"Harry, I think you're overreacting."

Hermione was seated behind her desk and had just finished patiently listening to Harry's frustrated rant regarding their brief yet extremely telling encounter with Ron's… friend? Lover? His whatever-he-was from Australia.

"Well I don't" Harry crossed his arms, not caring about how sulky he was probably sounding.

"You've known him for five minutes, that's not enough time to make an adequate judgment about someone, even if he did come across as a bit…"

"Of an utter tosser?" Harry offered.

"I was going to say 'abrasive,'" Hermione countered, but she didn't bother to correct him. "If you dislike him so much then you shouldn't have invited yourself out with them tonight. Or me for that matter" she added with a cross upwards glance from the report she was currently looking over.

Harry didn't bother responding, knowing she was right. He didn't know what compelled him to suddenly blurt that out earlier, but just the thought of Ron going out alone with that smug bastard caused the part of his brain responsible for making rational decisions to abruptly shut down. He'd tried incredibly hard the entire morning to not act weird around Ron and then that whole ordeal had to happen.

The previous night he spent quite a bit of time thinking about his sudden epiphany at dinner and what to do about it, and came to two very clear realizations. One, he was undeniably becoming enamored with his best friend, something that was quite possibly building for a long time. And two, there was absolutely nothing for him to do about it. If he could take anything away from his doomed engagement it was that his understanding of love and romance was abysmally low, though to be fair it wasn't like he'd ever had much time to allow it to be a focus in his life. 'Not dying' had taken the primary centerstage of his existence from his childhood onwards, leading to him making a lot of rash decisions with very little forethought over the years. When life has a way of always managing to make things harder for you it only makes sense to seek out easy solutions. Getting together with Ginny, the beautiful girl from his favorite family who had been airing her attraction to him for years, was an easy, simple choice. Just like not going back to school and jumping into the openly offered auror traineeship with Ron. Or like moving directly into Grimmauld place despite its dreary memories, a ready made home that he already owned. All of these choices were supposed to have made his life easier, so why was everything suddenly so complicated?

All he knew was that the probable answer to all of this was not to jump into anything impulsively, something that was not an easy feat for him. He was only just now starting to sort through the mess that were his feelings, bombarding Ron with the tangled jumble of everything he had been realizing was definitely an awful idea. Besides, he didn't even know if Ron felt anything similarly back. All he'd said was he liked blokes, not that he liked Harry. And even if he did it's not like Harry had any idea what the hell he was doing or what he even really wanted. No, he was better off just doing what he usually did when he started to have messy feelings he didn't understand: Bury them and hope that they eventually go away.

So that was the plan he had had in mind when he went to meet Ron that morning, and those intentions quickly went up in flames. First he had to contend with the burning way Ron kept staring at him like he was trying to read something right under the surface, making him so flustered he could barely form an articulate thought. And then, just when things were starting to feel normal between the two of them, in comes the arrogant Australian and out goes his attempts at impulse control. And so he found himself with Hermione in her office, waiting impatiently for her to get off so they can go have what is certain to be an unbearable night with Ron and that wanker.

When Hermione finally moved to shove the last of her files into her desk drawer five minutes after six he allowed her a few minutes to change into the muggle clothes she kept on hand before following her solemnly from the office all the way to the front visitor's entrance where they were set to meet. Stepping outside he saw that Ron and David were already there, laughing about something or other. When Ron noticed them he stopped and offered a quick wave in greeting.

"Excellent, you both came, we thought for a second you might have changed your mind."

Though Ron had said it Harry shot an annoyed glance towards David, taking a guess on who had likely suggested that idea.

"Sorry, finishing up my report took me a little longer than expected. I was originally planning to work late tonight but, well," she finished with a pointed look towards Harry, who chose to pretend he hadn't noticed.

"S'fine, let's go. I figured we can go over to the Bear's Claw down the block. They still do that two-for-one pints deal, right?"

"I think so," Harry told him without certainty as they all started walking together. He'd managed to avoid most of the pubs he and Ron would frequent together over the last year, never able to face the memories they brought up.

