A/N: For the purposes of this story, Snape and Hermione live near enough to London for it to be a day trip. Also, the sun rises at approximately 6 in the morning all year round. Don't ask why, it just does. Also, I realize the chances of Hermione living near Snape are slim, but since we don't know where her parent's house is, nor where Spinner's End is located, it is possible that they could live no more than ten miles from each other and never know it.

Harry drew in a deep breath as he prepared to face his friends. It was the end of his Sixth Year, their finals were done, Voldemort had been dead since Christmas, and Harry had a secret to share. He'd known for a while, but with the stigmas against it in the Muggle World, and without knowing how the Wizarding World felt, he had yet to come clean with his friends. This was, of course, in fear of what they would think. He'd promised himself he would tell them before they left for the summer, though, and with their departure from the school only a week away, that time had come.

Sucking in another deep breath, Harry walked out onto the grounds of Hogwarts, blinking in the hot June sun. He spotted his friends where he'd asked them to meet him following lunch, under their usual tree by the lake. Walking over, he could feel his heart start to race in his chest, and he worked at keeping his breathing even. They all grinned and waved, turning from the game of Gobstones they'd been engaged in or watching. Harry forced a smile as he waved back, jogging over. He slowed when the shade of the tree washed over him.

"Hey, guys," He said. "I didn't realize it was so hot out today."

"I know!" Ginny exclaimed. "I'm just dying in this sweltering heat!" She collapsed dramatically into her boyfriend's arms, ruining his shot and getting them both soaked by the white gobstone in the middle. She giggled as Dean scowled down at her.

Harry chuckled as Seamus, Neville, and Ron all scooped up their own gobstones, the magical circle dissolving in the grass.

"Good thing you weren't playing for keeps."

Dean shooed Ginny out of his lap. "No kidding," He muttered sourly, picking up his own rounded marbles as Ginny cast a drying spell on them both.

"Would've been good for us," Ron said, wrapping an arm around Neville's shoulders.

Harry chuckled again as Hermione looked up from the book she'd been reading against the tree.

"So, Harry, what'd you want to talk about? I'm assuming there's a reason you wanted us to amass out here."

Harry's chuckles dissolved as suddenly as the gobstones circle had. He cleared his throat.

"Um, yeah, there is. You see…and I don't want anybody to freak out, but…I promised myself I'd tell you all. I'm, um, I'm gay..." He said the last part so quietly that most of his friends stared at him bewildered.

"What?"

"I didn't catch that."

"Did you hear what he said?"

"Speak up, Harry."

"He said he's gay," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

Harry winced, prepared for an uproar that never came.

"Oh! Is that all?" Neville asked.

Seamus chuckled. "I thought it was something important."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Harry, I thought you were dying or something. Don't be so serious next time."

Harry looked to Hermione in confusion, and she smiled a little patronizingly.

"Most of us already figured," She told him. "And it doesn't really matter. It's accepted in the Wizarding World."

"Well, more accepted than in the Muggle World, anyway," Ginny pointed out, laying across her boyfriend's lap. "There are still idiots who think it's weird."

Harry grinned. "Well, now I just feel foolish for worrying so long about how you guys would react."

Suddenly, Ron stood up and started to walk away from the group silently. Harry looked at his friends, who got up as well. Together, they all followed the red head.

"Ron, what's up?" Harry said, jogging after his best friend. "If you're upset I didn't tell you sooner-"

Harry reached out and touched his friend's shoulder, only to have the other wizard pull violently away. He stopped, startled, as Ron turned to face him and the rest of their friends.

"Don't touch me, faggot," The other boy said firmly.

Harry scoffed disbelievingly. "Ron, what're you-"

"Don't ever touch me again. Not until you come to your senses and see that your lifestyle is wrong. It's just…wrong." Harry watched as his best friend sneered with disgust before turning and storming away.

The rest of his friends came up to him as what just happened registered fully. He turned into Hermione's arms when she touched his shoulder, and let her hold him as he recovered from the shock of what had just happened. He had expected something like this from one or more of his friends, but never had he thought he'd get it from his best friend. The Boy Who Lived continued to cling to Hermione like a lifeline as his other friends surrounded him.

Ginny spoke first. "I'm sorry, Harry. I had no idea Ron was harboring such idiocy. He never said anything when the twins came out to Mum and Dad last year."

"I don't understand, though, he's never acted this way towards me," Neville said in confusion.

Harry looked up and shared in the group's stare of bewilderment. The other boy blushed under their scrutiny.

"I thought you guys knew…" He mumbled uncertainly.

"No idea," Seamus said simply.

"Explains a lot, though," Dean added. They all turned their attention back to Harry, who pulled away from Hermione and tried to fake a smile. He was pretty sure he missed, as their sympathy was undampened.

"Gin's right, though, Harry; Ron's an idiot if he doesn't want to be your friend anymore," Neville said firmly. "Don't worry about it, though. We all still love you."

Harry nodded sadly and let himself be led back to their tree by the lake. He sat in the shade of the oak with his friends, his head on Hermione's shoulder, but he didn't participate when they turned to brighter topics. A storm cloud had settled over his head, and would remain for quite a while. For whatever reason, Ron had declared their friendship over, all because of something that now seemed so small.

A/N: Please bear with me. I know the first few chapters are slow, but it's all set up. I promise, it gets better. I didn't like the first few chapters either.