Incurable
Summary: Can magic fix everything? It's a Ron fic...
Disclaimer: I don't own nothing! (Oops, double negative!)
Rating: PG
Author: Carly
Ron sat kicking his legs back and fourth on the bed. He'd been thinking about everything they'd been through together. He, Harry, and Hermione. For years, it had been just Harry, Ron, and Hermione. But what if... What if eventually it just became Harry and Hermione? What if there was no Ron? They wouldn't do that, surely, they wouldn't do that. They'd been through too much to ditch him. That wasn't really his worry. His worry was telling *them* he'd have to leave. He really didn't want to. Harry and Hermione were closer to him then anyone else. He didn't want to leave. But what if he had to? What if some force would push him away? Something important. What if something wouldn't let him see them again? Something like what was happening now.
His mother ran into the room and saw him writing at his desk.
"No, Ron!" she cried.
"But Mum!" Ron protested, "I want to send an owl to Harry and Hermione!"
"You're supposed to be in bed and that's where you'll stay! I brought you up your potion. Drink it gently... I'm sure you will be just fine before school starts," she smiled warmly. Ron looked into his mother's eyes and saw the worry he'd seen before. She only *hoped* he'd be better before school started. She was no longer sure. He was no longer sure. He sighed and lay back on his pillow, taking the offered potion. His mother smiled down at him.
"You needn't worry, sweetheart," said his mother, "If you're a good boy and take your potions and eat your chocolate, you'll be just fine." And she left. Ron sipped the horrible tasting potion. He got out of bed and walked over to the desk again.
"Dear Harry
I was really looking forward to having you and Hermione over this summer, but unfortunately, I don't think it's possible this year. We're..."
He stopped. He wasn't quite sure what to write there. He couldn't tell him the truth. But he couldn't lie to him either. He continued.
"We're having a few family problems. Maybe you and Hermione could get together. If only my family wasn't so problematic. Well, see you at school.
Ron."
Ron sighed and stared at the letter. He added that Harry should tell Hermione he'd see her at school as well. He called Pigwidgeon over and tied the letter to his foot. Taking a large bite of chocolate and feeling a bit dizzy, he threw back the covers of his bed and crawled in. He pulled the covers over his head, brought his knees to his chest, and prayed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny hugged the teddy bear close to her chest. She hadn't seen Ron in over two weeks. Her mother wouldn't let anyone into the room. She'd isolated him. She didn't want any of her other children catching what Ron had even though she wasn't sure if it was contagious. But as a mother, she felt immune to anything her children had and would bring Ron potions and chocolate and food and was there when he needed her.
"When can we see Ron again, Mum?" Ginny had asked her once.
"Whenever we hear from the DMI again," her mother smiled weakly.
The DMI was the Doctor of Magical Illnesses. He'd come to see Ron when he'd first gotten sick. He'd whispered to Mrs. Weasley something. She hadn't told her children what he'd said.
Ginny wished she knew what was going on. She wished desperately to see her brother. The house had been so quiet since the DMI had came. Her parents had been a little depressed since then too. Bill and Charlie had come over for a while and sometimes, late at night, they'd retire to the kitchen with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and talk quietly. They were doing that now. Ginny decided it was about time she found out.
Ginny crept down the stairs cautiously. She tiptoed her way to the kitchen. She heard voices speaking softly behind the door as she pressed her ear against it.
"Oh Arthur!" Ginny's mother sobbed, "I don't know what to do!"
"It's alright, Mum," Charlie tried to comfort her.
"Yeah," Bill agreed, "He's a fighter. You should know that by now. He's been through a whole lot more than this. Just look at his friends! Harry Potter! And Hermione Granger. He says she's really smart. You couldn't be around a better crowd."
"We aren't discussing his social status, though, are we, Bill?" Mrs. Weasley asked, "We're discussing..."
"I know what we're discussing. My point is that he can get through this."
"Bill's right, Molly," said Mr. Weasley, "If I had to have a son in this predicament, it would be Ron."
"The DMI said there's no known magical cure. He says this is a new disease. He says they've only just discovered it. He says it works fast and is very rare."
"I don't think you should talk to him, Mum. He never says anything good," Charlie told her. Mrs. Weasley continued.
"He says that they're working hard and to continue giving him the potion until further notice. He said not to let him see anyone until further notice."
