Too Skinny - H/R - PG-13
Title: Too Skinny
Author: shocfix
Pairing: Harry/Ron
Rating: PG-13
Words : 1300

While sitting in the British Library, surrounded by every great book ever published, I felt the need to take its Harry/Ron virginity.

Started pre-HBP, but I decided to finish off my pre-HBP bunnies before I try and capture a new Ron.


Too Skinny
****
Ron ducked his head, letting his fringe fall into his eyes. “She’s staring at me again,” he muttered.

Harry sniggered.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. “Who?” she asked.

“Loony Lovegood,” Ron said, peering through his hair towards the Ravenclaw table.

“Oh,” smiled Hermione. “And don’t call her that, it’s mean.”

“Why is she always staring at me? She is always staring at me.” Ron nervously tore his toast to pieces.

“Well, she fancies you,” Hermione said briskly, not taking her eyes from the textbook she had propped against the jug of pumpkin juice.

“Me?” Ron squeaked.

“What?” Harry snorted.

“Why d’you think they call her ‘loony’?” Ginny giggled and Ron shot her a filthy look.

“Really?” he asked Hermione, flushing slightly. “How d’you know?”

“Oh, honestly, Ron,” she said. “Everyone knows. She sings ‘Weasley is my king’ the whole time; she wears those ridiculous hats to all your games; she stares at you the whole time!”

Ron stared at her, eyes wide.

“And she’s never seen you naked,” Ginny added.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ron frowned.

“Well, even if you go for tall and skinny, you’re unlikely to go for gangly and skeletal,” she smirked.

Harry laughed and Ron glared at him. “Hey,” he said.

“Oh, it’s not just you,” Ginny assured him, interrupting. “Robes cover it all up, but watching you and Harry swimming this summer, well. When do you start developing muscles?” she asked innocently.

“Hey!” Harry said.

“That’s probably why most teenage boys are nominally straight,” Hermione said.

“Huh?” Ron asked.

“Well, no matter how many hormones are flying round the boys’ dorms,” Hermione explained, “you all see each other naked, and you know there’s nothing worth lusting after.”

“Since Oliver left,” Ginny put in.

“Well, yes, since Oliver left,” Hermione agreed.

Ron flushed. “So, you’re calling me shallow again, are you?” he demanded.

“What?”

“You’re saying I couldn’t fancy Harry for his personality, because he’s too skinny?”

“Ron!” Harry spluttered.

“Men are ruled by visual stimuli,” Hermione said simply. “And as attractive men are defined by their masculine attributes – muscles, hairy chests – it is unlikely that teenage boys would think of each other as attractive.”

“But teenage girls can fancy them?” Ron challenged.

“Yes,” Hermione said. “Women take personality into account a great deal more, plus they can see physical potential. You’ll be a lot more attractive once you grow into your hands and feet.”

Harry snorted with laughter.

“Well, that shows what you know, Hermione,” Ron snapped. “I think Harry is very attractive.”

“Ron, are you listening to yourself?” Harry whined.

“What?” Ron looked confused. “I’m sick of her calling me shallow all the time. Emotional depth of a teaspoon? She can’t tell me who I fancy.”

“So, you’re saying that teenage boys can be attractive?” Hermione asked.

“Of course,” Ron said.

“That Harry is attractive?” Ginny asked.

“Yes,” said Ron, and Harry flushed.

“That you could fancy him?” Hermione pressed.

“Yes, if I wanted,” Ron started to look flustered.

“Even though he is so skinny?”

“I don’t mind skinny.”

“So, you do fancy him?” Ginny asked.

“Yes!” Ron snapped and there was a ringing silence.

“Ron?” Harry whispered.

“Oh, Ron, I’m sorry,” Hermione said, putting her hand on his. “I didn’t mean to push you this far.”

“I’m sorry,” Ron mumbled, not looking at Harry and he got up and fled from the table.

Hermione and Ginny looked steadily at Harry, who was wild eyed.

“What?” he asked.

“This is where you follow him,” Hermione pointed out.

“He won’t want me to follow him!” Harry gasped. “He’s mortified!”

“And only you can make him feel better,” said Ginny.

