Prologue
The air had felt dead to the Order of the Phoenix for a day before the attack had begun, which was why it hadn't come too unexpectedly. They had taken up a residence within the castle walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in order to make use of the magic that the late Albus Dumbledore had used to protect the school once filled with thousands of young witch and wizard minds. It was a marvelous sight to behold, watching as the Death Eaters tore down each of the defenses set up by Dumbledore, but the Order was ready. They had been training hard, starting the day they had found out that their own double agent was truly a triple agent, and Severus Snape had cold-heartedly murdered the only man that Voldemort had ever feared. For them, this was a personal, and they were damned if they were going to let the Death Eaters win and take hold over the object that had been so dear to Dumbledore.
Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Arthur Weasley, Charlie Weasley, and Molly Weasley lead the pack, standing at the front of the castle, waiting for the moment the Death Eaters would finally break through and begin the much anticipated battle. Fred and George Weasley had been missing ever since the Death Eaters had raided Hogsmeade two weeks before, and thus Ginny Weasley had been made to promise to stay with Fleur Weasley-Delacour and her husband, Bill Weasley, for the Weasley's couldn't bare to lose any more of their family. Harry Potter himself hadn't been heard from since he went in search of answers about who the elusive RAB could be, leaving Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley alone to train with the Order so that they could put their experiences to good use.
The first explosion rang loudly around them, and turning, they watched as the Astronomy Tower crumpled to the ground.
"THEY'VE GOTTEN THROUGH! LOOK OUT!" Arthur Weasley yelled as he turned around and saw the swarm of Death Eaters coming at them.
Inside the castle, Hermione and Ron had positioned some other would-be seventh year students to ready them for battle.
"I need to get outside, I need to go!" Ron said to Hermione urgently as the the sounds from the battle outside had penetrated through to them. "They need me. You can do this, Hermione. We'll keep them back as long as we can, and then it's up to you to make sure these guys know what they are doing," he turned to go, but stopped as Hermione's hand grabbed his own.
"Ron, wait. I've been needing to tell you this for some time, and now might be the only chance I get. I will not cry, but I just have to --" but she was interrupted by the fact that Ron had taken her face into his hands and in that moment they shared their first kiss.
"I love you, too, 'Mione, and we're going to get through this, together. Will you marry me?" he asked her, kissing her yet again. She smiled at him, and a tear spilled down her face, but before she could answer a wall near them exploded. "Bugger. I have to go, Hermione!" raising her wand, she readied herself for the fight that would make or break the war.