The Trouble With Harry

The Trouble with Harry

Chapter 6

: Love is a Headache

Ron gazed at a spot on the wall through half lidded eyes.Professor BinnÂ’s lecture barely penetrated the wall of lethargy thatsurrounded him as he slumped in his seat and let his mind drift. Predictably,his thoughts lingered on Harry. He had given up on giving Harry the silenttreatment since Harry only ignored it. Instead he settled comfortably into acasual dialogue that steered clear of anything concerning his recent behavior.Harry seemed content enough with this and went back to asking him stupidquestions about classes and homework, though he rather preferred to stay silentand throw odd looks at the red head instead. This suited Ron just fine. He wasnot much up to speaking to Harry about anything. The absence of questions fromhis friend about what had happened during Care of Magical Creatures came as asurprise to Ron. Whether Harry knew that he didnÂ’t feel like talking about itor was just too annoyed with his actions to bring it up, he didnÂ’t know, butwas grateful for it either way.

As the teacher droned on Ron turned in his chair to prop hishead up on his arm and stare at the raven-haired boy next to him.

I have to do something.

Malfoy was already one up on him. There was no way he could letHarry slip through his fingers right into MalfoyÂ’s eager hands. He had to dosomething.

YouÂ’ve been saying that since forever.

He shook his head.

This is it. IÂ’ll do it this time. IÂ’ll tell him. Afterdetention. IÂ’ll do it.

Harry noticed Ron staring at him and shifted in his chair withan uncomfortable look on his face, before he turned away again. Ron sighed.

Sure you will Ron. Sure you will.

***

Neville trudged down the stairs to find Harry waiting for him inthe common room.

"Ready for a wonderful evening of scrubbing floors?"said Harry none-too- enthusiastically.

"Not really. I hope we get done pretty soon. Hermione saidsheÂ’d help me with the Transfiguration assignment due tomorrow."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. IÂ’ve had a long day. It might benice to turn in early. Maybe heÂ’ll give us an easy room for once."

Professor Snape had deemed that Harry and Neville should servethe detention with Filch as he himself was much too busy making the seventh yearpotions NEWT impossible to pass to waste time on witless Gryffindors. Their taskwas to be the usual one that the caretaker assigned, to scrub out one of themany disused classrooms in the castle.

As Harry and Neville climbed through the portrait hole andheaded down the hall Ron came running after them, yelling for them to wait.Harry raised an eyebrow at the panting boy as he caught his breath.

"What is it Ron?" asked Harry shortly. He was not inthe mood for any more of RonÂ’s oddness tonight. All he wanted was to get thedetention over with and go to bed.

"Where are you going?"

"Detention."

"With Snape?"

"No Filch."

"Then IÂ’m coming with you."

Harry nodded and the three walked down the hall.

As they reached the caretakerÂ’s office they found Malfoyalready waiting with a sour look on his face. Harry sighed. Were the teachers sodumb? Giving Malfoy a detention with them was like throwing a shark in a tankfull of guppies and expecting them to get along because theyÂ’re all fish. Itwas asking for trouble. Draco made sure to give them each a scowl, lingering onHarry for a moment, before he turned his attention back to the door.

Harry was gratified tmright next to the like-minded Ron. Ron refused to look up but only scrubbedharder, taking his fury out on the floor.

"IÂ’ll go start over there. I think thereÂ’s more thanenough people working this spot," said Neville as he got up from theirlittle group and walked to the other side of the room.

"ThatÂ’s a good idea. Why donÂ’t you two start ondifferent spots too. WeÂ’ll get this done a lot faster."

"No thanks. IÂ’m fine where I am," said Draco firmly.

"Me too," ground out Ron through clenched teeth.

"Fine," said Harry. He thought of moving himself butsomehow he didnÂ’t feel comfortable leaving Ron and Draco in such proximity toeach other. He could just feel the tension emanating from them. Who knew whatcould happen. They might end up jumping each other the moment his back wasturned and that was something Harry was definitely too tired to handle atthe moment.

