Author's Note: Hello all! Quicker update, huh! It's also a really long chapter so everyone should be happy! Lots of things happen in this chapter so the title is really long since I couldn't choose just one thing to put and I thought it'd be a laugh to have a massive title. I'm sure it'll confuse you. OK, enjoy!
Chapter 28: The angry bald boy; Dirty, strong, and comforting Ron; Crap muggle potatoes; Scorching thighs; Squeaky Forge; Good lunch Harry; The many phases of Ginny; and Napping, nausea, and prophecies, oh my!
"Gin," Ron touched her shoulder tentatively at breakfast the next morning. She turned around, looking at the floor instead of his eyes. "I wanted to talk to you about yesterday."
"Just drop it. I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not?"
"Because! Just leave me alone." She stepped away and walked quickly out of the Main Hall. Ron sighed and looked at the ceiling. The sky was cloudless but gray and he knew it was cold out.
"Nice start to the day," he muttered and walked out the big double doors.
"You'd better quit talking to yourself, Weasel, or people may think you're going mad." Ron scowled as he heard Malfoy's slimy voice following behind him. He turned around and looked down at Malfoy.
"And you'd better quit slicking your blond hair like that. People will think you're bald."
"At least I don't let it roam around my head like I've lived in a dump my whole life like you and Potter do. But wait, you have lived in a dump all your life! The castle must have been the greatest thing ever to happen to you since you can't count your girlfriend as that."
"Shut it, Malfoy."
"Must be terrible having her lying around more than usual. She can't be any fun at all, now that she can't even move her legs."
"I'll-"
"Stop Ron." Ginny came next to him and took his arm. "Let's go sit down before Malfoy says any more rubbish."
"Ah, but I see you're up now. Well isn't Potter lucky? But I think if I were him, I'd have asked that bat of a nurse to leave you in there."
"Since you seem to enjoy talking about the hospital wing so much, why don't I send you there?" Ginny raised her eyebrows at him and blatantly fingered her wand in her pocket.
"Don't waste your precious strength."
"You mean to say you're scared."
"Of you?" he scoffed. "Please, I'd shame myself and my family more than anything if I were afraid of you."
"And wouldn't it be just terrible to shame your wonderful daddy? You brown nose him so much as it is, I suppose it would be a gigantic step back if he knew how worried you were to be hexed by little Ginny Weasley."
"Shut up! You don't know anything about my father!"
"I know far more than I ever wanted thanks to all the extra time I got to spend with him! I don't know how anyone can stand him, especially your mother!"
"She can't!" Malfoy was breathing heavily now. His eyes were blazing and wide as saucers. He glared at Ginny, shame and surprise in his face, and then he rushed past them toward the Slytherin dungeons. Ron realized how many people were staring at the scene and he took Ginny's arm and pulled her up to Gryffinsor Tower.
"I can't believe you said all that to him!" he exclaimed. Ginny seemed to be in shock too. They entered the common room, which was empty thankfully as everyone was downstairs eating. Ginny sat down heavily on the couch and leaned back into it. Ron sat slowly across from her.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes," she said after a moment. "I really didn't mean to say all that to him. I was walking upstairs when I heard him talking to you. I hoped you wouldn't get too upset with him but then your fists started clenching so I came back down."
"Don't tell Hermione I almost hit him again."
"I won't."
"Can we talk about yesterday now?"
"Why?" she groaned. "What's to talk about?"
"I just…look, I'm sorry you're so upset about not being able to call them whenever you like. I know it'd be nice to hear everyone's voices but we can't. It's only for informational purposes."
"I know, Ron. I was just upset. I acted like a spoiled child and I was ashamed after I walked out yesterday."
"You don't need to be ashamed. Who wouldn't want genius brothers who can invent fellytones on a whimsy?"
"Tel-e-phone, Ron! It's a telephone! Honestly, you aren't syllable dyslexic, why can't you say it properly?"
"I don't know! I guess I got used to dad saying it the wrong way and it stuck!" Ginny shook her head.
"Anyway, I know I can't just call them for fun. I want to of course, but I know why we have it. Do you think we could use it regularly at Grimmauld Place though? What's the danger in it there?" Ron thought about it and shrugged.
"I guess we can ask the twins about it later. Or maybe we'll need to clear it with Mum or Dad or Dumbledore. I don't know."
"Ok. Well, it's a nice thought. I'm sorry for the way I acted."
"You mean for yesterday right? Don't worry about it. I hope you don't mean about Malfoy. Those were some clever comebacks! How do you come up with them so quickly?"
"I'm gifted, how else?"
"Sorry, I didn't realize." She smiled warmly at him.
"It's funny."
