Till The End • A HarryxRon Fanfiction

Scarlet Secrets

It turns out that Harry should have been at Hogwarts weeks ago, nine weeks ago to be exact. He hadn't shown up at Hogwarts, thus Hagrid worrying. For weeks he tried to get Dumbledor to get him and only now was he allowed. To see that there wasn't any explanation for his late attendance, suspicions grew. Hagrid always felt protective of the boy, he wanted to take him away from the Dursleys for good but couldn't. Of course, Hagrid would ask what was happening there but Harry knew to deny any indication of abuse. 

Hogwarts. Home. Harry was finally there; for what seemed like years passing finally stopped and although late, he was there. A place he was safe from harm. He may still have to do everything to hide the wounds of abuse and hide the pain he endured every step he took but new wounds would not arise. It wasn't easy but the trepidation he felt was enough for Harry to do everything he could to keep his life at home a secret. 

"Harry!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed as they saw him at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Their faces lit up as they saw their best friend finally there. It was clear to Harry that they had missed him just as much as he missed them. Harry looked at the pair and a smile instantly crawled onto his face. 

Hermione ran down the steps towards Harry; jumping on to him in a hug. The action alone pressed onto his bruises and slowly healing wounds he gained last night. A flicker of pain coursed through his face, however, he refused to let out any indication that truly showed it hurt him. The pain wasn't half as bad as the pain Vernon caused him. This pain wasn't lightning bolts slicing through his body. 

Despite that Ron had caught the pain in Harry's eyes, He wondered what it was but could never think he was as butchered as Harry truly was. The worst thought was Harry having fallen down the stairs or something. "It's nice to see you, Harry, We missed you. Thank you for not ditching me" Ron stepped closer; a teasing chuckling escaping lips. He stood close to both Hermione and Harry. 

"Yeah! where were you?" Hermione pulled away from the hug slowly, not wanting to but started to feel a bit awkward. Looking at Harry instead. "It has already been nine weeks, we got, worried," she told him; thinking about how much weight he had lost. it was hard to tell over the clothing too large for his thinning frame. While hugging him she noticed it was like he hadn't eaten much to anything the whole summer.

Questions. He was going to hate them this year, especially when he had so much to hide. He hated to lie but if he didn't his death would be a painful one. "I needed to sort everything out and felt I was behind so worked at home for the- a few weeks." He explained. A quick and almost believable lie. It was far from being the truth. Work didn't involve crimson and fire. 

"We should all catch up later but for now we are late for our lessons," Hermione spoke with a stern voice. She was always one to not want to get in trouble and work to the best of her ability, she wouldn't change not being friends for the boys for anything though, not even that. She would give up everything for them. No matter how much they got on her nerves sometimes. She said goodbye to the two and walked off, her cat; Crookshanks followed closely behind; not before sniffing Harry. He could definitely smell the blood but thankfully couldn't speak.

Ron, however, stayed with Harry. The two were almost inseparable so having not seen each other for so long almost killed them. "Have I missed much?" Harry asked, looking at Ron with the same look he always gave the other. One of true friendship. A friendship that could never die. 

"Not really, it has been quite boring without you really." A small shrug was given as Ron spoke. So many questions for his best friend ran through his mind but for now this. Just talking was enough to create a smile upon his face.

The two caught up and slowly made their way through the castle halls. Neither wanted to go to class but slowly made their way there. Harry found walking extremely painful. He knew his face would show this so kept his eyes on the ground as they walked. Wounds stretched every step and crimson droplets rolled down his back. He could feel it but said or did nothing. He couldn't.