Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort
I take my leave of you

Thursday’s were never particularly good days for Ron because he started the day with double potions and Snape was never what you would call, pleasant, in the mornings. In fact, Snape was down right grumpy in the mornings (even more so than in the afternoons). This particular Thursday seemed especially hopeless as Ron dragged himself out of bed and down to the dungeon. He had skipped breakfast to avoid Harry and his new boy toy. Ron didn’t know what bothered him more, that Harry was 'cheating' on Draco or that he wasn’t doing it with him. As Ron entered the potions classroom he felt his heart sink even more. The mysterious blond boy, who he had yet to meet, was sharing a table with a smitten looking Harry and an irritated looking Hermione. Ron chose a table by himself toward the back and began wishing he had never gotten out of bed.

****

Harry was sitting in Potions staring at Phillip as he mindlessly stirred his cauldron.

>>How can this be so confusing<< Harry thought. >> Two days ago I was perfectly happy with Draco even though I caught him kissing Crabbe I was going to give him another shot. He is so wonderful to me. How can I be sitting here thinking that I don’t love him anymore.<<

Harry sighed. His throat constricted when he thought about Draco.

>>Poor Draco would be crushed if he broke up with him. What if he wakes up to find me with Phillip and then commits suicide because he is so upset. That would be on my head. I couldn’t handle that. What if he doesn‘t wake up!<<

Tears began to well up in his eyes he blinked them back and looked at his watch. the bell was going to ring in a minute or so, then it was off to lunch. Harry was starving because he had skipped breakfast. He didn’t feel he could possibly face the Gryffindors after having been found asleep in the arms of a boy who wasn’t his boyfriend.

>>What must they think of me?<< Harry thought. >>I’m a cheat, no better than any of the Slytherins.<<

****

The bell sounded and Harry dashed out of the dungeons before Hermione could say a word. She sat back and leisurely began to pack up her books, considering what had happened in the last 24 hours. She had missed the opportunity to talk to Harry at breakfast because he hadn’t showed up. She desperately wanted to talk to him to let him know that she would support him no matter what he decided to do. She considered Ron too. She knew he liked Harry and that Harry had unintentionally hurt him when he refused to believe Ron’s story about Draco. Hermione had been mad when Harry had been drooling over Phillip at dinner the night before. She wasn’t angry anymore because she knew Ron was moving on. She had seen him sitting with Justin yesterday and the two seemed very content together. Hermione saw Phillip getting up to leave and stopped him.

"Philip!" she called, "wait up."

Phillip and Hermione walked to the Great Hall together. Hermione apologized to him for her rudeness yesterday and they spent a Harry-free lunch talking about Phillip’s school in America and other academic-related things.

****

Harry hurdled out of the big Oak door leading to the school grounds. He sprinted toward Hargid’s hut, changed his mind and headed toward the green houses. Tears were streaking down his face and he didn’t want anyone to see him cry. He was so confused.

"Why does life have to be so complicated," he wondered aloud.

He sat down behind Greenhouse number four, leaned against the cool glass and cried.

****

Ginny skipped down the hill toward the Greenhouses. She was on her way to a secret rendezvous with her boyfriend. She was giddy. It wasn’t everyday that an average girl like herself had a secret love life. She didn’t want it to be a secret romance but when it had started they had both thought it wise to wait till a good time to break the news to her over-protective brother. Pondering how best to break the news about her relationship to Ron without putting Neville in the hospital wing with Draco, Ginny rounded the corner of the greenhouse to find a very distraught Harry Potter.

****

Ron had decided to go to lunch after all. He didn’t really want to face Harry but his stomach was threatening to consume itself. He cautiously pushed open the door to the great hall and looked around. He saw Hermione and the blonde intruder talking at the far end of the Gryffindor table but Harry was nowhere in sight. Eager to talk to the Harry’s new love interest he seated himself next to Hermione, opposite him.

"Hi Ron," said Hermione, "This is Phillip."

"Hi," Phillip greeted him with a smile, "You must be Ron. Harry and Hermione have told me so much about you."

Ron didn’t know exactly how to respond so he just nodded and said,

"All good I hope"

Phillip chuckled and nodded, "of Course."

The conversation continued. After awhile they got up and headed to the dormitory to get their books for their next class. On the way Hermione told them she had to go to the library to get a book she had left there earlier. She left the two boys discussing Harry.

