Title - Getting Away 18/24

Author - Lena

Pairing - Harry/Ron, Harry/various OC's (slash and het), Ron/OC (slash)

Rating - this chapter - PG-13

Feedback - [email protected]

For warnings, disclaimers, etc. please see chapter 0/24 - msg#11257

Chapter Eighteen - Thursday

Harry was trying to make himself calm. He wasn't going to get upset or all Molly Weasley on Ron when he walked through the door. He wanted to show that he could have a grown up conversation with his best friend.

When Ron finally returned, Harry was relaxing on his bed, watching television. Harry jumped off the bed, gave Ron a quick hug, trying not to look at the bruise first thing and said, "Hey, Ron, have a good time?"

Ron slowly pulled away, ducked his head and said in a rush, "Yes! Oh, I had a great time! Ryan is going to come back for the morning tomorrow, and then catch up with the team in Philadelphia. He needs to take care of his legal stuff. Oh, how did yours go, Harry? I'm sorry!"

Harry smiled at him. "Oh, it went well. They took the bail money as my fine, but they let me go. God, I was so relieved."

Ron said, "Good, mate. I'm glad it went well."

Harry said, "Ron, let me see your face? Are you alright?"

Ron finally looked up at him. The large bruise around his right eye crinkled when he smiled.

Harry faced him and stared at black and blue mark on his face. "Ron, oh my God, it didn't look that bad on the news!"

Ron sighed and sat on the edge of his bed. "Oh, you saw it?"

Harry touched the bruise and Ron flinched in pain, "Sorry, yeah, I was out today and when I returned Frank told me and I saw it on television. Is that why you were acting odd on the phone this morning?"

Ron said, "Well, yeah...It had just happened and I thought about saying something, but I didn't want to get you upset."

Harry felt a little sad that Ron wouldn't want to tell him something so important because Ron thought he would get angry and he guessed Ron didn't want to deal with it. Harry said, "Oh, Ron, you can tell me anything. Really. Are you alright?" Harry looked at the bruise closer.

Ron reached up and touched the bruise and said, "I'm okay...the other guy looks worse, honestly. Ryan was upset, but I'm not going to let stupid people ruin this for us. Harry, I'm going to stay."

Harry's heart plummeted but he refused to get upset. He said, "Okay."

Ron looked up at Harry and said, "You aren't going to talk me out of it?"

Harry sat down next to him. "Do you want me too?"

Ron said, "No, not really. I just thought you'd get mad again."

Harry said, "Well, I want you to come back home, but I know you can handle yourself, so, if you really want to stay, I won't be upset." He didn’t really want to be so understanding, but knew he had to be.

Ron looked at him questioningly. "Why are you taking this so well?"

Harry said, "Because it's what you really need to do. I want you to be happy, but if I try to talk you out of it, then how is that going to help? I'll have you home, but you'll be miserable." Harry knew that meant he loved him, so much so, that Harry would give up whatever he had to for Ron. Even giving up Ron.

Ron said softly, "Thanks, mate."

Harry smiled weakly and said, "No problem."

Ron swallowed hard and hesitated. Harry said, "Is there something else?"

Ron stammered, "Well...when he comes home tomorrow, I'm gonna tell him I'm a wizard."

Harry was shocked. "You haven't told him? But you were so intent on it before you left?" That was nicest way Harry could think of to mention their argument about it.

Ron said, "No. When he said he was coming back, I thought I could wait...and you could be with me?"

Harry was surprised because he thought Ron wanted to tell Ryan on his own without leaning on Harry for assistance.

Ron pleaded, "Harry, please, I know I have acted like I'm so beyond needing you and all, but if Ryan has a problem with it, I'd feel safer with you by my side."

Harry said, "Of course, Ron, just because we're independent people, doesn't mean we can't use a little help sometimes!"

Ron slightly smiled and said, "Oh, you're the best mate and I don't deserve you."

Harry said, "Oh, yes, you do!

Ron grinned at him, got up and hugged him again, tighter this time.

Harry hugged back and said, "Let's go have some dinner and tell me about New York!"

They headed downstairs to what had become their regular table in the hotel restaurant.

