The Danger Of Truth

Harry sat and stared into the simmering potion infront of him. Snape had instructed them to make a potion that brought inanimate objects to life for no apparent reason. In typical fashion they had been lumbered with Slytherin as the other group in the potions class. He watched as Snape told Malfoy exactly the correct way to brew his potion whilst all of the Gryffindors were left completely in the dark about what to do. Ron was reading the instructions for the third time hoping that this time round it would magically make sense, needless to say it wasn't. Hermione on the other hand appeared to be doing rather well as per usual and was busy cutting up newt's eyes to put them in the solution.

"I've got it!" Said Ron grinning. " We wait till Malfoy's finished and then steal his potion! It's the only solution!" Harry chuckled the joke from his friend had already dawned on him as perhaps the best idea. Unfortunately of course Snape had heard him.

"Cheating is not allowed Mr Weasley ten points from Gryffindor!" Said Snape grinning.

Ron wanted to tell Snape that it was only a joke but knew better than to give the potions master any further reason to dock them points. He returned his attention to the book after giving Harry a quick look of 'oops' before reading again. Harry stared into his potion and began to cut up some newt's eyes in the same manner that Hermione had been doing. Eventually Ron had found some inkling into the way that this particular potion worked and they were underway again. After the class was up they had been fortunate enough to have a potion that made Harry's quill run for its freedom, something Snape had found hilarious and had cruelly deducted a further five points from Gryffindor. If it wasn't for the fact that they had another class Harry would have gone to bed there and then, but no he still had transfiguration with Professor McGonagall and the Ravenclaw house.

Hermione caught up with them after they had left the potions class.

"Did you hear!" It wasn't really a question "That Ravenclaw has a new student! He's transferred from America!".

Ron was surprised at Hermione's blurt of information she was not normally the harbinger of gossip.

"No I had no idea!" Said Harry truthfully. Ron being his typical self was less polite about the matter.

"Oh yey we have a bloody yank come to see how the quaint British do magic!" Hermione scowled at him for his xenophobic response.

"That's not a nice way to act! Besides he's not American! He went to live in America before he was eligible for Hogwarts and has just come back now!" Harry gave her a quizzical look.

"You seem to know an awful lot about him!" Hermione grinned.

"He used to live on my street! His parents are muggles like mine its such a coincidence!"

Harry nodded.

"So what's his name then?" Blurted out Ron impatiently.

"Ian!" Scowled Hermione at her red haired friend. "Ian Williams, he was a friend of mine! I'd have thought he'd be a Gryffindor mind!"

"Oh why?" Said Ron now determined to weasel all the information out of his informed friend.

"Well he was the sort of boy that used to get into all sorts of trouble whilst looking for adventure. A bit like you two really!" She continued to smile. "But he was a bright kid so I suppose Ravenclaw is the best house for him!"

"Is he on the quidditch team or anything interesting then?" Said Harry determined to become part of the conversation again.

"I don't know I think you'd have to ask him that!" She said as they rounded the door into the transfiguration class.

McGonagall was her normal strict self and today had set the class the task of transfiguring a book into a bat. Hermione of course had managed it almost instantly and had dutifully received ten points for Gryffindor making up for some of Snape's lesson. Ron and Harry however had taken it upon themselves to locate the mysterious new Ravenclaw student. Eventually they had spotted him sat behind Neville. He seemed to be having little difficulty in transforming the book into a bat, but had so far only managed to get the book to flap around on the table. Ian was about medium height with a slim build, he had dark brown hair that fell to just below his ears. Harry stared at the boy for a few minutes longer for some reason unable to take his attention off him. He shook his head and continued to work.

Ron was sat glaring at the book infront of him and he prodded it with his wand.

"I swear that this book doesn't like me!" Harry chuckled.

"Its book Ron how can it like or not like you!"

"Well it's refusing to change no matter how politely I ask!" Grinned Ron.

Harry giggled to himself again and pointed his wand at the book willing it to change shape. Something did seem to happen the cover of the book started to flap and form into wings. Unfortunately they were crow wings and not bat wings. He scowled at the book and tried again. Slowly the feathers melted together into leathery bat wings and as Harry uttered a sigh of triumph the book flew into the air as a fully formed pipistrelle bat. Ron gave a small clap to Harry and returned his attention to his own book. Harry turned his attention back to Ian's head unable to move his eyes from his hair. That was until a large book flew past his eyes, eventually becoming a fruit bat. Harry heard the grunt of triumph from his red haired friend.

