A/N: Hi! My first week of summer has been amazing! No more worrying about school! Anyway, this will be my last update until the 12th or 13th because I'm going on vacation! I'm leaving tomorrow at about 4 a.m. so the only time I have is right now! Hopefully this will satisfy you all until next week. Thanks again for everything!
"What?" I said, swinging my legs over my bed and standing shakily on my feet.
"Dear, you don't have to come. In fact, I'd rather you stay here for your own safety," Professor McGonagall said.
I snorted. "Not that I'm not grateful, but I'm going to support my friend, I think he'll need it."
She smiled. " I'm sure he will, too. Come quickly and I'll escort you." I nodded and wrapped my blanket around my shoulders. As we exited the infirmary, the cold air immediately hit and I shivered underneath my wool blanket. The Professor was practically running in front of me and it took all of my energy just to keep up with her; she must really be worried about her students' safety.
We finally reached the Gryffindor common room, but it was so overrun with fidgety professors and sleepy Gryffindors that I almost got lost. Professor McGonagall joined her colleagues and I looked around for my friends.
"Kristin! Over here!" I turned my head at the familiar voice to see Harry, Hermione, Fred, George, Oliver, and Neville on the other side of the room, by the stairs that led to the boy's dorm.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You should know." I nodded and looked up at the stairs.
"Where's Ron?"
"He's still in the dorm. Me and Fred tried to cheer him up, but he wouldn't let anyone in," George said, leaning against the wall.
"Yeah, we tried everything to get him to open the door, but nothing's worked!" By that time, I was half-way up the steps with an idea in mind.
I knocked on the door. "Go away!" I heard his muffled voice yell.
"Ron, it's me, Kristin. I just wanted to talk to you because I have a problem on my hands. You see, I kinda like this guy, but I don't know how to handle my feelings because of my shyness. Do you think you could give me some advice—" I was interrupted when the door opened to reveal Ron, his red hair disheveled, with black circles under his eyes and a glare shooting at me.
"I get attacked by a murderer and you're asking me to help you with your love life!" He yelled. The entire room got quiet and I blushed; I didn't think he would this loud. I pushed him back into the dorm and shut the door behind me.
"I'm sorry about that, dear-heart, but I had to get you to open the door." He looked at me and tears formed in his blue eyes as he plopped down on the nearest bed with his head in his hands.
"Why me? Why did he try to kill me? What did I ever do to want someone to try to kill me?" When I sat down next to him and put my arm around him, he started crying into my shoulder. I've never really comforted someone before, but I tried to think of how I would want someone to make me feel better, so I just held him for a while. The silence and the sound of his sobs started to get to me, so I started to softly sing a song my Mom used to listen to.
"Smile though your heart is aching Smile even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by. "If you smile through your pain and sorrow Smile and maybe tomorrow You'll see the sun come shining through For you. "Light up your face with gladness, Hide every trace of sadness. Although a tear may be ever so near That's the time you must keep on trying Smile, what's the use of crying. You'll find that life is still worthwhile- If you just smile."
A tear rolled down my cheek as I realized how much I missed my family, but I wiped it with my free hand and started to stroke Ron's hair the my Mom did when I was upset. Over the course of a half hour, he started to calm down and he took his head off my shoulder.
"Sorry 'bout that," he mumbled.
"Don't worry about it." I paused. "I kind of think of you as a little brother, Ron, and I couldn't let you stay up here all alone, but now that you're feeling better, I'm sure you want alone-time." I stood up to leave, but he grabbed my arm
"Who's the guy you were talking about earlier?"
I blinked. "Um…" I sighed. "You promise not to tell anyone?"
"Of course."
"Okay…" I was struggling because, back home, I never told anyone who I liked or had a crush on. "Fred."
His eyes widened. "What? Are you outta your mind?" I laughed.
"Maybe." After winking at the youngest Weasley boy, I stepped out of the dorm with a smile on my face: I comforted someone and they didn't break my ribs!