Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J. K. Rowling. I have nothing. Nothing.

MEASLES

Chapter 2: One way or another

"Stop pacing Ron! I feel dizzy," Mrs. Weasley scowled Ron, standing next to the kitchen counter, stirring a potion with her wand in a small cauldron, a copy of the Healer's Helpmate open at 'Measles'.

Bill and Fleur both erupted in laughter at this comment. Ron blushed. Mr. Weasley shook his head never lifting his eyes from Daily Prophet, but the corner of his lip twitched.

"Don't worry Ron she will be ok!" Bill said, chuckling slightly as he saw his concern about Hermione. "Yes, Yes," said Fleur, who like Bill was laughing. They watched him in a sort of amusement.

"I know…" Ron interjected quickly, sending an exasperated glare.

"Let's play chess!" Bill suggested, feeling pity for his brother, to distract him if it was possible.

"Well… I don't know." Ron said, looking indifferent. But suddenly something clicked on his mind. The chess set was in his room.

"I will go and bring the set, then!" he said enthusiastically.

He sprinted to the upstairs, eager to get a chance to see Hermione. He looked hopefully towards her door. It was ajar. He heard Ginny mumbling something incomprehensibly. He approached to the door wishing to hear her voice at least but unfortunately Ginny noticed him right away. "It's contagious, Ron!" she said mockingly never missing a beat, mimicking Fleur perfectly and closed the door. Embarassing at being caught staring Ron blushed. He got the set and headed back to sitting room.

It was impossible to tell which one of them was more distracted though, seeing Fleur sending kisses to Bill from the sofa, and Ron obviously thinking about Hermione. But naturally, by experience Bill won the game. "Next time, Ron," he said haughtily. If it were another day, Ron would be upset about the result. But this time it didn't matter. He started to collect the pieces idly as he saw his mother heading to the upstairs.

"Here is the potion, Hermione dear. Now sit down and drink it. One spoon in the morning, and one spoon in the evening." Mrs. Weasley said, standing over Hermione with her wand in her hand.

"Maybe I should go home, Mrs Weasley! You have a lot of work to do. I don't want to be a burden cough cough for you." Hermione proposed, remembering the wedding.

"Nonsense." Mrs Weasley frowned. "You will recover more quickly here than your home. I know muggle treatment." She said crossly implying the incident at St. Mungos last year.

Hermione was too sick to argue. She blinked her eyes.

"I will write to your mother tomorrow morning, she has to be informed. İf she wants, she can come and visit you. Sleep now, " she said flatting the covers of the bed with her wand.

"Thanks for everthing, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said, expressing her gratitude. Mrs. Weasley winked at her warmly before she got out of the room.

"Can you turn the light off Ginny? My eyes hurt," Hermione requested Ginny.

"Sure!" "Nox!" Ginny muttered, giving her wand a casual flick. Hermione fell asleep right away.

"Where are you going?" Mrs. Weasley asked immediately, as she saw Ron headed towards stairs, blocking his way.

"I want to sleep mother. Will you let me?" Ron asked with a hint of sarcasm, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, sure!" she said waving her hand in the air. Ron rolled her eyes. Fleur and Bill erupted in laughter.

"You must get up early. You are going to Diagon Alley for shopping in the morning. After that you're going to drop over twin's place. Tell them I have chosen their robe; they just have to visit Madame Malkin for fitting. Since I can't leave Hermione alone, I won't be able you accompany them." She told out of the breath.

"Anything else?" Ron rolled his eyes impatiently.

"And after you got home you will degnome the garden!" Mrs. Weasley added quickly before she started having kittens.

"We have Crookshanks for that," Ron said as he noticed the furry ginger cat with a squashed face purring beside him. Mrs. Weasley clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

"Go and sleep Ron!"

When Ron got to upstairs he stole a final glance at her room's door. It was wild shut. He sighed disappointedly. He heard noises coming from their room whole night but he couldn't find the courage to get out of his room. His mum would definitely catch him.

