The Many Fears of Quidditch Chap. 8

Unfortunately, Ron's carefree mood came to an end as the dawn of the first Quidditch match of the season loomed in the horizon. Ron, Harry, Ginny and the rest of their teammates had put in extra practice sessions to prepare them for the upcoming match against Slytherin.

"I can't believe our first match is already tomorrow," said Ron as he trudged off the Quidditch field.

"I definitely think we're ready for them though," said Ginny, as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Yeah, if we've ever been prepared for a Quidditch match before, this is definitely it," added Harry, as he wiped his glasses clean on his robe.

Ron nodded, but inside he felt nervous. True, his skills had greatly improved since their fifth year, but he always felt like he'd rather face a horde of angry spiders than hear a verse of "Weasley is our King".

Finally, the morning of the Quidditch match arrived. Ron, who had barely slept a wink the entire night, awoke early. Harry must've heard him, for he awoke shortly afterwards. Both dressed and ready, they made their way down to the Great Hall, where they were surprised to see that almost everyone was already awake.

"I guess we aren't as early as we thought," said Harry as he took a seat in front of Hermione.

"Yeah, I guess not," said Ron as he quickly glanced at the Slytherin table. They were all laughing and smug looking.

"I don't see why they're already celebrating, they're not going to win," said Harry as he bit into a piece of toast.

Soon it was time for the players to go down to the pitch.

"Good luck Ron!" said Hermione, as she quickly kissed his cheek.

"Thanks," he mumbled, as he got up from the Gryffindor Table. Hermione had only kissed him on his cheek three times in his entire life. Once, before his first Quidditch match, second when he had saved her from falling off her broom, and now. Ron blushed; this was definitely something he could get used to.

Harry, who was now the Gryffindor Quidditch Team Captain, gave the team a short speech.

"Okay, everyone play their best, and wipe those smug grins off of the Slytherin's faces!" he said enthusiastically as everyone made their way to the field.

"Good luck Harry," said Ginny as she mounted her broom. "Get that snitch," she said as she kicked off into the air.

Harry laughed and followed suit. The cheers from the crowds were deafening. He was surprised that he had been able to hear Ginny at all.

Soon Madam Hooch had blown the whistle and the game was in play.

Ginny had possession of the Quaffle, which she passed to her teammate Stephanie. Stephanie quickly threw it past the Slytherin Keeper.

"10 Points to Gryffindor!" yelled the commentator. A huge roar of cheers erupted from the crowd with a hearty accompaniment of hissing from the Slytherins.

Next, the Slytherin Catcher possessed the Quaffle and threw it towards Ron. Luckily, Ron was too quick and he quickly blocked it.

Harry was zooming around above, absorbed in seeing a golden glint in the field below him. Harry quickly scanned the crowd for any signs of the snitch. Suddenly, there it was, flying erratically near the Hufflepuff section. Malfoy must've seen it too, because he took on a sudden burst of speed as he sped forward.

Ron was busy blocking another attempt at scoring from the Slytherin Catchers. Brandon and Billy, the Gryffindor beaters, hit two Bludgers towards Malfoy. He had to swerve to avoid being hit.

"Gryffindor is in the lead!" announced the commentator as Ginny flew a Quaffle past the Slytherin Keeper.

One of the Slytherin Catchers sped towards Ron. Ron kept his eyes glued to him. Unfortunately, his gaze was so concentrated on the Catcher, that he didn't see when the Slytherin Beater hit a Bludger towards him. WHAM! It hit Ron in the head. Ron quickly blacked out and fell from his broom. Harry's hand had just closed over the twittering snitch, when he noticed Ron's body falling.

"RON!" screamed Ginny; she clasped her hands to her mouth in horror as she watched her brother fall.

A simultaneous gasp burst from the crowd.

Madam Hooch had even forgotten to announce the end of the game as she blew her whistle.

Harry and the rest of his teammates quickly landed and ran towards Ron's crumpled body.

Hermione quickly wormed her way out of the Gryffindor section as she met with Harry and the others. Looking down at Ron, she felt the intense urge to cry. She quickly kneeled beside him and took his hand in hers.

"Oh Ron...please, say something," she muttered as she looked into his pale face. Ron's head was bleeding profusely.

Madam Hooch instantly arrived beside Ron, "All right, everyone please back up, he needs to go to the Infirmary," with a swish of her wand Ron was now lying on a stretcher that was making it's way towards Hogwarts.

Harry put his arms around both Ginny and Hermione. Ginny was crying into his shoulder as she clasped onto him. Hermione's eyes were tearing, but she mostly looked shocked as she watched Ron being led away towards the school.

"OH MY!" said Madam Pomfrey as she tended to Ron.

Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the Gryffindor team were standing outside of the room, ashen-faced, not even caring that they had won the match. Ginny's face was tearstained. Harry had kept his arm around her and she had both of her hands firmly gripped around his waist. Every now and then, she would start crying into his shoulder again. Hermione was standing beside them, wearing a grim expression. 'What if I lost him?' she thought. She had never seen anyone that badly hurt before, not even Harry after his bouts with Voldemort. She shook her head to rid herself of that thought. 'No, he'll be okay...He has to' she decided.

