A/N : It has been awhile since my last post. Sorry about that. Anyway on with the show. A/N
Chapter 6
Holiday Blues
About a week had passed since Harry's confession to Ron and now today was the first day of the winter vacation. Today they would all be taking the train back to London where Mrs. Weasley would be waiting for them. Ron had for once packed the night before and was headed up to Harry's room to get him and his trunk. The train left in under an hour and it was time to go.
"Harry why aren't you packed yet? The train leaves soon and we haven't eaten breakfast." Harry was seated on his bed with his back to Ron. His hair was currently down to his shoulders. He had let it grow out around Ron; it was apparently easier for him to remain closer to his true form. Harry had kept it at just the hair because Ron got incredibly uncomfortable around Harry as a girl.
"I'm not going." Harry whispered softly.
"What. How come?" Harry turned around, he was completely transformed today. The redness around her eyes told Ron she had been crying earlier.
"Dumbledore doesn't think I should travel in my condition."
"Why that utter bastard, he'd using this against you." Ron waved his wand and re-packed the pile of things that Harry had dumped out on his bed. "Come on, we're going anyway."
"I can't. He won't let me." Ron closed and shrunk Harry's trunk, he picked it up and then handed Harry her winter cloak.
"Bollocks he will, come on." Ron grabbed Harry by her arm and steered her towards the door. Harry had stopped flinching around Ron a few weeks ago. That didn't stop her from wrenching free just short of the door.
"Ron no! I can't, its just Christmas. I'll be ok here."
"Harry. You've been exited about this since before Halloween. Don't give me this kind of shit now. Because I'm certain that the Harry I made friends with wasn't a wimp."
"I'm not… I just…" Harry sighed. "Alright Ron, we'll try it your way." Ron smiled.
"Great." Ron tried to lead Harry out the door but was stopped again.
"What now."
"I can't go out there like this." Harry waved her hands over her slim curvy body to emphasize her point.
"Oh, right." Ron's face reddened as his eyes followed Harry's hands down over her body.
Harry ended up trailing meekly behind him as they walked towards the headmaster's office. Ron had planed on simply leaving and forcing Dumbledore to confront them on the train, but Harry wouldn't cooperate and he'd be dammed if he left his best friend alone in this school for Christmas. Thankfully Harry knew the current password, 'ginger newts' so reaching the headmaster's office wasn't the guessing game it usually was.
"Good morning Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter. What can I do for you two?"
"Nothing today sir. I'm just letting you know that Harry will be coming with me over the holidays."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley but didn't Harry tell you. He won't be able to leave the grounds this holiday."
"I'm sorry sir. But you didn't understand me, this isn't a request. Harry will be coming with me over the holidays." Dumbledore frowned at Ron's tone and narrowed his eyes when Ron was done, but only for instant before the smile returned.
"I'm afraid that you don't understand Mr. Weasley, his condition prevents him from traveling at the moment."
"I'm well aware of Harry's unique condition and only apparation is detrimental to his health. As we will not be apparating I see no problem." Dumbledore gave a start at this before peering at Harry as if to determine if it was true. Harry broke eye contact and leaned into Ron in response.
"Is that so Mr. Weasley?" At Ron's nod Dumbledore continued. "I'm glad that you've chosen to confide in your friends but you still are not leaving Hogwarts Mr. Potter." Harry seemed to shrink further into Ron like he was scared of Dumbledore.
What happened between the two of them?
"Why?"
"Because of safety concerns Mr. Weasley. Now if…"
"After seeing how the last place you put Harry for his safety turned out I'm inclined not to trust you in this matter. You're not his guardian and you're stopping us. Speaking of which you aren't even attempting to press charges are you?"
"Actually during the year I am his guardian for all legal purposes…"
"When were you planning on telling me this!" Harry spoke for the first time.
"When I needed to. You are not leaving this castle and that is final. Mr. Weasley you should hurry down to the carriages. Harry please stay here, I need to speak to you." Harry cringed and clung to Ron, who looked at Dumbledore once more before turning around and heading for the door.
