Should've Known
Harry had a rough life. Even being only 26 years old it'd been a lot to handle. The past few years had been amazing though. He'd finally found his mate and he was happy. So unbelievably happy. So maybe he'd been through hell and back. Maybe he wasn't the perfect omega. He still had his mate and Ron loved him. Ron loved him so much. And Harry loved him even more. He should've known it wouldn't last.
It was Harry's idea. He'd just found out a few days before that he was finally pregnant and he wanted to take Ron out to celebrate before he told him. Ron smiled tiredly at him that morning as Harry banged around the kitchen and burnt breakfast as a result of continuously stopping to pepper kisses all over Ron's face.
"You seem extra excited about our date today." Ron commented. Harry just grinned, green eyes sparking with energy. He bounced around the house most of the day doing odd things, unable to sit still. Ron's laugh billowed out of him and wrapped around Harry, making his heart skip. His alpha caught him around his waist and held him close as they kissed languidly. Ron tapped their foreheads together softly. "I have the most amazing omega in the whole wide world." Harry hugged him tight, blushing. Even after five years together, Ron could still make him embarrass the daylights out of him. "So, my beautiful omega, what's gotten you so wired up? Is Omegas of Lemon County going on air again?"
"No you ass. I'll tell you later. I promise. I've got a surprise for you, but you'll have to wait a little while." Ron pouted, prodding and begging, but Harry never wavered. Finally he gave up as they got ready to leave.
"Fine. You win. Will you at least tell me where we're going?"
Harry shrugged on his jacket, smiling brightly. "I thought you'd never ask." He pressed up on his toes to press a chaste kiss to his alpha's lips. "First, we're going to go eat at that steak house you like."
"The Leaky Cauldron?"
"Yup." He popped the p. "Then we're going to go over to Dobby's restaurant where Seamus and Dean are performing with their band. They've got a new drummer and she's supposed to be super awesome. Then we'll come back here, watch the quidditch game, and have super hot crazy sex all night."
"Mmm." Ron groaned. "That sounds amazing. What're we still doing here then?"
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Dinner went amazingly and Harry was revving up to tell Ron the news. He was going to wait until the alpha offered him a drink, then he was going to say, 'nope. I'm not allowed to drink alcohol.' It would be perfect because it would take Ron a few minutes to figure it out.
The bar was loud and crowded when they got there. A lively group whooping and hollering. Seamus spotted them the moment they walked in, spasmodically flailing his arms. "Guys! Guys! Hey! Over here!" Harry tugged on Ron's arm, the giant redhead's other hand wrapped possessively around his hip, and maneuvered them through the crowd.
In hindsight, Harry wished they'd just stayed home, because as they moved through the throng of people, Ron froze. Harry frowned and turned to tug more insistently, but Ron's blue eyes were staring down at a sexy, mousy haired brunette. She was staring back. Both of their nostrils flared, chests heaving. Harry's heart jumped to his throat, his stomach dropped, and his breath disappeared. Harry tried yanking on Ron's arm. "Oh Merlin. Ron? Please no. no no no no no! Please please no! Ron!?" but the alpha wasn't listening, didn't listen, couldn't listen and Harry's desperation seemed to snap something. Seemed was to vague. Something did snap.
Harry felt their mate bond collapse, disintegrate, crumble and the two jumped at each other. Harry closed his eyes and swallowed, trying to control himself, trying to breathe. It wasn't working. He felt sick. He thought that Ron had been the one. That he'd been Ron's one. He was obviously wrong. But even with that, he couldn't fathom how their bond was gone so easily. He worked his throat again and drew in a deep rasping breath.
"I'll...be at home Ron...just...yeah." He knew they couldn't hear him though, so he forced himself to turn away, to leave.
Arms enveloped him from behind, and for a moment, for a second, hope flared in his chest, arching brightly, flying through his veins. The come down felt like the whole ocean had compressed down on him. Seamus squeezed hard. "I am so sorry 'Arry." The Irish man's voice was raw. Harry's vision blurred momentarily, he blinked it away, and forced a wane smile onto his face.
"I'll be okay." He received another tight hug this time from Dean. "I need to get away though...from here. I...I'm sorry I'm not staying for the -"
"Don't Harry. It's fine. Just...don't do anything stupid." Harry nodded, agreeing softly, then slipped outside. His breath puffed into the air of the curb as he waited for a cab. Ron had the car keys and Harry wasn't sure he could handle going back for them. By now the two would've been moved to a guest room all bars and other generally crowded areas were required to have for just such instances.
It was rare, but known to happen. Where two people were so well matched they mistook it for a soul bond. Or some people just weren't willing to wait for their soul bond and bonded to the next best thing. Sometimes the true soul mate was met later in life, but it rarely happened. Thousands of people never met their soul mates. But in the instances where a mated bonded couple were separated due to a different soul bond, survival rates for the forgotten mate were low. so small in fact that it was rounded down to 2%. And that 2% was mainly alive due to stubbornness or the bond was never very strong in the first place.
