Eternal

One week later, Harry found himself sitting in the Great Hall at lunchtime, patting Hermione on the back as she bent over crying. She had been sobbing loudly for some minutes, which was very unusual for her. Harry sighed. His lunch was getting cold, but he was too preoccupied with worry to notice.

Ron had been sulking for the past week, wandering through the halls with a gloomy expression and refusing to speak to Hermione, or even look at her. No matter how many times she apologized, Ron simply shook his head and walked away. There had been no more outbursts; Ron simply refused to talk to Hermione and tended to avoid Harry as well. In classes he had refused to sit beside Hermione, and Harry was forced to again sit between them like some sort of referee.

That morning, when Harry woke up he found Ron's bed hangings pulled aside, exposing an empty bed that had obviously not been slept in. Ron was no where to be seen. He had not joined them for breakfast, not had he shown up to any of the morning classes, even going so far as to skip Care of Magical Creatures. Harry had originally thought that Ron was being difficult to hurt Hermione, but now even he was somewhat concerned. It was not like Ron to miss an entire morning. Harry had checked the hospital wing and the Quidditch pitch. He had even peeked inside Hagrid's hut, wondering if Ron had taken refuge there.

"Hermione, he'll turn up," Harry promised as Hermione began to sob again. Although Harry was not too confident on the matter, there seemed to point in putting Hermione through more misery. She had been beating herself up all week for her thoughtless remark. Although Harry could see that it was cruel, he thought Ron was making a bit much of Hermione's comment. Hermione, after all, did have a temper.

"I don't think he will," Hermione sniffed. "Maybe he's run away. Oh, Harry, what if something happens to him?"

"Nothing will," Harry assured her, feeling doubtful. "He's just embarrassed, that's all. He'll get over it."

Hermione looked up at Harry, her eyes red from crying. "I keep wondering if something awful has happened to him. If it has, it'll all be my fault." She dissolved into tears again.

"There, there," Harry said unconvincingly as he patted her arm again. "You may as well eat something, Hermione. You don't want to get sick."

"Yes, I suppose," Hermione agreed hoarsely. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, frowning. "I'm just so worried. What if he's died? It will be all my fault."

"That's mad, Hermione, don't think about things like that," Harry insisted, wondering why Hermione had to be so morbid all of a sudden. As much as Harry hated to admit it, he was really worried about Ron. Skipping class was one thing, missing mealtimes completely different. Harry made up his mind to track Ron down after classes, even if it meant skipping Occulemency with Snape.

Surprisingly, Harry was starting to look forward to his Occulemency lessons with the Potions Master. Although they still met in the cold, shadowy dungeon, Harry was able to forget about the environment once they got started. He had found that he enjoyed the challenge of working with Snape, who never made it easy. The Professor kept warming Harry that they would soon progress to a more difficult level, but in the meantime Harry was faring quite well. He could block off his thoughts from Snape when given adequate preparation time, and sometimes he could even invade Snape's thoughts.

The best part of the class, however, was that Snape seemed much different outside of double Potions. Instead of shouting at Harry and insulting him, Snape was patient, at least as patient as Snape could be. He was prone to sarcasm, something Harry doubted would ever change, but at least Snape never screamed at him during Occulemency.

"Harry," Hermione whispered, drawing him back to the Great Hall. "What if Ron has died?"

"That's madness, Hermione, stop thinking about that," Harry urged.

"I can almost hear his voice, like a ghost," Hermione replied in a rather dazed voice. She looked exhausted. Her eyes were shadowed and her skin rather pasty. It was also quite obvious that she had not been brushing her hair. Although it was normally quite bushy, her hair was a mass of tangles floating around her head.

"No, you can't poss-," Harry broke off and cocked his head. He could almost make out Ron's voice. It seemed to be coming from a great distance. Harry widened his eyes and stared at Hermione, shocked. It was obvious from her pallor that she heard him too.

"- I was at Hogsmeade, with Lavender Brown," Ron's said casually. "I figured, hey, it's the first week. We won't have much homework and if we do I can always ask Harry for it. You only live once."

Harry turned around. Behind him, leaning casually against the wall in black dragon skin pants, black boots and a tunic shirt in the style of Bill Weasley was Ron. His red hair had been freshly combed and styled much differently then usual. It made him look older. He was talking to a group of girls, and Harry identified Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and even a Slytherin in the mix.

Harry glanced over at Hermione, who was gaping at Ron with her mouth hanging open. She was glaring at the grinning bunch of girls.

