Summersmut Mod (summersmutmod) wrote in hp_summersmut, @ 2009-08-25 00:00:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2009, fic |
[FIC] Long Time Coming :: Ron Harry, Ron/Hermione | gift for eruditefics
Title: Long Time Coming
Author:
Recipient: eruditefics
RatingNC-17
Pairing: Ron/Harry, Ron/Hermione, past Harry/Ginny
Summary: After his divorce, Harry is hurting and Ron needs to make things better. Hermione's solution is shocking, but Ron realises it's what they all need.
Warnings: Polyamory, Frotting, Epilogue compliant
Word Count: ~5,800
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's/Artist's notes: This story was quite different from what I set out to write, but I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much to my super-fast, super-amazing betas.
Ron watched Harry pour himself yet another Firewhisky. He sighed and glanced at Hermione, hoping she would know what to say or how to make his best friend stop hurting for even a little while. She just gave a little shrug and sat on the sofa.
It'd been one week since Ginny had abandoned Harry for a young Quidditch star. Seven days of watching his best friend collapse into himself. Ron didn't know what to do except keep him company, and Hermione had tried a variety of things to cheer Harry up, but nothing had helped so far.
The kids were away at Hogwarts. Ginny had gone to explain why she was leaving their father, but Harry hadn't seen them. They'd all sent letters, though. Ron could make out Albus's loose scrawl across the crumpled parchment sitting on the stack of files covering Harry's desk.
"I'm going home for a while," Hermione said, standing up and stretching. "Stay here as long as you need." She gave Ron and Harry both a quick kiss on the cheek and then Disapparated.
Ron and Harry both stared at the empty spot where she'd been standing for a long moment before Harry lifted his glass and drained it with one gulp. Ron walked over and took the glass from Harry.
"You've had enough, mate," Ron said, keeping his voice quiet but firm. The tone usually worked on the kids, and Harry was so drunk that it would probably work on him as well.
Harry paused for a moment, looking between the glass and Ron's face. Ron waited for the argument, but Harry just sighed and slumped onto the sofa. Ron sat next to him, resting his hand on Harry's knee in a show of support.
"I thought we were all right," Harry mumbled, turning into Ron and letting his head drop onto Ron's shoulder. "It wasn't supposed to end. I just thought it'd always be the four of us, you know. I didn't think I'd be alone."
Not having a clue what to say, Ron just nodded and put his arm around Harry, pulling him closer. He wished Hermione hadn't left; she might know how to handle Harry like this. Harry's marriage with Ginny had been very different than his marriage with Hermione, and Ron had never really understood it. Even now, Ron thought Harry was more upset about being left alone than over losing Ginny.
Harry didn't say anything more; he just relaxed against Ron until his breathing lost the slight hitch of pain and evened out in sleep. Ron shifted carefully out from under Harry, gently laying Harry down onto the sofa.
"Ron?" Harry asked sleepily.
"I didn't mean to wake you," Ron said, helping Harry sit back up.
Harry looked up, the familiar green eyes burning into him. "Stay?"
"Of course," Ron said, glad to have something tangible to do to help. "Let me Firecall Hermione and tell her."
At the mention of Hermione, Harry's face fell. "No, you should go home to her."
"She wants what's best for you right now. We can spend a few nights apart," Ron said, making his way to the fireplace.
Hermione was already in pyjamas when Ron stuck his head through, reading in the oversized blue chair she always favoured.
"How is he?" Hermione asked, unfolding her legs to stand and walking toward the fireplace.
Ron shrugged and then remembered she couldn't see his shoulders. "He's still bad off. He asked me to stay the night."
"Of course; he needs you," Hermione said, nodding. She took a deep breath, opened her mouth and then closed it the way she did when what she was about to say was really important and Ron was either not going to understand it or he wouldn't like it. "Ron, if you want to do things—anything—to comfort Harry, then do it."
Ron stared at her. He knew it must be important and it didn't seem particularly upsetting, which only left him not understanding what she meant. He shrugged in confusion, assuming she would explain further.
"I just want you to know that nothing that happens between you and Harry will change how I feel about both of you. I love you," she said, smiling softly.
Still confused, Ron tilted his head and decided to let it go. If it were important, she'd tell him again. "Love you, too. Good night."
When he pulled his head out of the fire, Ron found Harry standing nervously beside him.
