Title - Getting Away 24/24

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-Four - Home

Harry slept most of the flight to New York, where he had a few hours to wait before his flight to Heathrow. When he got on the flight to England, he was exhausted. The last two weeks were finally catching up with him. He slept a lot, waking occasionally for food and movies. Besides, the plane ride wasn't has nearly fun, bad or good, as it had been with Ron.

It was mid-morning when Harry's airplane landed and the Weasleys were waiting for Harry when he arrived. He saw them waiting and looking as he left the baggage claim. He called out, “Hello! Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!”

Mr. Weasley turned and yelled, “Harry!” He turned to Mrs. Weasley and said, “Molly?” Mrs. Weasley saw Harry and burst into tears.

“Oh, Harry, dear!” Mrs. Weasley dabbed at her eyes with her hankie, ran towards Harry and hugged him. Harry was pleased even though she was weeping all over him. She said, “Oh, why didn’t Ron come home?”

Harry’s voice was muffled but he said, “He’s happy, Mrs. Weasley.”

Mrs. Weasley said, “But...but...” She burst out in tears again.

Mr. Weasley patted her on the back and said, “Now, Molly, he’ll be fine and he said he’ll come home to visit. He will, right Harry?”

Harry pulled away from Mrs. Weasley and said, “Yes, he promised me, he’ll come home to visit in a month or two.”

Mrs. Weasley snuffled in her hankie and didn’t say anything.

They went back to the Burrow in the latest enchanted car. Harry made up his mind to tell them the next week, he was moving out. He didn’t want Mrs. Weasley to have too much of a shock all at once.

He walked through the door of the Burrow, remembering the first time he had seen it. He still thought it was brilliant. It was a wonderful, homey, loving place to live. He walked up the stairs until he reached his room. He had Percy's old room.

He pulled from his suitcase the gifts he had purchased for everyone. He left the suitcases lying open in the hall. He went back downstairs with Mr. Weasley’s game and Mrs. Weasley’s perfumed flower potpourri. Harry would catch up with Ginny, Fred and George to give them their gifts in the next few days. Harry handed the gifts to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and they both were visibly pleased.

Mrs. Weasley sniffed the dried flowers and walked to the kitchen to put them in a bowl. Mr. Weasley looked at his electronic game and started pushing the buttons. The little game made odd beeps and buzzes. He said, “Harry, this is fascinating!” He walked away to the living room, continuing to make the little game make odd noises.

He called to Mrs. Weasley, “I’m really tired, Mrs. Weasley. I’m going to take a nap.”

Mrs. Weasley called back, “Okay, Harry, dear.” Harry turned and walked back up the flight of stairs to his room.

As he reached his door, he glanced up the next flight of stairs where Ron's room was. He felt a little sad, as he hadn't thought two weeks before, Ron wouldn't be walking up those steps to his own room.

He opened his door and pulled his suitcases into the room. He didn't feel like unpacking at the moment, so he lie down on his bed. He didn't mean to fall asleep but as he was still exhausted. He vaguely wondered why he was so tired, as he dozed off.

He woke a few hours later, starved, so he got up. He changed into a pair of clean jeans and T-shirt that were in his closet and headed downstairs. He had made plans to have dinner with Hermione his first evening back, but it was still early in the afternoon, so he hoped Mrs. Weasley still had leftovers from lunch.

Harry wasn't disappointed as he walked into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley had her wand in her hand and plates were flying onto a shelf. Harry quickly ducked. Mrs. Weasley was startled and said, "Oh, Harry, dear, sorry!"

Harry said, "That's okay."

Mrs. Weasley continued in a rush. "I checked on you, but didn't want to wake you! Do you want something to eat, dear?"

Harry sat down on a chair and said, "Yes, please. Thank you!"

Mrs. Weasley swished and flicked her wand and put together a couple of sandwiches and a glass of pumpkin juice. It landed it front of Harry. He ate heartily. Harry mumbled through a mouthful of food, which he knew was rude, but he was home. "You don't have to worry about me for dinner, I have plans to go out with Hermione."

Mrs. Weasley said, "This nice, dear." Harry didn't tell her that he had plans to go by the Grangers after dinner and use their phone to call Ron.

He spent the rest of the afternoon, unpacking and taking a shower, and just generally relaxing. He left around five to catch up with Hermione at her parents’ house. He Disapparated and landed in her parents kitchen. Not doing magic for two weeks, had thrown him off a bit, as he had meant to go to the Ministry of Magic, then walk from there.

