Title - Getting Away 9/14

Author - Lena

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

Rating - this chapter - NC-17

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

Chapter Nine - Laura

Harry received another letter from Laura. He got it from Mrs. Weasley on Sunday when he came over to dinner. She wanted to visit and hoped it was okay. She was coming to visit in three weeks time. Harry had barely time to send off a quick note, saying yes, he wanted to see her and that she was more than welcome to stay at his new home.

After he mailed the letter, he went to the phone company on the other side of St. Ottery Catchpole and ordered a phone. He realized he would have to have a phone for her. He then went home and looked around his house, wondering what Wizarding things he would need to hide. He wanted her to stay with him, but he had forgotten that he was a wizard when he’d said yes.

*****

A week later Harry called the hotel in Miami that he and Ron had stayed at and asked for Laura’s uncle, Frank.

“Harry! How the hell are you?”

Harry laughed and said, “I’m doing well. You know Laura is coming to visit, right?”

“Yeah, she told me and I told her to behave herself!” Frank growled, but Harry could tell Frank was good-natured about it.

“She will, she will. I promise.”

Frank said, “Hmmm…well, okay!” He laughed.

“Would you mind giving her my phone number, so she can call me when she gets to town? I sent her a note, but didn’t include my number.”

“No problem. Shoot…”

Harry gave him the number and they chatted for a few more minutes before Harry finished the call. He was glad that Laura would be coming to visit.

*****

Harry received a phone call at eight one Saturday morning two weeks later.

“’Lo..,” Harry mumbled.

“Harry? Oh, dear! Did I wake you?”

Harry woke instantly at recognizing Laura’s voice.

“No, it’s okay! Are you here?” Harry was really excited to hear her voice.

“Yes! Could you come and get me?”

Her voice sounded lovely over the phone, Harry thought.

*****

He used magic to get to London, then Muggle transportation to get to Heathrow. He knew he was going to have to tell her he was a wizard, eventually. Ryan knew about Ron, why couldn’t Laura know about him?

He got to the airport and went to meet Laura at the baggage claim. He saw her on the sidewalk. She was looking around.

Harry called, “Laura!”

Laura turned and smiled broadly. “Harry!” She ran towards him and hugged him tight. He hugged her back.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Oh, me too, Harry!”

They let go of each other and Harry reached down to take one of her suitcases. He led her to a taxi stand and they stood for a bit waiting for the next taxi.

“This is great, Harry. I’m really looking forward to this vacation.” Laura smiled.

“Me, too.” Harry smiled back.

*****

They got back to Harry’s flat and Harry set her up in the spare room.

She yawned and he said, “Oh, I’m sure you’re tired!“

“I do think I need a nap,“ Laura said, yawning again.

He left the room, wishing her sweet dreams. He sat on the couch wondering what he should expect this vacation. He wasn’t sure what she expected. He would be willing to be with her, but liked her enough not to push things if she didn’t want that.

****

Later when she had a nap, Harry asked if she wanted to go out.

“Yes, I’m famished!”

“You sure you aren’t too tired?”

“No, I’m hungry and would love to go to a pub.”

Harry grinned at her. “Yeah, okay, I’m taking you to an English pub.”

He made sure to take her to the oldest, most English pub he could think of. They weren’t all really like what she was thinking, but he wanted her to enjoy herself and her first trip to England.

They sat at a small round table. Harry ordered a couple of pints and some cod and chips. They sat talking about what she wanted to see around town.

Then she asked, “Frank sees Ryan and Ron occasionally, you know.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Oh, well, you know…um…”

“What?”

“Um, have you talked to Ron recently?”

“Er…no. We kind of had a falling out when they visited a couple of months ago.”

“Mmmm…I wondered because the last time Frank saw Ron, he tried to talk to him about you and Ryan glared at him. Ron sort of mumbled, I guess, but believe me, Frank was sorry he asked.”

