Ron thought that they might have been winning people over with their arguments for a while there. They reminded the other Houses that Gryffindor had fought to protect all of them, laying aside the usual House rivalry in the emergency. They had established that the main emotion running through the demands that Harry be expelled, or the Houses split from each other permanently for their own protection, was fear. The Prefects had managed to shoot down the most ridiculous rumours and reassure the more fearful students that they were not living with traitors and people who were about to murder them in their beds.
Millicent Bulstrode was too stupid to offer either himself or his friend much competition when it came to a debate, and the rest of the houses were at least listening. There were a few people talking together, mainly discussing what was being said. The other Prefects seemed happy to let Harry take the brunt of the students fear and anger, which made Ron a little mad until he realised that Harry was better qualified to answer the accusations being thrown around. He actually thought they were winning until Crabbe spoke up.
"They killed Diggory," Crabbe's words rolled across the Hall, and Ron watched with a sinking heart as his best friend went pale. He felt a flash of pride when Harry lifted his chin and looked Crabbe in the eye.
"Yes, they did."
The quiet words silenced another round of whispers, and Ron bit his lip as Harry began to speak haltingly of the night that Cedric Diggory was killed by Peter Pettigrew at Riddle's command. He always suspected that Harry had faced some torture, not to mention the responsibility that he must have felt that the student had died simply because he wasn't Harry. His heart grew cold as Harry described the way Voldemort had been returned to his body, and he sent all the strength he could to his shaky partner when the end of the tale came around.
The students sat in silence. There were a few in tears, and even the Slytherin table was obviously thinking about what had been said. Ron honestly couldn't tell what was going to happen now, but he knew that they had to make some kind of decision here. The school would not survive a rift between the Houses, and the teachers would not be able to force unity upon them. This was something they had to do for themselves.
"I don't know what Professor Dumbledore intends to do," Harry sighed at last, breaking the silence. Ron could see that the prospect of Hogwarts closing forever was truly depressing his partner, "I don't know how he'll keep you all safe. But I know that if we tear the school apart from the inside we're doing Riddle's work for him - and I don't want any part of that."
"So this is what we should do," Hermione spoke up suddenly, "We stick together. We abolish the House tables - everyone should mix in together at meals and lessons."
"What about Quidditch?" someone asked, while Ron admired the rather daring proposition. It would solve the immediate problem, though the threat of Tom Riddle would loom over them all until he was defeated forever. Harry laughed, drawing Ron's eyes once more. His partner looked so sexy up there, so strong and resolved.
"If you think I'm not going to compete the hardest I can in our next match against Hufflepuff, you need to wake up," the response had people laughing lightly, and Hermione sent him a slightly cross look. The mood had changed though; Ron thought they were winning here.
"To sum up," Ron spoke before she could, "We agree to unite the school in lessons and free time. We agree not to go off the deep end the next time Riddle makes a move against us. We agree to fight together."
"We agree!" Gryffindor put their hands up. They glared at the other Houses, daring them to take the challenge up, to reunite the school.
"We agree," to Ron's shock the Slytherin House was next, raising their hands unanimously. Ron had expected the students that had Death Eaters for parents would choose not to join their push for unity. Malfoy's hand was as high as anybody's and Ron made a mental note to keep an eye on the slimy git.
"We agree," Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined the consensus, and Ron smiled up at his very pale and relieved partner.
0oo0oo0
"You were marvellous," Ron licked around Harry's ear, and his partner snorted. They were lying on their bed, their clothes dropped in a pile by the door, stripped off in a hurry while they kissed frantically, bodies rubbing sensuously.
"Aren't you supposed to say that after you've shagged me?" Harry's hands were gripping Ron's naked hips. Ron laughed and leaned back, making his partner growl and reach up to yank him down again.
"I meant you were marvellous talking them into unifying the school," Ron sucked on Harry's shoulder, their hips pushing together in slow rhythm.
"Mmmmmm," Harry purred and wrapped a leg around him, more interested in the way their dicks were rubbing slowly together than any evaluation of his public speaking abilities. Ron gave up, moving to balance himself and drive the rhythm forward, sending them into a gasping, writhing frenzy that seemed to last forever and yet end too quickly.
"Marvellous," Harry gasped for breath and Ron snorted into his neck, slipping to one side just enough to let Harry breathe. Ron petted the sweat and fluid covered body he was laying on tenderly, reaching up to play with messy dark hair as well.
"This term hasn't been much fun, has it?" he muttered, and Harry sighed, catching the hand that was stroking his chest. The dark head turned on its pillow and Ron's fingers were massaged gently.
"The last five minutes were bloody good," green eyes twinkled at Ron, "We're together and that's good too. It's alright, Ron."
"Harry," Ron let go, rolled over and sat up, running a hand through his own hair, "You've been nearly killed, Snape's gone all bizarre on us, and the school wants to kick you out. How can that be alright?"
"Because you git," Harry sat up too and straddled Ron's lap easily, grabbing his startled friend by the ears and kissing him passionately. Ron clutched the warm body in his lap and moaned into the hot mouth that was trying to excavate his tonsils. Harry pulled back gasping and fixed him with a very solid look.
"I didn't die, and neither did you. Snape's always been twisted in some way, and the school isn't going to kick me out," he said firmly, and Ron grinned weakly. There was no resisting Harry when he was like this - so sexy, focussed and determined. He felt certain bits that Harry was sitting on perk up and take notice. From the look on Harry's face his partner had noticed too.
"Good point," Ron nodded, "Let's talk about something else."
"I wasn't planning on bloody talking," Harry growled and wriggled suggestively.
"Yeah? What were you planning?" Ron asked and laughed when Harry pounced on him, knocking him flat and giving a very detailed demonstration of his plan.
0oo0oo0
Harry followed his friend as Ron led the way over to the Hufflepuff table and sat down beside Justin Finch-Fletchley, stacking their plates while Harry fished out the money for the owl. Beth Dunn was sitting over at the Ravenclaw table, and Hermione had settled rather pointedly at the Slytherin table with Ginny, Neville, Seamus and Dean. A brief glance at the teacher's tables showed that the staff was rather bemused at this turn of events. Dumbledore was smiling a little though, and Harry turned his attention back to the people around him. They were nervous, that much was obvious, and one or two were seated in their habitual spots, glaring around defiantly.
"Morning Potter," Malfoy's voice sounded in his ear and Harry forced himself not to move as the Slytherin Prefect took the empty seat beside him. Thankfully the owl from the Daily Prophet landed then, hooting reproachfully at them for moving from their usual spot.
"Get used to it, we'll be moving around a lot," Harry told it firmly and paid, taking the paper and handing it to Ron, who was scraping eggs onto toast for them both. Harry was aware of the waiting presence next to him, and was also aware that Malfoy would use the slightest hint of reluctance on Harry's part - real or imagined - to sabotage their plan before it started.
"Morning Malfoy," Harry replied politely, glancing over at the pale sneering face, "What's in the paper, Ron?"
Their hands were knotted together, though Ron was doing his best not to make nasty comments that would force a reaction from Harry. They both knew that they'd be the ones under the most scrutiny - Harry because of who the students thought he was, and Ron because he was always at Harry's side. Harry took a bite of his eggs and toast, leaving Malfoy to his own devices.
"They're going to try and get the Seven Nations Cup put on next year instead," Ron spoke with his mouth full, but Harry was able to decipher that fairly easily after nearly nine months together. Malfoy, however, laughed unpleasantly, and Harry quelled his irritation with the boy.
"What was that, Weasley?" Malfoy laughed, and Crabbe and Goyle joined in with the noise. Malfoy's thugs had been made to sit across from them all. It was not a sight that was conducive to a healthy appetite, and Harry wondered spitefully if that was how Malfoy stayed so thin, despite all the sweets and things that his mother sent every week. Despite Harry's naming of Lucius Malfoy as a Death Eater there hadn't been any long-term changes in Malfoy's attitude or apparent circumstances.
"He said that the Department of Magical Games and Sports has rescheduled the Seven Nations Cup for next year," Harry translated. Malfoy's sneer evaporated and he leaned in for a look. Ron's disgust and sympathy rippled over Harry's palm, and he grinned at his partner lightly.
"Potter," Snape's voice sounded from behind them, and Harry felt the smile dry up as he turned to face the Potions master. The man was standing slightly to one side and holding a thin book in his hands.
"Yes Professor Snape?" Harry asked, dropping his toast onto the paper to take the book when Snape held it out.
"You and Weasley will have read this carefully by Sunday," Snape swept away without further conversation, and Harry sighed, handing Ron the book and picking his toast back up. Malfoy was staring at them curiously.
