A bright flash was all Ron saw before Bellatrix Lestrange fell, dead, to the floor. As he turned to see her killer, he was stunned to see Hermione there with her wand still in the air.
"Hermione? What was that spell?" he stammered in an awed fashion.
Before she could answer, Ron saw their greatest nightmare begin to raise his wand at Hermione.
"Avada Kedavra!" the cold voice of Voldemort screamed out.
"No!" Ron screamed as he ran to push Hermione out of the way.
A dazzling green light flashed in front of Ron and he crashed to the floor.
A jumbled murmur of voices dove deep into Ron's mind.
"But how did he-?"
"Only Harry. . . ."
"Just a miracle. . . ."
As Ron opened his eyes, he was startled to see that he was no longer in the Great Hall, but in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing in bed.
"What-?" he stammered as he tried to focus on the many faces surrounding him.
"Ron!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked as she clung to him.
"We were so worried! We thought you were-were . . . ." Mr. Weasley trailed off.
"Weasleys, we need you over in the Great Hall." a voice suddenly called.
"Okay." Mrs. Weasley called back. "Will you two stay with him?" she added to Harry and Hermione, who Ron had just noticed.
"Yes ma'am." Harry answered. Hermione just nodded.
When they were gone, Harry tried to lighten the mood.
"Hey, Ron, you're famous!"
"Oi, why?"
"You're the second person to survive the Killing Curse."
"How did I survive it?" Ron asked as he looked between his two best friends. When Harry was at a loss for words, Hermione jumped in.
"After I killed Bellatrix, Voldemort was enraged. She was his best follower. I had my back turned, but you saw it coming. You pushed me out of the way and was hit with the curse." she whispered.
"But how did I-?" Ron began, but was interrupted by a bloke from the Daily Prophet.
"Potter, a word please?" Harry, when Ron and Hermione told him to go, followed the man.
When Ron turned back to Hermione, he was shocked to see her crying.
"'Mione, what's wrong?" he asked gently.
"Ronald, you idiot! You almost died because of me!" she yelled.
"No, I didn't." he replied calmly.
"What?" Hermione asked, dumbstruck for once.
"I didn't almost die because of you; I almost died for you. I would die a painful death just so you wouldn't have to feel a smidgen of pain. Hermione, I love you. I always have, and I always will."
Hermione, shocked but pleased by this revelation, began to make a move to hug him, but, unsure if he was in pain, restrained herself. Ron, however, had no such qualms. He shot up as fast as he could and grabbed Hermione in a fierce hug.
They remained this way until Harry returned.
"About bloody time!" he exclaimed with a grin.
"You guys still haven't told me how I survived." Ron stated a few seconds later.
"Ron, remember when I didn't die sixteen years ago because my mum died to protect me? The same sort of thing happened when you pushed Hermione out of the way. It was still sacrificial protection, but instead of putting a protective charm on her, it spared your life."
"Thank Merlin in saved us both, because I don't think either of us could live while the other died."
