Chapter Twenty-One.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the 'Harry Potter' universe and everything and everyone in it, I am just a fan with an imagination running on caffeine and chocolate. I own nothing…believe me!
A/N: Thank you to Magnolia Lane, Harry Lvr, BuckNC and SpikesDreamer for reviewing the last chapter. All reviews are gratefully received and they will all be answered using the new fan fiction service…and I'm sorry this chapter has taken a while. Thanks.
Previously…
Bill had finally had enough and with Charlie and Harry's help, he managed to quietly usher his brothers out of the room.
But as Percy grabbed his cloak and made his way towards the door, he heard something that made his blood run cold and quickly sobered him,
"No…. not again…no more"
"Charlie and I finally got Fred, George and Harry into the floo and on the way home, and then I realised that there was someone missing. Now, Percy, I know that I am the only one who can really hold their drink, that doesn't mean that I have to run after you all"
Bill approached his brother who was standing wide-eyed in the centre of the room, holding his cloak tightly in his hands.
"Perce?"
At the lack of response from his brother Bill followed Percy's gaze. Once again his youngest brother was gripped in the midst of a powerful nightmare and was reliving something that he would probably rather forget.
"Damn it!" Bill swore as he pushed past the frozen Percy and ran to Ron's side. Ron's breathing was coming in deep gasps as if he were struggling to get enough air; his hands were clenched firmly into fists. And as he moved about on the bed, the sleeves of his top were pushed up to reveal the scars of another devastating battle. His eyes were closed tightly as if he were afraid of the reality that would meet him if he opened them. And as his concerned brother rushed to his side he continued to mutter,
"No…. no…. not again"
"Ron, Ron it's okay", Bill said as he reached for Ron's hand. He was desperate to let Ron know that he was not alone. But as his hand touched Ron's tightly clenched fist, he had to duck to avoid the punch sent his way. He sent a glare towards Percy, who remained frozen in horror in the middle of the room,
"Percy, get over here and help damn it!"
The only response he got was a dazed shake of the head from Percy, so he returned his attention to Ron,
"You're safe Ron, you're okay now" Bill said as he fell into a nearby chair, relaxing a bit when he saw Ron begin to calm down. His words were finally getting through to the distraught young man, and Bill felt able to broach the distance between them.
"Ron you're safe now, you don't have to worry…everything's okay"
"Bill?" Ron's voice was a barely audible croak, but both brothers heard it clearly "Bill… that you?"
Bill's heart nearly broke when he realised that Ron was reliving the memory of that day when he and Charlie had found him.
"Yeah Ron it's me, you're okay now…. you're safe now"
Ron's eyes opened and he carefully looked around him, as if reassuring himself that what Bill had said was true. His blue eyes that retained the look of being sunken in his head, despite the huge amount of food being thrown at him over the past month, scanned the room. Despite being half asleep, Ron's eyes were suspicious and wary as he scanned the room and its occupants. He was obviously happy with what he saw as he slowly gave a slight nod of his head and relaxed back into the bed. His hands slowly relaxed and he fell into a deep and calm sleep.
Bill stayed at his side.
The rain began to fall outside and was bouncing off the glass window, as Ron's breathing became more regular and the frown on his face slowly disappeared.
Bill watched as his brother found his way and was able to break away from the nightmarish memories. The familiar anger surged through Bill as he watched his youngest brother battle against the tortures he was forced to endure. Ever since his battle with the werewolf a few years ago, Bill's temper had been volatile and unpredictable. But he had battled long and hard to gain control and remain calm. But the months of waiting and hoping, searching and struggling to remain optimistic, had taken its toll.
When he and Charlie had found Ron, he had focused all his attention on helping his brother. But when the medical team had taken over and the familiar helplessness had returned, things had changed. The combined efforts of Fleur and Charlie had been needed to stop him from storming off to Azkaban to remind Malfoy what happened to someone who messed with the Weasleys. But now, his anger at the entire situation returned and was directed at the man who had watched his brother suffering and had done nothing.
When he felt sure that Ron was okay, he sent a glare towards Percy. Percy's gaze had not left Ron's face, and his shocked eyes didn't move until he was grabbed by his older brother and pulled from the room.
"You wanna tell me what the hell that was all about Percy?" Bill hissed after he had carefully closed the door to the room.
"What?" Percy said as he suddenly became more aware of their surroundings.
"Do you want to tell me why you stood like an idiot and watched when Ron obviously needed help?" Bill advanced menacingly towards his brother,
"Do you want to tell me why you couldn't tell Ron that he was safe…that those bloody nightmares weren't real!"
Both men didn't see the disapproving stares that were sent their way as their voices increased in volume.
