Life After Living

Chapter Six

They will see us waving from such great

Heights, 'come down now,' they'll say

But everything looks perfect from far away,

'come down now,' but we'll stay...

~ Such Great Heights, The Postal Service

Harry's eyes fluttered open as sunlight streamed into the room. It was safe to say that he was startled at first, but when he remembered his most recent nightmare he was comforted at where he found himself. It was certainly an odd feeling waking up in someone else's arms. It was odd, purely for the fact that he found himself perfectly content. And safe.

Obviously, Harry had watched Ron sleep before, but never so close, their noses only inches away from each other. They were close enough that Harry could see all of Ron's features without his glasses. The more awake Harry became the more, he realized, they were touching. He could feel Ron's arm draped around him, his hand resting on the middle of Harry's back. He could feel his leg tucked between Ron's just so that he wasn't losing any circulation. Harry's bottom arm was curled to his chest while his other was draped around Ron's torso.

He suddenly needed to move. His muscles ached from holding in one position. He didn't want to move, though. He liked where he was, but he felt like his muscles were going to explode if he didn't move them. He didn't want to wake Ron, but even as he lay there, he realized that Ron was already waking up. At first it was just a twitch of muscles, then Ron's breathing changed. Finally with a flutter of eyelids, Ron Weasley awoke. At first Ron just stared back at Harry calmly. Then, realization set in just as it had Harry. His eyes widened. Harry tried to smile.

Harry couldn't read Ron's emotions. He wasn't sure if he should untangle himself or continue to lie with his friend. And that very thought was what was confusing him most. He was in the arms of his friend. It would have been entirely different if it was Hermione or Ginny, but this was Ron. And Ron was... Ron.

"Harry?" Ron asked timidly. Harry was utterly lost in his confusion. "Do you remember what your dream was about?" Ron asked surprisingly.

"Yes," Harry answered.

"You cried for a while," Ron said and Harry realized that he was trying to explain the position they were in.

"Yes, I remember." Harry closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"About what?" It was only then that Ron moved. He sat up, releasing Harry.

"About crying on you."

"Piffle! You can cry on me all you like if it makes you feel better."

Harry was quiet for a few moments and then Ron watched with pleasure as a small smile crept up on his face. "Can I blow my nose on you?"

"I will hex you into the next millennium!" Harry grinned. "Don't even think about it!" Harry grabbed Ron's sleeve. "Harry James Potter, do it and die!" Harry pretended to wipe snot on Ron's sleeve.

Next thing, Harry found himself being assaulted by a pillow. He grabbed his pillow in defense and let the war commence. They didn't stop until Ron's pillow erupted in feathers. Ron let out a squeal. "That was a manly squeal," Ron threatened Harry later. Harry just laughed as the feathers came down around them. Their eyes locked in smiles and Ron saw something in Harry's eyes that he hadn't since fourth year when...no.

"Well, I never!" They both turned to see Mrs. Weasley in the doorway. At first she looked about to hex them, but her features softened when she saw the smile on Harry's face. "You better clean it up," she said. "And come down to breakfast."

"Come on," Ron said standing up. "We'll clean it up later. I'm starving."

"You're always starving."

"Well yeah! Look at me, I'm a growing boy!"

"Yeah growing outwards," Harry mumbled, but he smiled. They were still shoving each other when they reached the kitchen.

Mrs. Weasley was untying a letter from Errol's talon. "It's from Hogwarts! Your OWL results!" Harry and Ron exchanged a surprised look. Had they both forgotten? "Dumbledore said they would be arriving late." She handed each a letter. "There were other things to attend to this summer, of course." She didn't see that Harry noticed as she put another letter with the Hogwarts' seal into her pocket. Ron was ripping open his letter. Harry did the same after giving Mrs. Weasley an inquisitive look.

Dear Mr. Potter, it started.

Harry found himself just staring at the letter. "Well?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Harry almost smiled at her impatience.

"How many did you get?" Ron asked. Harry held out his letter and they exchanged. "Seven! Me too!"

"Seven? Well! Congratulations!" Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"But Ron," Harry said, studying Ron's letter. "I think they've made a mistake on yours."

