Chapter 11
CHAPTE IX
Ron woke up feeling worse than before. All he wanted to do was to sleep, but that wouldn’t be beneficial as his siblings and his friends are bound to worry even more. No doubt that Hermione already told Harry and the others about the events earlier.
“Are you sure you want to go down? We can stay here, if you want.” Harry asks. “I know I said earlier that we could celebrate with the others, but you’re a bit too pale,”
“Harry’s right, you know. We could bring you food here and you can just rest up. The Great Hall’s sure to be a tad bit chaotic.” Dean said. He and Seamus and Neville are also preparing to head down. They just came back from the visit a couple of hours ago, and took the hint from Harry to settle down a bit so Ron could sleep peacefully.
“I’m fine, mates. I already took a kip, yeah? ‘Sides, the feast isn’t something you really want to miss. And you can’t stay here just for my sake, Harry.”
The bespectacled boy was about to retort but Seamus cut him off. “Well, if you’re sure. Just say it if you want to go back. We could head back earlier than the others so we wouldn’t we swept up with the foot traffic.”
The boys all went to the Great Hall together. At the Harry and Ron met up with Hermione at the common room. The redhead boy sighed in relief as he didn’t see any of his siblings to pounce on him. It’s unusual though, assuming already told them what happened earlier. At his questioning look, Hermione explained the other Weasley’s location.
“Percy went ahead. He said that he ought to fix some things as Head boy, while the twins are out with Lee. I think Ginny said something about meeting a girl named Luna.” She sighed, “You are in for an interrogation later, though. I barely managed to keep them from running straight to you earlier. By the way, how are you feeling now? Is your head still hurting?”
Ron wanted to scowl at her for telling his siblings, but her rapid succession of narration stopped him. He could only sigh and shake his head fondly, which was a bad idea as he immediately felt dizzy at the movement of his head.
“Ron?” Not a second later, both of his friends are on his either side, worry etched in their faces
“Yeah, ‘M alright. Just dumbly shook my head.” He let out a snigger, hoping to lighten the mood.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, Hermione. I am. Can we go now? We’re causing quite a disturbance here.”
His friends just frowned at him. They then went on their way to the festivity.
The Halloween Feast of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is always a spectacle to hold. Everything is tinted orange and yellow and all the colors of autumn, with pumpkins and lanterns, and oddly shimmering bats fluttering in the air. It is so magical that it never lost its appeal even after all the years that the castle stood. The table of each houses are filled to the brim of food, with luscious colors and appetizing smell. The students wearing smiling faces and the relaxed composition of the professors only added to the merry atmosphere.
Ronald could only wish to enjoy the party. However, the supposedly appetizing food only made him queasy. As much as he wants to fill himself up, he just couldn’t do so. Harry and Hermione took it upon themselves to put food in his plate, asking him for his preferences but then forwent waiting for his answer when all they heard was a soft “no”.
“Come on, mate. Just eat something.” Harry said worriedly, filling Ron’s cup of water.
“He’s right. You didn’t eat at Hogsmeade earlier either.” Hermione agrees with Harry, patting his back.
Ron didn’t want to catch any more attention that he tried eating his food, put only ended up pushing it around. He didn’t look towards the direction of his siblings as he knew they are already sending him looks. He groaned internally. It seems like a visit from his elder brothers are ought to happen later.
“I’m fine, really.” He’s not. His head is throbbing and his joints hurt and there is a heavy feeling inside his body, but he cannot say that. “Just feeling a bit under the weather, yeah? And eat your food. It’s a feast, you should also enjoy yourselves.”
He can tell from their disapproving looks that they are not convinced, and are protesting over his last statement.
“We’ll go back as soon as they feast ends.” Hermione says with so much finality that Ron could only agree.
The feast ended with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a bit of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great success with a reenactment of his own botched beheading. They all enjoyed the performances, and Ron is happy to see his two best friends laughing and smiling at the show.
It has been a pleasant, yet worrisome night for the trio that they all went to retire to bed as soon as they were allowed. Ron was a bit groggy in his feet, his two friends immediately on both his sides. Malfoy’s taunts across the hall was wholly ignored.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached to portrait of the Fat Lady, they found that it was jammed with students.
“Why isn’t anyone going in?” said Ron curiously. His friends shared the sentiment as Hermione frowns and Harry peered over the heads in front of him.
“The portrait seems to be closed.” Answered Harry.
Ron was getting nauseous with the crowd, he decided to crouch in a corner. His friends followed him, with Hermione asking if he was feeling alright. Everything seemed to be a blur for the redhead. Harry looked alternatingly between Ron and the commotion.