"I would be a real shame if say the papers found out how little you care for the Boy-who-lived's safety." Ron mumbled just loud enough for Dumbledore to hear. The headmaster who had been turning away from Ron to the now petrified Harry snapped his head back as fast as he could.
"Are you threatening me, Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore's voice was low and dangerous. Ron slowly turned around.
"Only a Slytherin would blackmail someone with anonymous information. No sir, I am flat out telling you that if you don't let Harry come with me we'll have this conversation again, in front of the great hall during lunch." Dumbledore palled at this.
"Harry would not want the world to know about his problems."
"So you blackmail him into doing whatever you want? Come on Harry, he won't be bothering us again." Ron pulled Harry out of the room.
"This isn't over Mr. Weasley."
"Not by a long shot old man." Ron called back as he closed the door. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs Ron turned to Harry, who was breathing fast and shallow breaths.
"Breath Harry, its all right." Ron pulled Harry close to him, wondering silently when he had become accustomed to comforting Harry through touch.
"Were you really going to let the world know?" Ron shock his head.
"If he had called my bluff I was completely out of ideas."
"How did you come up with that?" Ron flashed another one of his lopsided grins.
"I made it up as I went along, do I look like Hermione to you?" Harry smiled.
"Maybe, we only have to work on the hair and the voice." He replied imitating Hermione.
"Prat." Ron laughed, and the two began to head down to the carriages. "So are you going to tell me why you looked so scared shitless in front of Dumbledore?" Harry's smile faded and his mood immediately became somber.
"Its to long a story to tell you now. I'll tell you some other time, ok?"
"Yeah ok. Lets get to the carriages before they leave."
Catching the last carriage to Hogsmead Harry and Ron were one of the last aboard the Hogwarts express. Consequentially all the compartments were taken and the two ended up joining Dean, Seamus, Lavender, and Lisa.
"Harry!" Mum rushed forward and engulfed Harry in one of her patented bone crushing hugs. "How are you doing? Have you had a good year so far? You're still on the thin side, no matter I'll fix that up in a jiff." Ron shook his head at his mother's reaction to seeing Harry; he quelled the pang of jealousy that erupted at his mother greeting Harry before him. After all Harry didn't have anyone to mother him when it was all over. Correction over mother, he thought as mum released Harry and moved on to him. Ron nodded and mumbled ok as she asked her standard set of questions, about food, grades and how hard he was studying. Once she had finished properly greeting, and embarrassing him she moved on to Ginny. Her greeting to Hermione was more subdued, after all Hermione wasn't coming with them. She would be over for Boxing Day though.
After everyone's luggage was gathered up mum led the group back into the muggle world and hailed the Knight bus. Ron steadied Harry as he bordered and hoped that Harry wouldn't succumb to motion sickness during the trip. It was a near thing, as twenty minutes latter when they exited Harry looked decidedly green.
The burrow looked the same as it had when he'd left it four months ago. Ron hoped that mum wouldn't order him to de-gnome the garden, after all the ground had a thin layer of snow and the overcast sky promised more soon. Christmas was in three days and the four of them were the first in. Charlie was catching an international portkey in tomorrow and Bill, Fred and George all had places in London. Percy, well Ron didn't expect Percy to come back anytime soon. Harry was staying in Ron's room up in the attic. When the three teens made their way back downstairs after setting down their stuff they sat down at the kitchen table. Ron wanted to go flying but accepted that Harry wasn't feeling to good. Mum had already started dinner and Harry offered to help her cook. She made some comment about how helpful he was being but Ron wasn't about to let himself be guilted into helping. Ron instead challenged his sister to a game of chess, but she turned him down. The three of them ended up updating mum on the state of things at Hogwarts.
Presently dad came home and dinner was served. Dad spent the time grilling Harry about a wide variety of muggle customs, and devices. After dinner was finally finished Ron and Harry retreated upstairs to Ron's room. Ginny came along and the three talked while Ron beat Harry at a game of chess. Harry was actually trying this game and it came down to Ron and his King, bishop and two knights chasing Harry's King, and rook around the board. When that was over Ginny bid the two of them goodnight and left. Ron dressed for bed, said night to Harry and burrowed into the covers.
