We get to see a bit of Harry and Ron in this one! :)

...

Agatha kept Hermione up in bed all the rest of the next day and night. She didn't mind - she was pretty out of it, anyways. Agatha said it was from the shock and the potions taking effect.

Harry and Ron came up and sat with her but she kept asking for Draco, so they sent him up and planned on waiting for her to sober up a bit.

"What's going on with the two of them?" Ron demanded after a bout of silence during which Harry had been peacefully reading the Prophet.

"What d'you mean?" Harry asked, setting aside the paper. He knew Ron was brooding about something, but he figured it had just been Hermione's ill state - worry. He hadn't really thought anything of it.

"Malfoy and Hermione's what I mean," he replied, standing from the chair he'd been seated in, hunched over a plate with his barely touched lunch on it. "They're being awfully friendly, aren't they?"

Harry sighed and set down his paper. "Ron, they've been living together for weeks. Draco's Hermione's bodyguard now. She probably feels safer with him around or something."

"Harry, think with your head!" Ron exploded. "They thought they were gonna be married! They'd probably psyched themselves up for it. Now they've got a whole new relationship."

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, probably. So?"

"So they probably love each other now or something!"

Harry blinked. "So what's the problem here?"

"Hermione's in love with Malfoy!"

"Ron, you've got to drop this. You two aren't together. You're just friends until you do something to change it. And even if you try to change it, you're right, Malfoy and Hermione are really close now and she might not even want to be with you like that. But I trust Hermione, and if she says Malfoy's changed or if she likes him now, then I trust him and I like him."

Ron was stunned. "I had no idea you felt this way."

Harry shrugged and picked up his paper once again. "You're the only one who's stubbornly hanging on to house rivalries, Ron. We're not at Hogwarts anymore. I know back then I was probably the biggest benefactor that you stuck within your house and only within your house when it came to Gryffindor and Slytherin, but seeing so many Slytherins fight on our side when it finally came down to it changed everything. Maybe you should try to see things differently as well."

Ron was silent. Harry decided to give him some time to think over his, if he did say so himself, rather inspiring speech. He stood and headed to the kitchen to see what he could sneak before dinner, bringing his paper with him.

Ron sat down and stood and sat again. He picked up his fork and put it down and picked it up and put it down once more. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair and decided.

Draco had left a few moments before to see if he could get some ingredients for a pain potion he recalled learning about fifth year.

Ron stood for the last time and pushed himself to climb the stairs. He stood in front of the door to Hermione's room and stood for a few moments, listening to Agatha sing softly, sometimes interrupted by requests made to Hermione, such as "Roll over, dear," and "Drink this now."

She was awake, at least for now. He pushed himself to lift his hand, to clench his fist, to knock on the door.

The singing stopped, there were footsteps, and the door was pulled open to reveal Agatha stirring some sort of salve. She smiled fondly and stepped out-of-the-way. "She was just asking about you and Harry. Come on in."

Ron stepped into the room, feeling a bit as if he were in some sort of daze. Hermione's eyes were closed but something about her breathing told Ron that she was awake. He took a few lumbering steps into the room and took the seat beside her bed, where Draco usually sat. It was still warm from the few moments ago when Draco'd left his spot.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open. She smiled. "Ron!" Her voice was tired but it was still Hermione's voice. Hermione hadn't changed. Her feelings had.

Just as Harry's had.

"You came." She smiled. "I've been waiting for you to come and see me. I'm not allowed to move very much. I missed you, Ronald."

He smiled and moved to take her hand. She didn't protest.

"Missed you, too." He ran his free hand through his hair. "Dammit, Hermione, I'm so sorry you got caught up in all of this. I wish there was something I could do."

Hermione shrugged and let her eyes flutter shut. "Just being with me is enough. I need my friends. All of them."

"I tried to come and visit you in the beginning but you were either sleeping or I wasn't allowed in."

Agatha cleared her throat lightly. "Excuse me? I'm going to go and see if Mr. Malfoy needs any help searching for those roots. Mr. Weasley, would you mind putting this over Hermione's wounds? A nice thick layer. And then could you rebind her?"

