helpless- ron/harry
AU non magic- harry never met all of everyone
There’s a large party celebrating Seamus and Dean’s engagement with a pub crawl. Ron’s very happy for them, of course, but is feeling a bit low as just about everyone there is a couple. He and his sister are both single and she says she’s determined to find someone worth a good snog at least if she’s forced to put up with the pub crawl.
They get to the fifth pub that has a loud bluegrass band going at top volume. Everyone is dancing, sans Ron. Ginny throws herself beside her brother saying he needs to get off his arse and dance instead of looking so dour with his whiskey. There’s no one there he wants to dance with and– he stops and sees someone come into the bar that immediately makes his heart pound in his chest.
There’s a bloke with dark tousled hair, glasses, and eyes that are so striking Ron’s nearly drops his drink. He feels a blush working its way across his face.
‘What is it?’ Ginny asks, looking at where he’s blatantly staring. 'Oooo dingdong! I think we found someone worth a snog!'
'Don’t!’ Ron finds himself saying. She narrows her eyes at him then walks across the bar with purpose. Well… that’s that then, he thinks as he nervously eyes them. Ron didn’t even know if the guy was single or into men or what- but if the guy was even remotely into women Ginny could bag him easy. She was definitely pretty and popular with men when she put her mind to it- and Ron knew there was no competing with her.
The guy is already smiling as she talks with him, and Ron slumps low in his seat, turns around and nurses his drink with his back to them. What’s the point of watching?
But then he feels a tap on his shoulder.
'This is my brother, Ron,’ she says, giving Ron a wide grin the guy can’t see. 'And Ron, this is Harry Potter. He’s new to town, he’s single– and you said you were queer?’
'Er, I didn’t say that- but yeah? I am?’ he says, looking a bit overwhelmed, but smiling along.
'Excellent! This is Ron- my single gay brother!’ she says with a huge pat to his shoulder.
'Nice, Gin,’ Ron says with an eye roll. 'Sorry about her. It’s her first time we’ve let her out of the house and she’s not sure what to do with herself.'
Harry gives him a smile, and Ron feels like he’s helplessly falling into those eyes.
Ginny looks pleased with herself and bounces off to dance when they play a cover of a song she likes.Ron and Harry get to talking and enjoy one another’s company a lot- even end up dancing which Ron hadn’t anticipated. There’s a little garden out back of the pub and they end up sharing their first kiss there.
Next morning Ron has an email waiting for him. It’s Harry! He’s out of town the next week, but hopes to see him the following week. They end up writing every night for over a week. Ginny jokes they should form a harem and share Harry as he’s so cute.
They are dating for a long while- things are supposedly going well… They spend so much time together- Harry’s met his family and they all love him- and Ron’s never met Harry’s horrid relatives, but Harry hadn’t talked to them since he moved out at seventeen. They’ve shared intimacy of all sorts, and it all seems like a very deep bond. They move in together. And life is still good.
But Ron worries he’s more into Harry than Harry is into him. Harry’s not demonstrative like past boyfriends, he seems closed off at times, and Ron worries he won’t let him in.
Ron was a bit used to things not going his way, and the insecurites are starting to get to him. He notices Harry and Ginny are getting close- and spending lots of one on one time together. A few times he came into a room and they stopped talking, but they were so close with their heads right together. He worries Harry might be falling for Ginny- Ron’s a bit jealous and get paranoid about how much time the two are spending together- and Harry’s been acting more closed off than usual!
but it comes to a peak when Harry comes over and he seems nervous as hell, when Ron leans in to kiss him hello he sot of turns his head so they don’t kiss. Ron’s highly suspicious that something is up. Harry goes to the bathroom, but leaves his phone out. He gets a text from Ginny- ’ Text me when you’ve finished it’
In a panic Ron immediately picks up the phone- puts in the passcode and read the texts.
Gin: Have you had the talk with him yet?
Harry: Not yet
Gin: Well you need to hurry up already! You can’t keep dangling him along like this. I think he’s getting suspicious! Just rip it off like a plaster! I can’t wait much longer! If you won’t do it, I might just tell him for you.
Harry: I’ve never done something like this before! I don’t know how he’ll react.
Gin: Probably cry. :P Text me when you’ve finished it
Ron’s head is spinning. Finish it? Their relationship? He knew it! Harry comes in, and his eyes widen upon seeing a highly upset Ron. He starts rambling at Harry about all the things he’d worried about- 'and now you’re leaving me? For my sister?’
‘What?’ Harry says looking bewildered before laughing.
He was acting weird because he was nervous to ask Ron to marry him. He had a whole thing planned at the pub where they met- in the back garden. He was literally in the bathroom figuring out how to get Ron there without it being suspicious and Ginny had been helping him. Harry takes out the ring box from his pocket'What?’ Ron says, voice choked.Harry says he’s completely in love with Ron. Why the hell did Ron think it’d be him and Ginny?
'You’ve been spending a lot of time together!’'Well yeah, she’s been helping me plan the proposal! Plus we’re friends. She introduced me to the love of my life-sort of cements a friendship doesn’t it?' Ginny was right, Ron does cry. :)