&&&

Ron wake up in the morning very early. Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Fleur were all at the kitchen table, having breakfast. He settled down and asked to his mother before munching over his pancake.

"How is Hermione?"

"She is still sleeping. She had a rough night and so we had as well, along with her." Mrs. Weasley said, looking really sleepy. "Her fever didn't decrease though. I may have to call Madam Pomfrey this afternoon." She explained ruefully.

"Ginny sweet, please wake Hermione up, she has to drink her potion in time." Mrs. Weasley turned to Ginny after they finished their breakfast. Ginny nodded in response and got to her feet.

"By the way Ron, tell the twins that I am waiting for them for tomorrow evening. And don't forget to buy everything on the list. Now go and get dressed."

Ron got to his feet and headed to his room behind Ginny.

Meeassslees isss aaa con- teeeee- gious disaaaaaasteee," Ginny started to chant something cheerily as she realised Ron coming behind her.

"I will sing a song too when Harry arrived Burrow!" Ron retorted frowning.

Ginny scowled and the door slammed shut.

"Good Morning, Ginny." Hermione opened her eyes when she heard the door opened.

"Morning to you, too. How are you feeling today?" Ginny asked sincerely opening the window slightly to let some fresh air in.

"Tired." Hermione answered, sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Very normal. You didn't sleep a wink last night." Ginny commented.

"Either you didn't." Hermione said apologetically.

"No problem!" Ginny smiled sweetly. "Come on drink this." She said handing the potion to Hermione.

Hermione grimaced after she drunk the potion. "What is it inside it? Cough cough" she asked curiously as he felt a sharp pain rising in her throat.

"You wouldn't want to know!"

They both laughed.

"Mum is writing a letter to you mother."

"I hope she doesn't overreact!"

"What about Ron?" she asked after a while trying to sound casual, however her tone contradicted her.

"He is going shopping. He didn't want to go surely. He made mum crazy yesterday night. Persistently he asked how on earth he hadn't been infected before, where he had been while we were all ill, blah blah blah…" Ginny explained the situation funnily. Hermione cracked a smile.

"Indeed, How come?"

"Well… He wasn't born yet when Charlie and Bill had been infected. Twins were at Hogwarts. And when I was ill you were at Hogwarts. See?"

"Hmm. Figures out!"

"I need a mirror." Hermione said abruptly, lying down to her bed again since her head spinning violently.

"I can't do this to you!"

"Ginny!"

&&&

After buying everything in the list at Diagon Alley Ron made his way to the twin's shop.

"My my my, our little bro is here…" Fred beamed as he stepped inside the shop, appering suddenly at his shoulder.

"Hi!" Ron greeted him, looking around inquisitively. The shop was crowded as usual.

"Let's go to the office," Fred suggested, leading his way to another room. Ron followed him.

"How is everybody at home?" he asked as Ron dropped himself on to a chair in the office.

"Everybody is fine. Mum sent me to buy something and to inform you that you should go to Madam Malkin for your robes. She said she had chosen them already! And she is expecting you to dinner for tomorrow evening." Ron told out of the breath.

Fred grimaced.

"Hello, Ron!" They heard George's voice coming out of nowhere.

"Hello!" Ron greeted him back.

"Has Hermione come over?" George asked abruptly muffling Ron's head playfully.

"Yeah!" Ron nodded. "And she is ill!" he blurted out as if he had forgetten to say the most important thing.

"Why? How?" Fred asked in a serious voice.

"She got Measles!" Ron blurted out.

"Measles?" They both yelled unbelivingly.

"Yeah…"

"How come?"

"Don't know. She was looking pale when she first came to Burrow but she said she had been fine. However in the evening she got serious. Mum prepared her a potion." Ron explained briefly.

"How is she now?" Fred asked, looking at him inquisitively.

"Don't know!" Ron shrugged, loking rather gloomy.

