Chapter twenty-five - 'Oh stop being so fussy Hermy!'
The next time Charlie saw Tonks was very different, it was after an order meeting and she gestured for him to follow her to an old park that was rarely used and very good to talk quietly in. It was rather late and although quiet excited at first, Charlie soon worked out that it had just been a bit of fun for Tonks and what with the way the ministry was now and the order re-starting, it just wouldn't be practical to let it continue in to anything else.
At first he'd thought she was actually rather mature and sensible about it and he agreed whole-heartedly about it and let things just drift. However, a couple of weeks later when he couldn't forget about her and spent most his time day dreaming in bed when he wasn't working, it soon became apparent for him that really, he'd wanted more. Then some many months later he'd discovered that she probably was dating quiet happily with Remus on the quiet side and that he'd long since missed his chance of ever getting her back properly.
For the time been he'd been forcing himself to be nothing but young and friendly with her and normally he could do it, they'd even been out for a few drinks together. But every now and then, when he was on his own and feeling particularly jealous of Bill and Percy or just plain lonely, he just couldn't help but think about how wonderful it would have been to date her properly. All you had to do was look at the marked difference in Remus's eyes and see he was very happy and be able realise just how great she must be. After all from what Charlie could tell Remus was like Sirius, and as far as Charlie could tell, neither of them ever showed much emotion. Just to see emotion in there eyes at least marked a huge improvement and for the pair of them, it seemed to have something to do with Tonks.
After having Tonks drop in on him in hospital Charlie was faced with being at home for quiet along time with his mother re-cooperating. He knew after three days of her fussing nagging and general mothering, he was going to really look forward for that distant day when he could go back to work. He'd officially been signed off sick for too long he thought but unfortunately, he'd miss the next contract round because of it and unless he found a temporary part time job doing something, there was no way he had enough money to live on his own until he started working again somewhere.
"So Charlie's gonna be ok then, he's just pissed off about being at home with mother all the time." Ron explained brightly as he and Harry headed down to breakfast early.
Harry had finally given in and Ron was to make him (on Hermione's orders) eat something down in the breakfast hall. Harry had only agreed to this stupid forced eating routine if they were first down so he wouldn't have to put up with too much staring and was really hoping not to have to sit there very long. Unfortunately Ron was going to make him eat a proper amount of food today as Hermione, as a barter, had actually offered a considerable amount of homework help that Harry just couldn't match and Ron was in such dire need of homework that he wasn't about to let the opportunity pass.
"Are you looking forward to Christmas then?" Harry asked casually while trying to eat very little, very slowly, but Ron kept inspecting how much went down every few mouthful's so he couldn't even hide stuff under the table.
"Yeah well, I hope having Charlie around for a bit will help matters. Ginny's not though, I don't think she likes the idea of being at home with mother but doesn't think she could cope with being the only one here this Christmas, now you've got weird relatives and stuff to go to. But Bill said he's coming over for a few days, I doubt Fleur's coming again, but she does seem quiet determined to try and get along with mother one way or another. And mum's trying to pester me to get you to come over for Christmas even if it's only for the second week. She's quiet pushy actually, sends me all sorts of daft reasons why and stuff."
"I like coming to yours Ron but I was kind of hoping to stay with Remus, like I promised." Harry explained carefully but Ron already shrugged in agreement.
"I know Harry, I tried telling her that but she never listens to anyone. Did you manage to get him the present you wanted to through Fred and George?"
"Yeah it's upstairs, came the other night. I hope he likes it, took me ages to find him something, he's so bleeding difficult to buy for sometimes. I mean, what do you get the man who can have everything but he just can't use it?"
"Soap!" Ron put in half heartedly but was actually quiet honest when he thought about the cleanliness of Sirius the last time Ron got to see him. Harry merely burst out laughing at this when he thought what Sirius might think of such a comment and it wasn't just an excuse not to eat for a few minuets. Recently Harry had felt obliged to comment on Sirius's good hygiene skill's and how he'd managed to keep up washing and changing his clothes every other day, Harry still thought he looked as rugged as ever but as good godchild he thought he'd best be encouraging to Sirius's interests however petty they may seem outside of his lonely little world.
It was nearly the start of the Christmas holidays and almost everybody had given up on homework that wasn't needed to be finished until after the holiday. It was always the way, but unfortunately it meant the common room was more likely to be full in the evenings than before, with people getting into the Christmas spirit and generally crashing out.