"So, Padma, care to take a ride on my broom tonight?" Ron asked, turning toward a pretty, dark haired Ravenclaw girl. "I hear there won't be a cloud in the sky. It's the perfect night for stargazing," Ron announced, grinning broadly. He winked. "Of course, if Astrology isn't your thing maybe we can just take advantage of the dark."

Padma Patil ignored her sister's jealous look and beamed at Ron. "That sounds lovely. Should I meet you here, say, after dinner?"

"Sounds perfect. So, it looks like your sister here is jealous," Ron remarked, indicating a fuming Parvati. "Why don't we make it a threesome?"

"Oh my - what in Merlin's name does he think he's up to?" snapped Hermione loudly as Parvati kissed Ron on the cheek. The twins joined hands and hurried off, apparently to tell all of their friends about their good fortune. "A double date? With twins?"

"It's not a double date if they don't have an extra. It's a threesome," Harry answered knowledgably, grinning despite himself. Ron Weasley, ladies man? That hardly seemed possible, but there was Ron, smiling at his flock of female followers.

"It's disgusting is what it is," Hermione fumed. She turned around and picked up her glass of pumpkin juice, holding it so tightly Harry feared it would snap. "That weasel git!"

"Hermione!" Harry gaped at her, surprised. He had never heard anyone but Malfoy use that term for Ron.

"Well he is. I don't believe him! I hope he's paying them well, for their acting," Hermione declared. She frowned disapprovingly and started to tear her bread into tiny pieces.

Harry watched her for a moment and then turned back to Ron, who was busily kissing Hannah Abbott. Harry quickly looked elsewhere, not wanting to intrude. A moment later Harry was startled to see Ron sit down beside him.

"Hi, Harry," Ron said by way of greeting, as though nothing was different in the least. Ron glanced at Hermione, who rolled her eyes at him.

"So," Harry started, and found he had nothing more to say. He watched as Hannah Abbott left the Great Hall with her robes considerably wrinkled.

"Great girl," Ron mentioned when he saw who Harry was looking at. "Some people say she's a little naive, but she's really sweet."

"Oh, you make me sick," Hermione piped up in a furious whisper. She gave Ron at look that could kill.

Ron glanced at her, expressionless for a moment. Then he grinned. "Offending you sensibilities, am I? Well I'm sorry, Hermione, but you were the one who challenged me to it."

"How so?" Hermione demanded, her expression icy.

"You were the one who said I couldn't get a date," Ron pointed out. "I'm just Weasley to you, Harry's sidekick, Fred and George's little brother."

Hermione stared down at the table. "I told you I was sorry for that. That's not how I think of you at all. You don't have to go acting like, like this to impress me."

Ron stretched, lifting his shirt a bit to show a stomach that was rippled with muscles. Harry, who of course did live in the dormitory with Ron could have sworn those muscle had not been there a week earlier. A gaggle of Ravenclaw fourth years, however, did not seem to care if the muscles were new or not. They pointed and whispered among each other. One, a tall brunette, licked her lips.

"Good thing, as I'm not into impressing you anymore," Ron retorted, waving to the Ravenclaw girls. They all went red and resumed giggling at a much higher volume.

"Who are you trying to impress?" Hermione asked in a hurt voice. "Those girls?"

Ron shrugged. "Oh, anyone who'll have me."

Hermione shook her head. "You're completely off your head. You'll do anything for attention now, is that right, Ron?"

Harry, who was listening to the argument with his gaze firmly fixed on the Gryffindor banner, was surprised to feel a sudden hand on his shoulder. It was Ron, pulling him forward. Ron's arms seemed to have grown more muscular as well. Harry looked up and saw Ron looking down at him. Then he felt the soft press of Ron's lips against his own.

Ron was a much more forceful kisser then Harry would have imagined, if he had ever imagined about such things. He held onto Harry, pulling him closer, and then Harry felt Ron's tongue slid delicately into his mouth. On instinct Harry kissed back, relishing the warmth of Ron's mouth. He could feel Ron gently touching the side of his face, tracing his fingers up the jawbone. Harry wrapped his arms around Ron, pulling him closer. Then he realized that he was kissing Ron Weasley in front of the entire school. He pulled back quickly and stared at Ron in shock.

"Yep, anything," Ron smirked as Hermione gaped at him. Hermione seemed at loss for something to say. She sighed, picked up her books and hurried away.

"She's so uptight," Ron complained as he started to serve himself a bit of lunch. "No wonder she only wants to pen pal with Viktor."