"What?"
"That we really do have genius brothers but they're also mad!"
"I don't know, they obviously take after Dad," Ron shrugged. "All the geniuses are nutters." Ron checked his watch. It was time to head to class. They both stood.
"Thanks for stopping me before I took revenge on Malfoy's mouth."
"Sure. Thanks for talking to me." She smiled again and stood on her tiptoes to hug him. He held her tightly for a few seconds, smoothing her hair.
"Just a few more months here then we'll surely see the twins." She nodded into his chest and gave him a final squeeze.
"Let me know when that rock activates. How do you know when it's activated anyway?" Ron wrinkled his eyebrows.
"I don't know, they never said in that letter. Probably nothing too conspicuous since they could potentially call during class."
"I hope they don't. I can't have you pull me out of class if they do."
"We'll see."
During the week, Ron followed his promise and came in to help Hermione walk every day after lessons. The first day, she had to just stand and sit again but she did twice as many as she had the first day, and held it twice as long. The next couple of days, she would walk around the small perimeter of her bed, sit down, and walk back around. This, however, made her dizzy and bored. She pushed through it with Ron's encouragement and her perseverance. Thursday evening, she could walk back and forth across the room. It was slow but strong. Ron only had to sit and watch.
"Well done, love, well done. You've got it." She smiled and walked over to him. He took her hands and kissed each, one at a time. "I'm proud of you. You haven't complained or said bloody once!"
"You just had to bring it up again!" She sat down next to him; shaking her head at him, mock upset.
"Oh come on, I like it when you swear. It's…attractive." She cocked her eyebrow.
"You're mad. And I certainly don't want to be attractive in here. The hospital wing isn't exactly romantic." He shrugged.
"I find the unusual cleanliness nice."
"Sure, if you're a health inspector."
"I certainly am not."
"Not even close."
"Are you saying I'm not a clean person?"
"Would I?"
"Yes." She laughed.
"I'm only joking, Ron. You're one of the cleaner boys out there. Probably your mother's influence."
"Well, showering is a very difficult task."
"Hmm." She was looking off at the wall now. He looked but couldn't see anything interesting.
"I don't see an attractive bloke over there, like me. What's so fascinating?" She cracked a grin.
"I think I can walk well enough to go back to class Monday. I'm excited."
"Only you would be."
"Oh Ron, it isn't that I'm excited to study in class versus right here. I'm excited to be around. I'm excited to practice magic normally. I'm excited to not be a potato anymore!" He snorted loudly.
"I never thought you to be a potato. That's a strange comparison."
"Haven't you heard of a couch potato before?" He wrinkled his eyebrows.
"Is that some crap muggle phrase?"
"Oh, I suppose. It means someone who sits and doesn't do anything." He scoffed.
"You're not doing nothing."
"I know but I'll feel much better being out and about with you."
"I will too." He kissed her temple and she sighed.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now, enough walking around. Time to take a rest. I brought your schoolwork. That wouldn't be restful for me but whatever."
"So, Ron almost killed Malfoy during breakfast," Ginny said, lying with her head in the middle of Harry's bed, her legs bent with her feet on his pillow. (I know I just talked about it being Thursday with Ron and Hermione but I'm jumping around time for a bit.)
"What else is new?" Harry asked calmly, putting his head next to hers, his body facing the other direction.
"I know. How are they going to live together civilly at Grimmauld Place? How are you going to? How am I going to?" She finished this and flopped her hands up then back down onto the bed. "I even mentioned what happened with him and his dad this morning and he got really mad! I asked how his mother could stand his father and he yelled that she couldn't then ran off. I wonder what really happened to make his mother want him to live at Grimmauld Place."
"I don't know either. Dumbledore said he'd likely tell us when the time was right. Why he'd ever talk to us about it is beyond me though. So…did Ron talk to you?"
"Yeah. I basically just said I was sorry for acting like that."
"We understood."
"I know. He was just worried about me."
"Yeah."
"Weren't you worried about me? You didn't come looking for me."
"We did but someone said you were asleep and Ron said he wanted to talk to you since he's your brother."
"Oh. Sorry," she said sheepishly but he just laughed.
"Stop being so sorry about everything. Besides, I told Ron I would comfort you other ways later." Ginny laughed.
"And did he slug you?"
"Almost."
"Sometimes I wonder if our relationship really makes him angry at all. It seemed like he wanted us together last year on the train. He very pointedly looked at you when he told me to find someone better than Michael Corner to date."
"Maybe he's just pretending. I think I'm a far better catch than Corner. And Dean."
"Me too. So, are you going to comfort me or what?"
"If you really want me to." She turned toward him and kissed him lightly below the ear.