Despite feeling often rather tired and weary in the evenings, Harry didn't want to miss anything, particularly now Ron was happy to daydream about Lavender Brown of all people, and ignore his sister and Harry, whatever they happened to be doing. Harry even managed to make out with her for a whole two minuets while Ron was in the room just because Lavender was sat talking to one of her friends about how she planned to spend Christmas in her uncle's pool and sun bathing.
"Harry your looking ever so warm?" Hermione asked all of a sudden sitting down with her book next to Harry.
"What?"
"Harry, you look warm...' She tapped him gently on the shoulder.
'Harry, wake up!" She called firmly shaking his shoulder a bit now.
"Oh, err, sorry, what did you say?" He wondered looking like he'd just been rudely awaken at the crack of dawn by a slap round the face.
"Oh nothing Harry, your miles away again!"
"Oh, sorry. Anyway...' He pulled himself back together and forced his brain back to the room he was sitting in. He couldn't remember what he'd been thinking about but either way, he knew really he wanted to join in despite feeling rather nauseous at the moment.
'I'm glad it's finally cooled down a bit this evening, I was beginning to find it hard to cope with." Hermione merely looked confused at this as personally she found it extremely warm this evening with so many people talking in the common room and heating the place up.
"Harry I know I asked this earlier and to be fair, you were really rather blunt with me and some-what rude I might add. It's just me and Ron are worried about you, are you sure your ok, you just seem ever so odd these days, and well, you don't like eating and I know you don't sleep very much..."
"Hermione, we've been through this a hundred times! I was just feeling a bit off when I fell of me broom, it was an accident, mainly because I wasn't thinking properly. Ginny distracting me an all...well never mind what with! I'm perfectly fine and I really can't help it if once in a while I don't feel like eating." Harry snapped quickly.
"Every bloody morning, every single evening and no end of excuses to skip dinner to finish your homework is not once in a while Harry!" She snapped determined to have it out of him why he's been so difficult these last few weeks. It was clear he'd lost quiet a bit of weight recently, his face looked thin, his clothes hung off his shoulders too much and more than once he'd been forced to put new hole's in his belt to hold his trousers up.
"Oh stop being so fussy Hermy!"
"Stop being so tetchy Harry!" Hermione retorted back feeling more than slightly put out as Ron came over and sat down having been holding a rather crude conversation with Dean about things you could hang on a Christmas tree.
"Hello you two." He grinned broadly lounging back like he often did between Harry and Hermione and completely oblivious to Hermione's slightly bad mood and Harry's constant one these days.
"Hay." They mumbled in unison.
"Do you want to swap presents before going home and stuff, seen as you in a fortress, you 'hant got an owl and pig can't carry Harry's it's too heavy?"
"Sure." Harry mumbled quietly, making Ron through an irritable look to Hermione, complaining that she'd put him in a bad mood again before Christmas.
"You know, that's awfully well planned of you Ron!" Hermione wondered as far too late Harry laughed when he twigged what she'd said.
"Err, no it's not, I was just wondering seen as we can't easy send stuff to Harry that's all." Ron shrugged back to being his normal either confused or befuddled self but they have had a little to do with spotting Lavender going up the dormitory stairs opposite.
"Fine, did you sort out what you wanted to get snuffles Harry?" Hermione asked a little quieter across Ron, but Harry wasn't ready to answer.
He'd been holding his stomach absentmindedly and lazily leaning forward to look at the floor. After a few seconds pause where both his friends merely looked at him curiously Harry quickly got up, pushed his way past two first year boys and ran up to the bathroom on the landing by there dormitory.
"Err, I suppose I'd best..." Ron began as Hermione merely nodded with encouragement. Getting up he followed Harry and soon found he was puking up in the bathroom again and had the distinct feeling this wasn't the first time today either.
"Oh Ron, what are you doing here?" Harry asked having finally decided he wouldn't be sick anymore and washed his mouth out, that bed should really be the next port of call.
"Waiting for you! You've been puking up again haven't you!" Ron asked with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall to face his friend the moment he left the room.
"Only a little bit Ron." Harry shrugged nervous his friend might have heard more than just a little of puking if he'd been standing there all the time.
"You've been in there over half an hour Harry? And I heard it sloping around the bowl." He snapped trying not to sound too angry, only a little cross that his friend refused to let him in or tell him he's ok.
