Chapter Eight:

Into Open Arms

Again, for M.A.S. Because you can't love someone doesn't mean they can't love you.

-superguy

Everyone was asleep at the Burrow except for two. Harry was awake on a makeshift bed while Ron was also awake on his own. All the lights were off, but Harry knew that Ron wasn't asleep. He could tell that Ron's breathing was irregular and every few minutes Ron would shift his weight between the sheets.

Something was bothering the two of them. If Harry had his wand out he was sure he could sever the tension with a severing charm. It had all began earlier that morning, and Harry still didn't know what was making Ron so moody.

"Ron?" Harry broke the silence.

Ron shifted his weight around so he could see Harry.

"What?"

Harry looked over.

"I knew you weren't asleep."

Ron breathed out heavily.

"I knew you weren't either." he muttered. He shifted his stare to the ceiling and was quiet for a moment before Harry spoke up once more.

"What's going on between us?"

Ron remained silent for a minute or two as if he were thinking about his answer.

"What do you mean?"

Harry folded his arms behind his head and also looked up at the ceiling.

"There's something wrong. I must've done something to piss you off. I just don't know what it is."

"No, Harry," Ron started in reply. "You didn't do something to piss me off. It's a bunch of things, really. Don't worry about it."

That didn't satisfy Harry.

"Ron, come off it." he continued. "You can't lay there and tell me that nothing's wrong. You...you didn't seem at all interested when I told you that I had a dream about you last night."

"You didn't say it was a dream about me.:

"But you insinuated that it was about you in your reply." Harry shot back. "Come on, Ron."

Harry waited for Ron to open up and reply, but the room was silent for a long while. Finally, Harry shifted his weight over and attempted to get comfortable.

"Fine." he muttered angrily. "You want to be angry at me over something, fine."

He continued to shift his weight around on the cot, but it was useless. The fabric caused the posts to creak and squeal with discomfort.

"Harry?" Ron's voice sliced through the creaking. Harry stopped.

"What?" he muttered back irritably.

"Will you..." Ron began softly. "Will you do me a favor?"

Harry didn't really want to, but rolled over to face Ron.

"What do you want?"

There was silence.

"Harry, don't get freaked out or anything, but, will you...come lay with me?"

"What?" Harry shot back. Did he seriously just hear what he thought he heard?

"You seem pretty tense. I thought maybe if you were sleeping on an actual bed, it might help you relax."

Harry just lay there and thought about it for a moment. What if he did do this? He couldn't deny that something in the back of his brain was telling him to get up and walk over to the bed. But another voice was yelling at him to stop and be sensible.

"You can do what you want," Ron muttered as he turned over to face away from Harry. "I'm not making you do anything."

It felt so awkward in the room then. Harry suddenly started to salivate more than usual as if a valve had been turned within him. He had to swallow hard, and that only added to the sinking feeling deep within his gut. Was this his body telling him no? Or should he do it anwyay?

His mind had never felt so full. Everything swarmed around in his head like a twister.

"No..." he started softly. "No, I can't."

"I'm not telling you that you should." Ron replied.

"It would be too weird..."

Would it?

Why was he second guessing himself? This was insane. He should be disgusted at the thought. It wasn't at all natural – and he definitely wasn't. Seriously, he had never even tempted the thought of doing anything.

A deep sigh erupted out of Harry's lungs. Something took over Harry's body then. He heaved himself out of the cot and lumbered over to the bed.

Ron was still facing the wall when Harry picked up the edge of the blanket and got into the bed. Both of them shifted their weight around.

"This is small, Ron."

"No – there's plenty of room. It's a twin."

"Still, not that big."

"I'll stay on my side, then."

"Okay."

Harry faced away from Ron. He didn't want to make it awkward, even though it was already awkward enough. Never in his entire time of being best friends did Harry ever think he would end up in the same bed as Ron. Now, it was happening.

"See?" Ron spoke softly after a minute. He had a passive air about him. "What are you so afraid of?"

Harry breathed out heavily.

"I don't know." he muttered as he tried to get comfortable. "This is just...I've never done this with a guy before."

"We won't do anything you don't want to." Ron replied. "It's all up to you."

Harry gave a sarcastic expression to the room he faced.

"All up to me, huh?"

"It's up to your comfort zone."

"So, I call all the shots?" Harry mused. "So much power."

"You can use it however you want. Isn't that nice?" Ron added. He was silent for a minute before he went on. "I didn't think you'd do it."

"Well, what do I have to be afraid of?" Harry stated, looking over his shoulder.

"Exactly." Ron replied. "You don't have anything to be afraid of. Just relax, Harry. There's nothing wrong about this. We're just sleeping, that's all. Just sleeping."

"That's right." Harry continued. "Nothing more."

Ron turned over so that he was lying on his back. He looked over at Harry.

"Unless you want to do more."

Harry turned over to face Ron.

"What? Do you want to do something?"

"It's all up to you -"

"No, Ron. Do you want to do something?"

Ron looked up at the ceiling. He folded his arms behind his head.

"Only if you wanted to. I did kind of...want to..."

"Ron," Harry cut in finally. "Just spit it out."

Ron glanced over at Harry.

"I wanted someone to hold."

Harry's stomach turned.

Was this really happening? Was this seriously happening? Harry didn't know whether or not he should be jumping out of the bed or if he should be comfortable with it all.

"What does...holding entail?" Harry asked, hoping that he didn't sound nervous.

"Whatever you're comfortable with." Ron replied in the same simple tone.

Harry just lay there. Then, after a minute or two, rolled over onto his side.

"Go ahead."

Ron seemed surprised.

"Seriously?"

Harry nodded.

"Go ahead. If you want to cuddle or hold me or whatever – we're both adults here. I mean, we wouldn't do anything wrong or irresponsible. Just...don't do something stupid, okay?"

Ron paused before replying.

"Okay."

Ron shifted his weight so that he was lying, facing Harry. They were both facing the same direction. Harry was a bit nervous as he felt Ron's arm slide over his shoulders and wrap around him. But it felt all right. There were no demons yelling curses at him, and he was really doing this for Ron, right?

So, everything was fine.

"Harry?" Ron began after a minute. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Harry replied, settling against Ron's weight. "I'm good."

"Good."

They were contentedly silent for a moment before Ron sighed.

"Good night, Harry."

Harry brought his hand up to Ron's arm and returned the embrace.

"Good night, Ron."