Chapter 21

"Ron, you really should get some sleep. You haven't been back to Hogwarts in days" Harry said as he walked through the hospital wing. It had been 3 days since the battle with Voldermort.

Hermione had been severely injured and had yet to regain consciousness. Ron had not left her side at the hospital bed. He thought she had died and it had terrified him more than he ever could have imagined. The pain he felt when she went limp in his arms and her breathing became shallow was indescribable.

But the Medi-wizards at St. Mungo's had fought to save her, fortunately, Dumbledore had reached help just in time.

"I'm fine. I've slept abit" Ron replied gruffly.

Harry knew this was a lie. Ron had not spent more than 10 minutes away from Hermione.

"You should still get back, even for a couple of hours. I know Sarah wants to see you" Harry sat down in the seat on the other side of her bed.

"I forgot about her" Ron admitted guiltily as he plonked back down onto his seat. "What if she wakes up while I'm not here, what if something happens and I'm not …." He couldn't even bring himself to say it.

"Nothing will happen, and if she wakes up, I'll send for you straight away" Harry assured him, "Look, Hermione would tell you the same thing, do you want her to be mad at you when she wakes up?"

Ron rolled his eyes.

"That one won't work this time Harry. I'm not leaving her" he snapped.

"Ok, fine, but your girlfriend is sat in the common room right now, wondering if you still want to be with her or not. At least go and show her that you're fine. She's been worried sick".

Ron let out a deep breath and stood up. He knew that Harry was right. He hadn't been fair in not letting her know how he was but Hermione was more important than that.

"Fine, but if she wakes up…"

"I'll let her know that you've been here the whole time and haven't left her side." Harry smiled.

Ron nodded and thanked Harry, bending over Hermione and planting a light kiss on her cheek.

"I'll see you soon" he whispered, then left the hospital wing.

Harry watched Ron leave the room then turned back to Hermione and held her hand, stroking his thumb over her dry knuckles.

"Please wake up Mione. We need you. He needs you."

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Sarah and Ginny sat alone in the common room; Ginny had been trying to cheer Sarah up. She hadn't seen Ron in 3 days. She knew that he was ok, and she knew that naturally, he'd want to make sure that Hermione was ok, but he hadn't even tried to talk to her.

Ginny had ordered Harry to relieve Ron from hospital duty and force him to come back to Hogwarts.

"Do you remember our first trip to Hogsmeade? When Fred and George…"

"Hey Sarah, Ginny" Ron cut in.

"Is Hermione awake?" Sarah asked quickly, fearing the worst.

Ron opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it again and shook his head.

"Sorry" she whispered.

"Is there any change at least?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"No. she's still sleeping. Harry's with her now. He said he'd let me … us know if there was".

Ginny nodded.

"Ok, well, I'm gonna go to bed. I'll see you in the morning" she hugged Sarah, then Ron, wishing him luck as she squeezed him tightly.

Ron and Sarah stood just looking at one another, neither sure of what to say, both too scared to speak first. Finally, Ron broke the silence.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner."

"It's ok, I understand. You're ok though? I mean, you know, are you ok?" She said nervously.

"Yeah, I'm fine. A few bruises, but nothing big".

Sarah nodded, biting down on her bottom lip.

"Do you want to sit down?" she asked as she sat down on the couch, holding her hand out, waiting for him to join her. He finally did, but still remained silent. She couldn't handle it any longer. She had to say something, anything, but the silence was killing her.

"So, Snape gave us an impossible assignment. 5 feet on the differences between a vampire and a werewolf. He only gave us two days to do it as well."

"I bet he gives the Slytherin's an extension. They've got a match this weekend" Ron replied dismissively.

"I'm glad you came back"

"Sarah…" Ron tried to cut in, sucking in a very deep breath.

"No, I know why you didn't, and I'm not mad, you should be there with her. I just … I needed to know that you were alright, I wanted to talk to you." Her voice was shaky now.

"Yeah, I know. I guess we really need to talk about some stuff don't we?" Sarah looked away, not wanting Ron to see the pain in her eyes.

"We don't have to do this now though. I mean, we can wait until morning" he told her.

"You might not be here in the morning!" Sarah replied, wincing at the bitterness in her own voice. "We should talk now, before you have to go again". A single tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. "Merlin, I am so sorry. I don't want to be like this, but I can't help it. I'm sorry that she's in the hospital, but I need you here with me, and I know that you won't be" she cried regretfully, letting the tears flow freely down her face.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Ron didn't know what to say. He knew that Sarah wasn't a bad person, she deserved to have the things she wanted, but he could never be the one to give them to her.

"Did anything happen between you two while we were together?" It was a valid question, and she had every right to ask it. He had to tell her the truth; she deserved his honest answer at the very least.

