Disclaimer: Look in the last few chapters.
The next few days were probably the most embarrassing days Harry had ever had. Not even Malfoy's badges topped it. Hermione had made sure Harry and Ron doesn't have any plans in their spare time just so she can drag them off to a secluded place to "talk". Harry had spent his "captivity" telling his best friends everything: from his crush on Cho Chang to falling unexplainably in love with Cedric Diggory. He wasn't sure how Ron was going to take it because frankly, he didn't want to lose his best friend again. Ron's silence the past few days had played havoc on his nerves and was even dismantling his very mind because no matter what happens, he would probably have to choose between Ron and Cedric if he doesn't approve. And that is something he wished it doesn't have to come to.
Both boys were on their way to the owlery for another update for Sirius when Harry finally asked the question that's been bothering him.
"Ron? Are you okay with this? I mean, it's not like I'm going to be with Cedric as he doesn't even seem to like me but are you okay with me being, you know, gay or whatever?"
Ron seemed to contemplate the question. Harry held his breath, waiting.
Ron spoke in hurried tones. "I'm okay with it, Harry," he said nervously, anxious."It's just that…I don't want to lose you."
Ron's face resembled that of a fire truck. Harry gaped at him. "What do you mean lose me? Ron, I'm not going anywhere!"
"No, Harry, you will. In a few years, we'll graduate then we'll have our own career, have a family, and whatnot. Sure we'll always be friends but it won't be like how it is now: just the three of us," Ron hesitated. He then continued on in a small voice. "You're one my best friend, Harry. But you're also my brother, you know? I've always been the odd one out in the family. Charlie has his dragons; Bill has Egypt; Percy have the Ministry; Fred and George have each other; and Ginny has her friends. Then I met you and Hermione, and I'm scared that that will change. You already have this war to think about and yes, that changes everything but we're all still together. But if you're with Cedric and Hermione's with…with…Krum, then, I don't know, Harry. I'm just scared, ok? But you liking other blokes don't bother me."
A long silence ensued in which Harry resembled that of a goldfish and Ron a very bright fire truck. Harry broke the silence by jumping on Ron, laughing.
"Geroff me!" Ron, cried, trying to push Harry away.
Harry just hugged him one more time and danced away from Ron's swings. They ran, laughing, all the way up to their destination. Harry's hug said it all. They were ok, and always will be, and they were happy, if only for this moment.
Ron climbed through the portrait hole before Harry. The latter was in a good mood and couldn't wait to tell Hermione all about their conversation. Ron didn't want him to but Harry told him Hermione must have thought that he was disgusted by Harry's preference and he wanted to dispel her fears.
Harry climbed in, calling out, "Lucy, I'm home!" to a crowded common room. Dean Thomas and a handful of muggleborn witches and wizards chuckled at the preference. He walked up to Hermione and Ron, who was already seated next to the brown hair witch on the settee. He took the single chair, grinning at Hermione's exasperated fond look and Ron's confused one.
Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "Ricky Ricardo, Harry?"
He shrugged. "I'm happy, 'Mione."
He replayed his and Ron's conversation with the latter hiding his face behind a throw pillow. Hermione laughed in delight, hugging the red-head, pillow and all.
"'Mione, geroff me," he cried without conviction.
Hermione took away the pillow and SMACK! Hit Ron right in the face! Ron stared up at her in incredulity. Harry, too, was staring at her in surprise with something akin to fear. Then he saw it: a tiny smirk playing at the corner of her lips. Ron must have noticed it too because he turned to Harry, raising an eyebrow in question. Harry understood and before Hermione knew what was happening, her book was flying to the ground as the boys jumped on her, tickling her.
She screamed. "Get-ha ha-off me!!!"
"Show no mercy!" Ron yelled before "attacking" her. Harry laughed evilly as Hermione tried to grab her wand. He snatched it and threw it with his and Ron's on the table. Hermione took his distraction to an advantage and managed to hit Harry with a pillow amidst gales of laughter. He turned to her with a growl and joined Ron in attacking her.
The rest of the Gryffindors smiled at their childish play, content to just leave them to have their fun. Of course it wasn't complete without Colin Creevey taking a picture of the Golden Trio's rare moment of being free.
As they headed down to dinner later that evening, Hermione was once again trying to convince the Boy Who Lived to talk to Cedric.
"'Mione, haven't you seen him avoiding me like the plaque?"
"I would, too, after the way you treated him at the Yule Ball," she said haughtily.
Both boys groaned at the mention of that disastrous night for very different reasons. Hermione stopped a few feet away from the entrance to the Great Hall and turned on Harry.
"You will talk to him right after you finish dinner or by Merlin, I will turn your hair pink in front of everyone," came the order accompanied with a poke to the chest. "Do not test me, Harry James Potter." Then, leaving behind a very stunned Champion and an amused Ron, she stalked inside the Hall.
