Title: A Winter Less Cold

Author: Lena

Pairing: Ron/Harry

Rating: R

Genre: AU, Romance

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry or Ron or anything in the HP world. JKR does (and Warner Bros). *sigh*

Summary: Ron has been away and Harry is an outlaw on the run. They meet for one night, not knowing when they will see each other again.

Author’s note: This is part of a larger story I am working on. This chapter is for the HarryxRon Yahoo! Group Holiday Slash Fest. It is an AU with the time period and background of the Robin Hood story and folklore. Thanks as always to Lorien_Eve. J

It was a hard winter and Harry, Big Seamus and Dean trudged through the snow towards the Forbidden Forest. They had just robbed a carriage carrying wealthy men and were hauling the bags of coins to a hiding place.

When they had secured the bags in place, they built a fire and settled into their extra shawls. They chatted quietly, as Harry retrieved a pouch of the stash and distributed it evenly among the three men. After a long while, they crawled under their sturdy tents for the night.

Harry lay in his tent thinking of his desire to help the poor, yet he sometimes tired of being on the run. Especially when it kept him from his love. He knew he had no choice right now. He must wait until the King returned or he would have to leave. He would not leave, not as long as his love had family here and would not leave them.

Harry would risk it. Risk his life. For his love.

*****

The next day, Big Seamus and Dean came back from town very excited. “Harry! Harry!” Seamus yelled. Harry looked up and his small band of very merry men were running towards him.

Seamus danced around Harry, happily. “Guess who has returned to town?”

Harry felt his heart lurch, but stayed calm. “Whom?”

Seamus laughed at him. “Whom?” he said mocking to Harry. “Ron!!”

“Really?” Harry said passively.

Seamus and Dean burst out in laughter. “Harry, really, are you not happy about this?” Dean said.

“Oh, that is nice. I will have to pay him a visit.”

Harry turned away from Seamus and Dean and poked at the fire. He smiled to himself.

*****

The snow was in large drifts in front of the Weasley house. Harry trudge up the walk. He needed to get Big Seamus and Dean to move the snow out from the door. Harry knocked on the door as he pushed some snow away from the lip of the doorway.

Mrs. Weasley opened the door. “Harry, dear, how are you?” she exclaimed.

Harry stomped his boots on the wooden porch, then walked in. “I’m quite well, thank you.“

He saw Ron leaning into the fire, adding more wood. At the sound of Harry’s voice, he looked up quickly.

Harry wanted to go to him, hug him, but they were grown men, so he strode across the small room and grasped Ron’s hand and shook it firmly.

“’Tis good to see you, Harry.”

“It is very good to see you, after this long year.” Harry’s face felt hot, but he hoped everyone would think it was the fire.

He turned to look around the room. Ron’s younger sister Ginny was sitting in a chair sewing. His older brother Percy sat in a chair by the fire, unseeing.

“How is Bill and his new wife? And Charlie and his family?” Harry asked Mrs. Weasley.

“Oh, they are quite well. I wish I could see Charlie’s children more often, but well, with the weather…” She wrung her hands in her apron. She continued darkly, “How are the twins?”

Harry smiled. Her twins, Fred and George, were funny, but always in trouble. Harry would try to get them to join him, to put their criminal skills to good use. Sometimes they would, more often they wouldn’t.

“You know, they went to London for the winter, but alas, I have not heard of anything lately.” He looked at Ron. “Did you heard what they were up to before you left London?”

Ron had continued to stand near Harry. “No, I have not.”

Harry looked at Ron and said, “Do you need more wood for the fire?”

“Ah, it looks as if I do.” Ron smiled and walked to a chair, pulling his threadbare coat off the back. He put it on as he continued to the door. He opened the door and walked out. As Harry followed, he pulled a small bag of coins out of his pocket and placed it on the table next to Ginny.

Ron trudged up the walk and continued around to the other side of the house. He brushed snow off of a blanket and retrieved two sticks of wood from underneath.

