Harry headed back to the Gryffindor common room after eating a small dinner in the hospital wing. When he arrived at the portrait, he realized he didn't know the new password. He stood outside the Fat Lady, waiting patiently for someone to come and let him in. But no one came. There was not one Gryffindor student wondering the halls, returning from the library or the Great Hall. Finally, the portrait swung open and Ron stuck his head out, grinning when he saw Harry.
"We've all been waiting for you!"
"Well, if I knew the password I wouldn't have been standing out here for forever!"
"Well, come on in!" Harry followed Ron into the common room.
"Welcome back Harry!" every last Gryffindor student cried. Harry was overwhelmed.
"I don't know what to say!" he exclaimed.
"Well, thank you might be appropriate," Ginny said walking over followed by Colin and Hermione. Harry spent the next hour being drug around the room talking to everyone, from the new first years Harry had never seen before, to the seventh years. By the time he finally found his friends again he was exhausted. Not too tired, however, to notice that Ron was acting funny. Harry collapsed on the couch between Ginny and Colin, who were also watching Ron.
"Is Ron okay?" he asked Ginny quietly, observing Ron laugh much too loudly with Dean and Seamus.
"There's nothing really wrong with him," she replied slyly, trying to take notice of where Hermione was in the room. "He made such a fuss about never having Firewhiskey before that I decided tonight would be the perfect time for him to try some... he's got to be completely sloshed by now."
"You really shouldn't have done that," Harry said with a laugh. "He knew what he was getting himself into, well, minus the fact that I charmed his cup to automatically refill itself," she paused, noticing Harry looking impressed. "He had made such an idiot of himself before that I had to teach him a lesson."
"You're so much more like Fred and George than I ever realized. Remind me to never get on your bad side!"
"Oh I'd never do anything to a friend," Ginny promised, "only an enemy... or a brother!" They laughed. While she had been talking with Harry, she had forgotten her quest to keep Hermione away from Ron. She realized this when she saw Ron walking up with his arm dangled around Hermione's neck for support.
"What—," Hermione gasped for breath, struggling under Ron's weight, "did you do to him?"
"Well, Mr. Big Boy here decided it was time to try Firewhiskey," Ginny said flashing an innocent grin.
"Did you know about this?" Hermione interrogated Harry.
"Not until about five minutes ago," he responded truthfully. But before Hermione could break into a lecture Ron spoke up.
"I think....," his voice trailed off, "I think I may be sick." Suddenly the three of them saw his face turn a pale shade of green.
"Ginny, quick! Help me get him to the bathroom," Hermione ordered. "No Harry, you stay put. You don't have the strength for this." Hermione and Ginny began to drag Ron to the prefect's bathroom. As they were almost out of site Hermione looked back, "In fact Harry, go to bed!" Harry hated to admit it, but he was exhausted. The common room was practically empty. Harry walked up the stairs to the 6th year boys' dormitory where Dean, Seamus, and Neville were already sleeping. Harry slipped into his pajamas and crawled into bed.
Hermione and Ginny had managed to get Ron to the bathroom just in the knick of time. Being on the verge of puking seemed to give Ron new strength because he was able to run into one of the stalls on his own. Hermione followed him and began to rub his back the way her mother did when she was sick.
"Come in here Ginny; help me get his shirt off so he doesn't get sick on it."
"Yeah, see, well, um, I don't think so. I tend to draw the line at stripping my brother." Hermione glared at her. "Well it looks like you've got things under control." Ginny ran out of the bathroom all the way to her own bedroom.
Hermione managed to pull Ron's shirt off over his head by herself. She wondered why she had never noticed how strong he was before. With his shirt off, she could see all of his well defined muscles. If he hadn't been puking, she would have found him quite attractive. When he finally stopped and his face simply looked pale instead of pale green, Hermione lead him out of the stall to the edge of a tub where they sat down.
"Are you feeling any better?" Hermione asked gently.
"Yeah, just tired."
"Do you need to stay in here for a little while?"
