Chapter 6: Lose

"Ron, what are you doing," asked Harry, he sped toward him during the Gryffindor quidditch practice. Ron, had just thrown the quaffle so hard to Ginny, that it slipped past her outstretched hands and collided with the side of her face. She fell side ways off her broom and almost fell off, but is caught by a beater. Ron looked around at Harry; his face turned a deep scarlet.

"I'm sorry, it was an accident," yelled Ron. Harry shook his head and descended to check on Ginny.

"Are you okay," asked Harry. Ginny rubbed her bruised cheek and shook her head as he stared up at Ron, who landed beside her.

"You stupid git," yelled Ginny. "I can't play anymore Harry, my head hurts," Harry looked after her as she left followed by the rest of the team. Harry turned and looked at Ron, who stared at the grass.

"I didn't mean to hit her, you know that Harry?" asked Ron. Harry looked at him and nodded. "It was an accident, I was nervous," added Ron.

"I know, come on, let's go. Can't practice without the team can we?" Harry shouldered his Firebolt and began to walk up to the castle. Ron followed a few steps behind him. They walked in silence for a while. Harry was having a fight within himself. He wanted to confess what he felt to Ron, so this was the time. He stopped walking and turned toward Ron

"About last night, I…" he paused and looked off in the direction of the forest. Ron looked to the forest as well.

"Do you know what I mean…" asked Harry. Ron looked at him from the corner of his eye.

"Umm, not really?" responded Ron. This was it. Harry was going to tell him. He waited.

Harry hesitated. Did Ron really not know, or was he playing with him? Maybe Ron didn't catch his drift because Ron didn't feel that way toward him. Did he really want to come out his way?

"Um, never mind," he said and started walking back to the castle. Ron stared after him in disbelief, but followed him.

They met up with Hermione for dinner. She was deep in conversation with Ginny, but when they approached they stopped talking and looked at Ron.

"Wow, this food smells really good," commented Harry as he took his seat next to Hermione. Ron sat across from him, beside Ginny.

"Yeah, those house elves are really doing it up today," added Ron. Hermione frowned.

"You have that detention today remember?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, we can't forget, you are the reason we got it," retorted Harry.

"I am not, you provoked that cat."

"Yeah, and Harry can walk on water," yelled Ron. "You know very well that Neville scared that cat!" he screamed." Hermione looked toward Ginny and Ginny rounded on him"

"You stupid git, she was joking with you," yelled Ginny. Ron glared back at her.

"Well, that's a dumb way to make a joke, and who are you calling a stupid git?" Ginny and Hermione laughed, but Harry and Ron continued to frown.

Ginny leaned in toward Ron, and whispered in his ear. "I know about you and Harry." Ron froze, and his face paled, but he quickly recovered.

"What about me and Harry?"

"I know you like him, Hermione told me. I didn't know you were gay." Snickered Ginny

"I'm not gay, you git. Hermione, what have you been telling people." Hermione looked his way.

"I thought I could tell Ginny, she is your sister." Ginny bent over the table in a fit of laughter. Ron's face burned hot as he grimaced at Hermione. His eyes caught those of Harry, and he felt his stomach drop. Harry looked at him, but his face was blank.

'"My brother's a queer!" laughed Ginny quietly. She punched him in the arm as she continued to laugh.

"Oops, I don't want to hurt the fancy boy!" bellowed Ginny. Hermione laughed along with her. Ron stood up and left the table. They stopped laughing and look after him.

"You're such a bitch, do you know that Ginny," yelled Harry as he glared at Hermione. He stood and left the table. He ignored the sly look that Malfoy, from the slytherin table, threw at him. He could feel the eyes of other onlookers on him as he exited.

He caught up with Ron as he was about to enter the common room. He grabbed him from behind.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Ron leaned against the wall, a tear slid down his face.

"No, I'm not okay. I hate Hermione. I'm never talking to her again!" he yelled.

"It's true then?" asked Harry. His heart beat pounded in his ears. He crossed his fingers behind him. Ron rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. He had to tell him, he had no other way out.

He nodded.