The Bear's Claw was busy as usual when they went in, being a hotspot for London muggles getting off from work from their various local office jobs. They managed to find an unoccupied table in the room's center and just had to clear off the half finished bottles and soggy chips containers the last patrons had left behind before they were able to sit down.

"Charming," David said to Ron as he wiped some of the crumbs off of his side of the table, "I'm already falling for the London scenery. Do you all spend a lot of time in muggle pubs then?"

"Sometimes we'll take a trip back out to Hogsmeade to visit the wizarding pubs there, but we've always mostly gone to the muggle ones. Less attention that way- Shit," Ron dropped his jacket that he had been trying to drape behind his chair. Harry had noticed Ron had been having a hard time with certain motor skills with his hands, struggling with small things like having to open the door at the ministry that morning, and having to switch things regularly from his right and left when the grip became uncomfortable. He started to stand back up to help him but David had already leaned over and grabbed the jacket, draping it behind Ron's chair. Ron smiled his thanks, leaving Harry to feel a twinge of bitterness. David turned to look at him suddenly, likely catching a glimpse of his surly expression before he could drop it.

"Hey mate, mind going up to grab the first round? Don't really trust Ron here to carry any drinks over that won't be hitting the floor."

"Yeah, fine," Harry told him, shooting a slightly discomfited looking Ron a last look before pushing himself up to the crowded bar. By the time he got back to the table with four rounds of ale David and Hermione were engrossed in an animated conversation which Ron was watching looking mildly amused.

"I can't believe he's your cousin. Half the bill I've been working on was based on the Australian lawbook!"

"What are we talking about?" Harry asked as he sat the drinks on the table.

"Harry, you know the bill that I've been working on these last few months? The one trying to undo some of the limits put on magical creatures trying to seek employment?"

"Yes," Harry told her, trusting that it sounded better than the actual answer which was no.

"Apparently David's cousin was one of the authors of the law that our team's been modeling it off of."

"I can put you two in contact if you like. I think he'd just be relieved to find out there's someone else out there who wants to talk to him in legalese about any of this."

"Really? That would be brilliant," Hermione looked delighted.

Hermione and David continued chatting away about where Australian and British law differed, with Hermione doing most of the talking, causing Ron and Harry to occasionally shoot each other looks as they tried to stifle their laughter. They rarely got to see Hermione get this revved up on topics anymore, and it was nice watching it get targeted at someone else for a change. David for his part didn't seem flustered by it and appeared to take a genuine interest in the conversation. Though Harry was happy that Hermione seemed to be having a good time, he couldn't help but feel a little resentful that she had been won over so easily. Still, it gave him an excuse to look at Ron, something he'd been catching himself doing more and more since last night. There was something about seeing him smile and looking so relaxed that was causing Harry to feel somersaults in his stomach every time Ron turned to look back at him, which he realized with some hopeful pleasure seemed to happen quite often.

By the time they finished their conversation Harry and Ron had already finished their drinks, whereas David and Hermione had barely touched theirs. David went to take a sip of the ale and made a sort of grimace before setting it back down.

"So do all British ales taste like warm piss or is this one just a particular treat?"

Ron looked scandalized, "what do you mean? This is the best one they serve, hands down."

"There is no way this is the best beer they serve here, and if it is you absolutely need to start going to other pubs" David told him, looking into the drink with exaggerated disgust.

"Or maybe you're just too picky," Harry suggested with a slight edge to his voice. David turned to him, donning a cocky grin.

"And what's wrong with that?" he asked.

Harry turned from him to Ron who rolled his eyes before starting to get up.

"Fine, I'll go back up there and see if they have some of the watered down rubbish you like to drink from back home," he said with mock resignation, "and I'll get another round of the quality stuff for the rest of us."

"I'll help you carry them back," Hermione told him, standing up herself, "besides I'm going to order something else too. I'm not really partial to this ale either."