"No, I think I'm okay." They stood up and Ron put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione slowly led Ron back to the common room. By the time they got there, neither one could go any farther. Hermione sat down on the couch and Ron lay down, putting his head on her lap. He quickly fell asleep as she was rubbing his back. Hermione started to massage his temples, praying that he wasn't going to be sick again.
When Harry woke up the next day, the sun was barely peering over the horizon. He was surprised to see that Ron, a notorious late sleeper, wasn't in bed. Harry quickly dressed and went down to the common room. Harry was shocked when he saw Ron and Hermione cuddled together, asleep on one of the couches.
"Eh, hem!" Harry said loudly. Ron and Hermione both woke up; startled at the position they found themselves in.
"Where's my shirt?" Ron asked sheepishly, glancing around the room.
"Oh, I must have left it in the bathroom last night," Hermione said, blushing. "Maybe you should go get it, and brush your teeth while you're in there!" Ron put his hand over his mouth, and ran out of the room. "I should probably go get dressed." Hermione quickly ran up the stairs, almost knocking Ginny down on her way.
"That really was fairly evil of you," Harry said to her as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh that was nothing. You don't even want to know all of the things I picked up over the summer." The look on Ginny's face was purely evil.
"I think you're right, I don't want to know. How have your classes been so far?"
"They're okay, lots of work. O.W.L.S. year ya know? There's obviously a new Defense against the Dark Arts professor. It's a woman. Her name is Venus Trounce. She's really pretty if you ask me, I bet all of the guys have crushes on her."
"I don't."
"Well you haven't even seen her yet." They both grinned.
"You know Ginny, I'm glad you're over your elbow in the butter dish phase. It's really nice actually talking to you." Ginny wasn't sure whether she should be flattered or insulted. Before she could chose, Ron reappeared.
"What's wrong, Ronnie? Have a rough night?"
"You know very well what's wrong," Ron snarled. "That wasn't normal Firewhiskey and you know it!"
"I hate to break it to you, dear brother, but I didn't touch your drink. Apparently you just can't handle your alcohol." Ron scowled, causing Ginny to grin. "What are you going to do? Tell Mum on me? I did nothing wrong. In fact, it may be my duty as your sister to tell Mum about this. I don't think she'd like it very much."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh I would."
"I'd not test her Ron, I think she's serious," Harry said.
"Listen to Harry. See you later!" Ginny laughed as she headed out of the room. Harry was very amused by the whole exchange. He wished he had a sibling to argue with like that.
When Harry arrived at breakfast with Ron and Hermione he got his first look at Professor Trounce. Ginny had been right; she was pretty. She had jet black hair that was pulled into a very unteacherish ponytail that extended halfway down her back. Her eyes were a vibrant blue and she had a porcelain complexion.
"Careful Harry, don't drool," Ron joked, poking Harry in the ribs.
"I don't see what all of the fuss is," Hermione said, half pouting. "It's not like we haven't had a female professor before."
"Not one like that," Harry responded, regaining control of his limbs. They walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down with Ginny and Colin.
"Good morning," Hermione said, helping herself to some eggs.
"Feeling any better Ron?" Colin asked.
"How did you know about that?"
"Everyone knows Ron," Colin replied.
"Great, just great," Ron said, his ears turning pink.
"What do we have first today?" Harry asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Lucky us, double Defense against the Dark Arts," Ron said smirking.
"Yeah, lucky us," Hermione mumbled under her breath. They all hurried through their breakfast so they wouldn't be late for class. When they arrived Professor Trounce was already there.
"Well, Mr. Potter, you've decided to grace us with your presence," she said warmly.
"Err- yeah, sorry about that."
"Well, I'm sure you won't have a problem catching up. Hello, Mr. Weasley," Ron could have sworn she winked at him. "Now if you'll all take your seats we can get started."
a/n: I wrote most of this story while my computer was broken, so as long as I have time to type and edit, updates should come quickly. Comments and criticisms are always welcome!