“I don’t know.” Harry said more loudly than he intended. “I don’t know what Ron is doing.”

Laura reached over and patting his arm. “It’s okay, Harry. I was just asking.”

Harry mumbled, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Do you mind me asking why you two had a…falling out?”

Harry looked down at his ale. He took a drink. Then he looked out the window.

“Harry?”

“It’s a long story. I’m not sure I want to talk about it.”

“It’s okay. But, I’ll listen if you want me to.”

“Thanks.”

“Can I asked you another question, Harry?”

“Okay.” Harry wasn’t sure he liked all these questions.

Laura paused for a moment, then asked, “Are you gay, Harry?”

Harry spluttered his drink. He looked at her with wide eyes. Merlin, was he obvious?

“Why? Why do you ask that?”

“I’m sorry, Harry. It’s just that Frank thinks that, well, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be asking…sorry…”

“No, please go ahead, what does Frank think?” Harry was angry now.

“Just all that between you and Ron at the airport and Ron on the way back in the car and Ryan and well, now the falling out and, um…sorry…”

“Stop saying you’re sorry.”

Laura didn’t say anything.

“What happened in the car on the way back?”

Laura hesitated, but then said, “Ryan just didn’t seem happy with the way Ron said goodbye to you.”

Harry looked down at his beer. “Yes, I’m gay, well, bi actually and I’m in love with Ron. He’s had feelings for me for years, but I would never admit it.”

“Oh.”

“Look, I like you Laura. I don’t know what you are expecting during this trip. I would be interested in you, but I’m not sure about myself and a lot of things.”

“You’re my friend, Harry. I like you a lot, but if you aren’t ready for something between us, that’s okay with me. I want to have a good time on this vacation. I don’t want for either of us to be uncomfortable.”

Harry smiled, “Me neither.”

Laura smiled back. “Then let’s toast to a good time on this vacation. Fun and friends.”

Harry lifted his glass to hers and clinked them together. He said happily, “Cheers.”

*****

The next morning, Harry was called in to work. He was miffed and didn’t want to leave Laura home alone. He thought of taking her to the Burrow, but that didn’t seem to be a good idea. He had yet to tell her about wizards, witches and the rest of it.

He racked his brain for a solution. Then he thought about Neville. Neville would show her around and he understood about being around the Muggle world and keeping quiet sometimes. He grew up in the Wizarding World, but his job at the Ministry of Magic in the Herbology Department caused him to sometimes come in contact with Muggles.

He sent Hedwig out with a note, hoping it wasn’t Neville’s day to work. Neville worked odd hours and Harry never knew exactly what his work schedule was.

Neville agreed and he meet Harry and Laura at the phone booth in front of the Ministry of Magic, though Laura didn’t know that.

“Laura, this is Neville. Neville, Laura.” Laura smiled at Neville and Neville’s eyes brightened. Harry could tell he thought she was pretty.

*****

Neville and Laura were to meet Harry at a restaurant at five o’clock. Harry kept looking at the clock on the wall. He was miffed at a quarter after, anger at half past, then worried an hour later. He got up from the table and went outside to look for them. He heard Neville call his name. Harry turned. He saw Neville and Laura running up the street, holding hands.

They ran up to Harry breathless. “So sorry, Harry!”

“Oh, yes, I’m sorry we’re late!” Laura said breathlessly.

“I took Laura to the Kew Gardens and…”

“Oh, it was so lovely! And Neville is so smart!”

“Well, now, I just told her all about some of the plants.” Neville looked bashful.

“Oh, no! That’s just not true. He knows so much!”

“Harry and I went to school together remember?”

“Oh, yes!” Then to Harry’s surprise, she winked at him.

What the hell! Harry nodded, very unsure of why she winked and why Neville was still holding her hand.

“Um, well…do you two want to eat?” asked Harry.

Laura said, “Sure!”

So, they all went into the restaurant.

