Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Hey everyone. I haven't forgotten about this but I'm finding it hard to continue. It seems I've lost a bit of motivation, plus it's exam time. However, I did find it in me tonight to write this chapter. So I hope you enjoy.
For awhile, things were somewhat quiet and uneventful and slowly the afternoon turned into early evening. Hermione began going through every cabinet in the tent's small kitchen, looking for ginger or anything else she thought might help Ron in any way, shape or form. Harry stayed with Ron for the better half of the afternoon, talking with him when he was awake, cleaning up after he was sick and just sitting next to his bed when he was asleep. He kept turning the golden snitch Dumbledore had given him over and over again in his hands during the quiet periods. Ron went through countless cycles of sleeping, vomiting and restless periods of sleeplessness.
Early that evening, Ron was asleep when Harry went and found Hermione in the kitchen. He walked in and saw her sitting on the floor; her ponytail was falling out and her eyes looked hollow, with bags under them. All around her were bottles, a few vials, some pots and empty jars. There was one jar on the counter that looked like it contained some kind of preserve.
"No luck, huh?" Harry asked, leaning against the counter.
"None." Hermione sighed. "How's Ron?"
"He's asleep right now but he should wake up soon. He never stays sleeping long."
"Has he been sick a lot?"
Harry nodded.
"I've been giving him tons of water and a lot of the time, that's all that really comes up."
"That's a good sign." Hermione said, pushing herself up. Harry extended a hand and helped her off the floor.
"Maybe that means this whole ordeal will be short lived."
"We can only hope."
"I was wondering," Hermione began as she leaned on the counter opposite Harry. "If we should try and give him some food."
"Are you mad?" Harry exclaimed. "He puts up a fuss with just water. Food would be ridiculous."
"Who'd have ever thought that Ron Weasley would ever turn down food?" Hermione mused and Harry smiled and gave a small chuckle before lapping into silence.
"Where's the horcrux?" Hermione asked suddenly. She looked at Harry's neck to see the chain was no longer there.
"Oh, I took it off. We need to focus on Ron. I figured we'll start wearing it when there are three of us again."
Hermione nodded wearily and yawned.
"You look beat." Harry told Hermione.
"So do you."
"Why don't you get a few hours sleep and then we'll trade off."
"But -" Hermione began but Harry pushed her out of the tiny kitchen towards her bed.
"Believe me, you'll feel better. Your body will be rested and your mind will be much clearer."
Hermione opened her mouth to protest again.
"I promise," Harry said, pushing her down onto her bed. "That I will wake you the minute something changes, okay?"
"Okay." Hermione gave in and Harry watched as she crawled under her blankets and fell asleep almost instantly. Harry tucked the blankets around her before going back to his chair beside Ron. The noise aroused Ron.
"Harry, is that you?" Ron mumbled, slowly opening his eyes.
"Yeah, it's me. How do you feel?"
"Lousy." Ron muttered. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's getting some sleep."
"Oh." Ron's voice held disappointment that even Harry could hear.
"She was going to try and make you eat something."
"Is she crazy?" Ron asked, slowly becoming more aware of his surroundings.
"That's what I said. I told you her that you were giving me a hard time about drinking, never mind eating. Speaking of which,"
Harry held out a canteen to Ron.
"You should drink some more."
After the normal argument, Ron finally let Harry help him sit up and he took a few gulps of water.
"Am I ever going to get better?" Ron moaned as he lay down again.
"Of course you are. Hermione and I are going to make sure of that."
"Did Hermione find any ginger?"
Harry shook his head as he sat down again.
"She tore the kitchen apart looking but she didn't find anything that could be of any use, unfortunately. The only thing that was worth anything was a jar of jam that looks like it might be fifty years old."
"But it's food." Ron pointed out.
"Well, I'm not desperate enough to eat it, I don't think."
"Hmm. Harry, I feel really weird." Ron's voice was distant and Harry became instantly concerned. He stood to get a better view of his friend's face.