As Harry bent back to work he could feel two pairs of eyesboring into his head. Why are they staring at me like that? He tried toignore it and fiddled nervously with a bit of loose grout in the masonry.

Ron watched him carefully keeping an eye on Draco as well. Hewould not let either of the two out of his sight. There was no telling whatMalfoy would try to pull after the whole boat incident.

Draco himself was much too preoccupied with the way HarryÂ’shair stuck to his forehead as the sweat beaded on his brow from the gruelingwork to care about anything else. Just to watch Harry without being disturbed byteachers and schedules was something of a treat and even Ron seemed to beletting him alone to enjoy it for once. HmmÂ…I need to get detention moreoften.

The sight before him almost had him mesmerized, theconcentration in HarryÂ’s eyes as he worked the spot on the floor, the way hishair moved back and forth with his movements, a wild tossing sea of black, andthe way he bit his bottom lip with the effort he was putting into the job. Andmy, didnÂ’t those lips look soft.

Ron had noticed this too and soon his attention had drifted fromthe blond boy sitting next to him, the threat he posed forgotten, and focusedcompletely on Harry. Neville still scrubbed away in his own corner, but theother three were close now, still bunched together in one spot. Two of the boyshad all but stopped working as the third ground away at the stone, careful notto lift his gaze to them. If ever two minds had ever worked in perfect tandem itwould have been at that moment. Ron gazed at Harry oblivious to all around him.Draco floated in a similar ethereal realm consisting of only Harry and him.

The urge grew too strong for the both of them. Harry was rightthere and that was all they saw. Those eyes were beckoning. Those lips werepursed to be kissed, so warm and wanting.

Harry reached up and ran his fingers through his damp midnightlocks. The tension that had been building between the three snapped into action.

Harry looked up. Draco licked his lips. Ron lunged forward. Twoheads came together with a resounding crack as Ron met the like-minded Slytherinmidway to his ultimate goal.

"Ow!" they cried in unison, drawing back in an instantand rubbing their heads.

"Ron! Are you okay?" Harry rushed to his friendÂ’sside.

"Yeah, mÂ’okay."

Harry turned to the Draco but the remarks of concern died on hislips as he remembered Ron. He quickly looked away from Malfoy and hoped that RondidnÂ’t take it the wrong way that heÂ’d even looked the boyÂ’s way withanything less than contempt written on his face.

Harry neednÂ’t have concerned himself however as Ron was stillin too much pain to take note of what or who Harry looked at. He rubbed his headdejectedly as a sort of panic washed over him. I was about to kiss him. I wasabout to do it. Oh my God, and in front of Malfoy and Neville! ItÂ’s a goodthing Malfoy got in my way. His brow furrowed as he turned the bit ofinformation around in his aching head. Wait a second. What business did Malfoyhave getting in my way? Oh my God, he was going toÂ…he was about toÂ…

"Goddamnit Weasley. WhatÂ’s your problem? That hurt!"Draco rubbed the small but rapidly forming bruise on the side of his head."You could have given me a concussion you prat!" Why do you alwayshave to get in the way! He shoved Ron where they sat. Ron did the only thinghe was motivated to do at the moment and shoved him back.

Oh God theyÂ’re flirting again

, thought Harry in horror.I have to stop them before they kill each other.

But his response was not fast enough to keep Ron and Dracoapart. The two enraged boys wrestled on the floor, RonÂ’s size advantageleaving Draco on the bottom of the mess getting the brunt of the damage. Dracotwisted and got his arm under RonÂ’s and over his shoulder pushing him over andinto the pail of water. Harry jumped up as the water spilled out over the floorand flooded around the boys still rolling about on the ground. Neville had comeover to see what the commotion was about and stood next to Harry watching theshow.

"This is ridiculous. ThatÂ’s the third time today,"said Harry to Neville as they watched the spectacle.

"DonÂ’t you think we ought to stop them?" saidNeville.

"I doubt thatÂ’s what they want, but yeah, I suppose weshould."

