Chapter 2:

Smile

Seconds later, he appeared outside of his home. Wearily, he went 'round back past the cattails surrounding their pond and entered into the kitchen.

"How is she?" Said a figure at the table. Nearly falling over himself in surprise, he made his way over to the person who had spoken. Seeing the outline of a man with messy hair and glasses, he knew that it was his friend Harry.

"She's … She's hanging in there. The witch said that she should be waking up soon because she's getting stronger." Ron choked out. His throat felt so dry. Pulling out his wand, he gave it a flick towards the cooler and grabbed the pitcher of water that came to him and poured himself a glass.

"You need to get some rest man. You've been up there nearly everyday. This isn't good for you, you'll kill yourself." Harry said watching his best friend carefully.

"Better me than her mate." Ron said. Gulping down his water. They sat in silence for a few minutes, each thinking about how much had happened recently and hoping that she would get better. "You know…it's been nearly a month. Since… that night, since she was injured." He whispered quietly.

"I know. It seems like it was an entire lifetime ago. Like its' been years since we've talked to her, seen her smile." Harry replied, getting a little choked up, she was like his sister. Ron remembered her smile, lighting her face up like the sun. He always caught himself watching her smile; when she was reading, telling a joke, fighting with him…

"Yea… I don't know what I'll do if she isn't alright Harry." Ron sputtered choking back tears. "She means so much more that I ever knew." Glancing at Harry, he saw a small smile on his face.

"I know she does mate. She'll get better, it'll be alright you'll see." Sighing Ron looked at the clock on the wall and was hardly surprised that it said 1:00 a.m.

"Alright, well I reckon it's time for sleep. See you in the morning right?" Harry grunted in agreement. And he set off up the rickety old staircase and arrived in his room, flopping on the bed and drifting to sleep almost immediately.

He was awakened by someone knocking on his door, rather rudely he thought groggily as he rolled over. "Whatcha want?" He tried to shout at the door, which opened in response. Harry then popped his head in.

"Hey, mate you had better get up. An owl arrived a few hours ago from St. Mungos." Sitting bolt upright, Ron opened his mouth about to ask a million questions but was interrupted. "Now before you get too excited, they said that she's waking up."

"What! When? Can she talk? Does she remember what happened? Do-"

"Ron I don't know! The quicker you get dressed the sooner we can be there and you can see for yourself." Harry said as his head disappeared out of the doorway.

She's awake! He found his mind shouting over and over again. I hope that she doesn't remember what happened that night. It would be terrible to have to live with that memory. Fumbling, he managed to get himself into a pair of blue jeans and a green button down shirt. He headed out of his room and rushed down the stairs his footsteps thundering behind him. Entering into the kitchen he barely noticed his mum, Fred, George and Ginny were there along with Harry.

"Well let's go!" He shouted as he disapparated with a crack.

With several cracks, Ron, Harry, Fred and George arrived in the lobby of St. Mungo's. Setting off quickly, Ron began to head towards the lifts and to her room but was stopped.

"Oi! Ron are you not going to wait for Mum and Ginny then?" Fred shouted. Groaning Ron stopped down the corridor and waited for Ginny and his mum to come spinning out of one of the Floo-Network fires, covered in soot. When the rest of the group caught up with him, they proceeded to squish themselves into a lift. Ron was so excited and relieved that he was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet and muttering 'Hurry up, hurry up…'

"Forth Floor. Spell Damage, including Unliftable jinxes, hexes, and incorrectly applied charms." Said the voice of an elderly witch that had a slight speech impediment. Scurrying out of the lift doors, Ron turned left down the hall and took the second right and entered the correct ward. Counting the doors, he stopped short, Ginny running into him from behind.

"Ron! You clutz, why did you stop like that?" Scowling, Ginny went around him and followed the rest of his family into the room.

Clapping a hand on his shoulder, Harry looked at Rons' face, which was surprisingly pale. "All right mate? You look like you're about to start belching out slugs or faint or something."

Staring straight ahead down the hall, Ron nodded woodenly. "Yea… Yea, I'm ok. I just need a minute. To prepare myself." He said, quite distractedly.

"Ok, well don't wait out here too long. You've got more right than some to be seeing her." With that Harry disappeared into the room leaving Ron in the hall.