It was Ron's birthday, and Ginny woke up early to write him a card she had bought during the holidays. She wrote:
Dear Ron
Happiest of birthdays to you!
Even though things haven't been great between us this year, I sincerely hope they improve. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead and that you get everything you wish for. I want nothing but the best for you, dear brother.
Lots of love
Ginny
P.S my present for you will be anything you want from Fred and George's shop when we're home next
She sealed the envelope and then took it down to breakfast with her. She met Hermione and sighed. Ron and Hermione were still not on speaking terms. It was without a doubt the longest they had ever fought for. When Ginny walked downstairs to breakfast with Hermione at her side, her friend told her irritably, "I cannot believe that there is nothing in the library about Horcruxes!" Ginny couldn't help but chuckle, "You mean, the library has failed you for the first time ever?!" Hermione nodded and sighed, "I don't understand! I searched for weeks before the end of term and now and nothing! I can't actually believe it!"
Ginny couldn't help but giggle, "You know, I'm sure there's a reason they're not in the library! Dumbledore probably doesn't want his students finding out about this kind of dark magic." Hermione sighed, "I know, I thought about it before. I'm just really disappointed!" At that moment, they entered the Great Hall, to find Ron and Lavender entangled in each other and snogging. Lavender sat on his lap, arms twisted around his neck, but Ron wasn't looking very into it. Ginny sighed, "I guess I will give him his card later." Hermione rolled her eyes and asked, "Why do you even bother to make an effort?" Ginny shrugged her shoulders, "Good question!"
The rest of the day passed laboriously and Ginny couldn't wait for it to end. However, the end was almost equally as bad because it didn't mean she got a break at all, it just meant she had to work hard until she went to sleep. That was the part she yearned for the most at the end of a day-to sleep. It allowed her to switch off and succumb to her subconscious, which was currently a lot more pleasant than her reality.
When Ginny returned to the dorms after dinner that evening, she found Harry rush down the stairs from his dormitory. He searched the common room until his eyes landed on her and he ran towards her quickly, "Gin! Gin! Something's wrong with Ron! I think…he's swallowed a love potion!" Ginny frowned and said suspiciously, "That's weird. He likes Lavender. Why would he need…" Ginny suddenly noticed Romilda Vane, who was sitting two chairs away from them, watching them curiously. She didn't get to finish her sentence as Harry dragged her by her hand up the stairs and to his dorm. He showed her Ron, who was staring dreamily up at the ceiling and hugging a pillow to his chest, "Romilda…" he was saying,
"Oh Romilda…" Ginny laughed and Harry raised his eyebrows, "He's gone bonkers!" he said worriedly.
Ginny shook her head and had a look at the Cauldron Cakes Ron had devoured. She held up the wrapping and said, "Ah, these are from Fred and George's shop…I was looking at them when we were there…" Suddenly, she found herself becoming furious as she pieced two and two together, "These were meant for you, Harry!" She threw the wrapper down, picked up the card and read out loud:
Dear Harry
I thought I'd give you a little present…
Something you might quite enjoy…
Because, well why not?
Love,
Romilda!
At the bottom of the card, was a picture of Romilda blowing a kiss at the reader, who was meant to be Harry, but turned out to be Ron. Ginny fumed angrily as she yelled, "I can't believe that bitch STILL thinks she has a shot with you!" She stormed out of the room, as Harry in silence, not knowing where to look. Ginny took the card downstairs with her, and Harry followed, pulling Ron beside him.
Ginny stalked up to Romilda, who was in conversation with Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee and she said heatedly, holding the card up for them all to see, "I can't BELIEVE you're still trying to steal Harry from me! Grow the hell up! Get over yourself! And stay out of my life!" Romilda was shocked and she blinked innocently as she stood up and said, "But…Harry ate the cakes, didn't he?" Ginny shook her head and smirked, "No, thankfully they were eaten by my brother. So, next time I suggest that you just stay away." Romilda looked as though she had been slapped in the face, as she jolly well should've.
