Author's Note - See chapter one for disclaimers, warnings, ratings, etc.

Chapter Three

After the surfer had left that night and Ron had gone to bed, he had tossed and turned. He would occasionally look at the picture on his nightstand. He was happy that he seemed to have found someone, but he was sad because it reminded him of what he had been missing the past year.

The next night, on duty, he discussed his feelings with his partner, who was a woman and easy to talk to. Hermione told Ron that there was nothing wrong with him wanting to have another relationship, and Harry would've wanted him to go on. Ron knew this was the truth, but he still knew Harry would be the soul mate he should have been with.

Ron told her that the surfer had kissed him and he had kissed back. Hermione said that he couldn't expect to become a monk and that he deserved love. Ron told her how he had asked him out for Thursday night. She responded with a 'good for you!' He appreciated her honesty, understanding and bossiness, but he still got little twangs in his heart, both for the new love and the old love.

*****

On Thursday, Ron got home from work around six in the morning, and exhausted, threw himself on his bed and fell asleep. He woke up in the early afternoon. He was groggy, and stumbled to the shower. He started to wake as the warm water hit his body.

He started thinking, sometimes a mistake, and wondered what he would wear that night. Hermione had talked him into making reservations at a nice restaurant downtown, then letting the evening go where it might. Maybe a movie, or maybe just coffee after dinner.

He finished his shower, got out, and grabbed a large towel to dry himself with. He slipped on a pair of sweats. It was too early to get ready, but he rummaged through his closet, looking for the right thing to wear.

He dug through, until he reached the back and pulled out something fuzzy. He looked at it and put it up to his face. He stumbled to his bed and sat down heavily. He pulled it away and looked at it again. It was one of Harry's sweaters. Ron clutched it to his chest and flopped down on the bed, lying on his back. He glanced over to the picture on the nightstand.

"Oh, Harry...I miss you so much..."

Ron pressed the sweater to his face again to keep the tears from streaming out. He lay there for a long time. He vacillated between wanting to go out that night and calling the surfer to tell him he was sick or something.

He knew though his partner, Hermione, would have something to say to him if he didn’t go out. He didn’t want to hear it, so he finally got up, as hard as it was, and moped into the living room. He sat on the couch, and with the remote, turned on the television. He got back up and went into the kitchen. He rummaged through the cupboard, looking for some cookies. He couldn’t find any, but he saw the leftover chips on the refrigerator. He grabbed them and a beer, and headed back to the couch.

He was reminded of how he was in the weeks following Harry’s death. He sat on the couch, watching television, and drinking beer. If it hadn’t been for Hermione and her family, he would have probably starved.

He didn’t know why today, of all days, it was bothering him. Then he finally admitted to himself that he actually did know. It was because he was going out tonight with Draco; somebody that he was seriously thinking of having a relationship with. It wasn’t even the anniversaries or the birthdays that got to him really; it was the little things, the little reminders. Like that sweater.

He laid his head back on the couch and fell asleep again. Suddenly, he was jolted awake by the ringing of the telephone. He bolted upright and his heart leaped. He got up, grabbed the telephone and said, "Hello!"

"Are you getting ready?"

Ron sighed. It was Hermione, checking up on him. "Yes!"

"What are you wearing tonight?"

"I'm going to wear jeans and a shirt. Is that okay?" Ron wasn't really all that irritated. He knew she was just concerned for him. She had become a friend quickly when he joined the force, and when Harry died, she had been there for him.

"I suppose...what kind of a shirt?"

"Hermione! A T-shirt, I guess."

"Well...nothing with a design on it. Maybe your plain black one."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Okay..."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just having kind of a bad day." Ron knew he could be honest with her.

"Oh...that kind of bad day?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay, but do have fun tonight, will you, Ron?" said Hermione, earnestly.

Ron sighed again and said, "I will, Hermione, I promise."

"Cause I want to hear all about it!"

"I gotta go get ready." Ron twirled the cord in his hand, impatiently.

"Okay, have fun!"

"Yeah..." He hung up the phone. He walked into his bedroom and stood in front of his closet again. He pulled his black T-shirt off a hanger. He got dressed and combed his hair. He looked at his watch and noticed that it was already six-thirty. Hermione knew him too well and had called at the right moment.

He grabbed his black boots from the corner and pulled them on. From the table, he picked up the piece of paper with Draco's address and phone number on it and slid in his pocket. Then Ron grabbed a light jacket from the back of the chair in the living room, as he walked out the door.