"I don't understand why we're keeping the children away from their brother," Mr. Weasley said, "They haven't seen him in over three weeks! I haven't seen him since last Tuesday! I doubt it's contagious."
"We don't want to risk it though," Mrs. Weasley told him.
"Yeah, Dad," Charlie added, "It is a new disease after all. And it's hard to tell whether it's contagious or not. It's best to keep them away."
"Where's Percy?" Bill asked, changing the subject.
"Off on some ministry errand. He said he'd come as soon as possible," Mrs. Weasley answered quietly. They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Well!" Bill finally said, "I think I'll go up and see the lad. Don't worry, Mum, I'll wear a gas mask if necessary," he added, seeing Mrs. Weasley's look.
Ginny scampered away from the door as quickly and quietly as she could and ran upstairs to her room before Bill came out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bill opened the door to his younger brother's room. He looked over to his bed and saw a lump under the covers. He heard heavy breathing. He smiled.
"Ron," he sighed, shaking his head, "You're giving Mum quite a scare." He walked over to Ron's bed and sat down on the edge. He looked around the room and noticed that Pigwidgeon's cage was empty. He frowned.
"Who did you write to now, eh?" he asked, knowing Ron wouldn't answer. He walked over to the desk and saw the quill lying on top of a piece of parchment. The black ink was dripping onto the parchment, creating a large black blot. Bill looked back at Ron, sleeping soundly in his bed. He walked back over to him and pulled the covers away from his head. Ron shivered a bit, but didn't wake.
"I'm really sorry about this, Ron. We can only hope the DMI has some good information for us for once. He should be by any day now. 'Course, you know Mum. She says that everyday. I'm glad you're asleep. This would have been much more awkward if you were awake. I hope you get well soon, Ron." Bill stood up and walked over to the door. With one last look at Ron, he left.
"What's going on?" a voice demanded. Bill realized that Ginny was standing in the hallway, arms crossed, staring at Ron's door.
"I know just as much as you do, I suppose," he told his sister.
"No, you know more. What's wrong with my big brother?" now, Ginny had six older brothers, but at that moment, it was quite clear which one she was speaking of. None the less, Bill tried to avoid it.
"Which one? Percy's away working for the ministry and Fred and George, well, I'm never exactly sure what they're up to, but-"
"You know who I mean," she stood, resolute in the middle of the hallway, not letting Bill pass. Bill sighed.
"Well, Ron's very ill. Of course, you know that much. The disease he has is rare and incurable. But the Department of Cures for Magical Illnesses is working on a cure at this very moment. All I know is that it might be contagious and Mum doesn't want you going to see him. Ron isn't quite aware of the seriousness of the situation yet. I don't want you going in there and telling him there isn't any cure. I also don't want you speaking to Fred and George about this."
"Too late," George said, stepping out of his room.
"Did you really think you could hide it from us for that long?" Fred asked, coming out behind his twin, "Really, you can't be that daft!" Bill sighed again. He'd been doing a lot of sighing lately.
"Listen," he told the three of them, "Mum thinks she can protect you if you don't know. But I figure it would only make things worse. Don't tell her you know. It would be the stupid thing to do. And you don't want to be stupid do you?" at the last sentence, he eyed Fred and George.
"Hey!" cried Fred, insulted, "We're pranksters, not idiots!"
"Sometimes I wonder..." Bill rolled his eyes and walked down the stairs.
"I think he just insulted us! I'm insulted! Are you insulted, Fred?" George asked, mockingly.
"Very!" Fred answered and they retreated into their room. Ginny was left alone in the hall. Dare she venture what she knew would be wrong?
Ginny timidly opened her brother's door and poked her head in. She saw his red, Weasley hair poking out from under the mass of covers.
"Oh Ron!" she stifled the sob, not wanting to wake him. She walked over to his bed and noticed he was shaking. She blinked hard. She felt her eyes welling up. She was so full of concern for her brother.
"Hi..." Ron croaked from his bed. Ginny jumped.
"You're awake?" she asked. Ron just gave a weak nod in response. He turned his head to face her and Ginny saw his eyes were wide open and bloodshot. She tried to smile, but it didn't work. He succeeded in giving her a strong one, though.
"Don't worry," he told her, "I'll be OK..."
"You couldn't have... In the hall, Bill... You didn't..."
