*The ficlet is based upon "Call to Arms" by 30 Seconds to Mars. There is a nice little breakdown in this song where the beat drops out and it's like everyone is holding their breath before the battle. If you haven't listened to the album "This is War" by 30 Seconds to Mars, you are missing out, as it could easily provide an amazing soundtrack to the last half of Deathly Hallows. The visuals your mind creates while listening to it is truly stunning in a Harry Potter context.

"Here we are at the start, I can feel the beating of our hearts.

Here we are at the start, I can feel the beating of our hearts."

"Oi! There's a war going on here!"

"I know, mate. So it's now or never, isn't it." Ron spoke to Harry, his gaze never leaving Hermione's.

She stared back at Ron in awe. But before joy could truly overtake her, she heard the ticking of a clock inside her head. Time. All she wanted to do was pause it where it was, to give her and Ron a proper go at experiencing whatever this was happening between them. Feeling his lips on hers made her wonder why had they wasted so much of it.

Now time was an inescapable tsunami that was waiting to smothering them. Whatever evil confrontation awaited them just outside the castle could not be prevented any longer. There was no way to stop it. If only it were possible to dissaparate everyone she loved somewhere else…anywhere else. Then she and Ron could leave this world far, far behind. But the Dark Lord, an army, time itself was coming for them right now. Hermione felt her face tremble and her eyes pool with tears. She spoke desperately, loud enough for only Ron to hear; "I wish we had more time."

Ron cut her off, smoothing her hair back with his hand. He propped his forehead against hers. "We will. We're going to get through this and then we'll have all the time in the world, alright?" He said forcefully, with a shaky voice.

Hermione nodded and inhaled deeply, nuzzling against his cheek as if she had been doing it for years. "I want to spend it with you."

Ron looked down at her in amazement. "Yeah? I…I mean, me? Really?" Hermione felt his pride, and his fear, radiating.

If time weren't ticking like a bomb she may have laughed at his reaction. Instead, she nodded and smiled, reassuringly. In some distant room, a large boom sounded, echoing through their eardrums like an alarm clock. The battle had begun. This was it. As the walls shook, Ron and Hermione didn't break eye contact, only gripped each other tighter. Hermione flashed a look of panic that only Ron could see and he quickly leaned in to capture her lips once more.

They had no clue if Harry was even still standing there with them until his voice rang out, "D'you think you could just - just hold it in, until we've got the diadem?"

Before Ron released Hermione he leaned into whisper to her, "I'll be right here with you, no matter what happens."