Further warnings: this is just a totally worthless bit of (sometimes sappy) fluff! Time the boys relaxed, had a bit of fun, a lot of sex and started looking to the future… PS - I know that a total neophyte can't read a manual and then get onto a motorbike without having at least a few problems…but we are talking magic here…
Sympathetic Magic: Part Five - Summer Holidays
"Are you sure you want to do it this way?" Molly Weasley's kind face was a little concerned, and Ron smiled at his mum with affection. Always in the back of his mind he knew that her fussing and worrying was motivated by love for her children and an honest wish to see them happy.
"It's the easiest way, mum. We'll meet Professor Dumbledore in Diagon Alley, get the Muggle tests out of the way and then pick up what we need before going out to the house," he reassured her, and she frowned a little, looking over at Harry. Ron had to admit that Harry just hadn't put on as much weight as the Weasley's would have liked, but he looked heaps better than he had last summer. He understood that his mother was worried about his friends health - Harry was pale despite the sunny days they'd been having.
"I'm not happy about those tests either," she shook her head, "I mean, really, a flying motorcycle? It's not a safe way to travel. What's wrong with brooms?"
"Muggles aren't accustomed to seeing brooms flying about the country side, and it's a little risky to just Apparate to the Muggle areas we want to see during the house building," Ron explained, "Harry and I want to have a real holiday, and not worry about the Ministry or anything."
To be truthful Ron was worried about his partner's health. Harry had been getting paler and quieter as the term wore on, and the news that their potion had cured Remus Lupin had only helped a little. His partner needed a complete break, and some time to make pleasant memories. Ron was determined to give both to him.
"But living like Muggles," Molly protested and Harry laughed lightly, reaching out to put his hand on her arm. Ginny was wandering around in the garden outside, getting Errol to take little flights around the garden after her. He was definitely on his last legs, and Ron would miss the old bird when he finally passed on.
"It's for the best, Aunt Molly," Harry recalled Ron's attention to the kitchen table, "We'll be hiding in plain sight, and it will be fun. Besides we'll charm some of the gear to make things a little easier for us."
"Well, we're only a short Apparate away," Ron's mum sighed, "And I'll see you both on your birthdays - you're to come here for them, no excuses. And if you ever need a real home cooked meal, then you just come home, no advance warning needed."
"Of course we will mum," Ron soothed and put his hand next to Harry's. She got a little dewy eyed and Ron reared back in alarm. His mother sniffed at him dismissively and then sent them upstairs to pack the bags they were planning to take camping tomorrow.
He closed the door to his room and smiled rather foolishly at the bed. His parents hadn't been able to fit a double into his tiny room, but they had widened his old bed a little, which meant he and Harry had a little more room. Harry was bending over the rucksack he'd bought in Hogsmeade on the last weekend trip, and Ron slapped a privacy spell on the door before slipping up behind his partner and goosing him.
"Oi!" Harry yelled and turned, red faced to launch himself at Ron. They landed on the bed and Harry started tickling, his fingers finding all Ron's vulnerable spots. Ron shrieked and fought back, wrestling with his partner and incidentally slipping them both out of their clothes until they were puddled together on the bed, breathless with laughter and stroking bare flesh lightly as they calmed down.
"Is there a reason that I'm starkers?" Harry asked after a moment, lifting his head to look Ron a bit myopically in the eye. Ron shrugged casually. Harry snorted at him and wriggled over on top of Ron, who sighed involuntarily and spread his thighs a little, letting Harry settle in between them.
"No particular one," Ron put a hand on Harry's right arse cheek and rubbed it lightly. Harry arched into the touch - they hadn't had time to 'do the full show' since the end of year exams started and leaned down to kiss Ron demandingly. He pulled back only when they ran out of air and Ron sent his fingers in deeper.
"You'd better not be teasing."
Ron was delighted with that growled response, and the dick he could feel nudging his own. He stretched out a hand and Summoned their jar.
0oo0oo0
Diagon Alley was busy, and Harry stepped away quickly from the wall he'd Disapparated in front of. Ron popped in behind him, both teens dressed entirely in Muggle clothes. Professor McGonagal had given them a book list to study for the extra lessons they'd have next term, and Harry moved quickly towards Flourish and Blotts. They were going to disguise the books magically so they'd have something to read at night. The rucksack he had on his back was magically expanded inside to allow him to carry his clothes and books in one bag. They'd also be able to fit in the food they were planning to buy in Godrics Hollow once they arrived.
