Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling
Playing House
Chapter 17: Rejuvenation
"What's the state of the patient?" asked a bariton voice.
"Still unconscious," replied a voice of a woman. "Two cracked skulls, a crushed bone in the spine, and there is a scratch on the calf."
"What do you know about the accident?" asked another voice huskily.
"He was brought by a covered Auror and he said that he had been hit by a Muggle car. That's all."
"All right, when he is awake, inform us please."
There was a murmuring answer.
Perceiving the sound indistinctly, Ron's eyes opened on impulse. Blinking slightly, he raised his head and looked around inquisitively. He was in a small room, lying in a big comfortable bed. He merely managed a grumble. Seconds later, the door of the room opened and a plump, mid-age looking woman in white who was supposed to be a nurse entered.
"Oh, you're awake," she exclaimed her eyes huge in amazement.
Ron stared at her in confusion. Taken aback, he tried to sit up in the bed however he couldn't. "Oucch," he bellowed as he felt a pounding pain on his back.
"Don't move, Mr. Weasley," the nurse warned him quickly.
"What happened to me?" he asked running a hand over the bandages.
"You got hit by a Muggle car," explained the nurse. It took Ron five minutes to remember. Of course, he was in St. Mungo's. He barely recalled the bright lights.
"How do you feel?" asked the nurse as she expanded him a glass of potion to drink.
"Totally wrecked," Ron answered with a groan.
"Normal," stated the nurse briefly. "It was a miracle that you had been saved with only a couple of bone crush."
"How long I've been here?"
"Two days," she said and "well, I should inform your family that you're awake now," she stated hastily before she headed to the door.
"Are they here?" asked Ron stupidly.
"Of course," the nurse smiled and walked out of the room.
After a moment of two, the door burst open, and a group of people entered the room. All of his family members were there with the exception of Hermione. The small hospital room quickly filled up.
"Oh, Ronald," Mrs. Weasley squealed and clutched at her heart as she pulled Ron into a tight hug.
"Don't cry mum," Ron consoled her awkwardly, patting on the shoulder.
"You gave us a quite fright son," Mr. Weasley said caringly, approaching the edge of the bed. There was an awkward silence. Everybody looked at his face warmly, all looking upset and concerned. Ron felt uncomfortable under the piercing stares. However, he was thankful that none of them asked questions about the accident.
Before long, the nurse interrupted the visit claming that Ron needed sleep. As expected, Mrs. Weasley refused to leave his side but Ron persuaded her that he had been fine and in addition, the nurse promised her she would keep an eye on him. After that, they could finally depart for Burrow. Only Ginny and Harry stayed with him in case he would need something.
When the small room went back its normal silence, Ginny settled on the chair beside the bed. Harry started to pace in the room nervously. As the silence hung in the air, Ron felt uncomfortable.
"What were you doing there Ron?" Harry exploded a few minutes later. "I mean that place was full of Muggles," he said, shaking his head in disapproval.
"I couldn't get the job," said Ron, after swallowing the lump that formed in his throat.
"That's not the end of the world mate," Harry reasoned. "So what?"
Ron remained silent. Harry didn't seem to understand what it did mean to him. "Does Hermione know?" he asked hoarsely, after a few minute's silence.
"Of course, she does. She was here while you were sleeping," answered Ginny soflty. Ron gulped audibly.
"Yeah, how is she?" he asked turning to her, looking into her eyes. Ginny lowered her eyes.
"She is in a mess," answered Harry in her place.
"Everything is going to be okay Ron," Ginny said in a reassuring voice once she saw the crestfallen expression on Ron's face. Harry looked uncomfortable. He pressed his lips together before he spoke.
"We were so sure that finally everything would be fine."
"So I was Harry, so I was."
"But you know she-"
"No, Harry," Ron interrupted him, sensing what Harry would say. "I can't do it anymore. I skipped my chance."
