Title - Getting Away 8/24
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 Eight - Friday
They slept in until noon the next day. Both were exhausted from the very eventful day and night before. Harry finally stirred first. He looked over to Ron's bed. Ron was sprawled as always and snoring away.
Harry slowly got up and stumbled into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and got in under the warm water. Oh, he could've slept all day. He stood there for a long time. Finally he got out. He walked back in the room with a towel around his waist and laid back on his bed for a minute.
Next thing he knew, he was being jolted awake by a scream. Harry quickly jumped up and was face to face with a maid. Ron was standing next to him, staring. "Uh, Harry..."
"What?" Harry felt cold. He then realized that he was totally naked and the towel that had been around his waist was in a pile, bunched up on the bed. He grabbed it and tried to cover himself.
The maid threw a 'do not disturb' sign at them and ran out.
Harry stammered, "I...I got up to take a shower and...and I laid back down on the bed and I guess I fell asleep again." He finished in a rush.
Ron snorted. "Guess we forgot to put the sign out."
Harry put the towel properly around himself again. He walked into the bathroom again and looked in the mirror. He had the worst case of bed head, he'd ever had in his life. He wasn't sure he was going to able to fix it. He pulled a comb through it, to no avail.
Ron called from the other room, "Harry, I'm starving! Let's go eat!"
Harry yelled back, "Okay, but not here. Not after I was dragged though the lobby."
Ron came to the door of the bathroom and said, "Oh, Harry, nobody cares."
Harry was still pulling the comb through his hair. "We need to call Hermione today, to send us more money."
"Yeah. Okay. And I was invited to a party tonight, so we need to get ready about eight or so."
Harry turned and looked at Ron. "We?"
Ron said, "Yes. You said last night, you'd go out with me next time!"
"Oh, yeah."
Ron mimicked Harry. “Oh, yeah.” Then Ron continued, “Oh and it’s a costume party.” Ron left the doorway, before Harry could turn so fast towards Ron, he hurt his neck.
“What? I’m not dressing up!” Harry followed Ron out to the room.
Ron sat on his bed and said, “Yes, you are. I know what I am going as and I won’t make you do that, but I have something perfect in mind for you.” Ron laughed and clutched his stomach.
Harry held the comb like a weapon and scowled at Ron.
They eventually both got dressed and headed off for a very late lunch.
In the midst of drinking a soda, Harry suddenly remembered Ryan and the baseball game. “Oh, I meant to see the news this morning. Maybe I can get a paper.”
“Why?” Ron asked.
“I met a guy last night that is a famous baseball player and he is gay. For some reason, that is a really a big deal. Anyway, he seemed like a really nice guy and I think you’d like him. He’s leaving us tickets for Sunday’s game.”
Ron said, “You think I’ll like him?”
Harry smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I do!”
Ron smiled back and said, “Really? What is baseball though?”
“It’s popular sport here. It’s sort of like cricket.”
“Oh, okay. Don’t know much about that sport either, but cool.”
They spent the rest of what was left of the late afternoon calling Hermione’s parents asking for money. They just said they were having a great time and were spending too much money, but they would be more careful next week. They both breathed a sigh a relief when they got off the phone.
After that Ron said he had to meet Paul for a while and he would meet Harry at the hotel at seven to eat dinner and get ready for the party. Harry didn’t trust Ron. He had a feeling this meeting had something to do with the costume Ron had in mind for him. Harry was still so tired, he just let it go and went back to the room and took a nap.
Harry stirred when he heard Ron come in the room. Ron pounced on him and shook his shoulders. “Come on, Harry! Get up, get up! Let’s go eat and get ready for the party!”
“Oh, Ron!”
“Don’t even start!”
“Okay! Okay! But what have you decided I’m supposed to wear tonight? ‘Cause if it’s-”
“No, it’s good!” Ron jumped off the bed and grabbed a bag he had discarded next to the door. He pulled out a pointed hat, a wand and a cape.
Harry’s eyes bugged out. “I’m going as a...wizard?”
