cephalopinguin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cephalopinguin) wrote2009-08-30 11:41 pm
cephalopinguin) wrote2009-08-30 11:41 pm
Entry tags:
Prongs
Title: Prongs
Pairing: Harry/Ron, Hermione/Charlie, Harry/Ginny, and this pairing which you shouldn't read, but is here in case you are that difficult. Highlight: Draco/Ginny
Rating: NC-17
Summary: For the prompt: Harry falls asleep single and straight, but wakes up married to his best mate.
Word count: 6,999
Warnings: Redeemed!Draco, Slytherin tactics
Disclaimer: I don’t own. Property of J.K Rowling. For entertainment purposes only. Even if it only entertains myself.
Notes: Written for the second wave at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
hprwfqf. A huge thanks to the wonderful ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
plotbunniofdoom for the brit pick and nolagal and triomakesmehot for the beta! You are so fantastic!
Prongs
"Draco," Harry called, lingering in the doorway. He refused to set foot in The Department of Mysteries. It was too hard, even after all these years.
"Potter?" Draco asked. "Be right there." A few minutes later, he strode down the hallway, his Unspeakable robes billowing behind him. To Harry, it was very reminiscent of Snape. Draco was carrying a box on his hip. The box was filled, almost to overflowing, with small glass orbs. Draco raised his free hand to Harry in acknowledgement and leaned to grab some papers off of his desk as he passed it. As he leaned, one glass orb rolled over the rest and tumbled towards the ground. Instinct kicked in, and Harry dove through the door and seamlessly hit the floor, snagging the orb midair before it could shatter. Harry stood up, dusted off his robe, and held the orb out to Draco with a smirk.
“Here. You dropped this.”
Rolling his eyes, Draco took the orb. “I suppose you want me to thank you. Don’t bother waiting, Potter. These Prophecies were going into the incinerator anyway.”
“What? Why?”
“We have an annual clean-up of Prophecies. We discard Prophecies about people who are deceased, and certain Prophecies that have no bearing on anyone’s life. Some Prophecies are so trivial that we won’t house them here. There is a storage area that houses every Prophecy ever made, but we only keep the more relevant ones here.”
“Where was this storage area when my Prophecy got smashed?”
“The storage area is actually a consequence of that whole debacle with you and the Dark Lord. Quite a few important Prophecies were destroyed. Luckily most were recorded. Now we just keep duplicates.”
Harry snorted. “Debacle? You are the Master of understatements.”
Draco ignored him. “Most Prophecies go unheard anyway. For example, there are probably hundreds of Prophecies about you that you will never hear, one more trivial than the next.”
Harry’s eyes widened comically. “Hundreds! Can I hear them?”
“No you can’t hear them!” Draco said, voice tense. “Merlin, Potty, that’s the point. People would get so wrapped up in these unimportant tidbits, that they would forget to live their actual lives!”
Harry had a quick vision of the Mirror of Erised. He understood. It didn’t make him any less curious, though. “Are any of these about me?” Harry asked, pointing to the box.
Draco smirked, reached into the box, and held one up with three fingers. “Why, yes, Potter. There is.” He looked at the orb. “This one, to be exact.”
Harry’s eyes flicked between the orb and the mischievous grin on Draco’s face. “Er, can I… can I hear it? Just this one?”
“Sure, Potter,” Draco said, hurling the orb at Harry’s feet and taking a step back. The orb shattered and a puff of what appeared to be white smoke filled the air around the smashed Prophecy. It slowly dissipated, but not before Harry inadvertently inhaled a lungful. He choked and quickly doubled over with huge wrenching coughs. After a few minutes, Harry gained control of his breathing.
“You’re a bastard!”
“You were well aware of that when you befriended me, yet you adamantly did so.”
Harry coughed again. “Why didn’t it tell me the Prophecy in an annoying, raspy voice?”
Draco smirked. “The magic in these have already been deactivated. Potter, how stupid would it be to incinerate active magic? Sometimes I wonder how you’ve remained alive for this long.”
“Don’t worry. I think you’ve managed to kill me with my own Prophecy,” Harry managed to say before the coughs took over once again. “I swear, if I have to go to St. Mungo’s, you’re going to be my own personal nurse!”
“Fair enough. Now, here’s that paperwork you need. You didn’t need to come all the way down here for it. I could have sent it up.”
Harry took the folder, shrunk it, and tucked it in his robes. “Actually, Ginny and I wanted to invite you for dinner tomorrow night.”
Draco tapped his chin in rumination. “I do enjoy Ginny’s cooking.”
“You could bring a date, if you want.”
Draco’s head whipped up to look at Harry. “Did Ginny suggest that, or did you?”
Furrowing his brow in confusion, Harry said, “Well, I did. But she wouldn’t mind if you brought a date. There’s always enough food. What’s wrong?”
Draco’s cheeks flushed. “Nothing. I’m not currently seeing anyone.”
“You’re never seeing anyone. Handsome bloke like you. Is it because you’re secretly a ponce and don’t want to admit it?” Harry joked, with a smile.
Smiling back, Draco answered, “You wish.”
As Harry slid into bed that night, he vowed to go to St. Mungo’s in the morning if his cough didn’t subside by then, and find a way to get Draco back for this. The bastard.
~~~~
Harry woke up in the night due to a beastly coughing fit. As his coughs subsided, a hand reached out in the dark and patted his knee. He jumped before realising that Ginny must have shown up in the night. Settling back down, he pulled her arm across his chest and fell into a deep sleep.
Morning came too early, thanks to yet another coughing fit. Harry sat up and nearly doubled over from the forcefulness of the coughs. Ginny’s arm dropped from his chest and draped across his lap. Blinking wearily, Harry stretched and picked up the hand to move it out of the way, allowing him to get out of bed.
Harry froze. Ginny would never be considered ‘dainty’ by any means, but one thing she definitely didn’t have were hands hairier and larger than his own. Harry looked down at the arm that was illuminated by the early morning light filtering through the window. The arm was muscular, with thick red hair, scars, and freckles. Harry followed the arm to its source with trepidation, only to discover Ron fast asleep next to him.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, Harry returned Ron’s hand, and leaned over to shake Ron.
“Ron,” Harry whispered. “Ron!” he pursued, more loudly, after no response.
“Mmph,” Ron answered, rolling the other direction.
“Ron, what’s going on?”
“Sleeping, Harry,” he mumbled into his pillow, annoyance tingeing his answer.
Harry shook his head to clear it. What was Ron doing here? In his bed? Harry lifted up the sheet. In nothing but his pants? At that, Harry started coughing again.
Ron flopped his head towards Harry, shaggy hair falling in his face, and scrutinized him with one eye open and one eye closed. “You sick, mate?”
Harry’s mind was still actively working through all of the possible reasons Ron was here, when one thought made him hesitate. “Ron, how do I know you’re not a Polyjuiced Death Eater?”
In answer, Ron’s stomach growled loudly, and he asked, “You cooking breakfast? Make some bacon, yeah?” Then he promptly fell back to sleep.
Harry smiled in relief. It was his Ron, all right.
~~~~
Harry wandered to the bathroom. He was dead-set on asking Ron why he was here and in Harry’s bed, but talking to Ron before he was fully awake was like talking to a three year-old. A hungry three year-old. Coughing a bit more, Harry cupped his hands under the running tap and splashed water on his face. Glancing in the mirror, Harry noticed a glimmer. Grabbing his glasses from the counter, he put them on and glanced down at his hands. On his left-hand ring finger was a thin, gold band. His eyes widened as he held his hand at arm’s length, as though it might turn on him and attack. Coughs racked his body again.
Harry gripped the ring in between his thumb and forefinger and attempted to pull it off. It wouldn’t budge over his knuckle, but the thing that bothered him the most was the white line that appeared underneath where the ring had been. It was a tan line. A tan line that had not been there yesterday.
Every instinct he had told him to Floo call Hermione. Something strange was going on. Some sort of magic that Harry didn’t understand. Hermione would know exactly what was happening. He rushed into the living room, still holding his arm out and staring at the ring. Arriving at the hearth, Harry began to drop to his knees to make the call, when he noticed the Wizarding photos on his mantle.
Harry and all of his friends were dressed in fancy dress robes, at an event that Harry knew he’d never attended. He looked so happy in the photos, and everyone was dancing and laughing. He grabbed a couple off the mantle and a pinch of Floo powder.
“Hermione!” he called through the Floo. “Hermione!” He peered into her bedroom, seeing only a rough, calloused foot dangling over the side of the bed.
Hermione sprang up from the other side of the bed. “Harry?” She rushed over and dropped down in front of him, pulling her robe around her and tying it on the side. “What’s wrong?”
Yelling had caused another coughing fit and Harry took a second to get under control.
“Are you sick?”
“Maybe! Weird things are going on here! What are these pictures from?” he asked, shoving them at her.
Hermione took the photos. Looking at them, she arched an eyebrow at Harry. “You know these are from your wedding.”
“Wedding!”
“Yes, Harry. Wedding. Or did you forget you’re married?”