"I just wanted to rest for a bit, that's all. Now I'm going to bed, will you tell Ginny if you see her?" Harry sighed leaning on the doorframe and rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah but I'm coming in there with you for a bit." Ron decided firmly, pushing the door open to their dormitory and leaving Harry to follow him in. Harry immediately flopped on his bed and found a box of chocolates left out on his pillow which he moved to his bedside table and tried his best to get comfy.
"Do you think Hermione's gone a bit weird again, she's really annoying these days?" Harry asked oddly laying on his side gently holding his stomach and pulled his sweaty glasses off.
"She's just been Hermione, no more than normal. And well, she's worried about you Harry. You know what she's been like, thinks something dreadful might happen to you and then well, we'll never cope just me and her would we."
"Oh." Harry wondered but when he thought about it, the two did seem to go at a head quiet often if Harry wasn't there to keep a level head between them.
"Can I have one of these?" He asked pointing over to the box. Harry although not really sure where they came from, merely mumbled some sort of agreeing reply and was thoroughly grateful his body seemed to be in a napping mood. He hadn't had a good nights sleep in weeks, he was sure, and hopefully tonight might be his night to sleep properly now his head had turned to cotton wool and he couldn't concentrate on anything.
After taking one and munching it down, Ron decided that Harry didn't seem very interested in his chocolates and was probably fast to sleep anyway, so it wouldn't matter if he munched his way through a few more. He knew he was being greedy but couldn't really help himself, they tasted so good and he soon finished the entire box. Getting up he figured he might as well tidy it away and headed over to the bin burping, grunting and generally gorging on rubbish in the corner, to through the empty box away.
He did wonder about stopping with Harry for a bit longer as the prospect of sitting with Hermione all evening while she worried about him wasn't a very happy one but Ron figured he might as well leave his friend to sleep as clearly he wasn't faking it this time. Grabbing his wand from his own bed side table, Ron had an awful feeling in his stomach and after grabbing hold of it tightly. With a sudden jolt and lurch inside of pain, he fell forward to the floor, falling unconscious before he hit it face first with the involuntary foaming at the mouth having already begun.
"Come on you two, we may as well go to bed now!" Neville decided standing up as the clock struck one and looking around for Harry and Ron.
"Yeah guess. The other two went up hours ago Neville, they were one of the first I think!" Dean explained grabbing his sweaty over-robes up in a bundle and leading the way to the staircase.
The common room was nearly empty now, having been active a lot later these last few nights before the holiday's with people getting in the Christmas mood despite the heated weather, though some commented that this only seemed to increase the good mood rather than hinder it. The best explanation for the mood so far had been that it was like summer, but without the annoying exams! This was explained to the packed common room that immediately started to cheer like there was no tomorrow.
"Put light on Nev, three to two remember!" Dean called after banging into something he thought was the chimney stack in the centre of the room on his way to what he hoped was his bed.
"Ron!" Neville squealed seeing a red-headed body laid just a few meters from his feet.
"What is it?" Came the reply.
"Ron, unconscious!' Neville yelled back rushing forward and turning him over quickly.
'He's foaming blue at the mouth! Wake up Ron!" He yelled even firmer, whacking his friend gently round the face as the other two came rushing over to help.
"I'll go get someone!" Dean decided heading back out the room quickly.
"Help me roll him up on to the bed!" Neville explained grabbing hold of Ron's gangly arms to hoist him up onto his bed.
"What about Harry?" Seamus asked sure anyone would have woken up by now with all the yelling. Also sure that if something had happened to one, it would have happened to the other, he rushed over and moving round Harry's bed shock his shoulders to see if he woke up.
"Is he the same?" Neville asked quickly.
"No he's just asleep I think. Harry wake up!" He shouted rolling his shoulders roughly only to get a barely audio reply in the form of a random mumble. Just then though Dean returned with a very disgruntled looking Professor McGonagall complete with hat and tartan dressing gown despite the heat.
"What is the matter boys? It is gone one in the morning!" She snapped stepping into the room.
"It's Ron, look at him!" Neville explained moving out the way so she could lean over him with her wand at the ready. Totally oblivious to what was causing the problem she stiffened, pulled herself together and barked out orders.
