Hermione woke up with a start. Every part of her body was in pain. Next to her Ron was laying on the bed asleep. Panicked, she said

"Nooooo. What happened?"

Madam Pomfrey heard her. She came running out of the office. "Oh goodness you're awake. I have been waiting for you to wait for so long."

"What happened!? Where is Harry? What happened to Ron!? Is everyone okay!?"

"I shall not answer all your questions. First you have to take this potion. Drink up. Now Mr. Weasley was hit by a curse and brains attacked him. I have been tending him too. I could barely get him along. Have to give him a potion to make him go to sleep."

" But what about others? And Harry? "

" Miss granger, not now. You need to relax. You can know everything in the morning. ". She gave her a sleeping draught and hermione went back to sleep.

She woke up next day to find Ron already awake, taking his potions.

" Thank God you're awake. I have been waiting for you to wake for so long. "

" Ron what happened? "

" I don't know myself. I was attacked by brains. Couldn't remember much. But...err..."

"What!?"

"Madam Pomfrey told me that err Sirius..." said Ron in a small quiet voice.

"What Sirius!? Nooo! Nooo! No Ron it can't be true." tears started falling off hermione face. She was in pain but the pain inside her was killing it.

"What's happening!? Oh good you're awake! I have to give you a potion. You will be... Mr. Weasley you told her. I told you she doesn't need to be told. She needs rest. You have to take 12 potions daily...what are you doing Mr. Weasley. Go back to your bed. This is not allowed in hospital wing."

Ron had gotten off his bed and went to hug hermione tightly. She was crying continuously and kepg saying Nooo Nooo.

" Oh Ron! Harry! He must be blaming himself!"

"What else can he do. He shouldn't have gone to the ministry. Oh poor Harry! Now he lost the closest thing to his family" he had tears in his eyes too. He took the potion from Madam Pomfrey hand who was still fussing over them, made hermione drink the potion.

Hermione was still hanging on Ron and crying on his shoulder. He put an arm around her. When she stopped crying he said

"I'm glad you're okay. I was so worried. You weren't waking up."

"I don't remember much. Me, Neville and Harry were running and one of the death Eaters started shouting about us. I put silencing charm on him and Harry did the freezing one. Just before going down he sent the spell towards me. And I don't remember anything. "

" Me and Ginny and Luma took the wrong turn and they hit me with some spell. I don't know, everything just went funny. I don't remember much. I did saw Harry. He and Neville were fighting till the end. I was later attacked by the brains. Look" and Ron showed his hands. She touched him and turned to look in his eyes.

"That's very brave of you Ron." giving him a smile. She paused for a moment and said

"Oh Ron! What are we going to do now! How are we going to talk to Harry! And there is a Prophecy on him and V-Voldemort? I knew! I knew there must be something. Why would someone try to kill someone as a baby."

"I reckon not to talk about it to him Hermione! He doesn't need reminding that he lost his Godfather due to himself. Least we could do is make it normal for him"

"Normal! When will our lives be normal Ron!" hermione said sadly.

Ron came close to her and kissed her on her cheek. Hermione felt like electricity ran through her body. What just happened. Shocked and surprised she looked up at him. He grinned and said "Oh come on cheer up hermione! What's the fun with a normal life" He sniggered and went back to his bed.

Hermione was still lost in the thought of what happened. How Ron always surprises her and makes her melt her heart. She knew now her heart is set for Ron. She couldn't hold it any longer. She will have to make her move. Not now, not yet. But soon. Luna is right, I better makey move before he assumes the worse. She had a feeling now that Ron likes her too more than a friend. They had moments throughout the year. Others have started noticing too.

Just then the wing doors opened. Ginny, Neville and Luna rushed to them. Harry came in walking. Ron and Hermione exchanged a look, making an understanding to not let Harry feel anything.

"How are you both!?" asked Ginny.

"Better! How are you all?" said hermione.

