"NOOO!" Ron screamed at the top of his lungs as he pulled away from Lucius and dove in front of Hermione. "Don't." Her hands were on the ground, holding her up. Her breathing was heavy and her eyes were closed as her head faced down.

"You were supposed to watch him Lucius" Bellatrix said with a smirk on her face, as if she knew this was going to happen. "You knew the rules Weasley and so did she. I win and now she dies."

"She's right Ron." Hermione had lifted her head and was staring at him. "I lost. I couldn't keep up."

"I say just kill them together." The eldest Malfoy walked steadily toward his sister-in-law and the teenagers.

"It wasn't a fair fight and you knew that." Ron stood up and turned toward to the two Death Eaters. "She could kick your ass in a duel in a heartbeat but you only chose to fight her because of what he did to her. You are a coward Bellatrix, nothing but a coward."

Bellatrix stepped forward slapped him and placed her wand under his chin. "You dare talk to me like that? You are nothing but a traitor to your own kind."

"Better to be a traitor against you and protect her than to be a murderous bastard like you" Ron spat in her face.

"AVADA KED-" the angry witch started but never finished. Her wand went flying away from her, as did her partner's wand. From the hill Harry and Tonks appeared running towards them. As they got closer, Lucius and Bellatrix disappeared with a loud crack leaving their wands behind.

"They could apparate?" Harry questioned Tonks once they arrived next to Ron and Hermione.

"Either that or the spell wore off. What happened?" Tonks directed this toward Ron who was picking Hermione up.

"A lot" he said. "Let's get somewhere safe and I'll explain."

"We'll go to Grimmauld Place seeing as that is our meeting spot. Everyone hold on." Harry and Ron each grabbed a hold of Tonks' hand. Then with a loud crack the world around them disappeared.

xxxx

"How did you all manage?" Harry asked as everyone settled down in the living room. No one seemed to be very badly hurt, just a few minor scrapes here and there. Hermione was asleep on the couch, her head rested in Ron's lap. He very gently stroked her hair.

"There were a lot of them but they weren't too bright. I think the fact that we had split them up really confused them." Molly came in carrying a tray of tea explaining her story. "Lupin, Ginny, and I stunned three of them right off the bat. Once we did that we didn't bother to run much further. We stayed put and fought the next four that came."

"Greyback didn't know what hit him" Lupin added "and neither did Yaxley." He gave a little wink to Ginny.

"Same went for us" Arthur interrupted. "Fred and George were great out there. I figure they sent the stronger ones after you four since Harry was with you. Yet we couldn't turn back to check on everyone. It was as if they cast a spell to keep us from you."

"They probably did those gits" Ron said. "I swear if I meet them again they will pay."

"Ron you cast the unforgivable curse on him" Harry reminded his best friend.

"RONALD WEASLEY! You did WHAT?" Mrs. Weasley screamed at her youngest son, spilling some tea on the floor.

"I had too" he defended himself. "He was going to hurt her."

"What happened when we went over the hill Ron?" Tonks asked and suddenly the entire room was facing him in silence.

"It all happened so fast" he started. "They were going to hurt me but Hermione stopped them. She…she said to hurt her instead. I got mad at her for that bit. That's not right of her to do. Then she told me to shut up. Even in the worst situation she's the same. Then Bellatrix challenged Hermione to a duel. She knew she was weak that's why she did it. I tried to stop her but Lucius kept kicking me down. She was doing really well Hermione was. Then something happened. She must've gotten real tired because she collapsed. And then she went to kill her but…but I wouldn't let her. And then you guys showed up and here we are."

Everyone stayed silent not knowing exactly what to say. The only thing that could be said was how they were all grateful for the outcome: no one injured and no one dead. At this point everyone decided it was best to head off to bed. Ron and Harry stayed up as Hermione still slept on Ron's lap.

"You really like her don't you" Harry asked his best friend.

"Yeah I do mate. I always have. I just have no idea to tell her." Ron looked down at Hermione and smiled. She looked so peaceful as she slept.

"You already did though."

"What do you mean Harry? Have you gone bonkers? I just said I haven't told her yet."

"Ron, you risked your life for her. Do you honestly think that she doesn't know that you are madly in love with her? It's not every day you find somebody who is willing to risk their life for you."

Ron gave Harry a confused look and asked, "So how do I know if she likes me then?"

"I see how she gets annoyed with you."

"He's certainly not an easy one to work with" Hermione said from Ron's lap, eyes still closed.

Harry got up and started walking down the hall and pretended to yawn. "I am getting awfully tired. Goodnight guys." And with that he disappeared into a room, leaving Hermione and Ron by themselves for the first time in a while.

Hermione slowly sat up and looked at Ron. She smiled at him, put her hands on his face and softly kissed him. It wasn't long but it was their first kiss together and both of them felt that it wouldn't be the last. When they broke apart Ron was wide-eyed with a goofy smile on his face.

"Ronald, I have liked you for the longest time. I would do anything for you including risk my life for you. The first thing I thought about when…um…when you know, the first thing was you. That's why I ended up outside your house. I needed to see you. The safest place I know if is with you."

"Ay Hermione, I was so afraid when I saw you like that. And I was mad. That's why I could cast the
Cruciatus Curse. I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again."

They hugged each other and lay down on the couch and slowly slipped into a deep sleep, the best sleep either of them had gotten in at least a week and quite possibly the last time they'd get a good sleep in a while.

A/N: And that's the end of another chapter. I hope you like it! Another one coming soon. Please review!