"Dean go to Madam Pomfry, get her up and make her aware of the situation, Seamus go down to Professor Snape's rooms and tell him to meet me in the hospital wing. Neville will you help me get Ronald on to this stretcher.' She flicked her wand so a self levitating stretcher appeared just next to Ron's bed where the boys had laid him. She suddenly realised though that something was missing, where was the dark haired, skinny boy that always stuck by Ron's side and was usually in about as much trouble when ever an occasion arose.
'Where is Harry?" She asked firmly.
"He's on his bed, he seems to be asleep but we can't wake him up!" Neville explained grabbing hold of Ron's legs and slowly dragging them across on to stretcher.
"So he is. But this is very odd, why didn't he wake up with the rest of you?"
"We were, err only just going to bed professor! They were like this when we came up, Harry's completely out of it. We've tried shaking him and shouting and everything!"
"Yes well, like you say, he seems to be merely asleep, we may as well leave him here. Come along with me now!" She commanded as Neville quickly realised she wasn't just talking to the stretcher.
"Err, is professor Dumbledore around? Should I go fetch him?" Neville asked quickly striding along after the stretcher as Professor McGonagall strode along in her usual speedy manner wand held out firmly.
"Professor Dumbledore is away this evening. Now tell me how long has he been like this? Did he just collapse or did you find him in this state?" If it was Harry she was speaking to she was sure the words 'the order' would have flashed up in his head however, although a descendent of two order members just like Harry, Neville wasn't privy to such information and merely answered the question as best as he could as though he was in a classroom.
"Well we found him face down on the floor like that, so we dragged him up on to the bed. Will he be ok Professor? He could have been like that hours!"
"What do you mean hours?"
"Well him and Harry went up hours and hours ago, Hermione said Harry seemed a bit off and that Ron had gone to check on him, and we were only just heading up then when we found him!' Neville explained but something else flashed up in his mind that he'd wanted to voice for a long time but didn't know who to tell.
'Proffessor, I think Ron went up early to keep an eye on Harry."
"Why would Harry need an eye keeping on him?" At this Neville really wasn't sure if he should go on and explain but despite his worry there was no turning back now, McGonagall would never let him stop mid sentence.
"Well, he won't ever admit to it, and he gets quiet harsh if you ever mention it, but we think he throws up a lot in the morning and between lesson's. I've never seen him, but he disappears off to toilets every now and then and in the morning if he's first up he sometimes looks a bit green round the edges."
"Has anyone else mention this Neville?" McGonagall wondered carefully sure this might just be Neville catching Harry after a particularly bad nightmare but was curious as to why he was bringing it up now. Neville however merely shock his head.
"Ron and Hermione won't talk about it, well at least not to me anyway. And the others well, I don't think they've noticed much. Harry's turned into a bit of a loner, he seems to like it on his own more these days. I mean I can understand why he likes being on his own, other people just don't understand what it's like." Neville shrugged then seemed to sink back down into himself when he thought about what it was like to be a boy like him living in Hogwarts surrounded by people who were completely oblivious to the pain some death eater could suddenly inflict if there mind turned that way. Professor McGonagall's train of thought about Neville though was abruptly cut off as Madam Pomfry came rushing over and Neville got out the way.
"Professor McGonagall, what is it, what happened?" She asked quickly rushing forward having already got her things prepared for any situation.
"Oh hello Charlie?" Sirius asked closing the door behind a slightly flustered looking red-head in a high necked jacket and black base ball cap.
"Is dad here?" He quickly asked holding his stomach.
"What is with you Weasley's always assuming he's here?" Sirius grumbled bolting the door behind them. He never seemed to answer the door to anyone that actually wanted to see him these days, even Remus was always wondering about Tonks first and not him.
"Please it's important!" Charlie quickly answered looking quiet pained by all this movement he was being forced to do.
"Yeah sure, in the meeting with your, err."
"Yeah I know, she pisses me off too!" Charlie grumbled as Sirius couldn't help but smirk slightly as he headed down the hall to the slightly open door and pushed it open further. Fortunately, unlike Bill, Charlie had come across are far less highly selected meeting full with more than just the inner circle of the order. Unfortunately though it meant the room was pretty packed tonight despite the heat.
"Charlie what is it?" Mr Weasley asked looking across with his wife to a rather uncomfortable son, and not just because of the agony his stomach was in.
"Clock sez Ron just arrived at the hospital, I was worried about him!" Charlie explained quickly with a deep breath, Mrs Weasley moved round to her son who was now struggling to stand up properly until Sirius with a shove plonked him roughly down in a chair. Mr Weasley however looked over to Dumbledore a little lost as to why his son wasn't safe and sound up at the school anymore, Arthur was having visions of turning up at the hospital in about ten minuets faced with a far worse off son than the one rubbing his stomach down at the other end of the cramped table before him. It was too much. Worrying about them all, all of the time was too much for one loving parent to take. He just stared blankly at Dumbledore for an answer along with the rest of the order as Fawkes appeared on his shoulder with a letter.
"I'm afraid he's been poisoned Arthur, McGonagall sent him to the hospital ten minuets ago when they became very concerned by how much blue foam was pouring out of his mouth, he couldn't breath any more and they were very concerned by how long he'd been left unattended.' At this he stopped for a moment and continued to read the letter carefully with his steady blue eyes.
'Meeting dismissed, Weasley's please go to the hospital to Ron and if you would be so kind as to pass the toxicities report back to me. I want to know what on earth could poison one of my students so dreadfully. Also could you send Madam Pomfry back to the school when you get there. Remus, Moody please come with me, I shall need your help with something tonight, aura's please head up to the school also in a highly discreet fashion and help re-enforce it. I believe something is about to happen and I would like the extra reassurance of my pupils." Dumbledore explained and scribing a quick reply to Snape, sent Fawkes back to the school. There were a few mutterings but anyone who the orders fell on quickly got up to leave and everyone else waited back to allow them space to go.
Sirius felt highly useless again but knew there was no way he could head up to the school to see to Harry was ok, so after seeing the house was bolted up safely, quickly headed up to his room to retrieve the mirror in the hopes Harry might think to get in touch soon and put his mind at rest.
As it was, Ron was sent to the hospital and the other three boys had returned for a heated discussion about what might be the matter while Harry slept on. They checked him every twenty minuets while they stopped up but it was only just after dawn when Dean, Seamus and Neville were fast to sleep did Harry start to stir. Feeling far more refreshed, he got up and after getting dressed in the semi-twilight, swayed considerably for a short while as he headed down to the common room to find his school stuff and shove it in his bag, then he headed down to breakfast early in the hopes he'd miss Hermione and another attempt to make him eat more than personally, he felt healthy.
Filling up on two slices of toast, a glass of pumpkin juice and half an apple, Harry started out the dinning hall before most the students had come down. Heading back up the stairs to the Gryffindor tower, he found himself noting that this had got to be one of the best morning he'd had in a while as he realised it was about to be ruined by Hermione striding along the corridor towards the stairs he was on.
Ignoring the fact that he'd caught her determined eye, Harry ducked past a few second years and headed in completely the opposite direction on to a different set of stairs, down that set, along a corridor he hid behind a statue to check if Hermione had followed him. She had, but had lost him on the corridor and decided he must have gone left and headed that way instead of right after Harry.
Making his way through a long and difficult rout through the school, he finally arrived at the portrait to Gryffindor common room, but as he tried to remember the password a rather annoyed hand grabbed him on the shoulder and turned him round.
"Harry, why did you run off like that?"
"Well I ate breakfast, I couldn't be doing with you pushing me around again to get me to eat more, I'm full!" Harry snapped back crossly.
"What Harry, I don't push you around?" Hermione replied a little bewilder as to why anyone would think her pushy.
"Harry, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Ginny squealed coming out the portrait and latching immediately on to him. Harry as per usual ignored Hermione now and let his attention fall completely on Ginny who he soon noticed was looking very upset and red in the cheeks. Taking her by the arm they quickly went into the common room and sat down. Leaving Hermione to follow.
"What's the matter?" He asked softly holding both her hands as they sat down and stroking them gently.
"What don't you know?" Ginny gulped.
"Know what!" Harry asked blankly stroking Ginny's shoulders now.
"Ron, he's sick, they think he was poisoned and took him off to the hospital last night?" She gulped out.
"What, when?" He asked quickly looking over to Hermione who also looked very worried now he thought about it.
"About two in the morning, Neville found him face down in the dormitory or something foaming at the mouth!" She explained as Ginny seemed to be fighting back tears now she had Harry to latch on to.
"What I would have heard? Why didn't he wake me?"
"You were asleep Harry they couldn't wake you up?" Ginny put in quickly.
