Smalltalk.
Petrified.
"Where's Ron?" asked Harry.
The dormitory was quiet without him.
Dean and Seamus exchanged looks. Dean piped up "Hospital wing."
"Yeah, Peeves said he's gone to look up Hermione's skirt," smirked Seamus.
Harry smiled at this break in tension. The rumours about the Chamber of Secrets were making everyone on edge: Hermione had been petrified by the Slytherin heir and Hogwarts looked likely to close.
Harry was glad that his friends were talking to him again.
"Typical Ron," joked Harry. The three of them smiled happily but their hearts were elsewhere.
The late afternoon sunlight came in through the hospital ward windows. Ron sat in his usual spot at Hermione's frozen side. Madam Pomfrey had allowed him free visiting hours to reward his persistence. His frequent visits had begun in shock that had given way to apparent nonchalance. Ron had provided more excuses for these visits than Madam Pomfrey supposed Argus Filch had heard from wayward pupils! They had begun with the usual progress checks and now Ron had settled into a routine of bringing homework to Hermione and whispering his notes to her. "I read that this works, honest!" he had cried in earnest. Shaking her head, Madam Pomfrey had vowed not to question his behaviour any longer.
Of course this was not unusual for friends and relatives of coma victims and the like, she reflected from her station as her eyes watched Ron unpack his books. Something deeply sad resonated within her heart as she returned to stocktaking the medicine request forms before updating the patient report diary. Sadly Hermione's entry was another simple ditto annotation.
Ron sat with his three parchments of notes. His work had improved as he strived to focus to learn for Hermione's sake. Lavender Brown had joked about this devotion in the common room and the pair had not spoken since Ron's rather loud retort.
As he tried to balance his bundle of work on her bed the top sheet slide onto Hermione's stomach. Ron gingerly moved his hand to retrieve it but paused. Hermione was completely frozen, clothing and all. Ron's had wanted to touch her again. His hand wavered above her and, of all the parts he could touch, he always touched her hand: clenched in frozen pain it was always stone cold but every visit he hoped it would be warm and alive. Closing his eyes he reached up and held her hand. The coldness of her hand dashed his diminished hopes again.
Ron sighed and picked up the top parchment again but could not read it. His stinging eyes were blurry with tears. Wiping his tears away with his sleeve he was dumbfounded by this latest and unexpected development. His brain fought for a reason which his mouth provided all by itself.
"What if you never come back?" he whispered carelessly.
Ron sat and thought briefly. Uncertain yet dark futures flashed through his mind.
"We would never speak again. You would never tell me off again. I… I would never see you smile again. Or hear you laugh. Oh bloody hell Hermione, who's going to help me with my homework! I'm going to pass out doing this much work! Look at my hands!" Ron stared at his shaking hands in shock. Madam Pomfrey looked up and Ron realised he had been shouting.
"Sorry," said Ron guiltily as he caught the nurse's disapproving stare.
Ron turned back to Hermione. "Look, I had better make a move. Old Pomfrey's giving me evils again," and Ron stood up collecting his homework.
He stooped nervously over her. "Get well soon, ok?" he whispered. Checking no-one was watching, Ron kissed Hermione's forehead and raced out of the ward.
-----------------------
Disclaimer:-
Boyflea says:-
Big hugs to the loyal fanbase and a big thankyou to Taya – yeah my spellchecker keeps saying that too. J
Sorry about the delay, but until book 6 had been read, there was simply no way I'd come near the site and have suprises spoiled! ;)
And thankyou all for your interest. Spread the word, read my old stories etc. Give an old man a reason to keep on writing. ;)
Boyflea said before:-
This will be the first in a series of tiny "off-camera" shorts primarily between Hermione and Ron spanning all books to date.
Boyflea maintains:-
All Harry Potter characters and references are solely owned by JK Rowling. I just love the setting.