Harry was still not quite certain of what had just transpired. He was vaguely aware, however, that the entire Slytherin table was watching him. Draco Malfoy was gawking with his mouth wide open, looking even more pale then normal.

"Ron?" Harry asked when he finally caught his breath.

Ron was busy with his sandwich. Finally, when Harry kept staring Ron looked at him. "Wot is it, 'Arry?" Ron asked through his mouthful of food.

Harry cleared his throat. "What was that?"

"This kissing?" Ron smiled. "Don't tell me that you didn't like it. I happen to know I'm a damn good kisser, actually."

"It wasn't, I don't mean, I," Harry stammered. He glared at the Slytherin table, although no one had started to shout yet. "Can we please talk upstairs? Alone?"

Ron grinned. "Oh, so I am that good of a kisser. I knew you would like it. I've had a bit more practice recently."

"I don't want to kiss you," Harry hissed through clenched teeth as he eyes the tables. "Can we please just go upstairs? Now?"

Ron put down the remainder of his sandwich. He gave Harry a flirtatious wink. "Skip the kissing, go straight to bed? That's even better. Let's go." He got up and took hold of Harry's wrist, tugging him along.

Harry yanked free and glared bitterly. He followed Ron up the moving staircases and did not open his mouth until they were upstairs in the dorm.

"What was all that about?" Harry demanded when they were finally alone.

"The kissing? Oh, come on," Ron scoffed. "You've never wanted to try kissing another bloke?"

"That isn't the point," Harry insisted. "You didn't need to try it out in front of the whole school. Everyone was watching! I had no idea what you were going to do."

"So you would have kissed me if I had asked you to?" Ron asked skeptically. "If I had known that I wouldn't have waited for sixth year."

"What? Oh, never mind. What was the point of all those girls?" Harry asked.

Ron shrugged. "I like girls too. They are pretty good at kissing as well, if you want something gentle. It's not the same as kissing a guy though, very different. Blokes are much rougher."

Harry sighed in frustration. "I mean, why did you have to talk to all those girls in front of Hermione? I know you like her Ron, and that hurt her feelings."

"She hurt mine," Ron replied.

"She tried to apologize to you," Harry pointed out. "She said she never meant to hurt your feelings. Can't you accept that?"

"No," Ron answered. "I've been after Hermione for years, and she knows it, and she chose that, that, Krum over me. I'm done trying to impress Hermione Granger. I prefer someone who appreciates me."

"Like the fan club downstairs?" Harry remarked.

Ron shook his head and looked at Harry. "Those girls, they're just for fun, and to torture Hermione with. No, the person I really want, he's right here in this room."

Harry blushed and looked away.

Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't get upset about it, Harry. Just try and understand."

"How long have you felt this way?" Harry asked, still avoiding Ron's gaze.

"Years," Ron answered. He laughed ruefully. "I never said anything though. Not to you. I knew you would never go for it."

"I thought you liked Hermione," Harry said helplessly.

"I do. I did, well, maybe I still do," Ron tried to explain. He laughed. "Does that explain it? I like her, I want you."

Harry shook his head and made his way to his bed. He lay down and closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the situation and wondering how he had avoided noticing the signs for so long. Ron was always at his side. Ron always wanted to be around him.

Harry felt his mattress shift and Ron climbed onto the bed. Harry opened his eyes and watched as Ron pulled the hangings closed, wrapping them in semi-darkness.

"Don't worry," Ron said as Harry started to sit up. "I'm not going to do anything, not yet. You're not ready. I just want to stay with you for a while."

"Okay," Harry agreed. He lay down again and stretched out. "I'm skipping the afternoon. No way can I handle Potions today."

Ron smirked. "Snape will have your hide, but it's your business. Just don't forget your Occulemency lessons, or you'll be in serious trouble. He'll march up here and drag you out of bed."

"True," Harry agreed. He closed his eyes and tried to practice his Occulemency, clearing his mind of every scrap of thought. For a moment his mind focused on nothing. Then he felt warmth on his side, and soft lips pressing against his own. A smooth hand traced his jaw line and then moved lower, caressing his chest and stomach. Harry felt Ron kissing him again, harder, and drew his own hands up to unbutton Ron's robes. Without opening his eyes his other senses were forced to become that much keener. Harry could feel his robes being pulled away and soft, warm kisses on his chest, sinking lower. He gasped at the sudden touch of Ron's bare skin against his own, but then everything melted into pleasurable sensations, and later he was never able to tell if that was a dream or reality.