Chapter 7

"Ron! Ron, I'm so sorry!" Hermione whispered into her hands as she crouched by his bedside.

Everyone had congregated in Ron's attic bedroom the morning after the disastrous incident of Ron's broom and nose getting broken in half.

"He probably can't hear you Hermione; the effect of the potion is rather prolonged. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't regain consciousness for another day or two."

With this news from Mr Weasley, everyone left him and went about their own business, including Hermione, however her face full of immense concern despite Ginny's constant reassurances.

Hermione hadn't seen Fred since last night, as he and George had left at the crack of dawn for their big shop opening that day; she was alone in the house besides Ron, who was hardly great company when he was unconscious, however part of her felt relieved that she could be left alone. (Mr Weasley and Percy had returned to the Ministry – Hermione understood this completely given the dire situation at the moment concerning Death Eaters on the loose, inexplicable muggle killings and of course the unknown whereabouts of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; Mrs Weasley had simply gone shopping in Diagon Alley – it was recommended to be done at the weekend as it was then that better guard could be kept of customers, and Ginny had gone to visit Dean.)

For the whole day Hermione did nothing but attempt to continue reading her loyal friend in type: Hogwarts:A History, but to her increasing annoyance, she was frequently interrupted by the random appearances of two faces in her head: Ron's and Fred's.

Just as she was starting to feel incredibly frustrated at the sight of the repeating image of Fred's face slowly morphing into Ron's, a sudden 'thump' distracted her; it came from upstairs – in the direction of Ron's bedroom. She raced up the spindly staircase to investigate the cause of the disruption.

"Ron?" She burst in to find him in a lump on the floor, for the second time in two days. She helped him up and pushed him back on his bed and under the covers.

"Urrgh …. I thoughd I'd be okay do ged up … obviouzly nod …" He sounded as though he was suffering from a severely blocked nose, as it was wrapped in approximately 2 inches thick of bandages and every noise he made sounded muffled and distant.

"Well, that potion your Mum gave you last night gives side-effects of dizziness and extreme disorientation as a result of an attempt of movement if the drinker isn't fully cured, and seeing as you fell in a heap when you attempted movement, I'm guessing that you're not yet cured, so no, I don't think it would be that wise to try and get up just yet …"

"Herbiodee, ztop fuzzing!" She was plumping up his pillows, straightening out his sheets and dabbing his forehead with a wet flannel until he snapped and flapped his arms, indicating for her to give him some space.

"Sorry …" She sat down in the chair by his bed. "I'm just sorry about … yesterday and everything."

"Doezn'd madder … waz Fred'z fauld …" Ron looked glum and started picking at his nails.

"No, it was both of us Ron. We should have warned you or something." Hermione leaned out to touch his forehead again put he pulled away.

"Why were you zo cozy wid hib edyway? I didn'd evud dow you were friendz!" He said fiercely, the tips of his ears glowing red.

"For Heaven's sake Ron, he was only teaching me a Quidditch move, and helping me to fly with a bit more confidence-" Hermione stood up defensively, the colour in her cheeks rising like it was in Ron's, however not out of anger.

"I would have helbed you!" Ron said loudly. "Why were you zo relukdand do come dear me on a broob but whed he offerz, you go and prakdically sid on dop of hib!"

"Ronald, I did no such thing!" Hermione began to get irritated now.

"You fanzy hib don'd you?" Ron's face seemed now contorted with rage. "You've beed zeeing hib all dis tibe! Datz why you've beed zo disdand!" Ron threw back his covers and made to get out of bed again. "I'LL KILL HIB!"

"That is ENOUGH!" Hermione shrieked, shoving him back into bed a little more forcefully than was probably necessary. "Yes, I am friends with Fred-" (Hermione heard the bedroom door open at this point but didn't look round, she was too occupied calming Ron down) "-but that's IT Ron! Why would I have feelings for Fred? I don't find him attractive at ALL and I am insulted by your insinuation of doing something so ridiculous as fancying him! Now do you understand me Ron? There is NO WAY, do you hear me?"

After she had watched Ron give a rather hesitant but satisfied nod, she turned to the door to see why it had opened, and to her absolute horror, she saw the back of Fred disappear out of sight.