If I could have one wish tonight
I'd wish upon a satellite
To bring me back to you
We spend our whole lives searching for
All the things we think we want
And never really knowing what we have

The Night The Lights Went Out In NYC by The Ataris

Looking up, Harry watched Ginny enter the room, her eyes going immediately over to where he was.

"You're up?"

"So are you."

Frowning, she glanced over at Ron's sleeping form then sighed, walking over to Harry's bed and sitting down.

"What is it?" he asked.

She looked up at him.

"I heard about Blaise… is it true he's visiting her?"

Harry watched Ginny for a moment then back down at the letter he was reading. "Yeah… it's true…"

"Is Ron-"

"I don't want to talk about Ron," Harry interrupted sharply, his eyes on her again.

Ginny bit her lip and looked down at her hands then at the letter. "Did I bother you?"

"No… It's nothing. Just something from the Ministry," he muttered, crumpling the parchment in his fist and tossing it over in the corner.

Ginny watched him carefully then got up. "Well, I'll just go then," she whispered.

"Ginny."

She turned to him. He stood up and went over to her. "Don't make me wait until this is over…" he whispered.

She looked over to the window, racking her brain for something to say. Harry glanced over at the window as well before reaching out for her face and pulling her closer.

"Don't make me wait," he repeated before kissing her gently. Ginny's eyes fluttered shut as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He continued to kiss her until she pulled away, breathing deeply. For a moment it looked like she wanted to leave then she did something that surprised him. She pulled him to her, burying her face in the crook of his neck, tears running down her face.

"That could be us… That could have been me in that room," she sobbed softly.

Harry realized what she was talking about and pulled her closer, holding her tightly as his gaze fell on Ron.

That could be him…


Hermione frowned as she watched Blaise relay his little problem with Lex to her.

"I never knew you were interested in Muggles," she whispered.

"Muggles and Mudbloods are different things," he responded.

"You're an ass."

"That hurts."

"Good."

Blaise rolled his eyes and stood up. "Why do I waste my time?" he muttered.

"Because you know you like my company," Hermione answered.

"I'd much rather be snogging a Muggle."

"Then go find Lex."

"You're funny."

"Us Mudbloods tend to be."

Blaise turned to her, smirking. He walked over to her bed and sat down on the side. "Since you're in such a good mood, may I enquire why?"

"I'm being released."

Blaise's smirk was suddenly gone. He looked down at her. "What?"

She shifted slightly then looked up at him. "I'm being released…"

"What about my offer?"

"Blaise-"

"Granger!"

"I can't just leave!"

"Well, I can't just let this slide. I gave you an ultimatum and you're chickening out because now you've grown a conscience!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're so willing to sleep with another man, kill your mother, dump your boyfriend and almost kill your best friend but when it comes to leaving the place where it all happens you can't because why? You'll feel guilty for leaving them behind? It's a little late for that, Hermione," Blaise growled.

"For someone who wants so much for me to leave England, you're not doing such a good job of convincing me," Hermione retorted, glaring at him through her tears.

Blaise rolled his eyes, "Will you stop crying! Damn it! I'm so sick of this self-pitying shit! You make the choice, Hermione. Not the Weasley's. Not Harry and definitely not Ron!"

"What going on in here?"

The two turned to see Harry standing there, wary green eyes on Blaise. Blaise glanced over at Hermione then stood up, grabbing his bag.

"Nothing, Potter," he sneered. "Granger was about to give me a back rub in exchange for some real fun, but it looks like you've already booked the bed."

Harry started for Blaise but Hermione got out of bed, grabbing him and glaring at Blaise.

"I think it's time for you to go," she whispered.

Blaise rolled his eyes and started out the door. "Enjoy, Potter," he said over his shoulder.

Harry lunged for him but Hermione stopped him. "Stop. He's not worth it," she whispered.

"What for me, or for you?"

Hermione looked up at him then turned away, letting him go and walking back to her bed. "I'm guessing you found out about my release," she said.

He held up a bag. "Mrs. Weasley and Ginny are outside. I came to give you some cloths," he told her.