After what felt like an eternity, Madam Pomfrey stuck her head out of the door. "I think he's going to be okay," she said.

The entire group of them whooped and hugged. Harry quickly wrapped his arms around Ginny, who kissed him fully on the lips, leaving him completely shocked.

Ginny didn't seem to notice because she quickly wrapped Hermione in a tight hug, as she said, "He's going to be okay!"

Hermione could only nod. She had been so worried. More worried than she had ever felt in her entire life.

Harry looked up at Madam Pomfrey, "Can we see him?"

Madam Pomfrey looked unhappy about it, but said, "Well, only a few of you can see him. He's still out of it and he needs time to recuperate." Seeing the urgency on Harry, Hermione, and Ginny's faces, she said, "You three can see him, but only for a short time! The rest of you can come back when he's stronger!"

The Gryffindor Quidditch team frowned, but agreed to come back later. Calling their 'Goodbyes' to the three of them, the team left the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey ushered the trio inside to see Ron. "Now, be quiet or you're out!" she whispered. The three of them nodded and made their way to Ron's bed.

Hermione let out a gasp. Ron's face was pure white. His eyes were closed and his breathing was erratic. There was a large white bandage wrapped around his forehead. Hermione grabbed his left hand in hers as she let her other hand softly graze his cheek. Harry stood on Ron's right side, with his arm around Ginny who had Ron's right hand in her own.

"Oh Ron," whispered Ginny as she looked at her brother's colorless face. She seemed on the verge of tears again.

Harry promptly turned Ginny towards him and soothingly said, "Shhh" as she began to cry into his shoulder once more. "Shh, he's going to be okay," he added. Harry looked down at his best friend and felt a pang of worry. He immediately wished it would've been him instead of Ron.

As Ginny's sobs into his chest didn't subside, Harry quietly said, "Maybe we should come back later." Harry looked up at Hermione whose gaze was still glued to Ron's face.

"Hermione? Are you going to be okay?" asked Harry.

Hermione merely nodded. "Okay...We'll be back in a bit, when she's calmer," said Harry as he pulled Ginny away from the scene.

Now alone, Hermione was free to cry. She let all of the fears that had been bottled up inside of her flow freely. "Ron, you need to be okay," she said as the tears poured down her face. "I could never lose you..." She said to his unmoving face. "It'd be like losing a part of myself," she admitted to Ron as well as herself.

Ron's eyebrow moved. Hermione quickly stopped crying and stared apprehensively at him. Slowly, his eyelids opened halfway.

"...Hermio..." he began, half asleep.

"Shhh," said Hermione as she placed a finger against his cold lips. "Don't say anything." Her heart flowed at the site of his blue eyes on her own.

"Ron, I was so worried. I thought..." But she couldn't finish her sentence as the threat of fresh tears harbored in her throat.

Ron's bleak face had broken into a small smile.

"Ron...I..." whispered Hermione urgently.

"He's awake!" said Harry as he walked back into the infirmary. Hermione looked up at Harry, 'He really does have the worst sense of timing' she thought.

"Hey there mate! You've had us all worried sick," said Harry at Ron's other side.

Ron turned to him and gave him a small smile. "-What-happened--?" he managed to mumble.

Harry and Hermione quickly explained about the Bludger to his head. Ron's eyes opened wide and his mouth formed an 'O'.

"-Did-we-win?" he asked.

Harry and Hermione laughed. "Yes, we won," answered Harry with a wide grin on his face.

Hermione shook her head, but couldn't keep from smiling.

Madam Pomfrey entered the room.

"He's awake!" she said gleefully before turning to Harry and Hermione, "Okay, you two, I've given you plenty of time! Now you really have to leave and let the poor boy rest."

Hermione quickly squeezed Ron's hand. "We'll be back when she lets us," she whispered into his ear.

Ron gave a small nod as Harry and Hermione were forced to leave the infirmary.

After a lengthy inspection from Madam Pomfrey, Ron was forced to take a sleeping draught to help him sleep through the night. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all returned to check up on him.

Seeing that he was deep in sleep, Madam Pomfrey ushered them out as she said, "He'll never get better with you three continually arousing him!"

"Madam Pomfrey, would it be all right if I slept by his side?" asked Hermione when Ginny and Harry had made their way to Gryffindor Tower.

Madam Pomfrey reluctantly agreed. "Okay, but no waking him up."

Hermione quickly agreed and thanked Madam Pomfrey.

Hermione took a seat by Ron's bed. She watched as his chest heaved up and down from the deep breaths he was taking. They were no longer erratic as they had been earlier in the night. Madam Pomfrey might be stern, but she was definitely a miracle worker. Soon enough Hermione felt her own eyes close, as she was lulled to sleep by the rhythmic snores coming from Ron's mouth.