Ron rolled back on his bed, laughing hysterically. “Yes!”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Oh, my God. You do realize, you are going to be the only one to get the joke?”
Ron continued laughing. “Yeah!” He was finally calming down and said, “What ‘til you see what I’m going to be!” He rummaged through the bag again and pulled out a white shirt and a blue...Harry couldn’t quite tell what it was...a blue skirt?
Ron put the skirt up to his hips and twirled. Harry said, “Oh, Ron, you’re kidding, right?”
“No way! This is gonna be fun!”
“And what the hell are you supposed to be anyway?”
Ron twirled again and said, “A school girl!”
Harry laughed and said, “Brilliant! Can I take a picture and send it back to your mother?”
Ron threw the skirt at Harry. Harry caught it and held it up. “Don’t you think it’s a bit short, I mean, are you ready to advertise again?” Harry, in spite of not being thrilled about dressing up, was in a good mood and enjoyed teasing Ron.
Ron said, “Oh, shut up, Harry. Come on, let’s go eat dinner.”
They went downstairs to the hotel restaurant. Frank, the bartender, was on duty and walked over to Harry. “Hey, what happened to you last night?”
“Oh, well, it’s long story.” Harry could feel himself turning red.
Frank said, “Well, I’ve heard versions from some of the staff, but I wanted your side of the story.”
Harry said, “Oh, I don’t have the energy. It was horrible. Really.”
Frank laughed and said, “Okay, another time! Here, let me get you guys a table.” Frank grabbed a couple of menus and called to a waiter, who came over and led Harry and Ron to a table.
After they had ordered, Harry asked, “So, Ron, who is going to be at this party?”
Ron said, “Oh, Paul and some of his friends and some people I’ve met at the clubs. It’ll be okay, Harry. It’ll be fun.”
Harry said, “I’m not sure I like that Paul.”
Ron said, “Oh, he’s a bit pushy, but he’s alright.”
Harry said, “Hmmmm.” The waiter came with their plates of food, so the conversation stopped and as Harry didn’t want to irritate Ron anymore, by acting like he didn’t want to go to this party, he shut his mouth about Paul.
After dinner, they ran upstairs to get dressed for the party. Harry decided to wear all black under the cape and pulled out black jeans and a t-shirt. Ron had, in the meantime, gone into the bathroom with his outfit. Harry just ignored him. He didn’t want to think about what Ron was going to look like when he finally came out of the bath.
Harry got dressed and threw on the cape. He wanted to wait until they got to the party to put on the hat. He walked over to the door and banged on it. “Ron, it’s time to go. Are you ever coming out?”
Ron yelled, “Shut up! I’ll be out in a second.” The door opened a moment later and Harry just stared at Ron.
The short blue skirt was above mid thigh and the white shirt was tied to show Ron’s midriff. He had on white runners with anklet socks. Since his hair was long enough to get by with it, he had his hair in two short pigtails coming out of each side of his head. He had on a little pink eye shadow and plum lipstick, as well.
Harry kept staring. Ron finally said, “Do I look alright?”
Harry said, “Well, except for the hair on your legs...you’re actually oddly attractive, yet it is a bit disturbing.”
Ron said, “Do I take that as a compliment?”
Harry said, “Yeah.”
Ron looked down to his legs and said, “Do you think I should-”
Harry said forcefully, “No! Don’t even think about it!”
Ron laughed and said, “Okay. Hey, you look good! Put on your hat!”
“No, not until we get there.”
Ron glared at Harry and said, “Harry, no one is going to be looking at you.”
“Okay, you have a point!” Harry grabbed his hat and wand off the bed and put his hat on his head.
Ron walked to his own bed and grabbed his own items. “Harry, would you mind carrying my things? I don’t have any pockets.”
Harry didn’t look up, but said, “Sure.”
Ron walked over and handed Harry his passport, money, key, and a tube of lipstick. Harry started to balk, but Ron said, “Come on, Harry, please?”
Harry growled, but stuck the lipstick in his front jeans pocket and the passport, money and key, along with his own in his back pockets.
They were finally ready to go.