"What does that tell you?"
Ron sat next to Harry in Charms on Friday, doodling Quidditch fields on his parchment.
"That's a good use of paper," Harry whispered.
"I know. Gotta plan strategies for next year!" As he was drawing the
last hoop, his leg suddenly felt very hot. He sat up very straight and yelped. Everyone looked at him quizzically, including Flitwick. He
grinned nervously until they all turned around.
"What's going on?" Harry asked but as he did, Ron's leg burned again in the middle of his thigh, just in one small spot. He yelped again and stood up.
"Can I go to the hospital wing?" he asked in a high voice, and a few students laughed. Flitwick nodded in confusion then called the class back to attention.
Ron ran out of the room and put his hand where his leg was burning. It was right where the W stone lay in his pocket. He ripped it out of his pocket and stared at it. It glowed as it quickly grew hot again and he bit back a yell, pulling his robes up to drop the stone in where it wouldn't touch his skin. "Bloody bastards," he muttered and jogged to his room, holding his robes up away from his body as he went.
He made it up to his room and flipped the stone out on his bed. Then he reached into his trunk to pull out the box and pulled the lid off.
"Ron?" two squeaky voices (since they are little dolls I am picturing voices like Alvin and the Chipmunks style) called out from the mouths of the clone dolls.
"Yeah, it's me you twits! I was in class!"
"We figured," the little George said.
"Thought we should add some fun to your lesson!" mini Fred exclaimed.
"Or yeah, it was really fun having my leg scorched!"
"Ah, Ronnie, it wasn't that bad!"
"Yeah? Why don't you try it?"
"No, it would burn us!" George said then they laughed hysterically.
"What do you two want? And why couldn't you call later? Ginny's been dying to talk to you two!"
"We didn't think anyone would be around to hear you during class. We don't really have time for small talk. Tell Ginny we miss her and we love her. We'll send her a quick owl soon," little Fred said.
"Yeah, that'll make her feel better."
"It's the best we can do right now. We mainly wanted to make sure this thing worked."
"So is everything ok there?" George asked. "Anything unusual?"
"No, nothing. You two seem to have all the secrets. What were all those warnings you were giving us? And why'd you have to give me body paint in front of Hermione!" They both giggled loudly.
"It was a joke, Ronnie, Hermione'll understand!" George chuckled.
"She was disgusted!"
"Ah, it was all in good fun! It tastes good, really! Have it for a snack if you aren't going to use it properly!"
"All right, all right! So what's going on?"
"Look, the quick of it is we're in the Order now that our shop is under control and we're doing special assignments. Building things like this is one of our jobs. That's really all we can tell you right now. Nothing particularly unusual or dangerous is happening…yet. If something does, we'll call again!" Fred said.
"Next time, call during dinner so Ginny can come talk as well. She'll be crushed she missed this and I'm the one who has to deal with her!"
"Sorry! It's about time we go. We'll make it up to Ginny, we promise!"
"All right, bye then."
"Bye Ronnie!" George yelled.
"Don't miss us too much!" Fred sang out. The dolls both keeled over, eyes closed and arms folded over their chests. Ron stared at them alarmed. They slowly sank back into the box so Ron put the lid on.
"Don't miss you too much, you drive me mad!" He groaned. "Ugh, I'll have to break Ginny's heart again. I'd rather break their legs!"
Ron met up with Harry and Ginny at lunch after putting away the phone box. He motioned for them to follow him up to Hermione's bed in the hospital wing. He'd have to explain his jumping up in class to Harry and he liked the idea of having backup when Ginny found out she'd missed the call.
"So what happened to you?" Harry asked as they walked. Harry had told Ginny about Ron's odd behavior while they were waiting for Ron.
"Wait 'til we get with Hermione." Harry and Ginny looked at each other quizzically. Ron knocked on Hermione's room door and she called for them to enter.
"Hi everyone!" she said brightly, happy for the company.
"Hi, Hermione," they said. Ron grabbed a few chairs and they all sat down.
"Have you all already eaten?" she asked.
"No, something happened to Ron in Charms," Harry answered.
"What?"
"Ok," Ron started. "The stone went off in class." Ginny's face fell. Ron nodded unhappily. "They've set it to heat up when they're calling. Very nice of them. I though I was on fire."
"Go on," Ginny said, anger evident in her voice.
"Anyway, they said they called then so I would be alone in the room. They just wanted to check if it worked and they said they're in the Order and they're working on some special assignments, like building things. They said they're sorry they missed you Gin. They love you and miss you though. I told them to call at dinner next time. They said they'll owl you." She scoffed.