Ron reminded Harry they had to visit Gringotts to change their money over to Muggle notes and coins, and pick up the cards that the bank had organised with one of the Muggle banks so they would be provided with funds. His friend was fascinated by the way Muggles managed their money, and the idea that you could pay without actually having the money sitting in your pocket. The fact that Harry had opened a joint Muggle account in both their names was giving Ron a warm glow that had led to a rather enthusiastic display when Harry had told him about it.
Dumbledore was waiting for them in a room at the Leaky Cauldron. Their Headmaster was wearing a set of bright blue motorcycle leathers, with his long beard tucked inside the jacket, and his hair drawn back in a rather startling plait. Harry nearly dropped his package of books on the floor, and Ron grinned beside him in surprise. There was a helmet tucked under Dumbledore's arm with a gold Phoenix embossed on it.
"Good morning boys," the Headmaster smiled, "I have some items here for you before we go."
They returned his greeting as he turned and picked up a rather large bundle of black, handing it to Harry before handing a similar bundle to Ron. There was a set of knee high boots, leather trousers and jacket, leather gloves and a glossy dark helmet in each bundle, and all the items were humming gently from the charms laid upon them.
"A Growth charm," Harry murmured, "They will expand or contract to fit us… and an Impermeable charm, no heat, cold, wet or dry will get in through them, and they'll keep us the right temperature no matter where we are…"
Dumbledore was nodding in encouragement and Ron took up the litany, his hands running lightly over each item. Harry smiled at his partner, happy for him to join in showing off the skills that they'd learned in the last two terms. Even Snape had encouraged them to use their sense of magic to accurately predict the way their more dangerous ingredients would react in a potion.
"There's a Direction spell on the helmets, so we won't get lost, and there's an Unbreakable charm on the whole lot - in case of accidents, sir?" Ron asked and Dumbledore nodded, the smile growing greater. He held out a set of brown saddlebags to Ron, who grinned and muttered 'Expansion spell' to Harry before opening each flap. There was a set of tools and a motorbike manual with both the Muggle specifications of Sirius' bike as well as the magical spells that had been placed upon it.
Dumbledore had given them several texts on the art of riding and maintaining a motorbike at their meeting just after the first batch of Tears of the Phoenix had been brewed, explaining that as they were used to travelling by broom they would have no trouble controlling the bike. Hogwarts students were trained from their first day to put theoretical knowledge to practical use and neither boy was too worried about their ability to start and ride the bike.
"I'll leave you both to get changed," the Headmaster picked up his helmet again and Harry stepped forward, hugging the elder Wizard quickly, a little embarrassed by the impulse but determined to at least acknowledge how important the gift was to him. A thin yet strong hand patted his back lightly and Dumbledore stepped outside without looking back. Harry took a deep breath and toed off his trainers, biting his lip.
"You ok, mate?" Ron's voice was gentle and ungrudging. Harry nodded, shaking out the leather trousers. He took a deep breath and stooped to put them on over his jeans before pausing. A smile crossed his face and he straightened, undoing his jeans and stepping out of them. Ron gaped and then flushed as Harry pulled the leather up his long legs and fastened the button fly. He bent at the waist to pick up his jeans and Ron groaned lustily, his hands cupping Harry's arse tightly for a moment before letting go.
Harry chuckled as he sat down to pull the boots on, doing up the unfamiliar fastenings carefully and stamping his feet to get comfortable. He stowed his clothes in his rucksack and added his parcel of books. Ron was mimicking his movements, and shrugging into the jacket. Harry's mouth went dry in lust, and he dropped his rucksack to take Ron in his arms, sliding his hands under the leather and tucking his fingers into the back of Ron's waistband.
They pressed together, kissing urgently, hips grinding together, the Growth charm failing to grow in a vital area, leading to the risk of permanent damage. Harry groaned into Ron's mouth, sucking greedily on the tongue in his mouth, moving urgently as desire swept away all other thoughts.
0oo0oo0
Ron fingered the second piece of hard shiny Muggle card in his pocket. It had his face and name on there, as well as his birthday and address in Godrics Hollow. How Dumbledore had managed to come up with all the bits of paper that the Muggle agency had needed was beyond Ron, though their copies were now safely stored away in a special pouch that Harry had picked up in Diagon Alley years ago. It shrunk whenever someone that wasn't its owner tried to touch it, thus keeping it safe from thieves. Harry had added a locator spell to it so he couldn't lose it, and now it held their Muggle identity papers, the cheques for the house, the legal papers that Harry had been sent from Madam Legales, all the house plans and the Muggle permits they'd needed for building as well as some emergency Muggle and Wizard money.
