Disclaimer: Am I the only one who is terrified J.K. will die before she finishes writing the series? I mean…none of this is mine.
Sick Of Second Best"Ron! Ron help!"
Ron looked up to see Hermione bound and surrounded by several grinning Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy's voice rang out:
"Adava Ked---"
"NO!" Ron yelled, and launched himself at Malfoy. After a brief struggle Ron pinned Lucius to the ground. There was a mad glint in Malfoy's eye as he said, "Pity you didn't just let me kill the mudblood. What she's in for now is much worse than death."
Ron's senses went on high alert and he froze when he heard a cold, high voice utter "Crucio!"
"No!" Ron breathed and whipped around as Hermione's screams began to fill the air. Voldemort was torturing Hermione. Ron was filled with rage, he was no longer scared of Voldemort, and he was no longer thinking of his own safety. Ron's only thought was to somehow stop Hermione's pain.
"Oi, Voldie! Why don't you try a pureblood on for size? Why torture her when you can torture a blood traitor like me?"
Voldemort broke out into a cackle and lowered his wand from Hermione. "What have we here? Another Weasley perhaps?"
Ron didn't feel quite so brave now that Voldemort's gaze was directed at him. But one glance at Hermione crumpled on the ground, whimpering stiffened his resolve. "Yeah," He said boldly, "Another Weasley."
Voldemort let out another cackle, "The Weasleys," He said with contempt, "a more daft bunch I've never seen. So fascinated with muggles, so filled with," Voldemort seemed as if he couldn't bring himself to say the word, "love. In fact boy, it seems that this love is your undoing. You couldn't just let me dispose of the mudblood as you quietly slipped away. You couldn't just save your own neck, as any sensible Slytherin would have done, no. No, you had to pull that Gryffindor bravery nonsense. Let's see if Lord Voldemort can teach you to put yourself above all others. Crucio!"
Pain as Ron had never experienced ripped through him. Ron didn't even realize this kind of pain existed, but here it was, so horribly intense. Ron was faintly aware he was screaming, but he didn't care, all that mattered was to somehow make the pain STOP.
And suddenly, it did. Ron found himself on the ground and he scrambled up, not wanting to show weakness.
"I'm impressed Weasley," Voldemort said slowly, "Your brothers Charlie and Percy screamed much louder than that before I killed them. Perhaps I've underestimated you."
"Petrificus Totalus!" Ron yelled, waving his wand. Right before the jet of gold light hit Voldemort, he vanished. For a moment Ron wondered where he could have gone to, when suddenly, icy cold breath danced on the back of Ron's neck.
"Did you actually think a full body bind would work on Lord Voldemort?" Voldemort's long, pale fingers encircled Ron's neck, "Did you actually think an elementary jinx would work on the most powerful wizard ever to live?" Voldemort began to slowly choke Ron. "You've got some nerve Weasley. Or a complete lack of common sense."
"Unhand him Tom!" Dumbledore's voice boomed menacingly.
"Certainly Professor." Voldemort said with utmost loathing. Suddenly, Ron was launched across the field where the final battle was taking place. He landed face-first in a clump of grass.
"Ron? You all right mate?"
Ron gazed up into a pair of worried green eyes. "Don't worry about me Harry. Are you ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." Harry's jaw was set, and he had the same look of determination in his eyes Ron had seen so many times. It was the same look he had before every quidditch match, before they rescued the Stone, when they threatened Lockhart to come with them to the Chamber, as he learned the truth about Pettigrew and his parents, before he entered the maze in the Triwizard Tournament, and when they were waiting in the forest for the thestrals. Ron felt the need to reassure his friend.
"Harry," he began. "I-I just want you to know," He paused. "You are one of the best people I have ever known, and you will beat him, you know that right? You've faced him seven times and each time he's lost. He can't beat you Harry. It's not possible. He can't conquer love, he can't conquer all that is good in the world, and he can't conquer you! That's what makes you the better wizard. Not your spellwork, or your potions. It's your capability to care for others, your capability to use this gift of magic for good. You have so many people who love and support you Harry. Voldemort has no one. He only has those who are scared, those who want a piece of power for themselves. The people who help you aren't doing it for themselves; they're doing it for you, and what you stand for. In a few minutes it may seem as if it's just you and him fighting but it's not. It's him versus you, your parents, me, Hermione, Dumbledore, Sirius, my family, the Order, the Hogwarts staff, all the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, and everyone else who has sacrificed anything to fight darkness. You will win Harry. Light will win. We will win."
Harry looked at Ron for a moment before finally saying, "Thanks Ron. I-I guess I'll see you later then?"
"You better believe it," Ron tried to say confidently. Harry turned to leave, "Harry wait!" Ron said. "Good luck." Harry gave a curt nod before striding off to where Dumbledore and Voldemort were dueling.
Ron was brought back to earth by a shrill scream from somewhere to his left. He turned his head in time to see a jet of green light hit Hermione square in the chest. She fell to the ground, motionless. Ron's legs gave out beneath him. Fawkes soared over his head and Ron caught a snippet of his song:
"And that was The Weird Sisters with Ode To The Trio Nex---"
Ron turned back to Hermione, she couldn't be…wait a moment, what was Fawkes singing? Ron focused his ears to catch more of the phoenix song:
"t up, Celestina Warbeck and"
Ron groaned and shut off his alarm clock. He disentangled himself from the sheets and wiped the worst of the sweat off his face. The final battle had been two years ago and yet he still had nightmares at least three times a week. Ron shuffled into his kitchen bleary eyed and began to reach for some cereal when
CRACK!