Neville gave him a questioning look but Harry just shrugged andshook his head.

"IÂ’ll take Ron and you grab Draco."

Neville nodded.

Ron was back on top with Draco trying to knee him as he tried tohold the other boy still enough to get in a good punch. Harry grabbed Ron aroundthe chest and heaved him off the other boy with great effort falling back as Ronfinally relented and released his grip on Draco. Neville helped the blond boy upas Harry and Ron untangled themselves from each other on the wet floor.

Shaking Neville off, Draco turned to glare at Ron. "You’rein trouble now Weasel. When Snape hears about this—."

"What are you talking about you little prick? This is yourfault! You shoved me!"

"You crashed your big fat skull into me. Now IÂ’ve thisbig ugly bruise on the top of my head."

"Well at least it matches that other big ugly bruise, or nowait, thatÂ’s just your face."

"Shut up Weasley!"

"Besides Malfoy, you got in my way!"

"Got in your way? How Weasel? Why would I have been in yourway?" Draco sneered at the boy and glanced at Harry.

RonÂ’s face went pale and then bright flaming red as he lungedat the Slytherin. Harry caught the back of his robe holding him back.

Draco smirked. DonÂ’t worry Weasel. IÂ’ll not tell Harryyour little secret. Not before I tell him mine first.

"Ron, let him be. For goodness sake, whatÂ’s got intoyou?"

Ron shook HarryÂ’s grasp from him and stood up straight torecollect some of his dignity.

"Thanks Malfoy. IÂ’m all wet again," he said with ascowl as he tried to straighten out his robes.

"IÂ’m not much dryer here," ground out the blond.

"Good. WeÂ’re all wet. Except Neville. Now that weÂ’veestablished who actually has the brains around here maybe we can get back towork? I want to get out of here and change. You two opposite sides of theroom."

HarryÂ’s tone did not leave room for compromise and they allset to work in their respective corners. Without distraction, they finishedquickly and were soon out of the room and off to change before dinner, which hadonly just started.

The three Gryffindors walked together making their way down thehalls as Draco lingered close behind them. As they reached the entrance hall Ronpaused and grabbed HarryÂ’s arm.

"Er Harry, can I talk to you for a second?" He shot alook at Neville, "Privately."

"Okay Ron, but donÂ’t you think we should get cleaned upfirst?"

"No. Now. Please."

HarryÂ’s eyebrows bunched together in worry at RonÂ’s urgenttone. "Um, okay Ron. IÂ’ll catch up with you in a bit Neville. You goahead."

"Okay. Bye guys." Neville walked off towards the GreatHall. Draco too slipped from sight leaving Harry and Ron alone.

"Outside. I need to tell you something."

"Why canÂ’t you just tell me here?"

"Please Harry, I need to do this right. Just donÂ’tquestion it okay?"

"Okay Ron."

***

The two made their way out the great double doors onto thegrounds. Harry followed Ron as he led him to a grassy knoll overlooking thelake. The detention had felt as though it had gone for hours, but, as Harryfound now, the sun hadnÂ’t even set yet. It spilled its colour out over thelake casting a warm glow over everything, making RonÂ’s hair especially brightHarry noted. His face seemed to also feel the effects of the setting sun, thoughif heÂ’d been paying closer attention Harry would have realized it was not thesun but a warm blush that had crept over his friendÂ’s face.

Ron sat down in the grass and Harry sat down across from him onan old log. Ron couldnÂ’t believe how perfect everything was, the sunset, thecool late spring breeze, Harry looking at him sweetly, that curious glint in hiseyes. Ron sat back amazed. He was actually going to do it. And it was going tobe perfect.

"So Ron, what did you want to talk about?"

Well here it goes.

"ErÂ…well. You know Harry weÂ’veknown each other for seven years now."

Harry nodded.

Ron swallowed.

"And weÂ’ve been good friends. Best friends."

Harry nodded again.

