The next day around lunch, something must have altered in the results of Madam Pomfrey's tests because she sent word out that he could get visitors again, and not ten minutes later Hermione and Neville showed up.
"No Ron?" Was the first thing Harry asked her, and she shook her head sadly.
The two of them caught him up on the gossip floating around, which while gossip tended to be worse than the actual event, in this case they were about even. They could only stay a few minutes, but Hermione promised to get him to show up that evening so he could see how different Harry was, and so Harry could apologize. What Harry didn't expect when Ron did show up – looking rather reluctant – was that his feelings had hardly changed since yesterday morning. The only improvement from last time was that instead of pouncing on him, Harry was left struck by how attractive Ron was, and how much he truly wanted him.
"Oh. Is this what everyone was talking about?" Hermione said a bit worriedly, looking between Harry and Ron, stepping a bit in front of Harry in case she had to stop him. Harry practically was letting his tongue lull out of his mouth, and Ron looked like a deer in the headlights.
Harry licked his lips, and Ron jumped half a foot into the air. "I've got to go!" He yipped.
"No! Don't go!" Harry called, starting to get out of bed but Hermione pushed him back down a bit roughly. Ron left the room, looking over his shoulder the whole time. Once he was gone, Harry took a deep breath and felt his pulse lesson considerably. A sense of dread and embarrassment flowed over him again. "Will this ever stop?" he moaned, plopping down.
"The affects of the desiderium appear to be fading," said Hermione, sounding upset for some reason.
"What's wrong with you? They aren't giving you trouble as well?"
"Nothing I can't handle," she said, glancing at the door Ron had just left from. "I just hadn't seen before how bad it was."
"What are they saying about you?" He asked feeling a little guilty.
"It just never ends with those Slytherins. I haven't seen Malfoy or his girlfriend this offensive since forth year. Ron got into a fight with him in the middle of the hall over some letters that are circulating the school."
"Letters – what sorts of letters?" Harry asked with dread and curiosity. His mind swam with images of his and Ron's bodies close together again, but he clamped down hard on that memory.
"Just letters – with pictures – signed with your name. We burnt them all so – stop that, Harry." Hermione put her hand on Harry's and he looked down at it; his fingers had been clawing into his own skin and making it almost bleed as he tried to scratch an itch that he just couldn't reach. He closed his eyes and rubbed his palm over it.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I know how much of a jerk I am for going after Ron like this, especially since I think you…you know…" He looked up at her, and she laughed him off unconvincingly.
"Come on, Harry! I'm not jealous or anything!" Harry narrowed his eyes at her and she cleared her throat. "Well, anyway, Ron should be flattered he's got someone like you after him – even if it is just because of the disiderium. And you don't have anything to be embarrassed about, really. Anyone else would be affected the same way. Think about it: at this rate, you should be back in classes soon enough."
"How am I supposed to face them, though? They'll never let this go."
"Malfoy might never let this go, but he's so horrible anyway that it won't make a difference."
"Thanks for the support." Harry said weakly.
Hermione hugged him and then pulled out a large stack of homework he needed to get started on, and left him to it.
It was another two days before Ron came to visit, and Harry was doing much better about keeping his glances subtle and his emotions in check. He thought he was getting away with it pretty good, and he was – Ron barely noticed at all; but Hermione wasn't fooled.
"We should go!" She said at last, clapping her homework book closed and standing up.
"Why?" Ron said, "Harry's fine now and I haven't seen him all week!"
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry asked, not realizing she had been watching him and knew everything.
"I just think Harry still needs more time to get over you, Ron. He's still looking at you in that way, and I don't think it's a good idea that he does!"
"Oh, you are?" Ron asked Harry, and Harry itched his very raw arm where he'd been taking out all his frustrations. He was a little angry that Hermione couldn't just let him have this one moment. But she was probably right…
"I'm sorry, Ron. I am mostly over this! But… I can't help it still."
Ron looked between them both – Harry's misery and Hermione's frustration – and he landed on Hermione and shrugged. "He looks like he's doing fine. I know he's still got some of that toxin still in him, but –" and he looked at Harry "– you know I really just like you as a mate, right?"
"Tell me about it! That's all I want you to be!" Harry agreed, although a part of his heart broke.
"See?" Ron told Hermione, and she sank into her chair again, trying to school the storm that raged in her head. "I don't think of him like that, and pretty soon he'll stop feeling things for me."
Hermione looked up at Ron and smiled, finally consenting. Inside of Harry, he felt the first twinges of jealousy develop, and tried to bury them.