Title - Getting Away 6/14

Author - Lena

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

Rating - this chapter - R

Feedback - [email protected]

For warnings, disclaimers, etc. please see chapter 0/14

Chapter Six - Visiting

Harry and Sheridan had been dating for about a month, though nothing too serious and Harry would look and be curious about other men, but hadn’t acting on it. He wasn’t sure why. Sheridan had all sorts of ideas, like Harry was waiting for Ron, but he shrugged her off and said he would go out with a guy when he wanted.

Then Hermione heard from Ron. He called her and asked her to tell the family and Harry that he and Ryan would be visiting. They would be there in three weeks and would stay two weeks.

Even though, their last conversation had been strained, Harry was excited that Ron would be coming home. Well, visiting anyway. Harry wasn’t sure about Ron bringing Ryan, but he was glad just the same. He was nervous too, about Ron visiting. It had been only a little over two months since Harry had seen Ron, but he missed him.

*****

Harry told Sheridan that Ron was coming to visit.

“Maybe you can work things out now,” she said.

“I don’t know. Ryan’s coming and they don’t sound like they are unhappy or anything.” Harry said, sadly.

“You didn’t talk to him yourself. Besides you never know what will happen unless you try,” she said, hopefully.

“But Sheridan, what if he doesn’t want me? And he’s not going to want to break up with Ryan. I really mess up our friendship, what is left of it anyway.” Harry said.

“Harry, listen, you aren’t going to be happy unless you tell him. You have to be honest with him.” She said.

“I can‘t.” Harry said.

“Well, you do need to work on yourself a bit more. But if you don’t say something, you will never know and you will never get past it.” She said.

“Yeah. I just don’t know how to tell him.” Harry admitted.

“From what you’ve told me about Ron, he already knows.” She said, honestly.

Harry did not say anything more, but knew what she said was true.

*****

Since, Harry had his own place now and he hoped to talk Ron into staying one week at his place and one week at the Burrow. He had kept up his correspondence with Laura and was interested to see how she was, as she had written that she had stopped in while in Florida for a long weekend and visited Ron.

Three weeks went by quickly. Harry argued with Mrs. Weasley about picking Ron and Ryan up from the airport. He insisted that it would be easier especially since Ryan couldn’t use any magic. Harry, at least, knew how to get around without magic, though it was inconvenient.

*****

He waved at them, as he saw Ron and Ryan carrying their suitcases from the baggage claim. Ron jogged ahead of Ryan with his new suitcase banging against his knees. He got to Harry and dropped the suitcase. He grabbed Harry in a big bear hug and yelled, “Harry!”

Harry squeaked out, “Ron!” He couldn’t breath, but he didn’t care because his best mate was home. Ron let go and Harry could see the big grin that was splashed across his face.

Ryan strolled from behind and stopped. Harry saw him and extended his hand to shake. Ryan shook his hand and said, “Nice to see you again, Harry.”

Harry said, “You too, Ryan.” Ron picked up his suitcase again and they walked to the taxi stand and waited. Harry said to Ryan, “So, I heard your team did well again this year.”

Ryan grinned and said, “Yeah, won the World Series again. We shouldn’t get used to it though!”

Harry asked, “Why do they call it a World Series when there are just teams from the United States?”

Ron laughed. That bothered Harry because he thought he had asked a reasonable question.

Ryan laughed, as well, and leaned against the wall behind the taxi stand. “Well, there’s a Canadian team, but yeah, doesn’t make much sense does it?” Ryan laughed again, then continued, “I think it is because baseball is a mostly American sport and we Americans tend to get a little...full of...ourselves.”

Ron piped in. “The games were so exciting, Harry. The crowds were so loud and it was kind of like the Quidditch World Cup. Ryan played so well!”

Harry smiled at him. A taxi then came up. They loaded the suitcases and piled into the automobile.

The taxi took them as far as the edge of St. Ottery Catchpole and they got out and walked the rest the way. It was not very far, and Ron and Harry had done this many times before. They had light conversation, but Harry noticed Ron constantly interrupted him to say, “Ryan did...Ryan said...Ryan went...” Harry could hardly get a word in edgewise.