Hermione's mother screamed in fright as he appeared next to the stove. Harry said, "Sorry, Dr. Granger! Where‘s ‘Mione?"

Dr. Granger clutched her chest and said, "Oh, Harry. She's in her room."

Harry said, "Thanks!" He left the kitchen and walked down the hall to Hermione's bedroom. He knocked and yelled, "Hey, 'Mione! Come on!"

Hermione called back, "Harry! Wait a minute, will you?" She sounded exasperated.

She opened the door and grabbed Harry quickly, giving him a suffocating hug. He hugged her back. He gave her the book of Shakespeare. Hermione said, "Oh, Harry, thank you. I'm glad you're home!"

Harry said, "Me, too!"

She said, "Let's go." She grabbed Harry's hand and took off down the hall. They stopped by the kitchen to tell her mother they were leaving, and then they were on their way.

First they stopped by a one-hour photo shop in London to drop off Harry's pictures to be developed. Harry had considered taking them to Colin Creevey's photo shop in Diagon Alley to get them developed so they would move, but since Harry had been on a Muggle vacation he felt he should have Muggle pictures. He thought also, that he would have a tough time explaining it to Laura if he sent moving pictures.

They went to a small Muggle restaurant that Hermione liked and they had a long talk about his vacation. He told her mostly everything, even the bad things, about what he and Ron had learned about their friendship and how they had finally grown up. He didn't want to tell her about his own thoughts and feelings, though. After dinner they stopped by the one-hour photo shop and picked up the pictures.

He quickly looked through the photographs; he and Ron had taken on their trip. Then he showed them to Hermione. He pointed out all the people and told the stories. Ron, Harry, Ryan, Mike and his family, and Laura. He laughed at some and got choked up at others.

Hermione enjoyed looking at them and could see the change in Harry. Harry told her of his plans to get his own place. She was glad for him. Hermione and Harry then went to her parents’ house to call Ron. Harry figured it was three in the afternoon in Miami, so he hoped that he would get a hold of Ron, even though he had told Harry to call him late.

The phone rang on the other end a few times, before a man answered. "Hello?"

Harry said, "Ron?"

"No...who is this?" The man sounded apprehensive. Harry thought maybe it was Ryan, but he didn't quite sound like himself.

"Uh...it's Harry. Is this Ryan?"

The man sighed in relief. "Oh, Harry. Hi! Yeah, it's Ryan. I'm sorry. I just have to be careful."

Harry said, "Oh, I understand. How are you doing?"

Ryan said, "Good. Want to speak to Ron?"

Harry said, "Yes, thanks!" He heard Ryan hand Ron the phone.

Ron said happily, "Hi ya, Harry! Have a good time home?"

Harry said, "Yes, how are you?"

Ron said, "I'm alright." He sounded happy, but then lowered his voice and asked, "How's Mum?"

Harry said, "Um...crying, but she'll be okay. Don't worry."

Ron said, "'Kay." He was quiet.

Harry continued, "Hey, Hermione is here. Wanna talk to her?"

Ron said excitedly, "Yes! Oh, yes!"

Harry handed the phone to Hermione who said into the receiver, "Hi, Ron!"

She looked at Harry and smiled. She murmured agreements to whatever Ron was saying and she couldn't really get a word in. Finally she said, "Well, I guess you're doing okay!"

There was another long pause and she then said, "Ron, I am really happy for you."

After another pause, she said, "Bye, Ron. See you in a few months." She handed the phone back to Harry.

Harry said, "Hey, I got copies of our pictures. Want me to send you copies?"

Ron said, "Oh, yeah, thanks mate!"

Harry said, "Okay." He was quiet and he realized he and Ron were doing the same thing they had done at the airport. Not wanting to say goodbye.

Ron cleared his throat. He then said, "Well..."

Harry gulped and said, "Yeah."

Ron said, "Okay..."

Harry's hand shook a little and he said in a quivering voice. "I suppose..."

Ron said, "Yeah. Harry?"

Harry said, "Yeah, Ron?"

Ron's voice got squeaky, as always when he was upset or nervous. "I can't say it again, Harry. I just can't say goodbye to you!"

Harry said, "I can't either."

Ron said, "Then what do we do?"

Harry pondered for a second, then said, "Did you say, 'love you' at the airport?"

Ron got quiet, then said, "Yes."

Harry said, "Say it again."

Ron said, "What?"

