It hurts when you're gone (Ron Weasley Fanfic)

Chapter 34- Tempest

Seamus was fiddling with the knobs of the radio again and tapping his wand repeatedly.

'Seamus, turn the volume up, won't you?' said Neville.

'I will, as soon as I get Potterwatch!' Seamus said, fiddling with the controls.

'Yes! Come on here everybody!!' he yelled, at which all of us congregated in front of the radio set. Listening to Potterwatch was one of those rare things that all the Gryffindors did together. Otherwise, lost as we were in our own thoughts, there was never a happy moment. I remember nights where the weather outside was stormy, but the atmosphere inside was even more grim. All of us, huddled inside; trying to shake off unwelcome thoughts. Or trying to face the fact that the future was ours to make. Listening to others outside Hogwarts gave us some measure of courage- atleast we knew we weren't alone in fighting tyranny.

I could hear one of the Weasley twins talk now, about how Voldemort operated secretly, about why we should judge the truth of every rumour. Ginny seemed to drink in her brother's words. She missed them very badly, I could see that. There was a look of longing on her face, as he stopped talking and let Lee talk. Lupin's voice crackled out of the radio- about how Harry was still alive out there and fighting for us all. About how we shouldn't give up, because Harry was not. About the people who put themselves at risk by supporting Harry and how much little acts of courage could make a difference. Ginny seemed to hang onto every word of his- but so did I. Ron went with Harry; wherever he went. News of Harry was like news of Ron. Or Hermione, for that matter. We all only wished for their well-being, we only hoped that they were out there, putting up brave resistance. For even though we couldn't help them in the way that we wished to, our thoughts rested with them, always.

Later in the night, I was completing my Potions homework- scribbling down the laws involved, the method and procedure of a particularly tough potion. Writing it all down reminded me of so many things. Of Hermione correcting me when I put in the wrong ingredient, of Harry showing Slughorn a bezoar at the end of the antidote lesson. Of Ron, as he held me up and gave me encouragement when I messed up a potion. Of him thanking me for the tips I sent for Potions homework. ('Hi Y/N, I need to thank you for those pointers you gave me for Snape's homework- I hadn't done it because everything he'd said just went over my head. You saved me from a detention alright.')

I gripped my quill tight, still writing determinedly- I would not let the tears fall. But one tear betrayed me, falling down on the parchment, blotting out a few words. And before I knew it, the tears came thick and fast. I pushed the homework away and slumped down on my elbows, resting my head on my arms. 'What have I done to deserve this, Ron?' I sniffed, softly. Hadn't I given him strength, hadn't we loved each other so deeply that a single day without the other felt like torture? I sat up finally, mopping up my eyes.

And then the truth hit me finally, like a bolt of lightning; jolting me out of my reverie, out of my assumptions. Heavens only knew what all the three of them must be going through. What dangers did they have to face, what perils awaited? I realized Hermione and Ron would become even more closer- wasn't it said that true love could only be properly judged when it went through crisis after crisis without breaking?

No doubt their feelings for each other might have intensified. Probably he loved her more than he would ever love me. Then why did he throw those false promises to me (and why did I lap them up?) Why did he pretend he was still mine when he wasn't? I don't know how long I stared at the wall opposite- trying to push away all manner of dreadful thoughts. I felt betrayed, hurt and lost. I felt like everything inside of me was crumbling down.

Love was such a multi-layered word. He might not love me anymore, but my parents did. My friends did. What more could I ask for? As I sat there, consoling my own self, keeping a hold on my emotions; I felt a hand on my arm.

Ginny.

Dependable. Always there for me. So unlike her brother.

She yawned and looked at me blearily. She pointed to her watch, saying something about the time. But it all missed me.

She pulled me up, leading me slowly towards the Girls Dorm. I followed her obediently, as she led me to my bed, muttering the words- 'Everything will be fine Y/N.'

I fell asleep with the assurance of those words 'Everything will be fine.'