Chapter 5: Damn Neville

After they attended the rest of their classes, Harry and Ron found themselves laughing in the common room. Hermione had just taken the truth potion and now recited her hate for Professor Trelawney.

"Her big ugly bifocals are like magnifying glasses used to study the dimensions of the universe," hissed Hermione. Harry and Ron, balled up on the floor, laughed. Ron actually started to cry. Harry tried to stand, but he fell over Ron's feet and landed on top of him. Ron's laughter abruptly stopped.

Ah, are you okay?" asked Ron as he tried to find a plausible reason to look so disoriented. Harry pushed himself off of him and sat on his knees in front of him.

"Ah, yeah," exclaimed Harry as he rubbed his ankle. He thanked God that that he hadn't twisted it. He pushed his hair from his eyes and studied Ron. He wondered what Ron was thinking. After one uncomfortable minute Ron spoke.

"Ah, well…that's good!" Ron reached out a hand and let it rest on Harry's. Harry looked at it and his first impulse was to take it, but he hesitated a moment too long and Ron moved it. He looked around Ron to the window. He stood and walked over to it. He hoped that he didn't look as uncomfortable as he felt.

Ron sat there in silence. What did he do that for? The look that Harry gave him was enough to make anyone kill themselves. Why did he have to make every moment uncomfortable between them. Was Hermione right? Did he like Harry? No, he was being silly. He decided to clean up the mess they had made to distract him.

Harry stood near the window. He watched as the owls flew around the owlery. He turned and looked back at Ron who he saw was cleaning the floor. He knew now that he liked Ron more than friends. The dream he had, had confirmed it. The dream hadn't made him sick like it should have if it had been anyone else. He had liked it; actually liked it. And just now, when Ron had placed his hand on his, he didn't push it off, but rather wanted to hold it. He had to tell him, but he didn't know how. He looked around just as Hermione was coming to.

Hermione looked around at the two of them. They were standing far apart and were tensely quiet, but came together when they saw that she looked at them.

"Ah, did I say something wrong?" she asked. They looked at her, and they both shook their heads. They glanced at each other, but turned away quickly, and Hermione noticed nervously. Harry looked at the clock; it read 10:05, he turned to face them.

"Well, it's late, so I'm going to bed," said Harry. He grabbed his bags and before leaving looked at Ron, then climbed the stairs to the boy's dormitory.

Hermione immediately grabbed Ron and pulled him down onto the sofa. She frowned at him for a minute and then asked…

"So, what happened? You two looked really nervous after I came to." Ron stared into the fire, his eyes glittered as he watched the flames dance. He took a deep breath.

"I don't know. We were laughing at you. Then…" he hesitated. Hermione saw that his face burned red under his freckles and that he was biting his lip like he always did when he was nervous. She turned toward him and propped one of her legs on the sofa.

"Ron, I'm not trying to be funny okay, but do you like Harry?" she asked. He looked sideways at her, opened his mouth, but closed it again, and turned away. He silence was enough to tell her the truth.

"Does Harry know?" she asked.

"I didn't say I liked him," bellowed Ron. He stood and looked down at her. "I'm tired of you accusing me of being gay, just shove off all right." With these words he left and didn't look back.

Hermione sat there in deep concentration. So she was right then. He did like Harry. She smiled to herself and vowed to find a way to help him with his crush. Who could help her? She made her way to her dormitory. She stood outside the boy' dormitory, but she couldn't hear anything, so she proceeded into her room.

Ron had entered the room to hear the snores of his roommates. As he made his way to his bed, a hand grabbed him from behind. He looked around and saw Harry. He was on his knees on his bed and his face was in half moonlight. Ron noticed that he didn't have a shirt on, having just undressed.

Harry stepped one leg from the bed and then the other and walked closer to Ron. His eyes focused on him. He whispered silently, as to not wake the others.

"Is there something you want to say to me?" asked Harry. His green eyes shimmered in the moonlight. Ron paused to watch the effect the lighting was having on his skin. Why did he keep noticing these things?

"Umm…well?" said Ron. His mind is full of indecision. He words won't come.

"No," said Ron. He balled his hands into fist behind him. Harry stepped back. And a look of disappointment crossed his face. Ron noticed, and something occurred to him. Harry did like him, because why would he look disappointed at this news. He opened his mouth to confess, but Harry turned and climbed into bed.

"Um, well goodnight then, I guess," said Harry bitterly. Ron stood there unmoving; his legs felt like jelly, weak and trembling. He was going to tell him.

"Harry I.." but at this moment Neville called out in his sleep.

"I'm sorry I didn't do my homework Professor Snape..." said Neville with a tremble in his voice. Harry looked around at him, then back at Ron; they both started to laugh.

"Well, goodnight," added Harry. He turned on his side, and feigned sleep. Ron turned and undressed and got into bed feeling more disappointed than he felt he earlier.