Beware of the Hedgehogs

Summary: The Weasly's and Harry Potter were all set to go on a vacation to Egypt for a few weeks during the summer to take Harry's mind off of Sirius' death but then Ron gets sick and can't go. Rather than make them cancel the trip Ron offers to stay with Hermione (and her parents). What happens when he gets better? Will he be able to cope in the muggle world? And will he ever pull himself away from the washing machine long enough to notice a certain bushy haired friend of his likes him a lot?

Disclaimer: No way am I talented enough to have created such wonderful characters. There I said it. Are you happy now? Well? Are you?

AN: This is my first Ron/Hermione story so please don't blame me if it sucks. Feedback always appreciated. If enough people tell me they hate it I'll take it down, so be honest, I can take it!

Chapter One

Sick and Hating it

Ron Weasly raised the tissue to his nose and blew into it with all his might. Wearily he looked at his phlegm-covered hankie and wrinkled his nose in disgust. Moaning angrily he kicked his bedclothes to the floor as his temperature began to rise and his body perspire.

According to his dad he had what was known in the muggle world as a "cold". Ron thought this was a stupid name for an illness that made you boiling hot as well as causing your nose to run non stop.

Sighing he tried to get some precious sleep before Harry arrived at the burrow. Hoping that he would feel better when he woke, Ron closed his eyes and let his tiredness take over him.

Opening his eyes slowly, Ron tried to lift his head but failed miserably. Everything was a blur, as if the room was spinning out of control, and his head ached. He couldn't breath out of his nose as it was completely blocked and his head was heavy as were his eyelids.

Groaning loudly he tried to pull the covers back onto his now shivering body without moving his head. After about five minutes he got up and grabbed the sheet off of the floor before flinging his head back down on his thin pillow. This only caused it to throb even more and his eyesight was still hazy.

He heard his door open and something clunk onto the table beside his bed. Opening his eyes again he looked up at a blurred figure hovering over his frail body. He tried to sit up but the figure just pushed him back down.

"Now Ron," it was his mother. "You really have to rest if you want to get better soon."

"But we're supposed to leave tomorrow," Ron protested.

"Oh Ron, we can't leave with you in this state," his mum replied running a hand through his bright red hair.

"What?" he asked confused.

"I've spoken to everyone else and they agree that it wouldn't be fair of us to drag you to Egypt in this state," she explained.

"No, but…but Harry," he tried.

"Harry will be fine," she comforted. "He wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to his friend."

"No, you should go," Ron replied feeling a little more awake. "I'll stay here."

"Ron, we're not leaving you alone," his mum said sternly.

"I'll stay with Hermione then," he tried.

"I can't just impose like that," his mum said, more to herself than to Ron as she mulled it over in her head. "No Ron. I wouldn't feel right leaving you with Hermione so that we can go on holiday."

"But I don't mind and I'm sure 'Mione wont either," he rasped. "Besides it's more for Harry's benefit."

"I don't know Ron," she replied.

"Just owl her to ask," he said tiredly. "It's worth a try."

"Okay, I'll ask her parents," she said as she lifted her body from the spot that she had been kneeling on.

"Remember and tell them it's for Harry," he called as she left the room.

All that talking had really took it out of him and the last thing he remembered was blowing his nose nosily before rolling over and closing his eyes.

When Ron woke he didn't even bother to open his eyes. His nose, eyes, head, arms, legs and throat all hurt like hell and all he could think was that he would never eat again. He felt something cool being pressed against his forehead and lifted his heavy arms trying to find the culprit.

"Mum," he moaned, groggily.

"Ron?" A female voice that defiantly wasn't his mother's drifted down to his ears.

"Mione?" he asked, too tired to bother with her full name, as he put all his energy into opening his eyes.

"Yes Ron," she whispered soothingly. "I'm here."

"But…how?" He could have sworn he heard Hermione giggle quietly.

"Your parents dropped you off at my house before they left for Egypt," she clarified. "Harry was really worried about you."

"Have I been asleep since tomorrow?" he asked sleepily causing Hermione to giggle even more.

"If you mean 'have I been asleep since yesterday?' then yes," she said taking the cold cloth off his forehead. "You should try and get some more rest and maybe the next time you wake up you'll be able to eat something."

Ron nodded slightly but stopped when his head began to pound even more. Letting his eyelids lower over his eyes he began to think of how much he wished he still had that cold cloth.