Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nor do I make any money.

Never

"Mr. Weasley, could I see you for a moment?" McGonagall asked at the end of class.

Ron sighed and tried not to roll his eyes as he finished gathering up his books. With a brief of "I'll catch you later" to Harry and Hermione, he flung his bag over shoulder and made his way up to the front of the class.

"Yes ma'am?" he asked, while trying to figure out what he had done wrong. He'd been so busy between class, school work, Quidditch and visiting Pansy that he didn't have time to get into any trouble. Hell, he and Malfoy had managed to go the last two weeks without getting into a fisticuff. He should be getting a bloody award for that one.

"Would you mind taking Miss Parkinson's homework to her when you visit today?"

He should have known. Ron wasn't quite sure how he had been appointed as the person who brought Pansy her homework but he had. At first, he had wondered why the professors weren't sending it with her housemates and he even tried to ask the professors that but they all brushed him off.

"No ma'am," he replied, grabbing the parchments out of her hand.

He was about to turn and walk away when her next question stopped him, "How is she doing?"

Ron realized he had no idea. He was ashamed because he knew he hadn't even tried asking her.

"I don't know," he mumbled, looking down at his feet. "I can tell you she does look better and she isn't sleeping as much as she was in the beginning."

"That's odd," Professor McGonagall responded in a soft tone. The tone was so unfamiliar, that Ron picked up his head to look at her and was taken aback by the sadness he saw. "I was under the impression you have been visiting her every day, several times a day, Mr. Weasley."

"I do, but we don't talk. She mainly stares at the wall or pretends to be asleep while I sit there."

"I see," McGonagall said with a sad nod as she moved behind the desk as if she was going to leave the classroom too, either with him or just after.

"But maybe one of her friends knows," he added quickly. "I'm sure they can tell you."

"I assure you they can't."

"She won't talk to them either?"

"No Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said. "I don't know if you've noticed but you are the only one who has visited Miss Parkinson."

Ron was floored. His back had gone ramrod straight when he comprehended what she had just told him. Looking at her in disbelief, he whispered horrified, "She almost died and they never have come to see her?"

He quickly turned on his heel and hurried out of the classroom before McGonagall could say another word. Ron found he couldn't get to the hospital wing fast enough. When he arrived, he was glad to see Pansy was awake. He watched her hopeful face disappear the moment she saw it was him. Out of frustration and anger, he shook his head as she turned her head away from him.

"Where you ever going to say anything about your friends not coming to see you?"

Ron didn't know what to expect her response to be but when she didn't say anything, he wasn't completely surprised.

His anger disappeared the moment he heard her sniff, knowing that she was fighting back her tears.

Sighing, he collapsed in the chair next to her bed. Rubbing his face with both hands, hating himself for making her cry. Finally, he took a deep breath and quietly said, "I'm sorry."

She turned to look at him, he could see the red rimmed hazel eyes with silent tears trickling down her face.

"I'm so sorry," he softly whispered again.

She just nodded her head, trying to show her forgiveness without saying a word and held out her hand to him. Scooting his chair closer to her bed, he took her hand in his and continued to sit with her in silence until it was time for him to leave for dinner.