Chapter 8  Seamus!!! or rather...Ron finally thinks
 
Ron nearly growled, then bit his lip to prevent the noise. He couldn’t decide who he was more jealous of, Neville or Harry. Harry was his best friend, yet he spent a fair amount of time with Neville now, almost turning into the blond boy’s elder brother. Neville in turn was quick to touch Harry and Harry allowed it, talking the boy quickly into his arms whenever he started to seem shaken up. And Neville looked so beautiful there, curled up and relaxed next to Harry. Ron mentally stomped on his own foot. Men weren’t beautiful! He glanced back over at Harry and Neville who were talking to Hermione, probably about homework, as they sat in front of the blazing fire of the Gryffindor common room. The weather had just taken a turn for the worse and people had begun to bundle sweaters under their robes. Neville, colder than most had bundled on not only a thick wool sweater, but a turtleneck shirt as well and …well, he looked adorable, huddled there. Ron shrugged; it was Neville, so maybe it was ok, at least…it wasn’t like he was gay or anything. Really.  But then Neville poked Harry, and Harry looked at Neville as the smaller boy asked something, then laughed and ruffled the blonde’s hair, making Neville’s blue eyes shine, and Ron was jealous.
 
Emily chuckled, watching Ron from where she sat behind Hermione stroking the girl’s untamable hair. Ron had the most amusing look on his face. He had opted to sit with Dean and Seamus, the latter of which had been bugging him for another chess match, but he wasn’t paying attention, he was too busy watching Harry and Neville, well, more Neville in particular. She sighed. She was going to have to talk to the silly boy soon, but right now she was too comfortable. The Gryffindor common room was so cozy and safe. It was nearly a month now since the Halloween dance, and all she had gotten from the Gryffindors was a barrage of questions and a few comments on how ‘bloody cool’ she was. Of course there were a few that seemed to avoid her, but they weren’t antagonistic. And then there was Hermione; sweet, smart, and so uncaring of the difference of being with someone of the same sex, unlike some guys she could name.

 Outside the Gryffindor house was different, as she well expected it to be. Some students had the same, curious reactions, some were overjoyed, some hid from her, and others glared at her in the hallways. She was simply glad that there always seemed to be some teacher or another around, and even if not Harry and the rest of the group were a protective clump around her. She smiled, she knew she could deal for herself, and probably kill anything that threatened her, but it was still comforting. Especially with Draco following, shadowed and protective, though possibly that was more for Harry than for her. He was always around whenever possible, though never blatantly, part of his house still wasn’t talking to him, and she had never found out what had happened with his father, but he had certainly be quiet recently and the teasing of Harry and his friends had all but stopped. Then there was a growl from Ron. Emily laughed out loud.

 “What is it?” Hermione asked, turning away from the giggling Harry and Neville to stare questioningly up at her girlfriend.

 Emily explained the growl and it’s reason, knowing that Hermione probably wouldn’t have heard. “’M gonna go talk ta him,” she finished. Hermione nodded.

 “Good luck, you’re going to need it. Ron’s a stubborn little git.”

 “Oui, I noticed.” She got up with one final brush of her hand down Hermione’s arm. Harry smiled on seeing this gesture. He hadn’t talked to Draco since that day in the infirmary. That in and of itself was starting to confuse him.
 

 “Ron’ld Weasly.”

 Ron looked up. “Yeah, Emily?” she still made him somewhat nervous.

 “C’mon, ya need ta talk ta someone ‘for ya blow som’thin’ up.”

 “What do you mean?”

 “Jus’ c’me wit’ me, Ron,” Emily sighed, exasperated.

 Ron turned to look at Seamus and realized that the boy had totally forgotten their game in favor of going on a quest to discover how Dean’s tonsils tasted (something he already knew and loved). Reluctantly he followed Emily out of the room and sat next to her on the stairs.

 “What do you want?”

 “Ron, did ya evah t’ink ya might be gay? ‘R a’ leas’ bi?”

 “What?” Ron had gone bright red, from his neck to the very tips of his ears.

 “Ya’ve been starin’ a’ Harry an’ Nev fer th’ past hour.”

 “I…I…”

 Emily’s face softened. “Ron if yer attracted ta one ‘a dem ya can’t kick yerself ovah it. ‘S perfectly natural.”

 “I’m not though!”

 “Yer sure ‘bout dat?”

 “Well of course I am!” Emily looked expectantly at Ron, who lowered his gaze, ashamed. “No.”

 “ ‘S no’ a bad t’ing, Ron.”

 “It’s not right either though.”

 “How is it wrong?”

 “I’m not gay!”

 “Bi den.” Emily was perfectly calm.

 Ron had gone from bright red to quite pale, and buried his head between his knees. He trusted Emily now at least. Things had changed after the Halloween dance, she was still a bit scary but also more comfortable to be around. And her relationship with Hermione…though weird to him at first, eventually became not just sweet but what was natural. Her hand rested comfortingly on his shoulder as he collected himself.

 “Ron,” she asked softly. “D’ya like Harry ‘r Nev?”

 “I…don’t actually know.”

 “Well t’ink ‘bout it den,” she told him. “An’ stop broodin’. Come sit wit’ me an’ ‘Mione.”

 Ron nodded. He had kind of been distancing himself. Spending more time with Dean and Seamus, who, if he thought about it, really made it worse. Besides, the fire had been looking awfully nice and the chess board was so far away from it… He followed her back into the room and sat down, thinking, still watching Harry and Neville.

 Hermione looked up at Emily as the mutant girl sat back down.

 “Is he ok?”

 “Da homme’ll be fine. Jus’ give him awhile ta figure it all out.”

