Part Four

Harry made his way down, stopping at the base of the stairs; from there he could survey the entire party. He laughed as Seamus still stripped down to his boxers, was leading the remaining Gryffindor's in a raucous chorus of 'Wild Thing' complete with air guitar and the screams of an appreciative audience.

As he continued to watch the free entertainment, he noticed Ron in a similar situation as he had been. Trapped against the couch by another, except this person was very much awake.

Part of Harry was just content to watch Ron squirm, but the need to rescue his friend was a much stronger force to wrestle with and sent him almost catapulting across the room at the barest hint of trouble.

Ron had squeezed himself so far into the corner he was in peril of being sucked into the cushions or at least that's how he hoped it would happen. Harry had deserted him, so had Ginny and now he was live bait for the one person he was in no mood to 'chat' with, Marcus.

He'd had a splendid game, where they'd wiped the pitch with those cheating Slytherin's. Had found himself alone with the usually obnoxious Draco Malfoy, only to be congratulated on the thrashing of his team mates and then praised on how hard he must have worked over the summer, saying he should be captain.

Oh god how he wanted to tell Harry about that. Malfoy was most definitely up to no good. This must be his latest attempt to worm his way under his skin, he was like some rash…you just had to scratch; he was inescapable.

Instead of Harry, he had Marcus and there was no way he'd mention Draco to him. Marcus would probably thump Draco for even speaking to him. He was that possessive of Ron. So why wasn't he thinking that was a good idea? This was Draco after all. Would be nice to have his own personal goon only too willing to do his bidding.

Ron couldn't possibly do a thing like that because he wasn't wired that way. Besides, then Marcus would demand something in return and that was not a road Ron ever intended to take.

So he had to wait until Harry showed up. He just had to, as it was an unwritten rule that his friend was around to rescue him from the advances of others like Marcus. So Ron had no choice but to hope that Harry would appear. Oh god please Harry. Where the hell are you?

Marcus had been going on about something, he really hadn't been listening that closely. The odd word filtered through every so often, "He was so impressed…" "One so young …" "Talented…" "Could be the best he'd ever had the pleasure of watching…"

Whatever, it was always the same drivel consisting of ample doses of self-love upon ego. Oh yeah they were the same thing.

Ron resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Marcus took liberty not only to bore him silly, but place his hands on his body as well. Slowly he'd been maneuvered across the couch until he had nowhere to run.

"Harry?" he screamed in his head. If he had the balls he would have just shoved Marcus away from him and told him in no uncertain terms to back the hell off. It wasn't that he was a coward…okay he was when it came to Marcus Kelgarr but, his temper was legendary and not one person was brave enough to cross the guy.

"Ron, you know how I feel, so let's drop…"

"No… STOP. RIGHT. THERE." Ron abruptly shouted. It took all his will not to just run right then.

Goddamn it, now Marcus chooses to be direct. Ron could practically see the thunder rolling over Marcus's face. Those handsome contours shrouded in shadow. Oh Shit.

"I'm sorry, really. I just don't feel that way about uh, other males. I'm strictly a boy who chases after girls kinda guy." He babbled, grinning with false bravado.

Marcus was adding nothing, but a stony silence. The clouds above were thick, nasty looking and suffocating him with malicious glee. Ron was stealing himself for the first blow, but it never came.

Instead Harry came, a little late, but at least he had arrived.

"Harry!" Ron announced. Finally the moment had come where he could get off the couch. He half expected Marcus to sit on him so that he wouldn't move, but he didn't stop him at all. As an alternative to carnage he sneered viciously at Harry.

Harry in turn flinched at the chilly expression. Not knowing why he deserved such open hostility.

"It's him then?" Marcus barked, jabbing a finger in Harry's direction.

"What?" Ron scowled. He had backed up till he was as close to the roaring fire, crackling seductively in the grate as he dared. The warmth seeped into his bones…it was heaven. He knew one thing; he had lost interest in what Marcus was going on about. He sighed in absolute bliss.

A log in the fire collapsed sending up a shower of sparks. One touched him on the side of the neck. "Ouch!!" he winced, lurching forward as he rubbed his scorched skin vigorously, throwing nasty looks at the fire crackling behind him.

