"Hermione?" asked Ron gently as he laid her on the grass in front of Shell Cottage. Hermione didn't reply, her body limp and pale. He wiped the sweat and tears from his face and asked again, barely aware of Bill running towards them.

"H-Hermione – p-please!"

He held her hand and lightly squeezed it, hoping for the slightest movement. Hermione simply laid still.

"Ron, help me carry her inside. She's just unconscious, it'll be alright," Bill said reassuringly.

"No," said Ron firmly. "I'll take her in. Harry be will here in a bit and he might need more help."

Ron stood up and carried Hermione inside, supporting her head and holding her tightly so she wouldn't fall.

He wasn't really aware of where he was going. He pushed open the front door and walked mindlessly through the house.

"She will be fine in here, I theenk," said Fleur quietly, opening a small bedroom door.

Ron laid her neatly on the bed and watched Fleur pour a frosty coloured potion into a glass. Fleur handed it to Ron.

"Feed this to 'er, she will wake up. I will get more from ze kitchen."

Fleur swept out of the room and Ron turned back to Hermione. He brushed her said softly out of her face, touching her skin lightly as he did.

"Ron?"

He took his eyes off the potion he was about to feed her and looked straight into her eyes, which were blinking slowly.

"Hermione," he whispered with relief. "You're okay. I was so worried that she… that she…"

"I'm okay Ron," said Hermione.

"You were ama-" but Ron was cut off with the pop of someone apparating outside.

"That must be Harry," said Hermione, sounding worried. "Go and make sure he's okay and I'll be out with Fleur when I can."

"But I don't want, I mean, you're going to be alright if I leave you?"

"Yes, Ron. I'll be fine."

They stood in the doorway of the sitting room away from everybody else. Quiet was all they needed now. Hermione was sobbing into Ron's shoulder.

"D-dobby saved me," she mumbled.

"Yeah. He did. He saved us all really,' Ron replied.

"You saved me," said Hermione, wiping the tears from her face. Ron didn't say anything, but simply looked at her. She stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. Ron ignored the flush he felt coming to his face.

"You were so amazing. Bellatrix was – was hurting you and you never gave in."

Hermione smiled weakly.

"I gave in," Ron whispered, his voice full of shame. "I gave in on Harry, and I gave in on you. Hermione – I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I didn't – the locket was making me -"

Hermione cut him off with a shushing noise.

"You came back," she said matter-of-factly. "You came back and that means more to me than anything."

Ron smiled at her.

"The deluminator knew what was really in my heart," he mumbled. Hermione could see that Ron had turned pink after realising what he had admitted. She had turned pink too.

'I need you two, as well!' he called to Ron and Hermione, who had been skulking, half-concealed, in the doorway of the sitting room.

They both moved into the light, looking oddly relieved.