"Well done! Extra originality!" Smiled Harry to Ron who was obviously impressed with himself.

Eventually the class finished with most of the class having been able to transform their books into bats. Except for Neville who had set his book on fire after it had tried to attack him. In the corridor outside Ron and Harry patiently waited for Hermione to join them as left for dinner. She ran up to them dragging behind her a somewhat dazed looking Ian.

"Harry, Ron this is Ian!" She grinned thrusting the boy into the middle of them.

"Hi!" Said Ian regaining his balance. "Pleased to meet you!" He proffered his hand to the two.

Ron shook it first.

"Ron Weasley!" He said smiling, but not before adding "You know you don't have a hint of an American accent!" Hermione scowled at him but a little too late.

"Well no!" Said Ian finding it mildly amusing "I'm English after all!"

"Well I know that but I thought that after that long in America you'd have picked up the accent!"

"Well perhaps but I discovered that Americans find the English accent very attractive, so I decided it would be in my best 'interests' to keep it" He grinned which told Harry and Ron exactly what he was referring to. Hermione seemed slightly shocked at her old friend but ultimately unphased.

"So what did you think when you discovered that Hermione was also here?" Said Harry wanting to engage the new student in conversation. Then after a thought added "I'm Harry by the way Harry Potter!"

Ian took his hand and shook it.

"Harry Potter I've heard of you! It's an honour." He smiled whilst shaking Harry's hand. Harry didn't let go of the grip until Ian had had enough hand shaking. Then Ian remembered Harry's original question.

"Yes well to your question, I didn't find out about Hermione until I saw her in the great hall after I'd gone to speak to Professor Flitwick about Ravenclaw house, I'd been sorted earlier. When I saw her it was a huge relief to discover I had at least one friend in this enormous school! Though I've made a few friends from Ravenclaw whilst I've been here!" He stopped a minute to think. "Infact I've already got myself a position on the Ravenclaw quidditch team!" Ian grinned massively. Harry suddenly came into his element.

"Really! I'm on Gryffindor's team we'll be playing against each other! What position are you?" Ian smiled.

"Me! Oh I'm a lowly chaser, I'm not quite the youngest seeker in a century!"

Harry couldn't help but be flattered at the new student humbling himself before Harry. Then Harry began to wonder, was he flirting? As soon as he thought this Hermione grabbed them.

"Sorry Ian but we have to go or we'll miss dinner, we'll catch up with you later!" Ian nodded smiling and made his way over to a group of Ravenclaw students and began to head off with them towards the great hall.

"Nice to meet you!" Shouted Harry and Ron in unison at the Ravenclaw.

"Likewise!" Replied Ian.

At dinner Harry said nothing as Ron and Hermione began to chatter aimlessly about potions, transfiguration and Madam Hooch's new hat. Harry was simply staring at Ian and wondering about himself.

---

Ron stared into the fire in the Gryffindor common room. He watched the fires dance and make interesting shapes as they did so. He pointed his wand at it and uttered a pathetic incantation to make the flames turn green, this seemed to amuse him. But he was thinking as often he was about quidditch. He was thinking how he wanted to be a chaser, to fly onto that field and zoom round the pitch in search of the quaffle. He closed his eyes and imagined flying out onto that field with the whole school watching him. He saw himself wearing the Scarlet Gryffindor robes and riding a brand new firebolt (Well it was his daydream he was allowed to think of the impossible) and heading out to face the Ravenclaw team as the referee flies onto the field and they take their positions. He saw himself ready to catch the quaffle and staring straight forward at his opponent. Straight into the brown eyes of Ian Williams. His daydream shattered. That was the second time in half an hour that his perfectly normal daydreams had been reduced to staring into those brown eyes. He ignored it thinking logically it must be because he was new. Then two words plopped without welcome into his head 'fresh meat'.

Eventually the common room cleared itself until there was only Ron, Harry and Hermione left their playing wizard chess with each other. Ron grinned he loved watching the two dreadful chess players in action. He made his way over to his friends.

"So who's winning?" He said still grinning. Hermione looked up grinning

"So far it appears to be me!" she said Harry was staring down at his pieces a perplexed look upon his face. Ron looked at the pieces and the urge to give advice took over the part of his brain that didn't want to spoil their game.