Both Harry and Marcus rushed forward. Ron noticed Marcus's approach and held out his hand, palm up. "I'm alright, will you stop this, nothings going to happen between us." He scowled. Why wasn't he getting through to him?

Marcus paused so suddenly in his pursuit that Harry crashed into his backside. He whipped around and grasped a handful of Harry's shirt, yanking him forward until they were nose to nose. He growled, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Harry's eyes widened in alarm, he desperately struggled to get out of his clutches but to no avail. Marcus's hands were like iron manacles, the more he strained against his hold, the more they seemed to tighten.

Marcus was actually trying to throttle him with his own shirt…in a room full of witnesses. Then just as suddenly as it had begun, he was released. The shock was so great that Harry's knees buckled and he collapsed onto the floor.

Harry remained on the floor, his heart pounding in his chest. He listened as the entire room fell silent and Marcus's boots could be heard moving away from him and out of the Gryffindor common room.

"Well that was fun. I suppose I deserved that for sending him on a nonexistent errand after Dumbledore. Surprised I got off that lightly really" he panted, wiping a hand over his forehead to eliminate the cold sweat that made him want to shiver in disgust. He'd cowered in front of the enemy and Harry Potter did no such thing.

A lightly freckled hand came into view and without looking up he seized it with his own. Beaming up at his best friend, he let Ron haul him to his feet.

"Harry?" Ron slid a hand over his shoulder, patting it awkwardly.

Harry nodded his head and tried not to concentrate on that warm hand on his skin "I'm fine…bit of excitement," he laughed feebly.

Ron moved back to give his friend some room, "You do know that Dumbledore apparently covered for you. Told him that the talent scout had to leave suddenly and would be back next match."

Harry gaped. "Dumbledore covered for me!" he squeaked in astonishment. He'd have to thank the Headmaster later. If Marcus didn't know the errand was a ruse to get him away from Ron, then why the hell had he been so furious?

Ron watched the emotions play across Harry's face and he knew the question burning in Harry's mind before he even asked. Ron shook his head "I don't know why he attacked you. He was drunk and maybe that had something to do with it."

Harry shrugged. "Maybe…" He whispered, but he doubted it.

Oh, Ron knew why Marcus had been ready to thump Harry into next week. He was insanely jealous; he thought Harry was his lover. It was laughable, but he suspected Harry may not find it as funny.

Ron had known something was up with Harry for awhile now and he believed that Harry may have a small crush on him. In no way would he actually encourage it. Still it was nice to be adored by the likes of Harry Potter. He kinda wished he felt the same way. Men just did nothing for him sexually, a pity really. At least he understood his own sex; women were a complete and utter mystery. They thoroughly baffled him. It was true what that muggle author wrote, we were from other planets. Mars and Venus were never so bloody far apart.

Harry was pacing restlessly between the couch and the fireplace. It only took Ron stepping into his path to snap him out of his racing thoughts. Harry switched his heavy gaze from the floor to Ron. His friend knew more about Marcus's behaviour then he was telling. Why was he lying to him?

He thought about asking, and then decided it could wait for another time, a more appropriate time, when there was less of an audience and more of a chance his friend wouldn't start hurling objects at him. If there was such a perfect moment…this seemed fairly doubtful.

Was Harry even aware that his feelings were that transparent? Ron didn't think so. He felt those eyes studying him intently and the blush that was beginning to infuse his cheeks. He quickly turned and stepped up to the fire's edge. Ron held his hands up to warm his fingers as if he craved the heat. If one thing was certain, heat was the last thing he needed, but it was necessary to mask his flushed face. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass his friend by advertising the fact that 'he knew'. Besides he dreaded the conversation and the possible break up that would certainly come with such knowledge.

Instead he chose to change the topic of conversation. "Come on Harry, we beat Slytherin. Any day we get one up on that lot is a good day indeed." He wasn't quite prepared to leave the safe haven that the fire brought, but the continued moping of his friend was a significant dilemma that was in need of rectifying.

Taking a running jump from fireplace to the couch, he leapt. Ron giggled uncontrollably as the springs made him bounce erratically. Keeping up the momentum he glanced back at Harry and smiled cheekily.