Harry caught up with him and stood behind him, a bit closer than normal. He said, “Must you go back to London after winter is over?”

“Yes, you know I must earn money for my family.” Ron did not look up.

“Do not Bill and Charlie help?”

“Of course, but you know, ‘tis mostly up to me.”

“What if you would want a wife?”

“You know I desire no wife.”

“Yes, I know,” whispered Harry. He put his hand on Ron’s back. “Ron, I must see you soon.”

Ron continued to look down at the wood. “I will need to see you, as well, dear Harry.”

Harry pressed harder on Ron’s back and bent his head up to whisper in his ear. “Meet me tonight after the sun goes down at my winter camp.”

“Where shall Big Seamus and Dean be?”

“Seeking comfort among themselves elsewhere. I will see to it.”

“I shall be there, Harry.”

With that, Harry left without another word.

*****

Harry sent Big Seamus and Dean off to town to imbibe in spirits and merriment for the night. Harry made sure they had plenty of coin in their pockets and they were more than willing not to return until morning.

Harry stoked the fire near his small tent. He occasionally would lift his head, watching the sun go down, waiting for Ron to come. Finally, as the last red and purple colors of the sunset left the sky, Harry could hear a crunching of steps coming through the icy snow. He stopped for a moment, thinking that perhaps it was the Sheriff or the Prince’s henchmen, but then relaxed realizing that it was too dark and cold for it to be them.

Harry turned and watched as Ron trudged up the small hill towards Harry and his camp. Ron waited until he was standing in front of Harry, his hands behind his back, before saying, “’Tis good to see you again.”

“Yes,” said Harry, in a low voice.

Ron shuffled his feet in the snow. “I know Christmas is a few weeks away, but we never know when we shall see one another, so…I have a present for you.” He pulled a walking stick from behind his back. It was made from dark wood and had carvings throughout the entire stick.

Ron pointed to a particular curved area on the stick. “See that, Harry?”

Harry pulled it closer and squinted at the carving. He then saw four initials interwoven. He spelled out, “R-W-H-P.” Harry looked up at Ron with glistening eyes. Ron smiled shyly.

Harry whispered, “This is wonderful, Ron. Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Ron lightly touched Harry’s hand.

“I truly love this gift, but I have no present for you,” said Harry, sadly.

Ron said, “Harry, all I want you; besides, do you think I know not where Ginny got that pouch of coin?”

Harry grimaced. “It is nothing.”

“That is not true.”

Harry fingered the worn hem of the sleeve of Ron’s coat. “You need a new cloak. Why did you get me this lovely present when you need things yourself?”

Ron put his hand on Harry’s shoulder and said, “I do not have want of material things.”

“You have me and if you join me this time, you could always have me. Please, do not go back to London!” Harry pleaded more desperately than he ever had.

“If something should happen to me, what would become of my family? I make much money being a laborer building houses.”

Harry swallowed. He didn’t want to make Ron choose between him and his family. He wanted Ron to have both, but he said, “Let us not argue tonight. We have not been together for nearly a year.”

Ron’s crooked smile spread over his face.

Harry reached his hand out and grasped Ron’s upper arm. He stepped closer, until his chest was touching Ron. Ron wrapped an arm around Harry. Harry responded by curling his head against Ron’s chest just underneath his neck. Harry slid his arm around Ron‘s waist, pulling him closer. Ron touched Harry’s head, fingering the soft black hair.

“Please, Harry, let us go into your tent.”

“Yes, Ron, yes.”

They separated slightly and Harry took Ron’s hand and led him into his tent. They both had to crouch down to crawl into the tent. Harry turned and folded the flaps together, tying them so no one could look in.

Harry turned back to Ron and even in the darkness, with only the light from the fire shining slightly through, could Harry see that Ron was lying back looking at him with eagerness.

“I have missed you, dear Harry.” Ron reached his hand out to Harry.