"She doesn't love you for your job, Ron, she doesn't love you for your money. That's stupid," reasoned Harry desperately.
"I know. It's got nothing to do with it," he protested. "But what can I guarantee her? I am not quite sure about my own future. What will I propose her? This is not a game anymore, this god damned marriage."
"You can't do this to her Ron, you can't do this to yourself," commented Ginny.
"Please guys, let it drop."
Harry and Ginny didn't push the matter. After staying one more hour, they left the hospital, promising that they would visit him in the following day. Ron was left alone in the small room. Only the nurse had been his visitor throughout the night, she occasionally dropped over to check him out and to give the potions he needed to take.
The potions were intense. They all made him numb and sleepy. All he could do was sleep. Whatsmore they had caused nightmares. Naturally enough, they were all about Hermione. She was yelling at him, accusing for him being a coward, and the most terrible one, she was marrying to another man.
When the nurse dropped over in the next morning, she confirmed him.
"You were murmuring a name in your sleep," she stated while preparing a mixture of potions.
"Oh yeah?" Ron looked up to her face. "Whose name?" he asked tentatively even though he knew the answer very well.
"I don't know," the nurse shook her head. "But I am certain that it was a female name," she stated knowingly. "Do you think there might be a relation with the beautiful woman with brown hair? " she asked playfully, winking at him.
Ron blushed and sighed. Gathering the information from his face, the nurse continued.
"She visited every day, for your information."
"Really?" Ron beamed. "Did she stopover today?" he asked.
"Oh yes, a couple hours ago," approved the sympathetic nurse as she helped him to place a pillow behind him.
"She didn't want to see me, did she?" asked Ron, feeling suddenly depressed.
"Well, I told her that if she would like, she could see you," she slightly shook her head with a worried expression. "But oh well, she said no, for some reason."
"I understand," nodded Ron. "If she comes again… never mind," he trailed off. He knew he didn't have right to ask her to see him. He sighed dramatically. Before she left, the nurse stopped at the midway and turned to face Ron as though something hit her on the head.
"I almost forgot," she weaved a hand dismissively. "The auror brought you this," she pulled something out of her pocket. Ron's heart skipped a beat. It was the ring.
"He told me that it had dropped out of pocket of your jacket. He requested me give it to you," she announced and watched Ron's miserable expression for a moment but then "Now, you should rest," she advised and hurriedly walked out of the room.
Ron stared at the ring he was holding in his hand. "Hermione," he groaned. "It was supposed to be on her finger right now," He thought to himself. "If only," he murmured quietly. "If only everything. He felt his heart ache. He put it in the drawer next to his bedside
That day, his room filled up with a lot of guests. He felt a bit buffolded witnesssing that he had so many people worried for him. His chief Kingsley had been first to arrive, he had been genuinely worried for him. All of his co-workers dropped over some time in the day, with the exception of Scott of course. And some of his friends from Hogwarts visited him, much to his surprise. He saw a lot of people he didn't expect to see. His room was full with varios flowers, numerous get-well soon cards. Despite all of these, Ron's mind was elsewhere. Hermione hadn't come to see him yet.
He was positively convinced that she wouldn't come and she wouldn't forgive him. However, in the evening he heard an unexpected knock on the door. He was alone in the room, staring at the ceiling absentmindedly, and listening the noise of the raindrops that were slightly hitting the window. "Oh, not again," he complained mutely thinking that he had another visitor. He had been exhausted the whole day. But "come in," he answered helplessly. The door opened quietly, and unexpectedly Hermione entered the room.
For a moment Ron couldn't speak.
"Hello Ron," Hermione greeted him slowly.
"Hi," managed Ron, hoisting himself up on elbow. He thought she looked weak, even ill, and there was something forced in her smile.
She slowly approached the edge of the bed; her gazes wandered down on his body, studying the wounds, looking shaken. She winced in agony across the scene facing her, and that was when she blurted in cry.
