Harry thanked Mrs. Weasley as she handed him a spare set of pyjamas from her older children.
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley."
"Don't mention it darling. Have a good night you two." She said happily. She left them alone and Harry turned to Ron who was sitting on one end of the bed, taking out a new magic card game the twins were bringing out when the shop opened.
"You're going to have to run me by the rules again." Harry said sitting on the other end of the bed, crossing his legs like the redhead.
"Yeah…" Ron mumbled and Harry sighed.
"Why did you ask for me to stay over? Do you not want me here?" he asked softly.
"…Look… I have no way of ever knowing what you went through with you-know-who but… to be happy about being with Snape?" He asked softly.
"…Ron… this goes way back from when I was taken." Harry said looking down.
"So why don't you tell me? We're friends aren't we?"
"…It's a long story. He's just… been there for me. A lot. Throughout the year."
"Last I recall you were the one pushing everyone away." Ron said with a glare.
"Yes… I was but… Ron… I…" He looked down. Ron handed him his seven cards and Harry was losing the desire he had to play the game in the first place. "He was teaching me occlumency. He found out about the Dursleys and supported me."
"We all know about the Dursleys. Doesn't explain why you want him to be… your dad. Is it because Sirius is gone? It doesn't mean you have to go for the first guy that offers to help. Did you forget the past five years? Harry… he hates us. He hates you." Ron said. It was obvious that he wouldn't understand.
"He healed what Umbridge did to me… he made sure you found the poultice recipe. He protected me from Malfoy and his goons in Christmas and made sure Umbridge wouldn't take away the presents I bought for you guys. He… he's been there for me Ron. And I love Sirius but Sirius is dead. He's gone and he's never coming back." Ron became blurry through the tears Harry was trying to hold back.
"Harry I-"
"And it's my fault. And I didn't want Voldemort to hurt the last… paternal figure I had so I let him possess me."
Ron's eyes widened. "You… let him? For Snape? Are you insane?"
"No Ron. I'm not."
"He's not your parent! He's just taking you in. Dumbledore probably forced him!"
"Even if Snape doesn't see himself like my parent, I do! He's been more of a father to me than anyone!"
"What? What would your own father say? Snape seems to despise your dad!"
"My own dad is dead too. I respect him but he's never been there! No one has ever been there the way Snape has!"
"…You do realise how crazy you sound right?" Ron said. Harry felt a humourless laugh leave his lips.
"What would you know? Do you know how crazy you sound to me when you sneer at your mother's hand-made gifts? She probably spent hours doing that Christmas vest for you. Hours! And you have the nerve to be embarrassed?!" Harry yelled at him.
"What? Did you see how ugly that thing was?"
"It doesn't matter! Your mother made it so you wear it with pride! Instead of criticising it to the one friend you have who wishes he had a family like you do!" He yelled. He wiped away his angry tears, glaring at him.
"Harry… I'm sorry… I'm just worried about you."
"I knew you would be! I knew how sudden it would be to you and I was stupid to think you wouldn't freak out but this… whatever it is that I have now… it makes me happy."
Ron seemed to be struggling with his own share of humid emotion. He wiped his glistening eyes and put the cards away. "I'm tired. Let's go to sleep."
They lay back to back, in the darkened room.
After moments of silence Ron spoke up. "It just… feels like you're always hiding something. You do that so often it becomes… nerve-wracking after a while." Ron said softly.
"Maybe there are things you wouldn't understand…"
"I want to help you, you know? I may be an insensitive idiot when it comes to you and family but… I do want to help you. You're my best friend."
Harry let the minutes pass. His heart raced. Maybe he should tell Ron and see what kind of friend he truly was.
"It's pretty heavy… you won't want to be my friend afterwards. You'll treat me differently." Harry mumbled.
"Try me." Ron was turning around. Harry could feel the bed shifting as he moved.
"No, don't … I won't be able to tell you if I'm looking at you." Harry whispered. Ron stopped and seemed to consider his words for a moment before lying back down.
After a while Ron's voice pierced the silence. "Mate? Are you still awake?"
"…I'm awake…" Harry mumbled. "During occlumency lessons, when Snape was teaching me to block my mind against Voldemort's attacks, he saw something… memories I hoped no one would ever see." Harry said softly.
