Do We Really Have To Do This?

"Harry? Are you sure we have to do this?" Ron asked.

"Yes, we do. Trust me, it only takes a few minutes. You'll barely feel it," Harry assured him.

Someone walked out through the door, rubbing his upper arm, and a pained expression on his face. Ron glanced at the boy.

"That one didn't look like he barely felt it."

"Well, you can't feel it going in," Harry said. "I've had it done tons of times."

Ron watched Dean gulp and walk into the room. Only two more people were left before he had to go up.

"How much will it bleed?" he asked Harry, who seemed to have more experience with this than he did.

"Not much at all. Ron, you're worrying for nothing," Harry said, then looked at the line ahead of him. "You're up."

Ron turned around and looked at the door. He took a deep breath.

Ten seconds later, Harry could hear Ron whimpering, and then a short yelp.

Ron opened the door, his face white. He had a bandage on his upper arm, and he was shaking.

"The needle wasn't that bad, was it?" Harry asked.

Ron gave him a look to kill. "I am never doing that again."

"But... we have to get another one in a few months."

Ron rolled his eyes, looking almost ready to pass out, and plodded off to Gryffindor Tower, just as Harry entered Madame Pomfrey's office for his Protection-Against-Dark-Potions medicine, the Muggle needle format.