"Knight to E4 Harry! That'll put her in check and she'll have to sacrifice her Queen!" Hermione glared at him but Harry just grinned a look of gratitude at his friend. Harry smiled as Hermione sulkily sacrificed her Queen for the greater good of the chess game. In a couple of turns she was in checkmate and was not at all happy with Ron.

"I was winning! I had him until you butted in!" She semi-shouted fuming.

"Sorry but it was such an obvious move! I'm sure Harry spotted it even without my help!" HE turned to Harry who half nodded and half shook his head indicating that he infact had never seen the move but had no intention of dropping his friend in it. Hermione sulking stormed up to the girl's dormitory in a foul mood.

"Oops!" Said Ron smiling at his friend.

"Thanks for that! She'd have flattened me otherwise!" Said a grateful Harry.

"Ha its no problem!" Laughed Ron "You know I have to intercede when it comes to chess, I can't help it!" Harry nodded an inane smile across his face.

"Come on we'd better get some sleep we have an early potions lesson tomorrow. Ron groaned in response and they made their way up to the boy's dormitory.

Ron didn't sleep very well that night, he couldn't. Every time he shut his eyes he saw that face staring at him with those piercing brown eyes. But the thing that most disturbed him was the way he felt when he gazed into those eyes. He felt relaxed and at peace as though staring into those eyes was all he needed to be happy. He shuddered as he buried his head in his pillow, thankful that Harry could not see what was going on in his mind.

---

Harry drifted slowly off to sleep. He dreamt of a wide-open quidditch field and as he flew over it the wind blowing in his hair he saw Ian flying along next to him. He smiled in his sleep.

Ron and Harry were almost late the next morning for their potion's lesson. As they entered a few seconds before the bell they spied Draco Malfoy looking thoroughly annoyed that Snape hadn't been given an opportunity to deduct further points from Gryffindor. Harry and Ron flumped into their seats and let out a sigh of relief as Snape entered oblivious to their near lateness.

Snape informed them of that lessons potion, it was a simple potion designed to allow the drinker to speak in foreign languages. Hermione of course was well underway as soon as Snape had finished his lecture brief and for once Ron and Harry had a clue what they were supposed to be doing. But it was with only half of their attention that the two worked away on their potion their minds both fixated with the brown haired Ravenclaw student that had arrived like a hurricane into their lives. It was no surprise then that they failed to get the potion to be correct. Snape had made the pupils each taste some of their potion and had instructed them to speak in a random language of his choosing. Malfoy had been given French and had succeeded with little problem in responding to the small simple French that Snape knew. Snape had seemed slightly annoyed when he had instructed Hermione to speak the lesson plan in fluent Chinese and she had responded perfectly. It was when he got to Ron that for the rest of the class the lesson became really interesting. Ron took a sip of the potion.

"Right!" Smiled Snape evilly. "I want the Hogwarts school song in Korean!"

"Can't!" Said Ron surprised at himself. Snape seemed slightly surprised at the boy's honesty.

"And why not Mr . Weasley?"

"Because the potion didn't work!"

"That is evident already! And why prey tell did your potion not work?" Snape grinned already well aware that this was a truth potion.

"Because we mixed it wrong!"

"Quite and what do you think I should do about it?"

"Give us the antidote and let us leave without any points being deducted from Gryffindor!" Ron was being honest about what he wanted but he knew that was not going to happen, and he couldn't stop himself. "But because you're a mean old git your probably going to deduct ten or more points from Gryffindor and leave me like this until the potions wears off!" The class fell silent. But Snape to everyone's surprise began to laugh.

"Indeed ten points from Gryffindor!"He grinned. "However I think leaving you in this state apart from being highly amusing would be very dangerous to everyone else!" However Snape's grin grew wider. "So come back after dinner and I'll have the antidote ready for you by then!"

Ron looked horrified, he'd have to spend the next couple of hours like this and god knows what he's shout out. He bit his lip in horror as the bell tolled and Snape sent them all onto their next class. Fortunately for Ron it was Herbology and they were back dealing with the mandrakes again which required them to wear the earmuffs. At least he had a couple of hours free from the terror of being utterly truthful. Then they met the Ravenclaw quidditch team. Ian walking proudly up to the group sporting his new quidditch robe.

