I wrote 'You are Beautiful' because I think that in the books, there are
too many moments where Harry was mean to Ron without realizing it.
Since he has a good knowledge of the signification of 'Being mean' because
of his relatives, I think he wouldn't intentionally hurt his very first and
best friend.
I wanted Harry to show that he never meant to upset Ron.
Thank you everyone. Since I began this story, I smiled so very often that it scares me. It means a lot to me that so many of you liked this story.. I never even thought about not finishing this story, so here it is, the final part, after so many months. I think it'd be right to say that it was edited, and re-edited and re-re-edited. -_-' (You are wonderful Stacy, really *glomps*)
If I owned Harry Potter, I don't think I'd need to beg my parents to buy 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone' DVD... J.K Rowling's the happy owner.
I never even thought about not finishing this story, so here it is, the final part, after so many months.
"You are Beautiful no matter what they say
'Cause words can't bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
'Cause words can't bring you down"
-Christina Aguilera, Beautiful
You are Beautiful
Part IV
They've all taken Ron for granted. And that nearly killed him. Now, that he had somehow vanished from their lives, Its only then that they realized, they all needed him; and finally found a way to love him in their own ways. They'd been given a second chance. A second chance to let him know that he was loved.
Harry had plenty of time to plan everything he would d say. He had thought about this whole "Take Ron for granted" issue and he knew that he had better use this second chance perhaps, last chance, to say all the things that were left unsaid.
Perhaps, He'd greet Ron, smiling. He will than speak in a soft, loving tone, just not to scare his precious Ron away. He'd certainly tell him how happy he was to see Ron again, how much he had missed him. And of course, he'd pretty much avoid the questions he really wanted to ask..
Did you attempt suicide? Why have you hurt yourself? Will you ever forgive me?
No. Those questions would have to wait.
However, there was something he absolutely needed to tell him as soon as possible.
"Ron, I... lo..lo... I l..." he muttered to himself rather stupidly, no doubt practising.
'I can't! I just can't get it out!' he finally hissed angrily to no in particular but to his reflection on a mirror in the Gryffindor tower bathroom.
Truthfully, as far as he could remember, no one had ever said those three words to him...
No! He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Ron had to know and if he couldn't tell him, well he'd show him! Harry would certainly not let his second chance slip.
He arrived in the infirmary, determination written all over his face. What he saw, though, made it all melt away.
Madam Pomfrey was patting Ron's head softly, whispering:
" Good boy... good boy.."
How broken and vulnerable the red-haired unconscious boy looked, at that very moment, in the eyes of Harry ,could not be described by words.
Harry swallowed painfully; the scene playing before his eyes was heartbreaking.
"Why... why are you saying that, Madam Pomfrey?" he asked, a lump in his throat.
"Oh! Mister Potter!" Madam Pomfrey
said, spinning around to face Harry and his pain-filled face. " I've caste the Prior Incanto on his wand to see if he had hurt himself magically. Sometime, very ill wizards cast the Cruciatus Curse on themselves. He didn't. His last spell was Lumos."
An image of Ron screaming with pain flashed in his mind. Hastily, Harry shook the idea away.
"You came to visit Mister Weasley?" she inquired, with something that eerily sounded like hope in her voice.
"Yes..."
She smiled.
"He's getting better. He'll wake up soon."
Harry smiled back weakly. The sheer joy he was feeling at this announcement would just change into sadness when he tried to physically express it. Deep inside, he was troubled, but he tried hard not to show it.
"You'll have to be strong Harry..."
"Eh?" he snapped his head up, eyes widening.
"When he will wake up, he'll need someone to stand by... He will not make it alone , Harry ... He will need you. In my opinion, Ron was alone for too long already, do you understand this? He'll need you to be strong."
"I know Madam Pomfrey but..."
His face fell... His eyes began to water... His chin started to tremble...
"He's my best friend! I should've predicted all of this would happen. And above all I should've prevented him from performing such acts... People think that I don't care, but it's not true... I feel like... I feel like it's my entire fault... I'm so sorry."
He sighed, looking intensely at the floor.
"Don't be sorry, be strong and beside, it's not your fault, it everybody's." assumed calmly.
