Chapter Text
The office is quiet, a pleasant buzz barely filtering through the cracked door. It’s not enough to distract but just enough that the silence doesn’t drive him crazy. The report in front of him is long and tedious, Hermione’s voice a constant in the back of his head telling him to get it done just like she did in school. It isn’t hard to convince himself to finish though. The sooner he finishes, the sooner he gets to go home to Ron.
The whispers outside his door catch his attention though. The normally pleasant buzz has changed into a tense chatter, the whole air of the office changing. Harry furrows his brows in confusion, placing his quill down carefully as not to smudge any ink. The chair scratches against the wooden floor and it seems like a hush filters through the office just on the other side of the door.
He’s reaching for the door handle, an inquiry on his lips, when the door swings open. He barely steps back before the wood slams closed again, familiar blue eyes looking at him for only a moment before he’s engulfed in the warm embrace that feels more like home than any four walls ever have.
He immediately knows something is wrong.
The air in the room crackles with longing, pain, sadness and Harry’s nearly suffocated by the realization that they’ve really separated them, taken their partnership -one built on years of fighting Voldemort together - away in only the drop of a hat. They’re not allowed to be partners in the office if they’re partners in real life and Harry hates that they ever found out.
The fear settles in his heart when Ron’s nose presses into the unruly hair atop his head, arms tight like he’s holding Harry like a lifeline. This isn’t a regular mission. This isn’t one that spends more time in the office strategizing than in the field. This is a hug that tells Harry he won’t be seeing Ron for a long time.
“Why does it seem like you’re saying goodbye?” Harry whispers into his robes, face pressed against his shoulder. Ron’s hands have found their way into his hair, curled into the locks almost painfully, like he doesn’t want to forget the texture.
Harry waits with bated breath even though he knows the answer. This is a goodbye. He knew it the second Ron’s arms wrapped around him but he has to know for sure, to hear the words from Ron’s lips in order to believe this was actually happening. He needs to know why Ron is saying goodbye like they aren’t going to see each other again.
“I’m going on my first mission without you,” Ron says into his hair. Harry needs to see his face though. He needs to look into those blue eyes he loves so much. He does just that, allowing Ron’s arms to stay wrapped around him as he pulls away just enough to look into those blue eyes.
He instantly regrets it. The worry lacing Ron’s pale freckled features has worry pooling in Harry’s stomach and he knows this is more than a simple mission. “How long?” Harry has to swallow around the lump in his throat.
The frown doesn’t belong on Ron’s normally smiling lips. It has an ache settling in Harry’s chest. “It could be months.” The words sit heavily between them, air thick as Harry processes months without the one person who has always been by his side. They’ve never spent months apart.
“When do you leave?” He forces himself to ask. The report can be done at any time. He doesn’t care if he has to come in at four in the morning just to finish.
Ron’s face tells him all he needs to know before the words even pass his lips. “I had to practically beg them to say goodbye.” Harry’s heart breaks at the words, not even allowed one more night in Ron’s arms before he leaves. “I’ve already used up my time. They’ll be looking for me now.”
Harry doesn’t waste any more time as he connects their lips, trying to memorize the feeling, savor the flavor on his tongue. He barely even gets a moment though before the knock sounds across the small office he shares with Ron, door already opening as they spring apart.
“It’s time to head out.” Robards looks guilty for only a moment before his face is masked. “We’ll send your stuff along after you.”
He doesn’t wait for Ron as he turns his back, closing the door part way as he does so. Harry knows he only has a moment as he presses his lips to Ron’s once more. “I love you. Please be safe,” Harry begs, worry already churning his stomach. The next months are going to be hard.
“I love you and I promise I’ll come back.”
There is only one more kiss before they hear Robards clearing his throat outside the door. Ron pulls away reluctantly, turning away from him. He holds his hand as long as possible, watching Ron go on his first long term mission without him.