"Hey, you lot. Is this party dead or are you all geriatric farts that need your rest?" he screamed at the room.

He got a lot of drunken muttering back that insisted he, "Shut the hell up."

Ron laughed hysterically at the reply, bouncing higher; had to love these old pieces of furniture, they sure were springy.

Harry had to grin; Ron's enthusiasm was always infectious. He continued to smile as Ron found himself attacked by Seamus, who took a swan dive for his legs, coercing another round of giggles out of him. Once again Ron found himself hoisted on the guy's shoulders and paraded around.

"Aww, Ron we missed you. Where did ya go? Harry here, was particularly upset over your absence."

Harry was still grinning at them when Ron happened to look down at him with a highly amused glint in his eye. It was at that moment that Seamus's words finally sunk in. He could have strangled the Irish git. Harry flustered, his mouth dry, his whole face stained beetroot.

Before Ron had even contemplated about what he was doing, he'd started laughing very loudly, batting his eyes at Harry in an exaggerated feminine manner.

"Oh Harry, I'm so flattered you missed me."

Seamus giggled, twirling him around on his shoulders. Dipping and swaying to music that only he could hear. Ron gripped onto the mop of unruly curls as Seamus lurched all over the room, scattering Gryffindor's every which way as he charged towards them. Ron tugged at the silky strands, winding his fingers in Seamus's hair as he was spun around faster. They were both in endless fits of giggles, a blur of faces in front of their eyes.

Pausing to take a breath, Seamus winked at Harry before taking off around the room again, Harry scowled back at him. Neville was in hot pursuit, a jug of frothy butterbeer clenched in his fist. He had managed to slosh the icy contents on everyone they passed.

There were screams of outrage as squares of cheese attached to potentially lethal sticks were hurled at their heads as they whizzed by.

"Whoa, slow down horsy," Ron gave the hair between his legs a particularly vicious tug. "Can you stop with the spinning, my head still rings from when Goyle smacked me with that darn bludger."

Of course Seamus deliberately ignored Ron's request, he was having far too much fun to envisage stopping now.

"High ho, Silver" he bellowed, managing a fairly deft impression of a whinnying stallion, complete with flared nostrils and hoof pawing at the stone floor. Oh yeah! He was getting ready to charge a group of unsuspecting girls who were whispering in one corner of the room.

He hadn't even started to stampede across to them, when they were both pelted with an avalanche of fruit, vegetables and even a few crackers smeared in pate.

"Oi, who did that?"

A dozen hands shot up and he grinned back, wagging his finger at them in mock anger.

Then suddenly everything was not alright, Seamus's grin fell away and he abruptly staggered violently to the left. Ron clung on, his hands curling tightly around Seamus's forearms.

Seamus was buckling under the strain of having the redhead on his back. A minute later Ron found himself dumped bodily onto the couch. The instant he was free Seamus clapped both hands over his mouth, he looked positively green.

"Oh no…" Ron yelped as Seamus lurched toward him. He scrambled backwards, toppling over the arm as the boy pleaded frantically with his bloodshot eyes.

"No you don't," roared Ron from the floor. "Run, go to the bathrooms. You are not…"

Seamus suddenly doubled over moaning "Oh god… I'm going to…"

"Hurl?" added Neville helpfully.

Seamus nodded harshly and then groaned again.

Harry rushed forward, armed with a silver bowl bursting with crisps. He desperately searched for some place to dump them, when Seamus whimpered quietly, sinking to the floor. Without hesitation Harry tipped the entire contents over the side of the couch and shoved the now empty bowl under Seamus's nose. Just in time as the boy heaved violently.

Ron jumped to his feet "Hey!" he scowled.

He had crisps in his hair, sticking to his clothes. Harry snorted at the indignant look on his friends face. He continued rubbing Seamus's back in a soothing manner as Ron shook a hail of crumbs out of his vibrant hair.

His redheaded friend threw him a glare before registering that Seamus was close by busy throwing up. His face wrinkled in repulsion "Oh, that's disgusting."

Harry snorted again "Well, yeah…"