"Just give me my mother back," Ron hissed. He felt helpless standing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest with his wand outstretched, but unable to do anything. LeStrange had his mother standing in front of him, holding a knife to her throat with one hand and a wand with his other. Ron's mum made no move to break free as she was still under his control. She would probably push her throat onto his blade if he said the right word. If Ron disarmed LeStrange of his wand, he would kill Molly. If Ron used Expelliarmus to get the knife out of the equation, LeStrange would still have his wand and at this part of the plan he was likely to jump straight to Avada Kedavra.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you want to talk to me, tell me how alike we are. Let my mother go and I'll talk with you."

"You don't believe me, do you? That we're so alike. Oh, Weasley, how can you be so naïve?"

Ron's eyes narrowed at the Death Eater. "Go on then." His teeth were gritted as he hated the idea of playing along, of having to listen to some delusional man's ideas on him. There was no way that he was anything like LeStrange.

"I met Bellatrix on the train to Hogwarts in our first year and I knew instantly that there was something different about her. I can still see her now." A wistful, romantic look was on his face and it made Ron feel quite uncomfortable. "At the Department of Mysteries Battle, did you see her defeat three Aurors in a row and then deflect an attack from the precious Dumbledore? Have you ever known anyone to deflect the amazing Dumbledore's shot?"

After a few long moments Ron realised that LeStrange was actually waiting for an answer. "No. No, I haven't." It had never occurred to him before, but then he had not been present at that part of the battle.

"She was amazing and so powerful. She was destined for greatness, but look at who managed to kill her." LeStrange turned to Molly and silently caused a slash mark to appear on a cheek. A few drops of blood dripped from it and Ron fought his anger and the rash action he wanted to complete. "Some home-maker. No great wizard. No amazing Auror. A mother of too many and husband of a blood-traitor. It still makes my blood boil knowing that someone so weak and trivial ended my wife's life."

"Maybe my mother isn't quite so insignificant then."

"She wasn't able to fight my control, was she?" LeStrange laughed as he knew that Ron had nothing to say as an answer. "Lord Voldemort trusted her. She was the only one who got anywhere near to close with him and all I could do was watch as she sacrificed everything for him. We went to Azkaban for him. Do you know how that made me feel?"

"Second place?"

LeStrange nodded and smiled. "I was always second place to my darling wife. She needed to marry a pure-blood and I was the best option, the most noble with whom to combine her bloodline. I was always aware of that and it made no difference to me. I was content being with her and following her desires. Is your Mudblood worthy enough for you procreate with?"

"What's Hermione got to do with this?"

LeStrange laughed again, becoming increasingly maniacal. "Can you really not see it?" He moved the blade slightly closer to Molly's carotid artery and Ron shook his head, answering him. "I followed Lord Voldemort because I believed in his cause, but I devoted myself to him because of her. My brother and I followed her into battle and I came out better off than he did. I always knew that I was second place to him. Don't you ever feel like that?"

"What?" Ron was adamant with his objection, but then something faltered in his mind. "No, I don't."

"You don't sound too sure about that. What would you do if the Mudblood were killed?"

"Hunt them down and get my revenge."

"And how likely is it that she'd die for the treasured Potter boy. You're second in her heart and you always will be."

Ron knew that it was not true, but he was not in the right place to purposefully anger the man. "I've thought it before, yeah." Ron had moved on a lot since the time when he had felt that strongly.

"So the only difference between us is you still have your beloved whilst mine was murdered at the hands of a Weasley."

"If you say so…"

"Let's do something about that, shall we?"

His eyes narrowed at him, curious as to what he meant as LeStrange began mumbling incoherently when there was a swirl of light in between them and suddenly Hermione appeared from out of nowhere. "Ron," she breathed. It was then that Ron realised that LeStrange had used protective charms to ensure that no one else could see them and that they, somehow, could not see people outside of the protective charms. Hermione's protective charms had never worked that way, but maybe LeStrange and the Carrows were employing more dark magic than she would have. Hermione must have followed them, or LeStrange was able to conjure people from anywhere and Ron doubted that. "I heard-" Hermione stopped as Molly went sprawling to the floor and LeStrange grabbed her by the hair, causing her to drop her outstretched wand. Hermione's scream pierced the air as Molly lay silently on the floor.

Ron stepped forward, his wand pointed at LeStrange and he shouted out, "No!"

"Don't!" LeStrange warned as he moved the knife to Hermione's throat. "I think it only fitting that you're following in my footsteps so you should get to spend the rest of your life without your love. Just like I have to do!"

