Chapter 2- Ronald Weasley: Private Eye

Ron didn't waste time once Hermione walked through the portrait hole. "Hermione! Something's wrong with Harry!" he proclaimed.

He watched as Hermione became pale and her eyes widened. "What happened?" she whispered, pulling Ron into a corner. "Was it something with the Death Eaters?"

"No," Ron said as though it were the most stupid theory she could ever come up with. "He's caught it."

"Caught what?" Hermione asked, confused at what the problem was. "Did you just get back from the pitch or something?"

"No," Ron said again.

"Just tell me then, why don't you," Hermione said, frustrated.

"He's caught the mono," he said.

"Oh… that's all?"

"That's all!" Ron said with incredulous spite. "Our best friend is lying helpless in the hospital wing and you say 'that's all'?"

"Well, it's not as bad as it could be, is it?" Hermione said.

"He's going to be miserable," Ron said, now pacing a small space in the common room.

"Pomfrey has it under control, I'm sure," she said. Ron continued to pace and scoff at Hermione's attempt at reassurance. "Why don't we take Harry his homework? I'll bet he's doing fine."

"Yeah, homework will make him feel better," Ron said.

"I'm sure it'll be a relief for him to have it," Hermione said, missing the sarcasm. "Especially if he has to stay there for a few weeks."

"A few weeks?" Ron said, not having thought of that possibility.

Ron didn't talk to Hermione all the way to the hospital wing. When they entered, Madam Pomfrey almost ordered them out. "We just want to see how he is," Ron said, which wasn't very convincing as the nurse told them he was just fine.

"And we have some homework for him," Hermione added to the mix.

At this proclamation, Madam Pomfrey gave a look of pondering before ordering the two to follow her. "Just ten minutes," she said before walking away.

"Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry gave a groan before turning over to face his two friends. "Hey," he said, his voice groggy and broken.

"Wow, you're really pale," Hermione said, feeling his forehead.

"How do you feel?" Ron asked, having waited a double period to see his best friend.

"I'd rather face Volenemor…Volconmen…Vo-- whatever his name is," Harry said before coughing hard.

Hermione clucked her tongue in a manner similar to Madam Pomfrey's as Harry sat up in his bed.

"Holy Merlin, you look horrible," Ron proclaimed.

"Ron," Hermione reprimanded.

"What? It's true," Ron said.

"That doesn't mean you have to say it," Hermione said.

"Good to know what you both think," Harry said through coughs.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" Hermione asked sympathetically.

Harry just shook his head 'no' and relaxed his head on the pillow below him.

Ron looked carefully between Harry and Hermione, as if trying to decide something, then blurted out, "How'd you get it?"

"Ron!" Hermione said, eyes wide.

Harry gave Ron a perfect look of confusion. "What d'ya mean?"

"I mean, who were you kissing?" he asked so no one besides the three of them could hear.

Harry went pink around the ears at this, Ron noticed. "No one," he said.

"Come on!" Ron begged. "You can tell us! Besides… don't you think the girl has the right to know?"

"Just…er—I'm tired," Harry said. "I'll see you later," he said, then turned back away from them, taking off his glasses.

"Come on, Ron," Hermione said, pulling him by the elbow a bit.

Ron followed, but with a scowl on his face. "Harry's not telling us something."

"So?"

"Hermione, as Harry's best friend I should at least know about who he's snogging in his spare time," Ron said.

"There are other ways of catching mono, Ron."

"Yes, but even you said that kissing is the most likely way to catch it," Ron pointed out.

"Now you start listening to me," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes. "Look, just leave him be. I'm sure he'll tell you when he's ready."

"If he hasn't told us who he fancies by now, what makes you think he'll suddenly reveal it."

"Fine, Ron, go on and make a fool of yourself begging him for something that might not even be there," Hermione said.

"Fine, I will," Ron said, then turned and—for the first time—went to the library without prompting.

