Disclaimer: Everthing belongs to my idol, J.K. Rowling
MEASLES
Chapter 5: Mischief revealed
It was four o'clock in the afternoon. Bill and Fleur's wedding was only two days away. Ron was sitting on the couch, polishing his broom idly, and meanwhile trying to pay attention to his mother in the kitchen, she was complaining about the aproaching wedding. Actually, Ron was lost in his own thoughts about the night he shared with Hermione.
He was grinning to himself foolishly as he heard a noise coming from the fireplace and after a minute he saw someone fell on the floor with a loud thump.
"Harry?" he bellowed, looking stunned. "What are you doing here?" he asked incredously.
"Nice to see you too, Ron!" Harry replied sarcastically, getting up to his feet.
"Welcome!" Ron said apologetically. "But we weren't expecting you until tomorrow." He said putting his broom down.
"Yeah, I know but I decided to come earlier." Harry explained briefly, wiping the dust on his clothes.
"How is Hermione?" he asked right away.
"Better!"
"Who's come?" Mrs. Weasley appeared suddenly in the living room. "Oh, Harry, welcome dear," she beamed and pulled him a fierce hug motherly. "We weren't expecting you until tomorrow," she said like Ron did.
"I worried about Hermione, I decided to come earlier!"
"Oh, she is fine." Mrs. Weasley said waving her hand in the air. "But it is good that you have come earlier. We all need help!" she said winking.
Ron raised one eyebrow at Harry trying to hide his grin as he saw Harry looking confused.
"You will stay in Ron's room, so come on take your track up at once." She said and headed back to the kitchen.
"Who has- " Ginny appeared on the stairs suddenly.
"Oh, Harry" she murmured, looking surprised to see him.
"Hi, Ginny!" Harry greeted her awkwardly.
"Hi," she greeted back and sprinted to the upstairs again. Ron didn't say a word about it; they all knew it was bound to happen.
"Let's go upstairs, you would like to see Hermione, wouldn't you?" Ron suggested and headed towards the stairs.
"Right," Harry nodded in agreement, still looking bewildered-seeing Ginny.
They set the trunk in Ron's room.
"I will go and see Hermione then," Harry said.
"Go away, but she is a bit umm... scary. Don't say I didn't warn you." Ron said.
"How do you know that?" asked Harry inquisitively.
"You know Hermione," Ron said grinning broadly. Harry shot him a doubtful look after that he walked out of the room.
"Harry!"
Once Harry opened the door of her room Hermione cried cheerfully.
"Don't bother, Hermione!" he said as he saw she was trying to get out of the bed. Then his eyes met with Ginny.
"I had better look mum," Ginny muttered awkwardly and got out of the room at once.
"How are you, Hermione, Measles huh?" Harry said playfully as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Harry Potter, did you find it ridiculous?" Hermione asked trying to sound harsh however the corner of her lip twitched. She was glad to see him normal again. Ron had been right, he was ok.
"But, Hermione," Harry started chuckling. "I was infected this, when I was six or something," he said and erupted in laughter. Hermione joined him punching him on the arm playfully.
"Okay, have fun. I got used to it." She said pursing her lips. "If you are caught a disease in Burrow I will be laughing as well. Mrs. Weasley is almost a real doctor, I daresay." She threatened him.
"I can imagine."
"I am death bored, I had to lie in bed all the day. Mrs. Weasley doesn't allow me to go downstairs, she claims that I am still ill." Hermione complained hysterically.
"And plus, I have to avoid Ron," she added rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Ha ha ha!"
DinnerThat night Mrs. Weasley finally let Hermione to go downstairs for dinner. Nevertheless she made sit her far from Ron just in case. Hermione had to roll her eyes as Harry and Ginny smirked meanly. Ron's face turned dark shade of red.
The dinner was a hectic one. The atmosphere was merry. Everybody was cheerful. Even Harry was making jokes and teasing Ron. Ron gazed Hermione out of his eyes corner frequently. They shared private looks. Harry seemed interested with Ginny. Ginny seemed as nonchalant as ever.
But suddenly as Ron swallowed the last bite of his meal, he felt something tighten in his throat. He couhged. His eyes widened. "No it can't be," he thought privately. He began to feel a slight panic rise up in his. He flashed an awkward smile to Hermione as she arched an eyebrow at him. After they all finished eating, Ron called out Harry.
"Harry can you come upstairs with me?" he whispered leaning in his ear.
"Why?" Harry asked, looking uninterested. He seemed enjoying to be around Ginny and he didn't want to be disturbed.
"Hurry up!" Ron insisted looking positively alarmed. Harry sighed in defeat and followed him.
Once they got inside the room, Ron closed the door quickly, grabbed Harry's hand, and glued it on his forehead.
"What are you doing Ron?" asked Harry impatiently. Ron ignored him.
"Do you think I have fever?" he asked hesitantly. Harry frowned slightly.
