Ron didn't think there had ever been a moment in his life when he felt as terrible as he did now. Hermione and Ginny, who were standing beside him, felt the same emotions; he could see it on both of their faces. He truly hadn't thought that things could get worse after last night, but he had been proven very wrong indeed.
Moments ago, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott had come by the hospital wing to deliver some grave news. Both girls had been frantic, and it was plain to see that they'd been crying. They'd wanted nothing more than to see Harry and break the news to him themselves, and give him all their support. But Madam Pomfrey had told them that Harry was not up for visitors, so instead, they had relayed the information to his best friends.
When the events in the Hufflepuff common room had been explained to them, they knew Harry needed to know. Hermione, in tears, had run to Madam Pomfrey's office, where she was sitting while Hannah and Susan told the trio what had happened. Hermione had gasped out the information to her, and begged her to let the girls tell Harry so he could be warned of what was to come.
But Madam Pomfrey had convinced them that because of the fragile emotional state Harry was in, it should be someone who knew him well who told him the news. It had taken some time, but eventually, they listened. The last thing they wanted to do was to hurt Harry even more.
But now, as Ron, Hermione, and Ginny opened the curtains around Harry's bed, they knew that this would hurt Harry very deeply. And honestly speaking, Ron had never been angrier in his entire life. It also made the guilt inside of him rise to new levels; how in Merlin's name had he ever wanted to be in Harry's shoes? As if he hadn't already been through enough. Now, less than twenty-four hours after a brutal and horrific ordeal, he would have to endure even more, and all because some people in this school found it in themselves to be vindictive and stupid, and they were letting their fear rule them.
Truth be told, Ron knew about the fear that was surrounding the school now, and unfortunately, he couldn't say he was immune to it. The fact that he and his entire family associated with Harry Potter put them at an insanely high risk, and now that You-Know-Who was back, the terror of what could happen to one of them was all too real. And with Harry, the main target, at their sides, the chances of something occurring was at an all-time high. The same went for Hermione, and the thought of anything befalling her was too awful to imagine. And Ron knew with a bone-deep certainty that neither she nor the Weasley family would be killed quickly, like Cedric had been. You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters would drag it out, and Ron felt sick to his stomach just thinking about it.
But as he and the two girls at his side saw Harry lying on the bed with a huge, bearlike black dog guarding him, he also knew with just as much certainty that they would never leave Harry. After all, how was it his fault that those monsters never stopped chasing him? The Weasleys were aware of what friendship with Harry might cost them, and no matter the sacrifices, they all knew it would be worth it. Molly and Arthur loved him like one of their own, and Harry was Ron's brother in all but blood. If this year had taught him anything, it was the fact that petty grudges and jealousies were downright ridiculous, and that he would never stray from Harry's side again.
And as far as the murder accusations went ... Merlin, could anyone be more pathetic? If any of these fools knew Harry at all, they would realize their beliefs were delusional. The boy would never do such a thing, and the fact that some in the school thought this about him made Ron literally want to walk up to them and pummel them beyond recognition.
The huge dog took one look at their stricken expressions, and the tear streaks on Hermione and Ginny's faces. Harry, who wasn't quite asleep but had been dozing quietly while his hand lay on the dog, came to awareness completely as his weary emerald eyes surveyed his friends.
Sirius transformed back into himself quicker than a bolt of lightning. "What is it?" he demanded, every muscle in his body snapping to attention. "What's happened?"
And it was then that Harry's three biggest supporters did the one thing that they despised doing above anything else, but knew that it had to be done. None of them could bear to tell the entire story, so they each took turns telling a part of it. They explained about Susan and Hannah's sudden appearance, and the information they had relayed. "They wanted to come in and see you themselves, mate," Ron said softly, a lump in his throat.
As Harry learned of everything that was going on, any bit of color that was in his face drained away until he was a ghostly white. Hermione burst into a round of fresh tears, and Ron put an arm around her on one side, Ginny on the other. His little sister was trembling in both fury and sorrow.
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