“I’ll try to see what’s happening.” Said the bespectacled-boy. Ron felt Hermione nod at the direction of Harry.
Ron vaguely heard Percy’s voice. It was all commotion until everybody heard the Head Boy speak sharply, “Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick.”
Everything after that, Ron tuned out. A clutching force seemed to have his head, his breathing quick, and a thrumming sound in his ears. The next thing he knew, Harry was back with them, Hermione hounding him for answers. They were talking in whispers. Ron felt himself stirred toward somewhere by his friends, but with his strength leaving him, he almost stumbled. Harry and Hermione was quick to leave their conversation.
“Ron? Are you alright?”
“He’s sweating. His breathing is not normal too.”
“I think we need to bring him to the Hospital wing.”
The last statement somehow woke him up. “No hospital wing.”
“But Ron-“ Hermione almost protests.
“’S not a good timing, ‘Mione.” He looked around and saw everyone heading somewhere. “Where are we going?”
“To the Great Hall. Apparently, Sirius Black tried getting into the Tower. He slashed the Fat Lady’s portrait. She’s still not going back in her painting.”
After a moment, all students are in the Great Hall, including Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins. Everyone all looked very confused.
Dumbledore gave a rough explanation of what happened, and placed the tables against the walls, and conjured hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags. Ronald almost cried at the sight of it. All he want to do now is to bury himself in those sleeping bags and sleep.
“Sleep well,” said the Headmaster, closing the door behind him.
The Great Hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.
Percy wasted no time and started to bark out instructions, sending everyone on their sleeping bags. The trio seized three sleeping bags and dragged them into a corner.
Harry and Hermione fell into a conversation once more as they all climbed fully dressed in their sleeping bags. Ron tried to take one in the utmost corner but was beaten to it by his bushy-haired friend. In the end, he situated himself in between his two best friends.
Conversations still lingered in the hall, discussing the intruding of Sirius Black. Even Harry and Hermione shared their thoughts with others but Ron immediately fell into the lull of darkness, the weight of an eventful day with him.
Ronald woke up in the feeling of a familiar heat. He felt like something is crushing his head. There is an extreme burning sensation of his insides, from his stomach and lungs and the feeling of his heart being clutched. And his bones, sucked dry as if his skin is melting into it.
Ronald is no stranger to this feeling, no, for this is the cause of his childhood miseries. A strangled cry came out of his throat, and the red head willed himself to keep quiet.
No, no, no one can know.
It was as if he was back in the past, in his room in the Burrow. But Ron knows better. He is in Hogwarts. In the Great Hall, with hundreds of students with him.
He clenched his fist tightly as he could, biting his tongue and cheeks just so he would not cry out in pain. He could feel tears in his tightly shut eyes, and blood and saliva in his cheek and chin.
Merlin, gods above. Why? He was well past this. Why bring it back?
Please. Please, please. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop!
“Ron?” Harry’s voice lingered in his head. He did not want anyone to see him in this state, for he wants no pity. Not anyone, even his best friend.
“Ron, mate. Are you alright?” Ronald wanted to curse himself when a guttural groan came out of his throat. He felt Harry sitting up, tapping around, probably to find his glasses. Not a minute later, he was beside the redhead, putting his hands on the other’s shoulder. Only, he immediately retracted it as it came in contact.
“Merlin, you’re burning up!” the panic in his voice was palpable. Ron wanted to comfort him, but he was not able to do so. He wanted to tell him that it’s alright. And he’s going to be fine. But they both know it isn’t the case. “Ron, Ron. Wake up. Can you move? Wait, I can’t see. Where’s my wand?”
Harry looked around for his wand, struggling to keep his voice low. When he found it, a sufficiently bright lumos came out. It was lucky that they were on the corner, or he would risk disturbing many other students. But oh, none of those is in Harry’s mind right now.
With his wand illuminating their corner, Harry’s strength almost gave out because of what he saw. It was Ron. All pale, breathing quickly, and sweating heavily. There are tear tracks on the side of his eyes. But what alarmed Harry the most is the thin mark of blood coming out of his best friend’s mouth. His face is all scrunched up in pain.
Harry faced many more horrifying events in his thirteen years of life, but none could compare to the fear of seeing his best friend, his brother bleeding out. Many things went running in his mind all at once.
“Harry? What’s going on?” Hermione stirred and sat up when she saw a dim light from Harry. The fear in the boy’s face was enough to wake her up.
“Hermione. I- it’s Ron. He’s burning up! And in pain, and, and,” Harry scrambles for words, but he could not find anything at all. Hermione sat beside Ron in no time at all, turning her burning friend towards her.