"How so?" Ron peered over Harry's shoulder.

"They've given you an OWL in Divination."

"Divination!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. She looked herself.

Ron had, indeed, received an A in Divination, granting him an OWL. He had also received an A in Magical Creatures. He'd received an E in Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Astronomy. He'd, not surprisingly, received a P in both History of Magic and Herbology. The surprise still remained with the A in Divination. He had not received any Os.

Harry had, in fact, received one O. He wasn't the least bit surprised that it had come in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He'd received Es in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, and Magical Creatures. His As came in Herbology and Astronomy. The P was expected in Divination and it was certainly no surprise that he'd received a D in History of Magic.

"I wonder how many Hermione received. Probably fifty!"

Harry found himself laughing. "I don't think that's possible, Ron. Not even for Hermione."

"You're right, I think. They must have made a mistake. An OWL in Divination? Really!"

They had breakfast. Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen. "That was odd," he commented.

"What?" Ron asked, between bites.

"There was another letter from Hogwarts, but your mother pocketed it."

"Perhaps it was for Ginny?" But Ginny came sleepily into the kitchen, no letter in hand. "Then, it must have been for her or Dad. Interesting."

"Did you receive your OWLs?" Ginny asked, sitting across from them.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

The feathers had settled. It was amazing that one pillow had held so many feathers. Then, Harry noticed, his had spilled some as well. It had snowed on their beds. Harry rolled his eyes as Ron spread across the beds. "Should we get you some honey so they'll stick to you?" Harry asked, closing the door to prevent feathers from escaping into the hall.

"Sounds interesting," Ron said, sitting up. Harry jumped on the bed, making the feathers float into the air. Ron laughed. He grabbed a feather and started twirling it in his fingers. Harry watched him for a long while, letting a smile creep onto his face. The sun was glinting in Ron's fiery hair. He felt so at peace. He let his eyes flutter closed. The breeze coming in from the window was nice. Then something tickled his bare foot and his eyes snapped open. Before Ron could escape, Harry had pinned him down and was grabbing a feather of his own. Ron let out another manly squeal as Harry tickled him behind the ear.

It feels good to forget. And with that single thought Harry remember. He stopped, turning away from Ron. Ron propped himself up on his elbows, Harry still sitting on his legs. "Harry?" Green eyes focused on him. It was so strange that Harry could be so happy one minute and completely depressed the next. A single tear escaped Harry's eye and slid down his cheek. Ron brushed it away, almost angrily. "Don't do this, Harry." Ron pushed himself all the way up and held Harry's face in his hands. Harry leaned against them, closing his eyes.

"The minute I forget it comes rushing back again," he whispered. Harry's eyes opened.

Ron could honestly say he'd never seen so much pain encompassed in a set of irises. For the first time Ron noticed that Harry's eyes weren't entirely green. When looking from a distance, they appeared as such, but upon close inspection Ron noticed that they were green merely because the outside was a deep blue and the very inside was yellow. In the sun streaming through the window, making Harry's pupils small, you could see the yellow. Ron decided right then and there that Harry's eyes were one of his most favorite things in the world.

Ironically, Harry was noticing Ron's eyes as well, deciding that they were they most beautiful blue he'd ever seen. They were more beautiful than even the horse's from his dream. Then again, the horse's eyes had been such a light blue. Ron's eyes were bright. And sad. I make him sad. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing. There's nothing for you to be sorry about." Ron tightened his grip on Harry's face a bit.

"Isn't there?"

"Nothing." Harry was mesmerized by Ron. He reached a hand up and grasped Ron's. He wasn't even really sure what he was doing. He only knew that when Ron touched him, the world stopped spinning like crazy. He felt like there was nothing that could hurt him. He felt like he could rule the world.

"Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," Harry said. It was the first time he had ever said it and he knew it was right. Nothing else in the world mattered. He leaned forward, hesitant at first, but feeling a need so powerful that nothing else mattered. Ron just stared back at him in awe. Harry had only ever kissed one person, and only once at that. But it felt instinctual as he slowly pressed his lips against his best friend's. It was a gentle kiss; a one-sided kiss. It lasted only a few moments before Harry pulled away and looked again into those bright blue eyes.