Ron very badly wanted to return to Grimmauld Place for Christmas, but there were several healers who wanted to stop by and give him examinations, and ask him questions before he left. All the Weasley children seemed disgruntled by this, Harry admitted inwardly that he was too, but he murmured his understanding with Hermione. What Ron had done, though he claimed it an accident, was also something quite severe.

They all hung around St. Mungo's while the proposition of his discharge was discussed. About an hour had passed when George approached Harry.

"Can we have a word in private?" He asked.

"Yeah, of course," Harry said quickly, he was ready to rip the bandage of tension that had been mounting between them.

They walked a ways down the hall, Fred and Hermione watching them curiously. Finally George stopped walking, and folded his arms while looking at Harry.

"Look," George said with a sigh, "About…about that night…"

"You didn't tell anyone," Harry pointed out, "Why?"

"Because it wasn't my place," George replied simply, "But…I just want to warn you, if you were taking advantage-"

"Taking advantage?" Harry repeated quickly, "No! He…he kissed me first." Harry dropped his voice with his last statement.

"That doesn't change anything," George responded, "Ron's been depressed. I saw it. You saw it. You could have ended it, even if he started it."

"George it wasn't like that," Harry said desperately, "I swear. We…what you saw…it wasn't just…" Harry was struggling, George had not been the one he wanted to say this too first. Sirius was who he was going to go to, or even Hermione. But what George was accusing of, what he thought, he couldn't allow it. "We…" Harry tried again, taking a deep breath.

And suddenly a look of realization crossed George's face.

"Oh," he said, dropping his arms, "Oh…but…but then why did…" George looked behind toward Ron's room.

"I'm not sure," Harry admitted, "He…he doesn't know either. But George I swear I wasn't taking advantage. I wouldn't do that to him. Please believe me."

George seemed to relax very slightly.

"Well," he said finally after a moment, "Okay. Just…be careful okay?"

Harry nodded fervently. Just glad that George was no longer thinking negatively of him. They returned to the crowd around Ron's room, which Lupin had now joined, he turned to them and said,

"Okay, Fred, George, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione, you lot are coming with me for now." He smiled when they all started to protest. "I know, I know, but if we want Ron to return, he needs to start the process, which could take a few hours. Now…let's head home and get a proper Christmas ready, eh? After a good night's rest."

[][][][][][][]

The following morning all the Weasley children and Harry and Hermione helped Sirius and Lupin clean and set up even more decorations, and whatever presents had been found.

"You don't think this will be too much for him?" Hermione mused out loud as they started setting up breakfast.

"He was pretty eager to get home," Ginny replied, "He probably just wants things to get back to normal."

Harry agreed with both if them. It seemed bizarre to be celebrating so soon, but also knowing Ron, Ginny was right, he probably just wanted things to go back to normal.

When the front door opened everyone looked up. Harry's heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. Only moments later Ron entered the kitchen, looking much more at ease than he had yesterday. Stronger. Harry turned around and looked at Sirius for a brief moment, then walked over to Ron and hugged him. Ron seemed surprised, but hugged him back.

"Glad you're back," Harry murmured in his ear, before releasing him to let his siblings get to him next.

"What's that?" Ginny asked as her mother set a box on the kitchen counter, it rattled with what sounded like glass bottles.

"Oh just some elixirs," Mrs. Weasley said briskly, "Calming, sleep, just in case Ron needs them."

"I don't," Ron argued, "I told you, mum, I'm going to be alright."

"It's just in case," Mrs. Weasley told him, she stepped forward and gave him a hug and kiss on the forehead, "Humor me, alright?" she patted him on the cheek when he smiled. "Okay, breakfast!"

The day was very comfortable. They ate, opened gifts, and lounged around the living room. All the tension and grief that had been building over the last several days seemed to be broken. Harry found himself glued to Ron's side, and to his relief, Ron did not seem to mind. And if they separated even briefly, their eyes often found each other.

While Sirius and Harry shared a drink later that evening, Harry asked,

"Sirius, do you remember that question you asked me?"

"Yes, I do." Sirius looked at him with a small smile.

"I think I do." And the moment Harry said it a loud, he knew it was true.

"I know, Harry," Sirius replied, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder, "I know you do."

When everyone finally started to head to bed, Harry sat cross legged in his room, waiting for Ron to get through the crowd of hugs. But soon he heard the door open and he looked up.

"Hey," he said as Ron shut the door behind him.

"Hey yourself," Ron replied, collapsing on his cot and yawning.

Harry felt a pang in his stomach. Part of him was ready to explode with his newfound realization, but the other part wanted to give Ron time to adjust, and relax, and not push him too hard.

"You doing alright?" Harry asked as he watched Ron start to undress.