———————————
Harry doesn’t get much information about the case. He digs around the office, asks a few of their coworkers, but only gets ‘it’s classified’ in reply more often than not. The classified ones are always the most dangerous. They’re kept under wraps because most involve undercover aurors that can’t have their cover blown. They involve more focus, more attention to detail, more time than any short term mission.
It’s one of the reasons Harry is curious about Ron’s abrupt exit. The classified long term missions sometimes require months of planning before they even go into the field. Ron was normally a lead strategist for most of the long term missions but had never gone on one without Harry. Harry knew Ron wasn’t involved with any long term missions though. The pair tell each other everything even when they aren’t supposed too.
He has to do a bit of digging for this part. It’s unusual for anyone to be thrown into a mission this big - clearly it was a big mission if it was going to take possibly months to complete - without so much as a day to brief before being sent into the field.
There are whispers around the office he follows. The mentions of an injuries auror. The talk of some big time undercover job. That same job has already been months in the making and Harry is pretty sure the injured wizard in question is the lead. It’s all hearsay though because it’s been kept under wraps.
It clicks then. Ron mentioning some strategizing for a big case. Ron barely mentioning details but running off to meetings every few days when he was called. That’s why he was picked. He was involved in the case. Harry just hadn’t dug deeper into the details when Ron was here to ask. It makes sense suddenly why he was chosen, a replacement for the fallen auror that can easily be hidden with a few glamour charms or polyjuice potion.
The realization makes the dread sit heavily in Harry’s stomach. The injured auror was kept pretty well under wraps. Harry had to dig for that bit of news and only found out because of his connection at St. Mungo’s from his one too many trips there. He didn’t know any details. He didn’t know what happened. He just knew their co-worker was sitting in a hospital bed in a coma and it scared the shit out of Harry.
What if Ron came back in the same condition? The two had always been there to cover each other’s back. They could read each other like a book after six years in the aurors and a whole childhood of trauma. Harry always knows where Ron is and visa versa. This was different. This was Harry sitting in an empty office he shares with Ron - the only thing they were allowed to share once their relationship became public and only because there were no other offices available and no one would switch - and worrying for any extended amount of time.
The floor will be worn by the time Ron is back. Harry has to keep reminding himself that Ron will be back. There is no question about it. He will be laughing at his desk in no time, right as rain. There was no way Ron wasn’t coming out of this in one piece even if Harry had to go there himself.
Ron’s absence is only felt more when he is around the Weasleys, unable to even tell them more than that Ron is on a mission. Even if Harry knew how long the mission would last, he wouldn’t be able to tell them. It leads to a lot of worried glances and nervous chatter around the kitchen table. It also leads to Mrs. Weasley constantly asking if he’d like to stay over in her own worry for Harry, who has always struggled with nightmares that Ron helps tame. He declines every time because he can’t leave the home they share together. He knows it will be the first place Ron will show up if Harry isn’t in the office when he gets back from his mission.
The pitying looks at the Weasleys end up bleeding into the same looks in the office. It only takes a week of worrying for Harry to throw himself into work. He’s up for promotion anyway and it’s a great excuse to get more cases, do more work to show his loyalty for the department even if he knows everyone realizes what he’s doing.
It doesn’t really help though. Harry’s new partner - a Hogwarts student fresh out of training - is nothing like Ron. Beth is too cautious for her own good, thinking things through to the point she nearly gets herself killed in the line of fire. Harry knows it will come with time and training but he is so used to working with Ron that it throws him for a loop when he has to be extra aware to keep track of the newbie.
He ends up spending more time in the office than at home to the point a few coworkers point out the obvious. They don’t get it though. Well, he knows a few do. He can see the empathy written on their faces, ones that have partners on the force, separated in the field after they got together. They get it and they don’t try to tell Harry to slow down or take a break. It’s simply a mutual understanding that falls between them.
The prospects of a promotion allows him to sniff around a bit more. There is an invite to a meeting here. An invite to a meeting there. It ends up with a few more details in the case Ron’s been on for nearly two months now and only for the fear to sit heavily in his stomach with every word he hears.
