Chapter Text
ron was far too thin.
harry had been in their common room, sitting cross legged on the plush red sofa next to his best friend, when it happened. the uptight and frantic atmosphere of late night homework had subsided and left only a couple of fourth year gryffindors (with the exception of fred and george weasley and their partner-in-crime, who may as well be a brother at this point, lee jordan) lounging by themselves.
nights like these were truly the most beautiful for those who recognised it. where anything and everything is a hundred times more funny and, just for a moment, you would zone out and smile at how comforted and safe you felt. harry felt like that then. he sometimes thought that from all the things he had experienced since becoming part of the wizarding world, these moments were the most magical of all.
seamus' accurate and hilarious impression of snape had resulted in an uproar of laughter, and harry had begun to slip down the couch trying to calm his aching stomach and catch his breath. he grabbed on to his roommate's shaking leg for support, and suddenly, he couldn't remember what it was he was laughing at. all harry's mind could think about was the thing on the end of his hand, the thing that said raised so many questions that he dared his mind not to think of the answers to.
ron's leg, covered by a thin blue pajama bottom, was no more than skin and bone.
the boys in their year were at their height of puberty, hormones and growth spurts that made girls squeal "i didn't even recognise your voice!" and an increase in packages from madam malkins in the mornings. hell, even neville longbottom had lost a bit of puppy fat and began to surpass harry in height. it was only natural that ron had experienced the same, right?
his brain, travelling at a million miles a second, came to the conclusion that yes, that was it. he had grown and lost weight as a result.
harry attempted to expel the thought that ron hadn't had a growth spurt since last year.
adjusting himself on the sofa once more, harry looked at his friend. ron was evidently unaware that anything had happened, and turned to harry, his eyes bright and cheekbones.... prominent. how did harry not see this before?
'you alright? you look a bit pale.'
harry returned the warm smile his friend was giving him. was ron putting up a front? or was he just overreacting? shaking his head to himself, harry agreed with the second thought. there was nothing going on. he was sure of it.
harry's doubts (not that he had any, of course!), were eased at breakfast the next morning. the crowded hall smelt of freshly baked bread and pumpkin juice, a popular choice among students before lessons began at nine. he was seated with his house as usual, among his peers. to his left, ron was shovelling sausages into his mouth, half-listening to hermione's rambling about SPEW.
there! ron was fine. he didn't seem unwell, or mentally sick, like the very thin girls in posters that he saw on hospitals. ron was eating, and that was that.
hermione's voice rang out, loud even in the early morning clamour of students. she was twirling a quill absent-mindedly, a parchment and book open next to her plate.
"harry, it's not even debatable. anyone in their right mind would completely agree with me given they do a little research into the topic. or, you know, anyone with a functioning brain!"
harry flicked a blueberry at ron. ron tried (and failed) to flick one back, a childish smile on his face. harry leaned back in his chair and slowly finished his toast, eyeing his friend in case an ambush of assorted berries came flying his way.
"the only reason they won't make change is their own ignorance and self preservation! the minister would never- oh boys, really?"
harry wiped strawberry juice from his face and shoved his best friend before turning to face the young witch who was raising her eyebrows, evidently unimpressed.
"you wish you could aim as well as us, hermione." ron tossed the remaining scraps of his breakfast into the air and caught it with his mouth, a smile playing on his lips.
"i wouldn't call THAT aim..."
harry was hit by another strawberry.