Chapter Three: Guytalk
Harry, Ron and Colin emerged from their stalls, feeling immensely relieved. After washing their hands (keep in mind, they had suffered many lectures on proper hygiene from Hermione), they noticed the girls were gone.
"Toodle-oo!", Colin blew Harry and Ron a parting kiss, "Got lots of work to do, but call me if you need someone to do!" He exited, not noticing Harry's and Ron's disgusted faces.
"Yeah….just to clarify, I don't drive on that side of the road." Harry said to Ron, in case his best friend was going to question his sexuality.
"Me neither! Except….there was that one time when…" Ron guffawed at Harry's pained expression.
"I'm-open-to-all-peoples." Harry said through clenched teeth, with a fake smile.
"Mate, I was only joking." Ron gave Harry an odd, furtive look, before saying nonchalantly, "I'm bored. Wanna play a few rounds of chess before getting down to work?"
"Yeah, sure. Procrastination is the best way of studying." Harry said.
Ron beat Harry six and a half times (the last game he hadn't quite brought down Harry's king, but he was almost there!) before realizing there was something on Harry's mind.
"Harry? Hey, you okay there? This," Ron finally destroyed Harry's king with a single move, "would make your seventh loss. SEVENTH!" Ron shook his head, not quite daring to believe it himself. "Is it the twins? I always suspected there was something secret going on between you three. You would always exchange these sneaky looks when…NO! I got it! It's Percy, isn't it? It's got to be! He's threatened you to stay away from me again, hasn't he? The stupid, fucking git, who I must admit is my biological brother…" Ron trailed off, muttering more incoherent contempt for Percy, who continued to ignore his family.
"Yes…and no…"Harry managed to choke out.
"What do you mean, 'yes and no'? Ron inquired curiously.
"Well…I mean…ugh, forget it, it's too difficult." Harry said resignedly.
"Tell me, mate, when has anything been 'too difficult' for you to tell me," Ron had been on edge the whole week, and finally, it was all just letting go now, "or Hermione for that matter? Harry, we've shared everything together-our first broom rides to our first kisses (which by the way, I'll never forget-your face was priceless) to duels with V-Vol-Volde-mort himself! Dammit, Harry, you're my brother!" Ron had worked himself up, "Besides, honestly, I've the one who hasn't been completely honest with you."
Harry was half-moved, half-amused by Ron's tirade. And he did notice the fact that Ron had said Voldemort's name aloud, instead of You-Know-Who. Not wanting to keep his secret from Ron anymore, he spoke.
"Before I say a word, will you promise not to get blow up at me? I've tried to hide it, to push it away, but I just can't help it and now I'm afraid of how you'll react-so when I tell you, promise me fists won't become involved for ten minutes at least" Harry was trying to ensure his own head start, knowing full well that Ron would blow up when he heard what Harry had to say.
"Sure, mate, wouldn't dream of using fists with you." Ron said, somewhat confused by Harry's troubled face.
Not until you hear it for yourself, Harry thought grimly, then plunged, "Well, the thing is, yes-it is one of your siblings. The other thing is, no-it's not any of your brothers. It's the only one who doesn't have a y-chromosome. I think, I think…I'm falling for her." Harry finally said.
Ron, who was slack-jawed for an entire 60 seconds, until he remembered it was his turn to talk.
So he just grinned and said, "We could be actual brothers."
"But now it's your turn," Harry slyly prompted, "Your exact words were 'honestly, I haven't been quite honest with you'. So, what did you wanna tell me? And don't try misleading me with 'oh, er, I got a D in Potions', 'cause I can tell it's something big, or otherwise you could have told me.
Ron swallowed and said, " Well…er, you know, I may have been a little caught up in the moment."
"No, no, Ron", Harry gently chided, "you don't get out of this that easy. Come on, I did my bit, so now, you gotta do yours."
"Okay, so there's this girl, right?" Ron began, deciding to take the scenic route with several detours, "and she's bloody brilliant. My heart melts and I get a little crazy when she's around," he said, blushing furiously.
Harry understood what Ron was trying to do, but wasn't gonna let him get away with it.
"Hmm, okay, let's see, smart girls, most likely seventh years, who make you crazy," Harry pretended to ponder upon Ron's clues thoughtfully, knowing very well who Ron was talking about. "Padma Patil isn't dumb, and Fleur, she used to drive you crazy, but that would be kinda gross, ew, she's with Bill now, isn't she? Oh and there was Loony, er Luna, you know," Harry was practically giggling (they were manly giggles, no doubt) by now, Luna and Ron's first kiss together was still something he laughed at.
"Er, no. You know what I think?" Ron was scratching his head, and frowning, and as though talking to himself, said, "I think you already know. I do believe Harry Nicolas Potter is making fun of Ronald Thomas Weasley!" Harry rolled his eyes at this, but Ron oblivious to his action, continued, "So I guess I ought to just say this. Harry, for the past 3 and a half years, I've loved……..Hermione Jane Granger."
"Well, Ron, I must congratulate you! You still don't know how obvious it is to everyone. And even as friends, you guys still manage to pay each other more attention through your bickerings than anyone else!" Harry chuckled at this.
"So does everyone know this? Oh my god! Does Hermione know!" Ron asked urgently and red-faced.
"Of course, everyone except Hermione knows, she's oblivious." Harry replied nonchalantly.
Ron breathed a sigh of relief, and turned back to the chess board, then glancing at his pile of homework, groaned.
Ladies and Gents-
just to clarify-Ron and Harry faced You-Know-Who in battle over their sixth year summer (but that's a different story)
I hope you review, cause I really am not getting a whole lotta response, and I won't continue to write under these conditions! It's just-just not humane, I tell you!
also, anybody know British words? I only know mad, barmy, mate, er, and bloody, but I'm sure there are more.
bye byez! doodlebag or bug or whatever the hell I named myself