Harry’s been able to gather that he’s infiltrated an underground ring of dark wizards. They’re merciless when it comes to murder but experts at covering their tracks. They’re so good they haven’t been able to trace a single death back to the group and are only connecting on basically no evidence. They have a big drug ring going, potions the department has never even seen before turning up with only one connection and that is a small imprint on the bottom of each bottle.
It’s all the information he has.
That is until it’s not.
The call into Robards office is a surprise especially at nearly seven on a Friday night. It’s nearing the end of Harry’s shift and even though he plans on staying a bit later to do some paperwork, he doesn’t normally get missions if he’s off shift because they’re supposed to be resting. Harry hasn’t rested well in ages so he figures he might as well get a bit more time in at work. The only thing he sees when he closes his eyes is the flashing of green light and Ron’s lifeless body.
“Gather a team, Potter. Auror Weasley has been compromised.”
Harry schools his features to hide the panic coursing through his system.
———————————
“Auror Potter!” It’s then Harry realizes the panic has creeped into his heart and taken his attention away from the details of the case. He snaps back into attention immediately, taking a few deep breaths as he looks around the room. “Do we need to find someone else to lead the mission?”
Harry wants to jump out of his seat, scream and yell, but he knows that will only add more fuel for Robards to bench him on this case. He couldn’t let that happen so he works hard to keep his cool. “No, I got this,” he replies, voice even. He doesn’t know how it doesn’t waver with all the emotions swirling around in his heart but he doesn’t care. He needs to be on this case.
Robards narrows his eyes for a moment, staring him down. Harry keeps an even face, mouth thin as he stares right back. It ends with a nod from Robards as he turns his attention back toward the board.
“Alright, we know that Auror Weasley has been compromised but he indicated it could have been a few days.” Harry’s breath catches at the thought. If this gang was as bad as everyone said, Ron could be dead by now. Why would they bother keeping him around? Harry can’t help his fingers balling up into fists, anger coursing through his system. He’s angry at the department for separating them. He’s angry at the wizards who are currently doing Merlin knows what to Ron. He’s angry for letting this happen.
“How long ago did he contact you, sir?” Harry asks, voice tense. He has to refrain from showing too much emotion. He doesn’t think this is too much. He’s seen other partners with more anger in situations like this that were partners only at work and best mates outside of work. Harry figures he was doing good.
“He contacted us about an hour ago.” That’s enough time for him to be dead. That’s enough time for everything to have gone wrong. If they know Ron reported in then he’s definitely dead right now. The fact he’s been compromised for a few days does give Harry hope. That means they want something out of him. It could mean he was still alive. Harry will take that little bit of hope and latch onto it.
“Why the hell haven’t we left yet?” Harry’s surprised at the outburst, the same words sitting on his tongue for the taking. He looks over to find Ron’s new partner - a young man in his last bout of training, still learning how to separate his emotions from the case - standing now, hands flat on the table. “How are we sitting here when he’s in danger?”
“Sit down, Auror O’Brian,” Robards commands, eyes narrowed. The room has fallen silent, glancing between Auror O’Brian and Robards. It only takes a moment for Auror O’Brian to sit with a huff. “If we have another outburst, that person is off the case.” He makes a point to make eye contact with Harry. He doesn’t think it’s warranted considering he wouldn’t consider his precious comment an outburst. He had simply asked a question. He nods anyway though.
“What’s the plan, sir?” Auror Bone’s voice is even as her eyes skim across the board behind Robards. It’s filled with Ron’s messy handwriting and Harry realizes that Ron already had a retrieval thought out before he even knew he would be going on the mission.
“Auror Weasley planned a get out. We need to be careful though. It sounds like Auror Weasley has enough to put them away so we want to retrieve Auror Weasley and capture as many dark wizards as possible.” Harry can’t help the swell of pride. Ron has gathered enough information to put these arsehole away before the mission was compromised. Ron was an amazing Auror and it showed in every mission he went on. “Auror Potter, don’t make me regret this, but you're in charge of getting Auror Weasley out. The rest of you will be arresting as many dark wizards as possible.”