Harry's heart leapt. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. Ron crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. He couldn't help but feel relief that Harry was taking this so well.

"I wasn't sure. I didn't even tell Hermione. She came up with it on her own and told Ginny," he answered. He stopped talking and looked at Harry. He wished that he would say something. He didn't say anything though, but smiled instead. Ron was shocked.

"Why are you smiling," he asked.

"Because I've been waiting for you to say this since last year," he said.

"What…you're gay too?" asked Ron. Harry nodded.

"Don't play with me Harry!" said Ron.

"I'm not playing, it true. I didn't accept it till I had that dream the other night." Ron thought back and he remembered what Harry had looked like when he had woke up and saw him standing there, holding his hand. He smiled.

"You were calling my name before you woke up," said Ron as he grinned. Harry's face burned red with embarrassment. They both laughed at this.

"The only thing that we can wish for is that Malfoy doesn't find out," Said Ron. Harry told him that Malfoy may have overheard Ginny before they left the great hall.

"He was looking at me when I left," concluded Harry.

"Well, he's probably making songs about me at this moment," bellowed Ron.

"Yeah, maybe "Weasley is a Gay King, or "Weasley is a Fudgepacker." They laughed at this. Ron feels instantly better.

"Hashjolliper" The fat lady's portrait opened for them and they stepped through. The common room was empty. Harry led Ron to the red sofa in front of the blazing fire and they sat. Ron stared into the fire deep in thought. Maybe tomorrow won't be so bad, now that Harry was on his side, he thought. He looked up at Harry and reached his hand out to hold his. Harry grabbed it

"What now," asked Harry?

"I don't know. But what I do know is that I'm not talking to Hermione again," added Ron. He glanced down at his hand, his fingers where intertwined with Harry's.

"Does this seem as weird to you as it does to me?" asked Ron. Harry pondered for a moment and then he replied.

"A little, but we will eventually get use to it. I mean, we have all the time in the world."

"Do you think everyone heard?" asked Ron.

"No, maybe just people near us…maybe Neville," said Harry. Ron frowned. "Well, we better get that homework out of the way. What time is it?" added Ron. He glanced down at Harry's watch and read 7:59.

"Damn, were late for detention!" They stood and ran toward the portrait hole. At the same time Hermione followed by Ginny walked up. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, tears were in her eyes, but they ignored her. Ron threw her an angry grin and side- stepping them, they hurried off to McGonagall's office.

"My hands are killing me" complained Ron as they climbed into the stairs to the boy's dormitory; having had to clean the transfiguration classroom without magic for the last three hours. Harry popped his knuckles and moaned with pain.

"Does she ever clean that room, there was cat dung everywhere?" Harry asked. Should we take our chances and go take a bath or wait till the morning. I stink."

"Filch might give us detention if he caught us out this late. I really need a bath though. The prefect's bathrooms should be safe." Added Ron.

"I can get the invisibility cloak," responded Harry. "I don't know if we can both fit under it though."

"Yeah, get the cloak, I'll get our robes," said Ron. They entered the dormitory and the snores of the other boys reached them. Harry retrieved his cloak and Ron snatched their robes off of their hangers. They descended the staircase and were about to exit when they hear a "hum humph" from behind them. They turned and spotted Hermione.

"What do you want?" groaned Ron. Hermione glanced at Harry.

"I wanted to say that I was sorry for outing you like that to Ginny. I didn't know that she would react that way." Her eyes filled with tears at these words but Ron felt no remorse.

"You assumed that I was gay, and started rumors to Ginny, the known gossip queen, and who knows who else," yelled Ron. Hermione looked at Harry for support.

"You were wrong Hermione." He stopped at this and continued to frown at her.

"I'm sorry…" yearned Hermione. "But, you are gay right?" she asked.

"No!" he yelled.

He turned and left the common room. Hermione grabbed Harry hand and pleaded to him to make Ron understand. Harry shook his head and pulled away from her.

"Harry…!" she yelled after him as he left the common room. The portrait door closed behind him, and Hermione stood there in silence, having lost her two best friends.