A/N: Well, Happy Holidays everyone! As a gift to all of my loyal readers, I finally decided to sit down and write the second chapter of my fic. Also look for the next chapter of The Final Battle: Ginny's POV sometime this week. And possibly, in the spirt of the holidays, one of my new fics.

So enjoy this next installment, and remember, it's the holidays, let me know you care by reviewing!

Chapter Two: Forgotten Goodbyes

"What plan?" repeated Ron, dumbstruck.

"You know, the plan?"

"Neville, what in the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"Well, Harry said..."

"Harry?" Ron felt his breath catch in his throat. "Neville, when did you talk to Harry? Where is he?"

Ron watched Neville anxiously for his response.

"Don't know. He told me that I had to kill the snake, and then he disappeared under his cloak again."

"Did he say where he was going, what he was doing?"

"No, he just…" Neville's round, scarred face suddenly turned pale, "you don't think that he… he said he wasn't, he said there was plan…"

But Ron didn't wait for Neville to finish his mottled thought. He turned and ran off into the crowd. Where could he be? He had to be somewhere. As he ran frantically through the crowd, searching for any sign of Harry whereabouts or existence, he spotted Hermione off in the distance helping Professor McGonagall to repair the gaping holes in the previously grand staircase that graced the front hall. Now it looked more like a large pile of rubble than anything. When he reached them, Hermione gave him a small smile and grasped his hand.

"How is George holding up?"

He sighed in return, "as well as can be expected." Then he decided to cut straight to the chase. "Hermione, you wouldn't happen to know where Harry is, would you?"

At his word her expression immediately became wary, "No, why?"

"Well," Ron started uncomfortably, "because I have no idea, and no one has seen him since we returned to the shrieking shack."

"He wouldn't actually…" Professor McGonagall, apparently deciding there was no use in pretending that she had not been listening, paused in the middle of the repair she had been making to turn and look from Ron to Hermione. As if gathering the worst from their eyes, she returned to her repairs with a grimmer set to her mouth.

"Well," started Hermione bravely, "maybe he didn't, maybe he's just helping Kingsley with something…" yet even as she spoke silent tears fell softly down her cheeks. Ron pulled her closer to wipe them away while McGonagall tacitly moved to sort out a crater on the other side of the stairwell to give the new couple more privacy.

"I'm sorry," started Hermione again, "it's just that he is truly my best friend." Ever since first year, it's been you, me, and Harry. I have loved you nearly all of that time, but I had also always loved Harry…"

"…Like a brother." Finished Ron, remembering what Harry had told him the night that they had destroyed the locket, "I know, I feel the same way. Hell, he might as well be my brother, as he and Ginny will most likely be hearing wedding bells in their future…"

A small smile began to spread across her face as she looked at Ron. He found it amazing that something as simple as a smile could still occur amongst all of the grief and pain.

But all too soon, that moment was shattered. As a voice colder than ice chocked out all of the warmth and conversation. With a hand stronger than that of death himself, it strangled all happiness and crushed all humor. Instinctively, Ron reached out and pulled Hermione into his arms as he looked around for the source of the voice.

"Harry Potter is dead."

No. No, no, no. That just could not be possible, just, no. Harry dead. No. With those words, Ron felt that the ice cold voice had turned to a hand which had reached and was not twisting his gut. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think. Just, no. That was all that was going trough his head. No.

"He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you laid down you lives for him"

No, Harry wasn't dead, it was impossible for him to die; this was not how things were supposed to go. And he would never run away from the battle. Never.

"We bring you his body as proof that your hero is truly gone."

No. Thought Ron, The wizarding world isn't ready to lose their savior. His family is not ready to lose another son. Ginny isn't ready to lose her boyfriend. Hermione isn't ready to lose her best friend, and neither was he.

Ron didn't really listen to the rest of the speech. He just stood there in shock, clutching Hermione's hand in his as his link to the land of the living, a reminder that she was still there. When the time came face the truth, he numbly followed Hermione's gentle touch as she guided him to the doors and they join the defenders of Hogwarts on a journey for truth.

A/N: well I hope you enjoyed, have a great holiday, and please review to tell me you love me!