Harry and Ron managed to slip into a crowd of students before meeting Hermione, and she was thankfully unaware of their venture of skipping Divination. Ron was continuously rubbing his neck where Harry had left his mark, which made Harry grin inwardly, people were definitely noticing. At lunch, Fred and George badgered Ron repeatedly about who it was.

"Whoever she is," George said, giving up the efforts, "It's odd she's si secretive when she's clearly possessive."

"What makes you say that?" Ron asked.

"Always leaving hickey's where people can see them," Fred replied simply.

Ron shrugged but smiled slightly. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued eating, being particularly quiet. Harry joined her silence. It made him feel odd being talked about without people knowing they were talking about him. And being referred to as "she." He wondered if Ron would ever tell his brothers.

[][][][][][][]

That night Harry and Ron sat in the corner of their dormitory with Seamus and Dean. Neville was still downstairs getting help with his homework from Hermione, who seemed slightly annoyed with Ron.

"So is it Lavender?" Seamus asked.

Ron sighed heavily.

"No, it's not Lavender," he admitted tiredly.

"I didn't think so," Seamus laughed, "We've kissed, and she wasn't much of a biter." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Neither is Parvarti. Is it a Gryffindor?"

"Maybe," Ron answered. He seemed to be getting annoyed.

"You must know," Dean said to Harry.

"Yep," Harry answered with a grin, knowing it would bother Dean and Seamus, and he was right, they both groaned in annoyance which made him and Ron laugh.

When they went to bed, Harry and Ron were sitting up staring at each other as the others fell asleep.

"You need to get some sleep," Harry said from across the room, "You had a pretty busy day." He smirked.

[][][][][][][]

The match against Slytherin was not as easily won as the one against Hufflepuff. Ron seemed a target for every Bludger and managed to avoid all of them, however it caused him to miss a few goals. Draco, though a vigilant Seeker, was so amused by watching Ron avoiding Bludgers that Ginny caught the Snitch, winning the match 250 to 200.

"You were great," Harry said, joining the team in the locker rooms as they celebrated.

"I've been better," Ron grumbled, sitting heavily on a bench and pulling off his robes, the bruising on his arm was almost gone, and Harry noticed there was a small mark underneath his collarbone where he had bitten him.

"Slytherin is a good team," Harry told him, joining him on the bench, "And they were out to get you. You still won."

Ron stretched and rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah," he said with a yawn, "Jeez, I'm beat. Wanna go for a walk? I want to avoid the party that's probably in the common room."

"Sure," Harry said as the team began to leave the locker room. Ron stood and began to grab his clothes. Then paused and looked at Harry with a smile.

"You're staring," he said with a laugh.

They were alone now, and Harry replied,

"I like looking at you." It was true. Quidditch worked in Ron's favor, and he was incredibly fit. His abs were taut, and muscles rippled across all his limbs.

"Oh," Ron said, a flush creeping up his neck and into his face. He pulled his shirt on and waited for Harry to stand. When he did, Ron stepped over to him. "I really like you," he said quietly.

"I really like you, too," Harry responded, touching Ron's arm gently.

"I was thinking," Ron said, clearing his throat, "About maybe…maybe telling Fred and George. About…us."

Harry dropped his hand, freezing.

"But I don't know what I'd tell them," Ron continued, he was stating at the ground, "Like…I don't know if this is a relationship or…just physical you know?" He finally looked up. "So…is it?" he sounded uncertain.

"I don't know," Harry admitted. A weird sensation was settling in the pit of his stomach. Almost like a sense of dread. He felt the moment he had been considering for weeks was finally about to happen. "If you told them, everyone is bound to find out."

"Maybe," Ron said quietly, "I just can't keep hiding like this. And…they're my brothers. And they like you. And…maybe it's time they know…about me."

"About you?" Harry asked, frowning.

"That I'm…gay," Ron replied.

"Are you?" Harry asked, he thought it was a dumb question but he was confused. Harry had always heard Ron joking about girls, or staring at them, or how jealous Ron had been of Krum. But then, on the other hand, Ron had been very drawn to Krum, very awkward with girls. Had mentioned when he thought another guy wad handsome or good looking.