Laura and Neville monopolized the conversation, which was fine with Harry. After a while, Harry excused himself to go to the loo.

He was in loo, when the door opened and Neville came in.

“Harry, I need to talk to you.”

“Okay,” Harry finished washing his hands and grabbed a towel to dry his hands.

“Look, it just sort of happened.”

“What?” Harry had an idea what.

“Well, we get on so well and we liked the gardens and well, I told her about us.”

“Us?” For one bizarre moment, Harry thought Neville meant something else.

“Yeah, I know you didn’t want her to know, but…well…”

“Neville! You mean she knows…” Harry lowered his voice. “We’re wizards?”

Neville nodded his head. “She was okay with it. She’s read books and seen movies and…”

“We aren’t like movies and books, Neville!”

“Well, I know, but she was okay with it. Really!”

Harry sighed. There was nothing he could do about it now. He wondered if she had a million questions.

“There’s something else, Harry.”

Here it comes, Harry thought.

“I know you like her, but she said you two were friends and I was wondering if you minded if I asked her out. Um, you know, she’s so nice…but if you like her and don’t want me to, I won’t!” Neville finished in a hurry.

“Well, I like her and I wouldn’t mind going out with her, but we sort of decided that nothing would happen, at least right now,” Harry sighed again. “So, if she is okay with it, then yeah, you can go out with her.”

Neville grinned. “Thanks, Harry!”

“Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Neville left.

Harry waited a few minutes, then went out to the table. Laura was looking at Neville with shining eyes. Harry was upset, but not mad. He had kind of wanted to date Laura, but they were just friends, so why shouldn’t she and Neville go out together if they liked each other. He was thinking all this rationally, yet it still bugged him. He supposed if Ron was around, he wouldn’t have even wanted to start something with Laura. He sighed loudly without thinking.

Laura turned to him. “Oh, sorry, Harry!” She smiled, then continued, “Really, are you okay with Neville and I? He just said he talked to you and you were okay with it.”

Harry forced a smile. “I’m okay. I want you to have fun and go out with who you want.”

“Thanks, Harry.”

“Yeah, thanks, mate.”

Harry grabbed the check and pulled out his Muggle money to pay.

Neville said, “Wait, let me.”

“No, my treat!”

At the end of the evening, after coffee and dessert at a outdoor café down the block, it became obvious that Laura was going to go home with Neville.

“I’ll be home in the morning, Harry, I promise and we’ll do something tomorrow, okay?”

Harry didn’t believe her, but said that was fine.

*****

The next morning, Laura came by at breakfast. “Let me shower, change, then you need to take me sightseeing!”

Harry was shocked she showed up. “Oh, sure. But I figured you’d stay with Neville!”

“No, Harry. You invited me to stay. He has to work and besides, I want to spend time with you. You’re my friend, aren’t you?”

Harry smiled. “Yeah, I am.”

“Good.”

*****

They spent the day together, Harry showing her Big Ben, the Thames, the Changing of the Guard…all the typical tourist spots. They laughed and had a good time.

They met Neville in the evening for dinner and Laura began her pattern for the week. After the initial shock, it was all right with Harry. He was happy just spending time with good friends.

*****

At the end of the week, Laura went home with plans to return on her next school break. Neville already had his vacation planned to visit the United States the next month.

After dropping Laura off at the airport, Harry met Bill at the club. They sat at Harry’s regular table near the dance floor.

“So, how’s it going, Harry?” asked Bill.

“It’s okay. You know, I really need to thank you for introducing me to Sheridan and well, this place, too.” Harry said.

“You’re welcome, but you pretty much did it on your own, you know.” Bill said.

Harry shrugged. Harry was beginning to really understand himself. He knew it would take his whole life and he would always learn more, but he was much more comfortable than he had been. He even stopped thinking about Ron all the time. Not because he didn’t love him. Oh, he did. But because Ron did what he needed to do and Harry knew he should do what he needed to do and if they at some point, some day, ended up together, Harry would be ready and wouldn’t change his mind. And if not, that was okay with Harry. He would love Ron for his whole life.

