Title - Getting Away 21/24
Author - Lena
Pairing - Harry/Ron, Harry/various OC's (slash and het), Ron/OC (slash)
Rating - this chapter - PG
Feedback - [email protected]
For warnings, disclaimers, etc. please see chapter 0/24 - msg#11257
Chapter Twenty-One - Saturday
It was getting close to five and Ron and Harry knew they had to call his parents, so they slowly packed up and headed back to the hotel. Even though they had the doom of calling the Weasley’s on their mind, they had had a wonderful day and in the evening they had Ron and the band's gig to look forward to.
Harry and Ron had called Hermione’s parents very late the night before to arrange to get the Weasley's by a telephone. They had to reiterate constantly that nothing was wrong. Hermione's parents didn't seem to believe either Harry or Ron, but both had got on the phone, so they knew both guys were at least alive.
They told the Granger's to have the Weasley's at the telephone at ten at night England time, which was in the afternoon in Miami. Ron had deliberately put it out of his mind all day so he could enjoy himself, but he was nervous about what his mother was going to say. Harry was glad he had stopped giving Ron trouble about it, because he didn't want to part of the problem, even though he was apprehensive about leaving Ron.
Harry thought poor Mrs. Weasley would be so upset when Ron didn't come home, but also when Harry moved out. Her nest would be nearly empty. Harry told Ron what he had in mind and Ron had thought it was a good idea. He said, "You can always visit at dinner times, like everyone else does."
Harry said, "Of course. I still want your mum's great cooking. I‘m gonna wait until I get home to tell her though."
Ron said, “Good idea. Let’s not try to kill her in one phone call.”
Harry sat on his bed and Ron on his own. Harry reached over, picked up the receiver and punched the necessary numbers to get through to the Grangers. The phone on the other end rang a few times, before a man’s voice said ‘Hello’.
Harry said, “Hello, this is Harry. Dr. Granger?”
Dr. Granger said, “Yes, here’s Arthur, Harry.”
Harry said nervously for Ron, “Thank you, Dr. Granger.”
Harry could hear the phone being handed to another person, and then heard Mr. Weasley say, “Hello?”
Harry said, “Hello, Mr. Weasley!”
Mr. Weasley said, “Hello, Harry. What’s going on?”
Harry hesitated, “Uh...well...here’s Ron.” Harry handed the telephone to a pale and shaky Ron. He whispered reminding Ron, “Don’t talk too loud into the phone.”
Ron said into the receiver, “Hi, Dad.”
There was a pause, as Harry couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation. Then Ron said, “Yeah, Dad, we’re fine. I...I just needed to...” Ron looked at Harry in desperation. Harry nodded at him to keep going. Ron continued, “I need to tell you and Mum something.”
Pause...
Ron stammered, “I...I’ve met someone.”
Pause...
Ron said, “No, he isn’t coming back with me. I...I...I’m going to stay here.” Ron scrunched up his face like he was expecting one of his mother’s howlers to come through the telephone.
Pause...
Ron said, “No, not permanently. I’ll be home in a month or so.”
Pause...
Ron said softly, “Well, more like a visit.”
Pause...
Ron said, “Yeah, well, he has a well-paying job here. He can’t come back to live England. It’s easier if I stay here.”
Pause...
Ron got a pained expression on his face. “I know I have a job, but I...I...I want to stay here.”
Pause...
Ron dropped his head. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
Pause...
Ron’s face showed a bit of relief. He said, “Yes, Harry’s coming home.” Ron looked at Harry.
Pause...
Ron choked out in a bit of a whiny voice, “Can’t you tell her, Dad?”
Pause...
Ron closed his eyes. “Okay, Dad. Thanks for understanding. Once I tell Mum, will you calm her?”
Pause...
Ron said, “Thanks, Dad, really.”
Pause...
Ron scrunched his face up again as Harry gathered that his mother was getting on the telephone. Ron’s eyes got big, when Harry heard a voice loudly say, “What is going on, Ronald!”
Ron said nervously, but tried to sound light-hearted, “Hello, Mum!”
Pause...
Ron stuttered, “Mm...Mum...I just told Dad. I wanted to let you know that...that...I’m staying here.” Harry knew he was saying ’staying here’ instead ’not going home’ to make it sound a little better, but he knew it wasn’t going to help Mrs. Weasley.
Ron pulled the phone away from his ear as a voice screamed out of it. Harry really couldn’t understand what she was saying. She seemed incoherent. Ron tried yelling in the telephone, “Mum! Mum!”
Ron looked at Harry in exasperation. Ron started to reach over towards the base of the phone to place it back on the cradle, but Harry stopped him and shook his head. Harry took the receiver from Ron and yelled into the telephone. “Mrs. Weasley? Mrs. Weasley?”
Mrs. Weasley stopped yelling when she realized it was Harry on the telephone. She said, “Oh, hello, Harry, dear.” Then in an irritated voice said, “Where did Ronald go?”
Harry said, “He’s here. Mrs. Weasley, I just wanted to say, that Ron has met someone and he is very happy. I have-”
Mrs. Weasley cut him off. “Harry, dear. That’s fine, but he needs to come home. I want to speak to Ronald.”
Harry said, “No! He wants to stay here, but he will be back to visit.” That was as defiant as Harry had ever been with Mrs. Weasley.