"Well got my broke ankle fixed. Neville here had his nose doubled in size. Madam Pomfrey reduced it. Luna got stunned but is okay."

Just then Madam Pomfrey came and handed out potions to both Ron and Hermione.

"Are they okay?" said Harry

"They will be" giving Harry a smile.

"What did me hit me with?" said hermione.

"Don't know, some purple streak of light!" said Neville.

"Yea he couldn't say the incantation aloud as you did a silencing spell on him" said Harry.

"Thankfully he couldn't say aloud. Quite enough damage to be going on with!" said Madam Pomfrey.

She was now applying something on Ron's forearms.

"Will these scars go away?" said Harry.

"I hope so." said Ron.

"I don't think so. Scars usually don't go away. Look at Harry's scar." said Neville.

She smiled again at Harry and said "you know thoughts can leave deeper scars than anything else."

Behind her Ron gave Harry a look which said that Madam Pomfrey had lost it too. Then she went away and they started discussing what happened.

"I had to pick hermione up and run. They were coming after us and Harry. My wand broke and my nose was swollen so much I couldn't even say the spell correctly." said Neville.

"Yea we found Harry and Neville and you, but Bellatrix found us. We started sealing the door when they hit Luna." said Ginny.

"And they were coming towards us, when you Ron touched the brain and attacked you." said Neville.

"Why the hell I touched the brain?" said Ron shaking his head.

"You were being funny. We could hardly get you along." said Luna and smiled.

"Yea and then I got distracted by it and I think i then got hit by the curse. I don't remember anything after that." said Ginny.

"Yeah and then Harry ran off. He thought he could protect us all as they were after him and Prophecy." Ron and Hermione exchanged a look.

"But saw him and ran after him. He was cornered by all of them. And they caught me too and I told him not to give it to him. But as he was about to give a bunch of people came in. I think I saw Mad-eye and Lupin." said Neville.

"Woahhh. Order came!" said Ron.

"yes. Kingsley was there too. And tonks and Sirius-" said Harry. Ron and hermione exchanged another look.

"But where was Dumbledore?" said hermione trying to avoid the topic of Sirius.

"Yeah he came late. Me and Harry were heading back to you guys when Malfoys dad got hold of us. And and... Well...Harry threw the Prophecy at me and well I kept in the pocket. And well it broke." said Neville.

"It broke!?" said hermione

"Well yeah. It was screaming and all but we couldn't hear it." said Neville.

"So nobody heard it! Ooooh V-Voldemort must be furious with his Death Eaters." said Hermione.

"Yea months of work down the drain." said Ron but then he looked up at Harry who wasn't speaking at all. He knew he was blaming everything on himself.

"Well I'm glad all of you aren't hurt." said Harry. Nobody said anything. They didn't want to hurt Harry. Then Ginny said.

"We put up a good fight Harry. See we caught alot of Death Eaters. And the Ministry also finally got to know the Hes Back. It was all worth it!"

"So the Minstry knew Voldemort is back. How!?" said Hermione.

"Well when Dumbledore came, he sort of caught afew Death Eaters and well that Bellatrix and..." said Neville casting a look at Harry. And then further said "Sirius were duelling. And well..."

"So what happened after THAT!?" said Ron.

"Well Harry ran after her" said Neville.

"What!?" said hermione in a scared voice.

"Yes and Dumbledore went after him." said Neville casting another look at Harry.

"They all saw Voldemort just before he was leaving. Fudge saw it himself." said Harry.

They all felt silent. Then Harry got up and said "Im going back to the dormitory. I just got my Firebolt back. Just want to make sure it's safe and all." and he left.

"He is still not talking to us. He is so quiet." said Ginny.

"Is it because of his friend Sirius!?" asked Neville.

"Errr he's Godfather to Harry Neville." said Ginny. Neville eyes went round. He was in shock.

"Poor Harry! He lost his parents and now his Godfather too. But atleast he have us!" said Luna with a smile.

"I'm going after him. To make sure he is okay." said Ginny. Neville and Luna also bade goodbyes.

