Disclaimer: It ALL belongs to the utterly FANTABULOUS JKR. I own only Jaylin George and the plot.
Author's Note: Thanks to all my reviewers. I'm sorry it took so long, but I had major writer's block and I just couldn't get the words to flow properly.
Rocks-my-socks: Thanks for the enthusiastic review and subtle (not) request for an update soon. Here it is, especially for you.
Dante Lewis: Yes, I particularly like the fact that Ginny and Hermione are throwing themselves at Harry. It seems strange but it has a lot to do with the plot (I think) and the winds may change soon. (Or they may not, you never know with these winds). Actually, you were right on when you said that Dumbledore underestimated the Death Eaters. He didn't think that any Death Eater would be foolish enough to try a stunt like that in broad daylight with everyone looking for them. But you were also right when you said that he wanted to make the year seem as normal as possible for all of the students. I actually liked the fact that I made Dumbledore make a mistake… for it does show that he is not a god and he is in fact only human. And everyone makes mistakes. Thanks for the correction for "Hog's Head" I'll remember that for future reference. Thanks for the reviews; they make me feel so much better.
Ruinsul: Yes, the two friends are in love with the same boy-er-man. It will all work out in the end, trust me. But then again, I'm not sure where I just put my socks that were on my feet, so maybe you shouldn't trust me. twilight zone music Yes, unfortunately Ron was hurt… but by what? Read on and find out.
Updated: Saturday, February 12, 2005
Chapter Six: Visiting Ron
I have never made such a terrible mistake, Dumbledore thought to himself as he pushed his way through the crowd of scared students, teachers and passers-by, into Zonko's Joke Shop. He knelt beside his three of his students. Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff, Padma Patil from Ravenclaw and Ronald Weasley from Gryffindor. The three had been the only Hogwarts students browsing in the usually-crowded shop when Death Eaters burst through the back door, sending curses flying everywhere. The owner ducked and ran out of the shop for safety, leaving the three unprepared youngsters to fend for themselves. Dumbledore looked gravely at the teens lying at his feet, and then looked up to the crowd of people looking anxiously on.
"I would like to inform all of you that the students are not in fatal condition," A sigh of relief rippled through the students and teachers. "But… but their injuries are not to be taken lightly." Dumbledore didn't want to mention the Death Eaters that were still at large, for fear of creating a panic. "All of you are to return to your Common rooms and stay there," Dumbledore looked directly at Harry, Hermione and Ginny as he said those last two words. He turned, busying himself with conjuring up stretchers so that the students would not see the worried look that crossed his face.
"Gryffindor First through Seventh Years, follow me!" Professor McGonagall called. In turn, Professors Sprout, Snape and Madam Hooch called for their respective Houses to do the same. With all the rustling of cloaks, and tramping of feet, no one heard nor saw four hooded figures slip out of Hog's Head Pub and Disapparate.
A week later, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor students streamed into the Hospital Wing, anxious to see the students from their Houses. They had not been permitted to see them all week, because they had not woken up and it seemed as if Dumbledore's previous diagnosis had been wrong. Now, after a week of worrying, the children were finally allowed into the Hospital Wing. Harry, Hermione and Ginny were among the first people at Ron's beside.
"Ron!" Hermione cried as she saw that he was sitting up in bed. She threw herself on him in a choking hug.
"Hermione, gerroff me!" Ron cried. Harry had just pulled Hermione off of a struggling Ron when Ginny threw herself on top of her brother and began to cry uncontrollably.
"Miss Weasley! If you cannot control yourself, I will have to ask you to leave. Miss. Granger, get a hold of yourself!" Madam Pomfrey scolded.
"Ron, oh Ronnie! We've been so worried about you. They hadn't let us in to see you, but of course Mum and Dad got to come in." Ginny said through the tears that had started to flow even harder. Hermione wiped her eyes and said briskly,
"Yes Ron. You gave us quite a scare. We thought that maybe you would never wake up!" And the tears started running again. Hermione and Ginny grasped each other and sat in a chair, crying onto the other's shoulder. Harry looked at Ron, who looked utterly bewildered.
"Don't worry mate. As soon as you're out of here, Hermione will go back to quarrelling with you and Ginny will go back to treating you like an annoying fly of a brother." Harry said laughing at Ron's expression.
"Yeah. Yeah, I hope so." Ron looked around the room. "How long have I been out?"
"About a week now," Harry answered following Ron's eyes. He was staring at Jaylin George, one of Ginny's friends.
"Do you fancy her, then?" Harry asked his best friend.
"No, of course not. She's too young… and she's friends with Ginny That would be like dating my little sister, that would." Harry laughed and decided to let it lie. No point in working Ron up just as he was recovering. When the girls finally composed themselves, they filled Ron in on what had been happening in the school. Dumbledore had cancelled all Hogsmeade visits for the year. At this Ron looked outraged and exclaimed,
"What did he do that for?" Hermione gave him a look that said, maybe those curses made you even dimmer than normal, if that's possible.
"Honestly Ron. Could you get any dafter? Three students were attacked at Hogsmeade, INCLUDING YOU!" Hermione was breathing hard, like she had just run a marathon.
"Oh yeah, that's right," Ron looked sheepish and made a face at Hermione's back when she turned away to talk to Jaylin and Ginny.
"The four of you will have to leave now. You may come back tomorrow, if you can contain your emotions. I will not have you upsetting my recovering patients with your hysteria," Madam Pomfrey glared hard at Ginny and Hermione as she said this. The friends said goodbye to Ron and trouped out of the Hospital Wing, leaving Ron who had already fallen fast asleep.