"Yeah," Ron sighed, "I heard you."
"Oh Ron!" Ginny wailed again, "I'm so scared."
"Don't be," Ron told her, keeping his brave smile in place, "I've been in much more than... than this."
"I love you, Ron," Ginny told him. At that moment, a tawny owl flew through the window and hooted. Ginny walked over and untied the paper from it's leg and opened the letter.
"It's from Hermione," she told her brother, and handed it to him.
"You read it," Ron told her. She nodded.
"Greetings from Paris. Viktor surprised me with a tour of France! Well, I hope you're well, Ron. It's been a while since I wrote you, sorry. I'm bringing you and Harry a surprise. I'll show it to you on the train to Hogwarts. My summer has been brilliant, but I only wish you and Harry were here to share it. Pity it's nearly over. Well, I hope to see you soon. Please write back, Hermione."
"So," Ron sighed weakly, "Krum took her to Paris. How original." But Ginny was still looking at the paper.
"Ron..." she said, "Who's Snuffles?"
"What?" Ron asked, jerking up and coughing and holding his head as he did so.
"The PS. It says: 'Harry says Snuffles says hi.'"
"He's a friend of ours. You don't know him. It's a dog." Ron told her. Ginny nodded. "Could you do me a favor?" Ron asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, anything."
"Write Hermione for me. She hasn't heard from me all summer. But don't tell her I'm sick, please don't. The last thing I want is for her to be worried on her French excursion. She's too happy. Just tell her I'm having some family problems or something like that."
"Do you want me to sign it as myself or do you want me to pretend I'm you?"
"Either way. But if you sign as yourself, make up an excuse for why I couldn't write. Mum will kill me if she sees me writing again. I would do it myself, but..." Ron yawned before he could finish.
"You know what? You get some rest. I'll right her that letter. I'm not supposed to be in here anyway," said Ginny.
"OK," Ron smiled at her weakly. She smiled back this time and left. After she had gone, Ron's smile left his face. He took a deep, shuddering breath and closed his eyes tight as he felt the pain in his chest as he breathed.
"I'm never going to get any better!" he moaned as a tear escaped from his eye.
Summary: Can magic fix everything? It's a Ron fic...
Disclaimer: I don't own nothing! (Oops, double negative!)
Rating: PG
Author: Carly
Ron sat kicking his legs back and fourth on the bed. He'd been thinking about everything they'd been through together. He, Harry, and Hermione. For years, it had been just Harry, Ron, and Hermione. But what if... What if eventually it just became Harry and Hermione? What if there was no Ron? They wouldn't do that, surely, they wouldn't do that. They'd been through too much to ditch him. That wasn't really his worry. His worry was telling *them* he'd have to leave. He really didn't want to. Harry and Hermione were closer to him then anyone else. He didn't want to leave. But what if he had to? What if some force would push him away? Something important. What if something wouldn't let him see them again? Something like what was happening now.
His mother ran into the room and saw him writing at his desk.
"No, Ron!" she cried.
"But Mum!" Ron protested, "I want to send an owl to Harry and Hermione!"
"You're supposed to be in bed and that's where you'll stay! I brought you up your potion. Drink it gently... I'm sure you will be just fine before school starts," she smiled warmly. Ron looked into his mother's eyes and saw the worry he'd seen before. She only *hoped* he'd be better before school started. She was no longer sure. He was no longer sure. He sighed and lay back on his pillow, taking the offered potion. His mother smiled down at him.
"You needn't worry, sweetheart," said his mother, "If you're a good boy and take your potions and eat your chocolate, you'll be just fine." And she left. Ron sipped the horrible tasting potion. He got out of bed and walked over to the desk again.
"Dear Harry
I was really looking forward to having you and Hermione over this summer, but unfortunately, I don't think it's possible this year. We're..."
He stopped. He wasn't quite sure what to write there. He couldn't tell him the truth. But he couldn't lie to him either. He continued.
"We're having a few family problems. Maybe you and Hermione could get together. If only my family wasn't so problematic. Well, see you at school.
Ron."
