It is a fearful thing to love what death can touch.-- Unknown


In the hours of the early morning, a soft light spilled gently in through window panes. The soft, golden light crawled into the room, filling it, and landed happily upon a couple who lay in bed, framing them in the rays.

The man was propped up on his elbow, looking down at the woman who was cuddled up beside him. Her hands were in front of her, resting against his chest as she rested her head on his arm, breathing slowly as she slept. Her hair pooled around over the pillows and across her face, covering her from other's view but not from his.

He felt his heart swell again as she murmured his name and moved closer to him, unaware that he was watching her.

Last night had been a dream.

He could never have imagined anything more perfect and more genuinely amazing than what had happened.

His eyes went over her soft features and he leaned down to kiss her cheek. A sleepy smile graced her face and she moved closer.

Never had he seen anything more stunning in his life and he knew he never would.

Ron knew he could watch her sleep forever. Just as long as she was beside him, he could stay like this. Just as long as she smiled, he could stay like this.

"Hermione Jane Weasley," he whispered, pushing a lock of hair out of her eyes before resting his hand on her exposed shoulder.

He ran his hand up and down her arm and felt her shudder.

"Hermione…"

He wanted to kiss her lips again. He wanted to hear her say his name as they made love for the second time.

But most of all he wanted to look into her eyes and see the love that they had just affirmed only hours before.

He heard a faint knocking sound and frowned, pulling his eyes away from Hermione and looking over to the door. He waited for a moment and heard the knocking again. Not wanting the sounds to wake up Hermione, he quietly slipped out of the bed. He stood there for a moment, searching the floor for his discarded pants and found them. Shoving them on, he also found his wand and left the room quietly, closing the door quietly and casting a charm on it. He didn't want to wake Hermione.

There was more knocking and Ron was starting to get angry. He was pretty sure he had put a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.

When he reached the door, he looked into the peephole.

"Shit!"

Before he knew it there was an explosion and he was flying through the air. He hit the couch and tipped it over violently as he crashed to the ground. The door landed close by, barely missing his head.

Recovering, he grabbed his ears as the sound of the explosion rang through his head.

"Shit," he gasped, getting to his knees and looking around for his wand. He couldn't find it and looked up at the door to see three men standing there, wands drawn. His wand was lying broken at their feet.

"Who are you?" Ron demanded, his eyes focusing on the wands that were trained on him. One of the men came forward and cocked his head to the side.

"You've corrupted her. It's time for you to go."

As the man said this, Ron noticed the man to his right moving over to the small hall that lead to the room Hermione was sleeping in. Panic filled him and moved accordingly.

In two quick motions Ron reached into the couch and flung a knife, catching the man in his wand wielding hand.

"Argh!" the man cried out, grabbing the knife and yanking it out of his hand.

"Crucio!" the first man screamed. Ron dove out of the way and found another knife lying on the ground. Tossing it up into the air and grabbing its hilt, he flung it expertly at the first man, who cried out and fell to the ground, clutching his leg in pain. Ron saw the third man fire and the second man disappear into the hall. Rage boiled up in him, replacing the panic that had once been there and he charged over the fallen furniture, snatched two knives from the small bookshelf and slammed his weight into the man, who was just about to open the door.

"Avada Kerdava!"

Hearing those fatal words, Ron quickly twisted himself so that he was under the man. There was a flash of green light and the man over him went limp. Ron shoved the dead weight off of him and flung the first knife, catching the first guy in the neck. The man fell to his knees, gurgling blood. He tried to say something then fell flat on his face.

Ron stood up and ran over to the man but was grabbed by his neck and slammed into a wall. He felt cold steel against his neck and kicked out behind him, effectively pushing his assailant away. He turned around and leaned back, pulling out of the way of the slashing blade.

Ron flipped the blade in his hand around and hurled it at the man, hitting him in the shoulder. The man pulled the knife out of him and tossed it to the side. Ron's eyes grew and before he knew it he was being charged at by the man. The man had Ron by the neck, squeezing hard as he pulled out the other knife. Before Ron could stop him he felt the blade cut through his skin. Gasping, he coughed up blood. He reached down and much to his attackers surprise wrenched the knife out of his side and crashed it down into the man's neck.

"Avada Kerdava!"

Suddenly Ron could breathe again and he slid to the ground, coughing up more blood and gasping for air.


It was cold.

That was the first thing that went through her mind when she finally started waking up. She reached out for Ron, but to her surprise and at this point, mild horror, she felt nothing but sheets.

She opened her eyes and hoped to see him there. But he wasn't.

Biting her lip, she pulled the covers up around her and looked around the room. Her eyes moved across the discarded clothing and untouched complimentary wine that sat on the dresser. He wasn't there.