They arrived at the Burrow and Harry watched Ryan's face as they walked up the porch. He looked amused, more than anything. Ron led the way, with Ryan behind him and Harry following him. Ron called out, "Mum?"

They were all in the living room, as Mrs. Weasley bustled from the kitchen. "Oh, Ronald!" She grabbed him and hugged him tight.

Ron said, "Mum...Mum...I want you meet Ryan."

Mrs. Weasley let go and looked from Ron to Harry to Ryan. Ron said, "Mum, I want you to meet, Ryan Robinson. Ryan, this is my mum, Molly Weasley." Harry stood there wondering when Ron had acquired his new impeccable manners.

Ryan smiled and reached out his hand to Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley reached out and hugged him instead. She did not even come up to his shoulders, but she squeezed him and said, “Oh, I am glad to meet you.” She then said, “Come, let’s sit down.” She took Ryan’s hand and let him to the couch. Ron followed. Harry was left at the door with the suitcases.

Harry was irritated, but said happily, “I’ll take these upstairs.” Nobody paid attention. Harry hauled the suitcases up to Ron’s room. He sat on Ron’s bed for a minute. He knew Mrs. Weasley saw him everyday, but he felt like he was part of the furniture. He didn’t want to go downstairs. He had a feeling these next two weeks were not going to be as fun as he thought.

He did want to spend time with Ron. Harry remembered the feelings he had when he saw Ron again. It was a mix of emotions that confused him. Warm love of a best mate and the jolt to the groin that came from looking at a man. He released as much as he was looking forward to seeing Ron, he wasn’t sure he was ready. He was pretty sure, too, that he, Ron, and Ryan wouldn’t quite be the trio he, Ron and Hermione had been in school.

He sighed, got up and went downstairs.

Ron was going on again about the baseball games and how many hits Ryan had and how well he played... Harry tuned out. He felt stupid. He should be happy for Ron. He wanted to be happy for Ron, but he wasn‘t.

He had been so looking forward to seeing Ron and he had been happy to greet him at the airport, but what he kind of forgot about was that Ryan would be here too. He knew Ryan would be there, but he just didn’t think ahead about how this vacation would be. Ron would be wanting to show Ryan his home, and meet his friends, or visit places.

And Harry thought, how would he take Sheridan’s advice and admit to Ron how he felt, if he couldn’t talk privately with him? Harry sighed very loudly. Mrs. Weasley said, "Are you all right, Harry, dear?"

Harry jolted out of his trace. "Huh? Oh, yeah." Mrs. Weasley smiled at him, then turned back to Ryan.

"So, Ryan, dear, do you have brothers and sisters?" Harry tuned out once again.

A little while later, Ginny whooshed out of the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "Oh, Ginny!"

Ron got up quickly and embraced her. Harry smiled knowingly. Ryan, on the other hand, looked taken aback and had a shocked look on his face. Ron turned with his arm around Ginny's waist and said, "Ryan-"

Ron stopped when he saw Ryan's face. "How did she do that?"

Ron chuckled, "You are going find that my family does a lot of things differently! This is my sister, Ginny. Ginny, Ryan."

Ryan composed himself well enough to get up and greeted Ginny. "It’s nice to meet you." He shook her hand, but she reached out and hugged him. He hugged her back.

Ron said, "You better get used to it now, Ryan, my family hugs."

Harry sat and watched all the chatter for a while, before deciding to head home. He Apparated to Diagon Alley first hoping to run into someone, anyone he knew. But to no avail. He walked up to the bar, but decided not to go in. He didn’t want to look at men tonight. Men that he wanted, but didn’t have the courage to go home with. Harry leaned up against a wall. He was utterly frustrated with himself.

*****

Harry woke early the next morning, hoping to drop by the Burrow and catch up with Ron before he planned the day. He knew Ron wanted to take Ryan to the Ministry of Magic and show him where he used to work and some of his friends.

