Two painful weeks had gone by since Ron had finally told Hermione the truth. He had done what Hermione had told him and stayed out of her life, but living through each day without speaking to her or hearing her laugh was almost unbearable.
Of course, he still saw her; he had not forgotten about the Death Eater's threat. His boss had allowed him to watch over her as his assignment, which Harry had sometime helped him with, and even when he wasn't on duty he still spent his time around where Hermione was.
When she went to go work at the office for a major book company, he would follow. When she drove home, he would follow. When she went to the bookstore, which was less frequent than she used to, he followed, even with all of the fond memories that he had of the familiar place.
One cloudy night, Hermione was walking back from the bookstore, with Ron following her, with a Disillusionment Charm placed upon him.
Suddenly, with a loud clap of thunder, the sky above them rippled, and Death Eaters came flying down in front of Hermione.
One of them reached out and clutched her throat. Hermione screamed, but it was lost into the rain that was just beginning to pour.
Ron felt such fury when the Death Eaters took out their wands that he couldn't just watch the scene anymore. He had to act.
"Stupefy!" Ron roared, knocking one of the Death Eaters unconscious.
"Hermione, go, hide!" he ordered as he sent another stunning spell to a Death Eater, but Hermione remained frozen, with the rain soaking through her clothes and hair.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ron saw a Death Eater aim their wand towards Hermione, but before he could mutter a single spell, Ron shot a Body-Binding Curse at him.
"Go!" he yelled at Hermione.
"But I can't leave you!" she cried, hands desperately pulling at her hair.
He grunted as he dodged a curse aimed at him. Didn't she see the danger that she was in? Of course she didn't, he reminded himself. He had left her apartment before he could even explain his reasons for revealing his secret.
"Close your eyes," he whispered hoarsely, and was immensely glad when she obeyed, giving his the opportunity to yell out "Sectumsempra!" without having Hermione watch him hurt another person, and to see how dangerous and dark he could really be, especially with his magic.
The Death Eater fell to the ground, while the only Death Eater remaining crouched down to help his friend.
"C'mon!" he murmured to Hermione, and as she opened her eyes, he clutched her hand and turned on the spot.
When they Apparated to Hermione's apartment, Ron immediately began putting up protective spells while Hermione clutched her stomach and gagged.
"Sorry," he said roughly, "but we had to get out of there quick, and that was the only way that we could."
"Who were they?" Hermione whispered, not daring to raise her voice.
"Death Eaters," Ron responded, as the rain continued to pour down in buckets. "Basically, they're the evil of my world."
They just stared at each other silently until Ron awkwardly rubbed his neck and said, "Well, um yeah. I'll be going now."
He opened the door and looked behind him at Hermione, who was still standing in the same spot where Ron had Apparated.
Ron walked out into the rain and was just about to Disapparate when he heard the door open and slam close, even over the sound of the rain pouring down. He wiped the rain dripping down his face to see Hermione running towards him.
"I don't want you to leave," she shouted over the rain, when she was standing in front of Ron.
Ron could only blink at the beauty standing in front of him.
"You just saved my life using your magic," she continued. "How can I not be grateful for that? Plus, you look absolutely handsome with your ginger hair all wet."
Ron walked over towards Hermione until he was merely inches from her.
"You're going to get a cold," he told her.
"Just give me a potion for it," she said before jumping to into his waiting arms, and pressing her lips to his, wrapping her legs around his waist. Her lips were so soft, so warm, despite the cold water dripping from their bodies, but the rain added that romantic element.
When they broke apart, Hermione yelled over he rain, "What now?"
Ron grinned. "How about we go inside and I'll explain everything."