They had passed the test easily enough - their knowledge of Muggle road laws getting them perfect scores on the theoretical test, and the instructors complimenting them on their riding capabilities as well. The balance and skill that came with riding a broom had stood the test when riding the motorbike for the first time. Dumbledore had congratulated them and very quietly nipped off to Apparate where no one would notice. Harry had driven them through Muggle London to an old building that seemed to have just about everything that Muggles had ever made under one roof, and all for sale.
They were standing in the store that had tents and camping gear on display, and Harry was looking over a primus stove - something that used 'spirits' to cook with. Ron was hoping that 'spirits' meant something different in Muggle, because he didn't fancy trying to burn ghosts. Harry nodded finally to the sales assistant and wandered over to Ron's side.
"You've got the strangest look on your face," Harry murmured and Ron grinned. He'd have to be careful how he phrased this so as not to break their cover altogether - Muggles didn't like being called Muggles, they thought it was an insult. He suspected he was dealing with another Muggle/Wizard conflict, and if he got this right he'd make Harry happy. That was one of Ron's major goals in life at the moment.
"Just wondering what sort of spirits get used for cooking in your world," he replied, and was delighted with the smile he got in response. Harry's little finger linked with his for a moment and he followed when Harry jerked his head at the side wall.
"We need sleeping bags and mattresses," was all Harry said, and Ron nodded, realising that the wall was divided into sections that held rolled up squashy things and flat thin pads also rolled into tubes. The thin pads turned out to be the mattresses that Harry was talking about and they spent some time talking in low voices about the kind of sleeping bags they wanted - summer weight versus winter weight and size and colour until they finally had two they were happy with - making sure that their choices would zip together to form one big bag for the two of them.
Despite his mother's offer, Ron and Harry had declined her offer of cooking utensils, and Ron spent about half an hour browsing through that section, making sure they had enough to cover all eventualities and having fun with some of the stranger things that Muggles came up with. Harry simply trailed along behind his partner carrying whatever Ron picked out. The assistant took that pile of gear away as well and Ron followed Harry to the back of the shop to look at tents.
"We'll expand it of course," Ron murmured and Harry nodded, "But I think we should look for something easy to put up. You remember the World Cup."
That earned him an honest laugh and a fond look from his friend. Harry nodded and started flipping through the information sheets the shop put out for people to look at with Ron leaning over his shoulder. They were both accustomed to researching various topics by now, and Ron quietly started listing the features that he liked best, until Harry pulled out a pencil from inside his jacket and handed it over so Ron could keep track of which tent had what.
By now, the assistant clearly thought she was dealing with connoisseurs, because she stopped trying to sell them what she thought they needed and merely stood to one side to hear what they wanted. Eventually they chose a medium sized dome shaped tent with pockets in the internal walls for storage and a heavy ground sheet. The assistant went to get it and Harry handed over their plastic money card while Ron watched how it worked closely, memorising the code that Harry entered to make it work and realising that it was the date of Ron's birthday.
Their purchases were packed into several bags and they headed out to their bike once again. Harry had managed to find a spot to park that was very unobtrusive, letting them lower their purchases into the saddlebags, which swallowed the bulky items without any difficulty at all. A glance at Harry's watch showed that it was still early - they were the first customers in the store and the car park was only one third full - and Ron climbed up behind Harry, wrapping his arms comfortably around his partners' waist while Harry took them out of the city and towards Godrics Hollow.
0oo0oo0
Harry stretched as he took off the helmet and ruffled up his hair. Despite the cushioning spell on the seat and rack, he was stiff from sitting on the bike for so long. Ron dropped his helmet on the handlebars and started unscrewing the cap on the petrol tank.
"I'll fill up, you pay," his friend suggested and Harry nodded, opening his jacket and grinning when Ron's eyes glazed over a little. They were both still drooling over each other, and the smell of the leather combined with the smell of Ron was driving Harry a little batty.
"You want a cold drink?" Harry asked. Despite the spell that kept the leathers cool in the hot summer sunshine, he was feeling a little sticky. Ron nodded and Harry wandered into the shop, smiling at the consol operator and heading for the fridge along the back wall. He selected a couple of bottles of ginger beer, and then snagged some snacks as well. They were planning on having a late dinner in Godrics Hollow after they'd set up the tent. They'd use the afternoon to look around the village and lay in some supplies - not too many as they had limited space and didn't want to waste food. Harry had learned a spell that would allow them to keep food cool in a special container - he planned to buy a Muggle box that they used to keep food cool on picnics and enchant it.
