Title: I Should Have Come Out Earlier... Ten
Characters: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Characters are property of JK Rowling and no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Ron has another fit after seeing Skeeter's article.
When Harry went to work the next day he was subject to quite a bit of staring, heard many a hushed conversation as he walked by and got quite a few disappointed looks. In one instance an Auror trainee came up to him and promised that they would find out what "that wretched man" had done to him and free him from it. He was not sure how many times he had to implore that he was of his right mind and that Draco had done absolutely nothing to him. By the time he reached his office he was in a fairly bad mood and he had not expected to find a very stunned Ron.
Ron was sitting at his desk, paper in hand, jaw dangling and eyes bulging. Harry had to call the man a number of times before he got a response. Ron leaped out of his chair and waved the paper in Harry's face asking him what the bloody hell he was looking at. Harry thought it was absolutely ridiculous considering Ron had known about him and Draco. Once he got his mate to back off a bit and then he caught a glimpse of what the article and the photograph were about he realised the reason for his friend's shock. Ron was not shocked at Harry and Draco being in the paper, he was shocked at Charlie and Oliver.
The headline read "Saviour and Death Eater, Keeper and Dragonologist: Was there more to the Potter-Malfoy school boy rivalry? Was Weasley coaching Wood on more than just Quidditch plays back in the day?" There was also a photograph of Draco and Charlie at the end of their handshake before the couples turned around, startled. Their arms tightened around their respective partners and leaving no question about the nature of either relationship. Harry supposed Charlie had not told his family about his relationship with Oliver as yet judging by the way Ron was flailing.
"Ron, calm down," he said, as he took the paper from his best mate. "Look, I don't see any reason for you to let this affect you so-"
"Charlie is gay, Harry, and he's dating Oliver Wood. Bloody hell! It's like you've all just upped and turned queer all of a sudden! Next thing you know Neville is going to tell me he's doesn't really love Hannah because he's into blokes, or Dean will tell me that he and Seamus are getting in each others' pant-"
"I'm pretty sure that's happened actually," he murmured.
"What?" Ron yelled, flustered.
"They aren't actually gay. They were sloshed one night after a group of us went out. It was," Harry had to pause to laugh, "It was hilarious actually. But then we just sort of... left them to it. They started out imi- The point is, Ron, you're overreacting. Again." He need not tell Ron that Dean and Seamus had been imitating him and Hermione.
"Overreacting? You realise that within... 3 days I've found out that my best mate and my brother are queer and already in relationships? At least you already... Actually, you didn't tell me. Malfoy told me. And then I find out about Charlie through the Daily Prophet of all things!"
Harry tugged at his hair a bit and wondered how he could calm Ron down. Perhaps he really should have told the Weasley's about Draco himself, rather than just throwing the man into the Burrow and leaving him to do the work. It was hard for him to regret doing it though, after Draco had given him such a lovely punishment.
"Well, I reckon you can expect a visit from Charlie fairly soon now."
"Hmph, as if that makes a difference now."
And I won't have to worry about telling the rest of my friends about Draco. All I need to do is tell them that Skeeter was right about us dating.
I reckon I should probably read the article first though.
Draco rolled his eyes. Another owl had flown into the apothecary with a howler. He ignored the bird and continued to brew. The novelty of seeing the owl fluster about after the howler disintegrated in its claws had long worn off. He reckoned he would be getting them for at least the rest of the week.