Ron walked to the bar with Hermione, muttering something about having 'classless friends.' Harry had been watching Ron walk away, idly noticing that he looked rather nice in the muggle clothes he had chosen for the night, when he noticed that David was still looking at him. He turned away pointedly as he felt himself flush over being caught checking out his friend in this manner.

"So I take it you've finally noticed then," David stated conversationally, still smirking in a way that was really starting to irk him.

"Noticed what?" he grumbled back.

David took a look over at Hermione and Ron, who were still waiting to be served at the bar, before turning his attention back to Harry.

"See you were right earlier when you said I was picky, because I really am. Don't like most things and don't like most people. But I do like him," he said.

Harry looked him fully on then as his irritation beat out the embarrassment he felt over having this conversation. "I have no idea what you're talking about. And I'm really not interested in who you do and don't like," he told him testily.

"Nah, I think you do know. But that's ok. What's life without a little challenge, eh?" he added with a wink. Harry blinked back, briefly stunned into silence. Before he could gain his voice back to formulate an adequate response Hermione and Ron returned to the table.

"There you go then, the only Australian beer they sell in the entire pub, and rightly so," Ron joked as Hermione set an amber colored drink in front of David.

"Cheers then," David told her, giving Harry a final glance before jumping into a discussion with Ron about some wizard they knew named Hawley. Harry watched on, feeling himself becoming more and more ill tempered as he watched David scoot closer to Ron while continuing on talking about things Harry knew nothing about. Though he could have asked questions to enter into the conversation, or even just spoke to Hermione at his side, Harry instead chose to just keep drinking while he moped instead, ignoring the questioning looks he kept getting from Hermione and Ron off and on.

Somewhere around his fifth drink (one more than Ron and David, and two more than Hermione) he finally found himself drawn into the conversation Ron had started about needing to search for housing soon.

"Well if you say yes to Vanderloh's offer it'll be pretty easy, they pay for our housing, it's part of the contract."

"What, really?" Ron asked him, sounding surprised.

"What offer?" Harry interjected suddenly, furrowing his brows in confusion. Ron looked oddly uncomfortable as he looked from David back to Harry and Hermione, who also seemed curious.

"The offer to join the Australian team. Permanently," Ron told them awkwardly, "I didn't say yes though" he finished with emphasis.

"You didn't say no either," David countered.

"Why not?" Harry asked him, feeling himself getting angry. Why would Ron even consider an offer like that? How could he even entertain the idea of leaving them all again?

Ron looked at him uneasily. Harry knew in his drunken state he wasn't really able to mute any of the emotions he was feeling from his face and was definitely sporting an affronted expression.

"I didn't really know how things were going to look when I got back home. Honestly I reckoned it was about a 50/50 chance any of you would even want to talk to me when I came back" he shrugged, looking increasingly more ill at ease.

"But you're going to turn it down now, right?" Harry asked, noticing that his tone had turned demanding. He saw David shoot him an irritated look and took a small amount of petty pleasure in knowing that it was actually possible to ruffle the self-assured wizard.

Ron looked absolutely trapped as his gaze went between David and Harry, finally reaching a level of discomfort where he was beginning to fidget with the hem of his sleeve.

"I'm-"

"I think it's good you're weighing your options, Ron," Hermione interrupted, shooting Harry a scorching look, "if you remember I almost took that job in Germany a few years ago before I got that promotion. There's nothing wrong with considering possible opportunities to grow in your career."

Ron shot her a grateful smile. "I feel like I distinctly remember the only reason you considered that German job was to force them to give you that promotion" he told her in a goading voice, though it was clear from the way he was looking resolutely away from both of the other wizards at the table that he was using this as an excuse to escape the uncomfortable turn the conversation had just taken.

"Well yes, but if they hadn't I probably would have taken it."

"You would have actually moved to Germany? And where would I have been? We were still married then."

"With me, looking very smart in your German auror robes," she teased back.

"No way, I can't even speak a lick of German. I would've never gone," he laughed.