"You don't have to stay," Harry said.
Ron could see how much Harry wanted him there and knew it had taken a lot of courage to ask. "I want to stay, mate. I want to get you through this."
Harry's face lit up in a flash of happiness. Ron's heart warmed at the sight. It wasn't a true smile, but it was something.
Ron followed Harry up the stairs, helping him when he stumbled. Harry cringed when he opened the bedroom door, and Ron realised it would be painful to stay in the same room Harry had shared with Ginny for almost twenty years.
"Let's use the guest room, mate," Ron said, steering Harry out of the bedroom and down the hall.
"Us?" Harry asked quietly.
Ron paused, realising he didn't actually know what Harry wanted. When Harry asked him to stay, Ron assumed Harry meant that he wanted Ron to sleep with him like they used to after the war. But Harry may have just wanted company in the house. "Wherever you want me to sleep," Ron finally said when he realised Harry had frozen waiting on his answer.
"Together?" Harry asked, and this time, Ron could hear the hope in Harry's voice. He hadn't read the situation wrong; Harry had wanted Ron to help him sleep.
"Of course," Ron said, opening the door to the guest room.
Ron made his way to the bed, shedding his clothes down to his pants before pulling the covers back. Harry was watching him wide-eyed. "Come on, I'm not sleeping in my clothes, and we used to do this all the time."
Harry nodded and bit his lip. He struggled to remove his clothes, still too drunk to manage properly. Ron couldn't help but notice how fit Harry still was. Being Head Auror hadn't stopped Harry's daily workouts, and Ron suddenly felt self-conscious over his slight gut.
They both slid into the bed and Ron pulled Harry close, snuggling Harry against his chest and tucking his chin into Harry's messy hair. He sighed at how right it felt. It had been over twenty years since he and Harry had shared a bed like this, cuddled together for comfort, but it still relaxed him like nothing else could.
The year after the war had been tough on both of them, and nightmares were common. Ron would wake up with the sounds of Hermione's screams in his ear or with the image of Fred's dead body burned behind his eyes. Ron never asked what Harry's nightmares were but he knew they were similar to his own.
After a few weeks of restless nights, they began sharing the small bed in Ron's bedroom at The Burrow. Together, they could fight off the terrors and sleep. It wasn't something they ever discussed, but it had been nice. Looking back, Ron knew Harry was the only thing that had pulled him through and let him get over the horrors they'd experienced.
Harry made a snuffling sound and settled, his breath tickling Ron's chest. "Cheers," he whispered.
"Anytime," Ron whispered back, placing a soft kiss into Harry's hair. This must've been what Hermione meant, Ron thought, letting himself drift off to sleep.
When Ron woke up, it took him a minute to realise where he was and who was with him. While Harry and Hermione were about the same height, Hermione didn't have broad shoulders… or a hard cock. Ron shifted a bit, moving away from Harry's erection. When they'd been younger, it used to happen to one or both of them almost every morning. They'd always ignored it, and Ron saw no reason to treat this any differently.
Harry's eyes blinked rapidly and Ron reached over him to grab his glasses. "Ron?"
"Morning," Ron said, handing Harry his glasses.
Harry gave Ron a brilliant smile. "I know I drank a lot, but I think I'd remember bringing you to bed." Harry's tone was teasing, letting Ron know Harry did recall the night before.
Ron laughed. Harry seemed like a different person from the night before. "Sleep well?"
"Fantastic. I don't even feel hung over. I hadn't really slept since, you know. I needed that."
"Let me check in with work, and then we can go get some breakfast," Ron said, sliding out of bed and pulling on his trousers.
"I should probably go into the office," Harry said.
"One more day isn't going to hurt anybody. Besides, I was thinking you'd like a chance to see the kids. We could fly out there and have dinner with them."
Harry's eyes brightened and Ron knew his idea was a good one. Flying and the kids were still Harry's biggest joys in life. "All right. Make sure Roberts isn't being too mean to the trainees."
Ron made his way toward the door but paused as he caught a glance of Harry getting out of bed. Harry's cock was still half-hard and Ron could see it bulging through Harry's pants. He gulped, unsure why he was so intrigued by his best friend's erection.
Harry didn't seem to notice and pulled a shirt over his head as he moved toward Ron. Ron shook himself and walked out the room quickly.