Part one

Ron Wealsey watched his best friend, Harry Potter, troop away from the platform with the Dursley's in tow. Lupin and Moody stood nearby as they glared at the back of Mr. Dursley's head for good measure. He hoped that Harry would be allowed to come back to the Burrow soon. He always felt guilty about enjoying the holidays when he knew Harry was having such a bad time.

He looked to his left and saw Hermione standing next to her parents, sadly watching Harry go. Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked lost and overwhelmed as his father talked animatedly to them about ekeltricity. Ron rolled his eyes - his Dad would never give up his Muggle obsession, not even in an oncoming war, he thought.

A war. Because that's what it was. Sirius was the second casualty of the fresh wave of evil that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was mustering. He looked towards the girl who he had sworn in the Department of Mysteries that he would protect above all else. Harry had so many people that would be at his side until the end, but she only had him. He knew it wasn't much, but he would protect her the best he could. Hermione looked his way and gave him a small smile which fortified him. He had failed her this time, but he wouldn't again.

Hermione looked so little, he thought, as he watched her turn and say her goodbyes to his parents and Ginny. He was used to the tough, no nonsense girl who made everyone cower with her temper and sharp intellect. Ever since the skirmish in the Department of Mysteries she'd been more quiet and withdrawn. He knew she'd been hurt pretty badly; they had both been in the hospital wing together for days afterwards, but he knew that Sirius dying had been more of a blow to her than she let on.

Hermione ended her embrace with Ginny, said a curt goodbye to Fred and George and then approached him. They stood in front of each other, Ron with his arms awkwardly at his sides, and Hermione with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Goodbye Ron," she said, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "Make sure you write up that prefect duty roster, won't you?"

Ron laughed, which, he was pleased to note brought a smile to her face as well. "I'll probably wait for you to turn up at the Burrow, so then we can work on it together."

"If you mean by together, just me, then you can forget it," she said, hands on hips and a mischievous smile on her face.

There she is, he thought, the girl that I know so well. The girl that I love.

"It's time to go, Hermione," said Mr. Granger from behind her.

"Well, goodbye then," she smiled. "Take care of yourself, Ron, and don't get into trouble."

"Me? Never," he grinned as she looked up at him.

They stood there for a couple of minutes just looking at each other, the conversation unfinished, though neither of them seemed able to end it.

"C'mon, Ickle Ronnikins, we've got to be back at work in a minute," grumbled Fred.

"Right," Ron said, fighting his body's impulse to hold on to Hermione and keep her safe. "Bye, Hermione."

His heart jumped as he thought for a second she was going to kiss him on the cheek like she had before his Quidditch match, but she hesitated, patting his arm instead.

The charge in the air around them was just incredible, and before he knew it he was hugging her.

"I won't let anything happen to you, ok? Ever," he whispered into her hair. He couldn't believe how right this felt, how well they fit together, and he was pleased to note that she was hugging him back just as desperately. The feel of her arms pulling him to her soft chest was divine.

Some wolf-whistles pulled them both back into reality and they jumped apart.

"Shut up," Ron growled to his gleeful brothers.

"Write me, Ron" Hermione called as she walked away from him with her parents on either side.

I'll do better than that, Ron thought determinedly. I'll do everything I can for you, Love.

"Um, Professor Lupin, can I have a word with you, please?" he asked the greying, tattered man who stood quietly talking to Tonks by the platform sign.

"Of course, Ron, and it's just Remus now," he smiled, turning to Ron.

"Err, would you be able to teach me the patronus charm like you did with Harry? I mean, he tried teaching it to us in the DA, and a lot of people got theirs to work, but all I could produce was a wisp of silver smoke," he rambled. "But I really need to learn it, Professor, err, Remus. It's important."

"You wish to be able to protect your friends?" Asked Remus solemnly.

"Yeah. Something like that. I feel like I just let them down so badly in the Department of Mysteries. I won't let it happen again," he said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest to quell the echo of pain that was coming from his scars.

"I'm afraid Ron, that I can't teach you. Dumbledore has a job for me," he began sadly, "I don't think I'll be able to correspond with you from where I'm going."

"Is it for the Order? Where are you going? What do you have to do?"

Remus waved the questions away with his hand, "You know I can't tell you anything, Ron, but what I can tell you is that if Harry taught you how to do the Patronus Charm, then you know all you need to. All you are probably lacking is a strong happy memory or thought, and maybe a little practice." He smiled warmly, and Ron tried to think positively on what his old professor had told him.

"Thanks, Sir. Err, Remus," he stumbled. "I'll keep trying. I have to."

"You can do it, Ron," Remus said, patting his shoulder.

"Oi! Ron, you better get over here, or else we're leaving you behind," yelled George who stood over with his twin, their gaudy dragon hide pants clashing loudly with the poster on the wall behind them.

"Good luck, Professor," Ron said to Remus as he headed for his family.

"Best of luck, Ron," Remus nodded as he in turn headed off after the odd band of aurors who were now exciting platform nine and three quarters.