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“You haven’t been sleeping,” Hermione Granger points out to Ron Weasley as they sit in the common room, studying. She says it matter-of-factly, like there’s no point in him arguing any different.
So, he doesn’t.
Hermione watches him for a minute, her dark eyes never wavering under his own challenging gaze. That’s what Ron has always liked about her- the way she never backs down.
“Harry?” She asks with a twitch at the mouth. Ron observes the movement before finding her gaze once more. He nods.
Hermione visibly softens, a tenderness in her expression. “Staying up all night won’t help him.”
“I have to make sure he’s okay.”
“Ron-“
“I have to.”
There’s a sharpness to the last sentence, which tells Hermione that is the end of it. She doesn’t look happy, but doesn’t pry anymore. Instead, for the next hour they study together, her leg is pressed against his, firmer than before. A reminder. She’s there if he needs.
Ron wonders if it’s normal that he, Harry and Hermione can read every inch of each other like it’s nothing, know every little thing, every little quirk.
He doesn’t let himself ponder too deeply on it.
That night, Harry and Ron are getting ready for bed a little later than the other boys, slowly changing, dreading the sleepless night ahead for both of them. Once ready, Ron is about to crawl into his own bed when he feels the presence of his best friend closer than normal, and turns around.
And there he is, of course. Stood in front of Ron, those alarming emerald eyes piercing through him like a lightning strike. Nothing is said for a few seconds, as Harry flicks his attention from Ron’s freckles, to his eyes, and then to his eye bags, which he imagines must look terribly dark against his pale skin under the room’s dim light.
“You need to sleep.” Harry says urgently.
Ron blinks down at him, feeling somewhat like he’s being told off. “I do.”
“Don’t lie. That’s stupid.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t-“ Harry huffs, impatiently, “Don’t be sorry, either. Just sleep.”
Ron could tell him what he wants to hear, but he’s trying to be honest nowadays, so he says nothing. Harry takes a step closer, as if to intimidate, make his point stronger. It makes Ron crack a smile. He doesn’t mean to, but he can’t help it. Harry blinks.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Dunno.”
“Stop.”
“Can’t.”
It’s a proper grin now, and Harry’s front is slowly slipping too as his lips threaten to curve upwards.
“You’re stupid.”
“You’re stupider.”
This breaks them. Harry snorts, Ron guffaws, and they melt completely, any tension they’ve been holding sizzling away.
Harry sighs, a smile still curled at his mouth. “Ron. I don’t want you to not sleep.”
“I’ll sleep when you sleep,” Ron says with a careless shrug.
Harry looks at him in a way he can’t figure out. “Is it really that simple for you?”
“Yep.”
“And you’re not going to let this go?”
“Nope.”
“Fine, then. Sleep with me.”
Ron’s eyes turn wider than saucers. “What?”
“Oh for fuck’s sa- not like that!” Harry hisses, an entertained glint in his eye. “Just.. sleep next to me.”
“Could have made that a little clearer, mate.”
“You’re such a-“
“Why do you want me to do that, anyway?” Ron inquires, “Will it help?”
“Maybe. Never tried it.”
“It might be a bit of a squeeze. I’m quite… long.”
“You don’t have to, if you don’t want.”
“I do want to.”
Harry blinks at him again, not unlike a deer in headlights. “…Oh. Alright, then.”
Deciding that this conversation has gone on long enough, Ron gets into his bed and makes room for one more, gesturing for Harry to get in. He does so, and it is a little bit of a squeeze as they settle down, but the warmth of each other is actually quite comforting.
“Ron,” Harry whispers into the darkness after a while, and the other boy turns to face him.
“Mm?”
“Will the boys say anything? If they see us like this in the morning?”
“Nah. Would be a bit hypocritical if they did, wouldn’t it?”
Harry furrows his eyebrows. “What are you on about?”
“Y’know. Dean and Seamus.”
“…What about them?”
Ron resists the urge to face palm. “Dean and Seamus are shagging.”
“Dean and Seamus are shagging?”
Ron quickly shushes him, trying not to laugh again. “Yeah.”
“Since when?”
“Since ages, mate. Honestly, and people call me the dumb one.”
“Merlin,” Harry murmurs, “I had no idea. So… focused on everything else.”
“Well… no one can blame you for that, so don’t worry about it. Just focus on getting a decent kip, alright?”
“You too. Hypocrite.”
“Like I said,” Ron mumbles, blue eyes stern as they bore into Harry’s. “When you sleep, I’ll sleep.”
Harry’s throat suddenly feels dry. Surely he doesn’t deserve friends like this. It feels wrong to even call Ron or Hermione a friend- they’re so much more than that, something indescribable.
If Ron sees his lips tremble, he doesn’t say anything. Harry lets out a long breath.
“Thank you.”
Ron just smiles, something so soft and rare that it only makes Harry feel all the more privileged. So, with that image in his mind, and the soothing heat of the boy next to him, Harry’s eyes close and his mind drifts and he finally feels something close to peace as the both of them fall asleep.
——
When they stir awake, limbs tangled, Harry’s head tucked under Ron’s chin and Ron’s arm slung lazily across his waist, it takes them a good minute to realise that this might be a little too close. They make awkward eye contact before slowly untangling and adjusting themselves. Harry rubs his face, suppressing a yawn as he winces at the bright sunlight beaming in through the window. Ron sleepily pushes his face into the pillow.
“What time is it?” Harry asks, voice croaked as Ron sluggishly groans, the sound of it slightly muffled.
The clearing of a throat has the pair of them whipping their heads towards the door. Hermione is stood in the doorframe, eyeing the pair with a look neither can place.
“Mione!” Ron chokes, and whilst he squirms underneath her gaze, he doesn’t make any effort to move away from Harry. “You’re not supposed to be-“
“You missed breakfast,” She states, and is that a hint of amusement flashing in her gaze? “I thought something happened.”
Ron and Harry exchange guilty eye contact, cheeks reddening. Harry gives Hermione his best sorry gaze, who tuts in response.
”But,” she continues, eyeing between them both, “I see everything’s quite alright. Did you sleep well?”
Harry thinks his face might actually be on fire as he and Ron remain silent. Hermione doesn’t wait for them to speak, not bothering to hide her smirk as she leaves the room quietly.
After a minute, Harry turns to Ron, who reluctantly looks over at him.
”You drool in your sleep.”
“Oh, fuck off.”