"Hermione I am fine," said Ron feeling uncomfortable. "Please…"
"I am sorry I didn't come earlier," she said, a tear streaming down her cheek. "I didn't know, I was a bit, anyway…"
"It's okay, Hermione," consoled Ron awkwardly.
He hated himself when he made her cry. They stayed in silence for a few moments. Ron was too mortified to speak, Hermione looked offended for some reason. The tension in the room was evident.
"Well, I must go," she said abruptly after calming down a bit.
"No," exclaimed Ron, feeling suddenly panicked. "I feel loads better, I swear, please stay a little more," he said in a pleading voice.
After exchanging a meaningful glare, Hermione seated at the edge of the bed.
"Well, I was waiting for you," she blurted out after a silent moment, her voice shaking slightly, wiping away the tears with the face of her hand.
Ron lowered his gazes down, feeling uncomfortable. "I know," he said. "I didn't show up because-" he tried to explain miserably.
"Not to show up is extremely enough explanatory," said Hermione flatly.
"The fact is-"
"What fact Ron?" she bellowed, cutting him off, suddenly furious. "Did you forget that we were going to meet or did you just give up since you suddenly felt disturbed? Which fact Ron?" she snorted.
Ron opened his mouth to protest but Hermione didn't let him to speak.
"Anyway it's neither the time nor the place to discuss about it," she exhaled loudly and continued, "I am not talking this to you in the middle of a hospital room," she finished, getting to her feet.
Ron reached for her hands before she could stand up, and gently pulled her back to the bed.
"I couldn't make it Hermione," he said, after letting out a heavy sigh, her hands in his, unable to look at her in the eyes.
Hermione shook her head.
"You can't blame me," Ron continued. "Blame me for being a coward, blame me for being a stupid but don't you ever think that I don't love you.You shouldn't think..."
"So what? Love needs sacrifices," Hermione protested. "And I was ready. I would give up my own life and you didn't understand that. Do you know what makes me feel depressed? You didn't know me at all, after all these year," she frowned deeply. "It shows me that you doubted about my love."
"Of course I know you," Ron prompted. "But I know something else as well, you deserve better," he said, never leaving her hands.
"So you do Ron," added Hermione softly. Ron avoided her eyes.
"Why do you give up so easily?" her voice sounded hurt. "Do you think it would be the first job you missed? Can you imagine how many obstacles you will come againts in the future? Will you do the same? Will you run away?"
"But Hermione-"
"I was so sure, this time you wouldn't leave me alone," she shook her head in disappointment.
"I love you,"
"Then what?"
"I told you,"
Hermione lost her patience. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, I don't care about your job, all I want is to spend the rest of my life with you, even though you don't have a proper job, even though we don't have a galleon in our pockets, even though we suffer from starving. But you don't understand. You don't give us a chance." She concluded and got to her feet abruptly.
"Hermione wait," cried Ron as turned to leave the room. Hermione stopped and whirled around her heels slowly.
Ron reached at the drawer next to the bed; he found the little box he had placed in the morning. Hermione watched him in curiosity.
"Then marry me," he blurted out, handing the ring to Hermione. Hermione looked at it down, her eyes huge in shock, at a complete loss for words.
"I can't promise anything," Ron started, after sighing loudly. "I can't promise you a wonderful, comfortable life. All I could manage is that… you deserve better I know but… it's all I can do… a dreadful proposal in the middle of a hospital room. If you are agreed this…"
Hermione didn't speak for a moment; she merely stared at the ring in her hand as though she could not believe her eyes. But then after flashing a heavenly watery smile at him she slipped the ring onto her finger.
"I will Ron," she declared, wiping away the tears.
She seated back at the edge of the bed, this time closer and beaming. She leaned on him slightly, trying not to touch his scars and started to place amorous kisses on his face. Ron almost forgot that he had been in a hospital room since he felt the familiar sensation in his stomach. But then Hermione reminded him, much to his dismay. Even though he felt a bit dissatisfied, they would have time, he thought mentally.