"Do you know how often I owl them? Do you know how often they owl me back? Once every five owls if I'm lucky! Are they mad at me or something!"
"No, Ginny, they love you! I told you! They're in the Order and have work to do." Ginny looked down miserably. Harry put his hand on hers but she pulled it away and put it on her face. She was trying desperately not to cry again. Ron stood and squatted down in front of her. She wouldn't look at him. "Ginny, I know you miss them, I know. But I'm here. I'm here if you want to talk or you just need a redhead to look at, hmm? They aren't here anymore. It's hard. But you and I have got each other, right here. And you've got Harry. Harry is always there for you whenever you need anything. Within reason," he added, looking sideways at Harry, a small grin on his lips. Harry grinned back. Ginny sniffed and leaned forward to Ron. He enveloped her in his arms and held her tightly.
Harry looked up and saw Hermione wiping tears off her face. He suddenly felt out of place. Hermione had her parents to miss, odd as they were. Ron missed his parents and brothers as well as Ginny. He felt like he had no one to pine for as they did. He supposed he should feel lucky he could see everyone that he cared for…that was still alive. He couldn't see his parents or Sirius but it was different. They were dead and nothing could be done for it. He saw Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Lupin, and others he knew everyday. He wasn't sure whether to be sad or happy. A sob from Ginny brought him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry Ron, I'm sorry," she cried quietly in his shoulder. "I don't know why I'm so upset. I've been living here for years now without our family but it feels so different."
"Because, we have more going on now. It's more real because we're older and everyone we know is working in the Order. It's scary. And now there's this outlet to Fred and George and you can't use it. It's ok." She stayed in his embrace until she finished crying. Harry went and sat next to Hermione to put his arm around her. She looked at him somberly. He searched her face, wondering what to say but failing to come up with anything.
After what happened at lunch, Harry pulled Ron aside.
"I don't know if we should tell them tonight. I think it'll be too much for them to handle, Ron. They're both too emotional right now."
"No, Harry, it's time. I don't want to keep any secrets from them. I know it hurts Ginny that the twins haven't given us any solid information about what they do. She feels like she's in the dark. They both need to know." Harry looked down a moment.
"I don't know…"
"Harry, I know you want to keep them safe and happy. But I think it's safer for them to know the full story…happy will have to come in time." Harry sighed in resignation.
"Fine. But can you take both of them crying again? I don't know if I can."
"Harry, it's something we have to learn to deal with. I have this feeling that crying is going to be a regular thing in the future. The phone with Fred and George is unclear and yet clear. Bad things are happening Harry. We have to be strong and ready to meet them. I know you can do it. We can't be weak now."
Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. A sense of security ran through Harry. He wasn't telling them alone. He had Ron there. Ron, who seemed so much stronger now than ever before. Ron, who would stand beside him and face whatever would come.
"All right. Tonight, we tell them."
Harry sat in his room on the bed a couple hours before he and Ron would finally tell the girls about the prophecy. His journal lay before him, open to a blank page. He knew he should write something in it. Ginny had thought it would help. Ginny is a smart girl, he thought reasonably, so she's right about this. If I can't talk to a person about…personal stuff, I can at least write on paper.
He turned back a page. He'd simply written, 'Lunch was good.' Well, it had been yesterday when he'd written it. Today he hadn't eaten lunch so that was no help. He bit the quill for a moment and coughed when he realized he'd already dipped it and the ink touched his tongue. He redipped it and put it to the page. 'Breakfast was good,' he scrawled. I should never take a career in writing, he decided. Feeling slightly stupid but glad he'd done something he wrote, 'Tonight Ron and I tell the prophecy.' It was a step. He smiled slightly. 'I am nervous.' The smile was gone but a small, very small sense of relief replaced it.
Ron quietly watched her. He watched her hand fly along the page as she wrote. He watched her look between the heavy Arithmancy book by her leg to the parchment in her lap. He saw the lock of hair fall onto her slightly pale cheek, the end of it touching the inside of her elbow. His fingers itched to move it behind her ear where a tiny lavender earring glinted faintly against the light. She beat him to it and hastily pushed the hair out of her way.
He felt his stomach quiver as he stared. She had such a simple yet mesmerizing beauty. Moments later, the lock fell back onto her face as another followed. He reached his hand forward and brushed them back, carefully and gently tucking them behind her ear. The warm touch of his fingers brought her out of her thoughts. She looked curiously at him.
"What is it?" He shook his head, his eyes locked on hers.
"Nothing," he answered softly. She searched his face, sensing something was troubling him.
"Really, Ron, what is it?" He looked down a moment to the baby blue color of her blanket then returned to the hazel of her eyes.