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, determination was back in them.
"Perhaps you wish to be alone with him, some muggles say that unconscious people, in the back of their mind, may hear what is said." Madam Pomfray said kindly.
"...Yes... yes it would be nice of you let me alone with...him. Thanks for everything."
The witch left the room slowly, leaving Harry alone with his comatose friend.
"Hey, Ron... It's been a while huh?" he said awkwardly, stepping toward the bed.
He placed both of his palms on the white mattress, trying to get his ideas together.
"I miss you, you know. Nothing's the same without you and it's only now that you're gone that I realize it. Pathetic isn't it?" He made a pause in his monologue. " I wish you could come back soon."
Harry pressed his hands harder on the bed, closing his eyelids tightly.
"And you know what?" he started, biting his bottom lip and looking up and the ceiling helplessly. " Malfoy said something really funny about us. He said you were my boyfriend. Isn't this the funniest thing you've ever heard?"
He let out a fake laughter that oddly sounded like a sob.
"I just want to have you back, I promise I'll take care of you." He whispered, his voice shaky.
The black-haired boy's hands balled into fists, taking two handfuls of white sheets.
"I guess I'll have to go... see you soon Ron."
Harry started to leave the room, but midway, impulsively, he came back to Ron and ran a trembling hand through the other boy's flaming messy hair and whispered:
"Bye, Ron."
Before finally leaving the room quickly.
***
Days slowly passed by and the gossips were slowly dying. Harry, though, didn't care anymore. Soon, Ron would wake up and he would need him. This prospect was enough to convince Harry to move on. To forget his guilt and focus on being strong for Ron.
Hermione was relieved to see that Harry was feeling better, and somehow, it made her feel better as well.
Slowly, Hogwarts got back to normal. Well... as normal as it could ever be anyway... People seeeven seemed to forget the existence of a certain red- haired sixth Weasley child and ironically, Ron's friends and family members were happy sbout it.
***
"Mister Potter! Mister Potter! You have to come!"
Minerva McGonagall was calmly giving her Transfiguration class to the fifth year Gryffindors when Madam Pomfrey burst the door open, calling Harry's name.
"Minerva! Mister Potter has to follow me, it's matter of emergency!" she said, panting.
"Is it about..."
McGonagall trailed of, but then everybody suddenly remembered this funny youth named Ron. This funny youth named Ron that had been under a magical healing sleep for the past few days.
"Potter, follow the nurse, will you?"
Seeing that how Madam Pomfrey wringed her hands in a helpless sort of way , Harry realised that it indeed ought to be an emergency.
He blinked, stood up and followed Pomfrey out of the classroom, feeling the heavy gazes of his classmates on him.
When they neared the infirmary, Harry heard faint screams and froze.
"Harry! What are you waiting for!" she asked tensely.
Harry blinked.
"What's wrong?"
She sighed at that question.
"Ron woke up and started to scream. I really don't know what has gotten into him, I'm afraid he might be losing his mind... Since he kept calling your name, I reckoned I should come and get you. I'll let you alone with him since my presence seems to agitate him."
"Alright then" was all Harry could manage weakly.
As soon as he stepped in the infirmary and saw Ron, all his plan of soft greeting and comforting smile were forgotten.
His best friend, face hidden in his hands, was shaking and squealing in a corner of the bed while the covers were tousled in the opposite corner.
-Ron!
Harry started to his frantic friend and put a reassuring hand on his arm. Ron, as burnt by the touch, flinched. Harry himself winced, seeing the puffy red eyes, so haunted and scared.
"Harry... Harry! It's still here. I couldn't get rid of it! Harry... I'm sorry."
The black-haired boy's eyes went wide, soon to change into a frown.
"What are you talking about, Ron?" He asked, keeping his voice soft.
"It...it's still here! I couldn't kill it... it'll keep making you unhappy."
"What?" he exclaimed, his voice breaking. " What is making me unhappy?"
Ron didn't answer; he simply put one of his arms before his face, as if to hide behind it, while he raised the other to point at a mirror just across his bed.
In two great strides Harry reached the offending mirror, took it in his hand, and impulsively threw it on the floor.
It shattered in a thousand of tiny pieces.
