(A/N: Ok, I'm back again. Time for the next chappie. This chappie may be a bit OC, and I apologize for that. It may also be a bit sentimental. There may be bits which I haven't really explained very well in the past chapters, but I'll try to fill in some blank spots with dialog, description, or an A/N hear or there. Ok, onwards with the chappie! Oh, yeah. As some of my readers may have already figured out, I have decided to NOT write that Ron can feel Hermione's pain, but he will only know what she's going through, and vice versa (for the people who don't know what vice versa means, it means the other way around.) I hope I didn't cause too much confusion!) Oh, I would also like to say that you guys might want to go back and read chapter 4 (or the one titled House of Love), for I've made a small change. I'm not saying what it is, but you'll figure it out.

Disclaimer: I needed to write another because I use a small piece of a movie (I won't say the title until the end, for it will give away A LOT that will come in this chapter) for this chapter. Hopefully, you all will figure out what part (hint hint: Think Mandy Moore…) the quote thing is in.)

Flashback:

'Ron… I'm…' she was cut off by the Death Eater grabbing her roughly, pulling her back up by her right arm. She didn't care anymore. She barely felt the pain. All that was crossing her mind right now were thoughts about her miss-carried baby. Her child was gone, and it was this Death Eater's fault. She got a sudden burst of energy. She whipped around and smacked the Death Eater with her shackles, knocking him out. She preformed a quick charm that would turn any object into a magical key that opens anything, with just her eyes (A/N: ok, so maybe this can't really happen, but for the sake of the story, let's just say it can.) on a small piece of rock. She maneuvered it with her eyes into the lock on the shackles and got out of them.

'Ron! Are you still there?'

'Yeah, 'Mione. Are you ok?'

'Yes, but the baby…'

'I know, 'Mione. It'll be ok. We'll get you out.'

'Not a problem, Ron.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean that I just did some rather clever magic, if I do say so myself, and now I'm on my way out. I'm not going to be able to appariate. I'm too tired. I'll hide myself until I'm rested, the appariate back to the Burrow.'

'Mione, are you sure you're ok?'

'No, Ron. I'm sure in bloody hell not! My baby just DIED! All because of that stupid Death Eater.'

'Mione…'

'Ronald…'

'Mione, I'm so proud of you…'

'Thanks. Now I got to go for now. In the process of escaping.'

'Ok, Hermione. I love you.'

'Love you too. Bye.'

'Bye.'

She ran for what she thought must have been two miles into a heavily forested area that she thought she might have recognized. She collapsed on the ground and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

…

"Ok, well, do you remember two years ago when we found a solid gold locket?" Harry said, now calmed down a bit.

"The one no one could seem to open? Yes," Ginny replied to him.

"Yeah, I do too," Ron told them.

"That was Slytherin's locket. It's one of Voldemort's- oh, GET A GRIP!" Harry added, for both Ron and Ginny had shivered at his name. "-Horcruxes."

"So you're saying…" Ron began.

"That the Horcrux that Dumbledore died getting too was here all along," Harry said, now looking a bit malicious.

"But the question is," Ginny said.

"Where is it?" Ron finished.

"I've got your answer there." Harry said.

"Kreacher," they said simultaneously.

"Right. Kreacher, bring me that locket we found two years ago."

"Yes Master Potter," Kreacher said, bowing once again. "The Potter boy orders Kreacher around like he is a slave. Kreacher will get him back. Oh yes he will."

"Just go get it, you useless lump of bat droppings." Ron said in agitation.

…

"Ron, are you ok? You're rather quiet."

He just held up a hand for silence. He had a worried expression on his face. Then he started tearing up.

"Ginny, something's wrong with Hermione. I know that face." Harry whispered to her.

"What do you think it is?"

"I don't know, but what ever it is, it can't be good. It has to be really, really bad, or else Ron wouldn't be crying."

Suddenly Ron got a blazing look on his face. Blazing as in Hermione must be trying to escape. It looked like Ron wanted to kill someone, which knowing him, was probably true.

"Harry, Hermione is hurt. Bad."

"What is it?" Ginny asked. Harry looked the same.

"She hasn't had much food, so she can barely walk, her knees are bloodied from falling, her arm's broken, and she lost the baby. All because of a Death Eater. But there is one good thing. Hermione's escaping now. She told me that she was too weak to appariate, so she's going to rest for now, then appariate back home."

"Ron, how bad is it?" Ginny asked.

"I just told you."

"No, I mean, how bad is your heart?"

"A little bit shattered."