"You're really doing remedial potions?" he asked, and for once there didn't seem to be a sneer in his voice, which was odd because this was prime sneering material. Ron bristled anyway, and Harry soothed him with a soft caress.
"We asked Professor Snape to give us extra tuition this term," Harry replied in a flat voice, and Malfoy sneered finally, displaying the attitude that Harry had expected of him. Breakfast was over by then thankfully, and Harry went to Charms with only the front page read and not much appetite for dinner.
This practice of unity was going to be a lot harder than he thought if Malfoy was going to be so subtly undermining him every time they met.
0oo0oo0
The book that Professor Snape had given them was a handwritten journal. It looked well read - probably by Snape - and the first thing Ron did was make a copy of it for their own use. Madam Pince had helped him do it when he explained to her that he didn't want to risk anything happening to one of the teachers' personal books.
Harry had hit his borrowing limit at the library while Ron had worked with Madam Pince, collecting the advanced potion texts that they would need to understand what the journal was telling them, and Ron ended up going back for a series of spell books that tied in with the subject matter.
Hermione was fascinated by the journal, but had no time to read it, as the first and second years were being a little fractious in response to the sudden unity that the school was trying to practice. She was also working under the usual heavy end of year workload, revising for exams already, and nagging Harry and Ron about it. They also had a heavy homework load, Quidditch finals coming up, and Snape wasn't letting them off the potions homework either. Both teens were working late into the night in order to fully understand what the potion in the journal was trying to tell them, which meant they were low on sleep.
The match against Hufflepuff was one of the shortest in Hogwarts history, as Harry caught the snitch in the first fifteen seconds of the match in order to give himself and Ron more study time. They were due to see Snape first thing Sunday morning and hadn't finished reviewing the planning for the casting portion of brewing under the journals instructions. There was a slightly disappointed tone to the cheers from Gryffindor - no doubt his Housemates felt a little let down, as the quaffle hadn't even made it more than a third of the way down the pitch.
Ron and Harry hurried through the showers in the Gryffindor change rooms and then hurried back to their studies, taking their books to a dark corner of the library to avoid the rest of their House. The last match of the season for Gryffindor was just before the exams, as Hufflepuff would be playing Slytherin next for third place in the cup, and then Ravenclaw would play Gryffindor to decide second and first place.
Sunday morning was bright and Ron wished that they were allowed to go out and sit around the grounds to study like so many of their friends had. Instead he trailed Harry down to the dungeons, with Hermione in tow behind them. Snape met them in the usual classroom and waved them to seats.
"Well?" he held out a hand and Ron fished out the journal, returning it to the Professor before fishing out their copy and putting it in front of them. Snape scowled but didn't protest the copy - probably relieved that he wouldn't have to risk his in the brewing.
"It's a potion to make synthetic Phoenix tears," Ron tapped their copy in its dark blue cover, "Tears of the Phoenix has been designed for Healers to use under controlled circumstances to heal the worst magical maladies that the Wizarding world faces."
"Due to the fact that real Phoenix tears are unstable, and only last for a few seconds outside the body of the Phoenix - unless they are placed directly in a wound - their use by Healers has been limited. Supply cannot meet demand, as it takes considerable effort for the Phoenix to produce the tears. Additionally, Fawkes is the only Phoenix currently choosing to live with a Wizard, which means that the Healers have to petition for his assistance each time," Harry completed the summation of their research, and Ron took up the thread again.
"Tears of the Phoenix can only be brewed by use of Sympathetic Magic as it requires more strength than any one Wizard possesses, and multiple, simultaneous uses of magic as well. According to the journal it also requires favourable conjunctions of several natural forces, which occur once every two months. We are entering the beginning of that time now," he bit back a smile at the cold-eyed stare that Snape was directing them, and the excited gaze of Hermione. She probably didn't know that they could research like that, after years of nagging them to read more and study harder.
"Very well," Snape gestured sharply to the door that led into his private workspace. Slytherin students had been in there once or twice - Ron was fairly sure that Malfoy worked in there as Snape's assistant on a regular basis - but as far as Ron knew no one from their house had been inside.
There was a cauldron set over a low hearth, suspended in the middle of the round chamber by chains hanging from the ceiling. There was a bench nearby, scarred and pitted with years of use, which contained the ingredients necessary for the brewing of the potion. Ron conjured up a small bookstand to hold their copy of the journal and watched as Harry reviewed the ingredients.