"See! There's nothing to be frightened about anymore!" Harry cried, assembling all his strength to do not burst in tears. His poor poor Ron..
Ron lifted eyes from his arm cautiously. He looked at Harry hesitantly and shied away under the thin sheets, quivering feverishly.
Harry let out a shaky sigh. He absolutely had to take the control over his emotions. If he didn't, he couldn't help Ron at all. Once he was calmed, he tried to concentrate.
The only thing Ron could see in this mirror was himself... It didn't sound good...
"Ron..." he started, "What was so scary in that mirror?"
"The monster... The monster that poisoned your l...life over the past months..."
Harry was horror-struck. He tried to ignore the disturbing realization forcing its way in his mind.
"What does that monster look like?"
"It's ugly, Harry... s...s...so very ugly."
"Oh my God..." Harry whispered, bringing his hand to his mouth.
The monster was none other than Ron himself...
'Oh Ron...' he thought. 'Why didn't I see this earlier?'
"And is this monster somebody you know?"
The question seemed to calm Ron a little.
"I...It's somebody I used to know..." he hissed, looking down.
All the pieces fell together in Harry's head, how Ron described the monster, how sorry he was for not killing it. Right now, what Ron needed was reassurance.
"You never spoiled any moments of my life, Ron. Don't ever think that you did." He said softly.
The redhead closed his eyes. His internal debate was coming to an end and the rational part of his mind won over his insanity. He looked up.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I must've caused trouble again. I seem to be doing that a lot lately."
That was it. Suddenly, it was too much for Harry.
"Ron! Listen to yourself!"
He ran to the bed and knelt next to it, glancing worriedly up at his friend's face. His features were distorted and in his eyes, hopelessness could be read.
"Give yourself a bit of credit! I... I'd like to thank you."
"Why?" Ron asked, confused.
"I don't know how I've passed trough the ten years of my life I lived without you. Maybe I unconsciously knew that I'd meet you someday. And the day we met... the day we met was the best day in my whole life. Not because it's the day I first came at Hogwarts, but because it's the day I met my first friend. And yes, we used to be mere friends, but now I can't imagine my life without you."
A tear ran down Ron's face. Harry took a shaky breath and kept going.
"If I stand those awful summers at the Dursleys' , it's because I know that I'll see you in autumn. You and your smile."
The raven-haired teen raised his hand and gently pressed it on his friends wet cheek.
"Your smile brightens everything. Your smile...your smile is the sunshine, Ron. You are the sunshine. And God knows what a world without sunshine would be. Open your eyes! E...everybody wants you, why can't you see it!" He whimpered, letting a tear slid as well.
Ron leaned onto Harry's touch, closing his eyes.
"And... and you, Harry... Do you want me?" he softly murmured.
A whisper full of insecurity, full of vulnerability.
The other boy let his thumb caress soothingly the cheek he was touching.
"I do want you as well, Ron" he said, his voice almost inaudible. "I..."
He had to tell him. He absolutely had to find the words. Ron needed to hear them as much as Harry longed to tell them.
"I love you..."
Ron opened his eyes slowly. They were sad and exhausted.
"I'll never be good enough for..."
"Shhh... Don't say this, it breaks my heart." Harry interrupted.
"You... you really mean everything you said?"
"Of course! I couldn't lie to you..."
"I want to protect you, Harry. I always want to be with you, even when night comes. I...I need you... I want you too... and I love you too..." he cried.
Harry smiled and hugged Ron's head to his shoulder where he muffled a sob. He then stood up and held the other boy's body close to his.
"Mmmh... Ron you will never be alone again." He said, tightening the embrace.
Ron pushed away a little to dive into the other boy's sincere eyes. They looked at each other lovingly until Harry inched toward Ron to tenderly press their lips together.
"So soft..." Harry whispered when they parted, his face still so close to Ron's that his breath tickled the freckled face. "I'll take care of you, my beautiful, so very beautiful Ron."
***
This is the end. I really, really hope that you liked the last part. It took me a while to write it and I'm afraid it doesn't encounter your expectations, dearest readers... I am sincerely sorry. Still... leave a review, it'd make me smile, and it'd save my beta reader from depression. Isn't that true Seteshi-chan?