Harry sits up at the mention of his name, elbows leaning on the table as he waits for the next set of instructions. He isn’t going to screw this up. He knows Robards is holding back on some of the details of Ron’s state and Harry needs all the information he can get before they go into this. He isn’t stupid enough to put Ron in more danger. There was no way he was going to let carelessness and heightened emotions put Ron in more danger.
The details are pretty simple. Ron has a way of creating effective but simple plans. Ron’s level of strategizing skills always impresses Harry. He had always had a knack for cheese but it didn’t even touch on his talents. This was something else and Harry wasn’t surprised when Ron’s promotion came before his to lead strategist. They celebrated a lot that night.
The session is relatively quick, instructions straight forward with the information they have. Ron’s messy handwriting is still easy to follow and he was even able to give a bit of information in his message, including an estimate of the number of dark wizards and information about the building. It made the plan come together a bit easier.
“We will debrief when everyone is back.”
The crack of apparition echoes in the room as each person heads to the meeting spot. Harry is last, meeting Robards gaze. He nods once, Harry returning the gesture before he disappears, finding himself in a forest surrounded by his team.
“Alright, everyone ready?”
The resounding yeses have everyone moving into position. Harry’s heart pounding as he waits to give the signal until everyone is in position.
———————————
The air is heavy in a way that has a chill running down Harry’s spine. The place practically reeks of dark magic, the buzz felt with each step as they enter the building, wands ready. They know the jist of the layout thanks to Ron which is why Harry finds himself leading the team entering the back of the building.
He doesn’t like the silence that has settled. It has suspicion rising as he waves his team on, indicating for them to go into the next room, another empty area. It’s the last hint he needs to realize they’ve been expected. They must have found out Ron reported back. This wasn’t a surprise attack anymore and one signal to his team alerts them of his suspicions.
The realization has each member on high alert. They don’t know when the enemy is going to attack and each is muttering their own set of spells in order to make sure everything in the room is revealed. It doesn’t sit well with Harry when the room comes up empty, not even a trap set to catch them.
The silence makes it easy to catch even the slightest sound. The groan easily catches his attention and he has to hold himself back before he sprints through the house. He knows that groan. He knows Ron is somewhere in this house, pain coursing through him. Harry has to remain calm though. He can’t give their position away yet. He can’t make this worse.
Harry indicates for his team to enter the next room. The second Harry’s foot is over the threshold he’s casting a protection spell, the trap bouncing off and setting off a series of them. The team is quick, all equipped to handle such a situation. Harry makes sure to keep a note on where each team member is as he casts spells to stop each trap, protecting himself and a few of his teammates as the traps quickly die down.
The last of the traps putter out in only seconds and Harry assesses his team, getting a nod from each that they’re okay before they move to the next room.
This one is the first to have wizards in it and the fight breaks out the second Harry enters. The team is quick to follow, throwing spells over his shoulders, the room abuzz as he fires spell after spell toward the dark wizards. He’s partially hit with one, a moment too late with his protection spell as it catches his arm. It stings but he shakes it off as he fires one back, capturing the wizard and vanishing them to the drop point for their arrest.
The chaos is exasperated when they hear shoots from another room. It seems the other team has officially run into dark wizards. Harry is pretty sure they’re about two rooms away which means Ron has to be somewhere in between. The thought has his knuckles white as he casts a particularly nasty spell at the person in front of the door, turning to get Susan’s attention over his shoulder.
“We’ve got it from here,” she insists, casting a spell over his shoulder. He casts a protection spell back for her. “Get Ron out. I’ll cover you.” Harry nods once, turning his attention back toward the door. Susan is a fantastic Auror and in charge of the arrests. She was second only to Harry until he got out and she could easily lead the group from there. Harry trusts her as he makes his way to the door, casting spells in order to help his team.