Ron didn't get back to the common room until well after dark, having gone to the kitchen for a late dinner. "Hey," Ginny said, being one of the few left sitting there. A couple of fifth years were struggling over some essays in the far corner, but no one was paying any attention to either of the Weasleys. "What were you doing out so late? I didn't miss a Quidditch practice or something, did I?" Ginny asked. After her year as a Seeker, Ginny was placed on the team as a Chaser. In the middle of her own O.W.L. year, Ginny had accidentally forgotten about a practice right before a game played against Ravenclaw, causing a bit of a row between Harry—who had been appointed captain the year before-- and herself. No one really knew when or if the argument had been settled, but at the next practice they seemed at peace, so no one bothered to ask.

"No," Ron said. "We were just visiting Harry in the hospital wing and—"

Ron didn't get to finish explaining his expedition to the truth as Ginny looked over in shock. "What happened? He didn't go after Malfoy about that comment the other day did he?"

"No, he's sick," Ron said.

"Oh," Ginny said with a sigh of relief.

"You and Hermione are taking this mono thing rather light," Ron pointed out. He leaned back and pulled off his already loosened tie.

"He'll get over it," Ginny said with a shrug as her older brother took a bite out of the chocolate cake without a fork. "You take manners light."

"You'll get over it," Ron said in a mimicking tone. "You don't happen to know if Harry's been seeing anyone… do you?"

"And if I did, what makes you think I'd inform you?" Ginny said, meeting Ron's gaze.

"Come on, Ginny," he begged, assuming she had a juicy secret.

"I didn't say I knew anything," Ginny said, picking up her Transfiguration book.

Ron gave out a frustrated growl. "Mono isn't airborne at all, so he had to get it from somewhere," he said.

"Very good, Ron," Ginny said. "Where did you learn that?"

"I found a book on diseases," Ron said, showing his discovery beneath his backpack of food. "Don't give me that look… I read… sometimes," he said in defense to Ginny's look of shock.

"Wow," she said. "I'm proud of you. What else did you learn?"

"That if its running crazy around here, there had to be a starting source," Ron said.

"Why don't you just find out who's been sick so far," Ginny suggested, leaning back.

"I thought of that," Ron said. "But there's a chance that whoever gave Harry the disease hasn't actually gotten sick themselves."

"So what do you plan to do?" Ginny asked.

"I have to start from the beginning and follow some leads. Eventually I'll figure out how Harry caught it," Ron said, determined.

Ginny gave a deep breath. "Good luck with that one," Ginny said, packing up her books and standing up. "Excuse me if I don't join in the search."

"That's fine… I got this one on my own," Ron shouted to his sister as she ascended the girls' staircase.

A/N: I think I got more reviews on that one chapter than I have for a first chapter on any other story! Bravo readers! Now, to put your nose to the grindstone again :) REVIEW

Thanks:

Luna-Tunafish: Like Hermione (often) points out... there are different ways to get it, so this should be fun to try and weave a plot through ;)

SCK all that's missing is U: I'm not telling :) though I generally swing that way, if it's any indication.

Raiining: I've never done Ron's prespective, but I thought it would be fun... and there's a first time for everything ;)

Jessica: lol I'm sure you have... I think a lot of people relate to the storyline because they've either heard the horror stories or have it themeselves lol... so it seems, at least. Maybe I'll use you for some research purposes lol. If you're bored in your present condition, feel free to read some other stories by yours truely

Pedagogie: Thanks blushes

JJ: will do on the continuing factor! I'm trying to, but I know this is going to get intricate fast, so hold onto your britches and get ready for a ride through the students of Hogwarts.

Shading in Grey: Is that what you brits call it? Funny lol... perhaps that is it... either way, I don't think you stupid ;)

Countess Mel: lol wow! What a compliment! lol first mono fanfic... that should go down as a record! I'll have to look and see if anyone else has one hehehe

Hermione30: I'll try and update asap on all my stories... no guarentees, of course.

mistress editor: I'm glad you're amused...

FlairVerona: Thanks! I'm glad you like it.

Eve West: that question is yet to be answered... about Harry, that is... you're going to have to do some stealth of your own to find out about your brother lol... perhaps you and Ron can find a similar method hehehe...