the bathroom battle
Ron’s stomach churned again, a deep, guttural sensation that made his knees buckle as he staggered back to the toilet. His throat tightened painfully, and before he could even brace himself, another wave of vomit came rushing up. He barely had time to lean over the bowl before he was heaving violently, the force causing his body to tremble uncontrollably. His vision blurred as his insides seemed to twist, and his breath caught in his throat, leaving him gagging for air between each dry heave.
The toilet’s porcelain rim became his only anchor, his hands gripping it like a lifeline as his stomach revolted.
“Ron, it’s okay,” Harry’s voice came from somewhere behind him, soft and soothing, but it barely cut through the sound of his own retching. Harry was close, hovering by his side, a presence that felt grounding despite the chaos.
But Ron’s body wasn’t listening. The vomiting seemed endless, each gag a fresh assault on his system, and the effort of it left him gasping for breath, lightheaded and weak. The taste of bile lingered in his mouth, making him gag again even after the sickness had subsided.
"You're okay, mate. Just breathe," Harry urged, his hand resting gently on Ron’s back. The comforting touch was the only thing keeping him from collapsing entirely.
Ron sucked in a shaky breath, trying to steady himself, but the sickness wasn’t done with him yet. The cramps in his abdomen were sharp, stabbing, and it felt like the entire world was spinning as his body tried to purge everything out. He leaned forward again, his stomach twisting in the worst way, and he could only pray it would stop.
“Just… just let it out,” Harry’s voice was low, almost a murmur, but it somehow cut through the haze of pain and nausea. “You’re not alone. It’s almost over.”
But Ron didn’t feel like it was almost over. His insides continued to rebel as he dry-heaved a final time, his chest burning from the effort, sweat dripping down his face. When it finally stopped, he collapsed against the side of the toilet, too weak to sit up, his body shaking from head to toe.