Harry asked, "Ron, would you like to take your broom and floo back to the Burrow to wait for her?"

"No, guys, I have to help you over here. Besides, I can't really go back with out you guys."

"Yes, you can, Ron. She's your wife-to-be; she needs you right now. Go home and wait for her," Ginny told him.

"Ok. I'll see you guys later," Ron said.

"See you." Harry and Ginny said simultaneously.

Ron grabbed his broom and went to the fireplace. He took some plain gray powder, threw it in the fire, and said "The Burrow!" loudly and clearly. (A/N: I didn't know if he would say "Home" or "The Burrow" so I just chose the one that most described his actual home.) He was engulfed in emerald flames, and was gone.

Chapter 11

Sorrowful Returns and Happy Endings

Hermione slept for most of the day. When she finally woke up, the sun was setting. It took her a minute to remember what had happened earlier that day, but when she finally did, she broke down, crying her eyes out.

'Hermione?' asked a timid voice in her head.

'Yes, Ron?' Hermione answered, still tearing up a bit.

'Oh, good. You're awake. Are you coming back?'

'I will in a bit. I just need to gain my composure.'

'Every thing will be ok, Hermione. We can get through this together. It will just take time.'

'Yes… yes… We'll move on from this terrible tragedy in time. Just one last thing, Ron.'

'Yes?'

'Be strong for me, like you never were before. Please.'

'Don't worry, love. Our bickering days are in the past. I'll be there for you. Just say the word.'

'Thank you, Ron. It means so much.'

'Whenever you're ready to come back, I'll be waiting with a bowl of nice and hot chicken soup and bread, courtesy of Mum.'

'Thank you, Ron. I'm coming home. See you in a few seconds.'

'Ok, love. See you.'

Hermione closed off the link, and with a loud CRACK! she appariated out.

Back at the Burrow, Ron was sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of hot soup and fresh bread, as promised. He hadn't eaten since he had come back. He didn't think himself able until he was sure Hermione was ok. He had just finished his conversation (telepathically, of course) with Hermione, and was waiting patiently for her homecoming, which should be any second.

CRACK!

The familiar sound of someone appariating or disappariating, came from Ron's living room.

He rushed into the room and saw Hermione standing there, eyes red from crying, hair stringy and oily from lack of shower. Ron ran forward and embraced her in a tight hug. She laid her head on his shoulder, and started to cry again.

"Ron," she said, voice lathered with tears. "I was so scared. So, so scared."

"Shush, I'm hear now." He said, comfortingly.

She continued to cry as Ron lead her into the kitchen, where he sat her down in front of the soup and bread. He scooted his chair over to hers and placed his arm around her shoulders while she ate slowly, embracing the warmth that the food and his touch gave her.

When she finished, Ron carefully helped her up and led her up the stairs the bathroom. "Here now. Go take a shower, and after, you can go to sleep. I'll stay with you in the night. I promise."

Hermione turned to him. "You know, while I was there, I sang about you. You, such a beautiful disaster," she said, slightly smiling.

Ron's ears turned red, but nevertheless, he smiled to her. "And you, such a sweet intellectual."

"Do you know what intellectual means?"

"Not really, but it has something to do with being smart."

"Close enough." She looked up at him. He leaned down and gave her a soft, sweet little peck on the lips.

"Go, take your shower. I'll go make sure the beds are made. Harry and Ginny are at the Headquarters, and I don't expect that they'll be back anytime soon."

"Ok, but why are they at the Headquarters?"

"I'll explain later. No, Harry should explain. And Ginny. They're the ones that figured it out."

"Ok," she smiled one last time at Ron, and slipped behind the bathroom door.

Ron walked into his and Harry's room, careful to tidy up a bit as he did. He made the beds and attempted to conjure up a chintz armchair, but only got a simple padded desk chair. 'It'll do,' he thought. He went into Hermione and Ginny's room and grabbed "The Standard Book of Spells" Grade seven. He flipped to the Anti-Magic charms.

"Moneta Evenasta!" he said the spell carefully, while pointing his wand at the walls of the bedroom. They glowed neon green (as the book said they should) and then returned to their regular color. 'That should keep her safe.'

Ron went down to the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee. He didn't want to go to sleep. He would watch Hermione all night and make sure she was safe at all times. He didn't want to loose her a second time. No, not he doesn't want. He WON'T loose her again.

He walked back up the stairs to his and Harry's room to find Hermione lying asleep on his bed. He smiled to himself and walked over to her. He gave her a light kiss on the forehead and whispered, ever so softly, "Goodnight Hermione, you sleep like an angel, with no burdens on her shoulders." She stirred a bit at his touch, but stayed asleep, involuntarily smiling.