Harry knew he'd survive though. He had another life depending on him after all. Merlin. The baby. Their baby. Would Ron even care now? Surely he would. Harry shook himself out of it as the cab pulled up. Ron wasn't like that. He would definitely want to be a part of the child's life even if he wasn't a part of Harry's.
Harry climbed into the vehicle woodenly, reciting the address mindlessly. Harry supposed he'd have to move out. It was Ron's house after all. Well...in title anyway. Where would he go? It'd have to be close to the area because he really needed his job now more than ever and plus he couldn't move to far from Ron for the baby's sake. He couldn't stay with Neville because he and Luna were getting ready to have their second child and had enough people to deal with without him around. He couldn't stay with dean or Seamus because they were currently traveling on tour and had their flat rented out. Draco might let him stay, but Harry had a low tolerance for his aunt Bellatrix and she was always over. Maybe he could stay with Ron's parents until he could get his own place. They liked him well enough. But they might not now that he and Ron weren't mated anymore. And call harry a coward, but he wasn't sure he could bare their rejections as well. He'd just have to find some where quick. His eyes glanced at the cabby.
"Sir?"
"Yes?" the man answered politely.
"Do you know of any cheap housing in the area? Preferably for a single parent?"
The man was silent for a few long moments. "There is an apartment complex down on Grimmauld street. The owners are real strict with the tenants because they have a couple pups of their own. No smoking. No drinking. No harmful magic. No parties. It's a good place. Cheap and clean with other single parents."
Harry breathed out a sigh of relief. "Yeah? OK. Thanks. I...I really appreciate it."
"No problem kid." The rest of the trip was made in silence. Harry gave him a large tip when they arrived despite much protest. The omega just smiled wanly.
Inside the house Harry was tempted to break down, but there was no telling when Ron and the girl would be back. There was no time for that unless he wanted to deal with heartbreaking awkwardness.
It was actually sad how much of the stuff in their house belonged to Ron. Harry didn't usually buy things for himself and he hadn't had much to begin with.. he used his paycheck on bills and groceries mostly. He let Ron pay for the extra things. Harry kept all the things Ron had ever given him though. Ron was a good person. A wonderful brilliant kind person. He'd probably feel awful about not being Harry's soul mate when he came out of the haze. So he probably wouldn't mind if Harry kept a few of his shirts, especially the quidditch jersey Harry loved to where after Ron came home from a field day with it.
Harry took a staggered breath, burying his nose in the satiny material, allowing a few sobs as he stared and twisted the ring on his hand. Could he keep that or not? It had belonged to Ron's grandfather. It held sentimental value. But Harry loved it. It was how he'd met Ron in the first place. Harry's red rimmed eyes closed as he remembered.
He'd been working at a pawn shop part time, when Ron had barged into the store, hair a mess, snitch pajamas wrinkled, crup slippers on his gigantic feet. He'd come right up to the counter, grasped Harry's hands in his, eyes wide and desperate, and had spun a tale full of woe and misunderstandings. He'd been moving out of his parents house and subsequently getting rid of a bunch of his old things. Somehow his grandfather's ring had ended up in the wrong box and his mother had brought the box to the pawn shop. Harry asked the manager, the other employee's, a few regular customers. Nothing. He checked through the inventory, searched through the recent sales papers, but still nothing.
Ron's face had looked heartbroken.
"My grandfather fave me that almost a month before he passed. Trusted me to keep it safe and give it to the love of my life someday. And I lost it!" Seeing such a big alpha crying there in his pajamas tugged at Harry's heart strings.
"Listen...I'll keep an eye out. No promises OK?"
Ron sniffed but nodded miserably. He dug a ripped envelope out of his pocket and scribbled his number on it before relinquishing it into Harry's care. The omega was at a loss for words as the alpha walked back to his truck with drooping shoulders. Harry was working two jobs, trying to pay for med school and rent, and was extraordinarily busy, but every chance he got after that he searched the store for the ring. Until he found it.
Some older beta woman had been treasure hunting through the racks when she found a whole bowl of unassorted jewlery. She'd dumped it all on the counter top to rummage through it, Harry eventually going over to help.
They were halfway through when Harry froze. The ring was exactly as Ron had described it. A silver wedding band with a gold streak running through the middle and WEASLEY engraved inside with a bit of tarnish around the edges.
Before the customer could grab for it, he snatched it up and rushed for the store phone, reading the number off from where he'd taped it with all the others. It rang for a long time before he got an answering machine. Harry left an excited message then hung up to wait. The ring was snapped onto the chain holding his locket for safe keeping.
He waited a day before calling again. No answer. Two weeks had gone by before Harry decided the number must be wrong. Therefore, during one of his breaks he tucked the envelope into his pocket, double checked the ring around his neck, and boarded the bus to Little Hangleton. He stared up at the large eccentric house with trepidation, then steeled his shoulders. Harry knocked confidently on the door and waited. A sweet plump woman opened the door.
"Hullo dear. Can i help you?" Harry cleared his throat.
