A/N: Ahh, the epic Malfoy Manor scene where we finally have JK's confirmation of the whole Ron/Hermione relationship! I tried to depict it as best I could, but I kind of lost my copy of HP7 (it is somewhere in my room, I just have to find it), so the end of the chapter doesn't follow a particular storyline and it was just from memory, so if something is out of place, let me know so I can fix it! Enjoy!
Malfoy Manor
"Wait," said Bellatrix sharply. "All except… except for the Mudblood."
Anger erupted in Ron's brain as fear filled Hermione's thoughts.
"No!" shouted Ron, you can have me, keep me!"
Bellatrix hit him across the face……
Hermione's screams echoed off the walls upstairs, Ron was half sobbing as he pounded the walls with his fists…..
Above them, Hermione's vision faded in and out with the casting and recasting of the curse. Each time brought on more pain. The only way she kept her thoughts coherent was because of Ron. She could hear him screaming for her form the cellar and watched as Bellatrix got joy from their pain…..
As Ron ran to pull Hermione out of the wreckage of the chandelier, all he could think was of her. He finally saw her bushy hair trapping the shards of crystal, her eyes closed and her face covered in cuts, the most severe being the one on her neck. Ron managed to pull her arms out of the wreckage only to find her unconscious. The next few minutes were a rush for Ron. He caught a wand from Harry and within seconds, he and Hermione were at Bill and Fleur's quickly followed by Harry, Dobby and the goblin. Fleur rushed outside to help, but Ron easily lifted the petite Hermione inside.
Fleur guided them to a guest bedroom overlooking the ocean. Hermione's eyes fluttered as Ron laid her on the bed, kissing her face gently. Fleur pushed him to the other side of the bed as she tended to Hermione's bleeding wound on her neck. Ron watched as Fleur applied a serum to the cut and it started to heal instantly.
"Essence of Dittany," murmured Ron, grabbing Hermione's hand as she winced in pain. Fleur looked startled.
"'Ow did you know zat, Ron? I did not know zat you were interested in 'ealing," asked Fleur, watching Ron look over Hermione. He kissed her hand lightly before responding.
"No, I just pay attention," replied Ron as Fleur left the room to tend to the others. Ron remembered another event where he had to tend to Hermione.
FLASHBACK
Ron lay in the Hospital Wing. It had been a long night and an even longer one for Harry. Now, the other five who had been with him were recovering in the Hospital Wing and Harry was still talking to Dumbledore.
Across the aisle, Ginny, Neville and Luna all lay in restless slumbers. Hermione was sleeping next to Ron in her own bed. Or so Ron thought. He heard a sound from the bed next to his; the rustling of blankets and sheets. Ron turned over to see Hermione sitting up, looking out the window. Ron took a deep breath and spoke to her.
"What are you thinking right now?"
Hermione answered him without even turning her head.
"How much this hurts."
Ron was by her side in an instant. "How much what hurts? Where, Hermione?"
Hermione turned her head stiffly to one of her best friends and patted him on the cheek. She smiled at his nervous expression, looking at her like a china doll, too fragile to take off the shelf.
"I'm fine, Ronald. My back and side are just sore. Madame Pomfrey said I would be for the next few weeks. Dark magic doesn't cure itself overnight-." All of a sudden, Hermione grabbed her side, wincing in pain. Ron held her shoulders delicately and smoothed back her hair from her forehead. Her features were contorted in pain, but she gasped, shuttering all over and swayed back and forth, releasing her side. Ron scooped her up in his arms and set her on his lap. She leaned against him in support, tucking her head under his chin. She closed her eyes and Ron rocked her in his arms, murmuring softly. After she had calmed down slightly, he asked her another question.
"What just happened?" Hermione sighed, taking one of his hands in her own.
"Every so often, the residual magic in my body spikes and gives me some sharp pains, but it isn't anything I can't handle." Hermione looked defiant as she said this and Ron pulled her in closer to whisper in her ear.
"You don't need to be brave now Hermione. It's just me."
"But I always have to be brave, Ron. For everyone. Everyone is constantly looking to me for the answers and sometimes I just don't have them. But bravery is a front you can wear when you don't know what will happen next. Courage is shown in the face of fear and pain and suffering. Only then can we even begin to hope."
"Did you get that from Hogwarts, A History?" asked Ron, smirking into the dark as Hermione playfully smacked his arm.
"No, I made that one up myself. I am not a walking encyclopedia, Ronald."
"I know that Hermione. Now, we should both get some sleep before we wake up the others." Ron set Hermione down on her bed and almost at once, Hermione missed the warm feeling of his arms around her. Ron tucked in her blankets and, on an impulse, swiftly kissed the top of her head before practically leaping to his own bed and pulling the blankets over his shoulders. Hermione sat stunned for a moment before lying back against her pillows and closing her eyes.
"Good night, Hermione," called Ron.
Hermione smiled and her last conscious thought was saying "Good night, Ron," to the red-headed boy in the bed next to hers.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open almost as soon as Fleur was gone.
"Oh, Hermione," sighed Ron, holding her close for a few moments before releasing her to see tears in her eyes. "What's wrong, Love?"
"I feel so useless!" cried Hermione after a moment, looking down into her lap. "The whole time, all I could think was that you and Harry didn't deserve to have someone as useless as me dragging you down. I know it was the curse amplifying my feelings, but I still feel this way and the curse is over. Please, Ron, tell me I'm not useless."
Ron looked at Hermione hard before taking her hands in his.
"Hermione Jean Granger, you are stubborn, cocky, show-offish, a know-it-all and quirky, but you are the furthest thing from useless." Ron kissed Hermione lightly on the lips and felt her melt against him. From the doorway, someone cleared their throat.
"If you two aren't busy," said Bill, leaning against the doorframe, "a house elf has died and Harry refuses to dig the grave by hand."
"I'll go help him," said Ron, looking up at Bill, then looking back to Hermione. "You'll be alright while I'm gone?"
Hermione placed a cold hand on his cheek. "Of course, now go!" Ron left the room and Bill followed his little brother until they reached the Kitchen, where Fleur was. Bill watched as Dean joined the other two and all three dug the grave. He couldn't help but think of how Ron had grown up in the past weeks since he had left Shell Cottage and returned to his friends. He now had a girl he loved and best friends who could count on him for anything. Bill smiled and thought of how proud he was of his little brother.
A/N: Ron most certainly has matured. I think that part of it is Hermione's influence on him. Tell me what you thought of the chapter!