Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. I have nothing, except my imagination. It's fair…for now!

MEASLES

Chapter 1: Feeling hot hot hot

It was a rather quiet day at Burrow. Ron was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a big sandwhich idly, his eyes fixed on the clock. He had just woken up and waiting for Hermione, who had written him two days ago informing she would come that day. Harry had sent an owl too which told he would be able to come to the Burrow one day before Bill and Fleur's wedding. Ron found it irritable while Ginny received it quite predictable.

Ginny was sitting on the couch reading a magazine in the meantime. There were only two of them at home suprisingly. Molly and Fleur had gone to the tailor for the wedding dress fitting. Mr. Weasley and Bill were at work, and the twins were at the joke shop. The wedding was one week far away.

While Ron was swallowing the last bite of his sandwhich he heard a pop in the fireplace, he jerked with the noise. His heart gave an odd thump. Assuming it was Hermione he stood up hastily to meet her but he crashed his leg to the table badly. He cursed under his breath as he heard Ginny gave away an excited shriek.

"Hermione!"

As soon as Hermione stepped out of the fireplace Ginny pulled her for a tight hug. When she could finally breathe her eyes darted nervously around the room to see Ron.

"Hello Ginny," she greeted her warmly as she noticed Ron coming out of the kitchen gradually. He had a sour face as if he had eaten a whole lemon.

"He isn't pleased to see me, I guess." Hermione thought privately however she made herself dismiss the thought.

"Hi, Ron," she flashed him a warm smile.

"Hi Hermione," Ron managed to give her a faint smile.

He stunned for a moment where he was standing and couldn't make a move towards Hermione. Hermione was surprised at his reaction. 'At least I deserve a hug' she thought privately. They stared each other for split minutes.

"Let's put your trunk up to my room." Ginny suggested right away, breaking the silence. "I have got loads to tell you. You won't believe your eyes when you saw Fleur. She is driving me mad. Mum made me…" she started to tell something vehemently as she led her way to the stairs.

Hermione grabbed her pack and she started to follow Ginny lazily. She gazed Ron out of the corners of her eyes, he was standing at the same spot. That made Hermione angrier, she rolled her eyes dramatically.

Ron, on the other hand, was truly annoyed with Ginny who took Hermione away from him. 'Two minutes' he thought. After a long time, I could see her two minutes. Well, not so long. Only two weeks. He confessed himself. But he had mised her already. Why hadn't she hugged him? Was she still angry with him? Why her face was so pale? He thought she looked ill and there was something forced in her smile. Was that about him?

He wanted to hug her, he had planned so but his leg had ached awfully and he couldn't make a move. "What did she think," he wondered. He mentally cursed himself. When he would talk to her? It's not like he had planned something, he had no idea what to say her indeed, but he had missed to talk to her. In private…

Two hours passed waiting. Ron waited for girls to come downstairs. But they didn't. He paced the sitting room thinking of an excuse to enter Ginny's room. He couldn't find any. Nevertheless he heard Mrs. Weasley and Fleur had returned home, he gave away a sigh of relief. He had found an excuse. He grinned sheepishly.

"Tha wa so tiing" Fleur complained in her throaty voice before plopping herself on the sofa. Mrs. Weasley gave her a threatening look.

"You didn't do something Fleur," she rolled her eyes, looking rather cross. "All you had to do was stand up in front of Madame Malkin," she added pointedly. However Fleur didn't get the hint.

Mrs. Weasley shook her head desperately before she noticed Ron.

"Hi, Ron. Has Hermione arrived?"

"Yeah, she has." Ron answered. "They are umm… up in the Ginny's room." He said, indicating the ceiling. "Do you want me to call them?"

"Oh please. I need help for dinner. We can't expect help from her, can we?" she threw an exasperated glare at Fleur who felt asleep on the sofa with a smug look on her face.

Ron smiled lopsidedly trying not to show his enthusiasm and sprinted to the upstairs.

Hermione who had been bored inside the room was trying to concentrate what Ginny was telling her. She didn't want to offend Ginny because she knew she had been fragile currently. But she was in no mood to console her. She was annoyed with Ron in addition; he hadn't thought of to call her. He didn't miss me. He didn't care of me. Her eyes fulled with tears. She was about to explode. Was the room too hot? What was the matter with her?

She had started to lose her patience when she heard a knock on the door. Thankfully, it was no other than Ron. He popped his head in. She couldn't help but smiled.

"Mum calls you Ginny, she needs help in the kitchen!"

Ginny grimaced. "What about her precious daughter-in-law?

"She fell asleep!" Ron shrugged.

"Poor thing," Ginny whined as she headed down the stairs. Ron looked at Hermione. He wasn't really sure what to say. An awkward silence hung in the air for a few minutes.

"How are you Hermione?" he asked trying to open a casual chat.

"Fine, Ron!" Hermione answered smiling."What about you?" she asked brushing her hear behind her ear.

"As usual…" Ron shrugged. There was a silence for a while.

"Harry said he would come one week later!" he said shoving his hands in his pocket casually, closing the distance between them.

"I know he owled me too" Hermione said trying to avoid his eyes and she suddenly seemed interested with Ginny's pictures on the wall.

"Yeah…" Ron said awkwardly. 'Bravo Ron. Nice conservation really. You prat...' said the inner voice inside him. He ignored it.