"Is he ok now!" Harry asked quickly, sure he wasn't that dead to the world and annoyed his friend was in such a state to be sent to the hospital and he didn't know a thing about it.
"Dunno, I wrote to mum and dad but they haven't got back to me yet and Professor McGonagall said she didn't know anything conclusive yet, but the last she heard the healers were pumping his stomach and it didn't seem to be anything particularly deadly otherwise he would already be dead she was sure."
"Oh, so he's not as sick as Charlie was?" Harry asked, sure if one Weasley had a lead lined stomach to survive a horrendous amount of poison, the others probably had that tendency too.
"No, I don't think so. They would have said wouldn't they, if it was that bad!" Harry and Hermione immediately went against there first instinct to reassure her that they would, someone would tell Ginny if Ron was really sick, but this didn't seem to stop her from finally bursting out in tears and latching on to Harry.
News of Ron being rushed to hospital in the middle of the night spread round the school quickly, as everything always did and somewhat out of respect for Ron and his weird brotherly tendency's that neither understood, Harry and Hermione kept Ginny out the way successfully so she wouldn't hear some of the more drastic theory's of what was the matter with him.
Both were quiet sure she didn't need to hear the story that Ron had been fed banshee blood in his drink at dinner time and was now lying in a morgue somewhere after his head had exploded all over the common room walls. As it was they didn't receive any news on how Ron was until after the evening meal when Pig arrived with a letter from Charlie which Ginny quickly read out in the corner of the common room.
"Dear Ginny, Don't worry about Ron he's not as sick as me! The healers are keeping him in though for a few days to watch over him and then he can come home over Christmas. Bill talked to some fit nurse and after getting a slap from Fleur, said he should be fine to go back to school in the new year. Make sure you come home for Christmas, I can't stand it here with mother on me own, but hopefully with Ron feeling under the weather she'll stop annoying me so much and fuss over him. Poor him! Dad's very busy at the minuet with work, so he's sorry he couldn't write and mum's being very mum about it all so no point making any apology's for her! Looking forward to seeing you in a few days. Charlie, P.S Bill sez hello and watch out for some dodgy Christmas decorations from the Twins they bite your fingers and it hurts. Trust me I sat on one recently and they really, really hurt!"
"See Ginny he'll be fine!" Hermione put in brightly having quickly read the letter over Ginny's shoulder four times as she read it out to Harry.
"Yeah I suppose, but why didn't mum or dad write to me. They all know what's going off straight away and I have to wait ages and ages for Charlie to write to me. Don't they think I care about him too!"
"Of course you do, just like Charlie cares about you. They may just be a bit busy or something, anyway, we go home on Saturday, one more full day at school tomorrow and then we can get the train back to London and go see Ron!" Harry explained softly sliding his arm around her shoulders and stroking the side of her hair to be soothing. Hermione noticed and despite being rather annoyed Harry hadn't paid a blind bit of notice to her yet, decided Ginny was Ron's sister and really she was the most upset by it all.
"Look why don't you go to bed soon Ginny. Try and get some sleep for tomorrow, you've worn yourself out worrying about Ron all day and Harry can always pester Snuffles tomorrow or something for more information." Hermione explained in her best girly sensitive voice.
"Yeah ok. He probably won't know much now and I am really tired, maybe I should go to bed. Yeah I think I will. Night Harry." She added leaning in and quickly kissing him on the cheek before heading up the stairs to bed.
"I think I'm gonna go to bed now too!" Harry decided heading up the stairs and was quickly followed by Dean and Seamus who, like Neville who was already up there wanted to know what on earth was up with Harry to make him sleep through the entire drama last night. He was usually the lightest sleeper and the most to complain about how loud Ron's snoring was.
"Harry, err, are you going to bed now?" Neville asked as Harry stood at the end of his bed kicking his shoes off and started pulling his over robes off.
"Yeah I'm bit tired. Ginny just got a letter from home and apparently Ron should be ok to go home in a few days or something." Harry explained now pulling his tie off as the two close arrivals sat down on Ron's spare bed near Harry.
"What was the matter with you? We couldn't get you to wake up last night." Neville began.
"Yeah we tried rocking you and stuff but you just mumbled something and didn't wake up?" Dean finished.
"I dunno, I can't believe I slept through it all, but I'm just so tired." He explained swaying slightly and stopped to get his balance again with the aide of a bed post.
"Harry you ok?" Neville asked carefully getting up and wondering over.