Once they had ordered, Ron started to tell Harry all about his trip. "Well, I got there and the buildings are so tall. It's amazing! I took a taxi to the hotel Ryan had told me to go to. He had already made reservation and everything. It was a nice hotel, too."

Harry asked, "Did he meet you there?"

Ron said, "Yeah, but he had the game to play, so he only stopped by. I didn't go to the game that night, just relaxed around the hotel until he finished...which was really late...but that was okay." Ron blushed a little.

Harry knew this relationship must be for real for Ron, because he never blushed over his lovers.

Ron continued, "The next morning, we got room service-"

Harry interrupted, "But, wait? I think you skipped some parts there?"

Ron grumbled, "ANYWAY, we had room service for breakfast. Then he had to go to practice. He gave me a ticket for the game and money for the taxi. You know, I told him not to give me money, but he insisted. I don't like that, but he says he has it and he wants to spend it on me. I don't know..."

Harry said, "Well, I guess it's okay sometimes, but just do stuff for him, too."

Ron smiled and said, "Oh, yeah. After the game, I went and picked up some food from his favorite deli. He had told me about it, so I had sandwiches and stuff waiting for him when he came back to the hotel."

Harry said, "Did he like that?"

Ron said, "Yeah. A lot. He thought I was considerate." Ron snickered.

Harry said, "So did he show his appreciation?" Harry was teasing Ron unmercifully.

Ron said, "Shut it, Harry!"

Harry laughed and said, "Okay, okay...so come on, tell me what happened this morning."

Ron seemed hesitate, but continued. "Well, Ryan and I had decided to try and go out for breakfast this morning. He was concerned the press was going to bother me, but he also didn't want to make me feel like he was hiding me away or something."

Harry nodded his head.

Ron continued, "So, we went out to a diner he likes and we were having a nice breakfast, when a guy came up and asked Ryan for his autograph. Ryan was very nice and wrote it out for the guy. Then the guy asked who I was. It kind of caught Ryan off guard, so he said, 'Oh, a friend." You could tell Ryan was nervous. The guy just said, 'Oh' and left, so we really didn't think anything of it..."

"...Then we went back to the hotel until he had to leave. He had to go early because they were playing a doubleheader. He said that's when they play two games in a day. So, he left first and he called me on his cell phone from his car, to warn me there was press in front of the hotel. He said we must have been followed from the diner. Anyway, he said that the press bombarded him with questions and was nervous that I was going to get harassed."

Harry said, "So then you went ahead and left the hotel. Why didn't you just stay in?"

Ron said, "Because I wanted to see New York and what good was it going to be, to just sit around the hotel with those vultures sitting down there waiting for me?"

Harry said, "True."

Ron continued, "So, I insisted and told Ryan I could handle myself. I mean after all, Harry, I have been friends with famous people before."

Harry looked at him and smirked. "Yeah."

"So anyway, Ryan wasn't happy about it, but said the least I could do was wait for him to send a friend with a car, so I wouldn't be walking down the street by myself. I agreed that was a good idea."

Harry said, "I do, too. So I suppose that was the car that you jumped into?"

Ron said, "God, they showed everything on the veletision, didn't they?"

Harry said, "Well, yeah...so go on..."

Ron said, "Okay, so, I went downstairs. I should've called you before I left. I walked out the door and the crowd was mad. I tried to push my way through and they were shouting questions at me. Somebody, I don't know who, pushed me and I know they probably didn't mean to, but I tripped, so I pushed back. Then someone hauled off and punched me, so then, I don't know, it was a mess. Someone...I don't know who helped me up and I dashed for the car."

Harry said, "What did Ryan say about it?"

Ron said, "His friend had me call him on his cell phone and he was furious. Not at me, but just what had happened. Then after I talked to him, I called you. I didn't want to upset you, Harry. I'm sorry, I should have told you. I didn't realize you would see it." Ron lowered his head.

Harry said, "Ron, it's okay. You're telling me now." Harry didn't want Ron to feel bad.

Ron lifted his head back up and said, "Yeah, but still...sorry, Harry."

Harry shook his head and said, "Don't worry about it, honestly. So did you see Ryan later?"

Ron said, "Yeah, his friend took me to the stadium for a bit, then I looked around the city and then went to the airport. I didn't go back to the hotel. Ryan's friend went back for me and got my stuff. What a nightmare!"