Hermione blushed to Ron's confusion, but Ron agreed. "Yeah, sure. Easy enough."

Agatha smiled and set the bowl down on the table next to him. "Perfect. Be sure to wash your hands before and after."

Ron nodded and Agatha left the room. Ron washed his hands and then helped Hermione sit up and face the wall. He had to help her out of the nightgown she was in and he found that beneath it she was wrapped completely in bandages, around her chest and up over one shoulder. Besides that she was in only underwear.

Oh. That's why she was blushing.

Ron had never seen Hermione naked...

He told himself that it was just to be a good friend and he began unwrapping her bandages.

Hermione held her blankets in front of her chest as soon as Ron had all the bandages off, though it was difficult because she had to hold up her hair with the other arm. Ron's heart was beating very quickly. He had never touched her bare back, either. He'd never seen this much of her skin. It was very pale. It was soft.

Ron dipped his fingers into the salve and began to slowly rub it into what was left of her wound, starting up at her shoulder and working his way down.

When he'd gotten about mid-back, he had psyched himself up - he was going to do it - he was going to tell her. He was going to tell her that he loved her.

But then the door opened and in came Malfoy and Ron's heart sunk because he knew there was no chance he'd be able to tell her today.

Draco took in the scene before him and Hermione turned her head. Ron saw a large, sleepy grin spread over her face. "Draco."

His lips twitched into what Ron assumed was his version of a smile and he walked towards them. "Hello, Hermione," he said. "Weasley." He greeted. He watched for a few moments more, making both Hermione and Ron feel quite awkward, before he finally said, "Here, Weasley, I can take over. I think Harry was looking for you, anyway."

Ron didn't want to move. He was definitely losing. He hadn't realized how serious this was. Hermione seemed to tense with excitement when Draco said he would take over.

Well. If it made her happy, he supposed it was supposed to make him happy himself.

He wasn't going to give up this fight, though.

He stood and handed the clay bowl filled with the strangely textured salve to Draco, watching out of the corner of his eye as he washed his hands, taking longer than he needed to. Hermione seemed very relaxed under Draco's touch, her head lolling forward a bit. Draco's fingers moved slowly as he continued to cover the wound.

Ron didn't leave, not completely. He stood outside of the door and watched on as Draco finished and washed his hands. Then he found the bandages and began to rewrap Hermione in fresh ones, starting at her shoulder and moving around her breasts and down her torso until he reached the bottom. When he had finished that, he ran his hand down her back and Ron saw Hermione shiver.

Words escaped Draco's lips.

"I love you."

Ron didn't stick around to see Hermione's reaction. He fled, wishing he'd left in the first place. This was bad. This was not what he wanted. He threw up in his bedroom.

This was wrong.

...

Hermione froze. Yes, she had guessed at his feelings, but she never would have guessed that he would act on what he felt.

Now was the time to say something, she knew. Did she love him? Did she?

She wasn't sure. How was she to tell?

"You don't have to love me back," his voice said quietly from the other side of the room. He was wiping off his fingers - so casual. He didn't reveal a stitch of what he felt - pure terror. Fear that she would reject him all together. "I'd rather you didn't lie to make me feel better."

"I..." Hermione shook her head. "I love you, too."

Draco blinked. "What?"

"I do, I love you." Hermione turned to him, revealing that her eyes were filled with tears, then turned back away. "Not strongly. But...there's something there, something stronger than friendship. I'm not sure what to call it exactly."

She didn't hear him walking towards her until he had swooped down and trapped her lips with his. Hermione had never been kissed like this before, not by anyone, and it was perfect.

"Hermione..."

Yes, she thought. Yes.

...

Agatha deemed Hermione safe to go downstairs and join everyone. She was weak but she was the same and it was a relief. She'd missed talking to her friends and taking notes at Order meetings and eating supper with everyone at a big table where they were all facing each other and they could all talk and joke.

Agatha was inducted into the Order and Draco threw a mini tantrum when she didn't have to go through what Draco had when he was inducted.

Hermione held his hand under the table and he calmed down rather quickly, while at the same time Ron's anger and sadness were rising.

It was only a few more days before the attacks began. The Death Eaters found them.