"He just needed to know that he was safe, that he was out of that bloody cell! Why couldn't you do that for him?"
Bill's voice dropped to a menacing whisper as he continued,
"All he needed was someone he trusts to tell him that he wasn't in that hell hole anymore…how long did you watch him suffering before I came back to the room?"
It was that comment that snapped Percy out of his daze and forced him to stand up to an obviously upset Bill, something very few people had the nerve to do.
"I wasn't just standing there watching him Bill, I didn't know what to do"
Bill was genuinely confused now and the anger began to disappear as his eyes met those of his upset little brother,
"I've never seen…I didn't know…"
Percy roughly pulled his glasses off and rubbed a hand across his face and through his hair.
"Bill, I didn't know that it was this bad…well I knew of course that it was bad…but hearing his voice like that…. and then seeing his arms…I just…"
Percy's voice trailed off as realization dawned for Bill. Percy had not seen Ron just after he had been found; he had not heard the anguished scream that echoed through the hospital ward. He had also not been there after the attack in the Department of Mysteries; he had not been there when the family had helped Ron through his recovery and the inevitable nightmares. He was completely lost.
"Besides…" Percy's tired voice drew Bill back to the present, "I didn't think that my voice would be the one he would want to hear"
At Bill's confused look, Percy replaced his glasses and elaborated,
"Like you said, he needed someone he trusts and I can't assume that I'm one of those people yet…. I'm not sure I ever will be again. I didn't want to make things any worse"
Both brothers stood side by side against a nearby wall in silence for a minute trying to make sense of what had just been said. The silence was only broken when Percy took a deep breath,
"Bill, I just don't know what to do to help him, I'm scared that I'll just make things worse"
Bill searched for the words needed to reassure his brother, several speeches running through his mind before he realised that they weren't needed.
"Just be his brother Perce, that's what he needs"
Bill glanced at his brother and was relieved to see the slight nod of his head.
He understood.
Bill took a deep breath and pushed himself off the wall. He turned to face his brother,
"I need a favour Percy"
Percy looked relieved both at the acceptance in Bill's eyes and the prospect of doing something to help.
"Of course Bill, what can I do?"
A small smile crept across Bill's scarred face as he saw the relief in Percy's eyes,
"I'm going to stay here for a few hours just to make sure Ron's okay. I need you to call at my house on the way home to let Fleur know that I'll see her in the morning"
Percy nodded his head,
"Of course I will, but why don't you just floo call her?"
Bill smiled as he thought of his wife,
"She told me that when someone floo calls in the middle of the night she automatically thinks that something is wrong and gets worried"
As Percy took a breath to ask another question Bill continued,
"And when she wakes up and I'm not there she gets even more worried, especially after everything that's happened with Ron"
Percy tried to make sense of things,
"But someone turning up at this time of the night won't worry her?"
"Percy, I've given up trying to understand the logic of her decisions, especially now she's pregnant. I find that it makes my life a whole lot easier if I do everything I can to make sure that she feels safe and doesn't worry too much", Bill said with a small smile.
Percy nodded his head as he threw his cloak around his shoulders,
"Don't worry Bill, I'll let her know what's happening"
A weight seemed to have been lifted from Percy's shoulders as he realised that Bill trusted him with an important responsibility. He had realised long ago that regaining his place in the family would take a lot of small and gradual steps but every single step, no matter how small was appreciated. And the fact that Bill understood what had just happened and was asking him to deliver an important message to his wife, meant a lot to the young man.
But as he prepared to leave the ward his gaze was drawn to the closed door behind them,
"Are you sure that…"
His voice trailed off but Bill knew exactly what he was thinking,
"He'll be fine tonight Perce, don't worry. I'll make sure he's okay"
Percy nodded his head, the relief evident in his eyes as he turned and made his way out of the hospital ward. Bill watched him leave and took a moment before entering Ron's room again, he ran a tired hand across his face and thought of the responsibilities of being the older brother.
He returned to his vigil at his brother's bedside anxiously watching him for any sign of the return of the nightmares.
Very early the next morning…
"I don't need a bloody babysitter!" Ron shouted and smiled slightly when Bill was jolted awake and fell out of the chair. He looked up at Ron from his spot on the floor and was obviously still half asleep,
"What?" he muttered looking around him. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, and was now trying to make sense of everything.