He had been right in assuming Ron would be in one of the next rooms. He’s actually just through the next door and Harry’s heart stops when he sees him in a heap on the floor, crumpled to the ground in a puddle of his own blood.
This is always the point where Harry has to work the hardest to keep his emotions in check. He can feel his magic flaring. He can feel it coursing through his veins and he has to take a breath to calm himself before he casts his next spell, causing a dark wizard to fly backwards into the wall. It sets off a new wave of light as Aurors enter from both sides, the room coming alight as spells zoom across the room.
Harry doesn’t know how he gets there but suddenly Ron is on the ground in front of him, breath shallow in a way that has panic coursing through Harry’s system. He’s never seen Ron in such a state before. Ron’s been seriously injured before but Harry’s never seen so much blood. This wasn’t the work of magic but sadistic arseholes who were having too much fun utilizing muggle weapons.
“Get him out!” Susan shouts, casting a protection spell over the two. It’s easier said than done. They can’t apparate in or out of the building and Harry’s terrified he’ll only make Ron worse if he moves him.
He’s surprised when Susan points her wand at Ron, muttering a few spells. “Stasis spell should help with the bleeding. And a weightless spell. Snap out of it, Harry. Get him out now.”
And Harry does snap out of it. The weightless spell has him hoisting Ron against his side, nearly crying out when he notices the damage that’s been done. Ron is even worse than he imagined and Harry panics when he doesn’t feel the stuttering of breath against his cheek. “Shit!” The spells are past his lips before he can stop them, magic swirling as he heads toward the door. The protection charm is the strongest he’s ever made and the spells satisfyingly bounce off as he pushes his way out the back door.
There are only a few stray spells that wize past him as he gets just beyond the trees, the crackle of apparition echoing across the trees as he disappears with Ron hanging off his shoulder, completely lifeless against him.
———————————
The healers had been warned ahead of time that Harry would be bringing in an injured Auror so he isn’t surprised to find himself surrounded when he arrives at St. Mungo’s Auror ward. The group is quick to action as they levitate Ron onto a gurnee all the while Harry doesn’t let go of his lifeless hand.
“Is he going to be okay?” Harry asks as one of the healers steps beside him to press a hand over one of his bleeding wounds. He notices that a few healers have done the same, each holding gaze. It’s then Harry notes the stasis spell seems to be wearing as blood starts to seep through the white fabric.
“We will do everything we can Auror Potter,” the healer says. “But you’ll need to step back and let us work.” It’s probably the hardest thing Harry has ever done in his life. He doesn’t want Ron out of his sight ever again but he knows he has to let the healers work. It was the only way he was going to see those blue eyes open ever again.
“Please be okay, Ron,” Harry mutters, letting out a breath as he takes a step back. The healers snap into attention then, pushing through the pair of white doors into what Harry knows is the equivalent of a surgery room.
He wishes the time wasn’t passing so slowly. The clock ticks on the wall and Harry can only watch the hands as they move slower than any creature possible. It doesn’t help that he can’t settle down either. He can’t help but pace the room, the receptionist glaring at him. Harry’s a bit surprised she hasn’t told him to calm down but he’s thankful. He’d only snap at her in reply.
The ten minutes by himself crawl by until he hears the crack and Mrs. Weasley’s worried voice as she hurries over to him. He doesn’t really know what she’s saying, can only see Ron’s mangled body as she pulls him into a hug. He feels guilty for a moment, realizing he has blood on his clothes, coating his fingers. It’s her son’s blood that Harry is sure will stain her back as he wraps his fingers in her dress, holding on as he lets his emotions get the best of him, lets the tears fall.
It’s been a rough few hours of control, control, control and he can’t help but let that slip as she holds him, the closest thing he’s ever had to a mother. She’s whispering reassurances to him, running her fingers through the back of his hair just like Ron does when Harry is upset. It’s comforting and only makes Harry cry harder as he allows Mrs. Weasley to walk him to the seats along the wall.