"Yeah I'm just, bit tired that's all." He mumbled coming over rather dizzy now as the bed post wasn't quiet enough to hold him up. Neville quickly grabbed him as his legs started to slouch beneath him.
"Here let us get you in bed." He decided grabbing Harry round the shoulders and yanking the sheets back sat him down on the bed to finish getting undressed.
"Thanks, I'm fine now, I just need some more sleep." Harry sighed heavily rubbing at his scar and eyes forcefully as another headache started to kick in.
This received a few quick glances between the other boys as more often than not, Harry looked anything but fine. However, he was well known for snapping dreadfully if anybody commented on his health and had been for quiet some time.
Only Hermione with the backing of Ron dare make some suggestion of him being actually a little too thin now. They'd seen him getting dressed in the morning and despite wearing an extra t-shirt to cover his chest, Harry was noticeably showing ribs.
Ginny, on the rare occasion it occurred to her that Harry was looking a little ill was so over powered by the amount of loving attention she received from him, that normally, either she didn't notice. Being far to accustomed to her slightly rosy glasses as Ron put it, or was so terrified of loosing Harry's good mood that she never dared mention anything so never really thought about it these days unless he was actually swaying into her.
"Harry, are you err, going anywhere over Christmas?" Neville asked carefully aware any attempts to comment on Harry had to be done with the strictest care and some back up.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go see Lupin for a bit, I think. Why?"
"Oh just wondered, rest of us are going home you see and we didn't want to leave you behind or owt now Ron's gone."
"Oh don't worry about that, I'd probably just sleep. But thanks for thinking of me. Now I'm gonna sleep, I'll see you all in the morning." Rolling back in his t-shirt and boxers Harry yanked the sheets over himself and surprisingly, despite the little chit chat between Dean and Neville, Harry was fast to sleep within ten minuets and back to that dead-to-the-world state he was in last night.
Pouring herself another glass of pumpkin juice from the jug, that had been provided for all the carriages on the train to try and stop so many students from fainting, Hermione gulped down the cold liquid and offered a cup to Harry who quickly took it.
"Can you believe how hot it is?" She sighed fanning herself with a magical whicker fan she'd managed to bewitch before leaving school.
"Nope, completely nuts." Ginny whispered back glad to have kicked off her flip flops and be able to wear a long gypsy style skirt she'd some how managed to get from Fleur over the summer.
"What about you Harry?"
"Why the hell is it so wrong for lads to wear a skirt, me jeans are killing me!" He complained having been the one feeling the heat the worst at the moment, the other two let him hide away in the best seat with the most shade away from the window. Even in just his t-shirt and shoeless he was struggling.
"Yeah, don't envy you now Harry." Ginny laughed swinging one leg from her seat while the other stayed tucked up underneath in an attempt to subtly get a breeze going around her legs.
"Well unfortunately it's even hotter in the city than out at Hogwarts. Hopefully though it'll have started to cool off by the time we get there." Hermione explained checking her watch on the table that had started to dig in as her wrist swelled up with the heat.
Suddenly though there was a slow hissing noise and the train steadily came to a sliding jolt of a stop knocking her watch off the table.
The only time the train had ever stopped like this was when a Dementor had boarded looking for Sirius Black. Harry however was pleasantly comforted on his god father's behalf that it was hardly going to be the case this time with all this heat. Dementors made the very air around them turn almost to ice and more than one student thought this might be a welcomed change when you got over the soul sucking horror of a Dementor on the train.
"What do you think happened?" Harry wondered getting up and slowly moving over to the door to have a quick look up and down the train only to find dozens of other red faces doing exactly the same.
"We can't have broken down could we? This is a magical train, I mean, no offence Hermione but only muggle trains break down."
"Ginny I'm far too hot to take offence but I suppose I have to agree." Just then a speaker came out of no-where with a man's gruff voice at the other end.
"All 'Ogwatrs kids are to remain on the train. Seems we've brock down and it may take a bit for me to get the old dear going again. Daffy's gonna come down with the trolley for ya', drinks and chocolate frogs are half price. Wa'ter's free coz I don't want no more of ya passing out on me!"
"Seem's muggles aren't the only one's, that'll be complaining about the delay's!" Harry half laughed figuring he might as well get comfy laid out on the seats next to Ginny and resting his heavy head in her lap. She immediately started to randomly stroke his hair a bit while Harry, true to his amigious form, dozed in the sun as best he could.
