Me: Why don't I own Harry Potter?

My brain:Because J.K. Rowling does duh!

Me:...oh yeah.

Chapter 37: Saying Goodbye

Ron's POV

I hated funerals. I think I have been to as many funerals as I have weddings in my life. I don't remember them all thankfully but I do remember that I hated them. All the quiet and crying and black. It was depressing.

We were sitting near the front close enough to Dumbledore's casket that I could make out the designs. Hermione was to my left. Ginny was to my right. Harry and Parvati was on the other side of Hermione.

I held on to Ginny's hand. I had my arm around Hermione as she buried her face into my shirt and cried. I found myself crying too. I wasn't as close to Dumbledore as Harry was but I did respect him and like him. He was a great man. A great wizard.

A man droned on and on about Dumbledore and his accomplishments. I didn't care to remember those. I wanted to remember the man who used sweets as passwords to his office. The man who everyone knew favored Gryffindor. The man who played a round of wizard chess when he came to visit my home one summer. The man who cared about us kids.

When it was over Ginny walked over to Mum and said that she wanted to go home. Parvati and Padma's parents decided to take the twins home that day. Parvati didn't want to leave Harry, but her parents insisted. Hermione, Harry, and I decided to stay and take the train home tomorrow.

We walked up to the astronomy tower where Harry showed us the locket he and Dumbledore had gotten that night. He handed it to Hermione.

"It's a fake. Open it."

She opened the locked and took out a small piece of paper.

"To the Dark Lord - I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. - R.A.B."

"He weakened himself for nothing." said Harry. "If he hadn't drank that potion he would have been able to defend himself. Then again maybe not. Malfoy had disarmed him and he made no attempts to get his wand back. He just stood there and allowed it to happen. I don't understand."

"Do you think Malfoy would have killed him?" asked Hermione

"No. He was lowering his wand. In the end it was Snape. It was always Snape. All along."

I walked over to them and we stood and watched the sun set over the horizon. It was beautiful and at the same time irritating and haunting.

"I'm not coming back. To school I mean" said Harry.

"Figured that one, mate"I told him.

"I'll write to you two. Let you know where I am as I find these horcruxes."

Hermione and I looked at each other. Then back to Harry as if he was stupid.

"I've always admired your courage Harry, but sometimes you can be very thick" said Hermione with a smile.

"We're coming with you" I said. "Do you really think you can find those bloody things by yourself?"

"You need us Harry".

He looked at us and smiled. He nodded his head.

Then his smile faded.

"Parvati can't come"

"Why not?" asked Hermione. "You know she is going to want to help you"

"I don't want another person I care about in danger. Especially her"

"Well you know she's stubborn" I said. "She's not going to care what you want her to do. She's a lot like Hermione in the way of doing whatever she wants"

Hermione rolled her eyes and punched me in the arm.

" I'll just have to talk to her." said Harry. "Try to convince her to stay here and maybe try to find the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff ones"

"Yeah. She could do that"said Hermione with forced hope for Harry's sake. "We will all do what we can to end this"

Harry smiled at her. He then walked out of the tower saying that he felt like being alone.

Hermione and I continued to look at the sun setting over the lake.

"I never really noticed how beautiful this place is" I said. "I may actually miss it".

Hermione smiled and looped her arm around mine and laid her head on my shoulder. "Awe how sweet. Your emotional range is growing"

"Sod off" I said with a laugh.

"When all this is over, do you think you'll come back? Hermione asked.

I looked down at her and then back towards the lake.

"Would you?"

"Of course. My education is important to me."

"Then I will too"

Hermione looked at me eyes smiling. "Really? You'd come back here for me?"

"Of course. Someone has to be here to make sure you don't starve yourself while studying and to make sure you're getting enough sleep and to-"

She turned me around and started to kiss me. Didn't expect that. I need to sweet talk her more often.

I kissed her back as she played with my hair. I pulled her in as close as I could. I never wanted to let her go. Sometimes I felt as if she was all I had to keep me going and I never wanted to lose her.

"Ron?" She said muffled by my lips

She broke away and I reluctantly let her go.

"We can't. Not yet".

"Why not? We already waited too long as it is. I want to be with you" I pleaded.

"I want to be with you too" Hermione said with a small smile "but we have to be there for Harry."

She had a point. I hate it when she's right.

"Yeah." I said. "For Harry. You're right. Fine. I guess I'll be patient. You're worth the wait"

She smiled and gave me a quick kiss that I seriously wanted to hold onto. Then she took my hand and we walked out of the tower and down the stairs.