"I think so," Ron said, then he frowned and shook out his hands, and scratched his wrists in a frustrated kind of way, "They itch," he said with a sigh.

"Oh," Harry said apologetically, "So they couldn't…"

"No," Ron replied, "But…whatever. Maybe they'll go away one day."

Ron climbed under his covers and propped himself on one arm to look over at Harry, and smiled. Harry returned it, suddenly feeling shy.

"Did you come visit me?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied with a nod, "A couple times…but it was hard. But. I wanted to apologize to you."

"Apologize?" Ron asked quickly, sitting up now, "For what? You had nothing to do with…it."

"It's just…" Harry swallowed heavily, "I hated how I just left. After George caught us. It seemed like you were upset with me, after that."

"Oh," Ron said, "Well I kind of was. I thought you were…ashamed, or something."

"No," Harry said quietly, "I just…wasn't sure how I felt."

"Well…how do you feel?"

"I, um…" Harry cleared his throat, "I…" He suddenly was at a loss for words. He looked at Ron, sitting there so expectantly.

"It's okay," Ron finally interrupted, "I know that it's not really the best time…after what I did. I don't want to guilt you into anything."

He got back under his covers and laid down on his pillow, staring at the ceiling. Harry did the same, squeezing his eyes shut, frustrated with himself for not being able to say anything. They lay in silence for several minutes, listening to the rest of the household retire to their bedrooms. And then suddenly Ron had taken a sharp breath, Harry looked over quickly, and Ron was rubbing his chest.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, sitting up, "Should I get your mum?"

"No," Ron said tightly, "Just…" He took another deep breath, "Hard to catch my breath. It happened…before…but…"

"Do you want one of those potions?" Harry asked.

"No," Ron said quickly, "I'll be fine."

Harry didn't like the way Ron was breathing. He bit his lip, then said quietly,

"Ron…come here."

Ron looked over, and Harry scooted over, pulling the blanket with him. Ron hesitated, then got up and slowly moved over and got into the bed next to Harry. Harry's heart beat quickly as he laid the blanket over Ron. Ron was still inhaling rather sharply. Harry laid down on his side, and put his hand over Ron's, which was still on his chest.

"Just try to slow down, okay?" Harry whispered, "Slow down. You're alright. You're safe."

It seemed to help. After a few minutes, Ron was breathing normally once again. His eyes were closed. Harry couldn't stop watching, and he realized he was scared. It was an irrational fear to have, that Ron would just stop breathing. But he couldn't help having it anyway.

"Sorry," Ron whispered suddenly.

"It's okay," Harry replied, finally laying on his pillow, tucking his arm underneath it, he moved his hand off Ron's, and Ron opened his eyes and looked over at him.

"You look scared," Ron whispered.

"I was," Harry admitted, "I…I don't want to lose you, Ron."

Ron shifted onto his side so he was facing Harry now, and they looked at each other. The words bounced around in Harry's mind, echoing through his ears. His throat tightened. The silence engulfed them but it didn't seem to matter, they just laid there. Then Harry's hand searched for Ron's under the blanket and he grabbed it.

"I'm in love with you, too," he whispered. He saw something twinkle in Ron's eyes, and Ron smiled softly. "And…I'm not saying it because of what happened…I'm saying it because I mean it. I do. When you said, that night, that you couldn't breathe sometimes, or that you see me dying, and that you're scared…that you don't know what life would be without me…that's…that's how I feel about you."

The moment he stopped talking, Ron had slid his hand up Harry's arm and pulled him close.

"Just kiss me," he said quietly.

Without wasting another second Harry closed the gap and pressed his lips against Ron's, wrapping his arm around his back and pulling him so close he wished he could just engulf him completely. Their mouths worked together rhythmically, hands sliding under shirts, legs winding around each other. Harry could not think, only feel exactly what his body wanted to do, and respond to it, and to everything Ron was doing. He could feel Ron's hands on the backs of his shoulders and pulled him over so he was straddling him, and Harry couldn't help but chuckle against Ron's lips.

"What?" Ron asked quietly, but smiling up at Harry from his pillow.

"You wanted me on top," Harry said, kissing Ron gently, then sitting up so he was straddling Ron's waist, he grabbed Ron's hips and slid his hands up his sides under his shirt.

Ron turned slightly pink and said,

"I like it. It…" He trailed off, smiling shyly.

"It what?" Harry prodded, leaning down and kissing him again, if he could, he would stay with Ron like this forever. He stayed bent down, his face hovering over Ron's, gazing at his lips, then kissing him on the Jae.

"It makes me feel safe," Ron murmured in his ear.

Harry practically melted. He planted several kisses on Ron's neck and felt him squirm and grip his back slightly.

"You are safe," Harry whispered, "You will always be safe with me."