Ron woke up on Friday morning with a splitting headache. God, he thought. Is everyone usually this loud in the morning? How much did I drink last night? And how the hell did I get into my bed? The last thing he remembered was throwing up in the kitchens, then being led somewhere by Dobby. For a second, he couldn't even remember why he had been drinking so much. But, then he remembered Hermione's news, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.
He groaned as he rolled out of bed. God he was thirsty. How could he be so thirsty this morning when he drank so much last night? He trudged to the bathroom, taking a long, cold shower to wash all the grim and vomit off of him. He then brushed his teeth three times to get rid of the horrible taste in his mouth and got dressed. After he was dressed, he went down to the common room to meet Hermione before breakfast.
Ron didn't have to wait long. She came down the stairs not five minutes after him. But instead of kissing him like she usually did, she walked right past him, not even saying good morning. Ron ran out of the common room after her, following her all the way down to the Great Hall. But even then, she didn't acknowledge him. She simply sat down next to Harry at the Ravenclaw table. Ron, upset and confused, sat down at the Gryffindor table, taking several aspirins with his orange juice. After he ate a piece of toast, his hangover was a little better. He was still extremely thirsty and his head was still pounded, but Hermione ignoring him hurt much worse.
Classes dragged on forever for Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry was very confused. What were these sudden feelings for Hermione about? He loved Cho. Hermione was one of his best friends. Ron's girlfriend. But what was Ron going to do if Hermione had this baby? Ron wasn't a wimp, but he was too scared of commitment to do the right thing like marry her. He couldn't even ask a girl to a dance for God's sake. How was he supposed to be a good father? But they were only fifteen. They couldn't get married. Harry wished he could fix everything, but he couldn't. Nothing was in his control, and there was nothing he could do to make it better.
Hermione couldn't concentrate. During all of her classes, all she could think about was Ron. The way he had taken her shocking news, the hurt look on his face when she didn't talk to him, it was so unfair. She had to find out if she was going to have a baby. Tomorrow, she was going to Hogsmeade and find out. But she wanted Ron to be there with her. No! She shook that thought out of her head quickly. She could do this on her own, without him. She didn't need help. What am I thinking? She mentally scolded herself. I need someone to be there with me. Someone to support me, either way. Someone like…her eyes darted around the room, finally landing on Harry. Of course! Harry would be perfect. He's one of my best friends, and he already knows the situation. For once, something is going right. She hastily scribbled him a note and passed it to him. After reading it, he looked at her and solemnly nodded. And for the first time in a week, she felt secure.
Ron didn't believe it. Harry and Hermione were smiling at each other and passing notes. That bastard. Hermione's my girlfriend. You have Cho, he thought angrily. Wait Ron, stop jumping to conclusions. He told himself. Maybe she's just relying on him for support. But that's what I'm for. I need to know what's going on. HE turned to his parchment and scribbled a note to Harry, asking him to meet him after class. Harry nodded and turned back to his work. The rest of the class dragged on even slower than before. The bell rang and Hermione rushed out the door with everyone else, obviously avoiding Ron. Harry lagged behind until it was just him and Ron left.
Ron avoided looking at Harry. Finally he spoke. "I take it you know about our wonderful news."
Harry glared at him. "Yeah I know," he said angrily. "How could you do this to Hermione, Ron? How could you? She's a nervous wreck and you getting drunk last night didn't help one bit. Do you how she feels about this? Did you even ask her? How the hell is she supposed to feel if you're not even responsible enough to talk this over with her? Did you know that she wants to keep it if she is pregnant? Of course you didn't. You stormed off, all mad at her, when she told you. Do you know all the pressure she has and now she can add being a single teenage-mother thanks to you. You need to talk to her, because if you don't take the responsibility of your actions, I will. I swear Ron, if you don't I will. But just remember, I won't always be there to pick up the pieces after you." Harry looked so fierce, Ron was afraid. He had never seen Harry so worked up. Finally, he spoke.