"And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face
Now I see it everyday
And I know...
That I am, I am, I am The Luckiest"
-Ben Folds, The Luckiest
Thank you everyone. Since I began this story, I smiled so very often that it scares me. It means a lot to me that so many of you liked this story.. I never even thought about not finishing this story, so here it is, the final part, after so many months. I think it'd be right to say that it was edited, and re-edited and re-re-edited. -_-' (You are wonderful Stacy, really *glomps*)
If I owned Harry Potter, I don't think I'd need to beg my parents to buy 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone' DVD... J.K Rowling's the happy owner.
I never even thought about not finishing this story, so here it is, the final part, after so many months.
"You are Beautiful no matter what they say
'Cause words can't bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
'Cause words can't bring you down"
-Christina Aguilera, Beautiful
You are Beautiful
Part IV
They've all taken Ron for granted. And that nearly killed him. Now, that he had somehow vanished from their lives, Its only then that they realized, they all needed him; and finally found a way to love him in their own ways. They'd been given a second chance. A second chance to let him know that he was loved.
Harry had plenty of time to plan everything he would d say. He had thought about this whole "Take Ron for granted" issue and he knew that he had better use this second chance perhaps, last chance, to say all the things that were left unsaid.
Perhaps, He'd greet Ron, smiling. He will than speak in a soft, loving tone, just not to scare his precious Ron away. He'd certainly tell him how happy he was to see Ron again, how much he had missed him. And of course, he'd pretty much avoid the questions he really wanted to ask..
Did you attempt suicide? Why have you hurt yourself? Will you ever forgive me?
No. Those questions would have to wait.
However, there was something he absolutely needed to tell him as soon as possible.
"Ron, I... lo..lo... I l..." he muttered to himself rather stupidly, no doubt practising.
'I can't! I just can't get it out!' he finally hissed angrily to no in particular but to his reflection on a mirror in the Gryffindor tower bathroom.
Truthfully, as far as he could remember, no one had ever said those three words to him...
No! He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Ron had to know and if he couldn't tell him, well he'd show him! Harry would certainly not let his second chance slip.
He arrived in the infirmary, determination written all over his face. What he saw, though, made it all melt away.
Madam Pomfrey was patting Ron's head softly, whispering:
" Good boy... good boy.."
How broken and vulnerable the red-haired unconscious boy looked, at that very moment, in the eyes of Harry ,could not be described by words.
Harry swallowed painfully; the scene playing before his eyes was heartbreaking.
"Why... why are you saying that, Madam Pomfrey?" he asked, a lump in his throat.
"Oh! Mister Potter!" Madam Pomfrey
said, spinning around to face Harry and his pain-filled face. " I've caste the Prior Incanto on his wand to see if he had hurt himself magically. Sometime, very ill wizards cast the Cruciatus Curse on themselves. He didn't. His last spell was Lumos."
An image of Ron screaming with pain flashed in his mind. Hastily, Harry shook the idea away.
"You came to visit Mister Weasley?" she inquired, with something that eerily sounded like hope in her voice.
"Yes..."
She smiled.
"He's getting better. He'll wake up soon."
Harry smiled back weakly. The sheer joy he was feeling at this announcement would just change into sadness when he tried to physically express it. Deep inside, he was troubled, but he tried hard not to show it.
"You'll have to be strong Harry..."
"Eh?" he snapped his head up, eyes widening.
"When he will wake up, he'll need someone to stand by... He will not make it alone , Harry ... He will need you. In my opinion, Ron was alone for too long already, do you understand this? He'll need you to be strong."
"I know Madam Pomfrey but..."
His face fell... His eyes began to water... His chin started to tremble...
"He's my best friend! I should've predicted all of this would happen. And above all I should've prevented him from performing such acts... People think that I don't care, but it's not true... I feel like... I feel like it's my entire fault... I'm so sorry."
He sighed, looking intensely at the floor.
"Don't be sorry, be strong and beside, it's not your fault, it everybody's." assumed calmly.
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, determination was back in them.
"Perhaps you wish to be alone with him, some muggles say that unconscious people, in the back of their mind, may hear what is said." Madam Pomfray said kindly.
