Winter: 1998
He looked up, admiring the splatter of stars that painted the night sky. Ron chuckled under his breath as he recalled one of Professor Trelawney's rubbish rants on how she believed that the stars could help "for-see the future". He paused to survey the little balls of light, wondering what they would tell him about theirs.
Pulling his coat tighter to his body, he stoked the fire in a poor attempt to warm himself. He sighed deeply and could see his breath billowing in clouds from the frigid air. It was cold, but he didn't care. Ron had found his friends. Weeks ago- thats all he ever wanted, ever cared about. He would gladly sit through the freezing nights, tired and shivering, if it meant being with Harry and Hermione.
Ron looked back at the entrance of their tent and could see the warm dim light peaking through. He smiled to himself, content to know that his friends were safe inside, sleeping. He may have been pushing his luck, but he even thought that Hermione was slowly beginning to let her walls down towards him. There was much less dirty looks and her silent treatments weren't as silent as they used to be. Now they merely existed with one another. On the rare occasion, they even talked about potential plans and ideas for their next move. Hermione had even given him a cup of tea a few nights ago before his watch. She had remembered how he had liked it- 2 scoops of sugar. He smiled again at the thought.
Ron's smile quickly faded as he could hear a fit of coughing coming from the tent. It has been several nights now that he would hear Hermione through the night. And it had only gotten worst. They had run out of pepper-up potion a few weeks ago when Harry caught a cold after pulling that bloody stunt in the frozen lake. He felt helpless as he heard another wave of coughs arise from the tent.
Of course Hermione had been stubborn these last few days saying she was "fine", but Ron could tell that she wasn't. What started off as a cold had taken a quick turn for the worst. The bags under her eyes seemed to have gotten darker these past few days and he could hear her toss and turn through the night. It didn't help that she would stay up late staring at that bloody children's book, almost begging for some sort of answer to magically appear.
Ron noticed how thin she had gotten from these last several months, barely getting by on mushroom stew and any scraps they could find. The hallow in her cheeks seemed more pronounced and her shoulders stuck out more than he remembered. Hermione always made sure that Harry and him got a bigger helping than her for their seldom meals. He cursed himself for the times he had been a total git over her cooking. He hated that locket, and how he had let it effect him.
Ron's train of thought was disrupted by Harry stumbling half-asleep out of the tent entrance, still struggling to put his coat on and glasses crooked.
"Your early- I at least got another half hour before my shifts over." Ron said.
"Can't sleep." Harry shrugged. "Thought i'd come relieve you early so you can warm up and get some rest." Harry slurred, while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Thanks mate." Ron stretched, muscles stiff from sitting for so long in the cold. "…Is she doing alright?" he asked, nodding his head towards the tent's direction. Harry looked back, his eyes flashed with concern.
"I don't know… she's not getting any better." Harry worried.
Ron nodded in agreement. "Listen- I know it's dangerous, but I think we need to do something to help her. She can't apparate in this condition."
"I agree. We can make a plan in the morning. You go on inside and get some sleep." Harry patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks Harry." Ron patted him back. "Oh, and you may want this-" he said as he threw him his blanket. "It's bloody freezing tonight."
"Thanks mate, g'night." Harry smiled.
Ron could hear the crunch of the frozen ground beneath his feet as he made his way back to the tent. The warmth emanating from the entrance began to thaw his cold cheeks as he ducked his way inside. Ron looked over to the dark corner where Hermione's bunk sat in the shadows. Squinting his eyes, he could see the dark mass that lay in the bed. Careful not to make too much noise, he quietly took off his coat and shoes and decided to take the risk to check on her.
As Ron approached, he could see Hermione curled up in her bed, shaking through her pile of blankets she was wrapped in. Ron leaned down and quietly sat at the edge of the bed. Sounds of little shivers escaped from the heap of blankets. She had definitely gotten worst from the time he started his watch a few hours ago. Ron hesitantly put his hand on her shoulder, wondering if he should let her be. Choosing to be brave, he licked his lips and gently shook her.
"Hermione?" he whispered. Hermione slowly stirred and turned to face him. Ron's stomach dropped as he took in the physical state she was in. Her forehead was glistening with sweat, the hair on the back of her neck was damp and clung to her wet skin, her face was colorless and pale. He instinctively put his palm up to her forehead, a practice he had picked up from his Mum after watching all the times his siblings had gotten sick growing up. Heat radiated from her skin before he was even able to touch it.
Hermione closed her eyes at the cool relief his cold hand offered, forgetting that she was supposed to be angry at him.
"Your burning up. Are you alright?" Ron whispered gently.
"I'm fine." Hermione croaked, as she pulled the blankets tighter around her.
"Is there anything you need?" Hermione turned away from Ron to continue her cold facade.
"Please Hermione. Let me help you." Ron pleaded softly.
"Honestly, Ron." she mumbled under her breath. "I can manage, thank you." She swallowed. Truth was, she felt awful. Every inch of her body ached in pain. She could feel her nightshirt sticking to her skin, drenched in sweat. Her body felt weak and her throat was raw. Maybe a cup of tea would offer some relief. Yes. That would surely help.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked surprised as he watched her slowly struggle to sit up and untangle herself from her blankets.
"It's none of your business." Hermione hissed, but Ron was unfazed by the venom in her voice- his eyes remain filled with concern. Hermione sighed as she melted under his gaze. "If you must know, I am going to make some tea." She said, her voice hoarse. Forcing herself to swing her legs off the side of the bed, Hermione fought to stand, clinging to the bunk frame to steady herself.
