Chapter 1 – Manor to Cottage

Ron and Harry bounded up the stairs from the dungeon of Malfoy Manor as they heard Hermione scream. Ron cast expelliarmus with Pettigrew's wand and Bellatrix's wand flew to Harry's hand. The Dark Lord had been summoned and Harry knew their time was limited. Then Bellatrix screamed: STOP OR SHE DIES! Harry had been avoiding the Malfoys' curses and stopped to look at the crazy witch. She may have been wandless, but she had a small silver knife at Hermione's throat. She ordered Harry and Ron to drop their captured wands and they complied. Then she just laughed and turned to push Hermione toward Greyback. Suddenly fury lit in Ron's belly like never before. He had been scared, angry, terrified over the last hour, but now it all coalesced into a burning hatred and a sudden surety of decision. He was calmer than he had ever been and the look on his face was terrifying to behold as he spat words at Bellatrix.

"She is not yours to give!"

Then Ron's hands raised and suddenly the room was madness. Waves of electric fire and a barrage of force shot out from him, knocking people and furniture to the floor. Ron's hands stayed in the air as he approached where Hermione lay. He reached down and drew her to him. Then he pulled her across the room as he approached Harry and extended his best friend a hand. Harry was pulled into Ron's embrace. As Ron's hands dropped, the energy in the room decreased. Ron pulled Hermione and Harry into a hug on either side of him, holding them in the crook of his arms. Then he lifted his hands and another bout of electric fire unlike any they had ever seen swept the room. Ron and the two friends at his sides were encased in a kind of bubble, protected from the storm. Then Ron twisted, apparating the three of them away from Malfoy Manor. As they disappeared, the storm was sucked in with them, temporarily encompassing their disappearing forms.

The trio landed on a sandy cliffside within sight of Shell Cottage. Dobby had already brought Griphook, Ollivander, Luna and Dean to the safety of the cottage. Now Bill saw the new arrivals and rushed to help them. As he neared the trio, he was stopped by a strange force field. It didn't feel like any shield he had ever encountered, even in the tombs of Egypt. He looked on the three of them and couldn't understand what he was seeing. Ron was at the center with an arm around Hermione on his right and an arm around Harry on his left. A crackling chain of electricity flowed between them and the strange shield that surrounded them glowed a faint green. He stepped back to wait when Ron's head came up and found his brother's eyes. Bill stumbled back at what he saw there. Ron's bright blue eyes were now so dark they almost appeared black. The depth in them was something Bill had witnessed only twice when he had been in the company of two very old wizards. What the hell had happened to his baby brother? Then Ron raised his hands at the sides of his two friends and waved off the shield that surrounded them. It collapsed with a great crack and Ron stepped forward, releasing Harry and pulling Hermione toward Bill.

"Bill, help me. Hermione. Please. She's been tortured. She cannot die. Please."

Bill stepped to his brother and took Hermione from him. He lifted her into his arms and the feeling around her was still electric. Bill's hair stood up as he rushed the witch into the cottage, calling for Fleur to help. Fleur responded immediately and spent the next two hours administering potions and applying all her healing training to Hermione. As twilight darkened, she joined the others in her living room and looked at Harry and Ron. The two friends were sitting side by side closely and something seemed odd. She brushed aside the feeling to give them the news they waited for.

"Hermione is better. She must rest, but she will live. She sleeps now."

Harry and Ron let out a collective breath. Harry felt a sense of internal relief and then something else, like a second wave of relief rushed over him followed by a sense of love so deep that he choked. He and Ron looked at each other and suddenly he knew somehow that it was Ron's feeling for Hermione. He had never realized just how much Ron loved her. The two friends embraced and an understanding was immediate between them. No words were needed, everything was swept away. They were alive and together, the three of them.

Bill looked at his brother and Harry, and was puzzled. There was something terribly strange there that he couldn't place. He still knew very little of what had happened. Perhaps when they explained more, he would understand. Maybe it had to do with the strange mission Dumbledore had set them on.