Ginny stormed out of the common room, leaving a round of applause echoing behind her and lots of laughter from watching students. Harry followed her, a wide grin on his face, "Gin! Gin, wait! That was amazing!" She turned, and she hadn't realized she was shaking violently. She saw him grinning from ear to ear, Ron still in a daze behind him and whining about wanting to go back to Romilda. Ginny turned to Ron, "Shut it! She said she'll meet us down in the dungeon, okay? With…Professor Slughorn!" Ron grinned like a dimwit and nodded happily, "Alrighty then!"
Harrysaid proudly, "I'm so lucky to have you, Gin. I've really missed you." He enveloped her in a tight hug and she couldn't help but relax in his arms and sigh, "I missed you too. It's been too long since I last saw you." He tightened his grip on her and kissed her on the neck. She felt a shiver go down her spine as she extracted herself from him and said, "Harry…we can't. Let's just get Ron sorted and then maybe." He nodded, looking slightly disappointed.
They walked down to the dungeon, but Harry took hold of her hand as she asked him, "How is apparating going?" Harry groaned, "It sucks. It looks way easier than it is." Ginny nodded, "So I've heard. I hope you haven't been splinched yet?" Harry chuckled, "Nope, but Ron was. He left behind a finger. So unfortunate really." Ginny nodded. Harry began circling the inside of her hand with one of his fingers. She smiled and said, "You know…you're really good at distracting me when you do that…" Harry stopped immediately, "Sorry, I've just missed this. Us." Ginny nodded, "Likewise. What did Dumbledore tell you on the first lesson at the beginning of term." He somewhat tensed then and he asked, "Can I tell you later? It's a bit of a long story." Ginny nodded and sighed.
They had finally reached the dungeon and Harry knocked on Slughorn's door. He peeked through a slot in the door, and murmured, "Hello Harry, hello Ginny." Ginny nodded and Harry said, "Sir, sorry to disturb you at this time of night, but my friend, Ron has swallowed a love potion. Would you mind please making a remedy?" Slughorn reluctantly opened his door and said, "Of course, but Harry my boy, you're good at this. You should be able to make a good quality one of your own!" He let Harry and Ginny in and they found that he was in a dressing gown. Ron followed them and Slughorn quickly whipped up a remedy.
He handed it to Ron in a mug and Ron murmured, "Where's Romilda…Romilda…?" Ginny was shocked when he hopped onto Slughorn's couch, sat on the head of it and then fell off backwards. She laughed and Harry grinned as Slughorn shook his head, "It's a dreadfully strong potion." Harry nodded in agreement as Slughorn handed Ron the remedy, "Here Willoby. It's for the nerves." Ron nodded gratefully and slugged it down.
Suddenly, the goofy grin faded from his face and Harry sighed in relief, "Thank you, Professor." Ginny nodded in agreement, "Thank you very much. It's his birthday you see and it would have been awful for him to be intoxicated the whole time." The professor waved away their thanks as Ron said, "I feel awful." Slughorn chuckled, "It's the after effects of the potion. No worries, let's have something to drink and toast…er…Ronald for his birthday? Might cheer him up."
Slughorn handed a glass around to each of us and I took mine appreciatively. I waited until we each had our glass and then Slughorn toasted, "To Willoby!" Ron was the first to take a sip, and a second later, he collapsed on the ground. He was writhing around in agony and Ginny yelled, "Somebody do something!" Harry dropped his glass and ran to Slughorn's supplies. Ginny was too stunned to move. She was in shock. She gasped as Ron's head rolled around on his neck, completely limp. Foam began spraying out of his mouth and Ginny screamed, "Harry! HARRY!" She couldn't think, her mind had gone numb in horror. A second later, Harry shoved something small down Ron's mouth.