"Well I like kissing you," Ron said, "And…the other stuff. And…I'm in love with you. So, probably." He smiled tentatively. "Are you?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted, he always assumed he liked girls, and he had liked kissing Cho, but it was nothing like with Ron, "I think…maybe both."

"So," Ron said, "Are we…together?"

Harry's heart was pounding loudly in his head. He couldn't let this get out. But was it worth losing Ron? Throwing all this away? His only comfort, and security, just gone? But if it got out, everyone would know. Would know he was shagging his best friend. A guy. A headline in the Daily Prophet: Harry Potter, Gay.

"Ron…" Harry said slowly, it hurt to look at him, "I can't."

Ron's face fell.

"It just…it can't get out…" Harry said, he stepped forward but Ron stepped back, hitting the wall behind him, "And maybe, maybe we should stop." The pounding in his ears stopped, and a silence washed over them like a sheet of ice.

"Stop?" Ron repeated, his voice small and childish. "I don't have to tell them. It was just a thought…"

"It's not that," Harry muttered, he could tell that he was crushing Ron right now, but he had to finish what he started.

"You didn't mean it, did you?" Ron asked, his voice was shaking and his eyes were shiny. "You said you loved me but…you didn't mean it."

"I…no. I just…I didn't know what to say."

Please don't cry, he thought painfully, but he could see tears in the corners of Ron's eyes. Ron wasn't saying anything. A small tear fell from his eye and he quickly wiped it away.

"You used me," Ron whispered.

"Ron," Harry said, stepping forward again, "Please-"

"Get away from me," Ron said, moving away from the wall and toward the door.

Harry followed him, desperate to try and get Ron to understand. To listen to him. When they were both on the grounds Harry got into stride with Ron and grabbed his arm, stopping him, Ron tore his arm away.

"Don't touch me," he snapped.

"Oi!" a voice called, "What's going on?"

Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were approaching quickly.

"Ron, please," Harry said, "Let's talk, I can explain."

Another tear had fallen from Ron's eye and he didn't wipe it away. Fred and George were at his side now, looking very confused.

"What's going on?" Fred repeated, looking from Harry to Ron, then looking very concerned to see his little brother in such a state, "Ron? What is going on? Are you okay?"

George looked at Harry.

"What happened?" He asked.

"We just…" Harry answered nervously, "Had an argument."

"You," Ron said slowly in a choked, shaking voice, looking Harry directly in the eye, "Are the worst person I have ever met."

All the air seemed to rush out of Harry's lungs. He stood, frozen to the spot.

"Ron," Fred said, grabbing his brothers shoulder.

"Just get him away from me," Ron said, turning away from Harry.

George blinked, and a knowing expression settled on his voice. His jaw dropped and he looked at Fred, who still looked confused. "No…" George murmured slowly under his breath.

"Look, we need to talk," Harry said, he made to step forward but George suddenly stepped between him and Ron.

"Go away," he said firmly, "He told you to leave him alone so just…do that."

"What is going on?" Fred asked in exasperation. A few feet away Lee Jordan looked just as confused.

"Let's go," George said in response, and he was looking at Harry with an expression he never had before: disgust. It was as though he had just figured out everything in a matter of seconds.

Flanking either side of Ron, they started to walk away, Lee joining them, looking over his shoulder at Harry.

Harry could not move. His entire life had just been destroyed, and it was his fault.

[][][][][][][]

"Thank God!" Hermione cried when she saw Harry return to the common room a few hours later, "Harry, what on earth is going on? Why was Ron so upset? No one is telling me anything." She glanced over to a corner where Fred, George, Lee, and Ginny were sitting. They looked angry. Ron was no where to be seen.

"Where is he?" Harry asked in a low voice, following Hermione to a couch.

"The dormitory I expect," Hermione replied, "They all went up but he never came back."

"Okay," Harry said with a sigh, he ran a shaking hand through his hair then continued, "I'll tell you everything."

Several minutes later, Hermione was staring at Harry with a shocked expression and tears in her eyes.

"You and Ron?" she asked, "It's been you…this whole time."

Harry nodded.

"You broke up with him," Hermione whispered, and Harry nodded again. "He was in love with you." Harry sighed. "You didn't love him."