"You could just die and rot in hell!" Hermione snapped and he responded by pulling her hair tighter and exposing more of her neck. She screamed in pain and Ron winced in response, feeling helpless.

"Silencio!" LeStrange ordered and Hermione's screams vanished despite her open mouth and pained face.

"Let her go." Ron did not even try and hide the pleading tones from his voice. "I am nothing like you. I never have been and never will be. Hurting Hermione or my mother won't turn me into you, it'll just make me want to see you in Azkaban more than I already do." Ron concentrated hard on the spell that would break Molly free although it might not work as he had not started the spell, knowing that even without her wand she would be powerful enough to defeat LeStrange. Ron was not sure if he was strong enough to break LeStrange's hold over Molly, but it was all that he could do. "We're nothing alike. Just because your wife never truly loved you, it won't convince me that I'm you."

LeStrange's eyes narrowed in anger and he growled. He drew up the knife and made to raise it downwards, his eyes and wand still on Ron who could do nothing but stand there. As LeStrange laughed, Ron screamed No and in a flash it all happened. The blade moved through the air and Ron started to move forward. Hermione moved her hands in front of her stomach and used both arms to force her right arm backwards into LeStrange's stomach. Ron took the opportunity and yelled, "Expelliarmus." LeStrange's wand flew to the ground and he stumbled off-balance. He still had control of his knife, but Hermione yanked her hair out of his grasp and kicked him in the shins. She rolled to the side, landing at the base of a tree. Ron ran at LeStrange, tackling him to the floor where he proceeded to punch the man in the face over and over.

He lost count of the punches and only paused when Hermione whispered, "Ron." Glancing over at her, Ron nodded, trying to control his heavy breathing. The man lying on the ground between his legs was bloodied and unconscious. Remaining where he was, Ron watched as Hermione shakily got to her feet and crossed to where his mother lay, pausing to collect her wand from where it had fallen. She knelt next to Molly and cast the counter-charm to LeStrange's Imperius Curse, hoping that it was strong enough to counter-act LeStrange's magic.

"Hermione? What's going on, dear?" She looked about her. "Where are we?"

"It's a long story, Mrs Weasley. Here," she held out her hand to Molly and then helped her to her feet. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes, I think so. I have a bit of a headache and my jaw." She moved her mouth around a bit. "My jaw hurts a bit."

Across the distance, Ron could still make out Hermione blushing. "Are the protective charms counteracted?"

Hermione nodded. "Someone should be here soon and they'll be able to see us."

"Ron?" Molly questioned, moving closer to her son with Hermione holding her arm. "What are you…? Is that Rodolphus LeStrange?"

"He tried to kill you, mum. You and Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Andromeda and Narcissa." Ron glanced down at his bloody knuckles and tried to ignore the pain throbbing in them.

"Ginny? Is she okay? Where is she?"

"We left her in the school, Mrs Weasley. She's okay. We should get back to Harry to see if he needs any help with the Carrows."

"The Carrows? What has been going on?"

"Molly?"

"Mum?" There was a chorus of calls for all three of them and a crowd of people soon arrived. The crowd included all the Weasleys bar Bill and Fleur, some of Hogwarts' teachers and a team of Aurors. Molly, Ron and Hermione turned toward the approaching crowd, Ron stepped away from the still unconscious LeStrange, but he remained close to him and his wand ready. The Weasleys surrounded Molly, hugging her fiercely whilst a team of Aurors moved in Ron's direction.

"Mum, are you okay?" Ginny asked as Ron approached them all.

"Oh, I am now, yes. What happened?"

"The Carrows and LeStrange over there." Arthur nodded his head toward the fallen Death Eater. "Imperiused you and managed to hold captive five others, too."

"Where are the Carrows, Mr Weasley? We left Harry with them?" Hermione reached for Ron's hand and he took it without pause, squeezing hers despite the glimmer of pain it caused in his knuckles.

"They're with Hagrid," said Harry as he made his way out of the denser forest, a smile on his face.

"Harry!" Ginny ran the few little steps and threw herself at her boyfriend, hugging him and almost knocking him off of his feet. "Pleased to see you, too, Gin." Ron could hear the happiness in his friend's voice and the fact that he squeezed her in reply. Harry finally pulled himself away from Ginny, who moved to his side and they kept their hands together. "Oh, whilst I was with Hagrid, some news came from the castle." Everyone turned to him with curious looks on their faces. "I know that you probably all want to enjoy whatever celebrations are still going on, but Bill contacted Headmistress McGonagall."

"Bill?" Molly questioned, breaking away from the others very slightly, but Arthur's hands on her shoulders kept her from moving too far out of his grasp.

"Apparently, Fleur has gone into labour and he thought you might want to get over to Shell Cottage."