"...Yes... yes it would be nice of you let me alone with...him. Thanks for everything."
The witch left the room slowly, leaving Harry alone with his comatose friend.
"Hey, Ron... It's been a while huh?" he said awkwardly, stepping toward the bed.
He placed both of his palms on the white mattress, trying to get his ideas together.
"I miss you, you know. Nothing's the same without you and it's only now that you're gone that I realize it. Pathetic isn't it?" He made a pause in his monologue. " I wish you could come back soon."
Harry pressed his hands harder on the bed, closing his eyelids tightly.
"And you know what?" he started, biting his bottom lip and looking up and the ceiling helplessly. " Malfoy said something really funny about us. He said you were my boyfriend. Isn't this the funniest thing you've ever heard?"
He let out a fake laughter that oddly sounded like a sob.
"I just want to have you back, I promise I'll take care of you." He whispered, his voice shaky.
The black-haired boy's hands balled into fists, taking two handfuls of white sheets.
"I guess I'll have to go... see you soon Ron."
Harry started to leave the room, but midway, impulsively, he came back to Ron and ran a trembling hand through the other boy's flaming messy hair and whispered:
"Bye, Ron."
Before finally leaving the room quickly.
***
Days slowly passed by and the gossips were slowly dying. Harry, though, didn't care anymore. Soon, Ron would wake up and he would need him. This prospect was enough to convince Harry to move on. To forget his guilt and focus on being strong for Ron.
Hermione was relieved to see that Harry was feeling better, and somehow, it made her feel better as well.
Slowly, Hogwarts got back to normal. Well... as normal as it could ever be anyway... People seeeven seemed to forget the existence of a certain red- haired sixth Weasley child and ironically, Ron's friends and family members were happy sbout it.
***
"Mister Potter! Mister Potter! You have to come!"
Minerva McGonagall was calmly giving her Transfiguration class to the fifth year Gryffindors when Madam Pomfrey burst the door open, calling Harry's name.
"Minerva! Mister Potter has to follow me, it's matter of emergency!" she said, panting.
"Is it about..."
McGonagall trailed of, but then everybody suddenly remembered this funny youth named Ron. This funny youth named Ron that had been under a magical healing sleep for the past few days.
"Potter, follow the nurse, will you?"
Seeing that how Madam Pomfrey wringed her hands in a helpless sort of way , Harry realised that it indeed ought to be an emergency.
He blinked, stood up and followed Pomfrey out of the classroom, feeling the heavy gazes of his classmates on him.
When they neared the infirmary, Harry heard faint screams and froze.
"Harry! What are you waiting for!" she asked tensely.
Harry blinked.
"What's wrong?"
She sighed at that question.
"Ron woke up and started to scream. I really don't know what has gotten into him, I'm afraid he might be losing his mind... Since he kept calling your name, I reckoned I should come and get you. I'll let you alone with him since my presence seems to agitate him."
"Alright then" was all Harry could manage weakly.
As soon as he stepped in the infirmary and saw Ron, all his plan of soft greeting and comforting smile were forgotten.
His best friend, face hidden in his hands, was shaking and squealing in a corner of the bed while the covers were tousled in the opposite corner.
-Ron!
Harry started to his frantic friend and put a reassuring hand on his arm. Ron, as burnt by the touch, flinched. Harry himself winced, seeing the puffy red eyes, so haunted and scared.
"Harry... Harry! It's still here. I couldn't get rid of it! Harry... I'm sorry."
The black-haired boy's eyes went wide, soon to change into a frown.
"What are you talking about, Ron?" He asked, keeping his voice soft.
"It...it's still here! I couldn't kill it... it'll keep making you unhappy."
"What?" he exclaimed, his voice breaking. " What is making me unhappy?"
Ron didn't answer; he simply put one of his arms before his face, as if to hide behind it, while he raised the other to point at a mirror just across his bed.
In two great strides Harry reached the offending mirror, took it in his hand, and impulsively threw it on the floor.
It shattered in a thousand of tiny pieces.
"See! There's nothing to be frightened about anymore!" Harry cried, assembling all his strength to do not burst in tears. His poor poor Ron..