"What do you think?" He said grinning and turning to the group.

"Ooh very nice!" Said Hermione to her friend grinning as she did so.

Ron bit his lip hard determined to fight against the howl of truth that was running up from his lungs towards his mouth.

"Very groovy!" Said Harry preferring the Gryffindor colour but secretly finding Ian in the quidditch robes disturbingly alluring.

Ron bit his lip so hard that it began to bleed. To his horror Ian turned to him.

"So what do you think of my new quidditch robes?" Blood began to well up inside Ron's mouth, but so did the phrase he dared not say. But the potion was too powerful and before he could clasp his hand over his mouth he exclaimed.

"I think you look gorgeous!" His face blushed, he could feel the redness taking over his entire body and in a matter of seconds he resembled a rather unusually shaped carrot. Shit.

Silence prevailed, the other Ravenclaw's had fortunately not managed to overhear. Unfortunately Harry, Hermione and of course Ian had heard. Ian spoke first.

"Erm...thanks.... must go practice and all!" He seemed to run away from Ron who now looked like he had been attacked with a paintbrush. Hermione turned always ready to give comfort. But Harry was furious. The anger welled up inside him, he had competition. Worse the competition was his best friend. He clenched his fists and was ready to dive at his friend until he saw the look of utter fear in Ron's eyes.

"Harry!" Whispered Hermione. "Can you give me and Ron a few minutes in private please!" Harry nodded but friendship overriding his anger he turned to Ron.

"I'm still here if you need to talk you know!" and with that Harry left his two friends to it.

Hermione took Ron over to a quiet spot besides some trees outside the green house. They had a couple of hours before they had to be anywhere she knew she had time to talk.

"So Ron...." She tried to think how to put it delicately. "Is there anything you want to tell me?" Ron turned his head to look into her eyes and she could see the tears building up inside of him. Her heart sank, she hated to see her friends like this, especially when she wasn't sure how she could help. But Ron began to talk as the truth potion took over his higher functions.

"I don't really want to tell you!" He said unable to stop himself " But this potion makes me tell the truth. I...I... I think I'm in love with Ian!" He buried his face in his knees at the revelation. Hermione put her arm around him he shuddered slightly at the touch but didn't stop her.

"There's nothing wrong with being gay!" Said Hermione not entirely comfortable about saying the last word when it referred to her friend. But Ron's response was truthful.

"Yes there is! It makes people uncomfortable especially those who think I fancy them!"He stopped then his tears began to stream from his eyes as a certain thought plunged into his head. "Malfoy will have a field day!" He buried his head back in his knees and began to sob. Hermione didn't know how to counter that response, but she knew she wanted her friend to be happy. She just wasn't sure exactly what she was going to do about it.

---

Harry stared into the fire in the Gryffindor common room. Various thoughts ran around his head as he came to terms with the day's events. The first thought was discovering that Ron was gay, the second thought cut just as deeply perhaps more. The fact that Ron was in love with the same person that Harry was. It made Harry deal with a lot in those short minutes as Hermione comforted Ron. He came to terms with his own sexuality. He was surprised however that it was not what he's expected. He had thought that when a person realized they were gay that it would feel like a huge had been lifted from their person. But this was not the case. Infact the opposite felt more likely. He began to realize that he would have a hard time dealing with this especially from people like Malfoy who would have a field day. He didn't dare think how the Dursley's would respond to this information. He stared into the fire and began to realize something equally bad. He remembered Ian's response. He realized that Ian had not just been shocked, he had been disgusted. Harry's heart sank as the hopelessness of his predicament dawned on him.

A few hours later and it was time for the first quidditch match of the year. Suitably enough it was up against Ravenclaw. He sped onto the field on his firebolt and hovered to see Ian. Who was also straddled across a firebolt. He saw Ian glance up into the crowds and at Ron with a disgusted look on his face. Harry could feel it, his admiration for Ian had evaporated. This game he would show the Ravenclaw who the better man was. He steadied himself as the whistle was blown and he dived as fast as he could for the golden snitch. He sped underneath Ian's broom almost colliding with it after the fluttering little orb. Within five minutes the ball was in his grasp and with a grunt he caught the snitch in his hand. The whistle blew and the match was over, Gryffindor had won.

After the match Harry walked outside the changing room to see Ron smiling nervously. Harry looked at Ron and thought that Snape must surely have given him the antidote by now. He decided to ask.