Sudden panic flooded her being as she tried to think of where he was.

"Ron," she whispered, hoping that this was one of his little jokes. "Ron."

No answer.

She sat up and tried to think clearly. She didn't want to jump to any extreme conclusion to Ron's disappearance.

He's probably in the bathroom, she told herself.

"Ron," she called. "Ron!"

Why isn't he answering?

Maybe he left.

No, Hermione! He didn't leave. He wouldn't. He's probably getting food or something. Just wait a few minutes. He probably thinks you're still asleep.

Hermione took a deep breath and tried not to think about it.

She tried to fill her mind with last night and how amazingly perfect it had been. She tried to think of Ron and how unbelievably-

Where is he?

Panic once again clouded her mind and she pulled the covers out of the bed. Wrapping herself in them, she looked around again.

"Ron!" she called, stepping over the clothes that were scattered on the floor. "Ron!"

She turned the knob on the door and opened it.


"What the hell's going on?" Ron demanded, leaning on the wall and clutching his stomach in pain.

Remus Lupin glanced down the hallway on each side before looking back into the suite where the evidence of Ron's fight lay strewn over the floor.

"I don't know, Ron, but you two have to come back with me. Things are happening in London and your family needs you."

A scream rent through the air and Ron turned to the door.

"HERMIONE!"

He and Remus ran into the suite and looked down the small hall to see Hermione standing at the door, pale and quaking; her eyes on the dead man at the door. Ron had never look as terrified as she did now. He started for her but she jerked, her eyes moving up to him as if he were the same man lying on the floor. Her eyes filled with fear and Ron stopped.

"Hermione," he whispered. "Hermione, it's me, Ron. I'm not going to hurt you."

He spoke quietly and gently, not moving from where he stood. Any movement could startle her into running; she looked poised for flight.

Beside him, Remus watched the interaction, afraid that if Ron moved too soon, Hermione would do something that might unintentionally hurt her or Ron.

"Hermione. It's okay. You're safe. You're not in any danger," Ron whispered, pleading silently with his eyes for her to come to him.

From where she stood Hermione heard Ron's voice. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, hoping to wipe the images from her mind. Images of years past…

But Ron's voice was seeping into her brain like a fog and slowly his words began to come through the silent screams that echoed from the dark crevices of Hermione's mind.

Ron… was Ron alive? She asked herself. Yes, Hermione. He's standing right in front of you, just beyond the dead body… Just open your eyes and you'll see him…

She concentrated with all of her might and took a deep, steadying breath. She was cold and shaking all over. She opened her eyes slowly, tears coming to her eyes as she validated what she had told her self.

Ron watched her quietly. To Remus, he looked amazingly calm. In actuality, he was anything but; he was freaking out. This wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to be crying…

"Hermione," he said again and saw her close her eyes.

"Ron," she murmured, her voice barely audible and shaking with fear.

He was about to head over to her when there was a crack and then an explosion. Hermione screamed, frozen in terror as Ron and Remus were thrown into the wall from the blast. They got to their feet slowly and Ron looked out the door. He disappeared for a moment and then there was another explosion.

"RON!"

He came scrambling in, slamming the door behind him.

"RUN!" he screamed.

He and Remus ran over to Hermione and pulled her into the room. Ron closed the door behind him and turned to see Remus pulling out a small glass figure. Hermione was now crying openly as she stood there helplessly.

"Hurry, Ron!" Remus shouted, hearing voices from beyond the door. Ron started to move but an agonizing pain coursed through him from his side and he stopped, gasping in pain.

"RON!" Hermione screamed, her terrified voice echoing in his ears as he tried to move. The pain which had been nonexistent to him before was now flooding him with immobility.

Unfortunately, the portkey had been activated and Remus had no way of stopping it.

"Ron, hurry!" he screamed.

There was another explosion and the door disappeared, knocking Ron down as more pain washed over him.

"One, two-"

"NO!"

Hermione lunged out to grab Ron's hand just as Remus grabbed hers.

"Three!"

A/N: Oh yes... I went there...

wasu: I hope you liked it... or at least liked the first bit.

Lollies in London: I'm lovin it also!

'loha: Glad you're enjoying it!

sballLuvr5: I hope you liked the carnage as well. I like to do a bit of give and take. I give them happiness and then snatch it right out of their hands right before they can enjoy it. "Give and take." :-)

smore4u1: Well, I decided to do the angsty part after the loving part. I think it balances out, don't you:-)

nextbestthing: A well rounded person. A bit of lovin' and a bit of angstyness... (spelling?) Anyway, glad you liked!

Chapter Tease:

"I thought he'd left me," she whispered.

"What?" Fleur asked.

Hermione closed her eyes.

"When I woke up he wasn't there," she murmured. "I… I thought he'd left me…"