One of the customers, a slender young woman in a low cut, short summer dress shadowed Harry to the counter. He paid for everything; including the petrol when Ron waved he'd finished filling the tank, and headed for the door with his good-looking shadow trailing along behind him. He stepped out into the heat and grinned at Ron, who was frowning as he pushed the bike away from the bowser. He didn't have to be a genius to know that Ron was frowning at the girl that Harry could feel staring at him from only a short distance away.
"Hey lover," was Ron's unexpected greeting, "Did you get everything?"
"I did," Harry grinned, hearing the sniff of disdain and watching her swish over to her red sports car, "And later I'll get you."
"Already got me," Ron put the bike on the kickstand and joined Harry on a picnic table. The cold bottles were sweating, and Harry took an appreciative swallow of the tart drink, opening a bag of crisps and passing over a roll of polos. Ron had gotten very fond of this Muggle sweet during the Easter holidays, and his remembrance of that little fact got him a peck on the cheek.
"Are you going to be all sentimental in public all hols?" Harry asked lightly, leaning into Ron's shoulder comfortably.
"Is that a problem?" Ron asked and Harry shook his head. He wasn't going to resist his friend - if Ron wanted to claim him in public then Ron would get his way. The smile he got from his partner was more than reward enough and Harry finished his drink.
Ron drove them the rest of the way to Godrics Hollow and Harry directed Ron through the village with taps and squeezes. The field where the house was going had become overgrown since the sheep had stopped grazing in there. There was a large birch tree in the corner of the field and Ron ran the bike over the rather uneven front yard to park under it. Harry slid off the bike, and stowed his helmet next to the tree before helping Ron pull all their new gear out of the saddlebags, including the rucksacks.
"So, what's first?" Ron asked and Harry grinned, pointing at the tent and groundsheet. Once they got their tent up they could use magic on the rest of the gear without the Muggles seeing. Harry had no intention of spending the summer totally magic less. He'd just make sure that they were careful not to get caught.
"Tent first and then we can work on all the rest of it."
Setting up the tent was hysterical. They sat down to read the instructions carefully, then tried to follow them. They got into difficulties quickly and ended up laughing so hard they had to lie down. Ron grabbed the instructions from Harry and started making changes to them, including several steps like 'swear at inventors', or 'shake heads at Muggles', which had Harry laughing even harder.
They managed eventually, and Ron crawled inside to carefully enlarge it while Harry sorted out their gear and then passed it inside one item at a time. He listened as his partner put a cushioning spell on the mattress pads before laying them out, and zipping up the sleeping bags whilst making lewd comments. Their rucksacks and the primus were tucked away carefully near the front.
When Harry crawled into the tent it had doubled in size. Ron had disguised this by copying the fly and moving the copy halfway down the tent, hiding their sleeping area behind it. They were also able to stand up if they wanted too, not that Harry planned for them to be spending any time in here vertically.
"So, time for dinner?" Ron asked, and Harry grinned. He launched himself at his best friend, knocking him to the ground and unbuttoning his leather trousers quickly. He dipped long fingers inside and fished around in Ron's briefs, coming up with his prize.
"I've got mine," Harry growled and bent his head to his self-appointed task, smiling when Ron moaned and pushed his hips up off the ground in response.
0oo0oo0
Godrics Hollow boasted a small Tesco, and it didn't take them long to find everything they needed there, including a washing up tin and shaving mirror, which they'd forgotten this morning. Ron was still playing up to Harry, getting his friend to guide him through the Muggle world, teasing with comments that sounded innocent, but weren't given their history together. Harry seemed to be blooming before Ron's eyes, gaining colour in his cheeks and confidence in his movements.
There was also a bookstore in the village and Ron persuaded Harry to come in with him, eventually adding to their collection of Muggle mysteries despite the fact that they'd gotten lost in Flourish and Blotts only this morning and were nearly late to meet their Headmaster. The fact that they were weighed down with twice the number of books they'd gone in to buy may also have had something to do with it. At this rate the first things moved into the new house would be their book collection as the cases in their dorm were already overflowing.
/Not that I'll have time to read/ Ron's fingers told Harry's shoulder. Harry grinned foolishly, and the girl behind the counter blushed, flirting a little with him. That seemed to worry his partner, and Ron steered them out to the motorbike, getting on the back and letting Harry take them home.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked when they had packed the food away, sorted out the bike and were lying on the groundsheet in front of the tent. Harry sighed and rolled to lie on his stomach, propping his chin on one hand and reaching out to tug on the hem of Ron's sleeve with the other. They'd changed into shorts and Ron was hoping to go back to school with a tan.