"Before, during the whole You-Know—Voldemort thing, I wasreally worried about you. I mean, I was so scared I would lose you. I sort ofcame to a realization. Everything changed afterward for me. What I’m trying tosay is…well, you know I care about you don’t you Harry? That I could neverlose you? That I’d do anything for you?"

"Yes Ron. Of course I do. I feel the same way. YouÂ’re mybest friend. What did you want to tell me?"

"HarryÂ…this is hard for me butÂ…"

HarryÂ’s eyes went wide as he had a brilliant flash ofcomprehension. He jumped in before his friend could continue.

"Ron. Before you say anything. I just want you to know thatI know what youÂ’re going to say. And I completely respect your decision andwill support you whole-heartedly. IÂ’m here for you Ron. IÂ’m going to goalong with this because youÂ’re my best friend and I love you."

"Harry?" said Ron shakily, staring into the boyÂ’sbig green eyes, tears beginning to well up in his own cerulean ones. He lovesme. I canÂ’t believe this is happening.

He leaned forward ever so slowly until their faces were a merefoot apart. Harry sat motionless, his eyes never leaving RonÂ’s. He cocked hishead quizzically as the tall red-haired boy lingered before him. That did it.Ron threw himself onto Harry, knocking them back against the grass. He firmlypressed his lips to the other boyÂ’s kissing him. His hands came up to tanglethemselves in HarryÂ’s unruly hair.

For all his prior brilliance Harry could not comprehend what wasgoing on. He felt the cool grass against the back of his neck and the warm bodyof his best friend on top of him, hands, warmer still, on his side and shoulderand neck and everywhere, and lips pressed feverishly against his own. It feltgood so his body decided to leave his mind in the dark and take over for a bit.He reached an arm up and wrapped it around RonÂ’s neck and lifted his head,tilting deeper into the kiss. Harry felt his own lips part at the soft pressureand Ron took full advantage.

He wanted to be gentle. He wanted to be modest and timid andshow Harry how sweetly and deeply he loved him, but Ron couldn't hold back. Notnow as Harry, opened his mouth against his, as if to open the floodgates oftheir love. RonÂ’s tongue lapped feverishly at HarryÂ’s to quench the thirstheÂ’d had now for so long.

He wanted to keep where he was. He wanted to kiss Harry forever.He couldnÂ’t stop now. Not for all the gold in Gringotts. Not for the Head Boybadge. Not for the world. Not even for a breath as a matter of fact. And nowhere he was, suffocating in the kiss, overwhelmed by the feeling. His head grewlighter and he would have been happy to die this way. Asphyxiated by HarryÂ’slove. But Harry, the good friend that he was, would not let that happen. Hepulled away.

Reason had seeped back into HarryÂ’s mind and it had occurredto him that his best friend was kissing him and that he was kissing back andthat it was weird. And that he couldnÂ’t breath. The sudden lack of oxygen hadawoken his mind to the discomfort of his situation and his thoughts screamed forhim to put a stop the cause. He had pushed Ron off of him roughly and sat upwiping his mouth on his sleeve. What was Ron doing? Why was this happening? DidI miss something here?

Ron gasped as the air stung his lungs and they screamed to bedeprived once again. He fell back onto his back dazed and confused. He liftedhis head to look at his flushed and flustered friend sitting beside him.

"But Ron," said Harry bewildered, as he caught hisbreath and his heart slowed to a more rational pace, "what aboutMalfoy?"

This was a new feeling for Ron. He couldnÂ’t breath once againbut it was different this time. And his heart might have stopped. Or maybe itwas just displaced somewhere in his throat. He closed his eyes tight. No.

"Ron?"

NoÂ…nonononoÂ…NO! ItÂ’s not supposed to happen this way.

Ron shot up from the ground and started to walk away as Harrylooked on in confusion.

"Ron! Wait!"

But Ron couldnÂ’t wait. He had a certain pretty blond Slytherinto murder.

He took off in a run towards the castle, leaving Harry to sit inthe damp evening grass and ponder what the hell had just happened.