Ron lifted eyes from his arm cautiously. He looked at Harry hesitantly and shied away under the thin sheets, quivering feverishly.
Harry let out a shaky sigh. He absolutely had to take the control over his emotions. If he didn't, he couldn't help Ron at all. Once he was calmed, he tried to concentrate.
The only thing Ron could see in this mirror was himself... It didn't sound good...
"Ron..." he started, "What was so scary in that mirror?"
"The monster... The monster that poisoned your l...life over the past months..."
Harry was horror-struck. He tried to ignore the disturbing realization forcing its way in his mind.
"What does that monster look like?"
"It's ugly, Harry... s...s...so very ugly."
"Oh my God..." Harry whispered, bringing his hand to his mouth.
The monster was none other than Ron himself...
'Oh Ron...' he thought. 'Why didn't I see this earlier?'
"And is this monster somebody you know?"
The question seemed to calm Ron a little.
"I...It's somebody I used to know..." he hissed, looking down.
All the pieces fell together in Harry's head, how Ron described the monster, how sorry he was for not killing it. Right now, what Ron needed was reassurance.
"You never spoiled any moments of my life, Ron. Don't ever think that you did." He said softly.
The redhead closed his eyes. His internal debate was coming to an end and the rational part of his mind won over his insanity. He looked up.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I must've caused trouble again. I seem to be doing that a lot lately."
That was it. Suddenly, it was too much for Harry.
"Ron! Listen to yourself!"
He ran to the bed and knelt next to it, glancing worriedly up at his friend's face. His features were distorted and in his eyes, hopelessness could be read.
"Give yourself a bit of credit! I... I'd like to thank you."
"Why?" Ron asked, confused.
"I don't know how I've passed trough the ten years of my life I lived without you. Maybe I unconsciously knew that I'd meet you someday. And the day we met... the day we met was the best day in my whole life. Not because it's the day I first came at Hogwarts, but because it's the day I met my first friend. And yes, we used to be mere friends, but now I can't imagine my life without you."
A tear ran down Ron's face. Harry took a shaky breath and kept going.
"If I stand those awful summers at the Dursleys' , it's because I know that I'll see you in autumn. You and your smile."
The raven-haired teen raised his hand and gently pressed it on his friends wet cheek.
"Your smile brightens everything. Your smile...your smile is the sunshine, Ron. You are the sunshine. And God knows what a world without sunshine would be. Open your eyes! E...everybody wants you, why can't you see it!" He whimpered, letting a tear slid as well.
Ron leaned onto Harry's touch, closing his eyes.
"And... and you, Harry... Do you want me?" he softly murmured.
A whisper full of insecurity, full of vulnerability.
The other boy let his thumb caress soothingly the cheek he was touching.
"I do want you as well, Ron" he said, his voice almost inaudible. "I..."
He had to tell him. He absolutely had to find the words. Ron needed to hear them as much as Harry longed to tell them.
"I love you..."
Ron opened his eyes slowly. They were sad and exhausted.
"I'll never be good enough for..."
"Shhh... Don't say this, it breaks my heart." Harry interrupted.
"You... you really mean everything you said?"
"Of course! I couldn't lie to you..."
"I want to protect you, Harry. I always want to be with you, even when night comes. I...I need you... I want you too... and I love you too..." he cried.
Harry smiled and hugged Ron's head to his shoulder where he muffled a sob. He then stood up and held the other boy's body close to his.
"Mmmh... Ron you will never be alone again." He said, tightening the embrace.
Ron pushed away a little to dive into the other boy's sincere eyes. They looked at each other lovingly until Harry inched toward Ron to tenderly press their lips together.
"So soft..." Harry whispered when they parted, his face still so close to Ron's that his breath tickled the freckled face. "I'll take care of you, my beautiful, so very beautiful Ron."
***
This is the end. I really, really hope that you liked the last part. It took me a while to write it and I'm afraid it doesn't encounter your expectations, dearest readers... I am sincerely sorry. Still... leave a review, it'd make me smile, and it'd save my beta reader from depression. Isn't that true Seteshi-chan?
"And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face
Now I see it everyday
And I know...
That I am, I am, I am The Luckiest"
-Ben Folds, The Luckiest