(Ron's P.O.V)

When I saw Fred leave, all the sanity I had (which wasn't much) left me. I felt like I was going to hyperventilate. He had helped me stay in this relationship…yet I knew he wanted me to leave Harry, just to see how I would feel. I knew the kiss between Harry and George hadn't meant much, he was doing it to see how jealous I would get. I didn't. I felt confused because I hadn't felt any sort of hurt or jealousy at all.

I knew I had to dump Harry, but I didn't want to. Having him made me feel secure. And without him and Fred in my life, I'd be empty. Harry filled a space inside me, but it wasn't love, it was the happiness. For me, being happy and being in love were different. People didn't get that. They mistook my happiness with Harry for love. They often mistook my love for quidditch with happiness in playing it. People didn't get it. That made it hard.

I left the party as it struck midnight. Everyone was cheering and going crazy. I walked through it all in a blur. I felt like everything was happening in slow motion. My head felt like it was going to explode, and I felt like I was going to throw up my heart.

Once outside the Prefects Lounge I stepped onto a staircase and sat down. I couldn't make it any further. I was too sad to cry or scream, both of which I wanted to do. I didn't notice it until I heard footsteps behind me, but my breathing had sped up and I probably was hyperventilating.

"Are you okay?"

I didn't turn around but did try to catch my breath. The person, whoever he was, sat down next to me. I didn't turn in his direction but he placed a hand on my back.

"Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"

I shook my head slowly. His voice sounded familiar but I wasn't sure just how much I could trust my judgment or any assumptions at the moment. When I finally turned to look I saw that it was Dean.

"I followed you out," he admitted, "You didn't look well. I'm kind of worried."

And before I could process any thoughts, everything spilled out. From what had happened that summer, to telling Harry, to finding out he was gay, to thinking I was in love with him, to not being so sure, and Fred being my support and then walking out on me, leaving me to figure out everything for myself. By the time I finished telling him, I felt some of the weight leave my shoulders.

"Wow," said Dean, "That's a lot of shit on you, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"So you're going to break up with Harry?" he asked me.

"Probably," I replied, "I don't want to hurt him anymore, and even though breaking up with him is hurting him…he won't love me anymore."

Dean nodded. I knew he probably didn't quite understand, but saying these things out loud made them easier to understand for me.

"Wanna go back to the common room?" he asked.

"Yeah, okay," I responded.

We walked quietly for a while and a question that had been burning inside me for quite some time finally popped out,

"Did you know Seamus was bi?"

"Well yeah. He's my best friend. Of course I knew, I've known since fourth year since he first had thoughts about it."

"Oh…what about you?"

Dean laughed for a moment, then paused and said,

"I'm straight, trust me. I've kissed Seamus a few times but I'm straight because those few times were when I was drunk."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Everyone seems to be turning gay or bi at the moment so I just wanted to know."

"Would you consider going out with Seamus?"

"No."

"Oh."

We arrived at the portrait and Dean said the password after we waited for the Fat Lady to fully awake. The first and second years that had stayed up late saw us and scampered up the stairs quickly. We followed them to head into our own dorm.

I fell asleep more quickly than I assumed I would, but awoke when the door was opened and Harry and Seamus walked in quietly. I listened to them whisper for a while, then they both got in their beds without changing. I would have broken up with Harry that night (early morning, really) but I was too tired and too scared.

The following day, we all slept in until Hermione came in and made Harry and I get up to do our homework that we had to finish before classes started again. She had no idea what had happened at the party, because I knew I didn't tell her, and Ginny probably hadn't told her, and I wasn't sure whether or not Harry told her but I was sure he hadn't.

Thankfully, Hermione stayed in the room until I had changed and we all went to the common room. Harry and I sat acrossed each other at the table and avoided eye contact. Hermione noticed, but didn't question it. We all worked quietly and took a break to go to lunch. I sat with Dean and Seamus, who both asked me if Harry and I had broke up yet, I told them no.

The rest of the day went by too slowly. And finally I got the nerve to ask Harry if I could talk to him. We were bringing our finished assignments upstairs, and Dean, Seamus, and Neville were all downstairs doing their homework.

Harry stood, waiting for my to speak.

"Well…" I said slowly, staring at the floor, one hand shoved in my pocket and the other brushing my hair out of my eyes, "I can't…do this anymore." I finally looked at him, his expression was still blank but he was listening, "I can't pretend to like you. It's hurting you, and its hurting me. You're too good of a friend to be anything more to me. I'm not breaking up with you because I like someone else. I'm just sick of all this pretending and shit."

"You're not doing this because you like someone else?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"You might see me be with other guys, but I probably don't like them," I said truthfully, "Like Seamus. We were just doing it because it was fun."

A long silence followed that statement. Harry and I stared at each other for about a minute. It seemed like forever.

"Well," he said finally, "At least you won't be pretending anymore."

"You'll still be my friend, right?"

PLEASE read the updates on my page! They're important.

Also review.