A New Beginning - Drarry

[ Chapter fourteen - Nightmares ]

Trigger Warning: Themes of physical abuse, violence, blood

"Wow! I. Am. Stuffed! Couldn't eat another bite!" Ron exclaimed as he wandered into the common room that evening after dinner with his friends. He was rubbing his stomach as he strolled over to the couch and plonked himself down on the cushions, his attention being caught shiny bag on the table beside him. "Ooh, fudge! Don't mind if I do." Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's usual eye for food and sat down on the nearby beanbag, diving into her book. Harry peered out from his bedroom upon hearing their arrival. He had been feeling anxious all day. Things we're becoming more serious with Draco and it was changing him. 

He was brighter, more cheerful, he smiled more and loved more. He had decided it was time to open up to his friends, through he was still undecided about exactly how much to tell them, he knew he couldn't hide this part of him anymore. "Erm guys...would you mind joining me in my room? There's something I need to talk to you about." Harry said apprehensively leaning out of his doorway. Ron and Hermione shared a puzzled glanced before turning back to him. "Sure, everything alright mate?" Ron asked pushing himself off the sofa and swiping the fudge as he made his way over with Hermione. 

They entered Harry's bedroom, a cozy redbrick room where an arched window sat to the left looking out across the grounds and mahogany beams spread across the ceiling. There was a Gryffindor poster beside his dresser where piles of clothes and Quidditch gear tumbled out of the drawers and across the chair and floor. A dark red rug matched his burgundy bed sheets and the rest of the wooden floor was scattered with books. Ron strolled in and crashed onto the rug, spreading out his legs and resting back on his palms. Hermione wandered across the room, tutting at the clutter and picking up books on the floor, bushing off the dust and placing them neatly on his desk. 

She perched on the ned of the chair, sliding his heap of clothes to the side. Harry closed the door slowly behind them all and made his way reluctantly over to his bed where he sat cross-legged. Ron leaned back and pulled open the bottom drawer of Harry's dresser to find his usual secret stash of Honeydukes candy. "Make yourself at home why don't you." Harry poked at him. "Shouldn't have told me about your stash then should you." Ron teased unwrapping a bag of chocolate bon bons, tossing one into his mouth and offering the bag to the others. "What's the matter, Harry?" Hermione asked intently from across the room, she looked concerned, her brows knitted in a frown. 

Harry fiddled with the thread on his jumper sleeve, chewing his lip trying to find the words to begin speaking. His gaze remained focused on his hands, painfully aware of their eyes boring into him. "Well, um.." he coughed. "So...there's something I've been meaning to tell you guys, I probably should've told you a while ago.." Ron nodded. "Go on." "I just, hope that you can support me and...and that I can trust you both cause it's quite big for me, well, not big exactly, I don't know really it's just.." he sighed and collected himself. "Well...what I feel I should tell you guys is that...I'm gay." There was a silence that filled every corner of the room, Harry felt ridiculously uncomfortable, blushing hard and wishing he could apparate from this room to anywhere other than here. 

"Well thank god!" Ron exhaled. Harry did a double take at his response and looked up at him confused. "Wh-what?" "You've had girls throwing themselves at you all year, Harry and you've completely brushed off every one of them. I thought you were going mental!" He laughed. "So...you're not mad?" Harry asked. "Of course not!" Hermione walked over and sat down beside him on the bed, placing a hand on his arm. "Harry we love you for who you are, and whoever you love we'll love them too. We'll always support you." "Exactly. Why would we be mad?" Ron said digging for more bon bons. "Well...because I kept it a secret from you guys for so long."

"You're my best friends I should've said something sooner. Also, there are some people out there that don't really accept others for being gay." "Seriously? Why would someone have a problem with that?" Ron asked bewildered. "My Aunt and Uncle used to be like that." Harry frowned. "It's more of a muggle thing." Hermione added. "But you're fine Harry, everyone I've met in the Wizarding world has been very accepting of people with different sexualities." "At least that explains why you and Ginny broke up." Ron said with cheeks full of sweets. "I was gutted when you two ended." "Talking of Ginny...she figured it out already." Harry huffed jokingly.