Chapter Four
Ron opened one eye slowly, then the other. There was a horrible, retching sound coming from the room down the hall. The room that contained his son Hugo. And he knew there was only one explanation for that sound. So, naturally, he nudged Hermione awake. She barely stirred the first time, so he nudged her again, harder this time. She groaned, and threw an arm over her face. " 'Mione" He whispered. "Wake up Hermione." Hermione attempted to smack him, but in her tiredness, missed him by several inches. Ron smiled at that, and gently pulled on her arm.
"What Ron? If this has to do with a quickie, or something, can it wait? I don't appreciate being woken up for that." Hermione said. Ron could feel the tips of his ears turning red. How could she really think that? Yes, he was a man, and men like that stuff. But as a man, he liked sleep even more. Especially because of having two children. The retching sound came again, and Ron pulled even more insistently on Hermione's arm.
"No, it's not that. Can you here that noise?" Ron asked. Hermione moved to say something, but Ron held up a hand. They waited several minutes, and just when Ron thought it wasn't going to happen again, the noise came again. Immediately, Hermione was up. There was a concerned and determined look on her face. She practically sprinted out of the room. Ron leaned back against the bed, his hands behind his bed. Now that Hermione was up, he didn't have to worry about anything. Hugo could be sick, Hermione could take care of the mess, and he, Ron, would relax in bed. He sighed contently, and prepared to take a nap. But, moments later, he was awoken by Hermione pulling him out of bed. "Wha…? He started to say, but Hermione had already gotten him out of the bedroom, and half way down the hallway. " 'Mione, isn't this your expertise? When the kids are sick, you take care of them, and I support you. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Ronald, it seems that you have forgotten something." Hermione said. Ron stared at her, his mouth agape. What, what was it he forgot? Their anniversary? A birthday? Was this some sort of punishment for being a dweeb and forgetting something. After several such thoughts, and no answer, he waited for Hermione to tell him what he'd forgotten. "I have a case today, remember? One I can't get out of. It could be the beginning to a great career, or an end to the one I have right now." Oh yeah, he did kind of recall that. He remembers them celebrating something like that, but he didn't know what they had been celebrating at the time. Wait, does this mean that he has to stay home with the sick Hugo? Is it meaning that he wants to tell Hugo to get better now, and sick later? "It appears you'll have to stay home with Hugo. Now, there's a list of things that I normally do when one of the kids are sick. If you follow it, exactly, then he might still be alive by the time I get home." Ron didn't appreciate that comment. But in all honesty, it was probably the truth. Hermione left to go the bedroom, and reemerged dressed in work clothes. "See you later." She said, and kissed him goodbye. Now was the tough part. He stepped gingerly into Hugo's room, and took in the sight.
Hugo was lying in his bed, staring at Ron. His eyes were huge, his hair more messy than ever. His sheets were strewn, probably when he made his way to the waste basket, to throw up. Thinking about that, Ron turned in the direction of the waste basket, and cringed. Someone was going to have to teach the boy how to aim when he was sick. As Ron approached the bed, he realized that Hugo was going to have be taught something else. Not to throw up on the sheets. Or to wipe his face on the sheets, after getting sick. Ron motioned for Hugo to get out of bed, and so he did. Ron meant for Hugo to get back in bed after he cleaned the sheets, but Hugo ran out of the room, and into the living room. He positioned himself on the couch, with the TV in front of him. He was lying sideways. Ron ran with a bucket, and placed it right under Hugo's mouth, just in case. There was no way he was going to let his son get the couch vomit covered too.
Ron left the room, to get a nose plug. Then, he went to Hugo's room, and used a well placed spell to bring the dirty sheets to the laundry room. When he got back, Hugo was leaning over the bucket, making that blasted retching noise. When he reappeared, his pale face was paler, so much that his freckles stood out more than normal. Ron went to him, and placed him gently on the couch again. "What does Mum usually get you? Do you need Ginger Ale, Chicken Soup? What does Mum usually give you?"
"Mummy gives me chocolate." Hugo said and innocent look on his face.
"Nice try buddy, but I used to use that one. I know that trick." Ron said. Hugo hung his head. "How bout some Ginger Ale then?" He asked. Hugo nodded, melting back into the couch.
After a while, Ron wanted to make some chicken noodle soup for Hugo. The kind his Mum used to make. But he didn't know how to make it. He never asked what was in it, he just ate it. So he called his Mum up, and after fifteen minutes of writing down ingredients, he finally had it all down. And just as he was entering the room with the finished project, Hugo was throwing up again. "Hey, buddy? How bout you take a shower. Sometimes it helps." Ron said when Hugo was done.
After the shower, Hugo did seem well. He sat on the couch, and ate the chicken soup, quite quickly Ron might add. Then he stretched out on the couch. By the time Hermione returned, he and Hugo were playing game of chess. But just as she was complimenting him on a job well down, Ron vomited all over the chess set. He gave Hermione a pleading look.
"Alright, alright. Get into bed, and I'll take care of you."
"Have I told you how much I love you?" He said, as he made his way to the bedroom.
A/N: Sorry for the wait, I've just been super busy. Hope it's alright, since it's been awhile. Please review.
