Chapter 9
Harry sat at the kitchen table, stirring his soup. Fred, Ginny and Aunt Petunia sat with him. Each one also had a bowl of soup in front of them. Harry downed a spoonful. It tasted so good. It had been 3 days since he had been convinced to leave him room to eat.
When Hermione and George had fallen ill all he could think about was being with them, making sure that they were safe. Aunt Petunia had finally convinced him that he should eat. He was able to persuade Ginny and Fred to join him. Ron hadn't left Hermione's side.
Hermione had woken up the other day. Harry had never seen her so sick, lost, helpless. It hurt. He also knew that as much as he was hurting that Ron must be hurting 10 times worse. Since Harry could remember Ron had been in love with Hermione and Hermione had been in love with Ron. The two were so stupid though and they never were able to tell each other how they felt.
Harry glanced over at Ginny. Would he ever be able to tell her how he felt? No. He lost his chance a long time ago.
Harry's thoughts drifted back upstairs. George. He wasn't going to make it. He was too sick. The doctor had told them that his heart had been through a lot of trauma and then his fever wasn't helping. Fred, Ron and Ginny were devastated. They were losing everyone. Harry prayed for their sake that George would pull through. None of them could handle another blow like that.
Harry was in such deep thought that when Ginny touched his shoulder he almost fell of his chair. Harry hadn't even realized until then that his aunt had left the table. Fred was still there, slumped over his bowl. Harry was sure that he had fallen asleep. Fred, like Ron, hadn't slept since his twin had fallen ill. Half of him was dying.
"Sorry," she whispered. Harry looked at her closely. She had changed. In a week of misery she had changed. She was no longer the determined, mischievous Ginny he had once known. Like the twins, the gleam in her eyes were gone. It had been replaced by hurt and pain. "Your Aunt told me to tell you that you should have a shower. Who knows when the last time any of us have had one and it's kind of getting gross." Harry smiled as he saw some of her gleam return.
"Thanks. I guess your right. It is getting sort of gross in here, very unhygienic."
"Um…" Ginny hesitated for a second. "Can you tell Ron? I don't want to be the one to pry him away from Hermione. He'll bite my head off."
Harry chuckled. "Sure."
Ginny smiled with relief. "Good. I'm sort of scared to talk to him," her frown returning. "At least with Fred and Geor…" she stopped herself before she finished saying George's name and stole a glance at his twin. He hadn't moved. Tears filled her eyes but she continued as if nothing had happened. "At least with Fred I can talk to him. Ron is somewhere else. I tried to talk to him but, he just wouldn't listen. I don't know," Ginny finished quickly. "Anyway, thanks Harry."
She ran off before Harry had a chance to respond. Sighing deeply he pulled himself out of his seat and put his bowl in the sink.