‘Wedding?’ Harry thought. ‘Wedding band?’ All of the sudden, Harry understood. “Okay, great prank, ‘Mione. Did Ginny put you up to this? I’ll propose to her when I’m ready, and I’m just not ready. Okay? The whole set-up was good, I’ll give you that, but your accomplice fell asleep in my bed. Not very stealthy, using Ron to plant these photos and this ring.” Harry smiled. When Hermione sets her mind to something, she really went all the way. The photos were incredibly realistic.
“Harry,” Hermione said softly, “come through the Floo. I need to check something.” Taking his hand, she pulled him through the Floo and down the hallway to the living room. Sitting him on the couch, she ran her wand over him. “You don’t have a fever.” Hermione sounded surprised.
“No,” Harry replied. “Just this horrible cough.”
“Explain again what is going on, please.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Don’t play so coy. You want me to propose to Ginny and you’ve set up these photos to rush me along. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I’m not ready.”
“Photos of what, exactly?”
“Of my fake wedding to Ginny!”
“Harry,” Hermione started slowly. “These are photos of your wedding. Real photos. Of your wedding to Ron. Ron, not Ginny. What’s going on, Harry? Did you and Ron have a fight?”
“Wedding to Ron? Er, Hermione, that’s an even more ridiculous joke,” Harry laughed.
Hermione was clearly bewildered. Her eyes flicked back and forth between Harry’s, and he knew she was reading his seriousness. He could see her mind begin to analyze the situation, then she quickly began listing and ruling out the possible reasons for Harry’s issue. “Amnesia, Confundus charm, Obliviate. No.”
Harry wrinkled his brow in confusion and coughed. Hermione got up and left the room, coming back a few seconds later with a vial in her hand. She handed it to Harry.
“Cough tonic,” she explained. Harry nodded in gratitude and took a swig. “Harry, please tell me everything that you did yesterday, up until now.”
Harry wasn’t following the situation at all, but he answered anyway. “I got up…” he started.
“Who were you with?” Hermione interrupted.
“No one. I live by myself. You know that. I got up. Got a shower. Went to work.”
“What happened at work?”
“I did some paperwork. Sat through a trial. Got a folder from Malfoy about my upcoming case. Took an early lunch. Fridays can be slow at the Ministry.”
“Did anything unusual happen at the trial.”
“No. Open and shut case.”
Hermione looked around, obviously searching for answers. “What about with Malfoy?”
“Everything he says and does is unusual!” Harry said,laughing. “He was carrying a box of Prophecies, said they were going to be incinerated. One was about me.”
“What happened with that Prophecy? Did you get to see it?”
“No, the bastard threw it at my feet and it shattered. That’s where I got this horrible cough. I think I inhaled the fumes.”
Hermione’s chin dropped and her eyes widened. “You think…” she said, jumping up and pacing back and forth in front of the couch. “You think you inhaled the fumes from a Prophecy about you? And yesterday you were dating Ginny and today you find yourself married to Ron.”
“Hermione,” Harry started, but was cut off by his own cough.
“I need to go to the library.”
Harry smiled. “You want to go to the library and Ron wants food. At least I know you two are partially sane.”
“Harry.” Hermione sat down and took both of Harry’s hands in her own. She stared seriously into his eyes. “I strongly believe that what’s going on has everything to do with that Prophecy. I’m just not quite sure how. Just believe me when I say, here and now, wherever that is, you are married to Ron, and he loves you very much, so do NOT upset him while I get this figured out.”
Harry searched Hermione’s face for any sign of amusement.
“Don’t know how I feel about my girl holding hands with The Chosen One,” Charlie said, heading to the kitchen and scratching his arse. With a wink he continued, “Even if said Chosen One is a poof.” The door swung shut behind him.
Harry turned stunned eyes upon Hermione. “But I’m not a poof! So… what? This is some sort of ‘alternate reality’? How’d this happen? How do we fix this?” Harry’s breathing had slowly escalated until he started coughing again.
“I’ll figure it out, I promise. Just go home, and remember, don’t upset Ron. He’s your husband.”
~~~~
Harry climbed out of the Floo just as Ron exited the kitchen, still only in pants. “There you are. Where’ve you been?”
“Uh, went to see Hermione.”
“In your pyjamas?”
Harry looked down. “Er, yeah.”
Ron shrugged. “So, how’s that bacon coming along? I can’t seem to smell any.” He smiled, slid an arm around Harry’s waist, and kissed him. Harry froze. “Come on. My breath’s not that bad.” Ron said with a laugh.
Harry forced a smile. “It’s this cough,” he lied. “I asked Hermione about it, but I’m not sure if it’s contagious. Would hate for you to catch it.”
Ron grinned. “As long as you’ve never slept with Seamus, I couldn’t catch anything too serious from you!”
Harry gave a genuine laugh. “That’s absolutely true! Come on. Let’s see about that bacon. You want eggs, too?”
“I knew I loved you for a reason,” Ron answered, wrapping arms around Harry from behind and kissing the side of his neck.
Harry flushed completely scarlet.
~~~~
After breakfast, Harry and Ron dressed and Apparated to Diagon Alley to visit George and check out the new racing brooms at Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry was surprised by how easy his relationship with Ron was. It was no different than their friendship, except with more touching. He adapted quickly to the extra touching, and soon he didn’t feel right if Ron failed to touch him every few minutes.
It was when they stopped for ice cream that Ron finally made Harry nervous again. Ron’s cone was long gone, while Harry’s was starting to slowly melt in the warm sun. Harry had to catch the drips on his tongue and drag it up the side of the cone to clean it off.
Harry looked up suddenly as a low moan escaped from Ron, and immediately identified the lust in Ron’s eyes.
“Fuck, Harry, do you have to be so damn sexual when you eat?” Ron pressed his palm against his groin. “Sometimes you make me so hard, so fast, that it actually hurts.”
Harry flushed bright red. “Huh?” he squeaked.
“It’s taking all of my willpower not to throw you over my shoulder, take you into the bathroom, and fuck you so hard you can’t sit for a week. I’ve only restrained myself because there are children around.” Ron’s smile lit up his entire face.
Despite his nervousness, Harry quipped, “Really, a bathroom? Isn’t that kind of dirty?”
“Yeah, that’s the point.”
“No, I mean like dirty dirty. Bathroom dirty.” He coughed.
“That’s never stopped us before,” Ron said with a wink.
Harry was a little surprised. He had never experienced a desire for someone so strong that he had to take them right then and there, in a dirty bathroom. Is that the kind of relationship he had with Ron? He felt a longing in his chest for it. He was startled out of his musings by Ron leaning in close.
“Mate, you got a little ice cream…” and he leaned into Harry and licked the corner of his mouth; a slow swipe with the flat of his tongue. Harry closed his eyes as Ron finished up the lick with a lingering kiss. Why would something that should feel awkward feel so comfortable?
“Ready?” Harry opened his eyes to see Ron standing above him, offering an arm to assist Harry up. Harry took it and smiled.
~~~~
When they arrived home, Hermione was waiting on their couch, a pile of books in front of her, and one across her lap.
“The Secret of Prophecies?” Ron asked with a smile. “You never change. Want some tea?”
Hermione glanced at Harry. “Yes, please.”
“Mate?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Ron left the room and Hermione waved Harry over. “Quick, this is what I found.” Harry sat next to her, eyeing the stack of books. Harry was always impressed with how fast Hermione could do research. “What I found was fairly inconclusive, but I’ve a hypothesis, and I’m pretty sure I’m right. Maybe I could set up research and write a report on this!” Hermione’s eyes glazed over.
Harry glanced up at the kitchen door. They didn’t have time for this. “Hermione!”
“Oh, sorry. Anyway, what I think is that you were basically right when you asked if this is an alternate reality.”
“What?”
“Imagine your life goes in a straight line, but then imagine certain decisions allow your life to branch off. You could have thousands, or even millions of branches. Some branches go off at such an incredible angle, that if you had taken that path, your life would not be recognizable to you, as you are.”
Harry furrowed his brow. “Okay, I think I follow.”
“But some choices would not change your life that significantly. Your life would be basically the same, just with certain things different. These are the branches that run parallel to each other. Like prongs on a fork. Oh, Ron, love,” Hermione directed her attention to the man coming through the door with tea. “Could you pop to the shops and get me some biscuits? I’m absolutely famished.”
“I think we have some chocolate biscuits in the pantry.”
“I don’t want chocolate. I want gingersnap. Please.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
“Fine,” he grumbled, and Disapparated.
“So,” Harry said after Ron disappeared. “You think I’m on a parallel prong, the only difference being I’m married to Ron? That’s quite a big difference!”
“Yes, you may think so, but think about your life. Is it really that different? Are your friends different? The activities you do? Your job? The only difference is who you’re with. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Look at it this way. If you were to marry Ron instead of anyone else, would it change things, really? You would still be a Weasley. Still live in the same place.”
Harry thought about it, and was surprised to note that things would basically stay how they are, except it would include sex with Ron. Instead of Ginny. He was already more comfortable with Ron. Would sex be that difficult to add to the relationship? The idea didn’t repulse him. In fact, if he thought about it, and that kiss from earlier… Oh. He had to stop thinking about it, because his cock just twitched. Harry’s cheeks flushed as he looked up into Hermione’s eyes.
“So, how did this happen, anyway? How did I get here?”
“Well, that’s the interesting part. I believe it was the Prophecy. Breathing in the fumes was like breathing in magic. That magic is still coursing through your bloodstream. When the magic leaves your blood, your life should return to normal.”
Harry felt a feeling of unhappiness settle over him. “Oh. How long?”
“I’d give it a couple of days. Harry, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just, I haven’t spent this much time with Ron in a long while. I just miss it.”
Hermione smiled sadly. “So spend more time with him when you get back. Instead of with Malfoy. Which, actually, I’ve been thinking about, and it’s very strange.”
“What?”
“It’s just suspicious that Draco would be holding a Prophecy about you and smash it at your feet. He works with Prophecies, so he probably knows that this sort of thing might happen. He’s up to something.”
Harry thought about it. It really did seem suspicious. But Draco had become such a good friend. “Maybe he is helping me see what’s right in front of me.” A wave of affection washed over Harry. If Draco really had done that, it was because he wanted Harry to be happy.
Hermione looked dubious. “Maybe.”
Just then, Ron popped back in. “Here are your biscuits. Happy?”
“Oh, yes, but I need to go. Sorry, love. Another time.” She Disapparated.
Ron boggled at the spot she had just been. “Guess I’ll just put these in the pantry, then, shall I?”
“Ron, do you want to go flying?”
~~~~
They flew that evening until the darkness was so thick they were forced to come down. They ate at The Burrow, Molly fawning on them and asking when she could expect grandchildren.
That night, as they prepared for bed, Ron came up behind Harry as he was brushing his teeth. Harry smiled at Ron through the mirror as Ron wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist. Harry bent to spit out the toothpaste and Ron rested his head on Harry’s shoulder when he came back up. Keeping eye contact with Harry in the mirror, Ron said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Harry answered and smiled, surprised at how easily it came and how true it was. Harry really did love Ron. And the feeling of Ron pressed up behind him made him feel content. Harry gasped as he felt Ron’s erection nestle in between his arse cheeks and start sliding up and down. The feeling caused him to breathe in hard and his cock to swell. His head fell back as Ron slid a hand down Harry’s stomach and into the front of his pants.
As Ron grasped his hardening cock, Harry cried out and automatically pushed back against Ron’s hips then forward into his hand, causing Ron to moan. Ron grasped Harry’s earlobe with his teeth and pulled as he frotted against Harry’s arse and his hand flew over Harry’s cock. It only took a few minutes before they were both calling out their releases, and Harry gave Ron a small, shy smile in the mirror.
They settled into bed, Harry resting his head in the crook of Ron’s arm, and draping a leg over Ron’s. His palm rubbed circles over Ron’s stomach, his fingers glossing through the coarse hair there. “Ron?”
“Hmm?”
“Will you tell me about how we got together?”
“Is it story time?”
“Yes.”
Harry felt Ron chuckle, the vibrations in his chest soothing to Harry. “Well, after you and Ginny broke up, we went out drinking to forget about it.”
Harry remembered this. After the first time he had split up with Ginny, Ron had collected him and took him out in an attempt to make him feel better. They had gotten incredibly drunk and fell asleep together on Ron’s couch.
“We got well pissed and fell asleep on the couch. I woke up in the night because you were moving, and I realised you were rubbing your cock against me.”
Harry had woken up that night with a rock-hard erection and had thought how nice it would be to rub off against Ron. He had, however, restrained himself, and got up to take care of himself in the bathroom. He passed the thought off as a drunken impulse and never worried about it again.
Ron was smiling at the memory. “I was so turned on that I shifted so your cock was rubbing against mine, and you looked into my eyes and kissed me. It was my every wish come true, because I’d been in love with you since fourth year.”
Harry quickly rose up on his elbow and coughed a couple of times. “You’ve been in love with me since fourth year?”
Ron pulled him back to his chest. “You knew that, Harry. Now stop interrupting the story. I was so worried that in the morning you would regret what we’d done, if you even remembered it. I was awake all night long, worrying. But when you finally woke up, you looked down at me, smiled, and said, ‘That was fucking brilliant, wasn’t it?’ And you kissed me again. The rest is history.”
Harry thought about Ron’s proclamation that he had been in love with Harry since fourth year as he snuggled into Ron’s side. Ron’s breathing evened out and deepened in sleep, causing Harry to relax and finally fall into a deep sleep filled with dreams of Ron.
~~~~
Harry woke up wrapped in warmth, and turned in Ron’s arms to face him. Blue eyes peered into his. Harry slid a hand up and wiped away a bit of crust in the corner of Ron’s eye. Ron smiled brilliantly, and that smile lit up the room better than the sun ever could. Harry was lost. This was it. He was in love with his best mate. He couldn’t imagine a life with anyone else.
That morning, after showering together, Harry and Ron went for a walk. They met Seamus and Dean for lunch. There was drinking and laughing and stolen kisses and Ron’s hand on Harry’s thigh under the table. Harry wasn’t sure how he would ever thank Draco for showing him how wonderful life could be. Secretly, Harry was wishing that the magic that was allowing him to be here would never dissipate. Harry was concerned since he hadn’t seemed to cough at all today. Did that mean the magic was wearing off?
That night, Harry was in bed, eyes closed, waiting for Ron to join him, when a body slid over him and lips attacked his. Harry wrapped his arms around Ron’s back and pulled him tight against him. It was as though Ron was perfectly molded to Harry’s body, from lips to ankles. Harry pressed up against Ron’s hips, rubbing their erections together, causing Ron to moan into Harry’s ear, “Merlin, Harry, I need you to fuck me.”
Harry was suddenly very nervous, but it didn’t prevent him from growling, and rolling Ron over onto his back. The thought was both exciting and nerve-wracking; he had a basic idea about what sex with a bloke meant, but it was definitely different. He knew what he liked though, and he hoped Ron would like similar things. He kissed down Ron’s bare chest until he reached a nipple, and tugged at it lightly with his teeth. Ron gasped and wandlessly summoned the lube, handing it to Harry.
Ron leaned up for a kiss as Harry squeezed a dollop out onto his fingers. Ron settled back against the pillows with half-lidded eyes and a lusty smile. Harry sucked in air through his nose and held his breath, as he silently gathered the courage to take Ron’s cock in one hand, and slide the other down below Ron’s bollocks to his entrance. Harry glanced down as his fingers brushed the small pucker and flushed as it twitched against the slight pressure. He slowly let his breath out as he slid one finger in to the first knuckle. Ron moaned as he slid it further in. Harry was amazed at how tight Ron was, and his cock leaked a bit at the thought.
“Another,” he heard. Harry obliged, removing his finger and sliding two in. He pumped them in and out, and scissored them a bit. “Please, Harry,” Ron panted, “I’m ready.”
Harry coated his cock in lube before he had a chance to become more nervous, and lined the head up with Ron’s entrance. Slowly, but firmly, he pushed forward. As soon as the head of his penis slipped through, Harry’s nervousness disappeared. He slumped forward onto Ron, breathing in the smell of his skin, and feeling the rise and fall of his chest. He pushed himself up to stare down into Ron’s eyes, arms on either side of his head, and began to pump his hips. His smile was mirrored on Ron’s face. “Harder,” Ron whispered.
Harry sat up on his knees, pulling Ron’s hips towards him and putting Ron’s ankles onto his shoulders. He quickened his pace, preening when Ron let forth a string of curse words. Harry leaned forward to kiss Ron, nearly bending him double, and snaked his hand between their bodies to pump Ron’s cock. Harry could feel his orgasm building quickly, and he wanted Ron to finish with him. Ron batted his hand away and took over at a quicker pace than Harry. Harry latched on to Ron’s collarbone with his teeth as his orgasm burst through him. Ron pulled Harry’s face to his and kissed him through the remainder of his orgasm. Then Ron’s head fell back, his eyes rolled up, and warm liquid spread between them. Harry felt Ron’s arse contract around his softening penis as it slipped free, his body collapsing onto Ron’s. They both let out a collective sigh.
After a few minutes of post-orgasmic bliss, Harry rolled mostly off of Ron.
Harry leaned over Ron, his body still half covering him. Touching one earlobe, Harry tracked his finger across Ron’s cheek towards his nose. “You know, I’ve always wanted to see if I could find a path across your face without touching any freckles,” he whispered. He got half-way to Ron’s nose and had to backtrack a bit to find a different route.
“Mmmm,” Ron purred. “That feels good. But what do you mean, ‘Always wanted to.’? You used to do this all the time when we first got together. I thought you just finally gave up! Hundreds of tries and you’ve never found a path.” Ron sighed, closing his eyes and laying his head back on the pillow, as Harry abandoned his quest and began lightly running his fingers over Ron’s face and through his hair. Ron’s deep breathing soon turned to loud snores. Harry smiled, but continued caressing Ron’s skin.