Harry got showered and dressed quickly. He stood in his fireplace, grabbed some floo powder and headed for the Burrow.

He burst through the fireplace and called out for Ron. Mrs. Weasley bustled out of the kitchen and said, "Hello, Harry dear, Ron and Ryan already left."

"What? Already?" Harry said, loudly than he meant.

"Yes, they said after the Ministry, they were going to have lunch and spend the afternoon in London, as well." She wiped her hands on her apron.

Harry frowned and said dejectedly, "All day?"

"Yes, did you want to go with them?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"No, I just wanted to talk to Ron." He was really upset. He had not been able to have five minutes alone with Ron. He had also taken extra days off of work while Ron was here.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Harry, are you upset?"

Harry was silent.

Mrs. Weasley prodded him again. "Harry?"

He muttered, "I just wanted to talk to Ron."

Mrs. Weasley said, "I will tell him when he comes home."

Harry said dejectedly, "Thank you." He started to walk to the fireplace to go back home.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Harry? Would like to stay around today? Wait for Ron?"

Harry said, "No, thank you. Just tell him I want to talk to him."

Mrs. Weasley said, "Of course, Harry."

Harry continued to the fireplace and went home.

He moped around his house all day. He had time to think, which he never really liked to do. He had missed Ron so much the last two months. He had been mad at Ron since he had gotten here and Harry had realized that Ron had no time for him.

What was wrong with him? He had introduced Ron to Ryan. He should be happy for them. He could say that all day to himself. He wanted other things, didn't he? He tried to tell himself that all day, as well.

But he knew deep down all he wanted was Ron. He wanted Ron so bad, it hurt. He was so angry with himself. Less than three months ago, things were so simple. But Harry knew they had never been simple, he had just chosen to ignore them. Ignore Ron and his feelings. Ignore his own feelings that had always frightened him.

He was only starting to understand his feelings, and he just knew that is what they were. He loved Ron.

He had always had trouble let people get close to him, love him. He’d had to learn how to make friends and love others. He had not know any of those feelings until he was eleven. When a boy asked if he could sit with him on a train.

Harry stopped pacing around the house and sat on the couch. He leaned over onto his side. He pulled one of the cushions over his face and cried.

After a while, Harry eventually sat upright and wiped his face on his sleeve. He looked at the end table and saw all the chocolate frogs he had gone to the trouble to buy for Ron. He wanted to cry again, but instead he got up and started pacing around the house. He did not want Ron and Ryan to show up while he was laying on the couch, crying.

*****

Ron and Ryan showed up in the late afternoon. Harry tried to look happy, but knew Ron could tell he was cranky.

"My mum said you wanted to talk to me?" Ron said distractedly.

Harry said, "Uh...yes." He had actually wanted to talk to him alone and spend time with him, like they used to.

Ron said, "Uh...we can go get our stuff and hang out here the next couple of days."

Harry said, "Okay." Although, Harry himself had this idea a few days ago, this was not exactly how Harry wanted it, but now he had no choice.

A while later, Ryan and Ron brought their things over.

"Want to go out to eat?" Ron asked.

Harry said, "Sure."

They went to a small pub that sold food. They sat at a small table in the back. They ordered their food when Ryan got up. He said, "I’ll be right back."

Ron smiled at him and said, "Okay." Ryan got up and walked in the direction of the loo.

Ron turned back to Harry who was picking at his food. "What’s going on, Harry?"

Harry sighed and said, "I just thought you could spend time together, like always."

Ron said, "We are."

Harry looked up at him and frowned, "No, we’re not and you know it. I like Ryan, but does he have to be around all the time?"

Ron said, "What am I supposed to do with him?”

Harry said, "I know, I did introduce you, but..." He sighed again. "I just wanted to hang out with you a little bit."

Ron said, "I am sorry. Maybe I could work it out for an afternoon or something..."

“Never mind,” Harry said angrily.

Ron said, “Harry…”

Harry said, "Okay. Okay." He saw Ryan weaving between the tables to reached their own table, so he said nothing more.