"It's…" Harry sighed and Ron put up his hand lazily, pushing his fingers up Harry's sleeve to rub against the swell of muscle there. His man was dead sexy, and Ron made a mental note to tell him that every day.
"When those girls flirt with me," Harry shook his head, and green eyes begged Ron to help him out. Ron laughed and shook his head. He knew where this was going, and it stemmed from Harry's image of himself as unlovable.
"Harry you idiot. You're drop dead gorgeous, of course girls are going to flirt with you," he knotted his fingers in Harry's sleeve when his partner flinched and shook his head, "Yes you are, you're sexy and when you're in those leathers… well, I think you know how I feel about you in those."
"But I'm yours," Harry whispered, leaning down to hide in Ron's shoulder, "I don't want them."
"Look, mate, it's a normal thing for you to notice them drooling at you. It's normal for you to be flattered, too. I know you won't cheat and I'm not going to go mad every time a girl looks at my man. It just makes me pity them because I know who you're coming home in… I mean with!"
Harry was laughing now, glasses askew, and Ron concealed a grin. Mission accomplished for today, then, and tomorrow he'd tell his partner again, and keep telling him how loveable he was every day until Harry believed him, for the rest of their lives and beyond.
0oo0oo0
They were up early the next morning and sluiced each other down in warm water from their wands. They also took the time to add Impermeable and Unbreakable charms to the tent, as well as a few security charms that would allow them to lock the tent when they were away. Summoning their bond, they then laid a very powerful I-am-not-here charm on the tent, so that Wizards and Muggles alike would only be able to find it if they already knew it was there. This would allow them to leave their wands behind when the builders arrived, as both teens were wearing shorts and t-shirts in deference to the hot weather. They had forgotten to get pillows or cushions in London; Harry wanted to wait until they had taken a trip to a Muggle city not far from Godrics Hollow in two days time. His partner was burning with curiosity, but Harry wanted it to be a surprise.
"Harrrreeeeee," Ron whined in a really unattractive tone, and Harry burst into laughter, collapsing to lie on the long grass as he tried to breathe between gales of laughter. From Ron's expression this had been his friends goal and when Harry had caught his breath, wiped his face and gotten up again he gave Ron a passionate kiss.
"Don't do that," Harry stifled a giggle, "We've got to get all those soil samples and the map ready for Neville so Hedwig can take them before the builders arrive. She's not supposed to spend summer with us, it's too risky."
"Ok," Ron pretended to sulk but moved away to start collecting the samples their friend had demanded while Harry drew up a map of the garden as it was now, marking in the existing trees. He and Ron had agreed that the trees should stay where they were, and Harry had an additional request for a hedge out the front that would block the view from the lane into the garden. It would have to bracket the drive, which ran to one side of the garden, and the stile that sat in the middle of the wall. They had changed some of the windows in the front rooms to French doors to let them into the garden, and the conservatory on the back of the house provided another access point. After careful discussion the conservatory ran only along half of the house and was accessed through the laundry, with a door leading outside too. The kitchen door would open onto an open courtyard that they would surround with potted plants.
All of this was detailed in a letter to Neville, including a list of plants they thought their garden should have. Some of these were potion making plants that Harry knew wouldn't look too strange to Muggles. Ron was asking for a good spot to start a vegetable garden - apparently the only type of gardening he enjoyed - and Harry boxed their samples and letters up as Hedwig arrived, landing in the birch tree and hooting softly at him.
"Hello," he held his arm up and she fluttered down to land on it, extending her leg for the harness strap that would let her carry the small box safely. He stroked her feathers gently, and smiled when she seemed to lean into the touch.
"Is it too heavy?" he asked and she bounced lightly on his arm before settling in a way that told him she could carry the parcel easily. He smiled and looked over at Ron rather sadly. Sometimes, Hedwig had been the only thing that seemed to care whether he lived or died. It would seem odd not to see her this summer, unless there was an emergency.
"I need you to take this to Neville at Hogwarts, please, and then you're to go to the Burrow. You'll have to stay there this summer," Harry told her firmly, and bit his lip when she gave him a very hurt look, "Don't, Hedwig. You're too beautiful to stay here. The Muggles will notice you right away, and maybe the word will get back to Wizards. That would mean danger for you and Ron, and I couldn't bear it if you were hurt. Please don't be mad."