Ron sighed and stared at the letter. He added that Harry should tell Hermione he'd see her at school as well. He called Pigwidgeon over and tied the letter to his foot. Taking a large bite of chocolate and feeling a bit dizzy, he threw back the covers of his bed and crawled in. He pulled the covers over his head, brought his knees to his chest, and prayed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny hugged the teddy bear close to her chest. She hadn't seen Ron in over two weeks. Her mother wouldn't let anyone into the room. She'd isolated him. She didn't want any of her other children catching what Ron had even though she wasn't sure if it was contagious. But as a mother, she felt immune to anything her children had and would bring Ron potions and chocolate and food and was there when he needed her.
"When can we see Ron again, Mum?" Ginny had asked her once.
"Whenever we hear from the DMI again," her mother smiled weakly.
The DMI was the Doctor of Magical Illnesses. He'd come to see Ron when he'd first gotten sick. He'd whispered to Mrs. Weasley something. She hadn't told her children what he'd said.
Ginny wished she knew what was going on. She wished desperately to see her brother. The house had been so quiet since the DMI had came. Her parents had been a little depressed since then too. Bill and Charlie had come over for a while and sometimes, late at night, they'd retire to the kitchen with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and talk quietly. They were doing that now. Ginny decided it was about time she found out.
Ginny crept down the stairs cautiously. She tiptoed her way to the kitchen. She heard voices speaking softly behind the door as she pressed her ear against it.
"Oh Arthur!" Ginny's mother sobbed, "I don't know what to do!"
"It's alright, Mum," Charlie tried to comfort her.
"Yeah," Bill agreed, "He's a fighter. You should know that by now. He's been through a whole lot more than this. Just look at his friends! Harry Potter! And Hermione Granger. He says she's really smart. You couldn't be around a better crowd."
"We aren't discussing his social status, though, are we, Bill?" Mrs. Weasley asked, "We're discussing..."
"I know what we're discussing. My point is that he can get through this."
"Bill's right, Molly," said Mr. Weasley, "If I had to have a son in this predicament, it would be Ron."
"The DMI said there's no known magical cure. He says this is a new disease. He says they've only just discovered it. He says it works fast and is very rare."
"I don't think you should talk to him, Mum. He never says anything good," Charlie told her. Mrs. Weasley continued.
"He says that they're working hard and to continue giving him the potion until further notice. He said not to let him see anyone until further notice."
"I don't understand why we're keeping the children away from their brother," Mr. Weasley said, "They haven't seen him in over three weeks! I haven't seen him since last Tuesday! I doubt it's contagious."
"We don't want to risk it though," Mrs. Weasley told him.
"Yeah, Dad," Charlie added, "It is a new disease after all. And it's hard to tell whether it's contagious or not. It's best to keep them away."
"Where's Percy?" Bill asked, changing the subject.
"Off on some ministry errand. He said he'd come as soon as possible," Mrs. Weasley answered quietly. They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Well!" Bill finally said, "I think I'll go up and see the lad. Don't worry, Mum, I'll wear a gas mask if necessary," he added, seeing Mrs. Weasley's look.
Ginny scampered away from the door as quickly and quietly as she could and ran upstairs to her room before Bill came out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bill opened the door to his younger brother's room. He looked over to his bed and saw a lump under the covers. He heard heavy breathing. He smiled.
"Ron," he sighed, shaking his head, "You're giving Mum quite a scare." He walked over to Ron's bed and sat down on the edge. He looked around the room and noticed that Pigwidgeon's cage was empty. He frowned.
"Who did you write to now, eh?" he asked, knowing Ron wouldn't answer. He walked over to the desk and saw the quill lying on top of a piece of parchment. The black ink was dripping onto the parchment, creating a large black blot. Bill looked back at Ron, sleeping soundly in his bed. He walked back over to him and pulled the covers away from his head. Ron shivered a bit, but didn't wake.
"I'm really sorry about this, Ron. We can only hope the DMI has some good information for us for once. He should be by any day now. 'Course, you know Mum. She says that everyday. I'm glad you're asleep. This would have been much more awkward if you were awake. I hope you get well soon, Ron." Bill stood up and walked over to the door. With one last look at Ron, he left.
"What's going on?" a voice demanded. Bill realized that Ginny was standing in the hallway, arms crossed, staring at Ron's door.
"I know just as much as you do, I suppose," he told his sister.
"No, you know more. What's wrong with my big brother?" now, Ginny had six older brothers, but at that moment, it was quite clear which one she was speaking of. None the less, Bill tried to avoid it.
