Glamour

Secrets

 The Sunday afternoon brought the usual chaos of Ron rushing to complete his homework, with Hermione chiding him while simultaneously attempting to read ahead on their lessons for the week. Harry sat in the armchair across from them lazily perusing a book on household charms, his own homework having been completed the previous evening.

"So all this self improvement stuff what else you been doing. It can't all be homework right" Ron asked looking up from his essay at the book he was reading.

Harry looked up in surprise. So far Ron had steadily ignored all the changes that Harry had been making, preferring to keep on as if nothing had changed.

"Nah, its like how I look and dress n stuff. I mean I don't want to wear my cousins clothes forever you know."

"There's nothing wrong with how you looked. And your clothes were fine. Those new things you got at Hogsmeade are a bit poncy."

"I didn't think you noticed." Harry smiled, "But it just makes me feel a bit better about myself you know."

"You're my best mate, of course I noticed." Ron said, "Still think its a bit weird but I get wanting to feel better about stuff. I know I would get nicer things if I could afford it." Harry smiled, for all his obtuse behaviour, Ron could be a really good friend sometimes.

"Well the last bit, uh, you have to promise to keep this a secret mate." Harry lowered his voice slightly, glancing round the common room to make sure no one was listening in.

"Yeah course." Ron said leaning in eagerly.

"Well I'm gay." Harry wrung his hands together nervously looking between his two best friends.

Ron looked back at Harry in shocked silence for a moment before breaking out into laughter.

"Oh good one mate," He chortled "George already beat you to it though."

"Yeah I know" Harry grinned as relief washed through him. Ron was fine with his brother being gay, so of course he would be fine with Harry. There was nothing to worry about after all.

"Oh if you knew why did you try it on me?" Ron asked frowning at harry.

"What?" His heart stuttered in his chest.

"George tried that joke on me last summer." Ron explained, "The bastard had me going for a full day before he fessed up. Like George would be a wand swallower. Its the sort of disgusting thing you expect from Slytherin's."

"Oh." Harry felt a chill run down his spine.

"Don't let it get you down. The twins have done most tricks in the book." Ron said, patting Harry on the back.

"Yeah, course not mate." Harry laughed, though it sounded hollow to his ears, "anyway got to go. Forgot a library book earlier and Madame Pince will kill me if I don't return it today."

Harry didn't stick around to see if Ron believed his flimsy excuse. He just needed to get away, racing down the Gryffindor tower, Harry didn't stop until he reached the courtyard. The cold November air stung as It whipped past Harry's face, but he ignored it glad for some distraction from the ache in his heart.

Ron, his best friend, thought it was a joke. His best friend hated what Harry was. How was their friendship ever going to survive that.

It wasn't, a bitter voice rang inside of his head.

Harry had known that there was a chance their friendship wouldn't survive this year, but he hadn't quite expected it to hit quite so hard or so soon in such a way. The Weasley's had always seemed so progressive. So accepting. Why was this any different?