"Come on, Harry, don't be like that." Ron said as he sat on the edge of Harry's bed.

"Ron, please, just leave me be." Harry said as he sat up and scooted back against the wall.

"Come on, I won't bite." Ron said with a smile as he slid up closer. "I don't know why you're being like this."

"Because this is weird, that's why." Harry said breathlessly as Ron got closer.

"That's not what you were saying last night." the red-haired boy purred as he leaned in and kissed Harry.

"Ron, stop." Harry said as he pushed the other boy away, crawling out of the bed. "I don't know what's going on, but this has to stop."

"Why?" Ron asked as he got up and moved towards Harry. "Why does it have to stop?"

"Because, we're best friends..." Harry replied, noticing how dry his mouth was, and how it seemed to get worse the closer Ron got.

"We can be more than just best friends." Ron said as he came to stand in front of Harry, barely inches from his face and still slowly moving.

"I don't know...." Harry whispered.

"Come on, you know you want this." Ron said as he moved forward, Harry going back as he did so until his legs hit the foot of Ron's bed. "If you didn't, you wouldn't be freaking out so bad right now."

"I....I...." Harry swallowed hard as Ron leaned in and kissed him again, harder this time, and he found himself kissing back.

"Would you get up!" Ron suddenly yelled as he kicked Harry.

"What?" Harry mumbled as he opened his eyes and realised he had been dreaming.

"Get up, we're going to be late to breakfast." Ron sighed. "Sometimes I wonder why I bother waiting for you."

"Sorry." Harry said as he sat up. It was then he realised he couldn't get out from under his blankets. That dream seemed to have a profound effect on him. "You go ahead and go down." he said, bunching the blankets up as best he could.

"You're getting weird." Ron said as he looked at Harry. "Don't be too late or your girlfriend will wonder where you are." he laughed as he left the room.

"What is going on?" Harry sighed as he fell back on his bed.


Should he talk to Hermione? What would she say? Would she think he's some sort of freak? Harry groaned as he walked to his first class of the day, having already missed breakfast. He knew he was going to have to answer questions about that, but he wasn't sure he could bring himself to actually tell anyone about what he'd been dreaming about lately, or feeling about those dreams.

"I'm worried about you." Hermione said as she fell into step with Harry as he rounded the corner to Snape's class. "The last couple of days..."

"I know, I haven't been myself." Harry snapped. "You've mentioned that already." he reminded her.

"I'm sorry if I bother you, but I'm worried." she said. "Whatever it is, you can talk to me."

"I know." he said. "At least, I think."

"At least you think?" she questioned. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know." he said as he stopped and pulled Hermione off to the side. "Whatever I tell you, it'll stay between us, right?"

"Of course." she answered, sounding rather offended by the question. "I'd think you would know the answer to that without having to ask first."

"I'm sorry." he said.

"It's fine." she said, waving her hand. "So, what is it?" she pressed.

"Not now." he said. "Later, when no one else is around."

"Alright then." she said slowly as she looked at him. "This is really big, isn't it?"

"I don't know." he said. "I really, honestly don't know."


"Ron?" Hermione whispered in shock when Harry had finished talking to her.

"Yeah." he nodded, not making any eye contact.

"Ronald Weasley?" she asked.

"Yes." he nodded again.

"Ron." she whispered.

"This isn't helping, Hermione." Harry said.

"I'm sorry." she said. "I just can't imagine anyone having those kinds of dreams about Ron."

"Up 'til a few days ago, neither could I." Harry said, haning his head.

"So, do you....like him?" she asked, still unable to wrap her mind around the idea of anyone having erotic dreams about Ron.

"Of course I like him." Harry said.

"No, I mean, do you like him like him?" Hermione repeated.

"Well, with those dreams..."

"Just because you're having those kinds of dreams about doesn't automatically mean you're in love with him." Hermione quickly pointed out. "If that were the case I'd be in love with a number of guys."

"I don't really need any more images, Hermione, thanks."

"Well, I didn't say intending for you to imagine it." she explained. "Have you ever thought of Ron like this before?"

"No." he shook his head. "But, I have to share a room with him, and it's getting weird."

"I can only imagine." she bit her lip and thought for a moment.

"Well?" he asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry, but I can't think of anything." she said apologetically. "I wish I could, but this is a bit outside my area of expertise."

"Thought it was worth a try to see if you could think of anything." Harry said, rather depressed at the idea that someone who knew about everything was not able to help him with his dilemma. "Ron thinks its you, by the way."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Ron thinks it's you that I've been dreaming about." he repeated.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I told him so." he answered.

"Oh, I see." she said. "That explains him looking at me so oddly today."

"Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." she said. "It's not as though you felt as though you could just tell him the truth."

"Very true." he agreed.

"I don't have any answers for you right now, Harry." Hermione said. "But, I will help you try to figure this out. I promise."

"Thanks." he said smiling. It felt good to get it off his chest, and it was good to know that she would try to help him, but he still had no answers. And he was going to have to sleep again at some point. He was beginning to both fear and enjoy the prospect of going to bed. He truly hoped he didn't talk in his sleep.