Harry couldn’t remember ever being this happy with anyone else. Even Ginny. Ginny was a nice girl, and Harry really did love her, but it was never so comfortable as this. Harry was comfortable here, and Harry was content. He could stay tangled up with Ron forever and die this way, and he would be happy.
~~~~
Harry woke the next morning to find the bed empty. He sat up a little disoriented. He heard breakfast noises coming from the kitchen and smiled. He got up, wandered down the hallway, and entered the kitchen with the intent to sneak up behind Ron and pepper his neck with kisses.
Except it was Ginny.
“Where’s Ron?” Harry asked.
Ginny jumped at the sound of his voice and turned around. “I don’t know. Probably at his house.” She walked over to Harry and kissed him. “And it’s great to see you, too, love,” she said, sarcastically.
Ahh. So Harry was back. The last couple of days had felt like it was his real life, and this was just some weird dream. But, no, Harry had taken the wrong fork in life, and this is where this certain prong had taken him.
There was a way to backpedal, though. It was certainly a risk. There was no guarantee that Ron even loved him on this prong. But one thing Harry did know was that there was no reason to lead Ginny on. He had a taste of a perfect relationship, and he knew he would never have that with her. Harry breathed deep and let it out, long and slow.
“Ginny, we need to talk.” She furrowed her brow and nodded. “There are times when someone discovers something about another person. And sometimes that discovery is really very shocking. And sometimes it can change another relationship. With another person. People end up getting hurt.” Harry was rambling, and not making a whole hell of a lot of sense. He tried again. “Ultimately, there are things that can end a relationship…”
Harry was spared continuing that sentence when Ginny interrupted him. “Fine! I slept with Malfoy! Is that what you want to hear! I’m sorry, Harry! I’m so sorry!” She broke into tears and crumpled to the ground. Harry followed her down and held her against his chest. She sobbed into his shirt, and mumbled “sorry” over and over again. Harry just shushed her and rubbed her back. He was in shock that Ginny would sleep with one of his close friends, but he was also surprisingly happy about it. Now, he could tell her he loved her brother and he wouldn’t feel so bad about it.
“Come on.” Harry dragged Ginny up and sat her at the table. He sat beside her. She finally looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.
Wiping her eyes, she asked, “How long have you known?”
“Er. Well, Ginny, you actually just admitted it to me.”
Ginny looked at him in shock. “What?”
“I didn’t know until you just told me.” Harry smiled sheepishly.
Ginny dropped her head into her hands. “I’m sorry, Harry. The truth is, I really like him.”
“But he’s such a bastard.”
“You know most of that is put on. Besides, he’s your friend, even though he’s a bastard.”
“Because I know most of that is put on.” Harry smiled.
Ginny looked at Harry’s smile in confusion. “Why aren’t you upset?”
“Well, I’m certainly not happy about it, but I would be a bit of a hypocrite if I got mad. I was trying to tell you, I’m in love with someone else.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“So, I suppose this means we should break up?”
“I think, given we are both in love with other people, it would probably be best.”
“Sure.” Ginny smiled. “This was kinda an easy break up, huh?”
Harry laughed.
“So, who is it?”
“Who’s who?”
“This new bird of yours?”
Harry blushed and Ginny raised an eyebrow. “Er, this is the part that might get me hexed.”
Ginny’s eyes lit up as though it was an exciting game. “Is it Luna? Angelina? Is that harpy cheating on George?” She gasped. “Is it Fleur?”
“It’s Ron.”
Harry dove and made a dash for his bedroom as hex after hex barreled after him. Harry put his best locking charms on the door and Silenced out the screams of “Ron?” and “My brother?”
~~~~
Harry tumbled clumsily into Ron’s living room and dusted Floo powder from his shoulders.
“You always did know how to make an entrance,” Ron said from the couch.
Harry took in his best friend. The butterbeer in his hand, the ripped tracky bottoms, his dirty feet up on the table. A feeling of home washed over him, and he went to sit beside his boy. Still, he was nervous. Just because Prong B Ron said he had always loved Harry, didn’t actually mean that Prong A Ron still loved him. Harry shook his head. Hermione had a much better grasp on understanding this.
Ron summoned another butterbeer and handed it to Harry. “Mate, you look like you’re thinking pretty hard about something.”
“Ginny and I broke up.”
Harry noticed a flicker of emotion in Ron’s eyes before it was gone. “Sorry, mate. What happened?”
“Actually, she slept with Malfoy.”
“Fuck. He probably Imperiused her.”
“And I’m in love with someone else.”
Ron looked at Harry cautiously. “Oh, yeah?” Harry could hear the forced casualness. He knew then that he wasn’t wrong about Ron’s feelings. “Who?”
In answer, Harry leaned over and placed a chaste, lingering kiss on Ron’s lips. When he pulled back, the first thing he noticed was Ron’s eyes. They were glistening with unshed tears and wide with shock.
“Ron?” This wasn’t the reaction Harry expected.
“It’s me?” Ron asked, staring at Harry.
“Who?”
“The person you…”
“Love. Yeah, it’s you.” Harry reached over to wipe away a tear as it ran down Ron’s face. His eyes were wide and brimming. “What’s wrong?”
Ron wiped his eyes on his sleeve and let out an embarrassed laugh. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s brilliant. I just never thought this would happen.”
“This?”
“This, you, me, together thing.” He smiled as Harry took his hand in his own.
“I was such an idiot for not seeing this before.” Harry leaned over and kissed Ron again, this time with a little more force.
Ron deepened the kiss, and slid his hands down Harry’s sides until they rested on his hips. As he coaxed Harry’s mouth open with his tongue, he gripped Harry’s waist and tugged him to straddle his waist. Harry broke the kiss to let out a surprised squeal, and Ron asked, lips still brushing Harry’s, “Is this okay?”
“More than okay.” Harry smiled against Ron’s mouth. He threw his head back and moaned as he tilted his pelvis, inadvertently brushing their erections together. Ron gasped and ran his tongue up Harry’s neck and over his adam’s apple. Harry sank all of his weight into his pelvis and began rocking his hips against Ron’s. “Oh fuck, Ron. Want you.”
Ron moaned as Harry dragged his weight across his erection. Harry shifted back until he could drop to his knees in front of the couch. He leaned between Ron’s knees and mouthed at his straining cock, causing Ron to shudder and twist his fingers in Harry’s hair. Harry grasped the sides of Ron’s bottoms and pants and pulled them off, Ron raising his hips in assistance. Harry grasped both of Ron’s thighs. As Harry ran his tongue over the fine hairs on Ron’s thigh, he felt them flex beneath his hands, and laughed. He leaned further and nuzzled Ron’s balls with his nose, breathing in the musky scent of Ron. Ron was whimpering in frustration and arousal, fingers tightening and loosening in Harry’s hair. Deciding to take pity on him, he licked up the underside of Ron’s cock, and took the head into his mouth. Ron moaned loudly, and Harry decided he would never live to tire of hearing that moan.
Not having any technique to speak of, Harry assured himself that he was doing all right, if the litany of moans and fuckfuckfuck’s were anything to go by. He worked his way up and down the shaft several times, using his tongue along the underside, and only gagging a couple times. Harry’s arm muscles were straining from keeping Ron’s hips from thrusting, and his jaw was getting a little tired when he finally heard, “Fuck, Harry!” and warm liquid filled his mouth. He swallowed most of it, but saved a dab on his tongue. Rolling it from side-to-side, Harry took in the salty, bitter taste of Ron. Nothing had ever tasted so good to Harry at that moment.
Ron was a beautiful sight. He was settled back, limp, against the back of the couch. He had a slight sheen of sweat across his body, and his chest was heaving as he gulped in air. His arm was flung across his eyes. He slowly lifted it and peered down at Harry. “Fuck, mate!”
Harry rested his head against Ron’s thigh and beamed up at his boy. “Like that, did you?”
~~~~
Later that evening, Harry Floo’d over to Draco’s flat. He had been trying to stir up a little self-righteous anger for Draco, but apparently couldn’t be anything but grateful to the prick for helping him to realise his feelings for Ron.
Draco was in a chair, reading, when Harry’s voice startled him. “I was going to come and thank you for your meddling, until I found out you slept with my girlfriend.”
“And so you’re here to kill me, instead?” Draco laid his book face-down across the arm of the chair, open to the page he was on, and stood up.
“No, actually, I’m here to call it even. You’re lucky Ron loves me back, or you’d be in big trouble.”
Draco smirked. “Oh, well, isn’t that convenient.”
Harry snorted. “Yeah, convenient for you!” Then he stopped. Draco slept with Ginny. Draco smashed the Prophecy at Harry’s feet knowing full well what Harry would experience and that he would get together with Ron. Harry had just assumed Draco had done it out of friendship. Harry finally realised that he had actually only done it to break up Harry and Ginny. Draco wanted Ginny. He didn’t do this for Harry. He did it for himself.
Harry watched Draco tense as Harry figured out the truth.
Harry shook his head in amazement, and smiled. “You’re a real bastard, you know that?”