"I don't know," Harry muttered, "But.. I really hurt him. And that's why they're mad. He must have told them." Harry looked over to the corner, the group was staring at Harry. "I really hurt him, Hermione. And I don't think I can fix it."

[][][][][][][]

The next morning Harry did not get out of bed until he heard Ron get up and leave. Ron had been in bed with guys hangings closed the night before. And Harry supposed the only thing he could do right now, was leave Ron alone.

When he knew Ron was gone Harry got ready and headed down the stairs. Hermione was waiting for him.

"I can't exactly say I'm siding with you on this," she said evenly, "But you're still my best friend, and Ron's got his family."

"I don't deserve anyone on my side," Harry replied.

"No. You don't." a voice behind them snapped. Harry and Hermione turned around and were facing Ginny, who looked very angry.

"How dare you?" Ginny spat, "You're a real ass, Harry. I don't care what you're going through. Ron has always been there for you. And then you…you do this to him? How could you?"

"Easy, Gin." Fred and George had arrived, George placed a hand on his sisters shoulder. "He's not worth it. Let's go."

It was a Hogsmeade weekend, thankfully, so Harry did not have to endure trying to be in class with Ron. He and Hermione wandered through the town, avoiding all Ron-related topics. The Weasley siblings were finding shelter from the dreary weather in the Three Broomsticks, sipping on foaming Butterbeers. Harry caught sight of Ron through a window.

"He looks awful," Harry sighed, a pang shooting through him.

"You really care about him," Hermione said gently, "Why did you end it? It doesn't seem like you really wanted to."

"I couldn't let it get out," Harry said as they walked on, "I..I don't even know if I'm gay. I think it was just…Ron. It felt right with him."

Hermione stopped walking and stared at him.

"You love him," she said softly, "I can tell. You really do."

Harry took a deep breath. He did. He actually did. All those strange feelings he had felt for the past several weeks. The fluttering in his stomach. The possessiveness. The warm feeling he got when Ron touched him. The electricity when they kissed. The fear when he didn't know where Ron was.

"I do," he said, "I love Ron."

[][][][][][][]

Harry and Hermione sat at a table in the common room that night. The Weasley's and Lee Jordan sat at another table across the room. Every once in a while Harry glanced over, but none of them looked back at him.

"Harry just talk to him," Hermione whispered, "You both have things to say."

"You don't understand," Harry said, "He wasn't wrong. I used him. I made him…I didn't mean it the first time I told him I loved him. I just didn't want to lose him. And then…I said it because I didn't want him to walk away from me. I used him, to make me feel better. I wanted him to only want me. To love me, even when I didn't love him back. I don't know why I did it. But I hurt him. He doesn't need me back in his life."

Hermione looked pained.

"I'm a horrible person," Harry said, "He deserves better."

"You can't both go on like this," Hermione replied, "You're both my friends. You both love each other."

"Not anymore," Harry said.

Later, Harry let Ron go upstairs first. He followed shortly after, feeling the twins glaring at him. Harry walked into the dorm, and saw they were alone. Ron looked at him, sadness in his eyes. But Harry had to say something.

"Do you hate me?" He asked softly.

"Sometimes," Ron replied quietly, bunching up a shirt in his hands.

Harry walked over and Ron didn't move. He put his hand on Ron's arm and felt that he was absolutely shaking.

"I miss you," Harry whispered, running his hand down Ron's arm and grabbing his hand, "And…I need to talk to you."

Ron looked up, meeting Harry's eyes.

"It's always about what you need," he said sadly, "I…I don't have anything left to give you."

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered, grabbing Ron's other hand, "But…can we just talk?"

The door opened, Harry dropped Ron's hands. Fred and George walked in.

"Ten feet," George said, stepping between them.

"I just want to talk," Harry said pleasingly, but he stepped back, "For a minute."

Fred was with Ron, his arms crossed.

"Look, Harry," George said, "I like you. I always have. But…Ron told us everything. And…you hurt my brother. And that's unforgivable. At least until he tells us otherwise. So, please, leave him alone."

Harry nodded grimly, and turned away. He listened to Fred and George murmuring to Ron, and eventually they left. Nothing else to do, Harry got into bed and pulled the hangings shut.