"Have you had the antidote then?" He asked the nervous looking Ron. Ron nodded sheepishly. Harry gave him a reassuring smile and was just about to talk to Ron when Ian came up behind them.

"Congratulations Potter! Even if you did try to kill me!" Joked Ian, he was ignoring Ron who had begun to slink off into the shadows.

"You didn't play so badly yourself and alls fare in love and quidditch!" He grinned trying not to grit his teeth as he did so. Ian smile and nodding to Harry turned to go, when he caught site of Ron.

"Oh its you!" He sneered. "Did you think we all looked really sexy straddled across our broomsticks then?" He raised his voice on purpose so that several people began to turn around and look at what was going on. Harry walked towards Ian his voice low and quiet.

"Stop this!" He said to Ian. But Ian ignored him determined to protect his own heterosexual reputation.

"I bet you'd love to ride the broomsticks of the quidditch team wouldn't you Weasley!". His voice grew louder, Ron began ducked his head and backed up against the wall a look of sheer terror in his eyes. Harry moved his hand infront of the enraged Ian.

"Leave him alone! This is bad enough for him as it is without you adding to it!" The crowd around them was beginning to grow and to Harry's horror he saw Malfoy making his way towards them. But Ian continued to raise his voice and hurl abuse. Till the point that Harry could take it no more. His hand shot out like a bullet and collided with Ian's nose at full force, the resulting force knocking Ian into the crowd that gathered around him then Harry saw the figure of Snape in the distance making his way towards them.

Harry grabbed Ron's arm

"Come on!" He said dragging the dishevelled form of his friend. Eventually they reached the herbology garden. By the greenhouse where Harry knew no one would disturb them. He turned to his friend who at this point had been reduced to tears. He wrapped his arms around Ron and brought him in so that Ron's head was on his chest crying into his sweater. He let Ron cry not saying anything knowing that just being there for Ron was all that was required. But then without even realizing what he was doing he found his fingers curling through Ron's red hair. He began to stroke the back of Ron's neck and he began to realize something else. But Ron had noticed and he leapt back so that he was facing Harry. But Harry could take it no more he had realized something important.

"Ron" Started Harry "I want to tell you something...but I'm not sure how..." But Ron's eyes showed that he was beginning to guess.

Ron started to interrupt but stopped wanting to hear it from his friends mouth instead, wanting to avoid another incident like today's.

"When I met that new student I began to realize something....I began to realize that I..erm.." Ron looked at him and decided to finish it for him.

"You realized that you liked this new boy..didn't you!"

Harry nodded, blushing slightly.

"But just now when I saw you so hurt and upset I realized something else. I realized why I liked this boy...or thought I did!" Ron stared intently. "He was new!"

Ron seemed a little surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Well...erm....all the other people here...I've known them so long that they almost seem to be part of the surroundings...you know you feel for them but think its simply because well you know them so well! What I'm trying to say is..." He didn't dare finish the sentence for fear of the response. What if Ron rejected what he was going to say. What if it ruined their friendship? But Ron finished the sentence in his normal charming way.

"What you're trying to say is that even after seeing the brand new leather armchair...it's the comfortable old couch that you want!" He grinned. Harry laughed.

"Well that's an interesting way to put it...but yes that's essentially it." He turned to face Ron. "What I'm trying to say is Ron that I've been here for 6 years and I've come to realize that there's one thing in my life that I just can't live without!" He leant forward slightly afraid of what he was about to say. "I..I ..I love you Ron, I always have and I think I always will!" He looked up so that his eyes met with Ron's gaze and he noticed the small tear roll down Ron's face. Harry would have sat their staring in silence. But Ron didn't before Harry could say anything he felt Ron on top of him pressing his lips to Harry's. Harry shut his eyes and wrapped his arms around Ron, he let his hand fiddle with Ron's hair as they melted into the kiss. Harry hardly noticed when Ron removed his glasses. The final thought dawned on him as one thought sprang to mind. I'm home.

In the distance Hermione smiled at the two of them and turned to the figure besides her grinning.

"So did I do good?" Smiled Ian back his nose still bleeding slightly.

Hermione nodded.

"Yeah you done good!" She turned her attention to his nose. "But oh poor baby your hurt...let Hermione kiss it better" They linked arms and began to walk of into the distance staring into each others eyes.