Hedwig shuffled up onto his shoulder and extended a wing to touch his cheek. She'd never done that before and Harry felt his eyes sting with tears. He took a deep breath and Ron glanced over at the lane.
"Harry, I think the builder is coming," his friends voice was gentle. Harry could hear the rumble of the lorries that would be carrying their building supplies and twitched Hedwig back to his forearm before launching her into the sky with a whispered farewell. Ron came up behind him and held him close for a moment before going to meet the builder - a man by the name of Owen Walters - to give Harry a moment to compose himself. He watched the last place he'd seen Hedwig for a few moments then got up and followed Ron and the builder around to the entrance of the quarry.
0oo0oo0
"Now, are you going to tell me?" Ron breathed the words into Harry's ear, his hands moving pleasurably over the body beneath him. They still slept with their hands tangled together, bodies spooned or wrapped around each other, which allowed their mornings to start on a very pleasant note.
"Bath," Harry moaned and Ron kissed his panting partner softly. They'd been at this for a little while now, and Harry was at the puddle stage Ron liked to bring him to before entering his partner.
"Had one last night," Ron reminded him, and Harry started laughing. Ron loved the sound of it, and started tickling, abandoning his massage to encourage further hilarity. Harry shrieked and writhed, his own fingers fighting Ron off, the two of them squirming and struggling together until a fortuitous move on Ron's part had Harry moaning as his body was breached. Ron echoed the moan and pushed his hips slowly forward as Harry moved to give him better access. The warm body beneath him was welcoming, and the green eyes watching his face were shining with an emotion that seemed too big to be contained in one soul.
"The… city of… Bath… oh Ron…" Harry broke off and Ron smiled, moving in and out, striking Harry's prostate with each thrust and reducing them both to speechless and stunned in short order. They lay in a gasping pile, fingers expressing what voices couldn't; sweat cooling on their skin.
Ron stirred first, kissing Harry tenderly then stroking messy hair out of green eyes. Harry smiled at him rather sleepily, and Ron chuckled. His partner would have him hot and bothered in no time at all if he didn't stop with that particular look.
"Come on, we need to clean up and get going if we're going on a trip. And I want to get cushions or something while we're there - I'm getting a crick in my neck," Ron mock grumbled and Harry sighed, stirring reluctantly and waving a languid hand. Their bond hummed and the cleansing spells they preferred to use took care of the mess.
"Your turn to cook," Harry reminded him and Ron grinned, pecking Harry on the temple before sliding off their bed and reaching for some clothes. While he started brewing the morning pot of tea Harry made their bed and generally tidied the tent. Ron was not an untidy person as a rule, but neither was he as tidy as Harry had been trained to be. They had managed to strike a comfortable compromise, living in a kind of organised clutter.
Breakfast over, Ron climbed up behind Harry and settled in for the ride to Bath. Harry was an excellent driver, and Ron had wondered what it would be like to fly on the same broomstick as his friend. They'd had to leave their brooms at the Burrow, so he'd have to keep that little bout of curiosity under control until they got back to school.
Bath turned out to be a bustling Muggle city with buildings that reminded Ron of the Wizard style of architecture. Harry piloted them through the very busy traffic to a small lane that ended in several walled yards. The bike was parked to one side, and they got off, sliding wands, helmets and jackets into the saddlebags before activating the protection wards. Thanks to Professor Flitwick's tutelage they could defend themselves without wands, and the wands themselves were safe enough in the saddlebags as they were enchanted to shrink unless touched by their owners. Ollivander himself had recommended the spell in one of the books the man had written about wands and Ron had read at Flitwick's suggestion. Ron got a good look at the dark blue shirt that Harry had finally chosen to wear and sighed, shaking his head.
"You're asking for it in that get up, mate."
"Will I get it?" Harry smiled over at him, his eyes roaming appreciatively over Ron, and the redhead grinned as his blood stirred in response.
"You sure will," he promised and followed his partner out of the lane. They climbed uphill, following the narrow lanes until they widened out into a large market place, already bustling with people. Ron's eyes lit up and he grabbed Harry in an enthusiastic bear hug. Harry started laughing, and Ron squeezed him so hard he squeaked for a moment before they let go.
"Muggle markets!" the Pureblood crowed, "Brilliant!"
0oo0oo0
Harry watched his partner as they walked through the main marketplace, heading slowly up the hill. There were bookstores, bookstalls and all sorts of clothing, souvenirs, and oddments all over the place so that Ron was like a child in a sweet shop - not sure which way to run first. The tourists were thronging all over the place as well, and Harry was content to just watch Ron and the crowds around them. He'd heard about Bath in school when they'd studied the Romans and later the Victorians in History. He'd always wanted to go and see the town for himself, and the summer holidays had provided him with an appreciative travel partner and the opportunity to indulge a long held wish.