"How can't you know?" George asked, his eyes huge.

"Because I am forbidden to approach her!"

"For the love of the Merlin!" Fred said, looking bewildered. "Now I remember, you haven't been infected before!" he snapped his head.

Ron simply nodded.

"Then it is impossible to talk her in private!" George said with a significant look before he started to open a box.

"What do you mean?" Ron's head snapped in surprise.

"Oh come on Ronnikins. We both know you have been practising to talk to her since you came home from Hogwarts." Fred said, smirking loudly as he helped to his brother.

"It's a lie…" Ron cut in, blushing an embarrassing a shade of red.

"Ron, we know." Fred said, becoming suddenly serious. Ron decided not to oppose. There was no use to deny around them.

"So?" he asked hoarsely, sinking down to his chair.

"If you can't talk to her until wedding, you won't be able to find time later. It wouldn't be appropriate to talk about love while you are after the Horcruxes with Harry. Do you know that, don't you?" Fred indicated earnestly.

"I know. I hope you suggest something then, my genious twin brothers!" Ron said, looking at them expectantly.

"Well… if you say so." They grinned broadly.

"George do you think we can help him?" Fred nudged George.

"Yeah he is miserable!"

"Stop poking fun with me! Are you going to help me or not?" Ron asked nervously. He hated when he was miserable.

"Didn't you call us genius earlier?" Fred pointed.

Ron rolled his eyes impatiently.

"Now you go home. Tomorrow evening we are coming home for dinner. We will find something, don't worry!" George consoled him.

"Anyway... I am off then!" he said getting up to his feet, and marched over to the fireplace. He grabbed some floo powder and before he yelled 'home' he saw his brothers grinning him knowingly.

"Just in time." His mother patted him on the back as he handed the bags to her mother.

"How is Hermione?" Ron asked cautiously.

"Oh, better. Her fever decreased. But I will prepare something for the rashs. She is really obsessed with that. Ginny took her meal a second ago. I hope she eats something. Anyway, go and change your clothes, you will degnome the garden!"

Ron just growled and headed to the upstairs. He saw Ginny coming out of the room, carrying a tray. He stopped at the doorway.

"How is she?" he asked one more time.

"She is fine." Ginny assured him, smiling slightly. This time she seemed civil. "How are twins?" she asked him.

"Busy. But they are coming for dinner tomorrow night!"

"Good!" she said and made her way to the kitchen.

Suddenly Ron realised there was nobody in Hermione's room. He couldn't resist the urge and decided to take a look at Hermione. Looking around to make sure nobody is around, he popped his head in. The curtains were tightly closed not to let the sun inside and there was an intense odour inside the room. Her bushy brown hair was spreaded over the pillow and she looked very thin in the bed. He thought she was sleeping peacefully.

"Ron what are you doing here?" Hermione cracked open her eyes and noticed Ron staring at her.

"Shhhh, Hermione!" Ron said, panicking.

"Don't you dare to come inside," she warned him quickly, lowering her voice. "Your mum kills both of us!" she exclaimed, shifting in her bed restlessly. Ron stepped back.

"I worried about you," he said throughly taken aback.

"I will survive, I guess," she smiled weakly at him.

"Can you see the red spots on my face? She asked after a moment, pursing her lips childishly.

"They look adorable!" Ron blurted out suddenly, smiling lopsidedly, without making eye contact at all. Hermione blushed more if it was possible. Ashamed Ron avoided his eyes. There was an awkward silence. Hermione broke the silence.

"You should go Ron." She remarked half-heartedly. "Your mum can come at any moment!"

"Yeah right. See you later then…" he said closing the door very slowly.

"Good bye Ron!"

For the rest of the day Ron worked in the garden, with Crookshanks around him much to his dislike. He thought about the possibilities that twins could advise. They were right in consequence. After the weddding they were going to go Godric's Hollow with Harry and it was impossible to talk to her in private. Thus he prayed for that Fred and George would really help him.