*****

Ron and Ryan went to London to visit Hermione, while Harry went to work. They said they would stop by with her for lunch with Harry at the Ministry of Magic.

They met in front of the Ministry of Magic. Hermione hugged Harry. “Did you have a good morning?” asked Harry.

“Oh, yes. Loads of fun! We went to Oxford Street.” Hermione said, excitedly.

Harry smiled. “Want to go to Diagon Alley for lunch?”

“How about just the Leaky?” Ron gestured to Ryan.

Harry had forgotten that they would not be able to Apparate with Ryan along. Even though, Hermione’s parents had been to Diagon Alley before, Harry guessed Ron didn’t want to totally freak out Ryan with this wizard business of Ron’s.

Harry turned a grimace into a smile and said, “Okay.”

They walked down to the Leaky and entered the building. Ryan looked around at everything, seemingly entranced by all of it. They sat at a round table with Harry between Hermione and Ron with Ryan between Ron and Hermione.

They ordered and Hermione began talking about their morning. She chatted away, much to Harry’s happiness. He did not want to hear what Ron and Ryan had to say. He was still upset that he was not spending time with Ron.

Hermione said something that made Ron laugh and Harry stopped daydreaming. Ron leaned over and said, “Harry, are you all right?”

“Uh, yeah.” Harry said.

Ron touched his upper arm and smiled at him. Harry looked over to Ryan and he was scowling. Ron quickly removed his hand from Harry. There was a uncomfortable silence at the table, until Hermione started the conversation again.

*****

Ron and Harry took Ryan to Fred and George’s joke shop after Harry got off work. They walked in and Fred was behind the counter pulling small boxes out of the a bigger box. George was helping a customer in the back of the store.

“Oi!” said Fred.

“Hey!” returned Ron. “This is Ryan. Ryan, these two blokes are my brothers Fred and George. Watch out for them!”

“Hey, what do you mean by that?” called George from the back of the store.

George came up to the front and the twins shook Ryan’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Would you like a piece of candy?”

“Don’t take it, Ryan! Don’t trust these two!”

“Awwww…little brother! We wouldn’t do anything to your beloved bloke!” George said.

“Right!” Ron steered Ryan away from his brothers and pointed some things out on the shelve on the wall.

George said quietly to Harry, “How’s it going?”

Harry shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes.

“That good.” George said.

“Yeah.” Harry said.

“Hmmm…too bad.” George said.

Harry followed Ron and Ryan, looking at the various things around the shop. Fred walked behind them talking, but Harry could tell he had something up his sleeve.

He handed Ryan a wand and said, “Try this!”

“What’s that?” Ron asked snottily.

“It’s just a fake wand. Big deal.” Fred said.

Ron muttered, “I don’t know.” Then said to Ryan, “Be careful.”

Ryan held it and asked, “Fred? What happens?”

“It changes into something, like a rubber chicken.” Fred said.

Ryan smiled, “That seems harmless.”

Harry laughed, “Harmless? Fred and George? I agree with Ron. Be careful!”

“Harry!” Fred and George said.

Just then the wand changed. As Ryan gripped it, it changed into a very large, very long, very pink dildo.

Fred and George laughed hysterically. Ryan stood there holding it, but smiling. He turned towards Ron and smirked. Ron’s eyes got huge and said, “No way!”

Fred said, “Oh, come on, Ron. You'll thank us tomorrow!”

“You both are such bloody gits!” Ron yelled.

Ryan seemed to take Fred and George in stride and laughed. He said, “Thanks, guys!”

“No, I’m serious. You are not taking that thing!” Ron said.

“Why not?” asked Ryan.

Ron gritted his teeth at his brothers, then turned to Ryan and said, “Look, it might turn into something else…and I am not going let you put one of my brothers’ joke wands…”

“…up his arse!” chimed Fred.

Harry laughed quietly. He thought it was funny, but it made him think about what Ron and Ryan did behind closed doors and he did not want to think about that as stupid as he felt for not thinking about it before...