Draco visibly relaxed. “You were well aware of that when you befriended me, yet you adamantly did so.”
Pairing: Harry/Ron, Hermione/Charlie, Harry/Ginny, and this pairing which you shouldn't read, but is here in case you are that difficult. Highlight: Draco/Ginny
Rating: NC-17
Summary: For the prompt: Harry falls asleep single and straight, but wakes up married to his best mate.
Word count: 6,999
Warnings: Redeemed!Draco, Slytherin tactics
Disclaimer: I don’t own. Property of J.K Rowling. For entertainment purposes only. Even if it only entertains myself.
Notes: Written for the second wave at
hprwfqf. A huge thanks to the wonderful plotbunniofdoom for the brit pick and nolagal and triomakesmehot for the beta! You are so fantastic!Prongs
"Draco," Harry called, lingering in the doorway. He refused to set foot in The Department of Mysteries. It was too hard, even after all these years.
"Potter?" Draco asked. "Be right there." A few minutes later, he strode down the hallway, his Unspeakable robes billowing behind him. To Harry, it was very reminiscent of Snape. Draco was carrying a box on his hip. The box was filled, almost to overflowing, with small glass orbs. Draco raised his free hand to Harry in acknowledgement and leaned to grab some papers off of his desk as he passed it. As he leaned, one glass orb rolled over the rest and tumbled towards the ground. Instinct kicked in, and Harry dove through the door and seamlessly hit the floor, snagging the orb midair before it could shatter. Harry stood up, dusted off his robe, and held the orb out to Draco with a smirk.
“Here. You dropped this.”
Rolling his eyes, Draco took the orb. “I suppose you want me to thank you. Don’t bother waiting, Potter. These Prophecies were going into the incinerator anyway.”
“What? Why?”
“We have an annual clean-up of Prophecies. We discard Prophecies about people who are deceased, and certain Prophecies that have no bearing on anyone’s life. Some Prophecies are so trivial that we won’t house them here. There is a storage area that houses every Prophecy ever made, but we only keep the more relevant ones here.”
“Where was this storage area when my Prophecy got smashed?”
“The storage area is actually a consequence of that whole debacle with you and the Dark Lord. Quite a few important Prophecies were destroyed. Luckily most were recorded. Now we just keep duplicates.”
Harry snorted. “Debacle? You are the Master of understatements.”
Draco ignored him. “Most Prophecies go unheard anyway. For example, there are probably hundreds of Prophecies about you that you will never hear, one more trivial than the next.”
Harry’s eyes widened comically. “Hundreds! Can I hear them?”
“No you can’t hear them!” Draco said, voice tense. “Merlin, Potty, that’s the point. People would get so wrapped up in these unimportant tidbits, that they would forget to live their actual lives!”
Harry had a quick vision of the Mirror of Erised. He understood. It didn’t make him any less curious, though. “Are any of these about me?” Harry asked, pointing to the box.
Draco smirked, reached into the box, and held one up with three fingers. “Why, yes, Potter. There is.” He looked at the orb. “This one, to be exact.”
Harry’s eyes flicked between the orb and the mischievous grin on Draco’s face. “Er, can I… can I hear it? Just this one?”
“Sure, Potter,” Draco said, hurling the orb at Harry’s feet and taking a step back. The orb shattered and a puff of what appeared to be white smoke filled the air around the smashed Prophecy. It slowly dissipated, but not before Harry inadvertently inhaled a lungful. He choked and quickly doubled over with huge wrenching coughs. After a few minutes, Harry gained control of his breathing.
“You’re a bastard!”
“You were well aware of that when you befriended me, yet you adamantly did so.”
Harry coughed again. “Why didn’t it tell me the Prophecy in an annoying, raspy voice?”
Draco smirked. “The magic in these have already been deactivated. Potter, how stupid would it be to incinerate active magic? Sometimes I wonder how you’ve remained alive for this long.”
“Don’t worry. I think you’ve managed to kill me with my own Prophecy,” Harry managed to say before the coughs took over once again. “I swear, if I have to go to St. Mungo’s, you’re going to be my own personal nurse!”
“Fair enough. Now, here’s that paperwork you need. You didn’t need to come all the way down here for it. I could have sent it up.”
Harry took the folder, shrunk it, and tucked it in his robes. “Actually, Ginny and I wanted to invite you for dinner tomorrow night.”
Draco tapped his chin in rumination. “I do enjoy Ginny’s cooking.”
“You could bring a date, if you want.”
Draco’s head whipped up to look at Harry. “Did Ginny suggest that, or did you?”
Furrowing his brow in confusion, Harry said, “Well, I did. But she wouldn’t mind if you brought a date. There’s always enough food. What’s wrong?”
Draco’s cheeks flushed. “Nothing. I’m not currently seeing anyone.”
“You’re never seeing anyone. Handsome bloke like you. Is it because you’re secretly a ponce and don’t want to admit it?” Harry joked, with a smile.
Smiling back, Draco answered, “You wish.”
As Harry slid into bed that night, he vowed to go to St. Mungo’s in the morning if his cough didn’t subside by then, and find a way to get Draco back for this. The bastard.
~~~~
Harry woke up in the night due to a beastly coughing fit. As his coughs subsided, a hand reached out in the dark and patted his knee. He jumped before realising that Ginny must have shown up in the night. Settling back down, he pulled her arm across his chest and fell into a deep sleep.
Morning came too early, thanks to yet another coughing fit. Harry sat up and nearly doubled over from the forcefulness of the coughs. Ginny’s arm dropped from his chest and draped across his lap. Blinking wearily, Harry stretched and picked up the hand to move it out of the way, allowing him to get out of bed.
Harry froze. Ginny would never be considered ‘dainty’ by any means, but one thing she definitely didn’t have were hands hairier and larger than his own. Harry looked down at the arm that was illuminated by the early morning light filtering through the window. The arm was muscular, with thick red hair, scars, and freckles. Harry followed the arm to its source with trepidation, only to discover Ron fast asleep next to him.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, Harry returned Ron’s hand, and leaned over to shake Ron.
“Ron,” Harry whispered. “Ron!” he pursued, more loudly, after no response.
“Mmph,” Ron answered, rolling the other direction.
“Ron, what’s going on?”
“Sleeping, Harry,” he mumbled into his pillow, annoyance tingeing his answer.
Harry shook his head to clear it. What was Ron doing here? In his bed? Harry lifted up the sheet. In nothing but his pants? At that, Harry started coughing again.
Ron flopped his head towards Harry, shaggy hair falling in his face, and scrutinized him with one eye open and one eye closed. “You sick, mate?”
Harry’s mind was still actively working through all of the possible reasons Ron was here, when one thought made him hesitate. “Ron, how do I know you’re not a Polyjuiced Death Eater?”
In answer, Ron’s stomach growled loudly, and he asked, “You cooking breakfast? Make some bacon, yeah?” Then he promptly fell back to sleep.
Harry smiled in relief. It was his Ron, all right.
~~~~
Harry wandered to the bathroom. He was dead-set on asking Ron why he was here and in Harry’s bed, but talking to Ron before he was fully awake was like talking to a three year-old. A hungry three year-old. Coughing a bit more, Harry cupped his hands under the running tap and splashed water on his face. Glancing in the mirror, Harry noticed a glimmer. Grabbing his glasses from the counter, he put them on and glanced down at his hands. On his left-hand ring finger was a thin, gold band. His eyes widened as he held his hand at arm’s length, as though it might turn on him and attack. Coughs racked his body again.
Harry gripped the ring in between his thumb and forefinger and attempted to pull it off. It wouldn’t budge over his knuckle, but the thing that bothered him the most was the white line that appeared underneath where the ring had been. It was a tan line. A tan line that had not been there yesterday.
Every instinct he had told him to Floo call Hermione. Something strange was going on. Some sort of magic that Harry didn’t understand. Hermione would know exactly what was happening. He rushed into the living room, still holding his arm out and staring at the ring. Arriving at the hearth, Harry began to drop to his knees to make the call, when he noticed the Wizarding photos on his mantle.
Harry and all of his friends were dressed in fancy dress robes, at an event that Harry knew he’d never attended. He looked so happy in the photos, and everyone was dancing and laughing. He grabbed a couple off the mantle and a pinch of Floo powder.
“Hermione!” he called through the Floo. “Hermione!” He peered into her bedroom, seeing only a rough, calloused foot dangling over the side of the bed.
Hermione sprang up from the other side of the bed. “Harry?” She rushed over and dropped down in front of him, pulling her robe around her and tying it on the side. “What’s wrong?”
Yelling had caused another coughing fit and Harry took a second to get under control.
“Are you sick?”
“Maybe! Weird things are going on here! What are these pictures from?” he asked, shoving them at her.
Hermione took the photos. Looking at them, she arched an eyebrow at Harry. “You know these are from your wedding.”
“Wedding!”
“Yes, Harry. Wedding. Or did you forget you’re married?”
