When the Snow Melts

Kicking Anthills

Ron studied Harry for a while as he stood at the foot of his bed, an expression of dread on his face. He had not moved for quite some time and Ron feared he might stand there the whole night, gazing at his bed as if he expected it to grow fangs and attack him.

"Come on then, mate," Ron beckoned, shifting over to make room for his friend.

Harry let out a relieved sigh, shuffling over, his face flushed with embarrassment as he crawled in next to him.

The bed wasn't really big enough for the both of them. Ron was forced to lie on his side, his back to Harry's back. It was awkward and weird, but he and Hermione had discovered that Harry slept better when he had company. That wasn't to say that he was nightmare free, but his connection to something real helped him to stay grounded, helped him not wake up confusing dreams for reality – usually. It was the best they could do for the moment.

Ron preemptively tossed the comforter to the floor, leaving them with only a sheet. Both boys slept like furnaces and he didn't relish the idea of waking in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and dying from the heat.

"Night, Harry," Ron called, pulling the sheet up to his chin.

"Night," he replied weakly, probably still embarrassed about the whole situation.

After a while, he felt the tension drain out of the boy lying next to him, his breathing evening out into a steady cadence.

"Please don't attack me tonight," Ron whispered with a soft smile on his face, closing his eyes to join his friend in sleep.

<<<<<   >>>>>

Ron awoke to the sound of giggling at his bedside. He cracked one eye open to glare at the smirking faces of Seamus and Dean.

"What's Hermione going to say when she finds out?" Seamus inquired melodramatically, eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Don't know," Ron grumbled, slipping carefully out of the bed so as not to wake his best friend. "It was her idea."

"Is that how it is?" Seamus replied, eyebrows raised in mock-surprise. "You can never tell by lookin' at em', can you?"

"Oh, come off it," Ron growled in irritation, ready for the teasing to be done. "You know he sleeps better like this."

Seamus snorted and sauntered off, Dean right behind him as they left the room. Ron could only shake his head at their antics.

It was Saturday, so there was no need to wake Harry up just yet. Ron could grab some breakfast and bring it up for him to eat later. As he watched, Harry shifted, curling in on himself against the cold. He grabbed the comforter off the floor and gently placed it over him.

"You're a really good friend," Neville remarked in a quiet voice, having watched the whole thing. "Harry's lucky to have you."

"He'd do the same for me," Ron responded, flushing slightly at the sudden compliment.

Neville nodded, thoughtfully watching Harry sleep for a while before padding across the room and out the door.

<<<<<   >>>>>

Draco noticed that Harry wasn't at breakfast. The Weasel looked decidedly disheveled and that worried him a bit. Maybe they'd had another rough night. Harry's friends didn't seem to be making any headway in helping him with his nightmares. Draco growled in frustration at their incompetence.

"Missing your boyfriend?" Pansy teased, so close he could smell her flowery shampoo.

White-hot anger settled in the pit of his stomach at her presence. Every time he saw her, it took everything he had not to launch himself at her throat. That feeling had not seemed to lessen even after several months had passed. She had very wisely been avoiding him – until today.