Harry could hear her grinding her teeth, trying not to get angry with him. “Harry, dear, he has a job and anyway, this is ridiculous! Who is this person he is throwing his life away on?”
Harry said, “He’s not. I have met his friend and in fact, I introduced them.”
Harry heard her sucked in her breath. Harry continued, “He’s happy and he’s staying here.”
Ron looked at Harry admiringly with gratitude. Harry could hear Mr. Weasley in the background trying to sooth her. “May I speak with Ronald, please, Harry?
Harry said, “Please don’t yell at him.”
Mrs. Weasley gritted her teeth and said, “Fine.”
Harry said, “Bye, Mrs. Weasley.”
Her voice soften a little as she said, “Bye, Harry, dear.”
Harry handed the telephone back to Ron. He said, “Hi, Mum.”
Pause...
Ron said, “Yeah, Mum. I’ll be home for a visit in a month or so, I promise. I promised Harry, too.”
Pause...
Ron said, “I know, Mum. I don’t expect you to be happy about it, just try to understand?” His voice was a bit squeaky.
Pause...
Ron said in a subdued voice, “I love you, Mum.” His eyes were rimmed with tears.
Pause...
Ron smiled. Harry was relieved. Ron said, “Bye, Mum.”
Pause...
Then Ron hung up the phone. He flopped back flat on his bed and pulled a pillow up over his face. Harry pushed himself up off his own bed and sat next to him. Harry patted the arm that was pressing the pillow over his face. Harry said softly, “It’s okay, Ron. It turned out alright.”
With that Ron burst into tears and got up quickly, shoving Harry’s hand out of the way. Harry said in concern, “What’s wrong?”
Ron stumbled towards the bathroom and wailed, “I don’t know!” He slammed the door closed and Harry could hear the shower being turned on. He knew Ron was as stressed out as Harry had been on the morning before he went to court. He knew Ron was happy to be starting a new romance, but it was also a little frightening going on this big adventure and not going home.
Harry could hear Ron crying over the running water. There was no singing coming from the shower this time, much to Harry's dismay. Harry knew Ron wanted to be left alone. Harry turned on the television and pushed the sound button until it was very loud. He drowned out Ron to give him some privacy.
Harry watched some show that he wasn't really interested in, but paid close attention to the dialogue to keep from trying to hear Ron. Finally, the shower was turned off and he heard movement in the bathroom. He stayed where he was until he finally heard Ron open the door. He leaned over and looked as Ron walked out with a towel around his waist. He turned down the volume on the television.
Ron looked really pink in the face and seemed down. He said softly, "Sorry, Harry. I haven't done that in a really long time."
Harry said, "It's okay. Believe me, you should have seen me the day I went to court. Sometimes everything just gets to you."
Ron said, "Yeah. I want to stay here with Ryan, but it is kind of scary not going home, even if my family drives me mad sometimes."
Harry said, "Yeah. Well, you know they'll always be there. I will, too."
Ron finally smiled. "Thanks, Harry." Ron got dressed and they headed downstairs to grab some dinner.
They went to their regular table at the hotel restaurant. Frank wasn’t on duty, as he had taken some time off while Laura was in town. Harry hoped he would be able to say goodbye to them both.
They ate heartily, Ron feeling much better, but neither bringing up the fact that Harry was leaving tomorrow without Ron. After dinner they went back upstairs and the telephone was ringing. Ron got a stricken look on his face, so Harry answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, Harry! Glad I caught you!” It was Frank. Harry shook his head at Ron. He looked relieved and walked into the loo.
“Hi!” Harry wondered why Frank was calling, but was glad.
“Do you guys need a ride to the airport tomorrow?”
Harry had assumed he would take a taxi, but he said, “Yeah, I’d really appreciate it. Hey, would you mind giving Ron a ride after to Ryan’s house?” Ron looked at Harry questioningly. Ron hadn’t mentioned how he was going to get to Ryan’s house with all his stuff.
Frank said, “Oh, no problem. What time do you need to be at the airport?”
“About one.”
“Okay, we’ll pick you up at about twelve-thirty. Is that okay?”
Harry heart leaped at the ‘we’ll’ in that sentence. Was Laura coming too? Harry maintained himself and said, “That’s fine. Thanks a lot, Frank,”
Frank said, “Sure, see you guys tomorrow. Bye.”
Harry replied back, “Bye.” He hung up the phone.
Ron came back out of the bathroom and said, “I take it Frank is giving us rides tomorrow?”
Harry stared down at the phone. He breathed, “Yeah.”
Ron said, “What is it?”
Harry said, “It sounds like Laura is coming too.”
Ron teased, “Ooooohhh! Your girlfriend!”
Harry turned a shade of pink, ignored Ron and said, "Don't we have to go soon; so you can sing to crowds of people?”
Ron said, "Shut up."
He sighed and went to look at himself in the mirror in the bathroom. It was then Harry noticed that Ron had his eye shadow and lipstick on. Harry said, "Hey, why the makeup?"
Ron didn't turn from the mirror, but said, "But I can’t go on stage without something. I've got to cover this bruise and besides...the lights will wash my face out!"
Harry snickered at him. "Okay."
Ron said, "Does it look alright?"
Harry felt like Ron needed some confidence, so he said, "Of course! Don't worry. You'll do fine."
Ron sighed loudly and said, "Come on. Let's go." He seemed really gloomy.