‘Wedding?’ Harry thought. ‘Wedding band?’ All of the sudden, Harry understood. “Okay, great prank, ‘Mione. Did Ginny put you up to this? I’ll propose to her when I’m ready, and I’m just not ready. Okay? The whole set-up was good, I’ll give you that, but your accomplice fell asleep in my bed. Not very stealthy, using Ron to plant these photos and this ring.” Harry smiled. When Hermione sets her mind to something, she really went all the way. The photos were incredibly realistic.
“Harry,” Hermione said softly, “come through the Floo. I need to check something.” Taking his hand, she pulled him through the Floo and down the hallway to the living room. Sitting him on the couch, she ran her wand over him. “You don’t have a fever.” Hermione sounded surprised.
“No,” Harry replied. “Just this horrible cough.”
“Explain again what is going on, please.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Don’t play so coy. You want me to propose to Ginny and you’ve set up these photos to rush me along. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I’m not ready.”
“Photos of what, exactly?”
“Of my fake wedding to Ginny!”
“Harry,” Hermione started slowly. “These are photos of your wedding. Real photos. Of your wedding to Ron. Ron, not Ginny. What’s going on, Harry? Did you and Ron have a fight?”
“Wedding to Ron? Er, Hermione, that’s an even more ridiculous joke,” Harry laughed.
Hermione was clearly bewildered. Her eyes flicked back and forth between Harry’s, and he knew she was reading his seriousness. He could see her mind begin to analyze the situation, then she quickly began listing and ruling out the possible reasons for Harry’s issue. “Amnesia, Confundus charm, Obliviate. No.”
Harry wrinkled his brow in confusion and coughed. Hermione got up and left the room, coming back a few seconds later with a vial in her hand. She handed it to Harry.
“Cough tonic,” she explained. Harry nodded in gratitude and took a swig. “Harry, please tell me everything that you did yesterday, up until now.”
Harry wasn’t following the situation at all, but he answered anyway. “I got up…” he started.
“Who were you with?” Hermione interrupted.
“No one. I live by myself. You know that. I got up. Got a shower. Went to work.”
“What happened at work?”
“I did some paperwork. Sat through a trial. Got a folder from Malfoy about my upcoming case. Took an early lunch. Fridays can be slow at the Ministry.”
“Did anything unusual happen at the trial.”
“No. Open and shut case.”
Hermione looked around, obviously searching for answers. “What about with Malfoy?”
“Everything he says and does is unusual!” Harry said,laughing. “He was carrying a box of Prophecies, said they were going to be incinerated. One was about me.”
“What happened with that Prophecy? Did you get to see it?”
“No, the bastard threw it at my feet and it shattered. That’s where I got this horrible cough. I think I inhaled the fumes.”
Hermione’s chin dropped and her eyes widened. “You think…” she said, jumping up and pacing back and forth in front of the couch. “You think you inhaled the fumes from a Prophecy about you? And yesterday you were dating Ginny and today you find yourself married to Ron.”
“Hermione,” Harry started, but was cut off by his own cough.
“I need to go to the library.”
Harry smiled. “You want to go to the library and Ron wants food. At least I know you two are partially sane.”
“Harry.” Hermione sat down and took both of Harry’s hands in her own. She stared seriously into his eyes. “I strongly believe that what’s going on has everything to do with that Prophecy. I’m just not quite sure how. Just believe me when I say, here and now, wherever that is, you are married to Ron, and he loves you very much, so do NOT upset him while I get this figured out.”
Harry searched Hermione’s face for any sign of amusement.
“Don’t know how I feel about my girl holding hands with The Chosen One,” Charlie said, heading to the kitchen and scratching his arse. With a wink he continued, “Even if said Chosen One is a poof.” The door swung shut behind him.
Harry turned stunned eyes upon Hermione. “But I’m not a poof! So… what? This is some sort of ‘alternate reality’? How’d this happen? How do we fix this?” Harry’s breathing had slowly escalated until he started coughing again.
“I’ll figure it out, I promise. Just go home, and remember, don’t upset Ron. He’s your husband.”
~~~~
Harry climbed out of the Floo just as Ron exited the kitchen, still only in pants. “There you are. Where’ve you been?”
“Uh, went to see Hermione.”
“In your pyjamas?”
Harry looked down. “Er, yeah.”
Ron shrugged. “So, how’s that bacon coming along? I can’t seem to smell any.” He smiled, slid an arm around Harry’s waist, and kissed him. Harry froze. “Come on. My breath’s not that bad.” Ron said with a laugh.
Harry forced a smile. “It’s this cough,” he lied. “I asked Hermione about it, but I’m not sure if it’s contagious. Would hate for you to catch it.”
Ron grinned. “As long as you’ve never slept with Seamus, I couldn’t catch anything too serious from you!”
Harry gave a genuine laugh. “That’s absolutely true! Come on. Let’s see about that bacon. You want eggs, too?”
“I knew I loved you for a reason,” Ron answered, wrapping arms around Harry from behind and kissing the side of his neck.
Harry flushed completely scarlet.
~~~~
After breakfast, Harry and Ron dressed and Apparated to Diagon Alley to visit George and check out the new racing brooms at Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry was surprised by how easy his relationship with Ron was. It was no different than their friendship, except with more touching. He adapted quickly to the extra touching, and soon he didn’t feel right if Ron failed to touch him every few minutes.
It was when they stopped for ice cream that Ron finally made Harry nervous again. Ron’s cone was long gone, while Harry’s was starting to slowly melt in the warm sun. Harry had to catch the drips on his tongue and drag it up the side of the cone to clean it off.
Harry looked up suddenly as a low moan escaped from Ron, and immediately identified the lust in Ron’s eyes.
“Fuck, Harry, do you have to be so damn sexual when you eat?” Ron pressed his palm against his groin. “Sometimes you make me so hard, so fast, that it actually hurts.”
Harry flushed bright red. “Huh?” he squeaked.
“It’s taking all of my willpower not to throw you over my shoulder, take you into the bathroom, and fuck you so hard you can’t sit for a week. I’ve only restrained myself because there are children around.” Ron’s smile lit up his entire face.
Despite his nervousness, Harry quipped, “Really, a bathroom? Isn’t that kind of dirty?”
“Yeah, that’s the point.”
“No, I mean like dirty dirty. Bathroom dirty.” He coughed.
“That’s never stopped us before,” Ron said with a wink.
Harry was a little surprised. He had never experienced a desire for someone so strong that he had to take them right then and there, in a dirty bathroom. Is that the kind of relationship he had with Ron? He felt a longing in his chest for it. He was startled out of his musings by Ron leaning in close.
“Mate, you got a little ice cream…” and he leaned into Harry and licked the corner of his mouth; a slow swipe with the flat of his tongue. Harry closed his eyes as Ron finished up the lick with a lingering kiss. Why would something that should feel awkward feel so comfortable?
“Ready?” Harry opened his eyes to see Ron standing above him, offering an arm to assist Harry up. Harry took it and smiled.
~~~~
When they arrived home, Hermione was waiting on their couch, a pile of books in front of her, and one across her lap.
“The Secret of Prophecies?” Ron asked with a smile. “You never change. Want some tea?”
Hermione glanced at Harry. “Yes, please.”
“Mate?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Ron left the room and Hermione waved Harry over. “Quick, this is what I found.” Harry sat next to her, eyeing the stack of books. Harry was always impressed with how fast Hermione could do research. “What I found was fairly inconclusive, but I’ve a hypothesis, and I’m pretty sure I’m right. Maybe I could set up research and write a report on this!” Hermione’s eyes glazed over.
Harry glanced up at the kitchen door. They didn’t have time for this. “Hermione!”
“Oh, sorry. Anyway, what I think is that you were basically right when you asked if this is an alternate reality.”
“What?”
“Imagine your life goes in a straight line, but then imagine certain decisions allow your life to branch off. You could have thousands, or even millions of branches. Some branches go off at such an incredible angle, that if you had taken that path, your life would not be recognizable to you, as you are.”
Harry furrowed his brow. “Okay, I think I follow.”
“But some choices would not change your life that significantly. Your life would be basically the same, just with certain things different. These are the branches that run parallel to each other. Like prongs on a fork. Oh, Ron, love,” Hermione directed her attention to the man coming through the door with tea. “Could you pop to the shops and get me some biscuits? I’m absolutely famished.”
“I think we have some chocolate biscuits in the pantry.”
“I don’t want chocolate. I want gingersnap. Please.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
“Fine,” he grumbled, and Disapparated.
“So,” Harry said after Ron disappeared. “You think I’m on a parallel prong, the only difference being I’m married to Ron? That’s quite a big difference!”
“Yes, you may think so, but think about your life. Is it really that different? Are your friends different? The activities you do? Your job? The only difference is who you’re with. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Look at it this way. If you were to marry Ron instead of anyone else, would it change things, really? You would still be a Weasley. Still live in the same place.”
Harry thought about it, and was surprised to note that things would basically stay how they are, except it would include sex with Ron. Instead of Ginny. He was already more comfortable with Ron. Would sex be that difficult to add to the relationship? The idea didn’t repulse him. In fact, if he thought about it, and that kiss from earlier… Oh. He had to stop thinking about it, because his cock just twitched. Harry’s cheeks flushed as he looked up into Hermione’s eyes.