They had decided last night that Harry would take care of the preparation and Ron would control the brewing, with both of them setting the wards they would need to control and protect the cauldron and their audience. If this potion worked they'd have to find a private place where they could brew it on a regular basis for St Mungo's - but that was in the future. They had to prove that they could brew it correctly first.
"We call on the four winds…" Ron raised his wand, pointing it at the cauldron and beginning the first of the incantations that this potion required.
0oo0oo0
The twelve crystal decanters glowed softly in the light from the torches, the miniature Phoenix's inside swirling and reforming over and over - proof that they had correctly followed the journals instructions. The potion itself was an iridescent white, and Harry whispered the last of the stasis sealing charms over the decanters before stepping back and letting go of their focus gently. Ron put an arm around Harry's waist and he leaned into the touch, tired but delighted that they had succeeded.
"Thank you," the voice was soft and sincere, and didn't sound like Snape at all. Harry blinked over at the Potions master and then nodded politely. Hermione moved over to them and hugged them both. Harry had caught a glimpse of her reading over Snape's shoulder as they brewed, so he knew that she had at least followed their progress if not understanding why they did it the way they did.
"You'd best go to the kitchens and eat," Snape moved forward, "I have already warned the house elf's to be watching for you. I will tell you tomorrow if the potion was potent."
Harry nodded and Ron stirred, leaning in to drop a kiss on his cheek before letting go and heading for the door. Harry heard his partner's stomach growl and grinned at Hermione, though he was starving too. Hermione rolled her eyes and fell into step with them.
"That was so…" she trailed off, and Harry took her hand without thinking, smiling at her when she glanced at him in astonishment. It felt good to reach out, and he knew that he was safe to do so with Hermione. She wouldn't hurt him, and she knew that his relationship with Ron was solid. She squeezed his fingers warmly.
"Impressive? Bloody brilliant? Wicked?" Ron tossed the suggestions over his shoulder as he led the way to the kitchen. Harry tipped Hermione a warning wink and added his own suggestion.
"Sexy?"
"Sexy!" Hermione agreed instantly while Ron stumbled in surprise and then turned around. He glared at their joined hands and came back to slip his arm around Harry's waist again.
"Sexy?" he purred in Harry's ear, and the dark haired boy felt a treacherous stir of interest below the waist. He flushed and cleared his throat while Hermione went into gales of laughter, stumbling on the flagstones and having to balance herself on the wall.
"Come on, I'm hungry," Harry told them both and Ron tickled his waist lightly as they reached the portrait with the bowl of fruit. Hermione tickled the pear and they went in. Dobby was waiting for them, and ushered them to a small table in a corner. The main hearth was burning merrily, and there was an empty stool sitting to one side of it.
"Dobby, what happened to Winky?" Harry asked, remembering the miserably ashamed house elf that had once served the late Barty Crouch. Dobby sighed sadly and shook his head.
"Winky went to Azkaban to stay with her masters son," he looked up at Harry unhappily, "Winky would not listen to Dobby, or to Professor Dumbledore. Poor Winky is in a very bad place."
"I'm sorry Dobby," Harry said rather uselessly, "I didn't know that they'd sent Crouch back to Azkaban. I thought that they'd put him in St Mungo's."
"Minister Fudge wouldn't let them!" Dobby looked positively incensed, "It was cruel!"
The other house elves were nodding in agreement, though none of them spoke up. Hermione had tears in her eyes, and Ron was sitting with his hands in his lap, his face rather pale.
"Is there anything we can do?" he asked, "Maybe get a petition going like we did to shut up that Skeeter skag."
Dobby shook his head and several of the house elves managed rather watery smiles.
"Master Wheezy is very kind," Dobby patted the redhead on the knee, "Winky has made her choice to stay with her master. We is having to accept that. Master Wheezy should eat before it gets cold."
Harry felt his appetite return after the first few mouthfuls and knew that Ron was feeling better when his friend's foot hooked around his ankle under the table.
0oo0oo0
On their regular Monday afternoon session, Professor Snape had sneered at them that the potion was 'adequate' and that they were expected in the Headmasters office. Ron had waited until they were halfway there before airing his opinion of their potion master.
"Ron," Harry shook his head. The redhead subsided, aware that Harry was pale and tired still, though Ron had woken feeling refreshed this morning. He hoped that Snape didn't have any other terribly difficult potions to brew between now and the end of term.
