Author's Note: I would like to say in response to all my reviewers. Thank you for your reviews, good and bad. First, let me explain a few things about Ron. His sin is Pride toward himself and against his own family and friends. Mr. Weasley saw not only the weakness in his son but also the look of betrayal with Ron changing his last name and his own hair color. Ron, of course, did this to survive and prosper in Quidditch, but his father felt as if he lost a son over it. Instead, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley focused all their time with their family that Harry and Hermione was very much a member of, but not Ron Prince.

Now I never did write Ron as being strong in fact I wrote him with an underlining weakness of pride, loneliness, and self-pity. I've always found this to be a staple of Ron's character at how he would find himself always being second-best with either the things that he owns or being in the shadows of his brothers and Harry. Since this is a Harry Hermione story I multiplied that weakness by a factor of two… okay maybe ten, but you would have to understand that if he lost Hermione to Harry as most Harry Hermione shippers believe should've happen - it would dramatically affect Ron. He wouldn't be the same and neither would the trio's relationship. Added to that is the loss of his family that shunned him and it's not to hard to understand why he's more than willing to kill himself. Many of today suicides are attribute to the victim's feeling as if they are completely alone and lost.

Now I readily admit I'm not a fan of Harry Hermione stories and I always failed to see how so many people failed to notice the Anvil-size clues in the books. However, I say to each their own and I won't begrudge denying them to write a Harry Hermione fic or even a Draco Hermione fic. My only concern or wish would be that future writers portray the realistic actions of the trio in cases involving AU shipping fics.

As in Ron will be furious, Ginny will be heartbroken, and Harry may well never be invited back to the Burrow ever again. This is the flip side of the coin to Romance - heartache. I only ask that authors spend the extra energy and honesty to write about that too. Instead of outright lying to everyone by saying Ron is completely immature and yet he will be perfectly mature enough to get over a Harry Hermione relationship. It makes no sense. Two Laws cannot contradict one another.

Let's be honest with ourselves, if you ship Harry Hermione you basically do NOT like Ronald Weasley. So I fail to understand why none of you can write one simple in-character line of: "Ron was extremely jealous and refused to talk or associate with either Harry or Hermione for the rest of the time he was at Hogwarts." Done… Finished… That's it… That's all you have to say. It's not like you enjoyed writing Ron Weasley in the first place. So go ahead and write that little one line down in your fic so you can completely remove him from the rest of your story without being super AU. It just made your story ten times more realistic by showing heartache and jealousy.

Chapter 10 – Last Speech

Ron settled in next to his agent, Stan Lipinski, at the head table and tried to not notice an empty table in the front that was reserved for his father and family. Nor that the banquet was only half full of various fellow teammates, owners and a few of their yes men, sports reporters, and an occasional fan. Ron Prince was no longer the celebrated star of Quidditch after numerous trips to the hospital for various on-field injuries. Quite simply as he looked around he knew he was yesterday's news. It really didn't disappoint him as much since he always felt that he never got the recognition that he deserved.

Even history books seemed to be in on the conspiracy as not a single one mentioned him at all. The biggest insult had to been the ten-year celebration of the fall of He-who-must-not-be-Named to which he didn't even receive an invitation. To further add insult to injury Harry nor Hermione never once mentioned him at all over the years to various Press interviews about the war. As for Professor McGonagall and his Dad also knowing the truth about what happen neither were speaking to him about it or anyone else for that matter. The world simply wanted to believe in their hero, Harry bloody Potter, sidekicks be damned.

Ron seemed to be growing more resolute about taking his drought than he was in the morning. He had enough and if the world wanted him dead so be it. He wasn't afraid, he was a true Gryffindor and he would prove it tonight.

"With that I wish to hand over the podium to Mr. Ron Prince." His agent announced as he tapped him on the leg to regain his attention.

A roar of clapping broke out from the fans and his ex-teammates as Ron slowly stood up and moved over to the podium.

"Thank you, thank you!" Ron said as everyone that was present set down. "I want to thank everyone that came and those that couldn't."

He took one last look at the empty front table to see a small sign that read Reserved for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"I know it would be tough for some of you to make it tonight, but I'm happy that you made it without having to pay too many Muggle London tolls."

The crowd started to chuckle as Ron moved on with his prepared speech. "I've had a long and successful career that's shown me many adversities. Many nights and days I have spent in the hospital, the practice fields, and even more time with various charities."

It was his agents and Oliver's idea for him to spend more time in charity work to keep him busy in the off-season. He was a regular volunteer at the War Orphanage and found it a place that was generally worse off than he was. He wasn't the person in the room with the biggest problems and it helped him to stay focus throughout the later years of his career as he helped various children get adopted to a loving Magical or Muggle couple. He tried adopting himself but being single he wasn't eligible. He remembered the last rejection notice from the Ministry of Magic as being the final straw that made him brew up the draught that he would drink tonight.