Harry said, "But aren't you glad you went anyway?"

Ron said, "Oh yes, I didn't mean that I wasn't glad I went, just that the crap Ryan has to put up...well, now I know what you've had to go through sometimes, don't I?" Ron smiled at Harry.

Harry smiled at him and said, "Oh, you already knew."

Ron lowered his head and said, ‘Guess so.” He lifted his head back to look at Harry. “You know, it was really nice...being with Ryan...we had fun...and, well...just being together.”

Harry felt a pang of what he knew now was jealousy. He pushed the feeling down, because he wanted to be happy for Ron. He’d had his chance to be with Ron, but made a conscious decision not to want a relationship. Harry didn’t want to ruin their friendship when he thought he wanted other things.

They were both silent for a moment, until Harry whispered, “Good for you, Ron.”

Ron didn't say anything to that, but asked Harry what he did while he was away. Harry told him about his day with Laura.

Ron laughed. "Harry, you like her!"

Harry looked indignant and said, "Well, she's a nice girl, but-"

Ron said, "Harry, the way you are talking about her. You look positively dreamy. It's disgusting!"

Harry pouted and said, "Oh, you're one to talk. She's a cool girl, so?"

Ron laughed again and said, "Okay, Harry!"

Ron and Harry went back upstairs and relaxed for a while, before Ron left to go to Ryan's house to meet him after he flew in after the games. It would be incredibly late, so Ryan had given Ron a key to his house.

Ron was laying on the bed flipping channels on the remote, when he said, "Oooo...Harry I forgot to tell you, Ryan has one of those boxes with the games in it!“

Harry said, “Really, the one we were playing with at the electronic store?“

Ron said, “Yeah, well, the box and other games, but I told him he needs to buy the car race one!“

Harry grinned at him. Ron continued, “You know, Harry, it's strange. I feel like I've known Ryan forever. I've told him a little about my family."

Harry said, as he lay back on his pillow and stared at the television, "What did you say about them?"

Ron said, "Oh, said stuff like Dad had a government job and I worked with him. Said Mum's a housewife, which is true. When he would ask me questions, I would try and change the subject. Then he caught me shaking all his pictures, because they didn’t move. I think he does wonder about me."

Harry was quiet. He felt Ron just wanted to talk.

Ron continued, "We get along great, though. That's why I’m gonna go with it and stay here with him. I'll be home in a month, honest."

Harry said, "Unless they make the playoffs."

Ron said, "Well, yeah, but really, I promise I'll come home."

Harry said, "I know, but I will miss you."

Ron looked at him and put the remote down. "Harry, I'll miss you, too, but I will come home."

Harry did want to be argumentative but he wanted the truth from Ron. "You're not coming home. You're just going to visit, aren't you?"

Ron walked over and lay next to Harry on the bed. "Yeah. Harry?”

Harry leaned into his shoulder. “Yeah, Ron?”

“Thanks, Harry.”

“Nah, thank you.”

“Do you know what I am thanking you for?”

“Yes, Ron, the same reason I’m thanking you.”

“For always being my best mate, no matter what?”

“Yeah.” They lay next to each other for a long time. The tension of the last week, melted away, as they knew they always would love each other.

They lay there flat on their backs, touching shoulders together, thinking about the future. Ron, who had wanted more from Harry, knew that it wouldn’t have been right. He needed to find his own place in the world, with Harry as his best mate. Harry, who was capable of only giving so much, knew that he too, needed to figure out his own answers without looking to everyone else.

Before Ron left, he reminded Harry that he and Ryan should have time after his court business for lunch and would Harry come along, so Ron could tell Ryan he was a wizard. Harry was curious how Ron was going to tell Ryan. Harry asked, "What are you gonna say to him?"

Ron sighed and said, "Honestly, I don't know. I guess I'll just blurt it out and see what he says."

Harry said, "Yeah, guess so. Where do you want to meet?"

Ron said, "How about in the lobby about noon?"

Harry said, "That'll be fine."

As Ron left, he said, “See ya later, Harry.”

Harry said, “Later.“ Ron smiled at Harry as he walked out the door. Harry turned over and smiled to himself as he fell asleep.