********** Chapter 2: Sudden Realisations ***********
The thing that really got on Ron's nerves was that no one had even bothered to ask him or even tell him about the 'vacation'. As soon as he entered the Burrows his mother took his trunk, spelled all the robes clean and replaced them with a large bundle of assorted muggle clothing.
"There dear", she said with an almost apologetic smile.
"Now you are packed and ready to go. The Grangers will be here first thing in the morning, and I better tell you right now to mind your language and do try not to get yourself in trouble!"
'Mum! What in Merlin's beard are you talking about? I just got here. The Grangers? Where are we going?' Ron stuttered in frustration, this was SO typical!
"Why, France of course, Paris oh la la. Didn't we tell? Well it is decided now anyway and there is no time to argue, here you have to eat something before you're off to bed." She pressed a spoon in his hand and sat him down at the table.
'Porridge! Mum you got to be kidding me, you never make porridge!' Ron almost felt like crying, what on earth was going on.
"There there, eat up now, and we have to do something with that hair of yours." To Ron's horror he saw his mother's face turn for an instant into a somewhat calculating expression.
"You know you'll want the Grangers to get a lasting good impression of their coming to be son-in-law."
Ron's mouth just opened, and closed. Then opened again.
'Mum, I'm not going to marry Herm after we graduate. I'm sorry, but we won't ', he said for the first time really taking it into serious consideration and at moment he spoke it just... He just knew that...
"Of course you aren't dear", Molly said with a knowing smile.
'Mum, I'm serious, I don't fancy Hermione that way. I mean she's one of my best friends for sure, but that's it. A friend.'
His mum sat down facing him at the table. A moment passed while she gathered herself.
"I'm sorry Ron. I really hoped that you two had something special going on, I guess I just worry sometimes that you feel lonely and... I mean all your brothers had some girl they dated when they were your age, why even Percy was seeing that seventh year Ravenclaw. It's not as if there's something wrong with you, all limbs in place and all, and you got the looks too, Merlin knows where they come from, it certainly isn't from me. And you never tell me Ron Weasley. When you were younger you could tell me everything, and I never needed to worry, but lately you have been all clammed up and I don't know what to think..." She trailed of and sighed.
'Well, mum' Ron said in a low voice, his face as red as his hair.
'Maybe, maybe I just don't like girls that way', he blurted out.
Silence"I'm going to put on some tea for your father, he'll be coming home from work soon" Ron's mother stood up from the table and started scrambling with the tea pot.
"And if you are finished with your plate just leave it there, you're off to an early start tomorrow so you better get some sleep while you can.
Ron nodded and with a "Night Mum" he disappeared quickly up the stairs.
Molly Weasley stood leaning at the sink, water still running. Her hands dropped the pot and held herself tight. Water running from the tap, tears running from her eyes. She cried that night for Ron. Not for who he was, but for what he would face. All a parent wants is for their children's' lives to be as easy as it can be. I only hope I've raised him to be strong and that he is prepared. Society hates it when you break their 'rules' and conformity. He will get shunned, people will talk and whisper, others will be selected in his stead. He will loose friends, new people he meet will look at him for what he is, not who he is. All just because of whom he love. And kids, he will never have kids. He will never know what it is to watch your own child grow up, he will miss out on life.
A very confused Arthur Weasley found his wife lying crying her heart out on the kitchen floor. I must have underestimated the pressures on running a house hold, he thought to himself. Tomorrow he would see if that house elf that Fudge had offered him still was available, perhaps one of them could relieve Molly of some of her heavier duties.
Upstairs Ron Weasley was lying wide awake in his bed. He was... Figures that his mouth would know what before his mind did. But was he really... that thing? He didn't feel like a sissy at all. He hoped if this was true that he wouldn't be expected to dress up in women's clothing and all that! So how did he know? Well it just felt right, and the other felt wrong. Of course he had stolen glances in the showers at the dorm, but he had seen the others do too, and it was difficult not to when Harry came walking into the stalls with his huge... Ron felt all the blood rushing south at that memory of Harry in the shower, half blind with his glasses off, but those emerald eyes just shining and the water running through his hair and down on his seeker built body.
For the first time Ron let all the pictures and emotions flow through him, unguarded, without blocking them out. First there were only the fantasy images: Sounds from the beds at night, Harry naked, Ron waking up beside him, kissing, all that he wanted to do... Then came the real memories: Harry flying on his broom catching the snitch and flashing a grin at Ron in the stands, them playing chess, joking, eating... All the trivial things, and all the important: Voldemort, Death eaters, Malfoy, dark signs... In every picture in every happy or sad moment that came to him was Harry. That's how he knew. Because of Harry!
He needed to make it real, to hear how it sounded, if this was all something just in his mind. Starting hesitantly his voice grew bearing as he spoke to himself and to the moon.
'M...my name is Ron Weasley and I.. I'm gay and I'm in love with Harry Potter.'
And it was all good.
The next morning Ron woke from his green-eyed dreams to the gentle stirrings from his mother.
"Ron dear, it is time to wake up, the Grangers will be here any moment now, and I have to find that Port Pass Dumbledore sent you so you can travel through the border, I don't know how it is activated, but Dumbledore assured me that Hermione would know."
'Mmm, uh, Mum, about yesterday...'
"Ron everything is alright, I love you, you are my son, nothing is going to change that." She clutched him hard to herself, which Ron supposed was some kind of hug although it didn't leave much room for him to breath.
"I'm so relieved that you started to talk to me, you know really talk to me, and your father..." She clasped her mouth
'Mum! You didn't!'
"Well of course I did, you can't keep this a secret from those you love! How are we supposed to support you and love you if we don't know you. He has to know Ron, and he is taking it well. He actually asked if there was someone special in your life that you would like to tell us about, is there?"
'Mum I'm not going to tell you another word!'
"You better start getting used to it Ron, and start thinking about how and when you are going to tell your brothers and sister, they also deserve to know!"
Ron threw the blanket over himself and moaned in his pillow. Not Fred and George! He would never hear the end of this!