Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort
Final Destination

The days turned into weeks and the weeks into a month. Draco had been allowed back to classes after a few days of rest. He and Harry hadn’t exchanged so much as one word since the fight in the Hospital wing. The story had spread like a wild fire and now whenever Harry walked through the halls people clapped and congratulated him on his accomplishment. Malfoy, for his part, stayed out of the way. The Gryffindors seldom saw him outside of classes. Harry and Phillip meanwhile had grown closer and closer. It was common knowledge that Harry had dumped Draco for the beautiful southern Belle. Ron and Harry still weren’t speaking and Ron was spending more and more time on the grounds with Justin Finch-Fletchly. Harry assumed that Ron and Justin were just as happy as he and Phillip were. He was happy for his friend but he still couldn’t bring himself to bring up what had happened at Ron’s Welcome home party. Through his relationship with Phillip Harry began to appreciate his father’s invisibility cloak more and more. Every evening after curfew he and Phillip would sneak out of the Gryffindor commons room to go to ‘their spot’ on the North side of the Lake.

One day, while walking through the halls on their way to the lake, they stopped because they heard a strangely familiar voice carrying through the corridors. Harry shifted the duffle bag in his hands. The duffle bag had become a centerpiece to their visits to the lake.

"Why wouldn’t Harry believe the ‘love of his life’?" said the voice.

"IÂ’ve been trying to answer that myself for the past six weeks," replied Malfoy.

Harry strained his ears to hear more as Draco Malfoy rounded the corner accompanied by former Hogwarts student Marcus Flint.

"Why should he believe the Weasel," Draco continued. "I have had him convinced from day one that I was madly in love with him. IÂ’ve turned into a bloody good little performer too."

"Yes Draco," Flint replied, "A bloody good little performer, 24 hours a day 7 days a week."

The two of them walked on chuckling to themselves.

****

Harry was shaking with rage. He moved to run after Draco and almost dropped the duffle bag carrying the blankets they had brought with them. Phillip grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace to prevent him from giving them away. He turned Harry around so he could look him in the eyes and whispered,

"ItÂ’s ok Harry, lets just go to the Lake and talk about it."

Harry nodded, still too stunned to speak. The two of them walked briskly through the castle and out the oak doors that lead to the grounds. There they removed the invisibility cloak and walked hand in hand to their spot. It was a cold night and Harry shivered as they unpacked the blankets. They settled down and Harry curled up in PhillipÂ’s arms choking back tears of frustration and anger. Neither spoke for some time and then Phillip broached the subject carefully.

"This may seem like a stupid question, but are you ok?"

Harry couldnÂ’t find his voice so he only shook his head numbly. Phillip continued cautiously,

"Is there anything I can do?"

Harry swallowed hard, as if trying to swallow the lump in his throat and snuggled into the crook of Phillips arm.

"Just you being here is enough for me." he replied quietly.

"Sweetie, we have to talk about it sometime," Phillip said in barely a whisper. "IÂ’m not gonna run away from you and IÂ’m not going to let you go through this alone. So talk to me."

A single tear crept down HarryÂ’s cheek and Phillip reached down to wipe it away. This simple action broke HarryÂ’s resolve not to cry. Tears flooded down his face and he began to sob.

"How could I have been so stupid! I mean look at Malfoy! Why did I not see it sooner."

HarryÂ’s voice trailed off as he succumbed to his weeping. Phillip hugged him tightly and gently rocked him back and forth.

"There was no way you could have known. Malfoy is a manipulative bastard who isnÂ’t worthy of your tears."

Harry looked up at Phillip.

"I-I-I know," Harry stuttered, "but I still feel so stupid."

"I know, but look at it this way, at least you found out after you had left him on your terms and not his."

A faint smile crossed HarryÂ’s lips. Phillip took the opportunity and said in mock horror,

"is that a Smile I see?"

Harry giggled,

"I donÂ’t deserve you Phillip."

"I know," Phillip said playfully.

He titled HarryÂ’s chin upward and placed a kiss on HarryÂ’s lips.

