Why aren't you talking to him?

By: Amilia Padfoot

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story just the idea for the story.

A/N: For a RETURNING fanfic! Yay! Enjoy!
Summary: Post-Hogwarts. It's dinner time at potter cottage and Ron isn't speaking to Harry.

Dinner time at Potter Cottage was always a noisy occasion and today was in no way an acceptation. Indeed, with a few additional guests, the air was thick with the buzz of several people having different conversations at once. Harry and Hermione were deep in conversation about an arduous case Hermione was working on, while Ginny and Ron were in a heated debate over whom was better, the Holyhead Harpies or the Chudly Cannons. On the other end of the table James and Rose were having a staring competition over the last of the Roast potatoes. James, who had failed miserably, blamed his defeat on being distracted by Hugo and Lily, who were nattering loudly about all the pranks they were going to pull once they got to Hogwarts.

Ignoring his cousin's triumphant smirk he abandoned his attempt to rectify his defeat and turned to his younger brother, Albus, who was by far the quietest at the table, and managed to engage him in a talk of Quidditch. Ron, joining James in defeat, conceded that there was no point in arguing with Weasley women and decided to change the flow of conversation.

"Therefore with the Harpies track record compared to the Ca-"

"Pass me the gravy Ginny?" He asked hastily, abruptly cutting her off mid-lecture.

"What? Oh. I don't think I have it over here. Um, where's it got to?" Ginny peered around the table for the gravy picture finally spotting it "Harry has it, Ron." Ron looked over to where indeed Harry was putting the picture back on the table after using it. He seemed to hesitate for a second as if weighing up his options.

Coming to a decision he asked: "Hey, um, Hermione love, pass me the gravy?" He had to half-shout to be heard over the incoherent chatter. Both Harry and Hermione turned to look at Ron. They stared at him blankly for a second clearly wondering why he had asked Hermione when Harry was still holding the gravy boat, then Harry's face turned from confused to one of dawning realisation. He rolled his eyes at Ron before giving it to Hermione who in turn passed it to Ron and was obviously amused by the procedure. Ginny just shoot Ron a half-baffled-half-annoyed look.

Ron, oblivious to the fact that more people had now turned to stare at him, proceeded to pour a generous amount of gravy over his dinner only stopping when he finally noticed everyone but Harry and Hermione, who was once again engrossed in work discussions, looking at him.

"What?"

"Why didn't you ask Harry for the Gravy? He had it." Ron just shrugged but Ginny could tell there was something he wasn't saying. The kids, simultaneously deciding nothing interesting or amiss was going on turned back to their meals and previous discussions only to find themselves pausing their chatter a second later.

"Are you coming with me and 'Mione tomorrow, Ron?" Harry called across the table. The kids were once again going to continue as Ron opened his mouth to reply but changed their minds when they saw him close his mouth and turn back to his dinner as if Harry had never uttered a word.

What was going on?, they thought. Did Ron just blank Harry? Ron never ignored Harry. The fact that this was indeed what Ron was doing was enough for them to forget their conversations in order to gape at Ron. It was as if Ginny had announced that the Cannons were by far the best team in the league or Hermione saying she'd never read again. It just didn't happen. James glancing quickly at his father, wondering apprehensively how he would react to Ron ignoring him, was shocked to see he was smiling. He had been expecting him to be affronted or angry or hurt, or at the very least annoyed, but this?

It was not so much that his father was smiling that shocked him, although it did, it was how he was smiling. Was it his imagination or perhaps a trick of the light or did he look almost mischievous? He had a look of child-like innocence about him and yet a glint in his eye that told him he was up to something. It was a look he rarely saw in his Dad. He knew his Dad, when he was not working or in a serious mood, was both cheerful and fun-loving and he knew when he really felt like it he could prank like the best of them but it was a side that, to James sadness, never came out often.

He briefly remembered long ago witnessing an argument between his Mum and Dad. While Hugo and Rose's parents would constantly bicker, even affectionately, his parents never seemed to argue. Of course they had their disagreements but they rarely bickered or shouted at one another. Needless to say James had been shocked to find them that night, after coming down for a drink, doing just that. It had been even worse when he heard what the argument was about. His mum, fed up with the amounts of detentions he was receiving wanted to take away his privileges or issue some sort of discipline. He had been even more shocked when he had heard his father shouting back,

"For crying out loud Ginny, he's a kid! So what if he gets into trouble once in a while. Okay, okay! A lot. He's just having fun. Something we never had! Can't you just lay of him a bit?" He had told Teddy, his in-every-way-but-blood big brother, what he had heard and asked him why his dad was so determined for him to have a childhood. Teddy had merely replied "Because he never had one James" and not for the first time he found himself wondering how different his father would be if he had not had to deal with Voldemort and have the weight of the Wizarding world on his shoulder throughout his childhood as Harry slyly asked,

"Oh, so you're not coming then?"

Ron once again opened his mouth only to close it again. It was clear that he was battling with his burning curiosity and a determination not to answer.

"Okay, I'll tell Kingsley you're not coming then" Harry shrugged nonchalantly and was about to turn back to Hermione when Ron blurted out, his curiosity winning over his stubbornness.

"Not coming to what?" Harry looked at Ron 'innocently' and announced with air of someone being greatly surprised.

"Why, Ron. Did you just speak to me?" He turned to Hermione as if desperately seeking confirmation. "Is it me imagination or did he just speak to me, Hermione?" But before Hermione could confirm this Ron snapped,

"Oh shut up! Where are you going tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? I'm not going anywhere tomorrow. It's Sunday tomorrow, Ron" He added the last in a manner that one would use to an address a small child.

"But you said-" Ron began impatiently but abruptly stopped when he realised what had just happened.

"Yes Ron?" Harry prompted all too sweetly. Everyone turned to look back at Ron as he simply glared at his best friend.

Old A/N He's not mad at Harry but there is a reason why he's not talking to him. Please review and tell me what you think! Criticism, suggestions, tips all welcome. I'm a newbie and eager to learn! If nobody is interested in this I will leave it like it is. Thankyou!