The next day, Ron wake up with sunlight streaming through the curtains, feeling rejunevated and happy as he had never been. When the nurse dropped over his room, she noticed the improvement in his mood.
"Mr. Weasley how are you feeling today?" she asked smiling.
"Loads better," said Ron, grinned.
"You have a visitor," she informed.
"Hermione?"
"No," the nurse replied, smiling playfully. After she made sure Ron drank his potions in order, she went outside to invite the visitor. When the door pushed open, Ron was expecting to see one of the family members but much to his surprise, an old familiar man entered.
"Mr. Hewlitt!" Ron exclaimed and tried to straighten in his bed respectfully. He was astonished to see the president.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," greeted Hewlitt as he approached the edge of the bed.
There was an awkward silence. Ron mutely motioned him to sit down at the chair beside the bed, recovering from his initial shock.
"Oh, Mr. Weasley," started Hewlitt after a moment. "I am really sorry for the accident, I hope you get well soon," he stated looking geniunely concerned.
"Yeah," nodded Ron.
"I am sorry about the job. But the rules were exact,"
"I understand sir, it was my fault," said Ron.
"Well anyway…" said Hewlitt as he waved a dismissive hand in the air. " Merlin knows I liked you. You and your wife, I mean your fake wife…"
Ron smiled sheepishly. "Actually sir, we're going to get married in fact," he announced.
"Oh," Hewlitt beamed. "Actually I can't say I am surprised. Because I felt the tension stuck between you. It was so obvious. When I first heard, I had found it hard to believe it was just a game," he said. Ron nodded in agreement.
"I know because of this game I lost my job, I lost my dignity in the office, I lost my chief's trust," he explained. "But above all of them, I finally got what I actually wanted which I had been dreaming since forever," he confessed wholeheartedly.
"Excellent," beamed Hewlitt. "I am so glad to hear this. But actually I've come here for another reason."
"Well," he started after a moment, becoming suddenly serious, "despite the fact that you chose a tricky way to get the job," he continued rasing a serious eyebrow, "I liked the idea, I mean, working with you."
"Oh," Ron suddenly felt excited.
"Although, I can't give the job back to you but-" he pasused for a moment for a dramatic effect and looked up to Ron's face, "but I can offer you another job," he blurted out. Ron's eyes widened in surprise. "For a long time, I've been looking for a trustworthy person who will run the team after me."
Ron's mouth fell agape. "Oh,"
Mr. Hewlitt chuckled at his reaction.
"I know it's sounds a bit contradictory after what had happened but well, by experince, I know you're the right person." he said adding humour to the situation, "So, what do you say?"
"Well, I- " Ron grinned uncontrably. " It's great, I mean, of course," he trailed off.
"But I've one condition," added Hewlitt hastily.
"Yes?" Ron looked up to his face expectantly.
"Before you start to the job, I want to see you get married," he exclaimed. "Legally," he added smiling all over.
Ron laughed nervously. "Yes, sure," he stated.
"Well, I have a meeting to attend now," Mr. Hewlitt said after glancing at his watch and got to his feet slowly. "We'll talk about the job when you are discharged from hospital."
"Okay, Mr. Hewlitt," Ron nodded. "I'll send you an invitation." He said with a bright smile.
Hewlitt nodded in agreement with a slight chuckle and then he walked out of the room. As soon as he exited, Ron began to laugh manically. His chuckles and victory screams echoed through the hospital walls. He could not quite believe that it was happening to him.
It was a miracle.
AN: Well, I need excuses, I know. :)
What about I had my exams:Pp
Butdon't hate me. I've been writinga new story. It's almost finished.Isn't it great? And I've been thinkingto makea poster for this story! Squeee! If there is someone willing to help me, I'll appreciate it!
You're all invited to my Weasley Wedding version. Thanks a million for the reviews for the last chapter. They made me feel great. Thank you all!