I've had a great idea! I can't believe how much coursework I've got! It was my birthday last month and I barely had time to get drunk! I did find time, mind you, lol! My idea is that I won't always wait until the weekend to update. So from here on out I will update as soon as it's done, weather it's in the week or not. Anyway, enjoy! Don't forget to review!
Summary: Ron's got a terrible secret. He's not eating, he's pale and he hates being touched. His friends try to find out what's wrong with him, but when Harry does, will he regret ever asking. Contains abuse scenes. You have been warned!
A/N: Why do I bother putting the summary at the beginning of every chapter? My assumption is that you already know what the story is about. Then again, it makes me feel good when I look at the word count, lol.
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Chapter 12 – That happened, right?
Ron's room became clear through the blur as Harry slid his glasses on. At first his mind was blank. He was thrown back down onto the mattress when the memory of the night before hit him. His head snapped to the side and he looked over at Ron's bed. It was empty. Harry shot out of bed and rushed over to the door, not bothering to put his shirt on. He raced across the hall and opened the bathroom door, not bothering to knock. Ron was standing there, cleaning his teeth. He turned to Harry.
"You could knock!" He spat through the thick sea of toothpaste.
"Y-you could lock the door!" Harry answered. Ron smiled and turned back to the mirror. Harry stood in the doorway, waiting for something to happen. Did last night happen? Had he dreamed it? "Ron?" Ron spat his mouthful of toothpaste into the sink.
"Yeah, Harry?" What was he going to say? He had no idea of how to put it!
"Um – did – did Craig…"
"Yes – he did!" Ron jammed the toothbrush back into his mouth. Harry recoiled a bit and regretted asking.
Of course it happened, you idiot! Harry thought. Ron stopped brushing and looked at him.
"If you're coming in, shut the door. There's a draft." Ron said as he turned back to the mirror. Harry looked on with a puzzled expression painted across his face, but he entered and closed the door, nonetheless.
"Ron, are you sure you're okay?" Ron made a spitting noise as he emptied his mouth.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Harry cringed again.
"You don't want me to answer that – right?" Harry said in a hushed voice. Ron seemed to not hear him and he stared on at himself in the mirror.
"I've lost weight." Ron said, obviously ignoring Harry, who had now sat on the edge of the bath.
"If you want to talk about it, I'm here, mate." Ron put his toothbrush back in the pot and sat next to Harry on the edge of the bath.
"Harry, it's fine. I – "Harry was giggling at Ron. Ron furrowed his brow.
"What?" Ron asked a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I'm sorry; it's just a tad hard to take you seriously with all that toothpaste on you're face.You look like a clown with no money." Ron smiled and just looked at Harry. Harry shifted on the spot. Ron raised his eyebrows as to signal Harry to do something. "What?" Harry asked, his voice shaking slightly.
"You've got the towel. Either give it to me or wipe my face for me, up to you. Either way, the toothpaste has got to go, mate." Harry sighed and punched Ron in the face with the towel. Ron looked back at him.
" – oops!" Harry sarcastically added. Ron laughed and got up.
"Bathroom's all yours, mate." Ron said as he patted Harry on the shoulder and left the room.
Ron was pretty sure he'd convinced Harry he was ok. He thought he'd done a good job of fooling him – he was getting good at it, now.
The afternoon sun beat down on the alleys and cobbled streets of diagon alley as crowds of people struggled from a to b, squeezing past each other in a hasty attempt to get out of the summer heat. Ron sighed in relief as he entered a shop that was cool on his skin. There was no Craig for the rest of the holidays so he could concentrate on his two best friends in the whole world. Ron kept noticing the worried glances that Harry had been throwing him and this had convinced him that he hadn't done a good job of convincing him he was fine. Well, the truth was, he wasn't fine. He still feels his skin burn with fear every time a pin drops or a door slams. It was driving him insane. But, he didn't want his friends to worry. It would sort itself out in time – right?
" – Quills." Ron just caught the end of Hermione's sentence as he pretended to browse the shelves, pretending to be interested. Hermione and Harry were talking, Ron wasn't sure what about but he was sure it was boring so he decided to stay out.
"Ron?" Harry said. Ron turned and smiled at his friend.
"Yeah?"
"Wanna go get a drink, or something?" Ron smiled and nodded. All he had to do was amile and nod his way through the rest of his waking moments and he'd be fine. As long as anyone didn't see the pain behind the eyes.
"Sure, where's Hermione?" Harry shrugged.
"She said she needed to talk to your mom about something." Harry answered, wondering why she had been secretive about why she needed to talk to her. Ron and Harry stood looking at each other, both of them trying to think of something to say that would break the awkward silence. Harry really wanted to be the understanding friend but didn't want to risk upsetting Ron. He needed more information. "Ron."
"Are we getting a drink or not? I'm thirsty!" Harry realised it perhaps wasn't a good idea to bring the subject up in the middle of a shop.
"Alright, let's go." As they left, Ron could feel his act breaking up. He wasn't sure how long he could keep it up.
"What!? That's insane!" Hermione shouted as Mrs Weasley tried to settle her down.
"Calm down! I haven't agreed to it yet. But, there is something going on!" She said. Herself, Arthur and Hermione were sat in a room at the leaky cauldron, discussing matters.
"She has a point, Hermione. He's been cut off from the rest of us and is very secretive." Mr Weasley said.
"Do you really think it's that bad?" Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes at Mrs Weasley.
"I think that someone needs to talk to him. He won't let us in. It's not as bad as you're making out. Craig just happened to notice, as well. He's concerned, that's all." Hermione realised she was beaten.
"Will you just give me a chance to talk to him?" Mr Weasley nodded.
"Hermione, it's not like we haven't tried. We're just thinking about what's best for Ron." Mr Weasley said in a soft voice. Hermione could see his point. To her, the Weasleys were some of the best parents that she knew of. "Please don't tell Harry – or Ron. I'm sorry for asking you to lie, we don't want to worry them. We probably won't take his offer, anyway." Hermione turned away from them, clenching her fists. What choice did she have?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated, and when I did it's a crappy, short chapter. There's not much I can say except sorry. I have had the most brilliant idea for what happens next in the story. I've got all my coursework sorted so I absolutely promise that I will update again this weekend. It will be longer and better than the other chapters. Sorry again. Please keep reviewing. - DL
