XX
"Hermione!" Ginny said as she stood beside the bed shaking Hermione awake.
"Morning." Hermione grumbled, sitting up, getting out of the bed and slumping into the chair closest to the bed.
"You will thank me later." Ginny said, smiling at Harry as he walked through the door, a cup of coffee held in his hand.
"Good, she's almost here. Take this." Harry said as he shut the door behind him, and walked towards Hermione holding out the cup and pushing it into her hand before sitting down in the chair that just appeared beside her.
"Any changes?" Ginny asked, sitting down in the chair next to Harry, placing her hand on top of his.
The room looked much brighter now, the sun itself hadn't changed, just the mood of those who occupied the room. Sometime today Ron would be waking up and after last night their hopes had risen. The waves of nervous energy bouncing against the walls heightened as the door swung open and Molly walked in. Pushing the door shut behind her, Molly placed a change of clothes on the end of Ron's bed, complete with shoes.
Before Hermione could open her mouth to answer Ginny's question, Molly rushed forward kissed Ron, then turned to Hermione.
"How is he?" She asked, as Hermione edged herself to the front of the chair, allowing Molly to wrap her up in a hug. Letting go, Molly summoned a chair that appeared on the other side of the bed. Walking over she dropped into it and looked over at Ginny, Hermione and Harry, a tired smile flickering in her eyes.
"They said a few hours, no definite time though. His wounds are basically healed, although he will have a few of the scars forever." Hermione said, quickly, taking a deep breath once she had finished. Her eyes wandered from Ron who was still lying still, his face blank and peaceful, then to Ginny who still looked a mixture of relief and worry.
"Arthur sends he love, he'll pop in once he wakes. Percy and Charlie are at work as well, but asked us to send a message when he wakes up, so they can drop in. George is on his way now. He has to make a few stops on the way, but he shouldn't be long."
The others nodded, their eyes still resting on Ron, wondering how long it would be till he woke up. Wondering what he would tell them when he did, if he was able to tell them. The room was abuzz with excitement for the next few hours. Hermione finished the drink that Harry gave her before George arrived, but didn't eat or drink anything else all day. The others tried to convince her to join them downstairs to get some lunch but she wouldn't leave her chair. She knew it was stupid, he wouldn't know if she wasn't there. But she didn't want him to wake up and see that she wasn't there, or worse, wake up and find the room empty.
Despite this fear she wasn't left alone in the room all day. Harry and Ginny went down for lunch, but came up after less than 20 minutes, they were as worried as she was, Harry especially, Ron was, well he was Ron and he was afraid of losing him.
George barely left his side, he sat still reading the Daily Prophet, then a book, then a wizarding magazine, not eating, just sipping away at the cup in front of him, which he kept refilling.
Molly couldn't sit still, she was off every few minutes, spotting people in the hallways, visiting those that she knew, off sending letters, chatting to the Healers.
The afternoon had long faded when Neville and Luna walked into the room, holding hands, looking happy but worried.
"Good evening everybody." Luna said, the dreamy tone in her voice expelled with worry. Letting go of Neville she hugged Molly, then Harry, then Ginny, then George and finally Hermione. Leaning over Ron she kissed him on the cheek and murmured something about his complexion, no doubt relating it to some non-existent creature, that usually gave Hermione an edge but it reassured her and helped to calm her down.
"Hello Harry." Neville said as Harry rose from his seat and hugged him. "Mrs Weasley." He said pulling her into a quick hug. "Ginny." Ginny stood up and wrapped her arms around him. "Hermione." She looked up, slowly rose, letting Neville hug her before falling back into her chair.
"Shouldn't be too long now." Neville said summoning chairs for both Luna and him, and sitting down beside Molly.
The others nodded, their eyes still hovering on Ron, waiting for him to stir. They had been through this before, when he was poisoned by the alcohol in Slughorn's office after been relieved from a love potion. But then they knew he was going to be fine and he was only asleep for a few hours, not two days.
"Who is that for?" Hermione asked, tearing her eyes away from Ron and spotting Molly knitting what looked like a jumper, the same shade as Ron's eyes, not that she could see them now though.
"Ron." Molly said simply, not looking up from her work.
"But.." Ginny started, exchanging looks with both Harry and Hermione, who all knew that blue wasn't his colour sweater, it was maroon, always had been, always would be.
"He always hated maroon." Molly said, looking up and smiling at Ron. "But he wore them anyway." She added, her eyes misting over as she tore her eyes away from Ron and back to her knitting.
"I'm sure he will love his new jumper." Luna said, a soft smile on her lips. Molly looked at her for a moment, unsure whether she was serious or joking. Upon deciding that she was sincere Molly smiled back.
"Thanks dear."
"Better not say it too loudly though." George said, speaking for the first time in hours.
"Huh?" Molly looked at him from her knitting, both surprised he was speaking and confused at what he meant.
"Don't want it to break the subconscious and have him stuck in a nightmare about this new jumper of his." George replied, causing the atmosphere in the room to change. They all started laughing, even Molly and Hermione joined in, Luna laughing the loudest, just as she had laughed at Ron's jokes back at Hogwarts.
XX