"That Bellatrix!" said Ron after everyone left. "Wish I could kill her!"

"Ron! Don't become a murderer because of her." said Hermione

"I could you know. Taking Sirius away. Hurting Harry more than anything." said Ron.

"Im scared for him Ron. He hardly talked to us."

"Hermione we shouldn't. Last time also he told himself. Let it wait."

"But he isn't grieving Ron. He needs to talk to someone."

"Let it wait. Let him figure out himself."

.

.

Late at night Ron woke up with noise. Hermione was laying down on the floor.

"Hermione! You okay!? What happened!?"

"Oh err, I wanted to use the bathroom and as I climbed down, it pained so much that I fell. I didnt want to wake Madam Pomfrey. She had been working so hard to get us back."

"Yeah but you could have wake me up!" said Ron.

"What!? To-to ask you to take-take me to bathroom?" said hermione blushing.

"Errr I mean I could help you out." with a surprise he picked Hermione up under her legs and back and started walking towards the bathroom. Hermione shocked to see him being so comfortable picking her up and in such a a romantic manner. Like how a guy usually picks a girl after the wedding to take her to the room. Except well they weren't getting married and were going to the bathroom. She kept looking at him in surprise throughout this journey. She went inside the bathroom and came out ready to be picked up by her Ron. As he picked her up Madam Pomfrey came in

"What are you both doing in the middle of night outside the bathroom!"

"Errr she wanted to go and couldn't walk so..."

"So you could have called me. I do not tolerate this kind of behavior inside the wing. Do whatever you want on the grounds or castle but not here."

Ron and Hermione smiled at each other.

"Errr I will just put her back." said Ron.

"But Mr Weasley your own scars need healing. Now look what you did, one of it is bleeding now" said Madam Pomfrey coming towards him.

"Oh Ron! You should have said. I think I will manage." Ron hurriedly put her back on bed before anyone can make any fuss. Madam Pomfrey came over to tend him.

Hermione went lost in her own thoughts. He surprises her with these gestures. He didn't bother for his own scars. Always put her above anyone. Luna was right. Maybe he only notices me and worries and cares for me only. He would protect her above himself. She was falling in love with Ron. She couldn't help it. He has taken over her now. She knew for sure now she will make her move. She won't wait for him to make it. Maybe he is as scared as she is. But one has to take the step. Her feelings have grown over the year and she felt the need to have the physical intimacy. She no longer want to pretend. She want it to happen.

Meanwhile Ron after being tended by Madam Pomfrey also lay down and went into his own thoughts. She was right. I could have called her but he wanted to hold Hermione in his arms. Why!? He wanted to touch her. Feel her close. He even kissed her on cheeks and enjoyed it. But what does she feel. She never minded when I kissed her. Now when I picked her up. Was she-she also feeling this!? But why would she like someone like me. She is better off with someone with Viktor. Or maybe Harry. She deserves them. Why would she pick him. But what if she did pick him? What do I have that they don't. It was too much of guesswork. He wouldn't risk his friendship. It's better this way only. He shouldn't get his hopes up and hold on to it.

.

.

"We'll see you soon, mate," said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.

"Really soon, Harry," said Hermione earnestly. "We promise."

As Harry left, Hermione turned to Ron and said "Oh I hope he stays okay!"

"Yeah, mum was saying we will be able to get him away soon. But you're coming over. Right!?"

"Yes! Hopefully. I will convince my parents. Let me know when Harry comes. Then I will join."

"Take care Hermione. See you soon!" he said with a smile. Hermione rushed to him and gave him a big hug. Just then Mrs. Granger came smiling and said "Ready sweetheart!?" she moved away from Ron and nodded to her mother.

"Your mom invited Hermione over already. I expect you will be seeing her soon." said Mrs. Granger. Ron smiled at her shyly and nodded too.

"Bye Ron" said Hermione, turning and smiling to herself. Her mom had noticed it. And they left the King Cross Station.