They found a stall that sold handmade crafts, with various types of embroidered, brocade and patchwork pieces. They found a basket of cushions in the back of the stall and bought five, choosing bright colours and soft textures. It was a moment's work to find a quiet corner and send them off to the tent before turning back into the market place.
Near the baths that Bath was named for there was an old-fashioned sweet shop and Ron disappeared inside for almost half an hour. It gave Harry time to figure out where Sally Lunn's house was. He was planning to go there for tea before heading home. Ron came out with a very large bag of Muggle sweets, laughing at the names of some of them. They found a pub for lunch and spent the afternoon wandering through some of Bath's more famous attractions, learning the Muggle history as they went. Ron nearly got them kicked out of the Costume Museum when he started laughing at the sixteenth century fashions, exclaiming that his grandmother had a dress just like the one in the case - which Harry thought was probably true. Nothing ever truly went out of fashion in the Wizard world. The water in the Pump Room had Ron gagging in disgust and Harry treated them both to an ice cream from the parlour just outside it.
"Hey, Harry, is that Muggle music?" Ron asked him, tilting his head up at the speaker suspended from the lintel of the shop. Harry listened for a moment and then nodded.
"Yep, that's one type," he nodded, and watched Ron's face light up. They ended up traipsing back into the market - no hardship for either of them - and Harry found the shop that was selling Muggle electronics. A few minutes thought later, he and Ron were proud owners of a combination radio/CD player, along with some seriously heavy-duty batteries.
Ron pestered Harry all the way back to the bike and he took advantage of their secluded parking spot to kiss the redhead silent, slipping the box into one of the saddlebags and restoring the wards on it. Ron was panting when they broke for air, and Harry grinned at him. Ron rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Not that I'm complaining," Ron began and Harry laughed, putting an arm around Ron's waist and steering him back towards the main streets. His partners' curiosity had gotten them into a few scrapes over the years, though it didn't match Hermione's. Truth be told, Harry's curiosity was more than a match for the both of them, though his childhood had conditioned him to concealing it.
"It's a Muggle invention that will let us listen to their version of the radio. I think I saw a music store as well, we'll get a few CD's - and yes I'll explain it all to you when we get home - to listen to as well," Harry promised, and was rewarded when Ron simply leaned into him.
"Lead on," was his friend's response and Harry turned his head to kiss the nearest cheek. Ron wouldn't let him let go when they got to a more crowded part of town, and Harry tried not to notice the way some Muggles stared or frowned at them.
The music shop was noisy and crowded. Harry didn't really have much idea of what he and Ron would like, and so he chose a few compilation CD's, that had a mixture of pop, rock, rap and techno. Ron liked the music they could hear at the moment and they managed to find a copy of the album for him.
"Coldplay?" Ron frowned over the name of the band and Harry pointed out that his friend's favourite Wizarding band was called the Weird Sisters. Ron conceded the point and they made their purchases before heading out into the crowd again.
"Teatime?" Ron asked hopefully, drawing Harry into his side again and rubbing the small of Harry's back. Harry melted into him a little and gave his friend an affectionate smile. Even after all this time that touch made Harry's spine melt.
"Come on, there's a famous place I've heard of. You'll love it," Harry pointed off in the direction they needed to head and Ron followed happily.
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Ron was fascinated by Muggle music. Harry had managed to come up with a spell that would let them run their radio on the now permanently charged Muggle batteries, and Ron could spend hours listening to it. It went on when they got up and was turned off last thing at night. The sheer variety of moods, styles, accents and rhythms had him laughing and dancing one minute, listening with solemn intensity the next. Harry had found a station that played a great mixture of modern music all day, and Ron was delighted that some of the discs they'd bought contained the songs he'd come to like.
"This should be part of Muggle studies!" Ron said after listening to Eminem, "This is so wicked!"
Harry laughed at him, rolling on his stomach to look Ron in the eye. They were lying on an old blanket they'd bought in the village with the cushions from Bath, reading while the radio played and Owen and his sons worked on setting the foundations of the house. Ron and Harry had found a secluded space on top of the hill behind Potters Field and were watching the slow progress with interest. Once the foundations were set, they expected that the walls would grow rather quickly.
