Ch.6: A New Dawn
Over the next few weeks Ron felt the bond between Harry and him change. They had always been best friends and though he sensed that their relationship had changed Ron could tell that Harry didn't seem quite ready to discuss it. Assuming he was aware of it of course. Instead Ron found excuses to be the other's company as much as possible. The one fly in the ointment was that Hermione had become cool and distant towards both of them, especially to Harry.
Ron tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep. He was fed up. He knew that Hermione was upset about him and Harry, but it wasn't as if either of them owed her an explaination or anything. Besides he could see how it was tearing his boyfriend up inside every time.... Hold on a minute where did that thought come from? He'd always cared about Harry, but when had he started to consider him as his boyfriend? He shook his head. What was happening to him? Was he, gasp, gay? He suspected that he might be and if Harry's reaction to their first kiss was any indication then Harry was as well. The idea concerned him, not because of what his parents would think if and when they found out, but because of the trouble that little git Malfoy would no doubt cause when it became common knowledge. Rising he quickly dressed and began almost without thinking to make his way to the astronomy tower. He needed to think. He was so wrapped up in his own turbulant thoughts that he didn't hear the sounds of someone following him unseen.
* * * *
Harry was worried. He'd awakened from a dream to see Ron quietly getting dressed. It was apparent that the other hadn't been sleeping well of late and that something was bothering him. On the spur of the moment Harry determined to follow him and find out what was bothering his best friend, the boy he'd fallen in love with.
Whoa! Where did that come from? It was true that he'd always cared for the red head, at times had even thought of him like a brother, but since when had he fallen in love with him? He sighed quietly to himself. Why couldn't even one thing in his life be simple. He was a boy for Merlin's sake. Boys weren't supposed to feel this way towards other boys, were they? He didn't really know anymore. His life had been total confusion of one sort or another as long as he could remember. It had been easily understood confusion for ten of his years, and then had come the letter. He almost laughed aloud remembering how the Dursley's had tried to prevent him from getting it. They had failed of course, and his life hadn't been the same since. Now he looked ahead to the end of the school year with a mixture of fear and longing. Voldemort was gone, and his most powerful supporters were either dead or in Askaban for life. Those few death eaters who had escaped punishment were too few and too weak to cause trouble. They held no fear for him. No. What scared him was the uncertainty of what to do with the rest of his life. He would never have to return to privit drive again. He could go out into the world and live where he pleased once he was out of school, and the thought scared him to death. He shook his head. Worrying would get him nowhere. He followed Ron up the stairs of the astonomy tower.
He'd just spotted Ron when he heard it. It could be almost anything, but he knew what or rather who it was. Filch! Didn't the man ever sleep? Thank Merlin he'd worn his invisibility cloak. Quickly making his way over to the other boy he lifted it and rearranged it to cover them both. The look in the other boys eyes was priceless. Noticing he was going to speak Harry put a finger to his friends lips indicating he was to remain silent. Merlin's beard but Ron's lips were so soft under his fingers. The room became brighter as Filch entered the room holding his lantern. He seemed to be searching for something. Probably hoping to catch some snogging students, Harry thought with a suppressed giggle. If he only knew. They waited, silently, till the old caretaker left before speaking.
"Harry, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I, that is, I followed you Ron."
"Followed me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Well I've been wanting to talk to you in private for some time now and the chance never seemed to come up, til now that is."
Ron nodded. He'd expected this to happen. He just wasn't sure he was ready for it yet. Of course he might never be really ready. Perhaps it was best to get it over with. "O.k., let's talk."
* * *
*
The sun was just beginning to peep over the horizon when they made their way back to the dorms. There were still some things to be discussed but Ron was confident that they could deal with them. For the first time in a long while he went to sleep with a smile on his face. He had his Harry. Nothing else mattered.
Ch. 7: Important Decisions
Harry felt at a loss for what to do. He loved Ron and was not ashamed of it. Quite the opposite in fact. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the red headed wizard, but how to ask him? There was also the issue of what the reaction of Ron's family would be, not to mention when to ask him. He knew he was being irrational by worrying about it, but he couldn't help himself. Even facing Voldemort had been easier than the fact he'd have to face a houseful of Weasley's, and ask for his love's hand. Still, he knew there was no way out of it. They might turn away from him, but as long as Ron was still there he could deal with anything. He supposed the when was actually an easy question to answer. After the n.e.w.t.s were complete and they were out of school would be best. They would both need total concentration to do their best. It would be hard to wait, but he had a feeling it would be well worth it. Gazing across the library table he saw his boyfriend struggling with Snape's potion essay. Some things never changed. Other teachers might cut back on the amount of homework assigned now that the n.e.w.t.s were only weeks away, but Snape wasn't most teachers. If anything he seemed to assign more homework than most. Well at least it wouldn't be long now and it would all be behind them, and then... He smiled to himself, and then.