“Oh God,” she gasps, seeing the blood streak in his face. “Oh Ron. Wait. We have to- We have to bring him to Madam Pomfrey. Quick. Harry-“
“Noo. No hospital. No,” Ron says, voice breaking.
“But Ron. You’re burning up! We have to get help from an adult!” Hermione says rather adamantly. It’s clear that she’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer. She took a cloth from her pocket and gingerly wiped the redhead’s face. Her hands are shaking, as is Harry’s.
“Mate, Hermione’s right. You’ll be alright, yeah? Madam Pomfrey’s going to fix you up.”
“No. No more hospitals, please. H’rry-“
“What is going on here?” Harry’s heart almost broke out of its place when he heard a voice. It was stern and admonishing. However, he almost sighed in relief when he turned around to look.
“Percy!”
“It’s lights out, Harry. You shan’t- what’s going on?”
The older boy’s lecture stopped when he saw the panic-stricken faces of Harry and Hermione. Alarm bells went off in his head, as he immediately looked for his younger brother.
“It’s Ron. He’s having a fever, and crying in pain, and Oh Merlin,” Harry took a deep breath before continuing to explain. All the while, Percy immediately took a closer look on Ron. Hands caressing the ginger locks. Worry is palpable in his face. “He’s refusing to go to Madam Pomfrey. Percy-“
They were all stopped when Ron let out a loud cry of pain. Harry couldn’t describe it of anything but anguish. His heart hurts for his friend, his brother in all but blood. They have been in few near-death experiences in the past few years. But Ron has never, ever made this sound.
“Harry, take your wands please. Hermione, wake the twins up. Tell them to send a letter to Mum after you explain everything to them. They’ll know what to do. I’m taking Ron to Madame Pomfrey.” Harry would’ve missed the slight quiver in Percy’s usually authoritative voice if he’s not paying attention. The older Weasley levitated Ron and took him to the matron. The older boy took off his scarf and wrapped it in his younger brother.
Harry immediately took their wands, then followed the Head Boy. Hermione hesitated, but ultimately went to shake to twins awake, and possibly Ginny.
A startled cry came out of Madam Pomfrey as Harry, Percy and Ron came barging in the wing.
“Mister Weasley, what-“ the lady was cut off with a begging voice from Percy. Harry has never imagined hearing such tone, with much anguish and urgency from Ron’s third eldest brother. Harry couldn’t blame him, however. As he shares the sentiment very much so.
“Ma’am, it’s my brother. He’s burning and hurting-“
“Ah!” a cry came from Ron and at no time at all, the mediwitch is placing him in one of the beds.
“Please. Please save him, Ma’am. I-“
“Relax, Mister Weasley. I could not help you if I do not know what’s going on.” She stays, hovering over Harry’s friend in the bed. She shot the two of them a look. “I need to know if there are things that may be of concern regarding your brother’s health. When did he start having a fever? How long has he been like this?”
“Earlier,” Harry manages to croak out a sound. “He said he was feeling off earlier, before he want to Hogsmeade. He- he and Hermione went back early because he wasn’t feeling well. He also went straight to bed after that. Before the Halloween feast, at least.”
“I understand. Please head over there so I could work.” The matron immediately cut off both boys as they protested.
“But Madam Pomfrey!”
“No buts. Mister Weasley, try to contact your parents as soon as possible. We need to have them here. And also inform other staffs, particularly your head department. “ after that, Pomfrey dragged the curtains close. There was nothing Harry could do as he heard and listened to his best friend’s pleas. He was screaming at the sheer pain of what he was going through.
All Harry wants to do hold his friend’s arm and assure him with his presence. Just like how he always done with him, when he had nightmares, and when he feels bad about himself, or when the world is hell-bent to be against him. He wants to be there for Ron, and do everything in his power to take away his pain.
A shuffling woke him out of his reverie. Percy Weasley was there gripping his wand tight, frazzled out of his mind. Harry watched him pull out a paper out of nowhere and quickly scribbled of what he assumes to be a letter. After the older boy folded it into quarters, Harry saw Percy contemplated between going or staying with Ron.
“Harry,” the older redhead took a deep breathe in an attempt to compose himself. “I am going to send this to Mum and Dad. And maybe inform Professor McGonagall in the way. Could you- Please stay here with Ron, alright? And I mean stay. Please don’t go anywhere. Ron tends to want love ones to be with him after attacks like this.”
Harry wanted to protest that of course, I wouldn’t go anywhere. That’s my best mate right there! But decided not to. Poor guy already seems to be at his wit’s end.
“Yeah. I’ll stay here. The others must be on their way.”
A grave nod and Percy reluctantly went out of his way. Harry was once again alone, listening to Ron’s misery.