"Harry and I have to tell you and Ginny something tonight. Harry is going to bring Ginny in a couple hours." Her stomach contracted, worried at what they were hiding.
"Is it serious?"
"Yes."
"Is it something about you…or Harry?"
"Harry."
"Something you've been keeping from me?"
"I promised to." She tried not to be hurt he'd kept a secret from her. She trusted him and his judgment but she always wanted to know what was happening.
"For long?"
"You know, we'll tell you everything when we're all together," he laughed lightly. He hadn't expected twenty questions.
"I know." She looked at her fingers and put down her quill. Wondering what the news was would make it too difficult to continue working.
"Yes, I've known for a while. Since the night at the Riddle House," he decided to answer. Her eyes widened as her jaw dropped.
"Almost a month?" she said incredulously. He nodded for lack of a reply. She closed her mouth abruptly, choosing to calm down instead of be mad at him. They looked at one another, each discerning how the other felt.
She saw worry in his eyes, worry over the secret she supposed. She thought hard about it, trying to come up with a guess but nothing came to mind. Harry rarely had secrets that were unimportant and if Ron couldn't speak about it, it must be bad. She swallowed uncomfortably, her throat suddenly dry.
He knew she was upset about the secrecy. He could tell she was trying to figure out what he knew. Her eyebrows were wrinkled, as they always did when she was deep in thought. He also felt worried. She looked as though she felt ill and he noticed her cheeks were paler than they were minutes earlier. He couldn't think why she would feel bad, she didn't have a big homework load as he only brought in a few assignments at a time and she laid in bed when she wasn't practicing walking.
"Are you all right? You seem a bit off-color." She nodded but she leaned back into her pillows. Her glass of water lay on the table beside her and she reached for it. He picked it up and handed it to her when her hand proved too far away. She sipped it slowly and he watched her concernedly. As she drank, he put his palm to her forehead to see if she was warm but she was cool and clammy, and a bit of sweat came on his hand.
"Do you feel sick?" Finished with the water, she handed it back to him and pushed the blanket off her body. She wore a long pastel pink nightgown under a complimenting lightweight sage dressing gown.
"I don't know; I'm hot."
"Then take that off," he said, indicating her robe. "I won't ogle you or anything." She giggled softly but shook her head.
"I'll be fine. It'll pass soon."
"How do you know? Has it happened before?"
"No. It's just a bit warm in here, that's all." It wasn't warm at all, in fact Ron felt quite cool. It was cold and rainy outside, and certainly not hot in the hospital wing. He didn't want to badger her so he just nodded in agreement. Sure enough, a minute later she pulled the blanket back on. She wasn't hot and the perspiration was gone. Ron still wasn't satisfied but there was nothing to do about it. She didn't seem worried at all.
"Come on Ron, I was wearing three layers! It's not a big deal." She took his hand and smiled warmly at him. Maybe she was right, he knew he got hot all the time, usually when he was doing something but still, she was wearing a lot.
"Ok. Why don't you take a nap? You can rest up before we all talk later."
"Are you going to leave then?" She didn't say it sadly or fearfully but he knew she wanted him to stay.
"Of course not. I'll sit here with you." She looked thoughtfully at him. Coming to a conclusion, she scooted over on the bed.
"Why don't you nap too? I'm sure you could use a rest before you deliver the big secret, huh?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, come on. We've lain together before."
"Not while you've been in your nightgown." She had considered this of course, but she wanted the safety and comfort of his arms around her. She knew it would make her sleep easier.
"I know. Please?" It wasn't a question of him wanting to, he had to make sure she wanted him to. He stood and sat down on the mattress, sliding his legs down on top of the sheets as hers were under them. She lay facing him and he relaxed next to her on the pillow. He felt her feet moving at the end of the bed, one resting right next to the bottom of his knee since he was so much taller than her. She grabbed the top blanket and he took it gently, placing it over their torsos. She snuggled up next to him and he rolled onto his back so she could lie on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and he felt her relax completely. He knew she was tired as he felt her fall asleep a minute later.
He noticed how small her body felt as he held her. She'd lost weight since the coma. He knew she ate since he watched her do it everyday but she was still thinner than he'd ever remembered her. A sigh escaped her lips and she trembled slightly as though she were cold. He tightened the blankets around her. He heard another sigh and his fingers slid through her hair softly over and over and over again.
When Harry told Ginny about the talk the four of them had to have later, she felt scared and lost. Why were there so many secrets? Why did everything have to be so sad and stressful? She had a feeling this would be the second time that day she'd cry and she wasn't used to shedding so many tears. At least things were going better for her than Hermione. This thought didn't comfort her though. She felt so sorry for Hermione. Hermione didn't deserve to be confined to a hospital bed for a month, or lay in a coma, or be alone almost all day while everyone else went to class. Ginny decided to stop feeling so sorry for herself and remember that others had it worse.
