Defining Secrets // Ron Weasley

Chapter Twenty Two: Grapes, Healing and All That Stuff

Ginny's POV:

My family is weird.

I watched as George shoved an entire grape up his nose in disgust, while everyone else gathered around. A couple gryffindor boys cheered and patted his back like they would a hero or champion.

Now that I thought about it, guys in general were just weird.

"What's that face for?"

I shot Harry a look. He shrugged his shoulders. "At least it's entertaining."

Not that anybody would like to see a perfectly fine grape shoved up their brother's nose, but I especially wasn't in the mood to tolerate it. I definitely got a kick out of seeing my brother's make fools of themselves. But not today.

Even though many people were busy trying to one-up George, there was a linger in the air that suggested people were still raving about last night. Not that they knew exactly what happened. But then again, neither did we.

Harry and I spent most of our night dancing. And although it was great, as being with him certainly was, it did make me miss the opportunity to really be there for Elise. Who I think needed us the most that night.

Harry and I locked eyes shortly after the scene created between her and Ron. Harry didn't have time to talk to Ron as he disappeared quite quickly so he followed me down the hall instead.

By the time we made it to El she was hunched over, tears streaming like an endless waterfall. Harry held her as she cried and I did my best to calm her down. It took a bit of convincing to get her back up but we managed it. We made sure not to let go, from fear that if we did, we might not be able to bring her back up this time.

Harry and I got her situated in my dorm but by then she was eerily quiet. Like she was somewhere else completely. We got the spare bed ready. She didn't say a word after that.

My belly swelled in unease. I could barely sleep in the room with her, tossing and turning despite myself. And Harry didn't see Ron come to his dorm at all last night. It was possible he didn't come back until late, but he was gone by the time Harry was awake.

These same feelings bubbled inside of me until the air started to feel clunky. Harry furrowed his brows as I scratched off my blue nail polish.

"Go."

I blinked. "What?"

"Go," Harry repeated. "Check up on her. I know you want to."

"I do. It's just-" I chipped away at a different nail. "I don't want to overwhelm her."

He shook his head. "You aren't. And who knows? Maybe she needs you right now."

Harry's eyes were a nice thing to admire. Especially in this light, in the comfort of the roaring fire. Here in front of me was this amazing guy who understood me so well that I almost didn't want to leave. But I knew that I needed to.

"Thank you," I smiled. "For being so understanding."

"Don't worry about it." He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze.

Normally I would have teased him for still blushing around me, but by then I'd already made it to the door. It was left slightly ajar and creaked as it opened.

The only sign that Elise was here was the mess of brown curls were tousled all over the mattress. They stopped at her head, hidden underneath the sheets.

The one good thing about two of my dorm mates having transferred to another school was that their beds were left behind. It was a good thing for things like sleepovers between us and Hermione. Although I wasn't sure if that'd be happening anymore.