Ron walked over and sat in his chair, sipping his coffee.

"Is this one it?" Ginny asked Harry.

"No… How about this one?" he replied.

"No. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ALL NIGHT!" Ginny screamed, waking up Sirius's mother's portrait.

"FILTHY HALF-BREEDS! MUDBLOODS AND BLOODTRAITORS INHABITING THE HOME OF MY FATHERS!"

"OH DAMNIT! SORRY HARRY!" Ginny yelled over the shouts of the maddened portrait.

"Let's go shut her up!" Harry yelled.

"Yes, lets!"

They ran into the foyer and, with a lot of strength, shut the curtains over the portrait.

"Now, Ginny. What were you saying?" Harry gasped, for he was out of breath.

"Oh yes. I was saying that this was going to take all night. We're most definitely going to be here for a while, so why don't we play a game. You know, make it more interesting."

"Like what kind of game?" Harry asked, suspiciously.

"Oh, I don't know… how about… every time one of us picks up a bad locket, the other gets to ask a question of any kind."

"Sounds fun. Let's play, but let's just make this clear; you have to answer any question that the I ask, and the same goes for me, ok?"

"Sure. Ok, I'll pick a locket, since you picked the last one." Ginny reached blindly into the pile of lockets in front of her. She chose one. Silver. "Nope, it's not that one. Ask away."

"Ok… simple questions first… when did you first realize you loved me?"

"I developed a crush on you the summer before my first year, remember that catastrophe?" they both laugh. "I've loved you ever since you saved my life in my first year. Now it's your turn."

"Ok, let's see." He reaches blindly into the pile and comes out with a locket. It broke at his touch. "Well, that's DEFFINATELY not it. Ask me a question."

"Hmmmmm… Ok, Mr. Potter, what is your greatest fear?"

"It used to be fear itself, but that may've changed. I suppose, now, it would be having you say no."

Ginny's heart gave a jolt. "Say no to what?"

Harry grinned mischievously. "Your turn."

Ginny reached into the pile, and surfaced with a small, gold locket. She tried opening it. When she did, it opened and a surprisingly large amount of black liquid came out. When it touched Ginny's fingers, it burnt the skin like acid. "Harry… DO SOMETHING!"

"What?" Harry asked frantically.

"ANYTHING! Just hurry up!"

Harry tried to think. 'Um… let's see. Cleaning spell. What's a cleaning spell? I'm stupid! THE cleaning spell!' "SCORIGIFY!" he shouted, pointing his wand at the black liquid. It disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Thanks Harry. My hand hurts now. Oh, wait, since that was DEFINATLY not the locket, you get to ask your question."

"Don't you want me to figure out what that was, and heal your hand?"

"No, it didn't do enough damage. It was only a potion gone wrong. They can turn to acid if they're done wrong. Didn't you know that?"

"No…"

"Well now you do. Ask your question."

"Ok, but no interruptions!"

"Fine," she replied, with a small smile playing across her porcelain skin.

"Ok then," he gulped. 'Here it goes, he thought.' "Do you love me?"

"Yes you know that."

"Would you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Will you marry me?"

Ginny's eyes started welling with tears. She smiled and slowly nodded her head. Harry reached into his pocket and his hand came out enclosed around something. He held it out to Ginny and told her to open his hand. She did, and a magnificent gold ring plated with two sky blue crystals surrounding a single diamond floated out of his hand and onto her left hand ring finger.

"Oh Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, embracing him as she did.

Harry pulled his head slightly away from hers and looked down upon the beautiful angelic red head's face. She looked up at him and he leaned down and gave her the most wonderful kiss. A kiss that sealed their love. A kiss that would mean more than anything in her world. A kiss that made her feel like if she would die at that very moment, she would be perfectly content. They broke away and sat back on the floor, Ginny's thin figure in his lap. She reached forwards and grabbed a heavy gold locket and examined it. She let out a gasp of surprise, and then dropped it.

"Ginny, love, what is it?" Harry asked worriedly.

"This is the locket. Harry, we found it."

(A/N: ok, if anyone can tell me the movie that the quote came from (when Harry asked Ginny if she loved him until she says 'Oh Harry!'), I'll dedicate the next chapter to them. This is a first come first serve deal, so yea. Oh, let me know if you all would want me to read one of your stories! I need more things to read, and I don't like searching, because it takes to long. I figure that if you all read my stories, I should have the decency to read yours. So yeah! Just let me know!)