Harry would be waiting for her in the common room soon. They would be going to dinner quickly then up to the Hospital Wing. She felt very hungry having missed lunch. She changed out of her uniform into a jade green jumper she'd recently knitted and comfortable black pants. Her chestnut hair was tangled at the ends and she pulled out a brush to run through it. After thinking a bit, she flipped her head over and pulled it up into a ponytail at the back of her head. She looked at herself once more before going down and noticed how tired she looked. She hadn't slept well in the past few days and the bags under her eyes showed it. Frowning, she turned and left the room to meet Harry.
Ron didn't sleep at all as Hermione took her nap. He felt his stomach rumble several times since he was missing dinner but he ignored them. While she was sleeping, she'd slid off his chest in an odd position facing away from him. He'd slowly adjusted her so she lay on her side and he rolled so his chest was against her back. He wrapped his top arm around her middle and lay on his other arm while his hand ran through her hair some more. She seemed to like that feeling while she slept. The smell of shampoo from her hair was intoxicating his senses (people in hospitals do wash somehow, and she's a witch!). His eyes closed as he imprinted the feeling of her in his arms, smelling so good, and being his only.
His watch ticked forebodingly. Harry and Ginny would be there within half an hour. Thoughts of how they might begin crossed lazily through his brain. Maybe Harry would take charge and tell it. But Ron knew he had to be ready to speak as well. Harry had been dreading discussing the matter at all and would likely rely on Ron to explain some of it.
Hermione suspired again and her legs stretched out, tickling Ron's shins faintly. Her hand, which had recently come to rest on his, moved forward and she turned to face Ron. Her eyes opened slowly as she took him in. She seemed to have forgotten in her sleep he was there but it didn't scare her. He gave her a lopsided grin and she snuggled her forehead into his chest.
"When are they coming?" she murmured sleepily.
"Soon, like ten minutes," he answered, resting his chin on top of her head.
"So I should wake up."
"Are you talking in your sleep then?" He smiled.
"Basically. Oh Ron, I was so comfortable. I don't want to wake up."
"I know, love, but they might think we're strange if we talk together like this," he joked. He kissed her head and she moved away from him reluctantly. With the blanket pushed back, he got off the bed and sat back in his chair, smoothing his clothes and the side of his hair. Since he'd been running his fingers through her own hair, she didn't really need to fix it. She moved back into the center of her mattress and sat up.
"Do you suppose I'll cry during this talk?"
"It's likely."
"Lovely," she sighed.
The four sat in a circle, with Hermione on her bed and the others in chairs facing toward her. Ginny's foot bounced up and down in uneasiness. She felt squeamish in anticipation, wishing now she'd eaten less at dinner. Hermione watched Ron, twisting her sheets in her hand while Ron watched Harry, waiting for him to start. Harry was contemplating the best way to say everything. He concluded there was no good way to tell something like that. He looked at Ron who raised his eyebrows back, wishing for some mental signal of what to do.
"I accidentally told Ron something last month. I didn't mean to but it came out. I didn't want anyone to know except those who already do, like Dumbledore. Dumbledore told me at the end of last year what the prophecy was."
Ginny inadvertently gasped. Hermione's face dropped and she squeezed the sheets as tightly as they would go. Harry lost some courage and dropped his gaze to the stone floor.
"It uh, it's not a good prophecy so brace yourselves. It basically said that Voldemort or I have to die at the hands of the other. Neither of us can live while the other survives. So, I've got to kill him or no one else will." Ginny stared at him in shock, feeling sick to her stomach. Hermione had put her hands to her face by then, her eyes huge and round. "Yeah, so that's it!" Harry finished as if he'd just announced he bought a puppy.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said. "I…I'm so sorry. I wish it weren't true. Dumbledore told you this?"
"Yes," he answered, feeling it to be a redundant question. She sniffed and made to take his hand but thought against it.
"That's…oh, I can't believe it." Hermione sat pensively a moment then turned to Ron. "You knew that and didn't say anything!" Ron's jaw dropped and they began arguing. Harry looked at Ginny again.
"Ginny? Are you all right?" Ginny still stared at him, eyes unmoving, her face tinted green. "It's ok, Gin, I've accepted it." She put a hand to her mouth. Ron and Hermione stopped bickering to look at her. "Ginny?" She kecked into her hand, making the three others lean back in surprise then she rushed off to the loo, barely making it before vomiting into the toilet. The door was left wide open and they all witnessed it. Harry went over and stood just inside the doorway, Ron coming to stand behind him. Breathing shallowly, Ginny looked up at them, embarrassment hitting hard. She whimpered and turning back to the toilet, became violently ill. Ron shut the door as Harry crouched next to Ginny, rubbing her back. Ron was afraid he might throw up if he watched her.
