I own nothing.
"Wait. All except…except for the mudblood."
"No!You can have me, keep me!"
She was never more scared in her entire life. The pain was unbearable. Hermione felt like every bone in her body was set on fire. She never knew that such pain could even exist. Her mind was screaming. It was like her whole body was dropped in acid. She wanted it to stop. She was praying to die. Her only regret in the moment she knew she was dying was that she never told him. 'I love you. I don't ever want to live without you. You changed my life.'
And right there, right in the middle of hell she heard it. The most beautiful sound in the whole white world. Ron. And he was calling for her. Hermione wanted to answer him, she wanted to run in his strong, safe embrace and never let go. But she knew she couldn't. She had to keep fighting the unbelievable pain because she knew that if she died he would be next. And she couldn't let this happen. She wouldn't let HER touch him. The last thing she could remember was something cold and heavy laying on her. "Ron! Catch … and GO!"- she heard someone yell. And than there was the softest touch. It was him. She was safe. Everything went black. She was sinking away from him.
"Hermione" – someone whispered. That was her name. And the sound of this familiar voice, full with so much anguish, shocked her. It was her Ron. The smell of salt and cold breeze hit her. She didn't know where she was. She didn't know if it was safe. She only knew that she would do everything for that voice.
"Hermione. Please wake up. Please don't leave me. I'm so sorry. Please just come back … for me?" – He was sorry? Why? It wasn't his fault. In fact, he was her only reason for fighting. She wanted to tell him that. He was sobbing now. She didn't want this. She didn't want him to be sad. But she couldn't. She tried to open her eyes. To let him know that everything will be OK. She felt his strong warm arms around her. It felt so nice. "It was heaven-right smack in the middle of hell". She could feel hot tears falling on her skin. But she was sinking again. 'No!'-was her last thought. 'I want to stay with him. I want to be with Ron.'
Hermione felt warmth. She was lying somewhere soft. She opened her eyes. And there he was. His red head was berried in her hand, gently stroking her. He was the only thing that mattered in the world right now. She didn't care if Bellatrix was coming back for her any second. She was with Ron and even if that was her last moment on earth she was glad that she was spending it with him. He was whispering something she couldn't quite make out.
"Ron?" – She almost didn't recognize her own voice. Her whole body ached. His head rose quickly.
"Hermione? Oh thank God! You woke up." – he had tears running down his face. He had a black eye and blood all over him. The sight of this almost broke her heart in two.
"Are you Ok?" – she asked.
"What? Me? I should be asking you? I'm so sorry"
"Why?"- She still couldn't realize why he would be sorry
"What do you mean why? It was all my fault. It should have been me. Not you. You…"
"Shut up! Don't you ever be sorry. You saved my life." –he tried to say something but she wouldn't let him. "Stop blaming yourself. If it wasn't for you I would be dead by now. You were the only thing that kept me fighting."
He was looking at her. His blue ocean eyes were filled with tears.
"You've been crying? Why? What happed" – 'What could have made Ronald Weasley cry?'-she thought. "You happened. I honestly thought I lost you, Hermione. Forever. I can't even imagine my life without you. Was he actually saying those words? Was she dreaming? She looked at him. Brown eyes meeting blue. There was so much honesty on his face. "Don't scare me like that ever again, Hermione. Promise me!" "I promise." "Good"- he gave her that lop-sided grin she fell in love with in the first place. "Where are we anyway?" "Shell cottage. You're safe now. I won't ever let anything happen to you ever again, Hermione. I swear."- He looked so decisive. And in that moment she knew he was serious. She knew this was the boy, no-the man, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She knew that as long as she was with him, she would be safe, nothing could hurt her. He wasn't that fourteen year old boy anymore. He was all grown up. And she fell in love with that new man all over again. "I know."-she tried to move, to touch his cheek, to wash all the worry of his face away. She gave a little moan. Her body was so sore. Every muscle ached. "Don't move. Save your strength. " "It's just…I'm cold." Ron got closer to her. He gently pulled her in his embrace, lying in the bed next to her. She put her head on the crock on his neck giving a little sigh. She immediately felt warmer. "Thank you."- He just kissed her on the top of her head. That was heaven for her. This exact moment. After everything they went trough tonight she felt truly safe. How was it possible that after all the pain she faced she could feel that happy? And in that moment she had the complete and utter faith that as long they were together they could face anything. And she had hope that maybe, just maybe, if she was very lucky, he could feel the same way about her. And with that last thought and a small smile on her face she drift in a peaceful sleep in the arms of the man she loved.