"I- I crashed my leg before you came," he said in a desperate attempt pointing his leg, as if it was an explanation. Hermione shot him a sarcastic look.

"Really? Poor thing," she said mockingly with an amused smirk on her face and after a final glance, she brushed past him and headed to the kitchen behind Ginny. Ron sighed disappointedly. He followed her, defeated.

"Hermione dear, welcome!" Mrs. Weasley beamed as she saw Hermione, sweeping her into a caring hug.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione greeted her back, smiling sweetly.

"You look pale, Hermione." Mrs. Weasley stated unexpectedly frowning as she realised there was something strange on her.

"No, I am fine." Hermione said hastily, thinking she was exaggerating as always. "It must be about weather. It's boiling out there…" she said in a reassuring voice but Mrs. Weasley wasn't convinced.

"Whatever, you had better get rest for a while until dinner is ready. Just in case!" she said grabbing her chin with her hand.

Ron' face lit up. 'Oh yes!'

"Mum is right, Mione. You look tired." He said trying to hide the joy in his voice. Hermione glared at him, narrowing her eyes. She was really feeling tired but she didn't want to stay alone with him for some reason.

"Oh, no." she cut in. "I am fine, really. Please I want to help. Ginny and I can sort it out. I think you should rest. You must be tired." She suggested Mrs. Weasley eagerly, ignoring the glares Ron giving her.

Ron widened his eyes at these words. 'Oh, noo!'

"Don't even ask." Mrs Weasley agreed. "Whole day she complained about the weather, about the dress. She made Madame Malkin crazy." She said pointing Fleur with her eyes. And with no other word said, Hermione whirled around and went to the kitchen, a silly smile on her face. Ginny looked at her suspiciously.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Oh, nothing…."

&

At dinner, Hermione had no appetite for some reason. She played with her meal and tried to eat something for fear of Mrs. Weasley. Ron watched her during dinner. She had been unusually quiet all through out dinner. He counted her bites and realised she didn't eat something properly. Hermione caught his gaze and smiled at him. Ron blushed.

"Hermione dear, why don't you eat?" Ron jerked with his mum' sudden question.

"Mrs. Weasley, I… cough cough." Hermione managed to say between a sudden coughing turn. Ron's eyes widened. She wasn't fine.

"Oh, my dear… You sure you are ok? Why is your face so red? Oh my…" she stood up abruptly and went to next to her.

Hermione was afraid of her reaction. "I am fine, Mrs. Weasley. Just a bit tired, I suppose…"

"I don't think so, honey. Your fever is extremely hot." She exclaimed, concern evident on her features.

"Arthur can you come and look at her?" she asked his husband, standing over Hermione, looking troubled. Mr. Weasley got to his feet and approched her. Ron and Ginny exchanged puzzled looks.

"What do you think?" Mrs. Weasley asked concerningly, grabbing Hermione's face in her hands. Arthur Weasley studied her face carefully bending over, and he noticed some little red spots on her skin. His expression turned serious.

"Hermione, have you ever been infected Measles?" he asked, looking directly in her eyes.

"I don't think so," Hermione answered warily. She began to feel a slight panic rise up in her. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat.

"Then apparently you are infected right now…"

With that sentence Ron nearly fell of his seat. He choked his bite of bread; Bill thumped him on the back. They all gasped in shocked. Hermione's eyes widened with shock.

"Measles?" she squealed unbelievingly, looking ready to cry.

"Don't panic, dear!" Mrs. Weasley comforted her right away as she saw all colour drained away from her face. "You will be ok!" she added soothingly, patting her on the shoulder. However this did not make Hermione any less nervous.

"Oh poo thing" They heard Fleur saying unexpectedly. "I hope you are all passed thiz disease. I don't want my wedding ruined. It's contagious disaste." She asked looking at her fiancee with puppy eyes. Ron and Ginny glared at her dangerously. Bill consoled her.

"Be calm, darling. Yes, it's contagious but we all passed it over. Didn't we, mum?" He looked at his mother for confirmation, who seemed for some reason anxious.

"Not all of us, actually!" she said right before she slid her eyes to Ron.

"Ron dear…"

"Didn't I?" he blurted out, his eyes huge. "How come? Amid six siblings, didn't I?" Ron protested in vain. He was mortified.

"If you don't want to go around with spotted face at your brother wedding, you can't approach her, until she recovers." Mrs. Weasley threatened him as she saw his reaction. Ron blushed and tried to avoid Hermione's eyes.

"We all need your help for preparations." She ended her speech with a stern look before she turned Hermione who looked scandalised. Ginny giggled knowingly. She seemed really enjoyed the situation.

"Hermione you should rest. I will prepare you a potion to reduce the fever and a potion for the spots. Now, don't stand here, Ginny help her, come on, come on…" Mrs. Weasley added quickly before she yelled "Accio The Healer's Helpmate."

Hermione nodded, looking at a complete loss for anything to say before they headed to the upstairs.

Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron who had a perplexed look on his face.

"Don't approach her, Ron! I warn you." She threatened him yet again, sensing his hesitation. Ron opened his mouth to protest, but immediately shut it again. He glared at his mum, his ears burning as though it was all her fault. He still didn't like the idea being away from Hermione. That wasn't fair.

"Damn it! No way… No way I can stay away from her…"