"Ok, I'll go talk to her."
"Good!" Harry snapped at him. "She's in the library waiting for you."
He groaned as he rolled out of bed. God he was thirsty. How could he be so thirsty this morning when he drank so much last night? He trudged to the bathroom, taking a long, cold shower to wash all the grim and vomit off of him. He then brushed his teeth three times to get rid of the horrible taste in his mouth and got dressed. After he was dressed, he went down to the common room to meet Hermione before breakfast.
Ron didn't have to wait long. She came down the stairs not five minutes after him. But instead of kissing him like she usually did, she walked right past him, not even saying good morning. Ron ran out of the common room after her, following her all the way down to the Great Hall. But even then, she didn't acknowledge him. She simply sat down next to Harry at the Ravenclaw table. Ron, upset and confused, sat down at the Gryffindor table, taking several aspirins with his orange juice. After he ate a piece of toast, his hangover was a little better. He was still extremely thirsty and his head was still pounded, but Hermione ignoring him hurt much worse.
Classes dragged on forever for Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry was very confused. What were these sudden feelings for Hermione about? He loved Cho. Hermione was one of his best friends. Ron's girlfriend. But what was Ron going to do if Hermione had this baby? Ron wasn't a wimp, but he was too scared of commitment to do the right thing like marry her. He couldn't even ask a girl to a dance for God's sake. How was he supposed to be a good father? But they were only fifteen. They couldn't get married. Harry wished he could fix everything, but he couldn't. Nothing was in his control, and there was nothing he could do to make it better.
Hermione couldn't concentrate. During all of her classes, all she could think about was Ron. The way he had taken her shocking news, the hurt look on his face when she didn't talk to him, it was so unfair. She had to find out if she was going to have a baby. Tomorrow, she was going to Hogsmeade and find out. But she wanted Ron to be there with her. No! She shook that thought out of her head quickly. She could do this on her own, without him. She didn't need help. What am I thinking? She mentally scolded herself. I need someone to be there with me. Someone to support me, either way. Someone like…her eyes darted around the room, finally landing on Harry. Of course! Harry would be perfect. He's one of my best friends, and he already knows the situation. For once, something is going right. She hastily scribbled him a note and passed it to him. After reading it, he looked at her and solemnly nodded. And for the first time in a week, she felt secure.
Ron didn't believe it. Harry and Hermione were smiling at each other and passing notes. That bastard. Hermione's my girlfriend. You have Cho, he thought angrily. Wait Ron, stop jumping to conclusions. He told himself. Maybe she's just relying on him for support. But that's what I'm for. I need to know what's going on. HE turned to his parchment and scribbled a note to Harry, asking him to meet him after class. Harry nodded and turned back to his work. The rest of the class dragged on even slower than before. The bell rang and Hermione rushed out the door with everyone else, obviously avoiding Ron. Harry lagged behind until it was just him and Ron left.
Ron avoided looking at Harry. Finally he spoke. "I take it you know about our wonderful news."
Harry glared at him. "Yeah I know," he said angrily. "How could you do this to Hermione, Ron? How could you? She's a nervous wreck and you getting drunk last night didn't help one bit. Do you how she feels about this? Did you even ask her? How the hell is she supposed to feel if you're not even responsible enough to talk this over with her? Did you know that she wants to keep it if she is pregnant? Of course you didn't. You stormed off, all mad at her, when she told you. Do you know all the pressure she has and now she can add being a single teenage-mother thanks to you. You need to talk to her, because if you don't take the responsibility of your actions, I will. I swear Ron, if you don't I will. But just remember, I won't always be there to pick up the pieces after you." Harry looked so fierce, Ron was afraid. He had never seen Harry so worked up. Finally, he spoke.
"Ok, I'll go talk to her."
"Good!" Harry snapped at him. "She's in the library waiting for you."