This continuing story is based on something owned and operated officially by J.K. Rowling. I am lucky to be able to vent this creativity in such a public forum.

Please note that this story is SLASH. Hints, winks and nods, everyone. So if you no likee, go find something more......tame? Yeah, tame. :-)

Part 15

It was one week later and Ron still hadn't told his parents. With less than a week before they went to school, Harry wondered if Ron was going to tell his parents at all. Knowing the risk of a fight was at stake, he decided to bring it up anyway.

"Ron? Can we talk?"

Ron looked up from Quiddich Strategies of Northern New England. He shifted to his side. They were both laying on Harry's bed; Ron had locked the door and put an alarm spell on the handle.

"Sure Harry." He put the magazine down behind him on the floor and nuzzled closer to Harry.

Harry looked into Ron's brown eyes as he took a breath. "Are you...I mean, were you planning on telling your parents about us? I mean, before we go back to school?"

Ron sighed loudly.

"Well, you said you would. And it's on my mind." Harry realized he was becoming defensive already, and softened his features.

"Well, Harry, I don't think you understand how hard this is. I cant just go and bloody tell them, now can I?"

"Why not?"

Ron's eyes got wide. He sputtered a bit.

"See, why cant you?" Harry looked pleadingly.

"Why do you want them to know so much?" Ron began to look angry.

"Here we go with this row again. Listen, just listen to me." Ron stopped moving his mouth soundlessly and fixed his eyes on Harry's. Harry continued. "Your family is the only family, the best thing I've known beside my two best friends." Ron smiled weakly at this. "I don't want any secrets from them, especially when the secret is my love for their son."

"Once again, you just think it is all easy to go and blab. Well, Harry" Harry being emphasized "why don't you come out at Hogwarts?"

Harry's face fell. He knew Ron would bring that up. Really, the reason he didn't want it known there was it would add a whole new level to the copious amounts of attention he already got. 'The Boy Who Shagged!' he could hear it now. 'Weasley is his QUEEN!'

On a button. On Draco Malfoy.

"Ron, you just don't understand."

"Welcome to an impass, Harry. I don't understand you, you don't understand me, and we cant agree to go any farther. Why cant I just...love you? Why does anyone more than Ginny have to know?"

"Ron, I told you. I feel like I'm hiding this. From your family."

"You've hidden things before." Ron looked accusatory.

Harry got up. "OK, Ron, like I said before. We cant agree on this. We should be friends, best friends again. Enough of this complication!" Suddenly the gates seemed to open. "Enough hiding, wondering, enough of the stolen kisses...I've got too much to worry about without you in the background!"

"But Harry," Ron said quietly, "I've always been in the background."

Harry gaped at Ron. If Harry wasn't so adamant, he might have disagreed with him.

"That's good, lets feel sorry for ourself," Harry chided.

"I'm just trying to be like the great Harry Potter!" Ron yelled. He was escalating, and Harry could see where this was going.

"Hm, and didn't you say that I wasn't the great Harry Potter? Just plain 'ol? Or did you say that just for a shag?" Harry paced angrily. Then he realized he was shaking. Really, he was shaking because Ron wouldn't tell his family? And yet...he didn't want to back down. He thought this too important.

Ron started to say something, but Harry interrupted. "That's enough, Ron. I love you. Yes." Ron looked guilty for a moment. "But I wont have Voldemort come and terrorize me and have you in some state of anger with me!"

Ron got up and hugged Harry. They stood for a while like that. When they finally released, Harry sat back down.

"So, nothing to tell your parents about."

Ron looked extremely hurt.

Part 16

They gotten the prerequisite letter in the mail informing them what books and supplies they would be needing for this, their seventh year. Ron thought it was a scary prospect moving beyond that which he knew so well into that which he didn't; he'd have to get a job. Thinking about it, he realized that coming out would be the same kind of step, still something he wasn't ready for. What if Harry left him? What if his parents hated him? What if he liked someone else?

"Ron."

Ron was jolted.

"Yeah, Harry?"

Harry looked at him pleadingly. Ron sighed.

"Yes, alright, you may." Ron tried to smile. He hated it when Harry bought anything for him, especially when it wasn't for Christmas or his birthday.

Harry smiled widely and purchased two copies of a book they would both be needing for Advanced Protection Against the Dark Arts. The book was very large, almost a thousand pages Ron would wager, and cost a great deal more than normal. Truth was, Ron wasn't going to get the book otherwise.