He doesn’t know how much time passes before the whole Weasley clan is there to witness his break down, each somber in their own grief. He’s able to calm himself down enough to explain a bit about the situation, as much as is allowed since the case won’t be closed for a long time coming. He doesn’t have any information on Ron and he tells them such. Mr. Weasley believes that is a good sign. It means they’re still working hard in order to save Ron.
Because that is what they’re doing. Harry chokes out that Ron wasn’t breathing when they got here. The healers were bringing him back to life because Harry had felt his lifeless body next to him, unmoving and Harry can’t help the tears as he tells the Weasleys the state of their son, of their brother.
“Harry, dear, it’s going to be okay,” Mrs. Weasley is holding him again, Mr. Weasley on his other side with a comforting hand on his shoulder. He’s never lost it like this in front of the family before, not since right after the war. He can feel the worried looks but he doesn’t care right now. Ron was basically dead when he saw him last and that thought alone has dread coursing through his veins, nausea creeping up his throat.
“You didn’t see him,” he cries, pulling away so he can look at Mrs. Weasley. He realizes then how upset she is, tears tracked down her cheeks. She looks older than ever right now as she runs her fingers through Harry’s hair, holding herself together for the sake of her children. “You didn’t see him.”
Mrs. Weasley pulls him close again, exchanging a look with her husband as she rubs soothingly up and down Harry’s back. The waiting room is oddly silent after that. The occasional mutters from a Weasley or sniffle from Harry the only sounds in the room.
Until it isn’t.
The door opens and Harry doesn’t know how much time has passed until he pulls his face away from Mrs. Weasley’s shoulder. The glance at the clock says four hours have passed. It’s been four hours of torment as they wait for answers that they are going to get now.
“Auror Potter,” the healer calls, finding the only dark haired man among a room of redheads. Harry wipes at his eyes furiously, hurrying to greet the healer. He simply gets a questioning look as the healer looks at the large group gathered in the waiting area, all anxious for some news.
“This is Auror Weasley’s family,” Harry answers, noting that his voice is rough and scratchy. He clears his throat as the healer nods.
“Auror Weasley retrieved extensive damage to his legs and chest, including a punctured lung. The damage to his head indicates he took quite a few blows. His right hand was shattered when he came in. We were able to repair some of the damage and are waiting for the results of Skele-Gro but expect that will aid a great deal in his recovery. He is currently in a coma right now and at the moment we do not know when or if he will wake up but his condition is stable otherwise. The lung took an extensive amount of work but we were able to repair it with minimal permanent damage.”
The resounding gasp from the family is all Harry can hear over the pounding in his ears. Ron was in a coma and it didn’t sound like they knew if he is going to come out of it. He was in a coma and may never come back to Harry.
Harry can’t help it when his knees connect with the ground, back shaking as he works to suck each breath into his lung. Mrs. Weasley is there only a moment later, holding him as he sobs for the man he loves.
———————————
Harry’s heart is pounding when he goes in to see Ron with Mrs. Weasley. It’s only two at a time and Mr. Weasley was kind enough to let Harry go first with his wife. Harry was thankful as he doesn’t think he could wait any longer. The last time he saw Ron he wasn’t breathing. He needed to see his chest rise and fall with reassurance.
The magic is buzzing in the room as Harry pushes the door open. It’s a rather large room, a special one set aside for aurors. Harry is thankful for the couch across the wall, his permanent home until Ron was able to return to theirs. He doesn’t focus on that though, eyes drawn to the man lying motionless in bed.
He’s thankful Mrs. Weasley has chosen to grab his hand, allowing him something to tether himself with. It’s grounding as she squeezes, watching Harry with cautious eyes as they approach the bed.
Harry wants to throw up at the sight that greets him. He’s never seen Ron in such bad shape before. The bandages are covering a majority of his body and it looks like breathing is a chore. There seems to be pain scrunching his features even in his sleep and Harry can’t imagine how much pain he must be in if he’s feeling it even with pain potions coursing through his system.
“I-“ Harry watches as Ron’s hand twitches a bit and Harry reaches forward to wrap his fingers around it. Ron’s don’t move to hold on. “I’m so sorry,” Harry chocks out, dropping in the chair next to Ron.