"Yeah, you're quite hot but-"
"Oh my God!" Ron hissed, his eyes wide in terror.
"For Merlin's sake Ron, don't exaggerate!" Harry remarked indifferently, and headed towards the door eager to turn back to the living room.
"Argh... But can't be happening! That's impossible!" Ron grumbled, ignoring his remark and he started to pace in the room nervously, running his fingers through his hair.
Harry arched a serious eyebrow at him. "Ron, will you tell me it properly?"
"I think I am infected!" Ron blurted out earning a weird stare from Harry.
"Measles Harry Measles," he explained right away as he saw Harry staring at him absent-mindedly.
"How can it happen didn't you-"
"Two night ago, I went to see Hermione!" Ron cut him impatiently.
"What?" asked Harry bewildered.
"Twins gave me a protective potion and I drunk it then went to see Hermione!" Ron told him briefly.
"But Ron why did you do that?" asked Harry, looking confused.
"Mum didn't let me see her! And I worried!" Ron stated quickly.
"You worried?" Harry repeated unbelievingly, trying to hide his smirk.
"Why?"
"I just wanted to see her, Ok?" Ron said, fuming. To his surprise Harry didn't push the matter.
"Ok," he shrugged. "If you took the potion then why have you been infected?" he asked after a moment.
"I want to know that too!"
"How could you trust twins?" Harry asked with obvious disbelief in his voice. Ron merely shrugged.
"Say I am doomed," he exclaimed covering his face with his hands.
"Maybe it is not Measles, this is only umm… dunno. Something else. We have to be sure. We should ask Hermione. She would definitely know what this is." Harry advised.
"What? Are you crazy?" Ron bellowed his eyes huge.
Unexpectedly the door cracked open and much to Ron's horror, Hermione popped his head in.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing!" Ron answered her at once panicking. Hermione regarded him suspiciously.
"We have to tell her, Ron," said Harry indifferently. Ron shook his head immediately in protest, widening his eyes. But Hermione interfered.
"What do you have to tell?" she stepped inside quickly and closed the door with a worried expression. Harry tried to hide his grin. Ron huffed with annoyance. He grabbed her hand and glued on his forehead like he did to Harry.
"What?" "Oh," Hermione suddenly realised. A look of shock washed over her face. "Does your sore, too?" she asked hesitantly. Ron nodded. They looked each other worriedly.
"Ron, you are infected!" Hermione exclaimed, putting a hand over her mouth. Ron groaned loudly.
"I had warned you Ron! How on earth we are going to explain this?" Hermione yelled at him suddenly firing up, looking ready to cry. Ron shocked at her outburst.
"You possibly cannot explain!" remarked Harry abruptly.
"Thank you!" they shouted at Harry in unison. Hermione closed her eyes as she tried to think clearly.
"Write a letter to twins and ask them to come here!" she said quickly, recovering from her initial shock. "In the meantime I should go downstairs! Your mum mustn't get suspicious." She added and briskly walked out of the room.
Ron wrote the letter and lay down on his bed groaning, as Harry sat on the edge of the bed, grinning at him mischievously. They started waiting for twins. After a while, Hermione joined them along with Ginny who was apparently found the situation quite amusing.
After several arguments about the infection between Ron and Hermione there was a popping sound in the room and they looked up to see Fred and George apparated in.
"What in Merlin's name?" Fred exclaimed.
"Hello Harry when did you arrive?" asked George and they shook his hand.
"This afternoon!" Harry replied.
"Okay, what is so important? We were in the Leaky Cauldron with two stunning girls and-"
"Ron is infected!" Hermione interjected quickly.
"Wha- what?" stuttered George, blinking.
"You heard me!" she snapped.
"Are you sure?" asked Fred approching Ron to take a closer look.
"Absolutely!"
"You cheated me, didn't you? How could I trust on you?" Ron yelled at them exasperating with frustration. Twins scowled.
"Hey, whoa, don't be silly! We maybe like joke but we don't risk our lifes. Mum kills us!"
"Why did it happen then? Where had you found the potion?"
"We took it from Lee!"
"Lee?" cried Ron. "You trusted Lee?" he asked unbelievingly and buried his face onto the pillow.
"Write a letter to Lee and learn what are the traits of the potion!" demanded Hermione, sinking into a chair in the room.
"Ok," Fred said sheepishly.
"You didn't pass the hour, did you?" asked George excitedly after he wrote the letter as if he had forgotten to ask the most important thing.
"No!" Ron snapped.
"Are you sure?" Fred slid his eyes to Hermione.
"Yes!" Hermione answered, feeling her face heat up.
After what seemed like an eternity they heard a tap on the window.
"Here is the letter!" Fred jumped out of his seat and opened the window to let the owl in. He swiftly opened the letter and scanned it quickly.
"What does it write?" asked Hermione worriedly.
