Somewhere Beyond Friendship

Somewhere Beyond Friendship

Falling fast

Dreaming in slow motion

Nothing lasts

You're gone

And I wake up no longer

Can't you stay?

Make these shadows go away

Let me live

Just one more day

With the scent of you on my skin

Harry looked down at the words on the parchment and let out a small chuckle. There was no way in this world or the next that he'd give this to Ron. No. Fucking. Way. Someone would have to drug him or put him under the Imperius Curse for him to even attempt it. What kind of fool would think shit like this would make someone care for them?

"Harry? Mate, are you deaf?"

Harry glance up and at the sight of Ron, quickly shoved the parchment into his bag.

"You all right? You missed practice."

"Oh...yeah...I had to finish McGonagall's essay or she threatened to ban me from Quidditch."

Ron grimaced, tossing his stuff down on the table and taking a seat across from Harry.

"Hermione's been on my case for the last week about that essay. I told her I had it done already and she didn't believe me. Then I showed it to her and she almost fainted."

"Wow...well...er...I should really get started on it. I haven't written a thing yet." Which was such a lie, considering her had the finished essay tucked away in his bag.

"Want help?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

Ron nodded and propped open his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. Harry, upon seeing that his friend was no longer paying attention to him, took the parchment back out of his bag. He dipped hi quill in the inkbottle and began to write more.

Say you love me like I love you

Say we could be more than friends

Lie to me

I can't pretend anymore

I can't avert my eyes

One time you're going to catch me

And it'll all be over

I long for that day

I want you to know me

Know me like I know you

Let me inside

Let me kiss those tears away

I'll hold you close

I'll protect you from the monsters in the dark

I'll be everything to you

I'll be what you are to me

Your guardian

Your heart and soul

Your hero

"That doesn't look like an essay, Harry. What is that?"

Ron snatched the parchment from him before he had time to react and began reading it. His eyes widened almost imperceptibly as he continued further down the sheet. Harry squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. Let him be thick. Don't let him realize it's about him. Please, don't let him realize it's about him!

"H-Harry...is this...is this...about us?"

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it all to hell!

"No."

"Don't lie."

"It isn't."

"You're so bad at lying, Harry. Your face is as red as my hair."

"I swear-"

"Don't finish that sentence. Don't lie to me mate. Look at me and tell me the truth."

Harry slowly lifted his eyes to gaze at Ron. His friend had lowered the parchment to the table and was actually shaking. His blue eyes were filled with tears that were only moments away from spilling over onto his cheeks.

"All right...it's about us."

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"How long have you felt this way?"

"Probably since we met, but I never realized it till fifth year."

"Why fifth year?"

"You were willing to die for me, Ron. You don't know how much that meant to me."

Ron bowed his head for a minute, sniffling and stifling a sob. Harry saw the tears making tracks over his freckled skin and his heart seemed to tear into pieces.

"Ron..."

"I've felt the same way, Harry."

"You have?"

Ron nodded.

"How long?"

"Since we met."

It was Harry's turn to cry and he couldn't seem to stop the tears. They just kept coming, faster and in torrents, till his eyes blurred and he was making odd noises in the back of his throat. Ron moved over to his side and wrapped his arms around him.

"I'd have died for you every day, Harry. Not just in fifth year, but every time before that. You're the best friend I've ever had...and now...you're more than that."

Harry peeked up at Ron and his friend had a small smile on his face.

"I'd die for you too, Ron."

Ron's smile widened and he bent down, brushing his lips against Harry's. It was the kiss he'd been waiting for. The kiss he'd longed for...dreamt about...imagined while he sat in front of the fire, Ron beside him. And it was better than anything he'd thought up. When Ron pulled away they were both slightly breathless. Ron still held him, and Harry felt completely safe in his friend's arms. But he realized they weren't just friends. They had pushed past that so long ago and had just needed time to admit it to one another. They hovered somewhere in between. Not quite lovers...yet closer than mates could ever be. They were stuck in that gentle, indecisive place somewhere beyond friendship.

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