The hand on his shoulder startles him, Mrs. Weasley forgotten in his grief. He blinks blurry green eyes up to meet her worried ones and she presses a gentle hand to his cheek. “This isn’t your fault, Harry,” she reassures. Harry can’t help the guilt though. If he had been on the case, he could have helped sooner. He doesn’t know how but he would have found a way.
“I just-“ He chokes on his words, turning his attention back to Ron. He’s going to be covered in scars. The cuts littering his body were days old by the time he arrived which left the healers less of a chance to heal him without scars. There was going to be a particularly nasty one across his cheek the healer expressed worry about. “I can’t live without him.”
“He’s going to wake up,” Mrs. Weasley answers immediately. She has an arm resting across his shoulders and she places a hand gently on Ron’s cheek. “He’s strong.”
Harry isn’t reassured as he turns his gaze back toward Ron, never letting go of his hand. He doesn’t move when Mrs. Weasley switches for Mr. Weasley or when the Weasley siblings and spouses start to trickle in one by one, no one even asking if they can have Harry’s spot. The only person missing is Hermione, away with her parents without even the knowledge that Ron is injured. He asks Mrs. Weasley to let her know in one of his moments of clarity.
Harry doesn’t even have to call in sick when the sun trickles through the window. Mr. Weasley has done just that for him and Harry is thankful he doesn’t have to deal with his boss right now, not while he waits for Ron to wake from his coma.
It’s only after the first 24 hours that he starts to worry. The trickle of healers causes more buzz as they mutter to themselves and Harry worries as he watches Ron, willing him to, “wake up. Please, wake up. I love you. I can’t do this without you.” The words seem to fall on deaf ears but he is suddenly reassured that some people in a coma can hear and he’s encouraged to keep talking.
And so he doesn’t really stop.
He talks about their days in Hogwarts and training. He talks about when they got together. He talks about moving into their current apartment. He talks about how proud he is of Ron’s promotion, proving everyone wrong with how smart he is. He talks about their future. He doesn’t touch on it much, muttering every once and a while about marriage and children, both things they’ve discussed happening in the not so distant future.
“Please just come back to me,” Harry mutters, Mrs. Weasley’s hand on his shoulder.
“I think you should get some sleep, dear,” she suggests. He’s been sitting in the same chair for almost two days as people filter in and out. He hasn’t slept a wink and he doesn’t think he will. “I’ll keep an eye on him. I promise I’ll wake you if there’s any news.”
Harry just needs one glance at her face to know he isn’t winning this battle and he trudged to the couch, collapsing in exhaustion. He’s surprised how little effort it takes for his eyes to close, not realizing how tired he had been.
He doesn’t know how long he sleeps but he finds hands running through his hair when he wakes, Hermione’s worried brown eyes watching him carefully. He’s thankful to have his friend there and easily pulls her into a hug the second he’s up. She’s crying into his shoulder, and Harry rubs her back as he watches Ron.
He notes that his breathing seems to be better. The healers did announce his lung was healing nicely. He doesn’t seem to be in as much pain as before. Harry can tell from the way his face has smoothed. He’s thankful that the potions seem to be helping.
It’s sudden when the groan echoes in the large room. Hermione has calmed down at this point, her head resting on his shoulder and the two startle apart when they both notice Ron’s fingers moving, feeling around the sheets a bit.
Harry nearly trips as he crosses the room, wrapping his fingers around Ron’s. The other’s grip is weak, but his fingers wrap around Harry’s. Harry’s breath catches as he watches those blue eyes flutter open, mouth opening and closing. Hermione offers him water that Ron sucks down, groaning when a cough leaves his lips in his haste for the liquid.
He’s looking at Harry now in a bit of a haze, eyes unfocused. “Am I dreaming?” He mutters and Harry can’t help the teary laugh that leaves his lips as he leans forward to brush his fingers across Ron’s cheeks.