Ron sat up in bed and looked around. The light of the waxing moon illuminated his darkened room, he was certain that he had heard something. Something moaned and he whirled around.
HarryHarry was tossing, caught up in his sheets. Ron padded over to where his friend was moaning slightly.
"No. Please no." Harry whispered in his sleep. Ron placed his hand on Harry's arm and gently shook him.
"Come on Harry. You need to wake up, you're having a nightmare." Ron kept his voice as low and as comforting as he could. It did little good, Harry bolted upwards with a muffled yelp. Harry's back had previously been turned but now Ron got a better look at his face. Correction her face, Harry apparently transformed back while she was asleep. Her silky hair was plastered to her face by sweat. Fearful eyes darted around the unfamiliar room. Ron moved himself into Harry's view.
"Harry, its ok. I'm here, they're all far away, you're safe."
Harry looked around the room and realized it must be late at night.
"Oh Ron I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you…"
"No problem at all. Was that you-know-who?"
"No, it was…" Harry cast her eyes downward and grew silent.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Harry simply shook her head.
"Alright. Well if you're ok I'm going back to sleep."
"Wait. Ron… could you… well… staywithme?"
"What?"
"Could you… you know… stay with me?" Ron frowned as realization of what Harry was asking dawned on him.
"Well… I…" He stuttered.
"Please. I don't think I can get back to sleep after… after that." Ron met Harry's soft almost teary eyes and he simply nodded.
What am I thinking? He asked himself as he crawled into the small bed and lay next to Harry. Harry draped Ron's arm over herself and snuggled back into Ron. Ron lay there perfectly still and rather uncomfortable until he recognized the rhythmic breathing that told him Harry had fallen back to sleep. Ron attempted to move his arm but found that he wouldn't be able to without waking his friend. I can't just stay here. Harry's my best friend, and a guy!But if I move Harry will wake up.
I guess just for tonight, after all no ones watching.
Ron let himself relax and pulled the warm body of his friend closer. He closed his eyes finally and allowed blissful sleep to take him.
Usually on holidays Ron made sure to sleep in. Today however he awoke as sunlight pierced in through the half open curtains. As Ron came to his senses he noted a few things. First he wasn't in his bed, and second he was curled up against a very warm soft thing.
Harry!It was a good thing that his friend was still asleep, Ron decided, he was currently spooning up against her. The curves of her back were pressed against his chest; even their legs were intertwined. Somehow his arm had found its way under Harry's pajamas and was cupping something very soft and firm. Of course there was no reason for Harry to ever wear a bra during the day why would she wear any at night. Ron started to withdrawal his hand and brushed over a nipple, it started to grow firm and hard at the touch. Ron hastened his work because he also noticed that something of his own was growing hard and he had no desire to wake Harry that particular way. Extracting himself from the still sleeping girl Ron rose and moved back a few steps. His previous semi morning wood was now a raging hard on and the form Harry made while peacefully asleep wasn't helping him at all. He could see her nipples through the thin material of Harry's pajamas. Men's garments weren't made to be accommodating and the way they strained against the coarsely spun fabric…
Get a grip Ron!Turning away and blushing furiously Ron reached in to the lining of his trunk and withdrew the old copy of Play Wizard he kept around for such occasions. Rolling up the well-used magazine he retreated into the bathroom to relive himself.
Ron decided that it hadn't really helped that his favorite model looked similar to Harry. He couldn't help but interchange then as he relived himself in the bathroom. Returning to his room no less embarrassed than when he had left Ron replaced the magazine and lay on his bed staring at the ceiling.
What's happening to me, to us?
I shouldn't have thoughts like that - especially about Harry.
The days flew by and before Ron realized it Christmas had come. Shaking Harry awake Ron was secretly glad that Harry had had no new nightmares, because while Harry though nothing of it Ron still had trouble looking at Harry when he was in his current natural form.
Ron had gotten Harry a mix of Honeyduke's chocolates and a Chudley Cannon's poster. Harry had gotten him a new pair of keeper's gloves, his old pair was starting to show holes in them. Hermione's present was, as usual, a book. With all the Weasley's, minus Percy, who had actually sent a card, at the burrow they partied the whole night.