Who the bloody hell was apparating to his flat this early in the morning? When he was fully awake this person would have hell to pay.
"Good morning sleepyhead!" A voice said brightly.
Ah well, perhaps he could make an exception. Hell, he was always making exceptions for her. His and Hermione's relationship never did really fit inside the lines. He turned to face his exception to all the rules in all her glory. He mustered as big a smile as he could, considering he was half asleep. It was wasted however; Hermione's gaze didn't lie on him, but instead was fixed on his cereal shelf.
"Cocoa Puffs Ron?" She asked, eyebrow raised.
Ron looked up at the muggle cereal he had taken a liking to a few weeks ago when Harry introduced him to it.
"Yeah, want some?" He asked.
"Do you have any idea how much sugar is in that?" She asked in disbelief.
"Uh…well, no actually." Ron said in response
Hermione looked at him in distaste. "How about you take a shower and I'll make you a real breakfast?" She suggested.
"Sure." Ron said brightly at the mention of food and trudged upstairs. Halfway through washing his hair he heard Hermione enter his room.
"Ron?" She called.
"I'm in the shower!" He replied.
"I gathered that much Ronald," she retorted, "I was just wondering how you liked your eggs."
"Sunny side up!" Ron answered.
"Ok, thanks."
After he showered, shaved, and dressed Ron felt considerably better and more alert. He bounded down the stairs to be met with heavenly aromas of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Mouth watering, he entered the kitchen. Hermione was standing facing the stove, her back to him, concentrating on the pancake batter. Ron crept up behind her and said in her ear, "You could just do it with magic you know,"
Hermione's hands flew up to her heart and turned around. "Ron!" She said shakily, "You scared me."
Ron began to let out a chuckle but it came out more like a strangled quack when he realized how close they were. It was times like these when it was difficult to remember that he and Hermione were just friends. His eyes examined her face, resting for a moment on an adorable smudge of flour above her right eye. He smiled; she had obviously worked hard on his breakfast. Ron made eye contact with Hermione again and his breath caught in his throat. They were way too close. If he stayed like this for much longer he might do something stupid. Ron sprung back, as though burned. Hermione looked about as awkward as he felt.
"Erm, your breakfast is on the table." She said nervously.
"Right…I guess I'll just go eat then." Ron said stupidly.
"Right," she said, turning back to her pancakes.
As Ron walked slowly to the table he swore under his breath. Why must he be so stupid? He could battle the most evil wizard of all time but he couldn't tell Hermione how he felt. Hermione entered the dining room carrying a steaming plate of pancakes.
"You had another nightmare last night, didn't you?" She inquired softly.
"How do you know everything?" He said in awe.
He could have sworn Hermione blushed after his comment.
"I saw your sheets were in more disarray than usual, and you had either spilled something on your pillow or you had been sweating." She said logically.
"Oh yeah. Well I did, about the final battle." Ron paused, and then went on. "Why do I still have these dreams Hermione? The battle was two years ago and our side won, so why do I still visit that field in my dreams?"
"I-I don't know," Hermione said softly, "Was it the same as always?"
"Almost," Ron said, not able to meet Hermione's eyes, "Except…" He trailed off.
"Except…" She prodded.
"You died." Ron said, and looked up at Hermione, eyes full of sorrow.
"Oh." She said softly.
They sat in silence for a moment when Hermione broke it.
"Well, look at the time! We really need to get going! We're meeting Harry and Ginny at Diagon Alley at nine remember?"
Ron looked at her blankly.
Hermione sighed, "Ron weren't you wondering why I was here so early?
Ron grinned and said, "I make it a point not to ask too many questions when beautiful witches apparate into my flat."
There was no denying it; she really did blush this time. She recovered quickly though, looked at him appraisingly, and said, "Oh? And how often does that happen?"
"All the time," said Ron, attempting to be suave. He choked under Hermione's glare. "I mean just a few times. No! Never. Wait, no. Oh bugger." He looked at Hermione's expression. It showed no signs of softening. "Just this once?" He said hopefully.
Hermione gave him a pitying look and then said, "It's your mum's birthday! We're getting her a gift! Remember?"
"I do now." Ron said smiling at Hermione.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly, you're worse than Neville sometimes."
"I most certainly am not!" Ron exclaimed.
"Are."
"Are not."
"Are."
"Are not."
"Are."
CRACK!
"What? Wait that's not fair! You can't just disapperate after you say something! That doesn't mean you win!" Ron finally realized he was talking to an empty room. Ron grinned then said, "You haven't won this argument yet Miss Granger!"
CRACK!
A/N: First chapter down! Sunny side up eggs and Cocoa Puffs just seem like such Ron foods. Don't you agree? Anyways this is the part where I get down on my hands and knees and beg you to review pleeeeeease. Pleeeeeeeease? Pretty please with a cherry on top? Thank you!