And Ron resented it bitterly.

They exited the store and walked solemnly down Diagon Alley. Ron had a sudden urge to reach out and grab Harry's hand. This was placed on hold as Hermione came bustling up to them.

"Harry! You'll never guess who I just saw!"

Harry looked jolted for a moment. Ron said sarcastically: "Victor Krum?"

Hermione gave him a look of disapproval. "No, not him. I saw Ludo Bagman. In the Rare Gems and Pottery Store."

Both Harry's and Ron's face dropped. "Isn't he wanted..."

"By the trolls, to be sure," Hermione cut off. "But the Ministry has got enough to worry about with...Voldemort."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Then Harry spoke up.

"You suppose the twins would curse him if they saw him?" Harry laughed, and Ron followed suit.

"Really. What have you got? Oh, I bought that book months ago. I thought it would be great reading for the summer."

There went Hermione, Ron thought. He was very happy to have her as the overachiever. He couldn't stand with that; he could barely stand the praise for being a prefect.

The three went walking along Diagon Alley for a while, and stopped in the Three Broomsticks for some mugs of butterbeer. When they had seated, Hermione took out her schedule and compared it with the boys.

"I see, I see...well I'll have some time to see you here during the day, and of course at night in the common room..."

Ron drifted off into his thoughts. This was going to be a hell of a year at Hogwarts. He was going to have to pass his NEWTS. He was going to have to maintain his duties as prefect. He was going to have to...

Resist the urge to snog Harry.

Ron began to resent, as he was doing a lot lately, that they had called it quits. It was so nice to have that extra bit of relationship. To be close to someone, feel their hot breath on your neck, to feel-"

"Ron!"

"Yes, Hermione?" Ron tried not to look surprised.

"What do you think of Harry's dream?"

'The one that broke us up?' he thought.

"I think it's just another warfare Voldemort is launching on you, Harry." Ron gave a slight smile. "You're going to beat him, and that's got him scared."

Harry perked up. He squeezed Ron's hand. "Thanks Ron."

Ron was sure his ears turned red.

Part 17

Harry had written Hermione about his dream. She had surprised him in not immediately telling him to spill to Dumbledore.

They all agreed that it was weird that Harry had a premonition-like vision instead of the usual present-time vision. The terror had been no less in the dream. And...it involved Ron.

The three friends were having a wonderful time in Diagon Alley. The trouble was, Harry had this sinking feeling all day. It wasn't helped by the fact that he saw an article in the Daily Prophet about Sirius. He felt like screaming, cursing and crying all at once. He didn't tell Ron or Hermione about it.

He was resolved to being alone.

Harry slept uneasily that night. It would be two days and they would be packing it in and going back to school. He looked forward to his new classes, and whatever new teacher would be teaching the Dark Arts course.

The morning they left was dark and heavy upon Harry's heart. He wasn't sure if it was because he was leaving the Burrow or because he felt something bad was going to happen. Ron had guilt tripped him the previous day so that he felt bad about their tiff and break up. After a week, Harry thought Ron was over it, being that they didn't talk about it. Apparently Ron had been stewing.

"And I still want to be with you, Harry!" he had said.

And Harry had said no.

Harry thought of this as he ate breakfast with the family; as he travelled to the train station with them; as he waited his turn and went through the wall. Ron and he did it separately, as they were both much larger than they had been when they had begun Hogwarts.

As Harry hugged Mrs. Weasley goodbye and boarded the train with Ginny and Ron, he had this strange feeling he wouldn't see her again. He looked uncertainly at Ron, and Ron gave him a comforting smile.

They took a cabin that was empty and sat in silence. After a moment, Ron spoke in a serious tone.

"Harry,-"

"Ron, if you're going to go on about us, I'm not going to hear it. I'm sick.....about it."

Ron stopped and closed his mouth. Then he shot forth: "Harry, I love you. Strong, good, and no matter what. I would do anything for you."

Harry looked up at him, half in horror, half in thanks. "What makes you say that?"

"Harry, I..." Ron began to cry. Harry sat in shock. Even Ron looked in shock. "I have to go." Ron got up quickly and left the cabin. He was a prefect, after all.

About a half hour later, Hermione poked her head in.

"Ron's on duty, right?" she asked, sounding very much like Mrs. Weasley.

