Chapter 12
Days past, then weeks, then months, and before Ron knew it he had managed to make it to end of term without any further contact with Snape or Harry, with the exception of class, of course. Due to his falling out with his best friend, the red head had found a few new people to spend most of his time with. Normally it was Neville, Seamus, and Dean, but occasionally he would hang out with this group of guys from Ravenclaw.
As the students stood there waiting for the train to come that would take them all back home Ron joked loudly with his new group of friends about random things. When the Hogwarts express finally arrived the Gryffindor sat with his Ravenclaw group in a compartment which was right next to Harry and Hermiones. The doors were left open and the group of boys were still being loud which made it so Harry could hear everything they were saying. Not that he would ever eaves drop or anything…
"So, Ron, you got a girlfriend?" A voice Harry couldn't recognize asked.
"Uh, no. I was seeing someone once…" He spaced out for a moment and sighed. "But it didn't work out so well."
"Really, what's her name?" The same voice questioned.
"Sev…erm, Savannah." He quickly responded hoping it would fool them.
"Oh, don't think I know a Savannah. She live by you back at home?" A new voice asked.
"Yea, it was just a summer fling I think." He said his voice laced with emotional pain that only Harry could recognize. "I'm kinda drained, I think I'm just gonna get some sleep before we get back." Ron said as he curled up under his coat and closed his eyes.
His dreams were scattered and most of the time hard to make out, but he knew basically who they were about. The same person they had been about since he had run away from home in the summer. He realized someone was nudging his arm and he slowly opened his eyes. "Wha?"
"Wake up, man, we're back at the station." One of his friends said as they kept prodding him.
"Ok, I'm awake. Now stop poking me or I'll tie your hand behind your back or something." He responded as he pulled the coat off of his head and stretched.
"Oh, sounds kinky." The other boy, which Harry had found out his name was Jake, said with a laugh as he stood up and grabbed his bag from the over head storage.
"You into that type of thing, Jake?" Ron asked as he lifted a brow then grabbed his own bag from the compartment.
The two stepped off the train together with Harry following close behind them. Not that he had intended it to work that way of course, but when Jake pulled Ron over close to the wall Harry had to follow. He stopped out of sight and hid himself behind a large pillar so he could listen to whatever they were going to talk about. He felt so wrong spying on his once best friend, but if he was going to fix the whole mess with Snape he had to watch for his chance.
"What are you doing, Jake? My mum's probably waiting for me." Ron said as he pulled his arm from the others hand.
"Look, there is something I have to do and I might not get a chance like this ever again." Jake replied as he moved closer and slipped his hand to the back of the red heads neck.
"Jake, wait…" His protest was quickly cut off by the Ravenclaws mouth covering his. Instinctively Ron kissed back not wanting to seem rude, or to hurt his friend.
When the kiss broke the red head was nearly in tears but managed to keep them from appearing. "Well, got to go." He said as he turned and waved at a couple that were standing on the other side of the platform. "Those are my parents. Want to go meet them?"
Ron quickly shook his head and as he did his eyes fell on someone who had seen the kiss. The last person in the world he would want to know about it as a matter of fact. He closed his eyes as Jake took off towards his family so he could regain his normal Ronness. After a few deep breaths he picked up his bag and lung it over his shoulder then started towards his own family.
"There you are, Ron." His mother said as she wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. "Didn't see you get off the train."
"Well, let's get going then." Arthur Weasley chimed in with one of his normal smiles.
"Yea, I'm ready to just go home." Ron stated as they all began to make their way from the platform.
"Oh, we're not going home, Ron. We're going to London." Molly told him as they met up with Remus, Moody, and Snape.
They all exchanged hellos but Snape who kept quiet the entire time he stood there. "We thought it would be best to travel in smaller groups." Arthur said as he starting splitting the kids up with the other adults. No surprise, Harry Ron and Hermione were placed in a group which slightly upset the youngest Weasley boy.
"We'll go with Remus." Harry quickly said as he pull Hermione over to stand next to the werewolf.
A frown crossed Ron's face. "I'll just walk home alone and hope I don't get killed in the process." He said bitterly as he pushed past everyone and started out of the station. There was no way he was walking home with his ex-best friend. Especially since he had figured it was Remus that Harry had been wanting Snape to teach him how to seduce.
"Ron, wait." He heard that deep voice call to him.
"Go away." He called back though he stopped to wait for the older man to catch up to him.
"Ron, please don't go off alone. It's truly not safe." Snape said as he caught up to the Gryffindor.
"What do you care?" He said flatly as he started walking again. The parking lot was pretty empty since most wizards didn't own cars. Ron didn't know exactly where he was going since he had never walked to Sirius' house in the past but he refused go along with one of the groups his father had put together.
The potions master did his best to keep up with the younger man as he took off across the pavement. "Your boyfriend might care if something happened to you." He replied as he quickened his pace so he could walk next to Ron.
"I don't have a boyfriend." The red head stated as he turned down an alley way that he figured to be a short cut to the house they were looking for. "Damnit, I don't know where I'm going." He admitted as he turned to face Snape.
A look of relief crossed the older mans face though he wasn't entirely sure why. The chance he had once had with Ron was gone and he knew it, but to think of him with someone else was painful still. "You kissed him, I just assumed…." He began but didn't want to finish the sentence.
"No, I didn't even know Jake liked guys until just then." The Gryffindor told him as he stepped closer. "Besides that, there's only one person I would want to be with. No matter how angry I am at him for kissing my best friend."
"Is it possible he never thought about it that way. Perhaps he was trying to get your best friend with someone in order to give you more time to spend with him." Snape stated with an apologetic look in his eye.
"Forget about it, I have. However can you do me a favor?" He asked as he stood close enough they would be touching if either of them moved even slightly.
"What's that?" The Slytherin inquired as he tilted hi head to the side.
"Teach me how to kiss properly." He nearly ordered.
"But you know…." He was cut off.
"Right now." Ron finished his order as he leaned forward and buried his hands in the many layers of clothing that covered Snapes chest.
"Course." Was the only word he could manage to speak as he captured the younger mans lips in his own in a kiss that was more passionate then any they had ever shared before.
When the kiss broke both men shivered then laughed about it. "I've missed you." Ron muttered into Severus' neck with a sigh.
"Missed you too. Ron, I have to tell you something." He cleared his throat and took a deep breath as he moved the Gryffindor back so he could look into his eyes. "I lo….." His words were cut off by a flash o light which knocked Ron to the ground and into unconsciousness.