Harry repeated, "Say it again."

Ron hesitated, but then said, "Okay...Love you..."

Harry said forcefully, "Love you, too, Ron." Harry immediately hung up the phone before either of them could say another word. His heart ached. For a brief second, he thought of calling Ron back and telling him he'd made a mistake. That he loved him and wanted him, that he'd made a mistake. But Ron was with Ryan and Harry had made his decisions.

Hermione looked at Harry and said, "Have you told me everything that happened?"

Harry hadn't mention the kiss he and Ron had shared and his own intimate thoughts. "Yeah, I told you. We've grown up. We'll always be mates, but be independent. Have our own lives. Do separate things..."

Hermione looked at him and said, "Whom are you trying to convince, me or yourself?"

Harry glared at her. She was so damn sharp. "I'm convinced. I know what's best!"

Hermione smirked at him and said, "Harry, I know you know what’s best, but do you really mean it?"

Harry said angrily, "Hermione! I hate that he isn't here, but I have to let him do what he needs to. He's been in my shadow for so long, it isn't fair. You should have seen him the last two weeks. He's so happy and confident. After acting like a prat a couple of times, I just couldn't take it away from him. I couldn't, Hermione!" He ended the statement in a screech. Harry was depressed by it all, but he did know it was for the best. For now.

Hermione patted him on the shoulder. "Harry, I'm sorry. It's okay!"

Harry calmed down and said, "I'm sorry, 'Mione. I just...I..."

Hermione said, "Miss him."

Harry said softly, "Yeah."

Hermione didn't say anything for a while, but finally she asked, “But, Harry, you did have a good time on your vacation, didn’t you?”

Harry thought for a moment and he smiled at Hermione. He remembered all his adventures, good and bad, and the fantastic people he met and the fact that he had spent his vacation with his best mate, he realized that, yes, he'd had a great time. Harry looked at Hermione and smiled at her.

He said, “You know...I did!” He knew he wanted to take another vacation soon and he knew it would be to New York, by way of Miami.

After leaving Hermione, he went back to the Burrow. The house was quiet, so he careful climbed the stairs to his room. He looked around and saw that his luggage still needed to be unpacked, but he was tired and decided that it could wait until the next day. He saw his poster case and grabbed it. He carefully pulled the print from it and unrolled it, looking at it.

He laid it on his bed while he changed into a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. He took his print and his wand and quietly climbed the stairs to Ron’s bedroom. He opened the door and whispered, “Lumos.” The room was softly lit. He knew he was a tad depressed and being a little pathetic, but he didn’t care. He whispered, “Elmenos”, and the print flew out of his hands and stuck itself on the wall.

He stepped back and looked at his print. He thought it was beautiful. Even time he looked at the painting, he made him feel different things. The greens and golds and slashes of red made him content. It made him remember all the good times and adventures he’d had at school. He remembered all his times with Ron.

Except for the pictures of his parents, no other painting or picture had affected him like this. He looked at it closer, and it made him feel like he could handle anything. It made him feel...Harry tried to find the right word, but the only one that came to mind was...courageous.

He wanted to be brave and courageous, but his life had been wrapped up in Voldemort for so long, that the last few years after his death, Harry just hid himself from life. He still had a long life ahead and he needed to start acting like a good Gryffindor should about the simple and confusing things in his life. Like love.

He thought about Ron. Harry would miss him desperately, but he hoped Ron would be happy. He wanted him to have a good life, even if it meant Harry wasn’t in it every day. Harry sighed. He loved Ron with all his heart.

Ron had been right about him. Ron knew things about Harry, which had taken a lot for Harry to admit to himself. He couldn't utter those thoughts aloud just yet, but inside his own mind, he accepted himself and what he felt for Ron. Harry had made a conscious choice to do the things he wanted and let Ron go do the things he needed. Maybe someday things would change, but Harry had to first work on himself, before he could be a good person for anyone else, including Ron.

He lie on his side on Ron’s bed, towards the wall and continued looking at the print. There were flecks of even more colors, that he hadn’t noticed before. It was almost as if the print changed every time he looked at it. The paints in the print seemed to shimmer in the low light. Harry knew it was probably because he was so tired, but when he looked at the painting it seemed almost magical.

His eyes got droopy and they fluttered as Harry tried to stay awake a little longer. He continued staring at the print. Finally, he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer. The last thing he saw was the print on the wall and the last thing he thought of before he finally fell asleep was Ron.