"Yeah, he is," Harry said darkly.

"Something wrong? Oh, wait, gotta go take care of that- Mr. REBOLT! PUT YOUR WAND BACK IN YOUR POCKET-"

Harry sighed as Hermione left the cabin. It couldn't get any worse. That is, until-

Swoosh. The door opened, and in it's place stood Draco Malfoy. He wasn't being flanked as usual, but he had his usual patronizing grin.

Harry fingered his wand. "Something you want?" His voice was far from kind.

Draco made no move in or out, or even for his wand. He just stood there and smiled.

"No, Potter," Draco spat. "Just wanted to see how your summer was. I trust, no run-ins with You-Know-Who?"

Harry scowled. "You have five seconds to leave before I use an unforgivable on you, Malfoy."

"You might want to save that energy, Potter," he sneered. "Never know how safe these trains are." He shut the door quickly.

Harry sighed once again, this time with more strain. The feeling of bad- will he'd had suddenly came back ten-fold. He felt the sudden urge to track down Ron and check on him. He got up and opened the cabin door, and realized for the first time that the train was moving. They were speeding along Britain's countryside.

Suddenly Harry noticed Ron trotting quickly down the hallway. He looked very determined, and when he saw Harry he looked relieved, but incredibly worried.

"Harry, everything all right?" he asked before Harry could say anything.

"Yeah, Ron. I just...I suddenly had this urge to check on you, make sure that you were all right. I guess you are," Harry smiled.

Ron smiled back, but his face turned morose again. "OK, then, I'm going to...go back" Ron pointed behind him and began backing down the hall "that way, and finish."

Harry nodded. He reentered the cabin and shut the door. He sat in a chair and closed his eyes.

Part 18

Ron was checking in on cabins and making sure everything was in order when he came on Hermione. He had the feeling that he should be checking on Harry.

"Hey Ron, how's it going?" Hermione tried to smile. It looked as though she was having the same feeling.

"I need to go check on Harry," Ron said autonomously.

Hermione slowly nodded. She either noticed the serious and dark look on Ron's face, or she felt the same. "You go," she said, "and I'll continue doing rounds."

Ron nodded, and thanked her, and began hurriedly walking toward Harry's cabin. As he neared, he saw Harry standing outside his room, looking down the hall. As soon as Ron got near enough, he said "Harry, everything all right?"

"Yeah, Ron. I just...I suddenly had this urge to check on you, make sure that you were all right. I guess you are," Harry smiled.

Ron smiled. He felt weird inside. Was this pain? He wanted to explode with exclamations of love, and how he had the same feeling of needing to check on him, but...he didn't want to cry again. He didn't even know where that had come from.

"OK, then, I'm going to...go back" Ron pointed behind him and began backing down the hall "that way, and finish."

Ron felt awful as Harry nodded, and Ron turned.

He began checking cabins as he went. Everyone was talking wildly, and some were napping. Everyone seemed so happy. He caught the sight of a couple people making out. He felt a pang of jealousy.

As he neared the front of the train, he realized it had gotten dark out. As he moved toward a window, the train suddenly lurched, and began to slow down. The halls became dark with the decreasing light. Ron heard a couple of 'Luminos!' spells.

Then he heard the screaming. It was coming from the front of the train. Ron whipped out his wand and ran quickly toward the front. The hall was surprisingly empty, until he came upon the fifth cabin from the front.

There were two hooded figures standing in the entrance. They had wands out, and were apparently checking the cabins.

"Stupefy!" he pointed his wand at the nearest figure, who fell to the ground. He quickly recited the spell again, but the second figure had ducked into the cabin. The spell bounced harmlessly off the door.

Ron himself ducked into the nearest cabin and took a deep breath. He readied himself to pop out and blast, until he heard another spell in the same cabin:

"Crucio."

Thus ends another installment. I have taken several comments to heart, especially a couple of 'out of character' comments. :-) Do remember that this is their Seventh Year, so maybe Harry IS more sensitive.....though even I doubt as much as I've had.

Keep the reviews coming, and muchly thanks to: Beloved (no flames yet :D), ironfish (though I hope 'hm' is good), Karenlefay (very helpful and insightful, thanks), and Layce74.

Also, I may explore going back and writing about how Harry and Ron got together in the Sixth year. Any interest in that, stick it in a review of the current. (o:`,