"You should have seen his face!" Ron cried, laughing.
"Yea, i know. He looked like he was fainting on the spot to be cornered by all those teachers." Harry agreed.
They had just been told by Professor Dumbledore to go back to their common rooms so that they could deal with Malfoy. So, here they were, walking briskly and excitedly. They couldn't wait to tell Hermione what happened so she could laugh at him too. They passed by the ghost of nearly-headless Nick who greeted them with a broad smile.
"But Ron," Harry began, slowing down. "When Professor Dumbledore burnt the parchment, that thing you did was..."
"Oh, that. I'm sorry, Harry I'm afraid of fire." Ron stammered, pretending he wasn't affected by this issue.
"Oh, Ron, stop it and just tell me." Harry urged, stopping in his tracks and grabbing Ron's robes.
"Stop what?" Ron protested, shaking Harry's hands off. "I told you i was afraid of -"
"That is the lousiest excuse I have ever heard, Ronald." Harry cut in, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder. "You can do better."
"Well i'm just -" ron began, stammering again.
"The truth only. I'm your best friend." Harry cut in again, looking directly into Ron's eyes.
"Oh, alright." Ron gave up,"Harry, I know you won't want to hear this. I know you won't."
"Try me." Harry said, beginning a slow walk.
"I don't know how to put it." Ron started, looking at his feet."I've been feeling this weird thing in me."
"Weird thing?" Harry asked, looking at Ron, "How weird?"
"Very weird, Harry. When I'm talking to you, I get happy." Ron started again, moving his hands, trying to explain happy.
"You mean happy as in?" Harry cut in again, trying to read Ron's body language. It seemed quite sissy.
"Can you let me talk here? I'm trying real hard." Ron cut in, stopping in his tracks. Harry put up his hands in self-defence and muttered a sorry before continuing his walk. "I meant happy as in real happy. I... I... I like you Harry."
"I like you too, Ron." Harry replied, smiling at his best friend.
"No, not that kind of like." Ron replied, shaking his head. "THAT kind. You get what I mean?"
"No, I don't" Harry said, beginning to get confused. "What other kind of like do you me-"
"Yes." Ron answered when he saw that Harry had finally got his point. Harry looked up at Ron for a minute before turning to look out the castle windows. He could see some first years tickling the giant squid. He just couldn't accept it. How can his bestfriend be, gay? He knew he wasn't but how was he to say that to Ron? Wait. If Ron liked him, it doesn't mean he had to return the like, the love. Just thinking about the word love in this relationship made him shudder. So, he just had to tell Ron. He turned around to say something when he saw that Ron wasn't there anymore. He wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Back in the commonroom, Ron was not in sight either. There was a first year propped on an armchair with a really big book by the fireplace. It reminded Harry strongly of Hermione.
"Did you -" Harry began but stopped, turned and ran up the steps to the boys dormiteries. He burst through the door, startling Seamus and Neville who were talking.
"Did either of you see Ron?" He asked, panting loudly.
"Nope. Wasn't he with you?" Seamus asked, standing up. Harry shook his head and entered the room, wiping sweat off his brows. He shouldn't have kept quiet at all, he thought, sitting on his bed. Did Ron sleep with him on purpose? He asked himself, recalling the nights events. He grabbed his pillow and hugged it.
"Do you want us to look for him too?" Neville offered, standing up too, spilling the box of berttie botts every flavour bean which was on his lap. He didn't bother to pick it up.
"No thanks, Neville." Harry panted, standing up and leaving the room. "I'll find him myself."
In Charms that day, Ron was sitting far from Harry. He sat with Hermione right at the back of the class. Harry got stuck with Seamus who kept bombing him with questions about Hermione.
"Stop it, Seamus. We'll get caught talking." Harry cut in as Seamus began asking him another question.
"Oh, sorry." Seamus apologized, turning to face Professor Flitwick. Harry turned round to look at Ron who was looking gloomy and playing with his wand tip. He then turned to Hermione who shrugged at him. He turned back to face Professor Flitwick, not wanting to get caught. When class ended, the first thing he did was run up to Ron who was trying to slip away.
"Ronald Weasley, what is your problem?" Harry demanded, grabbing onto both of Ron's shoulders, shaking him hard.
"Let go of me. I just want to get out of here." Ron cried, pushing Harry away and running off. Harry made no move in chasing after Ron. It seemed that their friendship was on the rocks and he was going to save it even if it cost him his life.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you people are reading this, it probably means you reviewed. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. I got chapter 5 up too but i'm not putting it up yet. HAHA. And im also not telling you what i put in chapter 5. So, read and find out ok?