"I said Bill…" Ron leaned forward and sent a glare at his older brother, "…that I don't need a bloody babysitter"
Bill scrambled to his feet as Ron continued his rant,
"I'm nineteen bloody years old…apparently I even had my birthday in a prison cell for cryin' out loud! …I think I've earned the right to get a bit drunk and then have a bit of peace to sleep it off. I don't need my big brother watching over me"
Ron's rant had allowed Bill to wake up properly. It appeared that Ron did not really remember what had happened the previous night and was now annoyed at him. The combination of a bit of fire whiskey and the disturbing possibility that these nightmares were probably normal for Ron, seemed to have led him to forget the reason why Bill was sitting beside him. And the truth was that Bill was unsure about how to tell him. And so he made a decision,
"Ron, I'll have you know that the last time I turned up at home with the smell of fire whiskey on my breath Fleur gave me a lecture that would have put mum to shame…I swear she's been giving her lessons or something. I've just been hiding here for a while"
Bill was relieved to see a small smile on Ron's face as he leant back against the pillow.
"Yeah, yeah…we all know who's in charge in your house then?"
"Whatever Ron" Bill said as he grabbed his cloak from a nearby chair, "If that's all the sympathy I'm going to get from my own brother then I'm going to go and face the wrath of Fleur"
Bill was at the door before he turned back and carefully looked at his brother,
"You need me to get you anything before I go?"
Bill grinned at the glare that was sent his way and rolled his eyes,
"Fine then, I'll see you later"
The door had nearly closed behind him when he heard Ron call his name. He looked back into the room,
"Yeah Ron?"
Ron sent a slightly trembling hand through his hair, before he met his brother's eyes,
"Thanks Bill"
And with those two words things became a bit clearer for Bill. Fire whiskey or not…Ron remembered everything about the previous night.
"No problem Ron, don't worry about it" he sent his brother a smile and let the door close behind him.
Ron had fallen back to sleep, but was woken again a short time later by an annoying noise,
"Shuddup" he muttered as he rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.
But the noise was not only annoying but also persistent. It also seemed to be working in connection with the irritating pain in his head.
"Bloody fire whiskey," he muttered as he reluctantly opened his eyes. And it was only then that things became clearer for him.
Sitting on the window ledge, tapping out an annoying tune on the glass pane was Hermione's owl. Since she had bought her owl, Hermione had trained it to not only deliver the mail efficiently but also to never leave without an answer, especially when Ron was concerned.
He took a deep breath, pushed himself up from the bed and set his feet on the cold floor. He ignored the crutches leaning against the wall, and hobbled over to the window. He winced at the pain his knee but continued his journey towards the window
Once the window was opened and the letter and package retrieved, the owl stood patiently waiting for a reply.
A smile crept across Ron's face as he read Hermione's letter,
Dear Ron,
I met with Ginny for breakfast this morning and she told me all about what happened last night. Apparently your mum gave Harry and your brothers a hug before shouting at them for drinking so much fire whiskey.
Ron smiled at that image…
I have to tell you that if you were at home right now I would be shouting at you too. Honestly Ron, I am sure that you are not supposed to be mixing alcohol with your pain medication and I'm sure that you have a bad headache at the moment.
A genuine chuckle escaped Ron's lips as he could nearly imagine Hermione's voice. It was wonderful to finally be treated normally for a moment. He could always rely on Hermione not to wrap him in cotton wool, and his smile grew when he read the end of her letter,
I have heard that this remedy is the best for a hangover so I want you to promise that you will follow the instructions perfectly. Promise me Ronald!
Ron unwrapped the package to reveal a bottle of 'Harriet Hannigan's Hangover Remedy',
And I will see you for dinner tonight. I can't wait until you are released from the hospital… everything is too quiet.
All my love,
Hermione.
Ron leaned against the wall to balance, as he grabbed a quill that had been left beside his chart, and he scribbled his reply,
Dear Hermione,
Thank you for the potion and I promise I'll follow the instructions…anything to get the herd of hippogriff currently stampeding in my head to be quiet. I can't wait to get home…the Healers said yesterday that it should be within the next few days. I'm looking forward to dinner tonight.
He paused for a second before scribbling,
Love, Ron.
and hurriedly attached his reply to the owl.
He watched as the owl disappeared into the distance, and savoured the cool breeze of the early morning. He watched as the people on the pavement below went about their daily business. He was anxious to leave the confines of the hospital and return home. The previous night had served to remind him of his need to return to his normal life and he was going to get home as soon as possible.
Truth be told…he was starting to feel like a prisoner in the hospital and it was only the constant presence of his friends and family that kept him from losing control completely. It was only the daily routine of Hermione meeting him for dinner that gave him hope for the future.
But first things first…he winced as he moved away from the window and began to read the directions on the potion bottle.
Time to tell the herd of hippogriffs to leave him alone.
Thanks for reading and please review…all reviews will be answered.
Chapter Twenty-two will be posted soon and will contain a lot more Ron/Hermione moments.