"It says under two circumtances the potion is ineffective," declared Fred once he finished reading.
"What are those?" asked Hermione hurriedly. Ron stirred in his bed excitedly.
"First, you mustn't pass the time!"
"Second," he paused for a moment as a wicked grin widened on his face. Hermione held her breath.
"Physical contact!"
A horrible silence fell into the room. Hermione and Ron exchanged a scandalized look.
"You said you didn't pass the hour!" George inquired his eyes flicking between Ron and Hermione. They both blushed an embarrassing shade of red.
"Well," Fred snorted loudly. "There has left one condition." He stated quickly. "You two, by any chance, might have snogged each other?" he asked his eyes twinkling. With that sentence Ron nearly fell of his bed.
"I think I am gonna throw up!" he said abruptly and stormed out of the room. They winced in disgust. Hermione remained stunned and cursed under her breath. She made a mental note to make him regret about this flee. Everybody in the room looked at her expectantly. Suddenly she felt the room getting hotter. She desperately needed to be invisible. However all she could do to change the subject.
"What do we do now?" she asked nervously, trying to sound casual and started to pace in the room to avoid the looks. "If Mrs. Weasley finds out,"
"We will find something Hermione," Ginny said soothingly. Hermione shook her head.
"We can't avoid Ron for ten days! She would eventually notice." She argued immediately, turning to face Ginny.
"At least we can hide him. All he has to do avoid Mrs. Weasley until the wedding is over." Harry remarked wisely.
"But people would understand that I've been measles!" they heard Ron mumble gloomily as he returned the room before he lay back on his bed again, coughing slightly.
"Right, but they wouldn't understand you snogged Hermione!" George teased him right away. Hermione shot Ron a murderous look as Harry let out a chuckle. Ron grunted in response.
"Tomorrow mum won't be at home. So it won't be a problem. Besides we can share his work." Ginny said brightly after a short pause. Hermione smiled at her in a thankful sort of way. Ginny winked at her in return, smiling.
"Okay then! But who is gonna take care him at night?" George pointed out abruptly adressing Harry.
"Don't look at me. I don't know anything about Measles!" Harry said at once.
"Hermione?" Fred turned to Hermione. Ron's heart gave an odd thump. Hermione bit her lower lip. The thought of Mrs. Weasley finding out Ron's infection startled Hermione. Her expression turned concerned.
"Right, but how?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Can you stay in this room?"
"What?" Hermione bellowed.
"Yeah that's a good idea. I might get worse!" Ron exclaimed quickly, looking sheepish.
"What about Harry?" asked Hermione ignoring Ron. "Will he stay in Ginny's room?" she asked turning his eyes to Ginny.
"NO!" Ginny shouted at once. Harry blushed noticeably.
"Of course no! No offence Harry but we are not letting you to stay in our little sister's room." Fred explained briefly. Ginny muttered something incoherently.
"So?" Ron prompted.
"We are telling mum then!" George stated with a shrug.
"What? Are you crazy? She kills me. She definitely kills me!" Ron protested immediately, sitting up on the bed.
"In that case Hermione should visit at night to check you!" George suggested. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"But mum could hear the noise!" Ron pointed out quickly. Looking directly in his eyes, Hermione replied.
"I can apparate Ron!"
"Right. But you are still ill!" Ron retorted. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Okay, we are going. Find a solution then. Tomorrow we'll drop in again," said Fred after he checked his watch and they walked out of the room.
Midnight
Ron lay in his bed, tossing uncomfortably, listening the snores of Harry. He didn't sleep a wink since Hermione had promised him to check him at night. He had almost believed that she forgot him when he heard a faint pop sound in the room. He gave a sigh of relief.
"I thought you forgot me!" Ron said playing the hurt.
"Oh poor, did you?" Hermione answered mockingly as she approached to the bed.
"Why are you angry with me?" He asked right away as he gestured her to sit down on the edge of his bed. Hermione glanced over Harry to make sure he was sleeping.
"Because that's all your fault!" she said in a reproachful tone as she sat down on the bed next to him.
"What's my fault?" Ron gave her a hurt expression.
"Ron, I am humiliated." She stated quickly.
"Just because I wanted too see you, I am guilty." Ron complained.
"Ron you understand what I mean. I wouldn't want it to be umm… revealed in front of Harry. Especially in front of twins."
"Oh, you're telling me!"
"And you left me alone," she added quickly.
"I felt nausea!"
"Ron it's not a symptom!" she scolded, frowning a little. They sat in silence for a while.
"I am cold!" Ron said abruptly cuddling her.
"Because your fever is getting hot!" Hermione explained knowingly, touching his forehead. "Thankfully I hadn't finished them all. Come on drink this!" she said, handing a bottle to him. After Ron drunk the potion in one gulp, he grinned at her awkwardly.
"What?" Hermione asked looking surprised.
"I love you!"