Ron got into his car and drove towards the center of town, where Draco lived. He recited the address to himself as he pulled onto the correct street. It was still light out, so he could see the addresses on the sides of the apartment buildings. He spied the right number on a building to his left and parallel parked on the street.

He got out and walked to the building, looking for Draco's apartment number. Ron heard someone say, "Hi, Ron!"

He looked up and saw Draco on a balcony. Ron smiled and waved.

Draco called, "Come on up, this way!" He pointed to some stairs at the end of the walkway. Ron climbed the stairs and met Draco at the top.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Ron.

Draco nodded and said, "Just let me get my jacket." Ron followed him to his apartment and stood at the doorway. Ron peered into Draco's apartment and glimpsed a table full of books and papers. Draco quickly grabbed his jacket and locked his door. He and Ron walked down the stairs to Ron's car.

As they got to the car, Ron said, "I thought we would go to Martini's. Have you been there before?"

"No, actually, I haven't, but it's an Italian place, isn't it?" asked Draco.

"Yeah, is that okay?"

"Oh, yes, I like Italian food."

Ron unlocked and opened the car door for Draco, and said, “Good! I think you'll like this place." He walked around to the driver's side and got in. They chatted about boring things like the weather until they reached the restaurant. Ron felt silly, but was kind of flustered and couldn’t think very well, with Draco sitting near him.

They walked into Martini's. Ron gave the hostess his name and was told he would be seated right away. The two men stood for a moment before they were seated in at a small table in the back of the restaurant.

Both took off their jackets and placed them on the back of the chairs as they sat down. The hostess handed them menus and left. The restaurant was dimly lit and each table had a small candle in the middle surrounded by a ring of fresh flowers. It was a little too romantic for Ron's taste, but he did like the food. He scanned the menu, but knew he was going to get what he always ordered.

He put down the menu and looked at Draco. "Everything is wonderful here, but I always get the same thing."

Draco peered over the menu and replied, "It all sounds good. I can't really decide."

Ron didn't say anything. He was having trouble carrying on simple conversation and it annoyed him. He thought about different topics they could talk about, but most would come around to his life with Harry and he wasn't ready to discuss this with Draco.

Draco placed the menu on the table as a waitress arrived. She said, "Have you decided?"

"Yes." Ron gestured to Draco. "Go ahead."

After he and Draco ordered, the waitress took the menus. Draco said, "So, tell me about your job."

"Oh!" Ron was surprised that Draco wanted to know. "Well, it's not as exciting as people would think."

"But you probably meet all kinds of people," said Draco.

The waitress brought them water and their drinks. "Thank you," said Ron, nodding to her. Then to Draco, he said, "Well, that's true. I have a partner that I patrol with. She's a great person. She-" He stopped abruptly when he realized he almost mentioned how she was there for him in the last year.

Draco raised his right eyebrow and said, "She..."

Ron felt nervous. "She has a nice family, too. Her husband Viktor works for the county and they have a kid."

Draco brushed his hair out of his eyes and Ron got a rush of lightheadedness. Draco seemed very much at ease and began asking Ron more questions about his thoughts on things in the news. They found they had similar views on life, and Ron began to feel more comfortable as they talked.

The waitress brought them their food and they began to eat, interspersed with conversation.

Ron was beginning to feel a little more comfortable as he ate. He realized he had eaten very little all day. He asked Draco about school and his job at the surf shop.

Draco told him he had just finished a summer class and he was going to start the new semester in two weeks. He asked him what classes he would be taking and Draco told him he was taking advanced chemistry and a history class. Draco told him about his job, how he enjoyed being around the ocean and selling surfboards.

Draco then asked Ron about his family. Ron told him he had five brothers and a sister and he visited them whenever he could. They continued talking until they finished dinner and sipped on their drinks. The waitress came by with the bill and laid it on the table. Both men reached for it, but Ron said, "No, I asked you, so it's my treat."

"Thanks, I get it next time?" said Draco.

Ron nodded and said, "Yeah, okay." He was pleased that Draco was looking to a next time. He pulled out his wallet and placed his credit card inside the bill holder. Ron was hesitant, but he said, "Would you like to go get coffee somewhere?" He fiddled with the bill holder.

Draco said, "Well, how about coming by my place and I'll make coffee?"

Ron tapped the bill holder on the table absentmindedly until the waitress came over and took it out of his hand. "Um...okay...I'd like that." Ron wanted to go to Draco's, but he was afraid of what might happen, and couldn't get Harry out of his head. Not that he really wanted to, but he wanted to have a good time and not be upset.

"Great!" said Draco happily.