"Go lie back down, I can make it." Ron demanded as he tried to guide her back to the bed.
"No." she spat stubbornly, closing her eyes in an attempt to rid the stars that danced in her vision. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck. "I can do it myself."
Letting go of the bunk shakily, she took several unsteady steps towards the kitchen. Her body felt as if it were made of lead. Blackness began to envelope her sight as if she were walking into a dark tunnel. Her knees started to buckle underneath her, she desperately grabbed around blindly to try and find something to support herself. Several pans fall with a loud crash as she stumbles around- barley able to stay conscious. Hermione felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her as she started to crumble to the floor.
"Bloody hell." Ron mumbled angrily as he helped her back to her feet and guided her to the couch to lie down.
"Hermione, please. You can be angry at me all you want, but I can't let you keep going on like this. I'm worried about you." Ron scanned her face, her eyes were bloodshot and the color had completely drained from her dried lips.
Closing her eyes, Hermione nodded in surrender. She could hear Ron shuffle around the kitchen as he put the kettle on the stove and grabbed a cloth, muttering "aguamenti".
Kneeling down next to her, Ron gently lie the cool rag on her burning forehead. Hermione felt a sigh escape her lips at the relief the coolness of the wet rag brought her burning skin.
"Thank you, Ron." she breathed. Ron smiled, feeling comfortable in their silence for the first time in a long time. He couldn't help but notice this was the closest they had been for a while. His thoughts were interrupted by the whistle of the tea kettle.
Hermione strained to open her eyes and watched as Ron stood and prepared her tea. She could feel the anger begin to subside as he tried so desperately to take care of her, despite the bitterness she had shown him.
Ron approached her, cautious not to spill the steaming cup of tea, and knelt down by her side.
"Alright, It may be a little hot. Can you try and sit up for me?" he asked. Hermione shifted her body slowly to sit up and leaned her back against the arm rest to support herself. Ron slowly brought the cup to her mouth, he was surprised to feel her fragile hands cover his to help guide the tea the rest of the way to her lips. Her cold hands tremble over his as she tilted the cup and sipped gingerly, taking in the tea slowly.
Hermione guided the cup away and swallowed carefully. The warm tea soothed her throat as she felt it slide down. Exhausted from the energy it took to sit up, she collapsed back on the couch and exhaled loudly, shutting her eyes. Ron lay the wet rag back on her forehead and began to slowly wipe away the sweat that had collected on her forehead. His heart stopped as he noticed Hermione looking at him with those brown eyes- he suddenly felt self-conscious of the intimate gesture. He was so close to her. Something that didn't happen often since his return. He swallowed loudly as he thought through the words he so badly wanted to tell her.
"Hermione, I know I have said it a hundred times, but I don't care. I'll say it as many times as I need to. I'm sorry. I am so sorry for leaving. I regretted it the moment I left. If I could take it all back, I would. I am so sorry for everything. For all the hurt I have caused you." Ron said shakily.
"Ron, stop." she shook her head in exhaustion.
"No- I'm not finished." he interrupted. "I'm sorry for the massive prat I have been to you all these years. I'm sorry for the way I treated you last year when I was with Lavender. I was so stupid. I don't even know what I was thinking.' He said, running his hands through his hair nervously.
'I'm sorry for the huge git I was at the yule ball. I ruined your night all because I was acting barmy when I saw you with Krum. I'm sorry for 3rd year, when I blamed Crookshanks for eating Scabbers- I wish he would have." He let out a shaky laugh.
"I'm sorry for the little arse I was 1st and 2nd year. I am sorry for it all Hermione." Ron confessed. He surveyed Hermione's face, so desperately trying to read her thoughts. Her eyes blinked and began to water as she carefully took all of his words in. She reached delicately for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I forgave you a long time ago for all those things Ron. And I will forgive you for leaving, I am hurt- but I will forgive you." she smiled weakly.
"I don't deserve it, Hermione." Ron shook his head.
"You don't get to make that decision." Hermione said softly. Ron smiled meekly and squeezed her hand back.
The moment was ruined by a wave of deep coughs that shook Hermione's whole body. Ron wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped her sit up as she struggled to catch her breath. Grabbing the tea, he slowly brought it back to her lips. A pit of worry filled his stomach as he watched her struggle to drink. The ghoul in the attic with spattergroit may have had it better off than Hermione. Gently, he helped her lay back down and grabbed her blankets from the bed to cover her body. Hermione grabbed the blankets and wrapped them tightly around her, closing her eyes in exhaustion. They sat there silently for a while, taking in the sounds of the fire from outside of the tent. Ron was almost convinced she had fallen asleep until he heard her begin to stir.
"Ron?" she asked as she fought to stay awake.
"Hmm?" he asked.
"I'm glad your back." she slurred sleepily. Ron smiled warmly as he watched her breathing steady and succumb to the sleep she so desperately needed.
"Hang in there Hermione." he whispered.
Quietly, he rose from the floor and walked to his bunk to grab his own blankets. Satisfied with the sofa chair next to Hermione, he sat to settle in for the rest of the night. His eyes began to feel heavy as he listened to Hermione's steady breaths and watched her chest rise and fall. A sound he had missed desperately while he had been gone.
Slowly he drifted to sleep- knowing he would need it for the challenges tomorrow would bring.