"Sorry mate," Ron shook his head, "Its just… we bust a gut to get that bloody stuff made up for him and he doesn't even… forget it, it's not important. You still feeling tired?"
"Yeah," Harry' response was kind of hesitant and Ron stopped him with a hand to his arm. He looked his friend over carefully and frowned. Harry was biting his lips to keep from crying out, his eyes miserable.
"What's wrong?" he asked bluntly, and Harry's fingers crept up to the scar hidden behind his messy fringe. Ron sighed and reached up to touch the scar himself, stopping when he heard footsteps. Malfoy appeared around the corner, alone for a change, and Ron bit back a scowl. This whole unity thing was starting to be a drag - it was easier to simply hate Malfoy than be friendly with him, but for Harry's sake he'd try. There had been no further call for his partner to be sent away from the school and with a bit of luck they'd heard the last of that stupid idea.
"What are you two doing here?" Malfoy asked them, and Ron rolled his eyes. The blonde git just never gave up. He sat with them at meals; he hung around them in the library. Ron didn't think it was out of any desire to become friends or turn away from his fathers Death Eater friends, he figured Malfoy was spying on them for his father and made sure not to give away any of their secrets when the Slytherin Prefect was near. This made for somewhat stilted mealtime conversations, but was better than the alternative. He and Harry had stopped discussing their personal life or plans in public altogether, speaking of the house and their future only when alone together behind a spelled door.
"We've been told to go to Professor Dumbledore," Ron replied, letting Malfoy think that they were in trouble. His idea succeeded when the pale eyes lit up gleefully, though Malfoy didn't make any comment on it. Harry simply turned and started walking again, and Ron followed along in his friends wake happily, part of him wishing that the uniform robes didn't hide the body of the wearer so effectively. When Malfoy walked along with them, Ron reversed that opinion, glad that the blonde didn't know what a sexy body was hidden under the billowing black cloth.
"We're here to see the Headmaster," Harry put a hand on the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's tower, as neither of them knew the password. Ron grinned when it nodded and stepped aside, revealing the moving stairs. Malfoy hung back, earning himself a nasty glare from the stone thing, as Ron and Harry disappeared up the tower. Once out of sight, Ron moved to hold Harry in his arms, reaching up warm fingers to massage the back of Harry's neck, trying to ease the pain.
"I wish I could do something for you," Ron fretted as Harry sighed and leaned into him heavily. He felt warm lips press a kiss to his neck and smiled into the dark hair. Touch was their most vital connection, and he was relieved that Harry could ask for it when he needed to. The top of the stairs approached and Ron turned Harry around enough to get him off safely, before heading them slowly for the door. He could hear Fawkes inside, trilling to the Headmaster, and the door opened as they reached it. Dumbledore looked very worried and Ron shuffled them forward, heading for the couch that they'd sat on to listen to Legales tell Harry about his estate.
"His scar is hurting him again," Ron got them settled, his fingers rubbing Harry's neck again and feeling a little of the tension seep away. Dumbledore made a humming noise and sat in the armchair opposite them, looking concerned. Harry sighed after a long moment and sat up, a little shaky but with more colour in his face than before.
"Riddle is angry. I think that he's discovered a traitor in his ranks," Harry told them shakily, "It's not Snape, though, I get the face of a woman."
"Is she in his hands?" Dumbledore leaned forward and Harry shook his head, clutching Ron's fingers. Dumbledore looked over at Fawkes who disappeared with a bright flash. Ron figured that the Phoenix was going to warn the spy, whoever she was, and smiled at his friend in encouragement.
"Professor Snape tells me that you have successfully brewed Tears of the Phoenix yesterday," Dumbledore smiled over at them, "That is an extraordinary accomplishment, boys. Tears of the Phoenix may be used to alleviate the bite of a werewolf, and I have persuaded the Healers at St Mungo's to contact Professor Lupin for trial treatments."
Ron felt Harry brighten beside him and beamed happily. Lupin was the last of the Marauders and Harry had always been a little concerned about his health. The life of a werewolf was a stressful one. Dumbledore conjured a tea tray onto the low table in front of them and Ron leaned over to make Harry a cup of tea. Harry didn't like to be fussed over as a rule, but Ron could usually get away with it.
