Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
A/N: The response to the last chapter has been wonderful. I wouldn't keep writing if not for the wonderful reviewers.
BuckNC: But of course! However, if you blow chunks ON the girl and she's still around, she's just waiting until you're feeling better to deck you. I like your sense of humor. You make me smile! :)
airhead14: Thanks so much.
Michelleywelley: Thanks for reading my little story. I love yours! And you need to update soon, my dear.
Weasley: Cool! Thanks for the glowing review. Never been called "bloody fantastic" before!
AnonymousPHancock: I know, the poor thing. Not fun for him right now.
Bella Mia: Don't you just want to give him a hug? And don't worry too much about poor Ronnikins. I have a feeling everything will work out for them ;)
Rockchick1232: Glad you like it. Thanks for sticking with this story.
Chapter 4: Down with the Sickness
"I have never felt this bad in my entire life." Ron said as he lifted his head again. Hermione had stayed with him, and rubbed his back, trying to comfort him. "It couldn't have been the calamari. I would have been sick as well."
"Hermione, what exactly is calamari?"
"I don't know if now is the best time to ask that, Ron." She continued, "I thought you knew already."
"I assumed it was some kind of fish."
"Not exactly. If you really must know, it's squid."
Ron simply moaned and leaned over the bowl again. "That's it. Get it all out of your system," Hermione said as she held the cool flannel to his forehead and rubbed slow circles on his back.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ron felt like he couldn't possibly have anything left inside to lose. Now he was left with the dry heaves. Hermione stayed by his side and whispered soothing words to him. "Why don't I help you back to bed." Hermione helped Ron to his feet and steadied him as he swayed. Ron leaned his weight onto her as they made their way across the room. She gently sat him on the edge of the bed. "Lets get that jumper off you."
Ron stared at her as if she had two heads. "Excuse me?"
"You have a fever and we need to bring it down. You need cool compresses, so the jumper has to go. Pants as well."
Ron didn't have the energy left to fight her. He struggled to get his jumper and t-shirt off. Hermione helped him pull the articles of clothing over his head. Ron fumbled with the button on his jeans and Hermione helped him with those as well. Once he was down to his boxers, she helped him to lie down.
Hermione tried not to stare at Ron now that he was almost totally exposed. But she couldn't help herself. When had he developed those muscles? Had it been under different circumstances, she would have liked to run her hands along his smooth chest and arms. But if the circumstances were different, Ron would not be practically naked in her bed during their first date. She wasn't that kind of girl. Ron, her old friend, was in misery and all she could think about was his toned body. 'He certainly has developed since the last time I saw him'. And it wasn't just his physical changes. Ron was older, more mature, and grown up now. She had a crush on him for almost as long as she could remember, but he was, what's the word, sexy now. She mentally kicked herself for having these thoughts. 'Oh, snap out of it and help him' she reminded herself.
Hermione left briefly and returned with a basin of water and a bucket. "I'll leave the bucket here by the bed in case you need it. Now lets see if we can bring that fever down. I don't want to give you any potions, since we don't know what's causing this illness." Hermione proceeded to sponge Ron's face and upper torso to control the fever.
Even though physically, Ron felt horrible, he was nonetheless grateful for the way Hermione was taking care of him. Her gentle touch and soothing manner relaxed him.
"Hermione?"
Hermione returned the sponge to the basin and turned to face him. Those blue eyes were staring into her soul. "Yes, Ron."
"I just wanted to say, well, thanks. For everything. You didn't have to take care of me the way you have. It means a lot to me."
"Ron, don't be stupid. I certainly couldn't let you suffer through this on your own. I'm kind of glad that you did fall ill here. Not that I'm glad that you're sick. It's just, I know you. You would have been all alone in your flat with Harry out for the evening, not letting anyone know how bad you felt. No one should have to be alone when they're sick."
Ron's face fell. Maybe she didn't feel the same way about him as he felt about her. She had said no one should be alone when sick. Maybe she was just a kind person and not interested in him at all.
"Can I ask you something?" Hermione asked.
"Anything"
"You said earlier that you were feeling bad before you came, but you thought it was just nervousness. Why were you nervous?"
Now wasn't that a loaded question. He could go on denying his feelings for her, or just get it over with. Since he had already embarrassed himself, he figured he would go for broke. "Because I was really looking forward to spending time with you. To be honest, I've had a crush on you for years."
Hermione looked taken aback. "Really? It's just that I've fancied you for a long time as well. I was nervous seeing you again too. I was afraid I would end up arguing with you and ruining any chance we might have had together."
"I'd like to try this date over again once I'm feeling better. I'll try to be a little less needy next time." Ron yawned and looked up to Hermione with hooded eyes.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Only next time, we'll go out to eat just to be on the safe side. Why don't you try to get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
"I like the sound of that." Ron smiled at her as he drifted off to sleep. Hermione played with his hair and brushed a few strands off his sweaty brow. She gently kissed his forehead and left him in the bedroom to get some rest.
Hermione reflected on the nights events. What started out as dinner with an old friend turned into taking care of said ill friend and revealing long held feelings about each other. Things happened for a reason, but it certainly had been an eventful night.
Hermione was reading a book curled up in front of the fireplace when she heard what sounded like a moan. She closed the book and returned to the bedroom to find Ron, still asleep, curled into the fetal position and moaning. She gently shook his shoulder. "Ron, Ron wake up. What's wrong?"
Ron opened his eyes and gave Hermione a look that seemed to beg for her to take the pain away. "My stomach. Hurts really bad." She sat next to him on the bed and tried to get him to lie more supine in the bed. "I need you to try to stretch out Ron. Let me take a look." Hermione noticed that Ron's stomach seemed to be somewhat distended. She assumed this was from the virus or whatever this was. "You poor dear." She gently began to massage his stomach in an effort to calm the cramping. Ron appeared to be relaxing a little as she worked until she reached his lower right side. As her fingers gently pushed on this area, Ron screamed in pain. He again tucked into the fetal position and panted for breath.
"Ron! What is it !?"
Once Ron had caught his breath, he managed to say "stomach hurts the worst there".
Something clicked in Hermione's head. "Ron, did it hurt just as bad when a let go as it did when I touched that spot?"
"Yeah" Ron was still in quite a bit of pain.
"I'll be right back."
Hermione ran to the fireplace and grabbed a small jar off the mantle. She threw a fist full of floo powder into the flames and shouted "St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries".
A small, elderly witch's head appeared in the flames. "May I help you, dear?"
Hermione tried to calm her nerves and regain her composure before speaking. "It's my, eh, friend. He's very ill and complaining of severe stomach pain. I think it may be his appendix."