Hermione merely rolled her eyes and after twenty minuets of sitting in almost silence decided she'd go for a wonder. She'd barely got out and shut the door behind her when Harry had sat up to kiss Ginny softly on the cheek and neck. They were just starting to get slightly giggly and intense with the heat when they heard a tapping at the window. It was Pig.
"Oh well I suppose at least it's not Hermione!" Ginny sighed as Harry got back laid out comfy and she let the twittering owl in and removed the letter.
"Yeah, is it from Ron?"
"No it's from, err, Charlie again I'll read it out if you want.' She sat back down and opened the letter fully.
'Hello Ginny it's me again. Dad's stuck at work and Mum's still with Ron at the hospital, I think she's flapping again and the delay's there are pretty horrendous. The thing is, Bill was supposed to come pick you up but he's had to go off to work. I was gonna send Fleur to meet you but the heat's knocked her out so I let her sleep on your bed. Poor thing's knackered with trying to get along with mother, can't see why she's bothering though. (I've nicked Bill's room coz Percy's old one is a bit full at the minuet, you'll see when you get here!) Anyway, I was gonna try and get one of Harry's guardian's to bring you home but they're all busy and I can't actually move at the minuet! Bloody stomach's awful Gin!'
'Anyway, I'm sorry to say you might have to stop with Harry tonight and then mum will be able to pick you up tomorrow morning after she'd brought Ron home. He comes home tomorrow, isn't that good to know! Anyway, I'm sorry you've been left a bit again and I would come get you myself but it just isn't possible. Stay with Harry unless something happens, then run away and it's ok to leave him to die, just keep yourself safe. Don't care about him to be honest, he's not my little sis, but I have been hearing some odd stories recently and will be having words with him next time he happens to be around. Be warned your not that old yet! I'm a stupid randy lad I know what we think about constantly! Grrrr! See you tomorrow, hopefully sooner love Charlie."
"He'll be having words with me!" Harry asked all of a sudden sitting back up properly next to Ginny.
"Yeah that's what it says. Maybe news got back to him through Fred and George. The only reason they haven't hot footed it up to Hogwarts by now to yank ya ball's out is because Ron said how you were just doing it to keep me under control a bit and he had it all covered."
"Ron said that?"
"Yeah well, he has a weird warped mind and I think he just tells himself that constantly to make himself feel better. But how can mum and dad just dump me like this? That's the third letter I've had from Charlie because mum and dad can't be bothered to write and now they can't even make time to come and pick me up."
"Ginny I'm sure it's not that they don't care!" Harry put in softly cuddling up with her again.
"Don't care, have you met my mother recently!" She snapped so Harry altered his comment slightly.
"Ok, I'm sure it's not that your dad doesn't care, he probably is really busy with his job and well look at the bright side."
"What's that?" Ginny asked sure there couldn't be a bright side to that fact that all her family ever seem to do is ignore her.
"YOU get to come and spend the night with ME! Snuffles isn't an over baring mother, he lets you do whatever you feel like, doesn't even make you go to bed at a reasonable hour and I bet he's nearly as fun as Charlie."
"Yeah I suppose that is a good thing." She decided smiling again and cuddling up to Harry for another round of kisses just as Hermione came strolling back in.
"Oh for god's sake, I went right up and down the train twice in all this heat and you two are still doing that!" She sighed sitting down opposite and noticing Pig sat hooting feebly on the table clearly too hot to be his normal energetic self.
"I got another letter from Charlie, seems no one can come and pick me up when we finally make it to London, so Charlie's suggesting I stay with Harry tonight. He's not feeling too well again and can't move enough to come and get me. Seems to think Harry's babysitters will keep me safe as long as I stay with him." Ginny sighed feeling a lot better about this idea of going to stay with Harry and Sirius tonight on her own.
Sirius was cool, he'd probably let her stop in Harry's room with him. He wasn't a fussy, overbearing bitch of a mother that can't even be bothered to pick his own child up. (Well sort of anyway!) And she did really like the idea of being alone with Harry properly.
Ron was going to be ok, he was going home tomorrow and her dad probably couldn't help it, so she forgave him, so the only thing left to fix it self was the train. Which eventually crunched into life one hour and fifteen minuets later and was steadily making it's way back to London at a greatly reduced speed.