"So," Ron drawled, "Where are you from?"

"Well, I was born in Virginia but my parents moved a lot when I was growing up so I lived in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Plus I go to school in Pennsylvania."

Ron nodded

>>damn southern Belle<< he thought.

By the time they got to the commons room Ron was tired of being nice, this conversation had a point that he had yet to get to.

"Did Harry tell you what happened to his boyfriend?" Ron asked.

"You mean Draco?" Phillip asked, "He touched on it last night but didn’t go into detail, Why?"

>>I’ll bet that not all he touched upon last night<< Ron thought angrily.

"What about Draco should I know?" Phillip inquired.

Ron paused, "Let’s put it his way," he paused again for effect, "Draco messed with Harry... I messed with Draco... Got the Picture? Is that Clear enough for you?"

"Crystal," Phillip said, a note of panic in his voice.

****

Harry was busy wallowing in self pity when he heard foot steps. He looked up just as Ginny came walking around the corner. She knelt next to him on the ground, a look of concern on her face,

"Are you ok Harry?" she asked.

" ‘lo Ginny, I’m ok."

"NO, Your not," Ginny declared, "Now tell me what’s wrong." she demanded.

"I’m so confused," Harry choked. "I am still dating Draco, even though he is still in the hospital wing I think I should still be faithful to him... but I like Phillip and I want to be with him but I don’t think I can because of Draco and to top it all off Ron is still ignoring me because I didn’t believe him and I truly don’t know what to do."

Harry took a deep breath. He hadn’t meant to burden Ginny with his problems but as soon as she noticed he wasn’t ‘fine’ the gates opened and the words flooded out of him, relieving him of his burden. Ginny looked thoughtful,

"Well," she began, "I think that you need to do what you need to do to be happy. If you can’t see yourself being happy with Draco, then break up with him. I don’t think it has anything to do with being unfaithful. You are just growing away from Draco and I think you saw it coming even before you met Phillip or you wouldn’t have looked twice at him. I know that if my boyfriend and I were in the same position I would rather him be happy than trying to live a lie with me."

Harry’s brain barely had time to register the words ‘my boyfriend’ coming from Ginny’s mouth when she enveloped him in a hug and whispered,

" I know you’ll do the right thing and everything will be ok."

****

Neville looked at his watch for the tenth time in five minutes. He was pacing around the greenhouse waiting for Ginny and she was late. He was concerned. They had been meeting in the greenhouses everyday for a week and she was never late. Looking compulsively at his watch again he decided to go look for her to make sure everything was ok. Neville had barely left the sanctity of the greenhouse when he heard her voice. Following it he rounded the corner just in time to see his Ginny wrapping a sobbing Harry in her arms. He approached them quietly and placed a hand on Ginny’s shoulder. She looked up at him and smiled. Harry pulled away from Ginny and looked at Neville. He put two and two together and realizing that he was the third wheel he excused himself and went back to the castle. Neville helped Ginny to her feet. She brushed her robes off and gave Neville a hug.

"What was all that about?" Neville asked.

Ginny quickly relayed her conversation with Harry to Neville.

"Why didn’t you put in a good word for Ron while you were playing wise matchmaker." Neville asked when she was done.

"Because," Ginny replied, "He needs to get to Ron on his own, besides, at least he’s going after a Gryffindor, that’s closer than Malfoy."

Neville looked into Ginny’s deep brown eyes, "How come I never noticed how brilliant you are?" he asked.

Ginny giggled. Before she had a chance to respond Neville silenced her with a kiss.

****

After he had left Ginny and Neville at the Greenhouse Harry had walked toward the lake to the spot where Draco had first asked him out. He sat there for awhile and then made his decision. He got up, dusted off his robes and walked to the hospital wing. It was almost time for his afternoon classes and he had to do this before he lost his nerve. He entered the hospital wing and went up to the bed where Draco had spent the past week and a half.

"I know you can’t hear me but I have to get this off my chest... I think I am growing away from you. I think I noticed this before your fight with Ron but recent events have made it clear to me that we have no future together. Even if you wake up tomorrow our relationship was over long before this. I was just too desperate for love to see it. Now I have found someone who is better for me than you. I know that sounds harsh but you and I have always been too different to have a real relationship." Harry paused, then continued, "I take my leave of you Draco."

He leaned down to give Draco a final kiss on his cheek. He turned to leave and felt a cold hand grasp his wrist. ****