Over the next few days Harry watched Ron carefully whenever he mentioned one of their boy mates to see if he could spot a reaction that might give Harry a clue as to who exactly Ron had a crush on. Alas, so far he'd had no luck.
Ron (who was blissfully unaware of what Harry was doing) was just glad that Harry didn't care about him being gay. At first it'd come as a shock to himself when he first caught himself thinking things like "Seamus looks hot in those pyjama's". But he had adjusted and had come to accept it. Harry had suggested that they wait until Hermione returned to tell her and Ron had agreed straight away. That wasn't the kind of letter he wanted to be intercepted. There was also the fact that he would have to tell his parents eventually, as Harry had pointed out; "It won't look very good if you start bringing a boyfriend round for tea,"
So as the holiday's crept by the only thought that troubled him was how exactly he was going to tell his parents. He and Harry had both agreed it would be better for Ron to do it in person, so that gave him until the summer holidays. On Christmas Eve both Harry and Ron entered the Great hall in their pyjamas (as instructed by Dumbledore) and found that there was one table right in the middle, around which were situated eight people. Along with Ernie, Hannah, Luna and Malfoy (all of whom were sporty wacky pyjama's) was sat Professor's Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick and, to the boys dismay, Snape.
"Take a seat boys!" Dumbledore called out in a cheery voice. Unfortunately for Ron he had to sit next to Malfoy. Harry had been going to take that seat in order to save Ron (who found it much harder to ignore Malfoy's taunts) but Dumbledore had gestured for Harry to sit next to him.
So the evening was not as enjoyable as it could've been. It was obvious Malfoy kept whispering insults to Ron as his ears turned and remained a deep shade of red for most of the evening, but Harry kept countering this by whispering things of encouragement in Ron's other ear.
Finally dinner ended and the students were dismissed. Harry and Ron bad Ernie and Hannah goodbye at the bottom of the marble staircase and watched as the Hufflepuff's wandered towards the corridor that led to the kitchens. At the third floor Luna muttered something that Harry was sure wasn't in a real language and waved goodbye as she headed for the west tower.
Harry and Ron continued to walk in silence until they reached the sixth floor when Harry stopped suddenly.
"Can you hear that?" He asked Ron. It was footsteps and as the boys turned around they spotted a certain white-blonde Slytherin heading for them. He came to a stop right in front of them and smiled maliciously,
"Didn't think I'd find you and Weasel going for a mid-night stroll." Malfoy said staring from one to the other. Harry didn't know where this was going but he didn't like the sound of it. "Then again that was because I didn't think was gay. But judging by what you too get up to-"
WHAM.
Harry's fist flew out of nowhere and connected with the side of Malfoy's face cutting his sentence short. Ron launched himself at Malfoy having heard every word and began laying into the slime-ball. Both boys could hear someone shouting at them to release Malfoy immediately but neither paid attention. They wanted to cause Malfoy as much pain as possible.
Half an hour later Harry and Ron found themselves in Professor McGonagall's office waiting to be reprimanded. Harry had a deep cut along his left cheek, which Malfoy had somehow managed to create with his fingernails. Ron seemed to have got away unharmed apart from the snapped fingers which he was nursing while he waited for them to be allowed up to the hospital wing.
"Are you ok?" Asked Harry quietly, glancing at Ron's poor fingers. The blood dripping from them had stained his stripy pyjamas.
"Yeah. I'll be fine once Madam Pomfrey's had a look." Ron hissed in pain.
"You gave Malfoy a spectacular battering." Harry said changing the subject. Ron smiled.
"Thanks. You did ok yourself though." The door banged open at that moment and Professor McGonagall entered looking furious.
"Explain!" She shrieked sitting behind her desk and glowering at them.
"Malfoy insulted Ron!"
"Malfoy created the cut on Harry's cheek!"
"Malfoy broke Ron's fingers!"
"SILENCE!" McGonagall cried. "I do not believe that Mister Malfoy can be held solely responsible for this attack. It is, after all, his nose and arm that Madam Pomfrey is currently tending to."
Harry couldn't help smiling at this thought.
"It's not funny Mister Potter." McGonagall stood up again unable to remain seated. If they had not been being shouted at, Ron would've found her slightly comical in her tartan pyjamas. "You will both receive detention and I'm taking one hundred points each, away from Gryffindor."
" But professor it's outside school term!" Moaned Ron.
"Very well. Since tomorrow is Christmas day I will allow you to complete your detention on Boxing Day."
"What about Malfoy? He started it, surely he should get punished as well!" Harry snapped.
"That is for Professor Snape to decide-"
"No!" Harry shouted. "Professor you know how biased Snape is. Malfoy will get off Scot free!"
"Mister Potter. I advise you to keep your voice down. Now go and get cleaned up in the hospital wing."
Harry and Ron walked very slowly to the hospital wing, talking all the time about how much they hated Malfoy. When they eventually arrived Madam Pomfrey had a surprise for them.
"Professor McGonagall has instructed me to use only Muggle methods on the two of you so that it reminds you not to get in trouble again."
Harry and Ron stared open mouthed.
"That's inhumane!" Ron said clutching his left hand protectively.
"But it'll keep you out of trouble for a bit."
Later that night Harry and Ron were still awake in front of the fire moaning at the prospect of doing detention in the Christmas holidays. The fire was starting to die down and Harry could feel his cheek starting to ache. He'd ended up with fifteen stitches but that was nothing compared to Ron who'd had to have his entire left wrist and middle two fingers bandaged.
"Does it hurt?" Asked Harry as the two sat with their backs to the sofa in front of the fire.
"Not really…" Ron said unconvincingly. "Wish it'd been the other hand though."
"Why?" Harry frowned. If he'd been in Ron's shoes he would've wished not to have broken fingers at all.
"I wouldn't be able to write then and I might have got off detention." Ron sighed. He looked up and caught Harry staring at him. "What about your cheek?"
"It stings a little." Harry shrugged not taking his eyes off Ron. He was mesmerised by the way the fire danced in the crystal blue of Ron's own eyes.
Ron reached his right hand up and touched the deep cut gently with his fingers. Harry closed his eyes, the feel of Ron's touch sending shivers down his spine. He only opened them again when Ron took his fingers away.
He was scared that Harry would think him weird. He'd been sure that Harry had felt what he had. That shiver that made him tingle all over every time he though of Harry. Every time him and Harry touched by accident. Every time they spent hours together in front of the fire doing nothing except being in each other's company. That's when Ron realised. He had a crush on Harry.