The two friends broke their embrace and turned to thank Fleur. Then they made their way upstairs and sat on opposite ends of Hermione's bed. They counted her breaths as she slept and a peace settled among them. Some time later Luna appeared with a dinner tray. They ate silently, refusing to leave Hermione's bedside. That night they setup a pallet on the floor and took turns sleeping. Shortly after two in the morning, Hermione woke screaming and thrashing. Harry was sitting next to the bed and Ron was quickly awake and standing over her. She looked into Ron's eyes and settled. Harry felt an overwhelming sense of understanding pass between them. Hermione was alive and she needed Ron. He no longer needed to apologize, she understood his love and the despair he felt for once leaving her. Then she turned to Harry and he saw everything he meant to her as well. As the three friends shared their souls, the door burst open and Bill was there, followed by Fleur, Luna and Dean.

"What happened? Hermione?"

"Just a nightmare Bill. She's better now."

"I have a potion for sleep…"

"Thanks Fleur, she's better now. We'll help her."

"Are you sure Ron?"

"Yes, thank you for everything, we know what she needs."

Bill looked at his brother again and the hairs on his arms stood up. Something was happening again, something he couldn't comprehend. Still, Hermione looked better and had both her friends caring for her. He yawned and turned, gesturing for everyone to return to their rooms. Once the door closed, Ron turned back to Hermione. She smiled at him and he knew what was needed. He still had Pettigrew's wand and he waved it, rolling up the pallet on the floor. Then he turned to the single bed where Hermione lay. He cast an enlargement charm and the bed doubled in size, pushing the night table out of the way. Then he carefully crawled over behind Hermione and spooned himself against her from behind. Next, Harry crawled in and placed himself in front of her, so she was spooned against his back. With another flick of his wand, the blankets covered them and the light went off. The trio fell into an immediate, content and peaceful sleep.

When Fleur came to check on them the next morning, she was surprised at what she found. Her gasp of 'Mon Dieu!' brought Bill to the doorway. He looked in on the peacefully sleeping trio and shook his head. What should he do about this? He knew what his mother would do if she had found them, but Bill wasn't so sure. Hermione did look better than she had when they had seen her in the early morning hours after she had awoken the whole house. Perhaps this was what she needed. He turned to his wife and gave her an encouraging kiss.

"Fleur my love, can you please start breakfast. I think I'll wake them and have a talk."

Fleur nodded and left Bill in silent contemplation. A few minutes later, he stepped in the room and gently shook the bed. Surprisingly, Hermione was the first to wake. She yawned and smiled at Bill and her eyes seemed bright. She was much better than the previous evening. Gradually Harry and Ron also woke and the trio sat up to look at Bill.

"Well Hermione, it seems like you are doing better. I have to say, the three of you gave Fleur a bit of a shock this morning."

"Sorry Bill, we'll put the bed back right before we leave."

"Um, Harry, that is not really the issue. She was more surprised to see the three of you sleeping together."

"Bill, this is what Hermione needed. What we needed. She will still take time to heal, but we know what she needs."

"I understand Ron, but it's just a bit unconventional."

"It's your home Bill. You took us in and we appreciate it, but if you need us to leave, we will."

"What? No! That's not what I was saying…"

Bill looked at Ron and once again saw that undefinable look in his eye. It was the solid stare of someone much older who was completely comfortable in their superior knowledge. Bill had seen that same look when he had apprenticed with Oksana in his first year as a curse breaker. Then he looked at Harry and saw a similar firmness, not as deep as Ron, but still there. Then he looked at Hermione and she was looking at Ron in a way that showed utter trust. The combination of what he was witnessing was more than Bill could understand for the moment. He decided he was out of his depth for a time and rose to leave the room.

"Ron, you are my brother. You are always welcome here, as are your friends. I can't pretend to understand, but maybe someday you'll tell me what happened. Now, Fleur will have breakfast ready shortly. She'd like to see you downstairs if you're able."

Bill left the room and the trio settled back into the bed. Ron wrapped Hermione in his arms and Harry turned and did the same from the other side. Their future was murky, but they had each other, more than they ever had in the past.

o-o-o-o

This is a plot bunny that has been plaguing me for a while. I've been working on my biggest undertaking, Life's Interlude, but decided to take a break and put this bunny to rest for my peace of mind. This story shouldn't be nearly as long as some, maybe a half dozen chapters. Hope you enjoy.