"Which one? Percy's away working for the ministry and Fred and George, well, I'm never exactly sure what they're up to, but-"
"You know who I mean," she stood, resolute in the middle of the hallway, not letting Bill pass. Bill sighed.
"Well, Ron's very ill. Of course, you know that much. The disease he has is rare and incurable. But the Department of Cures for Magical Illnesses is working on a cure at this very moment. All I know is that it might be contagious and Mum doesn't want you going to see him. Ron isn't quite aware of the seriousness of the situation yet. I don't want you going in there and telling him there isn't any cure. I also don't want you speaking to Fred and George about this."
"Too late," George said, stepping out of his room.
"Did you really think you could hide it from us for that long?" Fred asked, coming out behind his twin, "Really, you can't be that daft!" Bill sighed again. He'd been doing a lot of sighing lately.
"Listen," he told the three of them, "Mum thinks she can protect you if you don't know. But I figure it would only make things worse. Don't tell her you know. It would be the stupid thing to do. And you don't want to be stupid do you?" at the last sentence, he eyed Fred and George.
"Hey!" cried Fred, insulted, "We're pranksters, not idiots!"
"Sometimes I wonder..." Bill rolled his eyes and walked down the stairs.
"I think he just insulted us! I'm insulted! Are you insulted, Fred?" George asked, mockingly.
"Very!" Fred answered and they retreated into their room. Ginny was left alone in the hall. Dare she venture what she knew would be wrong?
Ginny timidly opened her brother's door and poked her head in. She saw his red, Weasley hair poking out from under the mass of covers.
"Oh Ron!" she stifled the sob, not wanting to wake him. She walked over to his bed and noticed he was shaking. She blinked hard. She felt her eyes welling up. She was so full of concern for her brother.
"Hi..." Ron croaked from his bed. Ginny jumped.
"You're awake?" she asked. Ron just gave a weak nod in response. He turned his head to face her and Ginny saw his eyes were wide open and bloodshot. She tried to smile, but it didn't work. He succeeded in giving her a strong one, though.
"Don't worry," he told her, "I'll be OK..."
"You couldn't have... In the hall, Bill... You didn't..."
"Yeah," Ron sighed, "I heard you."
"Oh Ron!" Ginny wailed again, "I'm so scared."
"Don't be," Ron told her, keeping his brave smile in place, "I've been in much more than... than this."
"I love you, Ron," Ginny told him. At that moment, a tawny owl flew through the window and hooted. Ginny walked over and untied the paper from it's leg and opened the letter.
"It's from Hermione," she told her brother, and handed it to him.
"You read it," Ron told her. She nodded.
"Greetings from Paris. Viktor surprised me with a tour of France! Well, I hope you're well, Ron. It's been a while since I wrote you, sorry. I'm bringing you and Harry a surprise. I'll show it to you on the train to Hogwarts. My summer has been brilliant, but I only wish you and Harry were here to share it. Pity it's nearly over. Well, I hope to see you soon. Please write back, Hermione."
"So," Ron sighed weakly, "Krum took her to Paris. How original." But Ginny was still looking at the paper.
"Ron..." she said, "Who's Snuffles?"
"What?" Ron asked, jerking up and coughing and holding his head as he did so.
"The PS. It says: 'Harry says Snuffles says hi.'"
"He's a friend of ours. You don't know him. It's a dog." Ron told her. Ginny nodded. "Could you do me a favor?" Ron asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, anything."
"Write Hermione for me. She hasn't heard from me all summer. But don't tell her I'm sick, please don't. The last thing I want is for her to be worried on her French excursion. She's too happy. Just tell her I'm having some family problems or something like that."
"Do you want me to sign it as myself or do you want me to pretend I'm you?"
"Either way. But if you sign as yourself, make up an excuse for why I couldn't write. Mum will kill me if she sees me writing again. I would do it myself, but..." Ron yawned before he could finish.
"You know what? You get some rest. I'll right her that letter. I'm not supposed to be in here anyway," said Ginny.
"OK," Ron smiled at her weakly. She smiled back this time and left. After she had gone, Ron's smile left his face. He took a deep, shuddering breath and closed his eyes tight as he felt the pain in his chest as he breathed.
"I'm never going to get any better!" he moaned as a tear escaped from his eye.