"You wanted to see us, Headmaster?" Ron asked when he was sure that Harry was settled comfortably. Dumbledore was watching them with a twinkle in his eye and Ron wondered what was so amusing.
"Yes, I wanted to speak to you about your plans for the summer," the blue eyes crinkled at the corners, "I understand you're planning to build a house?"
"Yes," Harry nodded, "We're going to camp in the garden while its built, and live like Muggles for the holidays. Riddle won't find us there."
"An excellent plan," Dumbledore held up a hand and some of the tension Ron and Harry felt was eased. For a horrible moment Ron had thought that the Headmaster was going to veto their plans, "I have a few suggestions to make your holidays a little more comfortable."
0oo0oo0
"I'm knackered," Harry complained, throwing himself down onto the grass. Ron dropped his bag beside him and dropped down in an untidy heap, "Exams suck."
"You sure don't," Ron griped, and Harry rolled onto his back, fixing Ron with a weak glare. They'd been interrupted this morning and Ron had been in a foul mood all day. Harry's Tarot exam with Trelawny had been rather difficult as a result when it predicted a turbulent time with a lover, and she had become all interested and enthusiastic.
"That was not my choice," he reminded his friend, "As I recall I wanted to keep going and you got all paranoid."
Flynn had made a lot of noise to get them to open the window and Ron had been worried that their fellow Housemates had heard the racket. He'd lost interest in their bed play and by the time he'd been talked around the breakfast signal had sounded and Harry had reluctantly peeled himself away to get dressed. They couldn't afford to miss a meal, as they were both still being watched closely by their fellow students.
"Do I want to know?" Hermione asked and Harry laughed as Ron went bright red and shook his head frantically. Deciding to tease his lover just a little Harry sat up and pouted.
"He wouldn't let me play with my favourite toy," he whined to Hermione, who also went red when she realised what he meant and hit him in the arm. Harry flopped back onto the grass, rubbing his arm and laughing at their splutters.
"You'll get yours," Ron muttered and Hermione gasped, laughing so hard she joined Harry on the grass when Ron realised what he'd said and moaned, hiding his face.
"That's the plan!" Harry gasped out, and Hermione rolled so she was face down, screaming with laughter. Harry went into fresh convulsions watching her, and Ron shook his head, tears streaming down his face. The jokes weren't that funny, but the release felt good.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" she shrieked, "I don't want to know!"
"Aw Hermy!" Ron wheezed, "Why not?"
She buried her face in the grass and howled, with Harry curling up to relieve the stitch in his side from laughter. Ron flopped onto his back, one out flung hand landing on Harry's. The sun was blocked out for a moment and Harry squinted up at the person standing over them.
"Something funny?" Cho Chang asked, and Harry sobered up a little, sitting up to regain his breath while Hermione hiccupped in laughter and Ron's laughter trailed off into a series of snorts.
"Not really," he wiped the tears from under his glasses and took a few shaky breaths, "Just something silly."
"Oh," Chang looked confused, but brushed that aside, "Can I talk to you Harry?"
"Sure," Harry nodded, and realised that she meant alone when she looked impatient. He got up, using Ron's shoulder as a crutch, letting his fingers reassure his partner that he'd be right back. He left his bag with his friends, sticking his hands in his pockets and walking along at Cho's side, wandering past other groups of students who had come out to enjoy the June sunshine.
They walked past the low to the ground window that let light into Snape's personal brewing chamber. He and Ron had brewed the Tears of the Phoenix twice since they'd first been given Snape's journal, and moved on to other potions that were just as difficult and complex. Harry was actually enjoying the extra lessons more than their usual class, perhaps because he was able to work so closely with Ron. Harry noticed that there were no other students around now, and looked at Cho who was biting her lip as she walked around the lake with him.
"You know, if you ask to speak to someone you usually need to actually talk to them," Harry prodded a little impatiently. They had to study tonight, and he knew that Cho was taking NEWTS this year, so her workload must have been enormous.
"Oh," she dithered a moment, glancing at him and flushing, "Um, I… I wanted to talk to you… about what you said in the Great Hall."
"When you were trying to get the rest of the school to kick me out," Harry nodded, not at all ashamed when she coloured at the jibe and gave him a miserable glance.
"You told us about…" Cho trailed off again. Harry realised what she was hinting at and sighed. He really didn't want to talk this over again.
