Here's a special interlude from a different character! I hope it fits in the story OK. Thanks to all my reviewers!
~*~
21. Harry's Surprise
-Harry-
Ever since Ron had told him and Hermione about being gay, Harry had been thinking about that. It made him a little uncomfortable, but he tried not to show that. Because Ron was still his friend, no matter what. But Harry couldn't help being just a little bit freaked out that he knew someone who was gay.
Hermione told Harry that one out of every ten Hogwarts students and teachers could be gay. That made Harry even more uncomfortable. He kept looking at everyone he saw and wondering if they were gay.
Harry didn't like feeling like this. In fact, he felt guilty about it. He hoped that the uncomfortable feelings would go away soon and things would be back to normal.
Ron had seemed much more relaxed since he'd told his secret. But Harry couldn't help but think that Ron still had another secret. He said that he didn't have a boyfriend, but Harry had noticed Ron smiling a lot for no good reason. Also, he went out almost every night, even the nights he didn't have prefect patrol.
So Harry suspected that Ron actually did have a boyfriend. Harry wondered who it was. Everytime Ron talked to another boy, Harry stared at them and tried to work out if this was Ron's boyfriend. Sometimes Ron sat with Neville in class. Maybe Neville was his boyfriend.
But Harry knew that Ron sat with Neville because Harry was always sitting with Hermione now. And anyhow, Harry was pretty sure that Neville and Seamus and Dean were usually in the common room when Ron was out.
So it was probably someone from another house. Harry didn't know how he was going to figure it out just from watching Ron, though. He asked Hermione about it.
"Ron said that he doesn't have a boyfriend," she said to Harry.
"But maybe he's keeping it secret!" Harry said. "What about that?"
"If he wants to have a secret boyfriend, then you should let him," Hermione said. "Personally, I think we should be looking for someone nice to fix him up with. We could all go on a date together on Saturday."
Harry didn't try to argue about it with Hermione since she had a habit of winning all arguments. But he really wanted to know Ron's secret.
So, Harry figured that the only way he would know is if he spied on Ron. It was Monday night and he thought that Ron might go out after Quidditch practice. Hermione had prefect patrol that night, so Harry wouldn't get caught by her.
Harry brought his invisibility cloak to Quidditch practice and hid it in a locker. Afterwards, he showered really fast and then hid under the cloak. He followed Ron out and back into the castle. Ron went to a deserted hallway and into a room there. Harry knew he couldn't risk going in too, or he might get caught when the door opened and no one was there. So he waited in the hallway.
After about half an hour, he saw Draco Malfoy running along the hallway. Harry thought it would be fun to trip Draco as he went past. But then Draco stopped and went into the room.
Harry was immediately on his guard. Draco must be there to menace Ron or to mess things up with his boyfriend. He kept alert in case there were sounds of a struggle inside the room.
But there didn't seem to be any problem. He went over and listened at the door. He could hear murmuring voices sometimes and nothing other times, but no yelling. Harry began to get a sick feeling in his stomach.
After another half an hour, the door started to open and Harry jumped back just in time. It was Draco coming out again. He had a sort of sleepy look and he was sort of flushed. He was smiling.
Then a few minutes after, Ron came out of the room too. He was smiling even more. He even whistled as he walked down the hall.
This was the worst thing that Harry could imagine! Ron's secret boyfriend was Draco Malfoy!
Harry felt really angry. This was obviously some trick of Draco's to hurt Ron. He felt like running after Draco and hexing him or beating him up, but Draco was probably too far away for that.
But Harry knew that he had to protect Ron. Draco was not a good boyfriend for anybody, let alone Harry's best friend. Let Draco snog with Crabbe and Goyle instead.
Then Harry realised that he hadn't seen Crabbe and Goyle with Draco recently. They had been with Zabini instead. That could make dealing with Draco a lot easier.
Harry took off his cloak and started to think of a plan.
~*~
21. Harry's Surprise
-Harry-
Ever since Ron had told him and Hermione about being gay, Harry had been thinking about that. It made him a little uncomfortable, but he tried not to show that. Because Ron was still his friend, no matter what. But Harry couldn't help being just a little bit freaked out that he knew someone who was gay.
Hermione told Harry that one out of every ten Hogwarts students and teachers could be gay. That made Harry even more uncomfortable. He kept looking at everyone he saw and wondering if they were gay.
Harry didn't like feeling like this. In fact, he felt guilty about it. He hoped that the uncomfortable feelings would go away soon and things would be back to normal.
Ron had seemed much more relaxed since he'd told his secret. But Harry couldn't help but think that Ron still had another secret. He said that he didn't have a boyfriend, but Harry had noticed Ron smiling a lot for no good reason. Also, he went out almost every night, even the nights he didn't have prefect patrol.
So Harry suspected that Ron actually did have a boyfriend. Harry wondered who it was. Everytime Ron talked to another boy, Harry stared at them and tried to work out if this was Ron's boyfriend. Sometimes Ron sat with Neville in class. Maybe Neville was his boyfriend.
But Harry knew that Ron sat with Neville because Harry was always sitting with Hermione now. And anyhow, Harry was pretty sure that Neville and Seamus and Dean were usually in the common room when Ron was out.
So it was probably someone from another house. Harry didn't know how he was going to figure it out just from watching Ron, though. He asked Hermione about it.
"Ron said that he doesn't have a boyfriend," she said to Harry.
"But maybe he's keeping it secret!" Harry said. "What about that?"
"If he wants to have a secret boyfriend, then you should let him," Hermione said. "Personally, I think we should be looking for someone nice to fix him up with. We could all go on a date together on Saturday."
Harry didn't try to argue about it with Hermione since she had a habit of winning all arguments. But he really wanted to know Ron's secret.
So, Harry figured that the only way he would know is if he spied on Ron. It was Monday night and he thought that Ron might go out after Quidditch practice. Hermione had prefect patrol that night, so Harry wouldn't get caught by her.
Harry brought his invisibility cloak to Quidditch practice and hid it in a locker. Afterwards, he showered really fast and then hid under the cloak. He followed Ron out and back into the castle. Ron went to a deserted hallway and into a room there. Harry knew he couldn't risk going in too, or he might get caught when the door opened and no one was there. So he waited in the hallway.
After about half an hour, he saw Draco Malfoy running along the hallway. Harry thought it would be fun to trip Draco as he went past. But then Draco stopped and went into the room.
Harry was immediately on his guard. Draco must be there to menace Ron or to mess things up with his boyfriend. He kept alert in case there were sounds of a struggle inside the room.
But there didn't seem to be any problem. He went over and listened at the door. He could hear murmuring voices sometimes and nothing other times, but no yelling. Harry began to get a sick feeling in his stomach.
After another half an hour, the door started to open and Harry jumped back just in time. It was Draco coming out again. He had a sort of sleepy look and he was sort of flushed. He was smiling.
Then a few minutes after, Ron came out of the room too. He was smiling even more. He even whistled as he walked down the hall.
This was the worst thing that Harry could imagine! Ron's secret boyfriend was Draco Malfoy!
Harry felt really angry. This was obviously some trick of Draco's to hurt Ron. He felt like running after Draco and hexing him or beating him up, but Draco was probably too far away for that.
But Harry knew that he had to protect Ron. Draco was not a good boyfriend for anybody, let alone Harry's best friend. Let Draco snog with Crabbe and Goyle instead.
Then Harry realised that he hadn't seen Crabbe and Goyle with Draco recently. They had been with Zabini instead. That could make dealing with Draco a lot easier.
Harry took off his cloak and started to think of a plan.