“So, how did this happen, anyway? How did I get here?”
“Well, that’s the interesting part. I believe it was the Prophecy. Breathing in the fumes was like breathing in magic. That magic is still coursing through your bloodstream. When the magic leaves your blood, your life should return to normal.”
Harry felt a feeling of unhappiness settle over him. “Oh. How long?”
“I’d give it a couple of days. Harry, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just, I haven’t spent this much time with Ron in a long while. I just miss it.”
Hermione smiled sadly. “So spend more time with him when you get back. Instead of with Malfoy. Which, actually, I’ve been thinking about, and it’s very strange.”
“What?”
“It’s just suspicious that Draco would be holding a Prophecy about you and smash it at your feet. He works with Prophecies, so he probably knows that this sort of thing might happen. He’s up to something.”
Harry thought about it. It really did seem suspicious. But Draco had become such a good friend. “Maybe he is helping me see what’s right in front of me.” A wave of affection washed over Harry. If Draco really had done that, it was because he wanted Harry to be happy.
Hermione looked dubious. “Maybe.”
Just then, Ron popped back in. “Here are your biscuits. Happy?”
“Oh, yes, but I need to go. Sorry, love. Another time.” She Disapparated.
Ron boggled at the spot she had just been. “Guess I’ll just put these in the pantry, then, shall I?”
“Ron, do you want to go flying?”
~~~~
They flew that evening until the darkness was so thick they were forced to come down. They ate at The Burrow, Molly fawning on them and asking when she could expect grandchildren.
That night, as they prepared for bed, Ron came up behind Harry as he was brushing his teeth. Harry smiled at Ron through the mirror as Ron wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist. Harry bent to spit out the toothpaste and Ron rested his head on Harry’s shoulder when he came back up. Keeping eye contact with Harry in the mirror, Ron said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Harry answered and smiled, surprised at how easily it came and how true it was. Harry really did love Ron. And the feeling of Ron pressed up behind him made him feel content. Harry gasped as he felt Ron’s erection nestle in between his arse cheeks and start sliding up and down. The feeling caused him to breathe in hard and his cock to swell. His head fell back as Ron slid a hand down Harry’s stomach and into the front of his pants.
As Ron grasped his hardening cock, Harry cried out and automatically pushed back against Ron’s hips then forward into his hand, causing Ron to moan. Ron grasped Harry’s earlobe with his teeth and pulled as he frotted against Harry’s arse and his hand flew over Harry’s cock. It only took a few minutes before they were both calling out their releases, and Harry gave Ron a small, shy smile in the mirror.
They settled into bed, Harry resting his head in the crook of Ron’s arm, and draping a leg over Ron’s. His palm rubbed circles over Ron’s stomach, his fingers glossing through the coarse hair there. “Ron?”
“Hmm?”
“Will you tell me about how we got together?”
“Is it story time?”
“Yes.”
Harry felt Ron chuckle, the vibrations in his chest soothing to Harry. “Well, after you and Ginny broke up, we went out drinking to forget about it.”
Harry remembered this. After the first time he had split up with Ginny, Ron had collected him and took him out in an attempt to make him feel better. They had gotten incredibly drunk and fell asleep together on Ron’s couch.
“We got well pissed and fell asleep on the couch. I woke up in the night because you were moving, and I realised you were rubbing your cock against me.”
Harry had woken up that night with a rock-hard erection and had thought how nice it would be to rub off against Ron. He had, however, restrained himself, and got up to take care of himself in the bathroom. He passed the thought off as a drunken impulse and never worried about it again.
Ron was smiling at the memory. “I was so turned on that I shifted so your cock was rubbing against mine, and you looked into my eyes and kissed me. It was my every wish come true, because I’d been in love with you since fourth year.”
Harry quickly rose up on his elbow and coughed a couple of times. “You’ve been in love with me since fourth year?”
Ron pulled him back to his chest. “You knew that, Harry. Now stop interrupting the story. I was so worried that in the morning you would regret what we’d done, if you even remembered it. I was awake all night long, worrying. But when you finally woke up, you looked down at me, smiled, and said, ‘That was fucking brilliant, wasn’t it?’ And you kissed me again. The rest is history.”
Harry thought about Ron’s proclamation that he had been in love with Harry since fourth year as he snuggled into Ron’s side. Ron’s breathing evened out and deepened in sleep, causing Harry to relax and finally fall into a deep sleep filled with dreams of Ron.
~~~~
Harry woke up wrapped in warmth, and turned in Ron’s arms to face him. Blue eyes peered into his. Harry slid a hand up and wiped away a bit of crust in the corner of Ron’s eye. Ron smiled brilliantly, and that smile lit up the room better than the sun ever could. Harry was lost. This was it. He was in love with his best mate. He couldn’t imagine a life with anyone else.
That morning, after showering together, Harry and Ron went for a walk. They met Seamus and Dean for lunch. There was drinking and laughing and stolen kisses and Ron’s hand on Harry’s thigh under the table. Harry wasn’t sure how he would ever thank Draco for showing him how wonderful life could be. Secretly, Harry was wishing that the magic that was allowing him to be here would never dissipate. Harry was concerned since he hadn’t seemed to cough at all today. Did that mean the magic was wearing off?
That night, Harry was in bed, eyes closed, waiting for Ron to join him, when a body slid over him and lips attacked his. Harry wrapped his arms around Ron’s back and pulled him tight against him. It was as though Ron was perfectly molded to Harry’s body, from lips to ankles. Harry pressed up against Ron’s hips, rubbing their erections together, causing Ron to moan into Harry’s ear, “Merlin, Harry, I need you to fuck me.”
Harry was suddenly very nervous, but it didn’t prevent him from growling, and rolling Ron over onto his back. The thought was both exciting and nerve-wracking; he had a basic idea about what sex with a bloke meant, but it was definitely different. He knew what he liked though, and he hoped Ron would like similar things. He kissed down Ron’s bare chest until he reached a nipple, and tugged at it lightly with his teeth. Ron gasped and wandlessly summoned the lube, handing it to Harry.
Ron leaned up for a kiss as Harry squeezed a dollop out onto his fingers. Ron settled back against the pillows with half-lidded eyes and a lusty smile. Harry sucked in air through his nose and held his breath, as he silently gathered the courage to take Ron’s cock in one hand, and slide the other down below Ron’s bollocks to his entrance. Harry glanced down as his fingers brushed the small pucker and flushed as it twitched against the slight pressure. He slowly let his breath out as he slid one finger in to the first knuckle. Ron moaned as he slid it further in. Harry was amazed at how tight Ron was, and his cock leaked a bit at the thought.
“Another,” he heard. Harry obliged, removing his finger and sliding two in. He pumped them in and out, and scissored them a bit. “Please, Harry,” Ron panted, “I’m ready.”
Harry coated his cock in lube before he had a chance to become more nervous, and lined the head up with Ron’s entrance. Slowly, but firmly, he pushed forward. As soon as the head of his penis slipped through, Harry’s nervousness disappeared. He slumped forward onto Ron, breathing in the smell of his skin, and feeling the rise and fall of his chest. He pushed himself up to stare down into Ron’s eyes, arms on either side of his head, and began to pump his hips. His smile was mirrored on Ron’s face. “Harder,” Ron whispered.
Harry sat up on his knees, pulling Ron’s hips towards him and putting Ron’s ankles onto his shoulders. He quickened his pace, preening when Ron let forth a string of curse words. Harry leaned forward to kiss Ron, nearly bending him double, and snaked his hand between their bodies to pump Ron’s cock. Harry could feel his orgasm building quickly, and he wanted Ron to finish with him. Ron batted his hand away and took over at a quicker pace than Harry. Harry latched on to Ron’s collarbone with his teeth as his orgasm burst through him. Ron pulled Harry’s face to his and kissed him through the remainder of his orgasm. Then Ron’s head fell back, his eyes rolled up, and warm liquid spread between them. Harry felt Ron’s arse contract around his softening penis as it slipped free, his body collapsing onto Ron’s. They both let out a collective sigh.
After a few minutes of post-orgasmic bliss, Harry rolled mostly off of Ron.
Harry leaned over Ron, his body still half covering him. Touching one earlobe, Harry tracked his finger across Ron’s cheek towards his nose. “You know, I’ve always wanted to see if I could find a path across your face without touching any freckles,” he whispered. He got half-way to Ron’s nose and had to backtrack a bit to find a different route.
“Mmmm,” Ron purred. “That feels good. But what do you mean, ‘Always wanted to.’? You used to do this all the time when we first got together. I thought you just finally gave up! Hundreds of tries and you’ve never found a path.” Ron sighed, closing his eyes and laying his head back on the pillow, as Harry abandoned his quest and began lightly running his fingers over Ron’s face and through his hair. Ron’s deep breathing soon turned to loud snores. Harry smiled, but continued caressing Ron’s skin.