Molly's face seemed to fall slightly and she began hopping and dancing around, words unable to exit her mouth. "Oh, oh," she began repeating, causing everyone else to grin at her. "Well," she finally said, "we better get over there." However, she made no attempt to move as she continued to move as if stepping on hot coals. Ron had never seen his mother quite so excited.

"Come along then, dear." Arthur took Molly by the hand and began leading her through the forest with all of their children following except Ron who stayed where he was at Hermione's side.

"Ron?" Ginny questioned, pausing with George at her side as the others continued.

"We'll be along in a bit." She nodded at him and soon disappeared into the immense foliage around them. Without any words, Ron, Hermione and Harry began a slow walk behind the others, leaving LeStrange in the hands of Harry's new work colleagues. "So much for the celebrations, eh?"

"McGonagall was doing her nut about you, Luna and Ginny being missing until they all turned up and explained. She sent the Aurors out immediately and of course nothing could stop the Weasleys."

"I can imagine. All that hard work I put into today." Ron pulled Hermione towards him and put his arm around her shoulder as they continued walking. In return, she snaked her arm around his lower back.

"I wonder if we still have to do all the other public appearances?" Ron questioned. "Or if they'll reschedule today's?"

Harry shrugged. "Hagrid didn't say. Once the girls raised the alarm, Kingsley tried to keep everyone in the Great Hall and calm with McGonagall's help. He sent the Aurors, but Hagrid had already found me and helped me drag the Carrows up toward the school. As soon as they were secure, I headed back in to you guys." There was a long pause until Harry continued. "So, what happened out here with you two and LeStrange? I mean, he looks pretty beat up."

"He tried to convince Ron that they had things in common." Her voice was a whisper and Ron questioned if Hermione believed the Death Eater's words. He could not deny that there were possible similarities between himself and LeStrange. The links between them were not strong enough to lodge within his mind; Ron had made peace with many of his older insecurities. He knew that he was first in Hermione's heart and he had no doubts concerning his motives for any of the decisions he had made concerning her or fighting the war. The similarities LeStrange spoke of existed with a much younger and naïve Ron, not the man he had become.

"Spoke a load of bullshit, that wanker."

"Ronald!" Despite her tone, Hermione squeezed him slightly with the arm which was around her waist. They soon reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest and the three of them paused, taking in the sight before them. A few lights could be seen, illuminating Hagrid's hut, behind which stood the magnificently lit up Hogwarts. To Ron it signified stability, safety and the essence of magic. Standing there after the day the three of them had had, Ron could almost see an aura of magic around the entire building. Then Hermione spoke with a quiet voice. "Do you… do you think it's all over now?"

Her hopeful eyes met Ron's before he glanced at Harry who nodded. "Yeah, I reckon so."

"I won't rest until I track down the remaining Death Eaters."

"Just don't be in a rush to make a new destiny, Harry," Hermione responded. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone. Tonight showed that."

Harry nodded. "We all did well." Before Harry started to walk off towards the castle he quickly leaned over and kissed Hermione on top of her head as a thanks. Neither Ron nor Hermione followed.

"We'll catch up with you, mate."

Harry turned, smiled and nodded at his friends and Ron and Hermione watched him as he got smaller and smaller. They then turned to each other and it was Hermione who spoke first. "I heard everything LeStrange said in the forest. He'd made you guys protected from sight, but he either forgot or failed to hide your voices. None of it was true." She shook her head almost violently and Ron placed his hand on her cheek to still it.

"I know. Maybe I used to believe some of that, but not anymore. What did they…? Before we found you." Ron had never been very good with words, however Hermione knew him and knew what it was he trying to say. Every night when she awoke, he would promise her that he would never let anything or anyone hurt her ever again yet LeStrange and the Carrows had taken her from right under his nose. They had hurt her and he had not been able to prevent it. He had stood there, watching as the Carrows had used Crucio on his girlfriend, sister and friends.

She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips, Ron responded instantly. "Don't blame yourself," she requested after breaking the kiss. He rested his forehead on hers, trying to believe her. "You came to my rescue, Ron. You stopped them from ever hurting me again." Despite her kind words, Ron still could not help the feelings of having let her down. "You're my hero, Ron."

"It is over, isn't it?" His own question was a whisper, the fear evident.

She nodded against his head. "We can just live our lives now. You and me, forever."

He kissed her again, pulling her body closer to his. When he finally came up for air, he whispered, "Good. Now, let's go catch up with mum and my new niece."

Smiling, Hermione took his hand and they began the short journey back to the castle and onwards to Shell Cottage, their future ahead of them.