"Um...I'm...I'm looking for Ron Weasley?" he pulled out the envelope. "I've tried calling, but uh...no one would answer." She took the paper, scanning the number, then glanced at harry sympathetically.
"Did he knock you up dear? You poor lad." She turned and screamed up the stairs for Ronald. Harry's cheeks flushed.
"No! No ma'am! No! It's not like that at all!" Ron came bounding down the stairs and froze when he saw Harry. "Larry? You're here!"
"It's...uh...Harry actually, but um...good try. A+ for effort." Ron had the decency to blush as he approached.
"Oh...sorry...I kind of repressed that morning from memory. I was to emotion-Oh!"
And just like the girl in the bar, with both their heads clear, the scent was overwhelming. Harry's shirt was seized in long fingers and Ron tackled him to the lawn. chapped lops covered his own and a whimper escaped his throat. The omega was vaguely aware the were making a scene, but he couldn't be bothered to fix it, especially as Ron's lips trailed down to his throat and buried his nose there, inhaling deeply, occasionally lapping at the skin, making Harry shiver.
Ron took him right there in the front yard for all the world to see. Thankfully, Ron's parents put up privacy wards and put a tent over the top of them. When they both regained their minds there was an awful lot of blushing and apologies given, while Ron lent him some clothes, embarrassed that he'd ripped the other ones to shreds. The clothes swamped the omega, the neck line slipping over his shoulder, constantly flashing a seashell pink nipple. Ron was caught staring more that once.
"So, uh, Harry, what brings you here?" Molly, Ron's mom, asked. Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Oh! I forgot!" He clumsily unhooked the ring, holding it out in his hand palm up. Ron sat up straight.
"Is that...?"
"Yup."
It was so ironic to think back on now, Harry supposed. Or maybe just sad. Either way Harry grudgingly twisted the metal off and sat it lovingly down on the table, penning a short note while he waited for the owners of the apartment the cabbie mentioned to call him back. The note was simply asking if Harry could keep the ring if they never used it. He knew it was probably futile though.
He scrubbed over his face quickly, bags all packed and pulled out the phone book. Harry sat on the floor, flipping slowly through the pages, occasionally wiping a rebel tear off with his sleeve. Finally he found the Marauders Apartment Complex.
With only a moment of hesitation due to the late hour, he dialed the number and waited. He prayed and hoped that someone would answer and that it wouldn't go straight to voice-mail. A tired voice answered on the seventh ring.
"Hullo?"
"Oh thank Merlin." Harry breathed out softly. " Um, hi. I'm looking for a pla-"
"It's very late sir. Couldn't you have called back in the morning?"
"I know. I know sir. And I am so sorry to bother you like this , I really truly am," Harry spoke desperately. "But I don't have anywhere to go, and it's cold outside tonight, and I'm two months pregnant. Please. If I could just come over tonight, you can interview me in the morning. I can pay. Honestly I can, but I'm on a time limit before I'll be out on the street. I know it's late and that this is so much to ask of you, especially since you don't know anything about me, but please." His broke on the last word. A small half sob that tore at the heartstrings of the man on the other end of the phone. Harry tried not to sound to wrecked, he didn't want to make the man feel bad, he just really needed them to understand.
Harry waited with baited breath as a murmuring filled his ear. "What's your name?" Was finally asked.
"Harry Weasley sir...well...um...I'm not sure if my last name changes back or not...um...Harry Potter then." He bit his lip, cheeks burning. He didn't even know his own name. Merlin. How had he survived on his own for as long as he had? How was he going to be able to care for a child all on his own?
"Harry Potter?" The words were spoken just in time to stave off a panic attack.
"Yes sir." More mumbling.
"Alright Harry. You can stay for tonight. But you have an interview with us first thing tomorrow afternoon. Have your credentials prepared."
"Thank you! Thank you so much! You have no idea how wonderful this is."
"You're welcome. We'll leave room 25B open for you." The line went dead shortly after that. Harry thanked whoever was listening, letting out a long breath of relief before calling a cab.
He hauled his meager possessions out to the curb, walking back into the lonely house only to double check that he'd gotten everything he needed or that was important. His eyes lingered on the ring. With a split second impulse, Harry grabbed an old ring from Ron's dresser that the ginger would never miss and held his wedding band in his right hand. Harry closed his eyes, letting the air whoosh slowly from his lungs s, as he pushed his magic to work.
Harry's magic was an oddity. It didn't work the same way as any other witch or wizards, plus his family had despised it. He hardly ever used it and when he did he made sure to be alone.
Ron probably didn't even realize Harry had any magic at all. Heaven knows what happened the last time someone found out. Harry scowled just thinking about it, imagining, or maybe not, that the locket around his neck heated on its own. A vigorous head shake helped him refocus his thoughts.
When he uncurled his fingers, he had two identical rings in his hands, both exactly like the wedding ring. He clipped the real one onto his locket, leaving the fake a top the note. Casting a last longing look at his home from the last few years and rubbing irritably at his red rimmed eyes and the painful beating of his heart, Harry closed the door.