Chapter 6

Ginny still said hello in passing, asked about her brother, and sat with the trio for meals. She hadn't stopped her puns or her jokes at others expense. But she became withdrawn, barely talking, barely eating, barely sleeping. Slowly enough that no one seemed to notice.

After time she noticed the change in herself. Not just the mental and emotional change, but also now her body was changing as well. She examined herself in the mirror, taking in her tired eyes, the bruised circles below them. The hollow cheeks, pale complexion, and almost sickeningly skinny body. The bloody welts covering her arms that she always kept covered now.

She shook her head, knowing it was all her fault, and that her self-induced single-minded obsession with schoolwork was the cause for such a drastic change.

She sighed, pulling on another baggie sweatshirt, like she wore everyday.

"You need to take better care of yourself." Said Ron from behind her.

She turned and tried to give her brother a reassuring smile. It fell short and instead resembled a grimace of pain. Far more accurate of an expression anyways.

"Hermione's worried about you. So am I." He said, taking her hands in his and looking her over with a critical eye. "You look like shit you know."

She snorted. "Thanks."

"Well, you do. You're not doing yourself any favors by falling so deeply into your studies. From what I hear, you have straight Os and absolutely no social life. A few weeks ago you were doing just fine and were surrounded by friends. What happened?" he coaxed gently. He was really concerned, but he obviously didn't want to hurt her further than what she was evidently already dealing with.

Some detached part of her marveled at the change in her brother. He was diplomatic and sensitive, though he still had his famous temper. That same part of her realized that it was because of Hermione's influence as a friend, and then as a girlfriend that had worked the miracle that wrought Ron into the skilled and popular man he was today.

She suddenly realized that she had been staring at him with a contemplative look for the past five minutes. Blushing, she turned, her hands falling back at her sides and walked to her bed and practically collapsed onto it.

Ron followed and sat at the foot of the bed facing her. "What?"

She smiled. Though the pain in her eyes was still there, this time it wasn't a grimace. "Just thinking about the amazing, sensitive, and – heaven forefend – tactful person that you've become."

At his disbelieving expression, then the protesting look that followed closely behind it, she quickly forestalled his verbal protest she knew was coming with some back up of her own.

"Really. Everybody comes to you with his or her problems. Harry's too busy with the up-and-coming battle, and Hermione is busy with school. So you're the only one they come to. Because heaven knows you three have practically ruled this school since your first year. And instead of the prejudiced hothead you used to be, you are the glue that holds us all together."

By the end of her little speech he was bright pink and utterly speechless. But he had begun to notice the way she always hesitated before saying Hermione's name. And as he thought back he remembered all the winces whenever her name was mentioned. The confused concern Hermione expressed over Ginny's welfare. How uncomfortable they always seemed around each other. The depression that seemed to envelop them both.

All of a sudden all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and he was shocked at the picture they made. He found himself struggling to swallow around the lump in his throat, and he had to get out of there.

"Take care of yourself. Really. You're not doing yourself any favors working this hard. I need to go...." Ron said, trying to convince her to take better care, and trying to convince himself that he had to be wrong.

A/N: Awww... poor Ron. Anyways, you like? I know there's no G/H action, but I gotta get it all set up. So review and maybe it'll get set up faster... Wink, wink nudge, nudge.