"About Cedric," Harry kept his voice flat and unemotional, "About how he died and what Voldemort did to me."
"Yes," Cho's whisper was dry, and Harry shook his head in anger. He had told her last year he didn't want to discuss this, and still she was pushing.
"I said all I'm going to say that evening," he told her, stopping short and turning to face her, "Look, I'm sorry you lost your boyfriend, but I'm not going to relive that night for you over and over. I didn't exactly have fun the first time it happened, and every time someone makes me tell it I live through the whole thing over and again in my sleep for weeks. I know that's incredibly selfish of me, and I'm sorry but you'll just have to deal with it, ok?"
He stomped away from her wide eyes and pale face, heading back to his partner, the laughter of the afternoon wiped away by an ugly memory and past pain.
0oo0oo0
Ron didn't know what Cho Chang had said to Harry to make him look that grim, but he knew better than to force his partner to sit through a 'unified' dinner. He gave Hermione the high sign and Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table for dinner surrounded by his Housemates. Malfoy joined them at the Gryffindor table, but was far enough away not to be able to needle them with his oh so casual questions and subtle digs. Hermione was sitting opposite them with Neville, who was telling them about the offer Professor Sprout had made to let him work in the school greenhouses for a part of the summer holidays. The positive comments from the Gryffindor Housemates drowned out the snide comments from Malfoy and Harry seemed to revive a little over pudding.
Ron glanced up at the staff table as they were leaving and Hagrid beckoned him over. He handed Ron a slip of paper and the Gryffindor Prefect stuffed the parchment in his pocket with a grin. From the twinkle in the half giants eyes the parchment contained good news. He hoped it was something that would cheer Harry up, because the pale face and dark circles under the green eyes were beginning to alarm Ron.
"What are we looking at tonight?" Harry asked in a tired voice as they climbed the stairs and Ron shook his head. He thought that tonight should be spent together, cuddling if that was all Harry was in the mood for. Despite his earlier complaints about his current lack of a sex life, Ron was happy to just be with Harry.
"Charms," Hermione spoke over her shoulder and Neville groaned, shaking his head. The Charms work had gotten more and more intricate - and next year they were facing setting protective wards, a tricky proposition as Harry and Ron had learned. They split up to get their books and Ron pulled the piece of parchment out of his pocket.
"Hagrid wants to see us at ten," he told Harry, "He's cleared it with the Headmaster and we have to take this with us to keep Filch off our necks."
"Ok," Harry sighed and Ron glanced at the closed door. He leaned in close and gave Harry a gentle kiss, smiling against slightly chapped lips when Harry wrapped himself around Ron and held on tight, returning the kiss slowly. Ron's fingers offered to lock the door and hide in here until it was time to go see Hagrid, but Harry vetoed the idea, insisting that they study.
"Stuck with me," Ron muttered into Harry's ear, hanging on tightly, and Harry nodded. Ron held on for a moment more and then let go, letting Harry step back and pull his Charms books off the shelves.
They told Hermione and Neville about the appointment, and at ten precisely they walked out onto the front steps, moving down the path by the light of the full moon.
"Harry!" a voice called and Ron turned with his partner to look at the thin careworn man standing in front of Hagrid's hut. Ron broke into a huge grin, glancing up at the full moon and then back at his partner. Harry was glowing.
"It worked," he whispered and Ron nodded, turning to look at Remus Lupin, standing in the worn blue robes that he'd worn the last time they saw him, the full moon shining down and totally not affecting him at all.
"It worked!" Harry yelled and ran forward to hug the last of the Marauders. Lupin pounded Harry on the back, and Hagrid loomed from the shadows of his hut, beaming widely. Ron laughed and reached out to pat Lupin on the shoulder, genuinely pleased that their potion had been able to help the man.
"It worked!" Harry laughed, turning to hug Ron close and knocking him over, "It worked!"
"Geeze mate!" Ron hugged Harry back and wriggled out from under. Whatever Cho had said to Harry was totally obliterated by the smile on Harry's face, and the pride in his eyes. Their hard work had paid off and the reward was one of the best things that they could ever ask for. The end of year tests would be over in a few days and then they had the summer to look forward to.
Ron was shaken out of his thoughts when Harry and Hagrid seized a hand each, their other wrapped around Lupin's fingers. He danced in the circle with them, chanting 'it worked' over and over until they lost their breath and had to sit down, beaming at each other in the light of the full moon.
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