**7.24.12. Update** I wasn't very aware when I started writing this story of how the ending would turn out to be. I would like to go ahead and warn you that there is a main character death in this story and it is very AU, especially near the end. I'm sorry if this story's end has dissappointed you, but I will admit I've never been a fan of happy endings.

So, basically this is a wee story where you will hate Ron in the beginning, middle, and, hopefully, not in the end. He has his reasons but those must wait.

So don't hate this because he's a prat, and all the characters just don't really make sense in the beginning.

But each chapter is going to be really short, so don't expect much.

Oh, and the M rated scenes will come in due time.

But for now enjoy the rare foul language, awful writing, and the cliff hangers.

Happy reading!

" We're just ordinary people
We don't know which way to go
Cuz we're ordinary people
Maybe we should take it slow
This time we'll take it slow
This time we'll take it slow "

"I'm scared." I whispered as I was forced to hold my red haired friends hand through the halls of Hogwarts blindfolded. "Ginny, where are we going?"

"If I told you, Hermione, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore. For the smartest witch of our age, you can be a real dumbass sometimes." I rolled my eyes at her comment while trying to get a sense of where in the great castle we were but drew up a blank.

"Is it at least soon? I swear, Ginny, I'm tired of walking."

"If you wouldn't stay cooped up in the library all day your legs wouldn't complain so much about walking long distances. Stop complaining." That was all she had to say to keep me silent for the next five hundred and fifty-four steps until I crashed into her back.

"Thanks, Gin, for warning me about that." I mumbled as I rubbed my nose.

"Shut the hell up and get ready." I could hear the excitement in her voice rise as the sentence came to a close and I heard her whisper a password and a door almost silently open. She tugged on my hand and my pulse started racing. We shouldn't be running around the corridors this late, especially during a time when war was brewing. But she insisted and it's still freaking me out.

All the sudden, as I was walking forward onto wooden floors now instead of stone, I felt someone tug at the knot on the blindfold and it trickled down my face revealing my friends in blue, yellow, and crimson robes all smiling at me.

There was something in the moment, something that made time for me stop for a while. In the midst of the war brewing, people dying, and the most evil wizard coming to gain power again, here were smiles. They were real, genuine smiles, too. My friends, so warm and loyal, all standing before me, and it made my heart explode with love. And when I turned and saw Harry, all hell broke loose.

"Happy birthday, Hermione!" Everyone seemed to scream in unison, but I rushed to Harry, pulling Ginny along with me. I fell easily into his embrace, dragging her into it as well. It was warm there, pleasant almost, but it felt right. I was finally happy after my summer drug to a close and my parents didn't know I existed. This was the first thing that felt right since I came back, and it brought tears of happiness to my eyes.

"Ginny and Harry, who did this?" I screamed over the yells and chatter, the party having started after the happy birthday song came to a close while I was in my embrace with my closest friends. They shrugged, eying each other and laughing. I playfully slugged Ginny on the arm and rolled my eyes at her before turning and eying Luna dancing alone. "We'll talk about this later." I murmured in their ears before walking over to Luna.

"Hey, hottie." I mumbled in her ear, before jumping in front of her and grabbing her hands to dance. It had quickly become this way with me and her, and we never found it weird to be weird with each other. That's what I loved about Luna; she truly didn't care what others thought of her.

"Are you enjoying yourself? We knew you hated large parties but we couldn't resist." She shrugged and smiled at me.

"Oh, it's what everyone needs though. I think, considering the times we're in, it's pretty great. Won't we get caught though?" I moved my hips to the tune of the Weird Sisters, and Luna's face lit up.

"McGonagall completely approved of the party when she overheard Gin and Harry talking about it." She smiled and started doing some weird dance that I laughed off.

"She's pretty great isn't she?" I heard whispered in my ear, and I jumped around to see a beaming Neville.

"Luna? Yes, Luna is quite amazing. Why don't you ask her for a dance?" I pleaded, nudging him forward into her eyesight.

"Oh, hi, Neville. I see the Nargle infestation in your dorm room hasn't affected you." She smiled while bobbing her head. I saw him shake his head no before I headed off to find Ron. He usually moped during parties, unless he was the center of attention in them. But I always asked for a dance and he always huffed and puffed then gave in.

"Hey, Harry! Sorry to interrupt…" I mumbled when I walked up to Harry and Ginny talking in a corner. They laughed and both looked my direction rosy-cheeked. "Have you seen Ronald?" I eyed both of them before I saw Harry nod his head in the opposite direction. "Thank you, love birds." I winked before dancing towards where a brooding Ron would be found, hearing happy birthday's yelled as I passed.

"Happy birthday, Hermione." I heard him mumble as I sat next to him.

"Oh, cheer up! It's a party! Let loose, Ron. You never know when this all might…vanish." He looked at me and rolled his eyes.

"Only you could tell someone to have fun and end the sentence with something so morbid." A laugh erupted from my throat and I threw my head back.

"You're right, I'm sorry." I caught his eyes and winked. "How about an extremely happy and carefree dance, then?" I stood up and held out my hand to him, feeling his rough hand come into mine before he sprang up and swept me off my feet to take me to the heart of the dance floor. That was one thing that I would always love about Harry and Ron, they would never do anything halfway.

We danced spastically, both of us uncoordinated and uncaring as we tripped over each other and those around us. Ron laughed and sang when the music suited him, something I knew only I could hear, and he would flash his teeth at me on occasion. Ron had become one of the most wanted out of the Gryffindor boys and a majority of the school, and in the rare happy moments he would have I could actually see why. We hadn't necessarily grown apart, but there were certain facets of his life I am just not a part of anymore and he seemed fine with that. Being held at arms length wasn't something I enjoyed but he had every reason to... But it shouldn't have put a strain on his and Harry's relationship as well.

Dancing with him felt normal, it felt right. The way he was with me in these rare encounters made me think our friendship might survive after the war was over. But the way he was after these moments, when reality knocked on all our doors and called us into it, made me wonder if our friendship would survive past the end of the week.

But, I told myself, I wouldn't dwell on these things now. With the war so close, practically calling Harry's name, I would have to enjoy every moment like this before they did actually vanish.

Consumed in our dance, I let him grab my hips and guide me with his rhythm, hearing his voice suddenly right next to my ear singing the words. I let my brain soak them in, realizing the song coming to a close before the next song came on, a slow song. We both looked each other in the eyes before my arms moved mechanically around his neck and his gripped my hips tighter, pulling me in. It wasn't something we normally did. Normally, when a slow song would start, we would understandably go our separate ways and find a more suitable dancing partner. But, this time, it just seemed like the appropriate thing to do.

And in the next moment I found myself leaning my head on his chest and seeing Harry and Ginny in the same position next to us before I closed my eyes and fell into a comfortable sway.

Then I heard it, the explosion.

Time stopped then.

But I had time to grab Harry and Ron's hand before everything went black and time decided to continue.

Oh, don't hate it...

I'm attempting to back into the hang of writing and whatnot so this will be continued.

Review?

Please?

(: