Reciprocation-Chapter 3
by Killer the Cat
Harry sat up and brought his knees to his chest, trying to cover his naked form as best as he could. The hand on his cheek moved down and Ron's thumb rubbed gently over his bottom lip.
Ron looked at him with sad eyes. "What is troubling you, mate?" he asked in a whisper so that their roommates would not wake up.
Harry debated internally with himself whether or not to tell Ron his problem. After all, Ron was the problem. Making up his mind, he moved over to the left side of the bed and gestured for Ron to sit next to him. After Ron gingerly settled down next to him, Harry got up and closed the curtains around the bed giving them some resemblance of privacy.
Ron averted his eyes away from his best mate's naked body. Afraid of getting caught with his erection, he thought of things that would make it deflate. He finally conjured an image of the staff of Hogwarts playing Quidditch in the buff.
Not only did Ron's erection die completely at that picture, but a look of disgust also came over his face. A look of disgust that Harry mistakenly assumed was caused by seeing his body. He looked over Ron's face and saw the averted eyes and flushed cheeks and decided that he was embarrassing his mate. With a pang in his heart that he could on such a reaction, Harry reached over the side of his bed to retrieve his underwear from where he had flung it on the floor earlier.
He was stopped by Ron's arm shooting out and latching onto his forearm. Without speaking, Ron lifted the covers on the bed for Harry to slip under. After Harry slid in, Ron covered him up and stroked his arms lovingly. He, himself, stayed above the covers so that he was not tempted to let his hands stray any further on Harry's naked form.
"Tell me what it is that has you so upset," Ron whispered into Harry's ear as he nestled his body with the brunette's and wrapped his arms around the other boy's bare shoulders.
Harry gave a deep sigh and huddled closer to the boy he was so desperately in love with. "It's about the boy I am in love with," Harry began slowly. "I was just thinking about how he will never want me," he added, choking on a sob at the last three words.
Ron's heart dropped to his stomach. It was another boy that was troubling his Harry. What was worse was that Harry was in love with someone and it was not Ron. He held onto his friend tighter. "How do you know he would never want you?" he asked quietly, secretly hoping that it was true. He supposed since he loved Harry, he would want to see him happy no matter what, but Ron just could not imagine he would. As long as Harry was someone else's, all Ron would feel is bitterness and envy. It made his stomach sour just thinking about it.
His eyelids feeling heavy, Harry closed his eyes and snorted at Ron's question. "Because he is perfection. He is beautiful, intelligent, caring and has a great sense of humor. He is also very straight and interested in a certain girl," he replied in a soft, strangled voice as he described Ron to the boy himself.
Ron's gut twisted sickeningly with each word that Harry sprouted out about this man. Ron racked his brain trying to figure out whom Harry was speaking about, but came up empty. He turned his face back to Harry to ask him who it was, but thought Harry to be asleep. His mate's eyes were closed and small sniffles were coming out of his nose. Ron sighed and placed his head next to Harry's and started whispering to the supposedly sleeping form. "Whoever he is, he is a stupid prat for not wanting you. Any bloke would be lucky to have you Harry," came the wistful admission.
Harry felt Ron's arms go slack around his body as the other Gryffindor fell asleep. He reflected on the words spoken by his friend. 'If only he means that,'
Harry thought as he too drifted off to sleep.
