But the next morning was not so smooth. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna headed to the Hospital Wing…where Ron was sitting up stubbornly, the breakfast tray floating up over his knees…everything was untouched.

Madame Pompfrey was trying to persuade him to eat something…to drink his potion, but he refused stubbornly each time with a scowl on his face.

"Oh, Ron," Ginny muttered under her breath, "You stubborn little git."

The four teens walked over. Ron didn't look at them, instead he turned and looked out the window, watching the morning storm brew outside.

Before anyone spoke to him…Luna knew. She knew that even she wouldn't be able to help him today. He hadn't given her a single glance…and that as his way of telling her that he wasn't going to listen to even her today.

"Ron, please," Hermione begged.

Ron didn't give her a single glance. He didn't move a muscle.

"No, no, no," Ginny said angrily, "This is how you do it: Ron if you do not eat anything today or take your potion like you are supposed to do, I swear to you that I will tell Mum!"

Ron threw her a rotten glance, looked down at his tray…then picked it up and threw it across the room in obvious fury. The tray crashed against the wall, food splattered everywhere and his potion made a large puddle that continued getting bigger as everyone watched it.

Ron then looked back at Ginny as if to say 'be my guest'. Then began staring back out the window.

"Fine," Ginny snapped, "Then I will write a letter to mum telling her everything that's been going on."

Ron folded his arms across his chest. But Luna could tell now. Although his face was set in a scowl, she could clearly see the tears building up inside him, brimming his eyes in glistening anger.

Luna turned to the tray that had crashed and waved her wand, immediately the food disappeared and the tray flew neatly into her hands with the empty goblet sitting on top of it.

"Here you go," Luna said vaguely, handing the tray to Madame Pompfrey.

Harry and Hermione were at a loss of what to do. It never seemed to be Ron who had the problems…so they didn't know how to solve them. But then, Ron had never discussed his feelings with them. Luna knew why he was acting this way and they didn't. But Ron was at a time where no one could pull him out of it.

And then it happened. Luna saw it before it happened.

Ron just broke down completely. The tears began to spill over. Luna immediately walked over to Ron. She knew how to deal with this now. Slowly she sat down on the bed and gathered him into her arms.

Harry and Hermione were shocked…almost. They had been noticing that Ron and Luna were getting lots closer than what they were used to…. But now they saw that it was going to help him.

"That's not going to help you get out of here any sooner," Luna said quietly.

Ron muttered something and Luna smiled a little bit and grazed her fingers up and down his spine, which seemed to relax him a bit. But then Luna felt him tense up again. She sighed a bit and Ron pulled away from her, glancing over at Harry and Hermione, still crying. Hermione was almost worried that the they could hear her heart snap.

"Don't you see now?" Ron asked quietly, "Do you?"

"See what?" Harry asked in a slightly hoarse tone.

Ron looked away. Luna blinked and then also looked over at Harry and Hermione who were exchanging glances. She then looked over at Madame Pompfrey.

Ron was acting strange…even for Luna. First he was in a great big rage, then he was crying, then he was being silent.

"Just leave," he finally said.

Luna climbed off the bed and she, Harry, and Hermione stood together for a moment or two, then left. Ron stared out the window, then he looked over at Madame Pompfrey, who was mixing together what he knew to be a Cheering Potion.

And he knew he needed it. Madame Pompfrey walked over to him tentatively.

"I'm sorry," he said without thinking.

She let out a small sigh and said,

"Nothing I haven't seen before. Here." She handed him the goblet and Ron downed it in a second.

An uplifting feeling washed through him, but there was still a twinge of guilt and anger. He sighed and said,

"I think I'll try and sleep for a while."

"Fantastic! If your friends come back I'll tell them to come back later."

"Okay."

But when Ron awoke he heard some differently familiar voices.

"Shush…I think he's awake."

"If he was awake his eyes would be open you twat!"

"I know! But he was stirring."

"So?"

"Oh would you two shut up, or you will wake him!"

"Sorry, Mum."

Ron opened his eyes. Just as he suspected it was Fred, George, Ginny, and his mother.

"Hey, Mum," Ron said, he realized that they Cheering Potion had worn off.

"Ronnie!" she exclaimed, bending down and hugging him tightly.

Ron sat up.

"Why did all of you come?"

"We heard about…" Fred trailed off, "Your, erm…problem."

"Depression," Ginny corrected, "You were in a depression for a while. That's why you were all confused and stuff."

"Not eating, not sleeping," George said, counting off his fingers.

"That's enough!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "Honestly…Ron, they want us to take you home."

"Home?" Ron exclaimed, "No! No, I won't go home! I wanna stay here! I wanna graduate!"

"I know," Mrs. Weasley said sadly, "But they think you would be better off at home-"

"He's leaving?" came a voice.

Everyone turned to see Luna standing in the doorway. Ron could feel his heart start beating really fast.

"I won't," he said, "I'm not going to leave. I don't want to!"

"Ron-" his mother sighed.

"I'M NOT LEAVING!"


But will he have to? Will he have to if he gets better? IS he better?