It's been exactly a month since I published this story. I almost deleted it, but have decided to update for the few people who actually enjoyed it ***you know who you are and graciously I thank you*** ANYWAY, here is Part 2 of this crappy piece of cringe.

Traffic was terrible. All the roads surrounding the school has been closed off by yellow CAUTION tape and orange traffic cones. Officers were directing traffic around the area. All the injured—and worse off—students had already been rushed to the hospital. The parents of the student that hadn't been picked up yet were specially directed into the school parking lot.

Sirius swore as someone pulled in front of him. Harry Potter's godfather had a rather obnoxious black truck. But as big as it appeared, the cab was fairly small. Sirius drove, Harry sat in the passenger seat up front, occasionally glancing back at his friends. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were all crammed in the back. Ginny was clutching Ron's arm painfully, her young face white as a sheet. Hermione was murmuring quiet words of encouragement to her. Ron sat wedged in between them, numb and silent. His head was spinning. He wished he was home. He wished he had just stayed home today. He and his family. And Harry and Hermione. . . Ron wished nothing had happened today. He wished the shooter had not come to their high-school and everyone was safe.

Once out of the traffic, Sirius revved the engine and sped towards the hospital as fast as the speed-limit would allow. Not that it mattered. Most of the cops in the depot were involved with the school shooting. They weren't running speed meters. But Sirius had done time and did not wish to do so again.

Harry looked back at Ron. 'S okay, mate.

It's okay. That was what Hermione had been telling Ginny.

But it wasn't okay. Nothing was okay. Their friends were wounded. Their friends were dead. Fred was injured and nobody knew how badly. For all. They knew, he could already be dead. Ron shook himself. No. He couldn't think about that. That wasn't an option. Fred was okay. Everything was going to be okay.

The truck turned into the hospital parking lot. It was more crowded than usual. Ron wasn't there often, but he drove past it every week. He wondered if all the extra cars were the family and friends of the shooting victims or if it was just a coincidence.

Ron hated hospitals. He just did. He hated the clean, sanitary smell. He hated the depressing air. He hated all the people in scrubs and masks walking briskly around. Those people are the ones saving your brother's life, Ron's conscience quipped.

After what seemed like an eternal elevator ride, they arrived on the floor where Fred was being kept. They sat tensely in the waiting room, no one daring to speak. Finally, when Ron could not stand it any longer, he got up and began to walk around. It was more like pacing. Aimlessly walking around, tapping his fingers against his thighs. And hour passed. And hour and a half. Two hours.

"No news is good news,'' Sirius told them.

Ron wasn't so sure. He scrolled through the texts he'd sent to various family members. Dad, Mom, Bill, Charlie, Percy, and even George. Bill, no surprise, was the only one who had responded. No, Ron, still waiting here too. If I hear anything I promise I'll let u know. It was the best he got. Ron was grateful Bill bothered to respond even though he had no news. It was better than what anyone else had given him, he thought bitterly.

Frustrated, Ron threw his phone on the couch. It bounced off a pillow and landed beside Hermione. She bit her lip timidly. Ron thought of how instead of going home she had decided to come be with them. . .him. Hermione had come to be with Ron. Harry and Sirius were there too. He relaxed slightly. This was a crappy situation, but at least he had friends who stood by him and his family.

Hermione stood up. She slowly walked over to where he was standing. She laced her small fingers with his long ones. She rested her head on his shoulder. "Take my hand,'' she whispered.

Ron squeezed his eyes shut. The next thing he was aware of was Ginny shrieking "Mum!''. Ron broke away from Hermione's embrace. Mrs Weasley had finally come. She was hugging a sobbing Ginny. Ron didn't speak, fearing doing so would cause instantaneous tears. He couldn't cry in front of Harry and Sirius.

When Mrs Weasley finally released Ginny her eyes were wet too. She looked directly at Ron. Her soft gaze made Ron's lower lip tremble. He emitted a small sob as his mom hugged him. "It's alright, Ronnie. Everything's going to be alright. I'm here.''

Somehow, hearing it from his mother, Ron did believe everything would be alright. He wiped his eyes quickly. Ginny was close. Harry, Sirius, and Hermione were all standing. Ron noticed Hermione was crying too.

"Fred?'' He asked quietly, dreading the answer.

Mrs Weasley smiled. "Fred's going to be alright. The bullet lodged into his left hip, but it wasn't too deep. He's lost some blood but it's being taken care of. Dad, George, and Charlie are with him now. Percy and Bill are on their way. Do you want to see him?

Ron nodded wordlessly.

Mrs Weasley hugged and thanked Sirius. She invited him to stay, but he declined saying he needed to get Harry and Hermione home.

"You're all good, mate?'' Harry asked.

Ron nodded again. "You?''

Harry shrugged. "Yeah.''

Ron cracked a tired smile. "Been a shitty day, huh?''

Harry laughed gently. "Understatement of the century.''

Hermione hugged Ron tightly. "Thank you.''

Ron wasn't sure what she was thanking him for. But he was grateful to her as well. "Thank you.'' Her lips brushed his cheek.

He watched Sirius, Harry, and Hermione go. Hermione cast a look back and called, "We're still one for Saturday at noon, right?''

Ron grinned. "Right.''

Mrs Weasley led Ron and Ginny to Fred's room. It had been a shitty day. But they had all pulled through. People had died. Scars had been left. No one was about to recover from this quickly. But, in the end, everything was alright.