sister, but being that she was half-Veela it made sense only a Veela could truly love a Veela. But why Ron?
It had been three years ago. Harry felt suddenly embarrassed. How had they chosen Ron? Had the Goblet spit out their names? What did it mean that Ron had been chosen the one for Harry to save?
He was pondering all this and thinking incoherent thoughts.
"Hey, up periscope!" Harry looked around and realised that Ron had swum near him. He was watching Harry drifting on his back in the water and was laughing. Harry blushed and moved to a sort of 'sitting-swimming' position. Ron laughed and kicked water in his face as he turned around in the water.
"Race you to shore!" he shouted and they both started swimming.
Harry was determined that this time he'd beat Ron, who had managed a good head start before challenging him to race. He stroked and kicked his legs as hard as he could. Ron was ahead of him and a few feet to one side. He saw him lunging forward with an ease that made Harry wonder at how elegant a swimmer he was. Ron was going to win; there was no way around it.
"On to the House!" Harry shouted as he neared the shore. Ron was still in the lead but this would at least give him the chance to win the second part of the race. He knew he could outrun him. Still Ron's lead on emerging from the lake was a good one. He almost flew out of the water, slowing only to grab his towel and underwear, which he held in his hands as he dashed for the Retreat House.
Harry also jumped from the lake. Ron had lost some of his lead by slowing down to pick up his things. Harry wouldn't make the same mistake. Dripping and feeling the breeze to be somewhat colder now that he was out of the water, Harry ran forward at breakneck speed for the House. Ron was still in the lead but Harry was gaining. He ran slightly to the left so he could get around him. Ron was only a few feet ahead of him now. Harry was going to win!
Just as he was about to pass him, Ron took a step to the left, Harry's leg tripped up against Ron's, and they both tumbled to the ground. They fell onto the soft grass one on top of the other. They lay there panting. Harry had a stitch in his side as he rolled over on his back.
For the second time today he found himself lying with Ron, naked with arms and legs intertwined. They lay there for a few minutes catching their breath. As Ron shifted his position and Harry felt his leg rub against him, he simply thought how much he liked it.
The thought didn't come as a revelation. Perhaps because he had been almost subconsciously thinking about Ron all day he now found himself simply living the moment and his thoughts came with an immediacy that didn't bear further reflection. It just felt good to feel Ron's skin touching his. Harry was so completely relaxed that he didn't even surprise himself when he leaned over and playfully lay his arm on Ron's chest, his hand caressing his neck.
"Umm, what was that, 'the Weasley Feint'?" He asked in a laughing sarcastic tone.
Ron chuckled. "Had to tackle me at all costs, eh? That's a Yellow Card, that is!"
"Yellow Card!" Harry laughed. "How could I avoid it when those big feet of yours got in my way!"
"Can't help it," Ron smiled devilishly glancing down at himself. "I've just always had big feet and all."
They were still smiling. They were also still looking deeply in each other's eyes. There was a moment of silence punctuated only by the light breeze. Then slowly Ron stood, taking up his underwear and towel.
"Better get ready for dinner, eh?" He said while offering Harry a hand up. Harry stood and Ron motioned behind them. "Don't forget your things."
Harry turned around to collect his underwear and towel. As he stepped towards them, Ron slapped him smartly on the bottom and ran to the door of the Retreat House.
"Guess the `Weasley Feint' worked after all, didn't it?" He gleamed as he disappeared inside.
Harry picked up his things and turned towards the House. As he walked forward he smiled to himself. "I love Ron so much," he thought.
And then as he opened the door to the House it struck him to wonder, "Am I in love with Ron?"