Thank you to the lovely people that have reviewed my story so far! I really appreciate your encouraging comments! Eliniel and Lily Laurenlinn thank you for asking me to read your work as well, I loved both your stories and am glad to have read them!

Chapter Three: The Ties Of Friendship That Bind Us

It was midnight that night when Hermione decided she had tossed restlessly for the last time. There was not a chance she would get a single second of sleep with Ron in that hospital. She changed as quietly as possible, moving carefully through the dark room and slipping down to the common room where she stood uncertainly looking towards the door. If she did go to him, and he was awake….. What in Merlin's name would she say to him?

"You might need this" Hermione gasped in shock, turning to Harry who she could hardly see from only the dim light of the fire. He was sitting in an arm chair holding up his invisibility cloak...

"Are you ok Harry?" He kept his head down, staring intently at the floor as if deep concentration would numb the pain.

"He's all I've got left by way of family you know. I mean, it might sound crazy but they've all always treated me like I was just another member of the Weasley family. They never made me feel like the loner I am". His voice was strained and forceful, almost as if he was having difficulty speaking. Harry concentrated hard on the flickering light of the fire that danced playfully in a non existent breeze.

"Harry don't!" Hermione stood beside him now, gently putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I really believe they feel you're as much a part of the family as any of them. You know they do!"

"I keep thinking, what if that beazor hadn't been there? What if I hadn't tried to outsmart Slughorn in class, or what if he had thrown the bezoar away? What if we hadn't gotten to Madam Pomfrey quick enough?".

"Harry you can't think like that. The bezor was there and Madam Pomfrey said he'd be fine. She said you saved him in plenty of time" Hermione's voice caught in her throat, the mere idea of Harry not having been there sending chills in waves down her spine.

"He could have died! My best mate could have died" Harry twisted out of her grip, standing up and sending a sharp kick into the armchair which ended off in a curse of pain.

"I'll make them pay whoever it was Hermione"

"I know you would Harry". She recognized the same determined look he'd once had when he'd vowed to find Sirius, back when they believed Sirius had been responsible for leading Voldermort to his parents. There was no arguing with Harry in this mood.

"Voldermort has taken my parents and Sirius away from me! He's not taking Ron too!". Hermione stood beside him, unsure of how to comfort him.

"People would be better off without knowing me you know! Ron wouldn't have been in danger…."

"Harry Potter how can you say such a thing"

"You heard Fred. 'Do you think the poison was meant for you? Being the chosen one and all' ".

"That's ridiculous Harry! He wasn't blaming you. Besides if anyone's to blame it's the evil person that tried to poison him in the first place!"

"Don't you dare start blaming yourself Harry or I'll introduce you to my latest repertoire of nasty hexes!" Ginny surprised them both as she came into the common room, her eyes red from the tell tale signs of crying.

"In case I have to remind you again there's quiet a few people that wouldn't be around now if it wasn't for you! Do we need to go over the Riddle story again" she added with a trace of bitterness.

"Because we all know where I'd be if you and my git of a brother hadn't decided to come after me yourselves!"

"Ginny"

"No Harry! Don't you dare go playing the martyr on my brother; you're the best mate he's ever had. You both are". She added looking at Hermione "although if you ever join the family Hermione it won't be through adoption" she muttered softly to herself more than anyone.

"You chose Ron as a friend Harry and now you're stuck with him. He's kind of stubborn and strangely loyal like that, and if you think otherwise then you don't know the Weasley's as well as I thought! Right now he needs us to not fall apart on him! I know from experience the whole 'near death thing' really makes you appreciate your friends!" Ginny ended her tirade on a sob and Harry pulled her into a crushing hug. He glanced over Ginny's head at Hermione;

"Go see him Hermione. He's really missed you these last few weeks". Hermione nodded, unable to speak for fear of completely dissolving into tears. She smiled at the both, taking the cloak and heading back towards the door.

"Thanks Harry" He nodded, forcing what he hoped looked like an encouraging smile onto his face.

"I won't let anyone get that close to hurting him again".

"Neither of us will!" She smiled a wobbly smile at him for a moment and then fled for the door. Ginny shook her head with a sigh.

"What is it with you three? You'd do anything for each other wouldn't you?"

"What three?" Harry eyed her intently.

"You might want to add yourself to that number". Ginny smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her father was right; it had been a very lucky day for the Weasley family when Ron had sat beside Harry on that train.

"You know I never told Ron this, but I've always looked up to him. All the times he went with you into life threatening situations. The spiders, the chamber of secrets….. Even though most of the time he's a prat" She added with a sniff. Harry gently removed a tear with his thumb, rolling his eyes in amusement.

"Ron's not here to hear you, you don't have to call him a prat". Ginny couldn't help but smile.

"I'm his sister; it's my job to keep his head from growing out of proportion. Anyway it looks like Hermione is going to forgive him. Ron has a certain way of getting to people doesn't he? Then again when it comes to Hermione drastic measures must sometimes be taken"

"I'm glad you decided to come down here". Ginny pulled away from Harry, her eyes widening suddenly.

"Oh drat I completely forgot Harry! There was another reason I came down here. Lavender wasn't in her room when Hermione came downstairs, I don't think Hermione even realized".

"You think Lavender was trying to visit Ron? Harry frowned; he knew there was no way to reach the hospital room before Hermione if Lavender was already there. Come to think of it he wondered if either of them would be able to get through the magically sealed door. Hermione meeting up with Lavender under highly strained and emotional conditions…… What he needed was someone that could get to her much quicker than he could...

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Sorry to be cruel but I must draw this out a little for dramatic effect! I'll update tomorrow I promise!

- I hope this isn't getting too soppy. I was a bit concerned about making the story that way! However my theory is that we are talking about a near death experience so a bit of poetic license must be allowed :-)

PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING ALL YOU LOVELY, KIND, PEOPLE OUT THERE :-)