"…the way the Dursleys were treating you?"
"Partly… but something worse." Harry said softly and in the dark of the night, the silence of the house, the warmth of Ron's back against his own, he was able to slowly relate what happened to him. "Snape didn't mock me… he didn't blame me he… helped me get past it… as much as possible. He was there when I thought I was losing my mind." Harry whispered finally.
Ron had been very still for the telling of the story and Harry faintly wondered if he'd gone to sleep.
"I swear to god if you're asleep I'm never talking to you again." He whispered.
Ron chuckled softly but cut it off immediately. "Sorry. No. I'm awake." He said gently. "I just… don't know what to say."
"Yeah…" Harry mumbled.
"You…" Ron paused and the silence became deafening. "You were so little." He finally whispered.
"…I know…" Harry whispered, trying to push back the knot that he felt forming at the back of his neck.
"Is that why… you didn't go out with Cho again?" Ron asked softly.
"Not… necessarily I just… didn't feel anything with Cho… it felt awkward and uncomfortable." Harry mumbled. "I think something inside me is broken when it comes to things like that." He said softly.
"Well… you haven't really had time to think about things like that." Ron said softly. "Snape really knows all of that?"
"Yeah." Harry played with a loose thread from the stitching of the rough pillow. "He cares Ron…"
"...Well, you obviously know him better than me." He said gently. "I'm sorry Harry."
"About what?"
"Well… for being me." Ron said. Harry smiled softly.
"You're not too bad."
"You really are…"
Harry waited for him to continue but nothing came. He turned around and Ron did so too.
"What?"
"You are the strongest person I know. Really. Anyone else would have turned dark by now." Harry could only see the other's outline through the faint moon rays that filtered through the cracks of the small house.
"I won't." Harry said softly.
"I know. I wish I could tell you something to make things even but I have nothing that could compare to that." Ron said and Harry chuckled, sleep nipping at his eyes.
"It's ok… I'm glad you have nothing like that to tell me." He mumbled.
"Still friends?"
"Always."
It was the last thing he remembered saying before he fell asleep.
Next time he blinked the room was lit with the first rays of the morning. The chill of the night still clung to the room but Harry had no problem getting up.
Ron snored softly still, never a morning person. Harry was the opposite now. Snape had gotten him used to getting up early. He made his way down the steps quietly.
Ginny was also up, holding a watering can, looking like she was making her way outside. "Morning Harry… you're up early." She said.
Harry nodded. "Yeah… Snape got me used to it." He chuckled.
"Yes he seems the strict type." She laughed softly.
"Ginny did you- oh! Good morning Harry. Come on down sweetheart. It's almost time for breakfast. Arthur's been making waffles all morning with that muggle contraption you got for him. He finally learned how to use it."
"Oh I see." Harry chuckled going with her. Ginny went her way to the garden and Harry admired the stacks after stacks of waffles that Mr. Weasley had done. "Looks great Mr. Weasley." He said.
"This is the most fascinating item Harry. Look at that Molly! I made another one. Harry, have a seat, help me to find the best tasting one."
Harry eyed the ingredients the other was using first. Thankfully he had the classic eggs, flour, milk and sugar on the counter with no signs of anything abnormal.
He took one and dug in at the other's insistence. Both parents sat in front of him and he realised it had been a trap.
"Harry… we heard you arguing with Ronald last night."
Harry felt his face heat up.
"I-I'm sorry. We're ok now. We talked things through afterward. I didn't mean to wake you." He said. The adults blinked in surprise and then sighed with relief.
"Oh, good. I'm so glad." Mr. Weasley said.
"Severus really does want what's best for you. It was not Ron's place to put any hint of doubt in your mind." Mrs. Weasley said. Harry wondered how the Weasleys were so sure of it. Well, then again, they had been at the ritual from what he heard.
"We're really happy for you Harry. We're rooting for the two of you." Mr. Weasley said, patting him on the shoulder. Harry felt his heart swell and nodded.
"Thank you." He mumbled. Thankfully the arrival of the rest of the Weasley brood saved him. He was embarrassed knowing that the others probably also heard the argument but Ron sat beside him and the two distracted each other from remembering that nasty argument.
Ron was a bit awkward with him though. But it was nothing Harry couldn't knock him out of. Things were good.