Harry took his hand and said, “I have missed you, as well, my love.”

Finally, after nearly a year, Harry was able to kiss Ron. Kiss him with the passion they saved for each other when they were alone. The passion they saved for each other, thinking of each other when they were separated by circumstances and distance.

Harry pressed himself up against Ron with such desire, he knew Ron could feel it. He fumbled with Ron’s thin coat and the homemade buttons on his shirt. Harry wanted to pull Ron’s clothes off roughly, but did not want to damage the one of only two shirts Ron owned.

Ron grabbed Harry’s hands and whispered, “’Tis good. Let me.” Ron began unbuttoning his shirt and Harry immediately placed his cold hand inside. Ron’s breathe hitched as Harry began running his fingers over his chest.

Harry pulled up slightly, then quickly shed his own clothing. He pulled the leather from around Ron’s feet, telling himself he would buy him proper boots before the end of the week. Ron undid his own britches, and soon they had discarded all of their clothing. Harry leaned over Ron, laying himself on top of him.

They shivered against one another, pressing hard and with much yearning.

Harry tucked his head in the crook of Ron’s neck and whispered, “I have missed you terribly.”

“And I, you,” Ron whispered back, grasping Harry’s upper arms and pulling his own legs up.

Harry lifted his head and reached down between his legs, grabbing himself. He guided himself towards Ron. Ron leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

Although it was freezing outside, the warmth generated from the tent was immense. Harry and Ron, completely naked, were hot and sweaty, moving in a rhythm of strength and love that was equivalent to any other time they had been together as one. Their devotion to one another could be matched by no other couple in the land.

Harry panted and strained as he reached his pinnacle. He adored Ron. Ron, too, lay on his back, with his hand helping him to come to a climax. He loved Harry with all his heart.

They came together in shouts of joy, laying as one. Then as they lay together catching their breath, they whispered and giggled each other’s name and their love for one another, happily caressing each other‘s bodies.

Harry whispered, “You do not need to go back home, do you?”

“Ay, no. I told me mum not to wait up for me.”

“She is a good mum.”

“Yes, she understands. She wishes me happiness when I can have it,” reflected Ron.

Harry sighed and continued to lay on top of Ron. He tugged at the coverlet that had been knocked to one side. Ron pulled it up over them. Harry moved his body slightly, pulling his lower body off of Ron, but still laying close and placing his hand and head on Ron’s chest. He felt Ron’s arm curled up around him. Harry wished it could be so every night.

*****

Harry opened one eye and saw that dawn was approaching. He looked at Ron, who was still sleeping. He wanted to wake Ron to love him again before they must say goodbye.

He brought his finger to Ron’s forehead and traced along each large freckle, skipping over the smaller ones. Ron’s eyes fluttered, as he moved his head towards Harry. He murmured softly and incoherently.

“Ron, love,” Harry whispered.

Ron’s eyes moved again, then opened slowly. “Harry.”

Harry reached over and kissed him on the cheek. “It is almost dawn. I will need to meet with Seamus and Dean, but I want…” Harry stopped.

Ron looked up at him and kissed him full on the lips. “I want, as well.”

They again loved one another passionately.

*****

They dressed quickly, as it had not warmed much since the night before. They crawled out of the tent and stood facing each other.

“When may I see you again, Harry?”

“I do not know, Ron. I am still on the run from the Sheriff. If only King Richard would return.”

“Yes, then perhaps he could dispose of the Sheriff,” said Ron wistfully.

“Then you would not need to go to London.”

“And you would not need to be an outlaw.”

“True.”

“I shall be at my mother’s house until the snow starts to thaw. Whenever you desire me…” Ron touched Harry’s gloved hand. Harry moved his fingers against Ron’s wrist.

“I shall always desire you,” whispered Harry, looking deeply into Ron’s eyes. He gazed at them, knowing this was the only person he had ever loved.

Ron reached down and kissed Harry softly on the lips. “And I, you.”