"Yes. I don't even know how it happened. It just did" he admitted.

Sarah nodded slowly.

"Was it just the once?" she was almost too scared to ask it.

"No" Ron shook his head "She kissed me in the forest, before she passed out. But please don't blame her. We thought she was going to… I thought I was going to lose her."

"Something happened the night she broke up with Jake didn't it?" She had regained her composure now; she just wanted to know the truth.

"Yes. But it was only ever kissing. I swear it never went any further than that" He insisted.

"And when you did kiss, who kissed who?"

"The first time, I kissed her. The night she broke up with him, I don't know. One minute we were talking, the next we were…, you know. I'm so sorry Sarah. I never meant for any of this to happen, and I really did want things to work out for us".

Sarah raised one hand to stop Ron talking.

"It's ok. It's not as if I didn't know what I was getting myself into". She stood up; ready to make a quick exit so she wouldn't have to deal with the awkwardness of breaking up.

"I'm sorry about Hermione. I'm praying for her to get through this. And when she wakes up, tell her that I can't wait to study with her again." She smiled, "Take care of her Ron. And don't be afraid to go for it. She loves you too."

Ron nodded and smiled.

"We can still be friends though, right?" he asked hopefully.

"I think Hermione will see to it that we are". Sarah chuckled.

"Yeah" Ron sniggered.

"Goodnight Ron"

"Night Sarah". And then she left him sitting in the common room on his own. After a little while, he decided that he wasn't going to get much sleep, so he quickly had a shower, picked up some clean clothes and some of Hermione's school books, then headed off to Umbridge's office to floo back to the hospital.

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Within 15 minutes, Ron was back in the hospital and walking towards Hermione's room. Harry was still sitting by her side, holding her hand.

"Hey, any change?" Ron asked as he sat down in his original chair.

Harry shook his head.

"No. I thought you'd be gone longer than that" Harry said.

"I couldn't sleep, thought you might need some company" he lied.

"Umhmmm" Harry replied, not believing his friend. "Did you speak to Sarah?"

"Yeah" Ron sighed. "It was horrible"

"Did she cry? Was she mad?" Harry asked.

"She cried a little, but she wasn't mad. She was actually really nice. She knows about all the times I kissed Hermione"

"All the times you kissed Hermione?" Harry thought that the only time they kissed while Ron was with Sarah was in the forest.

"Yeah. Before she went to see Krum. And after she broke up with Jake. But Sarah told me to go for it though. She didn't shout or anything. I think I'd prefer it if she had" Ron admitted.

"Well, I think a game of chess will cheer you up a bit" Harry suggested.

"Isn't it a bit too noisy though?" Ron asked frowning.

Harry shrugged.

"Maybe it'll wake sleepy head here up".

They both grinned and set up the chess board on the table in the corner of Hermione's private hospital room.

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After 2 hours of playing, and 3 intense games in which Harry almost beat Ron twice, they decided to quit and sit back with Hermione.

As Ron sat down, he picked up his bag from the chair and threw it down on the floor. A couple of the books he had picked up for Hermione earlier fell out. Harry spotted immediately and grinned wickedly.

"You are so whipped!" he exclaimed.

Ron blushed.

"I'm not the only one. I saw Ginny's homework in your bag yesterday" he retorted.

"Well, she's got a lot of homework and I haven't got any, so I'm just helping her out" Harry tried unsuccessfully as an excuse. "Anyway, you'd do the same for her" he teased, motioning to Hermione. Because of the ordeal the trio had gone through, Dumbledore had allowed them a break from classes.

"No I would not!" Ron cried.

"Oh really?" Harry asked, still grinning.

Ron was about to answer when a small, dry voice croaked;

"He hardly does his own, let alone anyone else's!"

They both snapped their heads towards Hermione. Harry called for the Medi-Witch straight away, whereas Ron practically pounced on Hermione.

"Are you ok? How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? Can I get you anything?" he bombarded her with questions.

She stopped him finally and answered all his questions.

"Yes, fine, a bit groggy and sore, and no thank you" she answered smiling up at him as he stroked her forehead.

"I'm sorry. Were we too noisy?" he asked, worried that she'd be annoyed that they were so loud during chess.

"No. I've been awake for the last hour; I just wanted to watch you both. Good game by the way Harry" she smiled as Harry walked back into the room with the Medi-Witch.

"Hey… I beat him!" Ron exclaimed offended.

"But I had a good game!" Harry teased, earning him an angry glare from Ron.

The Medi-Witch ushered the two boys quickly out of the room so she could examine her. Shortly after, she came back out and declared that Hermione was ok, but she needed her rest so only one visitor was allowed until her Parents got there.

