Just Go Home


"It's Harry, Ron. The war is over. But he's…he's not right. He had to kill Voldemort. He had to murder him. He's locked himself up in his room for the last two weeks, won't come out for a thing. He won't stop asking for you. You're all he wants," Hermione told him.

Two weeks. Harry had locked himself in a room for the last two weeks? Ron curled over to puke again, but his stomach was so empty that it was just a dry heave.

"I can't, 'Mione," Ron croaked.

She understood what he was saying.

"Why didn't you tell me, Ron? Why didn't you say something? I could've been here for you. What if it took over suddenly and you died tomorrow? You didn't want me to know?" she was whispering through her tears. It was like the hurt had taken over her voice so he had to listen carefully to hear her. "And what about Harry? Damn it, Ron, he needs you so badly right now."

Ron wiped his eyes on his sleeve. "That's just it, Hermione. What if I die tomorrow? And then Harry will have lost another person in his life. I can't do that to him."

She screwed up her face and looked at him with complete astonishment and anger. "What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing to him right now? Don't you realize that he has lost another person? But you weren't taken like the others, Ron. You left. You had a choice. Yes, it was hard on him to lose all of those he loved. But he's IN LOVE with you and you CHOSE to leave him. And yet you sit here and tell me you can't hurt him? You already are,"

Ron didn't know what to say. He just stared at her and let the tears rain down his face.

"Go back to him, Ron. Please," Hermione begged, grabbing one of his hands with both of her own.

"What happens when I die? I'm just added to the list of those who've died in his life."

Hermione shook her head. "Ron you're smarter than this. Stop being so stubborn and just live the way you want! Go be with him. Spend the rest of your life, however short or long it will be, with him. He will feel so much more blessed knowing that you spent all the time that you had with him. Do what you want, Ron, because it's exactly what he wants too. He needs you. And you need him. Come with me. Please."

She was standing now, her hands at her sides in fists. She needed him to see that it is okay to do what he wants.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Ronald I've learned you're having an episode today?"

Ron and Hermione were surprised as Doctor Wheeler walked in, holding his case of tools in one hand, Cam and Amanda in tow behind him. He walked over to Ron and started to check his heart rate and blood pressure.

"How's he doing?" Amanda asked Hermione in a hushed voice while the Doctor worked on Ron.

Hermione shrugged, taking the tissue Amanda offered. "He's alright. His friend needs him. We need him to come home. Who is this Doctor working on him, is he good?"

Amanda nodded. "Doctor Wheeler's the best doctor around. We just know him as Jeremy, though."

Hermione nodded, not taking her eyes off of Ron.

"Harry?" Amanda asked.

Hermione screwed up her face. "What?"

"Is that the friend who needs Ron? " Amanda asked.

Hermione hesitated, but then slowly nodded.

"So I'm assuming that means the war is in full swing? If Harry needs him?"

Hermione hesitated again, but this time shook her head. "The war is over. How do you-"

"He told me. About a month ago, he let loose. Told me about Harry and the war. But he didn't go into detail. Said he couldn't say anything other than that there was a war and it was up to Harry to win, but that he'd been at Harry's side since the beginning."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah. Harry finished it, alright."

"Call 911. CALL 911, damnit!" Jeremy yelled. Hermione and Amanda rushed to the bed while Cameron called an ambulance.

"Ron stay with me. No, no, no, we don't sleep during the day. We're old we only sleep at night. Stay awake. Fuck, we have to go now," Jeremy picked Ron up and started out of the room. "Cam, Amanda, go get the car ready,"

Cam took the keys and ran. When they got out of the house they all piled into the car, Jeremy in the back holding a now unconscious Ron.


Hermione didn't think she'd ever paced as much as she did that day, in the waiting room of the hospital in Everwood, Colorado, with two people she'd just met, waiting for one of her best friends. Her heart stopped when she saw Jay walk towards her in his surgery gown, taking off the hat, and wringing it in his hands. She tried to read his face, but before she knew it he was right in front of her and she was enclosed between Cam and Amanda as they all waited for what the Doctor had to say.

"I think I've caught it," Jeremy told them, his voice sounded as if it was in a haze.

"What does that mean?" Cam asked.

"I've figured out the problem. It's in his brain. I haven't cured it yet, but I've finally figured it out. His brain is tricking him. It's making his body think he's got a disease that isn't really there," Jeremy explained.

"You're going to be alright," Hermione whispered as she sat next to Ron's bed and played with his hair. "Come home with me." She knew he was asleep and couldn't hear her, but she needed to say it.

She sighed.

"He'll go." Amanda said as she walked into the room.

Hermione turned to look at Amanda and watched as she walked up to her and sat down in the empty seat her.

"He's smart. He'll do what's right. I've never seen anyone so in love. He knows what he wants and I think that you coming back has made him remember what he left behind."

Hermione smiled. "I hope so. I haven't seen it in Ron. Harry puts his heart out there so much, but not in the way he did with Ron. Harry's love for Ron is unlike anything I've ever seen or known. He needs Ron."

"Not nearly as much as I need him," Ron whispered hoarsely.

Hermione gasped and stood up to see Ron's face. "You're awake!"

"Looks as much," he told her in a flat tone.

Amanda laughed. "Hey kid," she said to him and she walked around to stand at the other side of the bed.

"Hey gorgeous," he told her in the same flat tone.

"My man awake yet?" Cam asked as he entered the room. His eyes went wide when he saw that Ron really was awake. "Oh shit, man, thank god!"

Ron chuckled. Hermione moved out of the way so Cam could stand next to Ron.

"I'm just going to go outside and let you all have a minute," Hermione told them. Amanda was going to stop her, but she realized that it was just an excuse for Hermione to just go let out her tears so Ron wouldn't worry.

"Hermione?" Ron asked after her.

Amanda shook her head. "Let her go gather herself for a moment. She hasn't seen you in like two months and when she finally finds you all of this happens. Overwhelming much?"

Ron nodded.

"How ya feelin' dude?" Cam asked.

Ron shrugged. "Been better, but you know,"

"You're going to be alright, ya know. Jeremy said he finally figured it out. He hasn't figured out how it works or how to heal it, but he's found out what it is. You can go home, now, Ron. At least for a little while. Come back when Jeremy starts figuring it out more," Amanda told him.

"Amanda-"

"No, Ron. Go home. Be with Harry,"

"Who is Harry?" Cam asked. "I heard Hermione say a friend needed Ron, but I couldn't hear what you were saying to her other than 'Harry',"

Amanda laughed. "Harry is Ron's best friend,"

Cam nodded in realization.

Ron seriously considering explaining further, but stopped himself because Hermione walked back in. He caught her eye. He could see the desperation in her eyes and he knew she could see the determination in his own.

"'Mione. Take me home."