"What?" Harry asked. He mentally kicked himself for sounding so nervous.
Ron took a few tentative steps forward and looked around as though searching for the right words.
"It's umm… difficult," Ron began. He sat on the sofa in front of the fire and Harry sat in the armchair, wondering what on earth was so difficult for Ron to tell him. "It's… it's about my crush…"
"You mean you've told them?" Harry asked, relief flooding through him, though he wasn't sure why.
"No, but I'm planning on telling them…" Ron said weakly.
"And you want me to come with you? Is that it?" Harry was starting to get confused. Why would Ron find it difficult to ask him that?
"Well, you see… it's a bit more complicated than that…" Ron really needed to tell Harry now before he chickened out, but as he felt his heart race quicken he found it harder and harder to get the words out.
"Ron, whatever you're trying to tell me you know it won't bother me." Harry said quietly, hoping his words would encourage his friend to open up. "I mean, if you want to tell me that you're already going out with someone then just tell me."
"Harry, listen, ok?" Ron felt sick, all he could think about was how Harry would react. The little voice in his head kept repeating the same thing over and over, do it, do it now. "The thing is I don't think you are going to like it when I tell you who my crush is, so before I do, I need to know, will you still be my friend?"
Harry was starting to worry now. Ron was obviously convinced that Harry would be mad at him and Harry couldn't understand why.
"Ron, nothing you say will ever stop me from being your best mate." Harry replied firmly.
"Well, for weeks now I've been wondering whether I'd got it right, but it's defiantly this person and I really love them Harry." Ron moaned. He looked really sick and Harry couldn't help but frown.
"Ok," he watched Ron carefully.
"My crush… that is… the person I really truly like is…" Ron had to breathe slowly to calm himself.
"Who is it, Ron? Just tell me." Harry stood up and wandered over to sit next to Ron.
Ron felt even worse.
"It's-" But Ron was cut short by the portrait hole opening and Professor McGonagall entering.
"I have come to tell you two that you will come to classroom seventeen on the fourth floor to complete your detentions. You will be writing lines along with Mister Malfoy. See you at five tomorrow afternoon." With that McGonagall left as quickly as she had come.
Ron's heart sank. He couldn't tell Harry now. He was sure they'd both need their space after Ron told him and being forced to spend detention together would be torture, especially if Malfoy was there.
"So, Ron, you were about to tell me who your crush was?" Harry said as Ron turned back to face him.
"Never mind, I'll tell you later," Ron said getting up and heading for the dormitory.
Ten minutes later Ron was lying in bed staring at the ceiling of his four-poster. The curtains were drawn when Harry came up and Ron intended for them to stay that way. Of course he hadn't thought about the fact that Harry was a caring friend who, inevitably. Opened the curtains and sat on the end of Ron's bed.
"Ron, what's wrong?" Harry asked slightly hurt. He really didn't understand why Ron couldn't say what was bothering him.
"It's nothing, go to bed, I'll be alright." Ron said as nicely as he could under the pressure. He was starting to feel the tingles return as he felt Harry's warm body at the end of the bed.
"Come on, Ron. Like I'm going to go to bed when I know something's bothering you." Harry smiled through the dark and crawled up the bed enough for him to be able to see Ron's face.
"Harry, the thing is, if I tell you the truth you'll hate me and I'd much rather suppress my feelings than live without you as my best mate." Ron said sitting up and looking at Harry. Ron's crystal blue eyes shined in the light of the moon and instantly sent shivers up Harry's spine.
"Ron, I promise, not matter what is. I will always be you best friend. Please, just tell me," Harry whispered. The tension was so great that Ron knew he had to tell Harry. It was now or never.
"Harry, it's you." Ron blurted out before he could stop himself. He closed his eyes and inwardly groaned.
"What?" Asked Harry confused.
"My crush, it's you." Ron said again not looking at Harry.
Harry had to let the information sink in. It was rather an awful lot for him to cope with at the moment, what with his own hormonal balance being all over the place.
"Ok," was all Harry could say.
"You don't hate me do you?" Ron bit his lip. Harry looked up and after a moment managed to smile.
"Of course not you dope." Harry swallowed. "But, Ron the thing is… I don't really… I don't see you in that way…"
As soon as he said it and saw the look on Ron's face Harry knew that he had been wrong. He did fancy Ron but now what would he do?
"Oh, I know," Ron, said looking lightly crestfallen. "I just thought you should know."
Later that evening when both boys had gone to bed Hedwig landed on the windowsill to see how Harry and Ron were. She thought she could hear very quiet sobbing, but when she looked, Harry was fine. So she took off back to the Owlery.