****

Harry and Phillip turned the corner leading to the portrait hole to the Gryffindor Commons room just in time to see Justin giving Ron a hug goodbye. Harry smiled to himself. He was glad his friend had found someone.

****

Over the next week Harry made a personal resolution to talk to Ron about what had happened and attempt to fix their relationship. Unfortunately the opportunity never presented itself... Ron was always doing his school work or with Justin and Harry was either at Quidditch practice or spending time with Phillip. By Friday afternoon Everyone was looking forward to the visit to Hogsmeade that was planned for that Sunday. Sunday morning dawned crisp and cool. The sun was shining brightly by the time they arrived at Hogsmeade. Phillip looked as wide eyed as a child as Harry showed him around.

"We canÂ’t even wear robes at our school. Its right in the middle of a muggle city!" He exclaimed. "And these stores! The muggle shops back home are NOTHING compared to this!!"

Harry could hardly contain his laughter at the look on Phillips face when they went into HoneydukeÂ’s Sweet Shop. Towards late afternoon it began to get cold so they headed to the Three Broomsticks to find some warm Butter beer. They ordered their drinks and sat down at a table in the back near the fireplace. As Harry sat down he noticed that he had a pretty good view of Ron and Justin sitting a few tables away. Ron looked up and caught HarryÂ’s eye. They both looked away quickly.

"... Harry... Harry? Harry!"

Phillip was waving his hands in front of HarryÂ’s face. Harry blinked and sat back. He looked quizzically at Phillip.

"What were you saying?" Harry asked.

"I was asking you if You were done with your essay on cross species transfigurations for McGonagall yet. Harry shook his head,

"no I was going to write it yesterday but you managed to distract me from my homework quite nicely."

Phillip blushed at the memory and changed the subject.

Ten minutes later Phillip was once again trying to regain HarryÂ’s attention.

"what's wrong Harry?" Phillip asked. "You seem preoccupied."

Phillip followed HarryÂ’s gaze and realized Harry had been staring at Ron all night. Phillip chuckled to himself, he had expected this.

"Harry," he said gently, "Sweetie, de-nile is not just a river in Egypt."

"Huh?" Harry said dumbly.

"Go talk to him Harry, how often does your best friend turn out to be your soul mate too?"

Harry looked Phillip directly in the eye, smiled weakly, got up and walked across the room to speak with Ron.

****

Ron was drinking a butter bear and talking to Justin when Harry approached the table. Harry bent down and whispered to Ron,

"Can I have a word in private please."

Ron nodded, excused himself, and got up to follow Harry. They went to an unoccupied table in the corner and sat down. Harry fidgeted nervously in his chair. Ron looked at him expectantly. "Well,"

Harry began, "I have been thinking," he paused, "andIÂ’msorryIwassuchanassandwaswonderingifwecouldstillbefriends."

the word spilled out of him before he could stop them. Ron smiled and said,

"lets try that again and this time enunciate."

Harry took a deep breath and started over.

"I am sorry for being such a stupid asshole and I was wondering if there was a way to salvage our friendship."

Ron smiled brightly and said,

"of course there is Harry. I have loved you since the day we first met and I canÂ’t imagine doing anything without you." Ron sighed, "I have to get used to you not wanting to be more than a friend to me but right now IÂ’ll settle for whatever I can get."

Ron looked at his hands, worried that Harry would get mad again. Instead Harry looked shyly over the rims of his glasses and said,

"IÂ’m not sure I want you as just a friend. IÂ’ve done a fair bit of thinking and I know this wonÂ’t work but I think I have feelings for you too."

Ron laughed and said,

"ThatÂ’s great! I have been dreading this conversation ever since I heard that you broke up with Draco. I thought that you broke up with him for Phillip and I was afraid that if I told you how I really felt about you, youÂ’d run away again."

"What are we supposed to do, break up with our boyfriends and date each other. I mean I know Phillip knows about my feelings for you and he understands but what about Justin?"

Ron looked Harry in the eye and said,

"I canÂ’t break up with someone IÂ’m not dating."

"But...what...how...what...huh?" Harry sputtered.

Ron reached across the small table and put his finger to HarryÂ’s lips.

"Shhh," he said as he leaned toward Harry and gave him a kiss. ****