"Weird how, Ron? What's wrong?"
"I just feel really warm and stiff all of a sudden."
"Are you going to be sick?" Harry asked, noticing Ron's face was going paler. Ron didn't say anything and Harry knew that that meant yes. Ron threw up the water he had just drunk before slumping back on the pillows.
"Ron?" Harry asked quickly, noticing that Ron's eyes had slid closed. Harry quickly put the basin on the table, spilling some of its contents.
"Ron, are you okay?"
Ron didn't answer and he didn't open his eyes.
"Ron!" Harry was practically shouting. "Hermione! Come quick!"
Harry didn't know what to do to help his friend so he just kept saying Ron's name and a minute later, Hermione flew into the room, looking frazzled.
"What happened?" she asked frantically, running to Ron's side.
"He said he felt really warm and stiff and then he was sick. After that, he became unresponsive. What happened?"
Hermione didn't answer but laid a hand on Ron's forehead.
"Quick, Harry, I need a cloth and cool water."
Harry turned to Ron's basin, muttered Tergio and then Aguamenti.
"Accio cloth." Harry held out his wand and a second later, a cloth came whizzing from the direction of the kitchen. He handed it to Hermione who quickly dunked it in the water and placed in on Ron's skin. She began wiping down his face while Harry watched nervously.
After a few tense seconds, Ron's eyes fluttered open and Hermione breathed an audible sigh of relief.
"Ron." Hermione spoke loudly and Ron's eyes focused and then shifted to look at Hermione. He tried to sit up but Hermione pushed him down gently.
"Easy, Ron. Don't move too fast."
"What happened?" Ron asked, seeing the fear in his friends' faces.
"You told me you felt funny and then you were sick. After that, you sort of blacked out."
Ron's eyes flickered to Harry.
"How do you feel now?" Hermione asked gently, sitting on the side of the bed. She resumed wiping Ron's face and Ron did not object.
"Really warm."
Harry believed that; Ron's face had turned beet red and his eyes were bright and glassy.
"What happened to me, Hermione?"
Even Ron sounded scared and Hermione sighed.
"I think your fever spiked." she said, not making eye contact. "Your body got so warm so quickly that it was too much and you passed out."
Ron didn't say anything but looked at Hermione's worried face and then Harry's. He felt terrible – physically and emotionally. He was putting his friends through hell, he knew. Neither looked like they had slept in days.
"How can we get my temperature down?" he asked Hermione.
"You know the answer to that. I'm afraid I didn't find any ginger."
Ron sighed.
"Okay, I'll wear the compress only if you and Harry go to sleep for awhile."
This time it was Harry who protested and Ron interrupted him.
"Look mate," Ron said, with as much strength as he could muster. "Having both of you with me is great and all but I can be sick without you next to me twenty-four seven. You both look awful; you need to get some rest."
Harry looked at Hermione, who didn't know what to do.
"You promise you'll leave it alone and call if you need anything?" Hermione asked. Ron stared Hermione straight in the eye.
"I promise."
"Well …" Hermione's voice wavered and Ron looked to Harry for support.
"I'd say it's okay, Hermione. We'll be right over there and you're not a very heavy sleeper. If something happens, you'll be the first one back here. And Ron's right, we do need to get some sleep or we're going to be the ones who are sick."
Ron waited and Hermione finally nodded. She stood up, wrung out the cloth and placed it firmly where she wanted it.
"Leave it there." she instructed.
"I will." Ron told her, making himself comfortable. "Let's hope we all get some sleep."
Ron closed his eyes and listened as Harry and Hermione left his area and each climbed into their own beds. He could hear the springs creak as the mattresses took on the weight of their occupants.
"Sweet dreams, everybody." he said unnecessarily. Harry was already snoring.
I'm sorry if you don't think it's good but that's all I've got tonight. Just as a side note, I got a few reviews saying how this was more H/Hr than R/Hr so I did switch the category but I am hoping for a few strong, cute R/Hr moments to come =)
…a review is always appreciated.