"Harry, Ron. I think we should move now. It's not safe to stay here for too long. if they're looking, it's only a matter of time till they find us unless we move."
"Alright Hermione." Harry agreed. "We'll leave tomorrow morning. So we should get plenty of sleep tonight. Once we relocate, we'll start making plans to fight. I want this war over with as soon as possible. I don't want to lose any more lives."
"Okay. Ron, when will that station be on again?"
Ron looked up. "It should be on tomorrow night."
Harry stood up. "Well, I'm going to head off to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning. Goodnight."
They said their goodnights and were left alone. "Ron" Hermione began. "I wanted to thank you. For the other night, I mean." She said as she sat beside him.
"It was nothing Hermione." He turned to face her. "I'm here if you need me. I always will be." He leaned towards her slowly and his lips brushed hers.
She raised her hand to his chest and gently pushed him away. "Ron, no. Please don't."
He stopped. "It's him, isn't it? Malfoy?"
She looked away. "Yes."
"Why, Hermione? Why him?"
"I don't know why Ron. he's different now. He's not the same guy we've known since we started Hogwarts.
"Hermione, I know that he risked him life to save you, and believe me, I'm glad he did. But you know as well as I do that you'll probably never see him again. We might not even live through this war."
"I know Ron. But I can't stop hoping. I love him."
"Alright Hermione." Ron sighed. "But I'm always here if you need me."
She smiled. "Thanks Ron."
Hermione lay on her bed thinking. She thought about everything that had happened this year. Everything that led to this point. She thought of her relationship with Draco. As she lay there, she remembered the small box that she put in her bag. Grabbing her bag, she began searching for it. The box was sparkling red and the lid was topped with a green ribbon.
'Merry Christmas. Love Draco' was written on the card taped to the top of the box. She lifted the lid to see a beautiful ring. It was a large emerald surrounded by several much smaller rubies. The had looked silver but she knew it was actually white gold. She stared at the beautifully made ring for a long time before taking it out.
As she turned the ring in her fingers, looking at it from every angle, her fingers ran over a small inscription. Her held the ring carefully. She looked intently at the words engraved into the ring and her breath caught in her throat. 'Marry me?'
Hermione slumped to the bed. Oh god. Draco was going to ask her to marry him. She stared down at the ring. It was so beautiful, so breathe-taking.
Tears stung her eyes. She slipped the ring onto her finger. It felt right to wear his ring. She knew then that she had to survive this war. She had to make it back to Draco.
She fell asleep peacefully that night, Draco's ring still on her finger.
In her dream, she was back with Draco again. They were together and the war was finally over. Voldemort was dead. Death Eaters were either dead or in Azkaban.
As she looked into Draco's eyes, she felt as if she would burst from happiness. But there was something different. Something about her had changed. She looked at him, then at herself. Then she realized what it was.
She awoke with a start.
It couldn't be.