It made him seize up and Ginny hid her face in Harry's shoulder. She couldn't watch anymore. Harry patted Ginny's back and whispered, "Look. He's breathing normally again." Ginny turned her head to see her brother lying on the floor, completely unconscious, but that's all. It looked like he was in a deep sleep. Harry turned to Slughorn, "We need to take him to the hospital wing." Slughorn nodded in agreement, pale with shock, "Quite right, quite right. Uh…I'll levitate him there. Harry, I think you should alert Professor Dumbledore." Harry nodded and turned to her, a look of relief on his face as he said urgently, "Gin, you go with Professor Slughorn to the hospital wing. I'll get Professor Dumbledore." Ginny nodded and squeezed Harry tightly around his waist, "Thank you," she whispered, "For saving him. I love you."
Harry grinned broadly, kissed her cheek and said, "I'll be back in a bit." She nodded and followed Slughorn down the fairly empty passages as he levitated her brother's lifeless body towards the hospital wing. When they arrived there, Madame Pomfrey fussed over them and asked questions. Slughorn had cleverly bought the bottle of mead with them and he showed it to Madame Pomfrey, who said, "We should wait for Professor Dumbledore."
They sat down on either side of Ron's bed and waited. Fifteen minutes later, Dumbledore strode in, with Harry at his side and several other Professors. Snape was with them, as well as McGonagall. She ran to Harry and threw her arms around him. She wasn't usually the type to feel dependent, but when something so awful had happened, she needed extra support. Harry stroked her hair and whispered softly, "It's okay, Gin. Dumbledore said giving Ron the bezoar was the best thing to do." Dumbledore stood beside Harry and nodded, "Indeed it was. It saved your brother's life. Miss Weasley, your parents have been notified and they will be here shortly."
Ginny nodded in thanks and Harry asked worriedly, "How is he doing?" Ginny shrugged and turned to face her brother's still form, "He's still unconscious," she whispered. They moved closer to the adults in the room and Snape smelt the flask, "It was definitely poisoned." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and McGonagall asked, "Who did you intend to give it to, Professor Slughorn?" Slughorn shrugged, "To Professor Dumbledore, as a Christmas gift. But I never got around to it as you weren't here, Professor." McGonagall murmured, "Thank heavens for that! And for Mr Potter's heroic actions!"
Ginny couldn't help but beam at Harry. She had never felt prouder. Of course, he tried to shy away from the attention he was receiving, until Hermione entered the room. She rushed up to Ginny and Harry and asked concernedly, "Is he ok?" They both nodded and Hermione sat down in the chair closest to Ron and took a hold of his hand.
Ginny glanced at Harry and he smiled happily. They both were thinking the same thing. A second later, hysterical Lavender ran in asking, "How is he? Where's my Won-Won?! Has he been asking for me? What's she doing here?!" Hermione stood up indignantly then, "I might ask you the same thing." Lavender's face contorted in a look of disapproval, "I happen be his girlfriend!" Hermione spluttered in retaliation, "Well…I happen to be his…friend." Lavender laughed menacingly, "Oh please! The two of you haven't spoken in weeks! I guess you think he's so…interesting now! That's why you're here!" Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Excuse me, he's been poisoned you idiot! And just so you know, I've always found him interesting!"
At this point, Ron started murmuring in his speech, "Ug…" Lavender smirked, "See! He knows I'm here! Won-won…Won-Won…?" He gurgled unintellibly, "-ermione…-ermione…" Lavender began hyperventilating as she ran out of the room in tears. Hermione smiled embarrassedly and Dumbledore murmured, "Come on everyone, Mr Weasley has enough visitors." They all filed out of the room and then Harry smirked at Hermione who blushed, "Oh shut up!" she said indignantly.
Ginny giggled and sat down opposite Hermione, Harry pulling up a chair next to her. Hermione sighed, "Thank you Harry, for saving him." Harry smiled, "No need to thank me, Hermione. I'm just glad he's alive." Hermione nodded and Ginny rested her head on Harry's shoulder as they waited for her parents to arrive.
Author's Note: Woohoo another one done! I was really looking forward to writing this part! I hope I did it justice. Please let me know what you guys think? I was hoping this year would take quicker to write than last year's story, but it doesn't seem like that will be the case. As always, thank you to my wonderful and consistent reviewers!