Ron looked up from the chess game he had been playing with his sister. Harry was stuck, he'd accidentally walked beneath one of the enchanted mistletoes that Fred and George had set up. You would think they would have taken them down when all the guests left, only family members and Harry left after all. Harry couldn't move anything but his head at the moment.
"Uh, anyone. Help, please?" Harry tilted his neck as far as it would go to gesture at the offending plant. Ginny noticed his predicament and stood from their chess game. She sauntered over to Harry as slow as she could without making it look obvious.
"You need help Harry?" She wore a triumphant smile, almost a smirk.
"Uh…" Harry gulped, at her hungry expression. "Yeah." She leaned in close and played with his frozen collar.
"You need a kiss Harry?"
"Umm… I was hoping for an incendio to the mistletoe but that would work too."
"I couldn't just kiss you. What would people say? But… perhaps…" She trailed off and looked down.
"Perhaps what?"
"Well if you were to take me to Hogsmead when we get back…" She stopped and looked up at Harry, smiling coyly.
"Ok. Ok. Just help me out here."
"Good. It's a date." She grabbed Harry's cheeks and pulled him into a fiery kiss. Harry was still stuck several seconds latter when she came up for air.
"Wow. But I'm still stuck Ginny." She looked him over again and frowned.
"You wait here. I'll go find one of the twins and get them to fix it, and I did kiss you so we're still on for Hogsmead."
"Great, wouldn't miss it." Harry answered rather flatly as Ginny hurried outside to find Fred and or George. Ron could here her muttering about stupid brothers ruining her romantic moment. Ron stood from the couch and leaned on the wall next to where Harry was standing.
"Interesting first kiss?"
"Just, wow… Oh! Sorry." Harry realized that he was talking about his best mate's sister and tried to apologize.
"None needed." Ron waved it off, it wasn't like Harry could have stopped.
I wonder if Hermione could kiss like that.
"Ron?"
"Yeah." Ron looked up, he had closed his eyes trying to picture the moment, if it ever happened.
"Why do you think just spell didn't end?"
"No clue, Fred and George usually do better work."
"What if it did work and the spell simply wasn't designed for any girl/girl interaction?"
"What?"
"Ron. Any sex determining spells would see me as female."
"That might be it…"
Where is he going with this? If he's a girl he'd need a guy to…"No. Absolutely not!"
"Ron, if one of the twins takes a look at their spell they'll know what the problem is. If I can move when Ginny gets back we can play it off as a minor glitch in timing."
"Then the world finds out, there is no way that I'm kissing…"
"I'll owe you."
"You already owe me for that thing with the Headmaster."
"I'll owe you more."
"Harry. I love you like a brother but I am not kissing a guy." Harry's features softened and in moments Harry's female alter ego was standing before him.
"Please?" She pleaded.
"Fine, better make this quick." Ron stepped forwarded and looked around, making a silent prayer to all that was holy that there were no recording charms set up. Then he leaned in and their lips met.
Time seamed to be frozen in that instant they touched and Ron almost felt a shock run through him. Then it was over and Harry was pulling away, she could move again and was quickly morphing her features back into the familiar Harry. He had kissed Lavender during a post Quiditch party earlier in the year and their snogging session had been nothing next to what he had just felt in an instant. Harry noticed that Ron was staring and flushed turning away. Hearing someone at the back door Ron backed up and retook his seat slightly dazed.
A forced kiss shouldn't feel that way, should it?Ginny and one of the twins re-entered the room to look at Harry who was stretching slightly. Ron marveled at how composed he managed to act. If they were paying attention to him he wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face, but Harry calmly explained that the enchantment had lasted only a bit longer than it was supposed to and then drew them off the subject of why the spell malfunctioned by asking Ginny where she wanted to go.
How can he so calmly hide it, like it meant nothing to him?
Did it mean nothing to him?
Did it mean anything to me?
Ron had no answer to the last question, he would vehemently deny it if asked but he had felt something more.
But Harry's a guy.
Confused and embarrassed by some of the thoughts he was having he bid the rest of them goodnight and returned upstairs. When Harry came in latter he pretended to be asleep to avoid an uncomfortable silence.