“Are you seeing John or Sheridan? Or John AND Sheridan?” Bill laughed.

“No, neither exclusively. Like them both a lot, but I just need to do my own thing for a while.”

Bill nodded, smirking and took a sip of his beer.

Harry looked around at the people dancing. His eye caught on a man across the dance floor, sitting in a table on the other side. He had red hair that danced in the nightclub lights. He noticed the man staring back at him. It was rare to find a red head that wasn’t related to a Weasley.

“Go on, Harry.” Bill said.

“You sure?” Harry asked.

“Of course!” Bill said.

Harry got up from the table and walked around the dance floor to the man. Harry leaned towards him, still standing, and said, “Can I sit down?”

The man smiled at him and motioned for him to sit. “Yes.”

Harry sat down and looked away from the man and back towards the dance floor.

“Would you like to dance?” the man asked.

Harry turned back to him and said, “Sure.” Harry had tried a number of things in the last few months, why not dancing?

They got up and the man grabbed Harry’s hand. He led Harry to the dance floor and then wrapped his arms around his neck. Harry slowly put his arms around the man’s waist and they began swaying to the music. The music was slow and soft. Harry could feel the man’s growing erection press against his leg. He was sure his own hardness was pressing against the man, as well.

He rested his head on the man’s chest and let the guy place his head in the crook of Harry’s neck. He felt small wet nibbles on his neck. Harry reached down his hand and placed it on the fellow’s arse. They began grinding themselves into each other. He put his nose in the red hair and could swear he could smell chocolate, something like Ron.

Finally the guy whispered in Harry’s ear, “Want to go outside?”

In spite of Harry’s usual apprehension, he said, “Yes.”

The man grabbed Harry’s hand once again, as they walked through the crowd and went outside.

They ducked down a narrow alley and Harry faced the man. The fellow grabbed Harry’s face and pressed a hard kiss on his lips. He pushed his tongue inside Harry’s mouth. Harry responded by grabbing the man’s arms and clutching his body close to his own. The man put his hand on Harry’s back and pressed him even closer.

The man got down on his knees and began pulling Harry’s belt, then unbuttoning his jeans away from him. He yanked them down, along with Harry’s boxers. He grabbed Harry’s cock and began stroking it a few times, before he finally took Harry’s cock into his mouth.

Harry felt the warm, wet mouth envelope his cock and he wanted more. He jerked forward and the man moved his mouth up and down the length of Harry’s shaft. He moved his hand under one of Harry’s balls and fingered it expertly. Harry could feel his tongue move along the underside of Harry’s cock.

Harry leaned up against the wall for support, though he was not sure how he was going to be able to stand up for another moment. The bloke pulled on Harry’s cock, sucking it until Harry thought he might just swallow it.

The man sucked and sucked, then at the moment Harry let out a deep, low groan, the man, with all of Harry’s cock inside his mouth and the tip deep into the back of his throat, swallowed. Harry bucked forward and felt his release spray into the man’s mouth. The man swallowed and swallowed until Harry was spent. Harry slumped against the wall, sweaty and exhausted.

It took a moment before Harry could find his voice. Then he croakily said, “Wow. Thank you.” He was a loss for words.

“No worries. I love sucking dick.” the man said.

“I guess.” Harry retorted.

“Want to go back inside to dance some more?” the man asked.

“Yeah, sure.” Harry pulled up his boxers and jeans and adjusted himself. The two walked back around the corner to the club and went back inside.

As they walked back to the man’s table, Harry asked, “Oh, by the way, what’s your name?”

The fellow smiled at him and said, “Chris.”

“I’m Harry.”

They sat down and began to chat and watch everyone dance. Harry smiled when he saw that Bill was talking to a girl, so did not feel guilty that he had left him behind.