Over the next few weeks, life went on as normal. As normal as life could be with Ron being in the hospital wing and Ginny rushing to his side at every spare second she had. Harry also thought that she was using her 'visiting Ron' excuse to avoid seeing or talking to him. He had really wanted to talk to her about 'that morning', but she was never to be found. Harry was getting aggravated. He was confused and worried about Ron. He didn't know whether he wanted clever, pretty and bright-eyed Hermione, or fiery, red-headed and bright Ginny. Ginny reminded him of what people said his mother was like. Hot tempered and fire red hair. Hermione, on the other hand, had always had a place in heart, nagging away at him. He knew that he wanted her… until Ginny came along.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Professor Dumbledore would like to see the pair of you in his office," Professor McGonagall's sharp voice brought him back to his senses. Harry and Hermione gathered their books and rushed from the room.
"I wonder what Dumbledore wants?" Hermione was picking up their pace. At the statue that guarded Dumbledore's office. Harry was about to say that they needed the password to get in when Hermione whispered,
"Fizzing Wizbees," the statue moved aside to show a long, spiralling staircase. Slowly they climbed, a feeling of dread settling over them.
"I'm sure it's nothing. Probably news about the Order or something," Hermione offered, trying to convince herself more than Harry. The reached the top and shyly stepped inside.
"Ah! Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, please do come in and have a seat." Professor Dumbledore greeted the two, quite nervous, students into his office. Harry and Hermione sat on the chairs that Dumbledore conjured for them.
"Uh. Professor, you wanted to see us?" Hermione started timidly. Dumbledore looked around, as if looking for the source of the voice, then stared intently at the teenagers before him.
"Yes. It seems that Mr. Weasley has taken a turn for the worse. He caught pneumonia yesterday and Madam Pomfrey gave him a dose of penicillin. It seems that Ronald is allergic to the medicine. He has been taken to St. Mungo's to be cared for. Miss Weasley has joined her family and is staying at his bedside for the time being."
"Professor, I-i-is he going to be alright? Will he get better?" Hermione croaked. Dumbledore eyed her with mild interest.
"Miss Granger, it is too early on to tell whether Ronald will be alright. For now, you will attend school as usual and we will keep you posted on his health. You may return to your classes." Professor Dumbledore dismissed them and turned to examine his pet phoenix, Fawks. Hermione and Harry stumbled out of the office. Hermione, who had been keeping a strong face, broke down once down the spiral staircase. Harry patted her arm and steered her towards the Gryffindor Common room.
"Parvati, can you please take Hermione up to your dormitory and make sure she gets some sleep?" Harry gave Hermione's arm to the other girl and followed them to the bottom of the girls' dormitory stairs. Parvati turned and mouthed, 'What's wrong with her?' Harry turned, not answering and climbed his own staircase and sat down on his four-poster, gazing at Ron's beside him.
The air began to get crisp as the month turned from September to October. Harry and Hermione were given permission to leave the Hogwarts grounds to visit Ron one late October afternoon. To save time, Dumbledore insisted that they Floo to St. Mungo's. Harry and Hermione tramped up the steps to Dumbledore's office and knocked.
"Come in," was the answer. They entered and saw that Dumbledore was ready, a jar-full or Floo Powder in his hand. "You both know how to use it. Remember, say St. Mungo's clearly," the old man reminded them. Together Harry and Hermione stepped into the fireplace hearth.
"St. Mungo's Allergy Caused Illnesses Ward," Hermione said. With a cloud of green smoke, the brown-haired girl and raven-haired boy were gone.
Harry and Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and up to the nurse's desk, brushing themselves off. "Excuse me; we're looking for Mr. Ronald Weasley," Hermione said in her best I-mean-business voice. The nurse looked up at them over her glasses.
"And who might you be?" she asked.
"I'm Harry Potter, and this is Hermione Granger," Harry replied, trying to conceal the annoyance in his voice and not succeeding. "Professor Albus Dumbledore sent us." The nurse shuffled through a clipboard of papers and dragged her finger down the list.
"Ah, yes. You and Miss Granger are her to see Ronald Weasley. Right, well he's in room 624. Down the hall and to the right." The nurse went back to typing at the speed of light on her computer. As they turned to go, Harry and Hermione heard he mutter, "Honestly, teens these days never explain themselves clearly." They ventured down the extraordinarily long hall until they finally reached the last door on their right. Cautiously, Harry knocked on the door.
"Come in," a very tired-sounding voice called. Harry pushed open the door and followed Hermione in. Ron was sitting up in bed, around him, sitting on chairs, were Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Charlie, Bill and Ginny. The only one who was no there was Percy.
"Hi Ron. How're you doing?" Hermione whispered. Ron glanced up and broke into a grin.
"I was wondering when Dumbledore'd let you come visit me," Harry and Hermione were assured that Ron would be alright, but they wanted to keep him in the hospital for a few more days. The group spent the next hour chatting and catching up.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Harry announced a short time after tea was served. He got up and left the room. He wandered down the hall, sure that he would come across the bathroom, and he didn't want to ask the nurse lady from hell. Harry climbed the stairs to the seventh floor and set off down the hallway. Suddenly, his scared seared. It was pain that he hadn't felt in a long time. He sank to the floor and clawed at his forehead, hoping to tear his scar away. The sounds of the hospital slipped away and he saw nothing but black and heard nothing but the setting of twilight. Then he heard it. The voice.
"I want the boy. But he is guarded even more heavily than he knows. What can we do you ask. What can we do? Well I will tell you, my faithful servants. We will strike, when that fool least suspects it. We will strike and strike hard. At last I will regain the power I once held." The voice was cold, so cold. Harry tried desperately to get away from it, but he couldn't move. He struggled and finally it was too much for him. His arms and legs went limp and he could hear no more.
(A/N: Thanks for reading... now please REVIEW. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. Don't want to leave my eager readers in the drak, now do I? Actually... that sounds quite nice.)