Title: Where You Find It

Author: Lena

Pairing: Ron/Remus, Ron/Harry, past Remus/Sirius

Rating: Chapter 2 - PG-13

Genre: War Fic, Angst, Romance, loads of things…

Warnings: Not really…although, I guess HBP pretty much didn’t happen…

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry or Ron or anything in the HP world. Darn it.

Summary: The War has started and Harry is missing. Ron finds someone surprising to love. Someone he never thought he would have so much in common.

Author’s Notes: Each chapter represents some of the different stages in a relationship. The pairing idea came from Matilda Bishop. So, thank you to her! And thank you so much, as always, to my beta and friend, Lorien_Eve.

Chapter Two - Knowing

The manager of Borgin and Burkes seemed to be keeping information from Tonks and Shacklebolt, so Moody sent Ron and Remus the next week. They weren’t having much luck either.

“You must know something about what the Malfoys have been up to?” Remus asked the manager.

“I don’t get involved in my customer’s business.”

Ron snorted. “Right!”

The manager looked at Ron with disdain. Remus knew it was because he was a Weasley. Remus looked sideways at Ron, trying to will him to be quiet.

“Maybe, but you know what they buy and what it could be used for. Any torture equipment, perhaps?”

Remus heard Ron suck in his breath.

“No, I don’t carry dark items like that.”

“All right. We are obviously getting nowhere. We’ll visit another time.” Remus turned to leave, but Ron just stood there staring at the manager.

Remus stepped back and grabbed Ron’s arm, pulling him away.

They stepped out into the Alley. Remus dropped Ron’s arm and they began walking towards Diagon Alley.

“He knows something,” snarled Ron.

“Yes, he does. We need more Aurors to do a thorough raid and the timing needs to be right.”

Ron sighed with frustration and said, “Well, let’s send an owl to the Order about Borgin and Burkes.”

“An owl?“

“I’m not going back to work. I need to get pissed tonight. Would you join me at the Three Broomsticks?”

Remus wasn’t much of a drinker really, but he thought he might like to spend time with Ron, so he said, “All right. Sounds good.”

*****

They walked in and grabbed a table in a far corner. Madame Rosmerta came over after a few minutes and took their orders.

After she left, Ron said, “What a week. I start it with drinking firewhiskey, and I’m going to end it with drinking firewhiskey.”

“Everyone needs to breakdown now and again.”

Ron looked up at him. “How are you, Remus? You know with your--”

Remus knew he was referring to the werewolf “problem.” “I’m all right. I still take the Wolfsbane Potion, which helps with some of the effects, and I board myself up at Grimmauld when I need to, as you know. I manage it.”

Rosmerta returned with the drinks and set them in front of the two men.

“Things just get in the way sometimes, don‘t they…when you want…things…stupid, really…” Ron trailed off and looked into the bottom of his drink.

“I guess they do.”

“Thanks for partnering with me. I’m not sure anyone else would’ve right now.“

“I’m glad I offered. I think we make a good pairing.“

Ron wavered, between wanting and not wanting to say more. He got up and went to the bar to get another drink. He stood there waiting for it. He could feel Remus looking at him. After he was given the drink, he stood there for another moment. He gathered himself the best he could and turned back, returning to the table.

Ron reached the table and said with a swagger, “Aw, enough of this shit. I wanna get pissed.” He sat down and gulped half of his drink.

“Is that a good idea?”

“I don’t give a fuck.”

“Oh, all right,” and Remus gulped his drink as well.

Ron looked at him and smiled. “I have an idea.”

“Oh, dear.”

“It’s going to be really childish, but kind of a truth and dare thing.”

“What?” Remus looked at Ron like he’d finally gone round the bend.

“Wait a minute…” Ron got up again and went back to the bar. Remus saw him whisper to the bartender. The bartender gave him a huge bottle of firewhiskey and two shot glasses.

Ron walked quickly back over and set everything on the table in front of Remus. He poured firewhiskey into the two shot glasses, and then sat down again.

“Okay, we have to tell some sort of secret about someone we’ve been with or something, then take a shot.”

Remus looked confused. “I don’t get it.”

“I’m not explaining it right. I’ll start, then you’ll see.” Ron had a gleam in his eye.

Remus was apprehensive. “I’m not sure about this.”

Ron laughed, and then said; “I saw Harry naked in the loo once.”

Remus burst out laughing. “So what! You think I haven’t seen a naked bloke?”

“Yeah, but Harry has a nice arse.” Ron took a drink.

“Yeah? Well, so did Sirius.” Lupin took a drink.

“Well, Harry’s arse was firm and fit.”

“Sirius’s felt firm and fit.”

Ron spluttered. “Fff…felt?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I heard Harry wanking off once.”

Remus waved his hand in annoyance. “Please…heard?”

Shots of alcohol went back and forth between the two.

“Well, I could sort of see, out of the corner of my eye!”

Remus laughed.

Ron continued, “I saw Harry’s in the loo and it’s huuuge…”

“Sirius’s was bigger.”

“Ha! What a laugh. Harry’s was…was…” Ron gulped his shot, then ran a shaky hand through his hair.

Remus was quiet.

Ron whispered, “Were you and Sirius…”

Lupin looked down at his glass. “Yes. For a while.”

“Oh. Sorry. James?”

“No, he was mad for Lily. But I do know how you feel, not having the one you love.”

