A/N: So this has been sitting on my computer for a very long time and I keep coming back to it and not being happy with it. But I like the idea and I finally decided to just go ahead and publish it. I don't think there are enough stories about Ron and Harry's friendship and it is an amazing one. Plus I also think Ron does a lot more subtle stuff like this than the books give him credit for :D
"Arthur, I'm a bit worried," Mrs. Weasley said to her husband as she set the dinner plates to washing themselves.
"About what, dear?" Mr. Weasely mumbled absently as he scanned the evening Profit.
"Well, I'm sure it's nothing, but don't you think it's a bit peculiar that Harry hasn't written back to Ron all summer?" Mrs. Weasley asked, sitting down beside her husband at the table.
Mr. Weasley lay aside the paper and took his glasses off to rub them clean with his sleeve. "I don't know," he said finally. "I'd have expected at least one letter from all that we heard about last year, but you know how twelve-year-old boys are. They get caught up and forget things."
"Yes, that's what I keep telling myself, but I can't shake this feeling…" Mrs. Weasley trailed off.
"If Ron doesn't hear from him soon, we'll do something," Mr. Weasley said reassuringly.
Mrs. Weasley nodded, biting her lip, and waved her wand at the tea pot. It flew over and re-filled their mugs with boiling tea.
"Mum? Dad?"
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both looked up to see their youngest son hovering in the doorway to the kitchen, looking tentative.
"What is it, Ronnie?" Mrs. Weasley asked, ever the eye for noticing something wrong with her children.
Ron shuffled forward and sank into a chair opposite his parents. "You know how you said Harry could come and stay this summer?"
Mr. Weasley exchanged a look with his wife before turning back to his son. "Yes?" he prompted.
"Well…" Ron began hesitantly. "There're some things I think you should know before he gets here – if he ever answers any of my letters," he added in more than slight frustration.
"Like what sort of things?" Mrs. Weasley inquired, sharing another brief glance with her husband. She remembered the few snippets about Harry's family from Ron's letters, and the way her son was acting, she doubted it was just that Harry didn't like mashed peas.
"Like he doesn't really like being touched," Ron said. "I mean, if you even just put your hand on his shoulder, he'll go all rigid. He's just not a touchy sort of person and, well…" Ron trailed off, thinking of the rib-cracking hugs and good-natured swats his mother liked to dole out in excess.
"Alright, try not to touch him," Mrs. Weasley said, already thinking habits with her own children might make this hard. The poor boy just always seemed so alone…
"And, no yelling," Ron added, looking seriously at his parents, particularly his mother. "At least try not to go berserk in front of Harry. He... doesn't like yelling. It sort of shakes him up a bit, unless he's used to you. But if you're gonna let the twins have it like you do at least twice a week, wait 'til Harry's not around. You might freak him out."
Mr. Weasley nodded, glancing at his wife. She did have quite a terrifying temper.
"One more thing," Ron went on. He sat forward and looked even more serious than before, on odd expression for their usually-laid-back son. "Harry sometimes has nightmares. I don't just mean like, monster-under-your-bed sort of nightmares. I mean like nightmares about You-know-who and his parents and… stuff like that. So don't be too surprised if you hear him screaming in the middle of the night."
"Oh, the poor boy," Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but say, covering her mouth with her hand.
Ron looked from his mother to his father, still sporting that uncharacteristically serious expression. "Just… just remember that, okay? No touching, no yelling, and nightmares."
"Of course, son," Mr. Weasley assured him.
"Right," Ron nodded, getting awkwardly to his feet again. "I just… it's important, okay? I mean, most of the time, Harry's completely normal, but sometimes… he's not. And you needed to know if he's coming to stay."
A/N: How was that? I think I'm going to make this a three-part set. Two more conversations Ron has that show he's got Harry's back. Anyways, I'd LOVE to know what you think, so please, please, please review! :)