"Go ahead. I'll go back to Hogwarts and let them know she's awake. Tell her I'll see her later" Harry told his red haired best friend.

"What do I say to her Harry?" Ron asked looking down, "I mean, after everything that happened that night… and I'm not with Sarah anymore".

Harry grinned. He knew that Ron would panic when it came to this.

"You've been her best friend for 7 years, you'll find something to talk about" he patted Ron on the shoulder encouragingly. Ron sighed, but nodded determinedly and turned to go back in to see Hermione.

"Hello" Hermione greeted shyly when Ron walked over to her bed.

"Hello" he replied just as shyly. "Erm, Ha… Harry's gone back to school. He said he'll see you later" Ron stammered.

"You seem nervous" Hermione noticed, smiling.

"Hmmm" Ron sighed softly, "A little" he admitted. It was a couple of minutes before they spoke again.

"Erm, Ron. I'm sorry about what happened, and I just want you to know that Sarah won't hear anything about it".

"She knows". Ron shook his head.

Hermione's jaw dropped in shock.

"OH!" she looked down, biting her lip in worry.

"Don't worry. She's fine. We talked about things earlier."

"Is everything ok?" she asked kindly.

"Yeah, but we'll talk about it later" he breathed. "Are you sure you're ok?".

"Yes. I'll have to stay here for a few more days, but I'm ok. So you brought my books then?" Ron chuckled.

"Yeah. I thought you might need them. 3 days without any studying, you must be going mental" he smirked.

Hermione glared at him, trying to keep the smile that was pulling at her lips from showing. She completely forgot her attempt when his smirk turned into that lop-sided grin that melted her heart.

"It's good to have you back!" he said seriously.

"It was a close one wasn't it!" she trembled. Ron looked away; he didn't want her to see the pain reflected in his eyes.

"Ron" Hermione pressed.

"I thought I lost you" he replied shakily.

"I know. Me too. How are you both? Is Harry ok?"

"Yeah he's fine. You know Harry. He just wants to find all the Horcruxes so we never have to go through this again" he noticed her pained expression at his words and looked at her questioningly.

"I know where one of them is" she answered his silent question, remembering her conversation with Malfoy.

"You do? Where?"

Hermione shook her head. "I can't tell you". Ron looked hurt at this.

"Oh no, I mean, I will tell you, but I need to tell Harry first. There are a few things that he needs to know about his family". She said urgently.

"That he had an aunt and a cousin that he never knew about. We know. We saw what happened in the classroom and to Krum".

Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head, suppressing a sob. "God, poor Viktor" she said, her voice breaking and tears flooding down her cheeks.

Ron got up and sat on the bed next to her, pulling her into a hug. He continued to hold her until she cried all she needed to. And then he held her some more, more to convince himself that she was really there.

He was still holding her when the Grangers arrived. He pulled away from her and gently kissed her cheek, promising that he'd see her later.

On his way out, her parents stopped him. Mr Granger shook his hand and Mrs Granger gave him a quick hug to thank him for taking care of their daughter.

When he got back to Hogwarts, he decided to go straight up to bed. He really was tired and he hadn't slept properly for days. He had no doubt that now Hermione was awake, he'd be able to get a full nights sleep.

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Ron definitely needed his sleep. This didn't stop Harry from being surprised that his best friend was still asleep at visiting hours the next day. Harry hadn't even been able to get anything from him when he tried to wake him up. So he went to St Mungos with Ginny instead.

When they arrived, Hermione was sitting up in bed with a fair selection of books scattered over her bed.

"Even in the hospital she can't stop studying" Joked Ginny as they appeared in the doorway.

"Yeah, you can thank your dear brother for that" Harry winked at Hermione as he said it.

"But I bet he wouldn't do Sarah's homework would he" Harry and Ginny looked confused at this.

"What?" Hermione asked noticing their confusion.

"Well, he wouldn't do her homework after they…"

"Erm, so your parents were here yesterday then?" Harry coughed and nudged Ginny.

"Yes" Hermione drawled, "After they what?".

Ginny looked at Harry wide eyed and shrugged, "Well I didn't know he didn't tell her did I!" She exclaimed.

Hermione was starting to get annoyed now.

"Tell me what Ginny. What's going on?".

Harry looked sternly at his girlfriend, then realising he had lost, whined defeated.

"They broke up. Ron told Sarah what happened between you two, or rather she asked and he answered, but she was going to finish it anyway".

Hermione sat back in her bed. "Why didn't he tell me? I would have been understanding. Does he think he can't talk to me about things like that?" she stressed in disbelief.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Ok, look Hermione. It's not that he feels he can't talk to you about it. It's just… ok, you woke up yesterday and it's not as if he can just come out and say it"

"What Harry is trying to say is that the last time you saw him, you thought you were going to die and you were both declaring your undying love for each other. You know what he's like"

Ginny helped out her struggling boyfriend.