Ron, with barely suppressed laughter, said, "You'd look good in pink, mate!" He apparently lost the battle as he left Harry, roaring with laughter. Harry could hear him calling after Hermione. "Hey, Hermione. 'Mione, why don't you make it rainbow-colored?! That'll clash well with the black robes!" Loud laughter followed this proclamation. Harry heard Hermione's answer, "Ronald Weasley, do not tease or you'll be sporting the same look as Harry."
Ron wasn't apparently fazed with the threat because he was chuckling. Harry ran in the Hall, taking no notice of the staring students, ghosts, and teachers. Without warning, he ran up behind Ron and cuffed him on the back of the head. He ducked the flying fist and ran to the other side of the Gryffindor table, hiding behind Hermione for protection. He laughed at the outraged look on Ron's face and threw a bone from Ginny's plate at his head. Before Ron could retaliate, Hermione ordered, "You two stop your foolishness this instant."
"Yes, Mother," came the cheeky replies from Harry and Ron. Throwing her hands up in defeat, she sat down next to Ginny still mumbling about immature boys. Harry chuckled, sitting on her right side. They started on their food, ignoring the stunned atmosphere around them. The student body had never seen the Golden Trio let themselves loose except in the privacy of their common room, with Hagrid and with each other. It was quite an honor to see them as who they should be and not fighters of the Light.
Dinner resumed and the chattering and laughter rang in the Great Hall but every once in a while, eyes were strayed to the Gryffindor table. Cedric Diggory was one of the people feasting their eyes upon them although his attention was focused mostly on the green-eyed Champion. He admits he was in trouble; so deep in trouble was he that he just knows his father won't ever forgive him and just might disown him. He didn't know when it became quite clear but if he should hazard a guess, it would have to be at the second task. When all the Champions but one had made it out of the water, he had prayed that somewhere down in the freezing river, Harry was alright. He had half a mind to stalk up to Dumbledore and demand he bring back Harry that instant. But he held himself back. It wouldn't do to act foolish. Until his father approves or Harry returns his feelings, he would have to be content with his unknown unrequited love for their Savior. He just needed to talk to him; however, he wasn't sure if the other boy would consent as he had done nothing but ignore him.
Harry himself was feeling anxious. If he wasn't so scared of Hermione, he would have bolted out of the room long ago. The witch was shooting him pointed looks and Ron was being very supportive mumbling things like, "Hope you like pink, Harry."
Harry scowled at him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ron."
Ron grinned. "You're welcome."
Before Harry could throw a retort, Hermione interrupted, making a big introduction of looking at her watch. "You have ten seconds to make your way to the Hufflepuff table, Harry. One-"
The poor prophesized savior gaped at his so-called best friend. Ron was slapping the table, guffawing. "Four, five, six-"
Harry hurriedly stood up, knocking his goblet of pumpkin juice on the table, and practically ran to the destined table. People were looking at him weirdly but he ignored it. He was sort of used to it. Once there, he called across the room to Hermione, ignoring everyone, "I hate you, 'Mione!" If there was one person he was terrified of-other than Mrs. Weasley-it was Hermione Jean Granger. Undaunted, Hermione answered, "I love you, too, Harry!" She winked at him and turned to Ginny, satisfied at a job well done. But not yet, though. Not yet.
Now that he was at the Hufflepuff table, he wasn't sure of what he was supposed to do. Seeing an opening at where he stood, he sat down, looking at no one. He could feel the stares of every eye on him at that moment. Snape was glaring at the audacity of the Boy Who Lived to Torture Him. He just wasn't satisfied with the attention he was getting for being in the TriWizard Tournament, was he? Only Dumbledore seemed to know what was going on for there was the ever present twinkle in his baby blue eyes.
Harry glanced at the person to his right and saw one of the beaters for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. He groaned. He was sitting with the seventh years! Which means Cedric must be nearby.
"Bloody hell, 'Mione. Throw me to Voldemort already, why don't you?" he grumbled. He missed the startled looks of the seventh years and continued on with his mutterings in peace.
He was interrupted by a very familiar voice. "Harry? Are you alright?"
Cedric was sitting right in front of him. This proved to be too much for the Boy Who Lived. He emitted a loud growl that would make Sirius Black proud and banged his head on the table. Why bang couldn't bang Hermione bang be bang a bang ditzy bang like bang Pansy bang Parkinson? He was about to hit his head again when a hand grabbed hold of his hair. He whipped around and saw the Quidditch boy grinning sheepishly at him, letting go of the unruly raven hair. He motioned to Cedric and simply said, "His orders."
Raising an eyebrow, Harry turned to the object of his affections. Cedric shrugged, a look of indifference gracing his sharp features. "Your friends are throwing dark looks at me as if you rendering yourself unconscious is my fault."