 Ron thought. Harry…Harry’s Harry isn’t he now? He’s my best friend, and, well…yeah, he’s kinda hot I guess. But he’s still Harry. I mean…it would be almost like incest wouldn’t it? I don’t know. Besides I…he’s…I don’t think he’s my type. It’d be too…too…something, I guess I just can’t put it to words. Both too guyey. Nev…Nev isn’t. He’s a guy but…he’s so far from macho. And he’s, well, he’s beautiful. And cuddly apparently. And sweet and…shit, I think I like Neville. Ron looked over at the blond boy who was still talking to Harry. And I think he has a crush on Harry, great. Well, might as well just stay straight now, hadn’t I? I think I’d almost rather be, it doesn’t take quite as much work. And I know I’m a Gryffindor, so I ought to be brave but really that’s a little too brave for me. He smiled. No wonder Nev’s a Gryffindor.
 

Neville rested his head on Harry’s shoulder.

 “Do you think he’ll ever like me?” he asked quietly.

 Harry shrugged. “I don’t know, Nev. Wish I did. I’m a bit confused myself right now.”

 “Draco is it?”

 Harry nodded, he had told Neville about what had happened between him and Draco one night when he had been particularly confused by all the looks the Slytherin boy had been shooting him.

 “I’m sorry.”

 “It’s not your fault…hell, I don’t even know who’s fault it is. Mine probably.”

 “Or just him being strange.”

 “Yeah,” Harry went silent for a while. Then he chuckled. “Nev?”

 “Yeah?”

 “Ron’s been staring at us.”

 “Really?”

 Harry laughed. “God, Neville, you are cute. Yes, he has been.”

 “Oh.”

 “Y’know, I’ll bet Emily’s noticed, and she did just leave to talk to him. Why don’t you go talk to her?”

 Neville blanched. “Harry…”

 “I’m sure she knows already, you don’t have to worry, remember?”

 “Alright.” Neville got up; stumbling slightly over his feet went and stood awkwardly next to Emily.

 “Si’ down,” the girl suggested.

 Neville nodded and sat next to Hermione. “I was wondering…you talked to Ron?”

 “Oui.”

 “I…um…Harry says that he’s been watching us and I was just wondering…”

 “If ye’ll evah have a chance?”

 Neville turned bright red, “…yeah…”

 Emily grinned. “Le’s say dat Ron’s prolly no’ as adverse ta da idea as he seems, mais… he’s also kinda clueless.”

 “I…oh.”

 Emily smiled. “Go fer it, Nev.”

 “Really?”

 “Ya have no confidence. Yes, really.”

 “Oh.”

 “Neh, Ron…whacha thinkin’ about?”  Their attention was distracted by Seamus’ loud question.

 Ron sighed. “Nothing, Seamus.”

 “Nothin’? Ya sure? You were staring at Harry, do you have a crush on Harry, Ron?” Seamus was practically in Ron’s lap and Dean was grinning at his boyfriend’s
antics. Ron simply blushed hard. “Y’know what, I’ll bet yer gay, Ron. Just look at that blush, and the way you trail after Harry. I’ll bet ya get turned on watching me ‘n Dean.”

 Ron screeched, “Seamus!”

 Emily merely chuckled. “’S Dean an’ I, cher.”

 “Whatever. So?”

 “I’m not gay, Seamus!”

 “Suuuurre yer not.”

 “I’m not gay!”

 “So then yer bi.”

 “Seamus!”

 “C’mon Ron,” the boy wheedled. “You know you want to admit it. Dean might even let ya have a threesome with us.”

 “Seamus!”

 Neville blanched. That had been rather blatant. He turned back to Emily who was grinning, his eyes went wide, and she winked at him. Maybe…

 “C’mon Ronnikins…”

 “Get off me, Seamus!” Ron managed to throw Seamus off of him, forcing Dean to move quickly to catch his smaller lover before he hit the floor. Ron huddled in the corner of the couch, annoyed, hiding, and aggravated. Seamus giggled.

 “Geeze, touchy!”

 “I think for once I agree,” Dean rumbled. “Shut up, Seamus.”

 “Make me.”

 “Alright.”

 Ron squeaked. “Gyahh! Not here, not here!”

 Emily chuckled. “Yes here yes here,” she contradicted. Ron glared at her and she simply shrugged. Ron growled, got up, and sat back down, studiously ignoring Seamus and Dean.

 Harry bit his lip. It was hard not to tease. He sighed, something had to be done, the room was too tense. Looking at the clock he nodded and stood.

 “Well, I’m going to bed. Try to keep it down when you come upstairs, ok?”

 Ron stood up. “I’m kinda tired,” his face was bright red. “I think I head up with you.” Harry nodded and looked back at Neville who stood to follow them.

 “We’ll stay down here for a bit,” Hermione said, blushing. The common room was basically empty but for them, and Emily had pulled Hermione up into her lap. Her lips were moving over the girl’s ear but whether whispering or kissing…Harry chose not to guess. He may have been damned far gone on Draco by then but still…two girls together was kind of hot. Draco…best not to think of that now.

 “Ron, you alright?”

 “Yeah, Seamus is just kinda loud, that’s all.”

 “Alright,” Harry shrugged. “You can talk to me if something’s wrong, right?”

 Ron nodded, “yeah, of course Harry.”

 “Good.”
 
 

AN: yeah, odd little chapter, I know…but I needed more SEAMUS!!! I love that boy…Hmmm, Neville spotlight next chapter I think. And then back to Harry and Draco…or perhaps the other way around. I don’t know. I really should be doing my school work *eeep!*

-Isabella
 
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