Ron woke early on Christmas day and chucked a pillow across at Harry.
"Oi!" He called. Harry groaned and rolled over. "Oh no you don't! Presents!"
Harry sat up and rubbed his eyes sleepily. He reached over for his glasses and pushed them up his nose.
"You know, just because its Christmas doesn't mean you have to wake me up at-" Harry glanced at the bedside clock. "Five in the morning!"
Ron laughed at Harry's indignation.
"Sorry mate, here," Ron chucked a package over to Harry. "That's from me. Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas, Ron." Said Harry chucking his own present to Ron.
Harry began unwrapping the present and found to his delight it was a Quidditch book. Funnily enough Harry had given Ron some Chudley cannon's robes for Christmas.
"Oh, Harry," Ron looked up as he unwrapped his own present. "These must've cost you a fortune! I can't have these!"
"Ron, you are my best mate. Have them." Harry smiled over at Ron.
"But…" began Ron, though it was evident how much he wanted them.
"Take them or I'll hex you." Harry said still smiling.
"Ok, but if anyone asks I put up a fight." Ron said pulling them on.
A few hours later they went down to breakfast chatting about everything they'd got. They went into the great hall and sat at the on table that had been put out again. Only Professor Dumbledore was up.
"Good morning Harry, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore nodded at them and the boys returned the gesture.
They tucked into the best breakfast they'd ever had. The house elves in the kitchen had obviously made the food special. There were croissants, French toast, angel delight, strawberries dipped in chocolate and even Treacle tart, Harry's favourite.
Hannah Abbot joined them half way through, but they didn't see anyone else until they left the Great Hall. Then the pair ran into Malfoy. Harry felt his check sting and he was sure that Ron had clutched his left hand for a moment.
"Well, well, well. It seems you too are inseparable." As Malfoy came to a stop in front of them they saw that he had no lasting marks from their fight the day before. It seemed Madam Promfrey had used magic on him.
"Malfoy, if I'm going to waste my breath on you then it's going to be saying these two words. Bog off." Harry smiled and darted round Malfoy, Ron following.
"You know I could tell everyone." Malfoy said. Harry and Ron paused, looking back.
"Tell everyone what?" Harry asked frowning.
"Your little secret." Harry knew that Ron must've paled at these words. He himself was a little worried by what Malfoy meant.
"What secret?" Harry said trying to sound as calm as possible.
"Your secret Potter." Malfoy replied smiling. Harry inwardly sighed. At least he didn't know about Ron. But what secret did he have that Malfoy knew about?
Malfoy wandered away. Ron glanced at Harry evidently relieved but worried for Harry at the same time.
"What was that all about?" Asked Ron. Harry shrugged.
"I honestly have no idea. I don't have any secrets." Harry said. It was more to convince himself than Ron. He did have one secret, but he didn't even know if it was true and since he hadn't told ANYONE there was no way Malfoy would know about it.
Ron had told Harry a lie. He hated to admit it but he had. Ok so it hadn't been a big lie, he'd just said he was going to the library when really he was going to the Owlery. The real reason he had left the common room was he needed to sort out his feelings. Ron had no idea how to suppress his feelings. He desperately wanted to tell Harry but at the same time he didn't want to risk loosing Harry's friendship. Ron sighed and continued to walk along the corridors aimlessly.
He turned a corner and started to climb the stairs up to the Owlery. He thought maybe if he could talk to someone about it he might feel better. But whom exactly could Ron tell? He couldn't tell his parents, not by owl, and Hermione was no go as well. There was no one he could turn to. Suddenly Ron felt very alone. He sat down on the top step of the Owlery and thought, unaware that Harry was feeling exactly the same way in the common room.
Harry was pacing round and round. Did he like Ron as more than a friend? It was possible, but maybe he was only asking himself this because of Ron's revelation? It was difficult to tell but he was sure that he was feeling the same way he had about Cho. He stopped pacing at sat in a chair thinking deeply. Ok so it had felt nice when Ron touched his cheek last night, but that was only because it stopped the pain. Wasn't it? It wasn't as if anything else weird had happened.
Apart from the dream. The dream that he'd had several times over the holidays and always ended the same way; with Harry wondering whether it meant he was feeling something more than friendship towards Ron.
The portrait hole swung open and Harry looked up sharply. Ron stood outlined in the doorway staring at Harry.
"Oh, hi Ron. I wasn't expecting you back yet," Harry said standing up. Ron walked into the room and shrugged.
"I wasn't planning on coming back this quickly but Madam Pince wasn't in the library." Ron lied.
"Oh," Harry looked around nervously, as though he thought Ron might be able to hear what he was thinking. Ron took a few tentative steps forward.
"Listen, Harry," began Ron. "I've got something to tell you."
Harry looked up and for the first time in six years he saw Ron was actually afraid to tell Harry something.