In between many small bouts of sickness, Ginny cried and moaned. She knew Harry was beside her, watching her the whole time, only making her feel worse. The initial shock she had felt was gone, replaced by fear of the news she'd just heard, embarrassment that they had all seen her retching, and shame at what she was doing but she was unable to stop. Her body shook and cold sweat ran down her face. Harry made sure to hold her long ponytail out of the way.
Feeling she'd finished, she turned to ask Harry to leave her alone. A moment after she opened her mouth, she choked and threw up on the floor and the wall, just missing Harry. He was very uncomfortable and felt nauseated himself from watching her but he forced himself to remain composed. She retched once more into the toilet. She refused to stand up for several more minutes. She continued to feel sick and her body gave a few dry heaves, and she worried she would begin again once she left the loo.
Ron and Hermione sat on Hermione's bed, listening to Ginny gag though trying not to. "I don't understand why she's so sick," Ron commented.
"Well, the first time I understood because often when you go into a state of shock it makes you physically sick. I don't think she's still in shock but she must be embarrassed or something. I don't know for sure. Did she eat a lot at dinner?"
"I was here with you. I don't know." Hermione nodded.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm so sorry," Ginny sobbed after washing up. They were still in the lavatory. Harry had done the one cleaning charm he remembered all over the loo to make sure it was all gone. He shook his head at her, seeing how ashamed she was, and pulled her into a hug.
"Don't, it's ok."
"I'm sorry I did that in front of you; I can't believe I did. And I'm sorry about the prophecy, Harry, oh…" She sobbed into his shoulder. He held her close and smoothed her hair.
"I know, I know."
The pair finally emerged from the loo. Ginny's eyes were downcast.
"Why don't you lie down for a while?" Harry suggested. She nodded and without a glance at her brother or Hermione, she lay on the bed and closed her eyes.
"Are you feeling better, Ginny?" Hermione asked kindly. Ginny sighed and opened her eyes.
"I think so. I'm sorry you two had to see that. And listen."
"No worries, Gin, no worries," Ron answered, patting her hand. She had little color in her face and lips, and her empty stomach still churned uncomfortably. She wished she didn't have to have them all looking at her. She was very surprised she'd acted like that but thinking of the prophecy made her feel more nauseous. Madame Pomfrey walked in now that dinner was officially over. Her eyes went straight to Ginny.
"What's the matter?"
"Ginny's been a bit sick," Hermione said, trying to make light of it. "Maybe some food disagreed with her. Or a bit of stomach flu," she continued, seriously feeling now that Ginny had the flu. "We're not sure." The nurse came to examine Ginny then walked off to get a potion. She brought it back and handed to her.
"This should help. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, I'd like you two to leave and Miss Weasley to stay the night." Harry opened his mouth to object but Madame Pomfrey silenced him with a glare. "She will stay here until I feel she is well and you two will not. I've had enough of this being a social nightclub. Miss Granger will be back in class by Monday or Tuesday I suspect and the pair of you must be out of here by seven o'clock each day until then. Both boys opened their mouths to protest but she stepped forward and ushered them out of the room without a good-bye. "Now, Miss Weasley, please drink this and I will check on you in an hour." As the nurse walked away, Ginny sniffed at the liquid in her hand. It had no smell so she reluctantly downed it.
"Do you still feel sick?" Hermione asked. Ginny sank into the pillow and nodded, her arms holding her stomach.
"The potion should help," she answered unconvincingly. "I'm still so embarrassed." Her queasiness increased as she said it.
"I know but it's ok."
"And I can't get the prophecy off my mind. I'm so scared for Harry," Ginny finished in a whisper. Her stomach tumbled with the potion as she thought about Harry's fate. She felt like she was on a horrible, roughly rocking boat. Hermione watched her face going a greenish-white again.
"Ginny, you're all right," she said hurriedly, trying to make her calm down. "You're just fine. Harry will be fine, you know he will." Ginny nodded but Hermione knew she didn't believe it. Ginny swallowed twice forcing the contents of her stomach to stay down. "Ginny, you don't need to get sick. You're ok. You're ok." She seemed to calm for a second then felt her stomach lurch forcefully into her throat as extreme nausea overcame her. Turning to the side of her bed, she coughed and threw up all over the floor. Madame Pomfrey ran in and her face fell.