The heat wasn't too bad actually, and they were in the shade of a large oak, and the fresh air and tension free week had put healthy colour into Harry's face. Ron felt a very soppy look take over his face and leaned up to give his friend a kiss.
"You're getting soppy, ya pillock," Harry warned him, and Ron grinned. As endearments went it wasn't Shakespeare, but then they usually weren't given to using terms of endearment for each other.
"Yeah, you make me that way," he agreed, "You're looking much better. Now if I can get some weight on you, mum won't have a heart attack next week at my birthday party."
"You could lie on top of me for a while," Harry laughed, "If you want to put weight on me."
Ron leered and shook his head. Harry didn't take his health, or lack of it, very seriously. It was up to Ron to ensure his partner ate large, healthy meals and rested when he started looking peaky. The strain of being tutored by Snape last term had taken a toll on Harry that Ron had hated to see. The Potions master had given Ron's partner some very strange looks this year, and when Harry had saved the mans life, those looks had increased. It was worrying Ron a little, though he'd done his best not to let Harry know that. If Snape was going off the deep end Harry didn't need to worry about that. They'd had other problems too, with their plan of school unity riding on their ability to publicly uphold it. Malfoy had pressed them both pretty hard to keep their tempers and live up to the school expectations, and as a result Harry's appetite had almost entirely disappeared.
"Maybe later," Ron told his friend and they lay back again.
They waited until the builders left for their dinner and headed back to the tent, stashing their gear inside and munching on the sandwiches they had made after breakfast. The builders came back and Ron persuaded Harry to go for a walk with him. They climbed the stile back into the sheep pasture and walked past the oak tree and down the hill to the trees that clustered at the bottom of the pastures. The sound of running water drew them on and they found a small river flowing along quietly.
"Come on," Harry seemed suddenly energised and Ron watched his friend strip off his trainers and socks and paddle out into the river. Ron grinned and followed, sloshing along behind his partner as Harry pointed to things he found interesting and generally hopped around like a little kid. Ron joined in with a light heart, and they waded for quite some distance, coming eventually to a stone bridge that spanned the river.
They had rounded a bend in the river when the bridge hove into sight, and Ron glanced along the banks, identifying the bridge as the one that he'd driven them over to get into town. If they walked along the road to get back it would be quicker, but Ron wasn't sure that he'd be able to drag his damp and flushed partner away from the river. Harry had found a new toy and Ron was reluctant to take it away from him.
Before Ron could voice his plan, or even call his partner back from where Harry was balancing on a couple of tree roots that were sticking out of the water, there was a movement on the bridge and a loud splash. A car started up and drove away and Ron frowned, looking to see what had been thrown into the river. He spotted the sack floating slowly away from them and shook his head. Muggles and Wizards alike, there was always someone who stuffed up the environment around them. Harry was also looking at the sack and frowning, but there was a tension in his friend's shoulders that said there was more to this than someone dumping their rubbish.
"I think…" Harry trailed off and then chucked his shoes onto the bank. He plunged forward into the water and Ron copied his motions, splashing forward after his partner. Before he could ask what had Harry so upset he realised that the sacks movement was not entirely due to the touch of the water on its sides. There was something living inside it, and as the sack started to sink whatever was inside was slowly drowning.
"Accio sack!" Ron snapped, feeling their bond surge as he drew on it, and the sack zoomed into his outstretched hands. Harry whirled, his eyes wide with relief, the panic in them slowly fading away. Ron was glad that there seemed to have been no witnesses to his sudden use of magic.
"I f-forgot!" his partner stammered as Ron headed for dry land, the contents of the sack squirming in his arms. They stumbled onto the bank, sitting down beside their shoes while Ron carefully undid the knot on the sack. A black pup with huge feet and a skinny body tumbled into his lap, whimpering and shivering despite the heat.
"Oh God," Ron breathed, and cuddled the soaked lump to his chest, staring up at Harry in rage, "What the hell! How could anyone…"
Ron trailed off when the pup started to cry in his arms, and started petting the wet fur gently. When it was finally quiet he looked up again to find Harry and his shoes gone. Ron's trainers had been placed neatly beside him. Muttering under his breath Ron shoved his feet into his trainers and got up, preparing to walk back to the tent. The bank was steep and Ron was puffing when he got to the top, and concentrating on his feet to avoid slipping while his hands were full.
A familiar noise had him looking up and Harry pulled up, Ron's helmet on one arm, a couple of towels on the seat. Together they wrapped the pup in the dry cloth and Ron donned his helmet while Harry held the pup. Ron clambered on the bike in front of his friend and they rode slowly back to Potters Field.
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