Disclaimer: I still own nothing and it's not going to change.
Alright, so this is the chapter where your questions about where the distance between Harry and Ron comes from are answered.
In the next couple of chapters the reason why Ron was upset at Ginny on the train will be revealed also.
This chapter isn't very exciting, but was a necissary addition for the plot.
Hope you like it regardless!
You Shine Brighter Than Anyone
Chapter 6
Ron Weasley has never been an early riser. By the time he woke up in the morning the sun had long since been pouring through the window next to his bed and most of his house mates were already halfway through breakfast. Rubbing his eyes and wiping the drool from his mouth he rolled out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom.
As he stripped out of his boxers and stepped into the warm stream of water from the shower he sighed contentedly. He scrubbed down with the shower gel the house elves had left for him and upon reading the label he smiled. 'I didn't even know 'Fresh Morning Dew' had a smell.' He thought as he toweled off. They always seemed to try to relate shower gels to nature.
He slung the towel around his hips and began walking towards the end of his bed to where his trunk was, shivering as the cold air hit his body. Choosing a maroon short sleeve t-shirt and snug fitting grey jeans he put them on and proceeded to admire himself in the mirror.
The clothes fit perfectly on his slightly muscular physique and long frame. His face was a combination of beautiful physical attributes. Bright blue eyes shone through long, thick eyelashes. His cheeks and nose had shocks of freckles spread across them as though a painter had dipped his brush into golden brown paint and flicked it, making his skin a dotted canvas of constellations. Full lips and a softly defined chin completed a human masterpiece.
After Ron approved of the way his outfit looked, he went about fixing his hair. He had grown it out a bit during the summer and the bright sun had changed the color from a shocking orange to a softer reddish blond. Sweeping it off to the side of his face he left his room and began walking down the steps to the common room.
Harry awoke to the sound of footsteps descending the stairs next to the couch he had fallen asleep on after last night's activities. Rolling over so that he'd be facing the back of the couch he tried to fall back into the great sleep he'd been having. This method proved unsuccessful as a voice called out to him.
"Hey, Harry, are you awake?"
"Mmhmm." Harry replied into the fabric of the couch.
Groaning, Harry rolled back over and blinked bleary eyed at Ron. He sat up and stretched before looking over at the other couch where Hermione was sleeping with a peaceful smile on her face. He yawned and squeezed his eyes shut once more before turning his attention back to Ron.
"Whaddya want?" Harry asked, his words slurring together and resonating sleep.
Ron pointed to the clock that hung above the fireplace.
"It's a little past ten and I thought I'd get you up incase you wanted to get something for breakfast."
Harry shook his head. "Nah, you go ahead Ron. I know you're probably dying to get down there."
"You've got that right!" Ron said grinning. "I'll see you later, yeah?"
"Yeah, of course."
With this Ron bounded through the portrait hole. Harry smiled after him. It was nice to see that Ron had stopped becoming so dependant upon him. The two friends had spent the summer apart because Mrs. and Mr. Weasley had decided on a 'family summer vacation'.
Harry had been invited, of course, but he had wanted to stay with Hermione and enjoy the summer party scene. Since Harry hadn't come Ginny's boyfriend, Dean, had come along instead. Overall, Harry had decided that the short separation had been good for Ron seeing as Ron was finally coming into a person all his own.
Dragging himself up from the cushy couch, Harry started to walk over to Hermione to wake her when he noticed a bright blue piece of parchment that was tacked up on the common room bulletin board. Taking a detour in that direction he stopped in front of the parchment and skimmed it. Grinning, he ran to the sleeping Hermione and shook her awake.
Her eyes fluttered open and she glanced around the room.
"What's happened, Harry? Has there been an attack on the school?" As she said this her eyes scoured the room as though hiding behind the nearest chair might be Voldemort himself.
Harry only grinned at her. "No, nothing bad has happened. Actually, what's happened is great! Come over here and read this!"
Hermione, still looking wary, slowly made her way over to the bulletin board and read the same blue parchment Harry had. When she was finished she turned to Harry with a smile that only made him grin wider.
"We don't have to start classes for a month?" She asked, eyes sparkling.
Harry threw himself back onto the couch. "Nope, we have a whole month to do whatever we please. I can't believe that 'the faculty has unanimously decided to give the students time to get to know each other and establish friendships with individuals of opposing houses.' Gotta love how Dumbledore really believes that we'll be making an effort to befriend people from, dare I say it, Slytherin!"
Hermione smacked him playfully.
"Don't be so house discriminate!" She said with a smile. "And besides, I know you don't think they're that bad. Don't try to tell me you haven't taken a fancy to a certain blond boy from that house!"
At this Harry's face blushed wildly. He got up on his knees to look over the back of the couch and after he was convinced that the common room was empty he looked back at Hermione. Sitting back down and leaning forward towards his friend, he acquired a suspicious look on his face.
"Who told you?" He asked, as though anyone had known that he liked Draco in the first place.
"No one told me, Harry. I'm a girl; I know these types of things." She said, mock seriously.
When Harry gave her a look that clearly said that he didn't believe her, she broke back into a grin.
"Alright, so maybe you make it pretty obvious when you stare at him in the Great Hall, or in the hallways, or…well, you know, pretty much everywhere."
"I can't help it." He said with a devilish grin. "Honestly, 'Mione, have you seen his looks? It's like walking sex!"
She tilted her head to the side as though considering this. Too bad the only Slytherin she could picture at the moment was Theo. After she hadn't replied for a significant amount of time Harry began snapping his fingers in front of her.
"Earth to Hermione! You're spaceship is encountering problems and a crash is eminent. Abort mission! I repeat, abort mission!"
Hermione faux glared at Harry.
"Well, S-ooo-rry! I was just thinking about…" She caught her self right before she revealed her own Slytherin crush. Harry caught this, however, and wasn't about to let her get away with it.
"Ooh! Who is it, 'Mione? Do I know him? Is he cute? He's not in Gryffindor is he? All the guys here are just so blah!"
Hermione began laughing. He was just so excitable. Harry was more boy crazy than anyone she knew.
"Yes, you know him, yes, he's cute, and no, he's not in Gryffindor."
Harry's eyes sparked at this and Hermione could practically see the smoke coming from the wheels churning in his head.
"Aha! It's Theo, isn't it?!"
Hermione didn't answer but with a blush that deep there was no need to.
"Awe, that's so cute Hermione! Do you want me to talk to him? I could get you the hook up!" Harry wiggled his eyes suggestively.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at Harry's antics. She had no doubt that he could hook Theo and her up, but she wanted to get to know Theo better first. Besides, Harry would most likely have his hands full enough with Draco.
"I'll have to decline that offer, Harry. Spend your energy on capturing Draco's heart."
Harry nodded. He knew it was going to take a while, but he knew he could win Draco over eventually. In the meantime, he decided that it was time to head down to lunch. He was famished!
"What do you think about getting some lunch, Hermione?"
Glancing at the clock, Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, that'd be great. Just let me go change and pull my hair back."
"Be my guest. I'll be right here when you're done."
Hermione disappeared from view and was back quickly. Harry raised his eye brows at her speedy change but said nothing as Hermione could have left without getting ready and still looked perfect. Linking arms, the two teens headed out of Gryffindor tower and towards the Great Hall.
Okay, so hopefully part of the Ron situation has been cleared up.
Thanks for reading and reviews are appreciated as always!