Harry couldn’t remember ever being this happy with anyone else. Even Ginny. Ginny was a nice girl, and Harry really did love her, but it was never so comfortable as this. Harry was comfortable here, and Harry was content. He could stay tangled up with Ron forever and die this way, and he would be happy.
~~~~
Harry woke the next morning to find the bed empty. He sat up a little disoriented. He heard breakfast noises coming from the kitchen and smiled. He got up, wandered down the hallway, and entered the kitchen with the intent to sneak up behind Ron and pepper his neck with kisses.
Except it was Ginny.
“Where’s Ron?” Harry asked.
Ginny jumped at the sound of his voice and turned around. “I don’t know. Probably at his house.” She walked over to Harry and kissed him. “And it’s great to see you, too, love,” she said, sarcastically.
Ahh. So Harry was back. The last couple of days had felt like it was his real life, and this was just some weird dream. But, no, Harry had taken the wrong fork in life, and this is where this certain prong had taken him.
There was a way to backpedal, though. It was certainly a risk. There was no guarantee that Ron even loved him on this prong. But one thing Harry did know was that there was no reason to lead Ginny on. He had a taste of a perfect relationship, and he knew he would never have that with her. Harry breathed deep and let it out, long and slow.
“Ginny, we need to talk.” She furrowed her brow and nodded. “There are times when someone discovers something about another person. And sometimes that discovery is really very shocking. And sometimes it can change another relationship. With another person. People end up getting hurt.” Harry was rambling, and not making a whole hell of a lot of sense. He tried again. “Ultimately, there are things that can end a relationship…”
Harry was spared continuing that sentence when Ginny interrupted him. “Fine! I slept with Malfoy! Is that what you want to hear! I’m sorry, Harry! I’m so sorry!” She broke into tears and crumpled to the ground. Harry followed her down and held her against his chest. She sobbed into his shirt, and mumbled “sorry” over and over again. Harry just shushed her and rubbed her back. He was in shock that Ginny would sleep with one of his close friends, but he was also surprisingly happy about it. Now, he could tell her he loved her brother and he wouldn’t feel so bad about it.
“Come on.” Harry dragged Ginny up and sat her at the table. He sat beside her. She finally looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.
Wiping her eyes, she asked, “How long have you known?”
“Er. Well, Ginny, you actually just admitted it to me.”
Ginny looked at him in shock. “What?”
“I didn’t know until you just told me.” Harry smiled sheepishly.
Ginny dropped her head into her hands. “I’m sorry, Harry. The truth is, I really like him.”
“But he’s such a bastard.”
“You know most of that is put on. Besides, he’s your friend, even though he’s a bastard.”
“Because I know most of that is put on.” Harry smiled.
Ginny looked at Harry’s smile in confusion. “Why aren’t you upset?”
“Well, I’m certainly not happy about it, but I would be a bit of a hypocrite if I got mad. I was trying to tell you, I’m in love with someone else.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“So, I suppose this means we should break up?”
“I think, given we are both in love with other people, it would probably be best.”
“Sure.” Ginny smiled. “This was kinda an easy break up, huh?”
Harry laughed.
“So, who is it?”
“Who’s who?”
“This new bird of yours?”
Harry blushed and Ginny raised an eyebrow. “Er, this is the part that might get me hexed.”
Ginny’s eyes lit up as though it was an exciting game. “Is it Luna? Angelina? Is that harpy cheating on George?” She gasped. “Is it Fleur?”
“It’s Ron.”
Harry dove and made a dash for his bedroom as hex after hex barreled after him. Harry put his best locking charms on the door and Silenced out the screams of “Ron?” and “My brother?”
~~~~
Harry tumbled clumsily into Ron’s living room and dusted Floo powder from his shoulders.
“You always did know how to make an entrance,” Ron said from the couch.
Harry took in his best friend. The butterbeer in his hand, the ripped tracky bottoms, his dirty feet up on the table. A feeling of home washed over him, and he went to sit beside his boy. Still, he was nervous. Just because Prong B Ron said he had always loved Harry, didn’t actually mean that Prong A Ron still loved him. Harry shook his head. Hermione had a much better grasp on understanding this.
Ron summoned another butterbeer and handed it to Harry. “Mate, you look like you’re thinking pretty hard about something.”
“Ginny and I broke up.”
Harry noticed a flicker of emotion in Ron’s eyes before it was gone. “Sorry, mate. What happened?”
“Actually, she slept with Malfoy.”
“Fuck. He probably Imperiused her.”
“And I’m in love with someone else.”
Ron looked at Harry cautiously. “Oh, yeah?” Harry could hear the forced casualness. He knew then that he wasn’t wrong about Ron’s feelings. “Who?”
In answer, Harry leaned over and placed a chaste, lingering kiss on Ron’s lips. When he pulled back, the first thing he noticed was Ron’s eyes. They were glistening with unshed tears and wide with shock.
“Ron?” This wasn’t the reaction Harry expected.
“It’s me?” Ron asked, staring at Harry.
“Who?”
“The person you…”
“Love. Yeah, it’s you.” Harry reached over to wipe away a tear as it ran down Ron’s face. His eyes were wide and brimming. “What’s wrong?”
Ron wiped his eyes on his sleeve and let out an embarrassed laugh. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s brilliant. I just never thought this would happen.”
“This?”
“This, you, me, together thing.” He smiled as Harry took his hand in his own.
“I was such an idiot for not seeing this before.” Harry leaned over and kissed Ron again, this time with a little more force.
Ron deepened the kiss, and slid his hands down Harry’s sides until they rested on his hips. As he coaxed Harry’s mouth open with his tongue, he gripped Harry’s waist and tugged him to straddle his waist. Harry broke the kiss to let out a surprised squeal, and Ron asked, lips still brushing Harry’s, “Is this okay?”
“More than okay.” Harry smiled against Ron’s mouth. He threw his head back and moaned as he tilted his pelvis, inadvertently brushing their erections together. Ron gasped and ran his tongue up Harry’s neck and over his adam’s apple. Harry sank all of his weight into his pelvis and began rocking his hips against Ron’s. “Oh fuck, Ron. Want you.”
Ron moaned as Harry dragged his weight across his erection. Harry shifted back until he could drop to his knees in front of the couch. He leaned between Ron’s knees and mouthed at his straining cock, causing Ron to shudder and twist his fingers in Harry’s hair. Harry grasped the sides of Ron’s bottoms and pants and pulled them off, Ron raising his hips in assistance. Harry grasped both of Ron’s thighs. As Harry ran his tongue over the fine hairs on Ron’s thigh, he felt them flex beneath his hands, and laughed. He leaned further and nuzzled Ron’s balls with his nose, breathing in the musky scent of Ron. Ron was whimpering in frustration and arousal, fingers tightening and loosening in Harry’s hair. Deciding to take pity on him, he licked up the underside of Ron’s cock, and took the head into his mouth. Ron moaned loudly, and Harry decided he would never live to tire of hearing that moan.
Not having any technique to speak of, Harry assured himself that he was doing all right, if the litany of moans and fuckfuckfuck’s were anything to go by. He worked his way up and down the shaft several times, using his tongue along the underside, and only gagging a couple times. Harry’s arm muscles were straining from keeping Ron’s hips from thrusting, and his jaw was getting a little tired when he finally heard, “Fuck, Harry!” and warm liquid filled his mouth. He swallowed most of it, but saved a dab on his tongue. Rolling it from side-to-side, Harry took in the salty, bitter taste of Ron. Nothing had ever tasted so good to Harry at that moment.
Ron was a beautiful sight. He was settled back, limp, against the back of the couch. He had a slight sheen of sweat across his body, and his chest was heaving as he gulped in air. His arm was flung across his eyes. He slowly lifted it and peered down at Harry. “Fuck, mate!”
Harry rested his head against Ron’s thigh and beamed up at his boy. “Like that, did you?”
~~~~
Later that evening, Harry Floo’d over to Draco’s flat. He had been trying to stir up a little self-righteous anger for Draco, but apparently couldn’t be anything but grateful to the prick for helping him to realise his feelings for Ron.
Draco was in a chair, reading, when Harry’s voice startled him. “I was going to come and thank you for your meddling, until I found out you slept with my girlfriend.”
“And so you’re here to kill me, instead?” Draco laid his book face-down across the arm of the chair, open to the page he was on, and stood up.
“No, actually, I’m here to call it even. You’re lucky Ron loves me back, or you’d be in big trouble.”
Draco smirked. “Oh, well, isn’t that convenient.”
Harry snorted. “Yeah, convenient for you!” Then he stopped. Draco slept with Ginny. Draco smashed the Prophecy at Harry’s feet knowing full well what Harry would experience and that he would get together with Ron. Harry had just assumed Draco had done it out of friendship. Harry finally realised that he had actually only done it to break up Harry and Ginny. Draco wanted Ginny. He didn’t do this for Harry. He did it for himself.
Harry watched Draco tense as Harry figured out the truth.
Harry shook his head in amazement, and smiled. “You’re a real bastard, you know that?”
Draco visibly relaxed. “You were well aware of that when you befriended me, yet you adamantly did so.”