"I know, you probably wouldn't have," she agreed, looking a little sad about it. For some reason she looked at Harry then for a moment before shaking her head and bringing the conversation back to her current work projects.

Though the rest of the evening went along smoothly Harry hadn't forgotten about Ron's stammering response to the offer he received from Australia, and based upon the subtle stiffness he noticed in David the rest of the evening it appeared that he had not either. A little past ten Hermione announced she was ready to call it an evening as she would be needing to come in early the next day to finish up the case reports she hadn't been able to finish earlier. The others agreed to call it a night and quickly finished off their drinks before heading out to the back alley.

"Where are you staying by the way?" Ron asked David curiously once they were out back.

"Some little inn down the way from here, the Lindworm," David said.

"Oh no way I'm staying there as well! Guess it makes sense though, I think it's the cheapest place outside of Diagon and it's not like the ministry ever splurges on accommodations. Cheap bastards," Ron said with an eyeroll. Harry merely scowled, because of course things would work out this way.

"Get home safe," Ron told Hermione, turning to give her a one armed hug, before moving to do the same to Harry, "I'll see you tomorrow morning then, mate. Wanna meet back up at the cafe again?"

"Yeah, sounds great," he told him a little breathlessly, having abruptly gotten quite warm by the unexpected touch. Harry and Ron hardly ever hugged, one armed or not. He supposed the alcohol must have been playing a role here. Ron gave him a coy grin, the two of them looking at each other perhaps a few seconds longer than two friends normally would after a simple goodbye from the pub. Then the moment swiftly ended when Ron pulled away, his fingers sliding down and brushing the back of Harry's hand as he stepped back. Ron then walked off with David who gave a quick wave of goodbye to the two of them.

Harry watched them retreating towards the main street and felt as Hermione walked up directly next to him, following his gaze.

"That's how I finally realized you know," she said to him suddenly. He turned and looked at her curiously. Her face was barely illuminated by the dim alley lights but he could see her well enough to tell she was wearing the same sad look she had given him earlier inside.

"How you realized what?" he asked her.

"That he wasn't really in love with me. It was that look, the one you're giving him now. He had never looked at me like that before"

Harry felt a tug at his heart hearing her say that, feeling unsure what to say. "I'm sorry," he finally mumbled back.

"It's ok," she said, "Really, it is. I've had a lot of time to process it, before and after things finally ended. I think you ought to tell him what you're feeling though, Harry."

"You actually think that's a good idea?" he asked her uncertainly, surprising himself by not just denying her suspicions outright.

"I definitely do."

"Why?"

"Because you're starting to look at him the same way he looks at you," she told him simply, reaching over to squeeze his arm, "goodnight, Harry."

And with that she left him there in the alley, feeling positively stunned. He had wondered if he had been imagining it all day, the subtle glances and the smiles that seemed like they were made only for him. But here was Hermione confirming it, and suddenly the idea of actually being together with Ron felt very real. All the feelings he had been pushing down for so long that he refused to examine had been bursting at the seams for far too long, and he was finally realizing that maybe they didn't have to be ignored.

Doing his best to push through the haze that the alcohol had clouded his mind with, Harry tried to think about what to do with this dire new information. Earlier in the day he had managed to convince himself that the best course of action would be to just let things go back to normal with Ron, but it was becoming clear that that wasn't going to be an option. Ron was considering leaving, for good this time, and that just simply could not happen. If Harry learned anything over the last miserable year, it was that he absolutely could not live his life without Ron Weasley. The idea of Ron picking up and leaving when he had just miraculously gotten him back filled Harry with utter panic, and Hermione's declaration gave him a clear resolve. He needed to go tell Ron everything he was feeling, that he needed him to stay, that he thinks he might quite possibly be falling in love with him, that he should really wear those turquoise robes more because they absolutely accentuate his-

Upon further thought, he realized what he really needed was to not be drunk before having this conversation. Which, unfortunately, was not likely to be the case in the immediate future, meaning he would have to sit with this overwhelming anxiety for at least the rest of the night. So tomorrow it was then.