isn't it romantic | r. weasley

65

"lily!"

lily looked up from her book and saw talia running towards her and ernie.

"what is it?"

"it's ron," she said, "hermione said to go to the infirmary."

she looked at ernie apologetically.

"go, hurry. he needs you," he said softly, smiling assuringly.

"i'll come back as soon as i can," she promised, "i won't let you fail potions."

"i know. now go!" he encouraged.

she smiled and ran towards the infirmary as quickly as her short legs could take her.

"you're such a good guy."

"i know."

"she's proud of the man you've become, you know. she loves you."

"not in the way that i wished, but it's good enough," he sighed.

by the time lily had made it to the infirmary, the only people there were harry, hermione and ginny. ron was in the center of the bed, unconscious.

"what happened?" she felt a lump in her throat. "what happened to him harry?" she felt herself become weak.

"he was poisoned," he told her, holding her as she covered her mouth and tried so hard to be quiet.

"he's going to be okay," hermione rubbed her shoulder.

"i should have been there," she cried.

"if it makes you feel any better, i managed to save him using the bezoar you showed me."

lily smiled a bit.

she let go of him and hermione led her to a chair, keeping her hands on her shoulders as she watched ron lie unconsciously.

after about twenty minutes, dumbledore, mcgonagall, snape and slughorn walked into the infirmary.

"quick thinking on your part, harry, using the bezoar," dumbledore praised. "you must be very proud of your student, horace."

"hm? oh yes, very proud."

"i think we agree, potter's actions were heroic. the question is, why were they necessary?" mcgonagall asked.

"why, indeed?" asked dumbledore. "this appears to be a gift, horace. you don't remember who gave you this bottle? which, by the way, possesses remarkably subtle hints of licorice and cherry when not polluted with poison."

"actually, i had intended to give it as a gift myself," slughorn said.

"to whom, i might ask?"

"to you, headmaster."

just then, the irritating voice of lavender has heard.

"where is he?" she asked to no one in particular. "where's my won-won? has he been asking for me?" lily rolled her eyes and looked at her come forward of the teachers. lily looked away. "what's she doing here?"

"i might ask you the same," lily responded, standing.

"i happen to be his girlfriend," lavender responded angrily.

"well i'm his... friend," she replied quietly.

"don't make me laugh, you guys haven't spoken properly weeks. you're so greedy, wanting all the men in the school as if you don't already have your own," she ranted. "i suppose you want to make up with him now that he's all interesting."

"excuse me? he's been poisoned you imbecile," she couldn't believe her. "and by the way, i've always found him interesting. long before you."

then, ron moved and gasped for air. lily turned immediately only to cringe at the sounds of lavender.

"ah. see? he senses my presence. don't worry won-won. i'm here," she said dramatically. "i'm here."

lily couldn't remove her eyes from him, desperately begging for him to wake.

he started to mumble words in his sleep.

nothing she could make out, tired babbles leaving his lips.

"uh, li... ly," he said, but lily couldn't believe her ears.

how dare they deceive her like that.

"li... ly," he said again, making lily look at harry then back at ron. "lily."

lily sat down on the bed, careful not to hurt him and grabbed his hand. she ran her hand over his, feeling her eyes swell up with tears.

lily didn't even realize lavender had left the room crying.

"oh to be young, and to feel loves keen sting," said dumbledore. "well, come away everyone. mr weasley is well attended."

with that, everyone started leaving until lily was the only one in the room with ron.

"i'm so sorry," she whispered. "you and i just never catch each other at the same time," she sighed, starting to cry and leaving a small kiss on his knuckle.

"everything this year was supposed to be different. you and i were supposed to be different," she sobbed softly.