They were quiet for a moment, waiting for the waitress to return. Draco pulled his jacket from the back of his chair and slipped it on. When the waitress returned, Ron signed the check, took his card and stood up from the table.

"Let's go." He grabbed his jacket and walked towards the door. Draco followed, wondering if he had done something to upset Ron.

On the drive back to Draco's, Ron was quiet as he gripped the steering wheel. He was trying to will himself to relax. He felt like it would be easier if he just slept with Draco and not worry about trying to start this new relationship.

They got to Draco's apartment and Ron parked his car on the street. They got out, and as Ron walked to where Draco stood on the sidewalk, he reached for his hand. Draco held Ron's hand and led him up the stairs to his apartment. He could feel Ron's hand tremble a little, but he didn't let go.

With his free hand, Draco pulled his key out of his jacket pocket, unlocked his door and guided Ron into the apartment. He let go of Ron's hand and said, "Have a seat and I'll make some coffee."

Ron didn't say anything, but he sat down on the small couch. He didn't know what to think about holding Draco's hand. It bothered him that he had liked it.

Draco's apartment was very small. The kitchen only had room for one person. There was a bar counter that connected it to the living room. A table full of papers and books was up against a wall in the living room, and had a desk chair next to it. The table was what he had noticed when he had peeked into Draco's apartment earlier. Draco had an entertainment center, with a television and various electronic gadgets that took up the whole wall in front of the couch. There was a small coffee table in front of the couch.

Draco fiddled in the kitchen making the coffee, then found some cookies in the pantry and brought them to Ron. He took one, and Draco set the rest on the coffee table. Draco sat next to Ron and said, "The coffee will be ready in a minute."

"Okay."

Draco looked at Ron, concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sure, I'm fine." Ron looked around the apartment distractedly. Draco didn't believe him.

"Ron?"

"Yeah?" Ron wouldn't look at him.

"Ron!" Draco tried to look him in the eyes.

Ron turned to Draco with a scowl on his face. "What?"

Draco leaned in quickly and kissed him. Ron pulled back for a moment and looked at Draco in surprise. He wasn't sure if Draco was angry or not, but he closed the space between them and kissed him back. Ron closed his eyes, lifted his arms, and placed them around Draco's neck.

Draco wrapped his arms around Ron's back and pulled him closer. Draco sucked on Ron's bottom lip, as Ron poked his tongue out and touched Draco on the lips. Draco let go of Ron's lip and stuck his tongue in Ron's mouth. Ron's tongue followed into Draco's mouth.

Ron let the lightheaded feeling overwhelm him. He kept his eyes closed and let the warm tongue and lips kiss him relentlessly. He didn't want it to stop, and he pushed all thoughts of rationality out of his mind.

Suddenly, Ron heard the coffee pot make a loud noise, and he jumped. He opened his eyes and saw blond hair, not black. He saw a pale, white face, not a tan face with crinkles in the corners of the eyes. He jumped back again and let go of Draco like he was on fire. Ron stood up quickly. Draco looked up at him, a little frightened.

"I...have to go. I...I...have...to go." Ron stammered out. He blindly walked to the door, stumbling over the unfamiliar furniture.

Draco stood up, followed Ron, and reached for his arm. Ron jerked away. "I have to go."

"Ron, what's wrong?"

"I have to go."

"Ron, talk to me."

Ron stopped at the door and leaned his forehead into the back of it. "I just have to go slower. I'm sorry. I loved someone and...and..." Ron's voice faltered, but he tried to continue. "...he died nearly a year ago."

Draco gasped without meaning to, and reached to touch Ron on the back. Ron's body stiffened to the touch, so Draco pulled away. He whispered, "I'm...Oh, Ron...I'm sorry."

Ron closed his eyes and nodded. He opened his eyes and reached for the doorknob. He whispered, "Draco, I'll be okay."

Draco said, "Ron, I care about you."

"I know." Ron opened the door and turned around to face Draco. "I'll be fishing on Saturday morning."

"I'll meet you there?" Draco smiled.

Ron smiled slightly and said, "Yes, I'd like that." He moved to touch Draco on the hand. Draco reached out and their fingers touched.

"I had a very nice time tonight, Ron."

Ron smiled. "I did, too, really. I'll see you on Saturday."

Draco nodded and said, "Bye."

Ron walked out the door and left.

Draco watched him go. He wanted to comfort him. He wanted to love him; he wanted to make love to him, but he knew he would have to be careful.

Draco closed the door and walked into the kitchen to turn off the coffee pot.