"Oh dear," she said and waved her wand as the mess disappeared. "Lie down and rest. Are you going to vomit again?" Ginny shook her head and collapsed into her sheets. She felt dizzy and extremely ill. "Miss Granger, I'm going to move you into the other part of the wing." She beckoned her hand at Hermione's bed and it followed her away from Ginny.
Throughout the night, Hermione heard Ginny get up several times and race to the loo. Her stomach was empty but she continued to gag loudly, giving dry heaves, her body trying to relieve her. She would fall into a fitful sleep for an hour at a time, dreaming of Harry, the twins, always feeling like her bed was in a sickening motion. Madame Pomfrey instructed her to not drink anything but Ginny often felt thirsty when she came out and would have some water when the nurse left. The occasional liquid gave her something to purge since her stomach continued to thrust. Madame Pomfrey tried to give her one more potion in the early morning but that came up within a minute.
Hermione wished she could help somehow but there was nothing to be done, especially if Ginny was actually ill. Ginny's nerves, fear, stress and continued embarrassment, however, made a terrible combination.
Author's Note: Ok, in case anyone thought Ginny being sick so much was farfetched, my friend used to do this when she was really stressed. She would feel so worried over things she would become physically ill. Throughout the chapter Ginny was worried, mad, tired, etc. so it all built up by the time she heard the news. FYI, it isn't just stress, check out Hermioe's suspicions. So! I quite liked this chapter and I hope you all did too. The R/H scenes were nice so even though the end was gross, I hope you all enjoyed it. And aren't you all proud it took less than a month to update! Yay, celebration! Ok, now individuals!
Hp/charmed obsesed: Hi, I'm sorry I didn't have you in the last chapter but you reviewed my old chapter 27 note and I'd been looking only at 26 reviews. I hope you weren't mad! Anyway, that's cool you got a beta. I hope they help you. Thanks, I'm glad you liked the last chapter, hope you liked this one too. There isn't anything special about the paint, it was just a joke from the twins. You know, Ron likes Chocolate frogs and people use body food paint in sexual ways so the twins were teasing Ron.
HugglesAll: Thank you very much! Aren't you glad I updated so much faster!
Sea-me-surf: No need for you to vomit, I'm not quitting the story! Stop thinking I will. I won't. Yeah, poor Ginny last chapter and especially this one. I'm sorry you can't talk to your brother either. Well, it didn't take me two months to update!
Shortywithbrains: Lol, thank you. I thought the paint would be funny and Hermione swore! Gasp! Yes, Napoleon Dynamite is extremely pointless but funny if you like that kind of humor. It's worth a rent. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
SoftballQueen33: Thank you very much!
True-gryffindor: Thank you! I appreciate it!
J.S. Writer: Thanks! I do when I can!
Arwentheelf: Hee hee, thank you!
'Mione Weasley: Lol, glad you liked the paint! When you said you thought it was something inappropriate that's the first thing I thought of. It does sound gross but I don't know, could be fun. : ) Hope you liked R/H this time. I'm glad Wizard went well. Lol, I've been busy too. I've got tons of schoolwork to do but to get away from it, here I am writing. Wow, that's cool you met another fanfic fan. I'd love it if you gave her my name, thanks! Well, I updated way faster this time, huh?
Greenworldgirl23: Aww, sorry you're sick (well, were probably now) but thanks for reading! Glad they made you feel better!
SisterBear: Thank you! If you could sign in next time that'd be nice so I can find your fic easily. Thanks!
Magnolia Lane: You know, you have the coolest penname. Lol, it just sounds really nice! Anyway, I'm glad you don't think Ron's dumb either. I mean, boys are a bit ditsy too and since when is Ron a big genius in the books? Anywho, glad you liked the phone and unfortunately, Ron and Hermione won't be using the body paint any time soon but it'll be around sometime… : ) Yeah, poor Ginny, especially now! I think Ron was much more supportive this time to everyone. And Hermione's just about there with walking so she'll be up soon. Something will happen later in regards to the song telling Hermione to get better. The twins know about it but it won't be happening until summertime in the fic. Anyway, thanks! Hopefully, I'll talk to you soon! Are you close to finishing your next chapter?
Piratingspiderelf: Interesting name…Lol, glad you liked the paint. Hermione's not being stupid, just anxious. Glad you liked the chapter!
Cheese Diva: Hi! Lol, thanks, glad you liked the phone! And the body paint was funny, lol. Yeah, serious things happen but I have to throw in lines like what Harry said in for some comic relief. Well, thanks, I'm glad you liked the chapter so much and I hope you liked this one too. I know, lol, Napoleon's lines were so funny! God, Idiot!
Puppy Dog Eyes Jr: Lol, yeah, they're fun to write! Thanks!