They fought and Hermione begrudgingly hid, knowing that if she were to be hurt she would compromise everything. So she hid and everyone else went out to fight and Hermione cast spells of increased strength and speed and wit and did everything she could do from the dungeon to protect her friends.

...

It was the third attack, 2 months after they'd moved into the ruins, when Draco stumbled into the dungeon midway through the fight, soaked in blood.

Hermione was fully healed now, making it easier for her to rush to his side. She tried to keep her head, but it was hard.

"Where's all of this blood coming from?" she breathed, helping him to lie down.

He winced and grunted, one arm wrapped around Hermione's neck as she lowered him, the other wrapped around his middle.

"Nnghnn..." he moaned. "Here."

Hermione got onto her knees and gently peeled away the blood drenched button-up he had been wearing, revealing a deep sectumsempra.

Hermione racked her brain for the counter-curse.

"Hermione," Draco gasped.

"I can't remember the counter!" Hermione sobbed.

"You know it, Hermione!" Draco exclaimed weakly. He was beginning to convulse a bit and the worry was making Hermione panic more.

"Okay," she whispered. "Okay. Think."

"Hermione!"

"Vulnera Sanentur!" she exclaimed, running her wand along the wound. The blood stopped pouring from his chest, but it didn't close. "Vulnera Sanentur!" The wound knit together, leaving horrible scabbing across his entire chest. "Vulnera Sanentur!" she said one last time for good measure, and Draco was still, his eyes closed.

"...Draco?"

He said nothing, but his eyelids fluttered open. The corners of his lips twitched into a sort of grateful smile and Hermione couldn't contain herself. They hadn't found much time to be alone since she'd become well enough to spend time with the others, and there had only been one or two quick pecks since their first kiss almost a month ago.

Hermione dropped her face to his and she kissed him with all the pent-up passion she'd been feeling.

Draco's strength quickly returned to him, almost, and he pushed himself off of the floor and took Hermione's face in his hands. There was something there that scared Hermione, something powerful behind him. He pushed her back to the floor and was hovering over her, kissing her passionately.

Then he stood. "I've got to get back out there," he said breathlessly, and all Hermione could do was watch him leave, breathing heavily and feeling something strong inside of her. That small feeling of love was growing stronger.

...

The days following consisted of Hermione and Draco sneaking off for Draco's "medical treatment," applying dittany and other potions and ending in kisses before dinner. When they weren't doing "medical attention" they were trying to find hidden corners where they could be together for just a few moments before the next attack or Order meeting.

"Merlin, Hermione," Draco whispered. "I love you so much."

"Hm..." Hermione hummed against his lips. "I love you, too."

Draco stepped back. He seemed nervous. She could see through his poker face because she knew just what his poker face looked like by now. He wore it constantly, but there were signs she could pick out to find what he was feeling. He was sad. "Hermione...I need to tell you something. But before I do..."

Draco reached into his pocket and Hermione had already guessed what he was doing when he knelt down and held out just what she'd been guessing - it was small and plain, but just what she'd told Ginny she would like several years ago - a gold ring with tiny little diamonds sending off flecks of light.

"Will you marry me, Hermione?"

Hermione never thought she'd be one to cry when being proposed to, and yet here she was.

"I know the first time didn't work out very well, and I don't know when we'll get out of here," he continued. "But I asked Kingsley and he says that he'd be able to marry us if you said yes."

All she could do was nod, and Draco didn't give her the chance to say anything on. His lips were on hers in a flash.

When he'd pulled back, he moved to slide the ring on her finger, but Hermione stopped him.

"Wait!" She whispered, and took the chain around her neck with her key. She slid the ring on and had Draco reclasp it. "Just until we've told everyone. I don't know how they're going to take it."

Draco wiped the tears from her face and kissed her again. "Thank Merlin. I thought for sure you'd say no. I heard Ginny talking to you about how crabby I am all the time and thought she might have changed your mind."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sure you're crabby, but I love you so that's okay."

Draco just smiled.

Hermione tucked her hair behind her ears. "So...what did you need to tell me?"

The smile fell and he had to take several deep breaths and start several times, but he eventually said it.

"I have to leave on a mission for the next four months."