Chapter One: The Battle of Hogwarts
Harry looked around frantically for his friends, pleading against all odds that they were all safe. He ventured into the Great Hall, which had been converted into something of a field hospital.
That was when he saw them.
The Weasleys; Arthur, Molly, Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred, George, and Ginny, joined by Hermione, and...Harry couldn't believe his eyes...Draco Malfoy with his arm around Hermione's shoulders! He tried to act calm as he approached them. Where was Ron? He should be here. Wait 'til he gets a look at Malfoy with his arm around Mione.
That's when it hit him. Mrs. Weasley wouldn't cry that hard for someone who wasn't her own child, or "adopted" child, as she called Harry and Hermione.
Not Ron, he thought, as a pain like a knife turning in his heart hit him. Not my best mate, the closest thing I've had to a brother! It can't be Ron!
Unfortunately, it was Ron. He lay in a stretcher, surrounded by his family, and that scum Malfoy, Harry reminded himself. He'd have a word with Draco when this was all said and done.
"Harry! You're okay!" Hermione said tearfully. "We thought you had..."
"We thought you had gone the way of Ron," Draco supplied for her.
"Don't you EVER use my best mate's name," Harry snarled. "You've done nothing but cause us trouble from the day we met on the train!"
"Harry," Molly Weasley said softly.
"Molly, I'm so sorry," Harry said, again looking at his peaceful-appearing mate. "Who did it?"
"Harry dear, Draco tried to save Ron," Molly began. "He turned against his own aunt, Bellatrix...she...used the Cruciatus Curse on him. Tried to make him break. He fought it. When she...when she realized that he was stronger then she'd anticipated she...she killed him, with help from Rodolphus."
"What happened during their duel?" Harry whispered.
"First Bellatrix read his mind using Legilimecy. She saw that he was protecting Hermione," Draco deadpanned. "She told Rodolphus, he put a Body-Bind hex on him. She...carved "BLOOD TRAITOR" into his chest, and used the Killing Curse. I disarmed Rodolphus a moment too late. Had I disarmed him a second earlier, Ron would have been able to run."
"Draco, its not your fault," Fred said. "George and I saw it."
"Thanks, Fred," Draco solemnly replied. "They turned on Hermione. I saw the glint in Rodolphus' eyes. He was going to torture, possibly rape, then kill her. I had to do something. Bellatrix cast a Sectumsempra, to weaken Mione. I jumped in front of her, taking it. Hermione had her wits about her to disarm and kill them."
"Malfoy...you...saved one of my best mates, and tried to save another. A Blood traitor and a Muggle-born at that," Harry said. "I owe you an apology.
"No, you don't Harry," Draco said. "Trying to save Ron, and saving Hermione was my apology to you."
"For what?" Harry said.
"For being a total arse to you during school," Draco replied. "For not telling anyone that I wanted to leave the Death Eaters."
"You did?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
Just then, Harry felt excruciating pain in his head. Very unlike the pain he felt in his scar when Voldemort felt extreme emotions. He collapsed on the floor, but not before he muttered on last word: "Ron".