"Where's Ron?"

"He's… flying."

Hermione looked up at Harry and took the bag. "I heard he was injured. Ran into a tree," she whispered.

"It was raining."

"He was angry."

"He wasn't trying to kill himself."

"That's not what I said."

"That's what you meant."

"Well, Harry. How many people go out into a thunderstorm, fly around for several hours when they obviously have no control over their broom?"

"He wasn't trying to off himself," Harry muttered, growing increasingly annoyed by Hermione's evasive chatter.

"That's not what I said."

"But it's what you meant," Harry snapped.

Hermione looked away, taking the cloths out and sighing. "You think I'm falling for Blaise don't you."

"I think you're getting too close."

"I don't like Blaise."

"That's what you said about Ron."

Hermione's head snapped up, her eyes blazing.

"Don't start, Harry," she warned.

"No Harry, continue…"

They both turned to see Ron leaning against the door, eyes on Hermione. She puffed up slightly and then looked away. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Hermione…"

"Why can't you two leave me be?!" she screamed. "Don't you think I've been through enough?"

"Well, forgive me for not wanting you to push us away," Harry snapped.

"I'm not pushing anyone away," Hermione shot back.

"Then what the hell are you doing?"

"SHUT UP!"

The two turned back to Ron, shocked. His chest was heaving as he struggled to keep it together. "I just came to say that… I'm sorry," he whispered.

Hermione frowned. "For what?"

"For letting you walk out that door," he whispered before leaving.

Harry turned to Hermione. "I hope you know what you're doing to him," he whispered. "To Ginny."

"What does Ginny have to do with this?"

"That's just it, Hermione. You're not thinking about anyone else. You're just sitting in here plotting with Zabini and ignoring everyone else that actually cares about you!"

"I am not plotting!"

"Stop lying, Hermione! We can all see it in your eyes! You want to get out of here. You want to forget about all of this and you want to leave it all behind," he growled.

"So what if I do…" The defeated tone in her voice made Harry stopped. He looked at her and watched as she stood up and walked over to the window. "What if I do want to leave it all behind? Why should I stay and make him endure this?"

"What about the rest of us?"

Hermione walked over to Harry and took his hands. She looked up at him and a small smile appeared on her face. "You've survived this long… I'm sure the Boy Who Lived can survive without me," she whispered.

Harry snorted. "It's a scary thought," he murmured.

Hermione let out a soft laugh. "Yeah… it is…"

Harry watched her carefully and then pulled her into a hug, kissing her brow and holding her tight. Hermione closed her eyes, not wanting to cry. She had cried too many tears already…


Arriving at the Burrow, Hermione was greeted with the warm smiles and happy greetings of everyone except the one she wanted to see. Hermione sat for dinner beside Harry, trying to enjoy the conversations while trying to ignore the empty seat opposite her and the constricting loneliness she felt at his absence.

"He's outside, if you wanted to know," Harry whispered.

Hermione nodded and excused herself, walking over to the kitchen then out the back door. She looked around and found Ron sitting in the swing set. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to him, leaning on the pole.

"Need company?" she asked.

Ron looked up at her then back at the lake, shrugging. Hermione bit her lip and sat down in one of the swings. They just sat there for a while, both lost in their own pain. Hermione looked around, smiling as she watched the moonlight sparkle off the lake water.

"I've missed being outside," she whispered.

Ron glanced over at her then away. "You have been a bit pale lately," he responded.

There was more silence then Hermione spoke again. "I missed being with you," she murmured.

"You're just lonely."

The bitterness in his voice cut through Hermione and she looked up at him, not knowing what else to say. She watched him for a moment then looked away.

"I'm sorry, too," she whispered.

Ron looked up at her for a moment then decided not to say anything. Let them have this one moment of peace. Let them have this one moment of acceptance.

Tomorrow would be completely different…

A/N: We are sooooo close to the end. I'm not going to post the review answers till the next chapter.

Chapter Tease:

He pulled her to him and kissed her gently. He was about to pull away when she took his face and kept him there, wanting to feel something...