Ron looked away and sighed.

Remus touched his arm. “But, Ron, I really believe we will find Harry. You can’t give up hope.”

“No, I haven’t really. I mean, I have my moments, I guess, but I still hope we find him. When we do, I will have to see if things work with him…you know, try to make him see we should try…”

Remus nodded his head, not sure what he thought about that. Then he smiled. “Come on, Ron. Drink up. I thought you were going to get pissed tonight?”

Ron laughed and took another full shot.

*****

“Yeah, so, when I saw Harry wanking, I peeked from under my covers and Merlin, you’d need a fucking meterstick he’s so huge and I got SO hard…” Ron was retelling the story loudly for the fourth time, as Remus laughed and slammed his fist on the table.

Madame Rosmerta stomped over with a determined look on her face. “Would the two of you please leave! I realize no one else thinks that this is a nice place, but I do, and this ruddy talk is bothering my other customers!” She turned on her heel to walk away.

Ron said, “Merlin, she’s got such a set of-”

Rosmerta turned back and yelled, “Get out of my bar!!”

“Aw, shit. Come on, Remus.”

Remus and Ron got up from the table with difficulty and staggered to the door.

They walked out into the street, bumping into each other and laughing.

“Ron?”

“Yeah?”

“You started to mention Rosmerta’s…”

“Tits?”

“Well, yes. Do you like women, too?”

“Mmmm…dunno. Not really. I just like body parts and sex, yeah.” Ron hesitated, then continued, “Well, Harry, really.”

“Oh.”

Ron asked, “Where are we headed?”

“We’re pretty pissed. Probably safer to go to your place, and not Grimmauld with the Order there.”

“Ugh…and my mother’s there this week.”

*****

They made it back to Ron’s flat in one piece, and Ron offered his room to Remus.

“No, Ron. I’ll make myself at home on your couch.”

“Remus, you’re kidding, right? That couch is too small for you.” Ron gestured towards the dumpy, short couch.

“Well, you won’t fit on it either.”

Ron sighed, “Bloody hell, what are we on about? We’re wizards.” He marched to his room, and with a flick of his wand, conjured a bigger bed with two pillows.

“I’m knackered.” Ron collapsed on the bed with a thump. He toed off his trainers, and scooted up the covers to reach the pillow. “Turn off the light, Remus.”

Remus stood there for a moment. He’d had plenty to drink, but he wasn’t drunk. He was tired, but not too tired to wonder why Ron had conjured one bed instead of two, and wonder whether he should shed his clothes or just his shoes like Ron did.

He realized he was thinking too much. And looking at Ron laying haphazardly in bed, long red hair falling over his head to cover his youthful face and the lean, strong look of Ron’s arms, then the loud snore…

Remus shook his head. What was he bloody doing? Looking at Molly and Arthur’s youngest son, like he had Sirius? Ron was older now, and not a boy anymore, but still…

Remus put his hands on his head to try to push away the thoughts flying through his brain. Maybe he’d had too much to drink after all, and it addled his brain.

He finally pulled off his shoes and walked over to the vacant side of the bed and lay down cautiously. He had this overwhelming feeling he should do something. Scoot closer? Put his arm around Ron? Lean against him? But he didn’t. He lay there for a while, trying to will himself to sleep. Trying to forget that there was an attractive man lying next to him.

*****

Ron smacked his lips together. He groaned as he turned over and remembered that he should, by all rights, deserve a hangover. He sat up quickly, deciding that indeed he did have a hangover and he should never sit up quickly the rest of his life. He groaned again and put his hand on his forehead.

“Bloody hell.”

“Well, you’re the one who wanted to get pissed last night.”

Ron opened his eyes and saw Remus coming in the room with a glass of some sort of liquid in his hand.

“Here, quick fix. It’ll make you feel better.”

Ron took it and drank. Magical chocolate. Warm, soothing, and melted. Slowly, it moved down his throat. “Mmmm…” Remus always remembered to have enough chocolate on hand. “Remus, you are a terrific bloke. Perfect.”

Remus blushed and moved away from Ron. He cleared his throat. “Um, if you need more, there’s some in the kitchen.”

“Thanks.” Ron drained the glass. “I’m good for now.”

Remus wrung his hands and said, “I should be going to work.”

“Right. But give me a minute, and I’ll go with you.” Ron began to scoot off the bed.

Remus put his hands up. “No, Ron. Really, you aren’t up to it yet. Give yourself a couple of hours.”

Ron gave him an odd look, but said, “Well…all right…but come by later and let me know what’s going on.”

Remus smiled. “Of course.” He left the bedroom to Disapparate to Grimmauld Place to find someone from the Order, then to the Ministry.

Ron sat there wondering if Remus was upset about something. He didn’t remember a hell of a lot the night before, so he wondered if he said something he shouldn’t have. Like that he thought Remus was a really nice bloke. Someone easy to talk to. Someone who seemed to understand him. Had a lot of common with. Someone who was a lot of fun, made him laugh, though he hadn’t realized it before because they hadn’t really had the opportunity to spend time together and…

Ron groaned and clutched his head. He stood and wavered for a minute. Then he thought about how tall Remus was, like himself, and how fit Remus was and that his scars made him look really tough and…

“Fuck. Need more chocolate.” Then Ron staggered from the bedroom.