Fifth Year – The Unstoppable Fever
By the time fifth year came around, Hermione was no stranger to stress. The O.W.L.s were looming, and with the increasing danger surrounding Harry’s life, there was even more on her plate. But this time, it wasn’t just stress making her feel ill—it was a fever that wouldn’t go away.
It started on a cold winter’s day, with Hermione feeling chilled despite the warmth of the Gryffindor common room. By the time they were halfway through the day’s classes, she had developed a feverish flush on her cheeks. Her head pounded relentlessly, and though she tried to ignore it, the nausea and dizziness were growing worse.
“I think I need to lie down,” she said softly to Ron, who was walking beside her to their next class.
“Not again,” Ron said with concern, his hand instinctively brushing her shoulder. “What’s going on with you? First you were fine, and now you’re practically burning up.”
“I don’t know,” Hermione murmured, feeling too exhausted to argue. “It’s just a fever. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Ron wasn’t convinced. He was starting to notice how pale Hermione had become, how her steps wavered and her breathing quickened. As they reached the hospital wing, he spoke up. “Madam Pomfrey, she needs to lie down. She’s burning up.”
Madam Pomfrey immediately rushed over, and within minutes, Hermione was tucked into a bed, a cold compress placed on her forehead. “You’ve got quite the fever, my dear,” Madam Pomfrey said. “This will need to break on its own, but I’ll have you on a cooling charm for the time being.”
Ron, despite the worry etched on his face, tried to keep things light. “You’re a nightmare when you’re sick, you know that?”
Hermione managed a weak smile. “I’m not that bad.”
“You’re not as bad as Harry, that’s for sure,” Ron teased, taking a seat beside her. “He complains about everything.”
She chuckled, but it quickly turned into a cough. Ron was right there with a glass of water, helping her sip it slowly. He stayed by her side throughout the whole ordeal, making jokes and keeping her spirits up when all she wanted was to sleep. By the time the fever broke and her energy returned, she realized that Ron had been there every step of the way, his presence a silent but steady anchor.