“How?” Harry looked very nervous.

“Tell him how you feel,” Hermione said simply.

“What?” Harry whispered.

“You’re crazy about him,” Hermione said.

“I am?”

“Yes, you are,” she said.

“Yes, I.. I am,” Harry admitted. “But he… “ he trailed off.

“Needs to know,” Ginny finished for him.

“Hermione, I can’t,” Harry moaned. “I’ve never said… well, to anyone.”

“I know, Harry, but he’s said it first now, hasn’t he?”

Harry blinked at them. “Did you do this on purpose?” he asked.

“Well, yes, in a way,” Hermione admitted.

Harry blinked again.

“We didn’t mean to humiliate you both,” Ginny added. “But we did decide to help you both admit how you felt, if we got a chance.”

“I have to go after him,” Harry muttered.

“Yes.”

“I have to tell him.”

“Yeah – if he’ll let you get a word in edgewise,” Ginny pointed out.

“Oh, no, he’ll be in such a state,” Harry looked back and forth between the two girls.

“Then get a move on!” Hermione said, shoving him.

****
Ron seemed to have fled completely once he left the Great Hall, and it took Harry nearly an hour to track him down to the Quidditch changing rooms.

He was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, arms looped around his drawn-up knees, head tipped back, eyes closed, face a picture of misery.

Harry stayed very still, examining his feelings, which wasn’t something he did, as a rule. Not when he’d tried so hard to keep his feelings for Ron buried. But now he took them out and looked at them, and his heart ached for the forlorn figure on the floor.

He’d have to be careful, but he had to make Ron see how much he cared for him. Wanted him.

He silently crossed the floor and knelt before his miserable best friend. “Ron?” he whispered.

Ron’s eyes snapped open and his body tensed. “I’m so sorry, Harry,” he said rapidly. “I would never, ever have said anything…”

Harry put his hand on Ron’s forearm, trying to interrupt. “No, really…”

“I don’t want to make things weird between us; not that there is anything between us, that’s not what I meant…”

Harry leant closer, watching Ron’s lips moving, trying to interrupt. “It’s OK…”

“No, no it isn’t. They kept pushing and pushing me, they’re evil, they…”

“Ron!” Harry finally shouted, running his hand up to Ron’s shoulder and shaking him.

“What?” Ron asked, not quite meeting Harry’s eyes.

“It’s OK.”

“No it isn’t.” Ron’s shoulders drooped and he shook his head sadly.

“Ron?” Harry put his hand on Ron’s chin and tipped his face up. “Really,” he leant closer. “It is fine,” he hesitated and tilted his head to the side. “Really.” He pressed his lips to Ron’s.

And sat there. Because Ron’s lips didn’t move under his. Ron was utterly motionless.

Harry sat back. “Um,” he said.

“What d’you do that for?” Ron asked, blinking at him.

“What?”

“Are you taking the piss?” Ron grumbled, trying to get to his feet, but Harry grabbed him and pulled him back down, where they struggled for a moment, until Ron exerted his greater reach and weight and number of siblings and pinned Harry beneath him.

“No, I am not taking the piss,” Harry hissed between grinding teeth. “I am trying to make a pass at you.”

“Why?” Ron shouted in his face.

“I cannot for the life of me remember,” Harry snapped, struggling to get out of Ron’s grip.

Ron gaped at him. “No, really. Why?” he asked, quietly.

“Because I fancy you, too,” Harry muttered, focusing somewhere past Ron’s left ear.

Ron gasped.

“Even though you are so skinny,” Harry added, smiling nervously.

Ron gawped.

“Ron?” Harry prompted.

“Really?” Ron whispered.

“Really,” Harry answered. “Hermione thought I did – and you did – that’s why she pushed you like that.”

“Is she insane?” Ron spluttered. “That was on purpose? She made me say all those things?”

“Well, you didn’t have to,” Harry smiled wider. “But I’m glad you did.”

Ron seemed to realise that he still had Harry pinned beneath him and he shook himself and loosened his hold. “Harry,” he breathed. “We have to keep an eye on that girl. She’s a little bit scary, you know? Brilliant, but scary.”

And Harry reached up and pulled him down into a proper kiss.