"Through it all I had the guidance of a great coach and friend, Oliver Wood." A small round of clapping broke out as Ron pointed to an empty seat at the head table that was reserved for him. "Unfortunately, he couldn't be here tonight but he's here in spirit as are so many people…" Ron took another look down at the empty table where his father and mother was supposed to be. The impulse made him jump off script.

"Family… you never realize what it means to you until it's stolen away from you. Mother, Father, Sister, even my brothers. I guess that's why I understand the importance of working at the orphanage so much. I know what it's like to have no family. Family is important and if I'm being honest… so is love."

The audience seemed rather stunned at what Ron was saying as they looked at one another in silence.

"I never really understood the value of love until it was too late. Don't get me wrong, I tried… I really tried to find it with so many women over the years." Ron paused to properly explain how he was feeling. "It's just not the same. Lost love hmmm… just doesn't fully describe the impact of it does it. I mean on the one hand you could say betrayal from your best mate is bad, but the fact that you lost the love of your life – I mean no comparison!" Ron was madly swinging his hand across, as he said no comparison. "It just feels like this open hole to your heart every stinking bloody day!"

The audience was completely lost as they were watching Ron ranting in a rambling sort of way.

"I think that's the reason why I was never able to settle down with anyone. They could sense a part of me… is broken. I still vividly remember my last conversation with her. It just happened. Can you believe that? It just - happened. No explanation as too really why. He just makes her feel safe. Odd, as I was always the first to defend her. Nope, he's the Chosen One and I'm just the goofy poor sidekick. Apparently it was my job to drag his sorry arse back for him to live and steal my girlfriend."

The audience broke out in whispering as they finally recognized whom Ron was actually talking about.

"Don't get me wrong we argued we fought… all couples do. I could make her laugh, I could make her cry and he - no, not him. She would be on some Free the Elves thing and he felt the exact same thing as I felt about her and she never once got mad at what he would say to her. He would snap off at her and it was like it didn't even upset her. Although I say something and it's a row to end all rows."

Ron was holding on to the podium with both hands like it was a broomstick in flight.

"It just happened, sorry Ron. It's not like you broken my heart and he broke my dear sister's heart – noo! Not to mention that my family was snatched away from me as no one in their blood right mind would want me versus Harry bloody Potter!"

The whispering stopped as gasps were heard throughout the Banquet Hall.

"Oh that's right he's your bloody hero. Our savior. Tell me don't you think it strange how a boy wizard managed to survive all those scrapes with Voldemort?"

The audience really gasped and shrieked at Ron for mentioning his name in public.

"Hey, you leave the Chosen One alone!" yelled someone that Ron couldn't see.

"Why, I was his Best Mate. I stood beside him as he fought Voldemort. Apparently, no one knows this but the real reason why he always made it out alive was that everyone else around him would sacrifice himself or herself for him: His Mum and Dad, Sirius his godfather, Professor Dumbledore, Hermione, my lost family, and even me. Funny, how neither one never mention that to the press."

The audience seemed to scoff at this and he wasn't the least bit surprised.

"My real name is Ronald Weasley."

The audience noise grew silent as not many people recognized the name, but seemed to recognize the family name of Weasley as having being close to the Potters.

"Of course, none of you would care that I was one. No one does, not even my own father and mother who didn't even bother to show up tonight." Ron said as he pointed at the empty front table. "Regular black sheep of the family I am. All because I didn't want Harry bloody Potter in it. All my life I've had to put up with Harry Potter this and Harry Potter that and I have to tell you it was tough. There was sometimes there I really didn't like the git. I had to look past that and see the real Harry. He was the one I could trust to have my back and I his. I would've done anything for him, including giving my own life for him."

The audience was now stunned at his declaration as they all listened to his every word.

"He was a really, really great friend, but then he… he stole the love of my life." Ron said to them as he was choking on his own words.

"I shouldn't really be too mad at him. I understand he's a good husband and father… definitely a better provider than I ever could've been. He's certainly a better choice than I am even if I do love her more than he does. I loved her more than he ever will… told her even. She didn't listen… she chose him."

A brief pause as Ron pulled out his bottle of Eternal Sleep Drought from his robe.

"So let's all make a toast to Harry bloody Potter, the best mate a guy could ever have and to my Lost love." Ron popped the cork on the bottle and then lifted it high for everyone to see.

"To you Harry Potter, my family, and especially my Lost Love!" Ron declared his last words before drinking the bottle.

As if the second he tasted the liquid racing into his body he felt the world spinning.

"Nooo!" screamed a familiar voice.

Ron's vision was slowly closing around him as he fell down off the podium and listened to the rustling of bodies moving away and toward him.

He wasn't sure if it was a hallucination of the draught, or a crying Hermione racing to his side. Either way he felt happy that someone was holding his hand as he took his last breath.