Over the next few weeks Ron felt the bond between Harry and him change. They had always been best friends and though he sensed that their relationship had changed Ron could tell that Harry didn't seem quite ready to discuss it. Assuming he was aware of it of course. Instead Ron found excuses to be the other's company as much as possible. The one fly in the ointment was that Hermione had become cool and distant towards both of them, especially to Harry.
Ron tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep. He was fed up. He knew that Hermione was upset about him and Harry, but it wasn't as if either of them owed her an explaination or anything. Besides he could see how it was tearing his boyfriend up inside every time.... Hold on a minute where did that thought come from? He'd always cared about Harry, but when had he started to consider him as his boyfriend? He shook his head. What was happening to him? Was he, gasp, gay? He suspected that he might be and if Harry's reaction to their first kiss was any indication then Harry was as well. The idea concerned him, not because of what his parents would think if and when they found out, but because of the trouble that little git Malfoy would no doubt cause when it became common knowledge. Rising he quickly dressed and began almost without thinking to make his way to the astronomy tower. He needed to think. He was so wrapped up in his own turbulant thoughts that he didn't hear the sounds of someone following him unseen.
* * * *
Harry was worried. He'd awakened from a dream to see Ron quietly getting dressed. It was apparent that the other hadn't been sleeping well of late and that something was bothering him. On the spur of the moment Harry determined to follow him and find out what was bothering his best friend, the boy he'd fallen in love with.
Whoa! Where did that come from? It was true that he'd always cared for the red head, at times had even thought of him like a brother, but since when had he fallen in love with him? He sighed quietly to himself. Why couldn't even one thing in his life be simple. He was a boy for Merlin's sake. Boys weren't supposed to feel this way towards other boys, were they? He didn't really know anymore. His life had been total confusion of one sort or another as long as he could remember. It had been easily understood confusion for ten of his years, and then had come the letter. He almost laughed aloud remembering how the Dursley's had tried to prevent him from getting it. They had failed of course, and his life hadn't been the same since. Now he looked ahead to the end of the school year with a mixture of fear and longing. Voldemort was gone, and his most powerful supporters were either dead or in Askaban for life. Those few death eaters who had escaped punishment were too few and too weak to cause trouble. They held no fear for him. No. What scared him was the uncertainty of what to do with the rest of his life. He would never have to return to privit drive again. He could go out into the world and live where he pleased once he was out of school, and the thought scared him to death. He shook his head. Worrying would get him nowhere. He followed Ron up the stairs of the astonomy tower.
He'd just spotted Ron when he heard it. It could be almost anything, but he knew what or rather who it was. Filch! Didn't the man ever sleep? Thank Merlin he'd worn his invisibility cloak. Quickly making his way over to the other boy he lifted it and rearranged it to cover them both. The look in the other boys eyes was priceless. Noticing he was going to speak Harry put a finger to his friends lips indicating he was to remain silent. Merlin's beard but Ron's lips were so soft under his fingers. The room became brighter as Filch entered the room holding his lantern. He seemed to be searching for something. Probably hoping to catch some snogging students, Harry thought with a suppressed giggle. If he only knew. They waited, silently, till the old caretaker left before speaking.
"Harry, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I, that is, I followed you Ron."
"Followed me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Well I've been wanting to talk to you in private for some time now and the chance never seemed to come up, til now that is."
Ron nodded. He'd expected this to happen. He just wasn't sure he was ready for it yet. Of course he might never be really ready. Perhaps it was best to get it over with. "O.k., let's talk."
* * *
*
The sun was just beginning to peep over the horizon when they made their way back to the dorms. There were still some things to be discussed but Ron was confident that they could deal with them. For the first time in a long while he went to sleep with a smile on his face. He had his Harry. Nothing else mattered.
Ch. 7: Important Decisions
Harry felt at a loss for what to do. He loved Ron and was not ashamed of it. Quite the opposite in fact. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the red headed wizard, but how to ask him? There was also the issue of what the reaction of Ron's family would be, not to mention when to ask him. He knew he was being irrational by worrying about it, but he couldn't help himself. Even facing Voldemort had been easier than the fact he'd have to face a houseful of Weasley's, and ask for his love's hand. Still, he knew there was no way out of it. They might turn away from him, but as long as Ron was still there he could deal with anything. He supposed the when was actually an easy question to answer. After the n.e.w.t.s were complete and they were out of school would be best. They would both need total concentration to do their best. It would be hard to wait, but he had a feeling it would be well worth it. Gazing across the library table he saw his boyfriend struggling with Snape's potion essay. Some things never changed. Other teachers might cut back on the amount of homework assigned now that the n.e.w.t.s were only weeks away, but Snape wasn't most teachers. If anything he seemed to assign more homework than most. Well at least it wouldn't be long now and it would all be behind them, and then... He smiled to himself, and then.