"I guess it isn't the best way to start a conversation is it" Hermione stated.

They sat for a while talking over that night and what had happened. Hermione told them what Draco had said about Harry being a Horcrux, which of course, he didn't take too well. Ginny almost had to wrestle him to the ground in order to stop him from leaving the hospital.

"Ginny, get off me. We have to deal with this. I have to see Dumbledore"

"Harry, you don't have to do this now. Just relax." Ginny urged.

"So that's why they were trying to get me in that pentagram thing then" Harry said bitterly.

"Yes. But as Jake was Voldermorts son, you weren't needed".

Harry huffed. "But now that Jake's dead, they're going to come after me again".

Harry, you and Ron killed 4 Death Eaters, Jake killed one and the Malfoy's are in Azkaban. It's going to be a while before they get out" Hermione tried to reassure him.

"So in the meantime, I have to carry on walking around with a piece of him inside of me. That's just great Hermione" he yelled.

"Harry, keep your voice down and don't yell at her, it's not her fault. And stop being so over dramatic. You've lived with it for 17 years, so don't act as if anything has changed" Ginny growled angrily at him.

Hermione was amazed that Ginny could Harry down like that. She had seen Mrs Weasley talk to Mr Weasley like that and briefly wondered if Ron would be like that. She couldn't imagine him backing down like that, and in truth, she didn't want him to. One of the things she loved so dearly about him was the way he challenged her. Maybe now that he and Sarah had broken up, she'd finally get her chance to find out.

"Hermione... are you ok?" Harry asked, sounding concerned.

"Hmmm? Oh yes, I'm fine. Just thinking" she replied.

"About what? I was calling you for ages"

"Who do you think she was thinking about?" Ginny giggled.

Hermione glared at her young friend.

"Shouldn't you be getting back to school now?" she asked in mock annoyance.

Ginny laughed again.

"Yeah, we should. Come on Harry. We'll see you in a couple of days or so" Ginny said as she hugged Hermione goodnight.

"You're not coming tomorrow?" Hermione pouted.

"Nope, it's Ron's turn" Harry smiled.

"On his own?" Hermione looked panicked. "Harry, you have to come as well. Or send Neville or Luna, or… Lavender Brown even, just please don't send Ron on his own"

Ginny rolled her eyes.

"They can't enough of each other when they're seeing someone else, but as soon as they're both single," Harry retorted.

"Mione, you'll be fine, just be yourself" Ginny said, slapping Harry's arm for being cheeky.

"That's what I'm afraid of. What if he decides that he doesn't like me?" Ginny stifled a laugh.

"He's had since third year to realise whether he likes you or not. If he was going to change his mind, trust me he would have done by now."

"Gee, Thanks Harry" Hermione retorted sarcastically.

"Oh you know what I mean. We'll see you soon" and then he hugged her and pulled Ginny out of the room.

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"So what time are we going to see Hermione tonight?" Ron asked as he and Harry made their way to Defence Against Dark Arts class.

"We're not going… you are" Harry replied slyly.

"But I can't go on my own" Ron cried.

"Ron, you spent most of your time there alone"

"Yeah, but that was when she was asleep. I'll have to talk to her now." Harry ignored him once they got to the classroom and sat down in their usual seats.

"Harry, you have to come… Please?" he begged.

"She wants to see you, and you've got to talk to her sometime. You're going on your own and you are going to sort this out." Harry told him, letting Ron that that was final.

The day passed very quickly again for Ron. Before he knew it, he was being dragged down to Umbridge's Office to the floo network. He had spent most of the day begging and pleading for someone to go with him. He had even asked Sarah to go with him. However, Ginny had already spoken to her and warned her that he might do that, so she declined his offer, no matter how much she wanted to visit Hermione.

He had even contemplated hiding somewhere for the night. But Ginny was his sister and she knew exactly what he was thinking of doing and she had met him outside his last class.

And so here he was, standing in the fireplace. Harry wasn't even allowed to let Ron have the floo powder, just in case Ron said somewhere else.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked grinning.

"NO!" replied Ron glumly.

"Good". Harry threw the powder at Ron's feet and said loud and clear; "St Mungos Hospital".

The last thing Ron saw before he was whirled away was Harry and Ginny smirking evilly, he made a silent promise to himself that he'd get them back later for making him do this.

A/N- And you thought I had killed Hermione! There's one more chapter left, and I just wanted to thank everyone again for giving this story a chance and reading it. All your reviews have been unbelievably appreciated. I love you all.