Chapter 1
CHAPTER I
The cold air feels different, and Ron didn't like it one bit. It reminded him of certain feelings from long ago, ones that he wishes to avoid looking back.
Harry is acting stiff too. No doubt feeling the same unrest that the atmosphere seems adamant to push about. There were creaks and rain filled as their background noise.
A vile creature emerged from the door Professor Lupin slid open. Ron has never seen anything like it. It was like a very close personification of sadness and misery and grief and everything negative. Happiness just seems so far away. He instinctively just wants to curl up and hide. But he can't. Harry was stiff one second and came crashing down to his seat. Before Ron could do anything, Lupin's wand was suddenly into the creature's face, if it has any.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."
In books, this would be the moment where words just seem like a key and everything will be alright. This, however, is a different situation. The creature did not move an inch. The man seemed to pick up on it's intention of not moving, as he waved his wand and a silvery wisp came out at the end of it
"Expecto Patronum!"
It was a moment that Ron would likely never forget. The light drove away the dark thing, and a feeling of warmth washed over him. The time seemed to freeze, but then Harry started twitching and Ron woke up from his reverie. He looked around and saw Hermione and Ginny shivering. Ginny was outright sobbing. Based on what he experienced, she must have been reminded of what happened last year.
Harry could wait. He could not fail Ginny again.
"Hey, Gin. You alright?" He said as he approached his sister. He gave her his towel to wipe her face.
A beat.
"Yeah. M'kay. Go get Harry."
Only then that he moved towards Harry, where Hermione's already cradling his head.
“Harry! Harry! Are you all right?” Ron lightly tapped his cheeks. The boy who lived stirred and opened his eyes.
Although Harry woke up, dread still filled Ron's mind. This is only the first day of school, but he's quite certain the surprises don't end right here.
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Ron immediately made a beeline towards Ginny once McGonagall was done rounding up Harry and Hermione. He's sure his little sister's still shocked even when she said she was fine earlier.
He found her with the twins. The two seem to be coddling her, as he saw them giving Ginny some sugar quills. Percy is nowhere to be found, probably doing some of his Headboy duties. His third elder brother is sure to smother them later on and Ron's already feeling exasperated.
"Hullo,"
The three turned to look at him. Ginny looks miles more better now than when they were in the express.
"You alright now?"
"Yeah," Ginny said. "How's Harry? He looked really shaken up earlier."
" He's fine. McGonagall got him and Hermione earlier. They would be back later for the feast, I reckon."
He ignored the twitch in his chest. He hadn't been really feeling well since earlier either. The heavy feeling he has seems so ominous. It's been years since he had last been sick. Well, excluding the times when his adventures with Harry got the better of him.
George chose that time to be really observant. Great.
"How are you?" George sent him a really suspicious glare. Dang. Sometimes, nothing ever gets past his eyes if he's really determined. Ron's pretty much sure this is one of those.
"M'fine. Why d'you ask?" Don't look away. Don't do anything suspicious.
"You're white as a snow, idiot. You look lolike death." The other two turned to take a closer look at him.
Great. Now he has three annoying siblings on his tail, rather than one.
"Did you go to the hospital wing already? We can't have to you spreading something nasty on us, can we?" Fred seems to be determined to lighten the atmosphere. He was ignored, unfortunately.
"I said I'm fine. Besides, Pomprey will probably be with Harry. It's just a headache, really." Appeasing his sibling is unluckily not his forte. He didn't miss the worried glances that the twins shared.
"But Ron-" he stopped Ginny before she could finish what she's saying.
"I'm fine. Really fine. It will go away on it's own. Can we just let it go? The sorting will start in a mo. I promise I'll tell something if it gets bad."
His siblings didn't look convinced with the glances they were giving him but ultimately didn't say anything.
Ron breathed a sigh of relief. The conversation was unexpectedly taking a toll on him.
A few moments later, Harry and Hermione sat on either of his side.