He breathed in and out several times, deeply, trying to prepare himself for what comes next. But, he couldn't hesitate for long. There was a large group of people looking at him expectantly. He nodded to himself and stepped forward. However, before he could begin, he was interrupted.
"All due respect, Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall began. "but I have lived and worked at this castle for decades now. I see know reason for you to bear the burden of leading the defense of this castle when I am in the most qualified position to do just that." It made a lot of sense. He couldn't deny that. But, she wasn't the only one with logical thinking.
"And, all due respect to you too Professor, but I know more about what's coming. I've explored this castle with Harry and Hermione more than you, likely, ever have. I have a map that can track every single person who comes and goes from this castle and I am the only person left in the room who knows exactly what we're trying to achieve. There are things at play in this war that none of you understand, and I don't have time to explain it to you." He maintained eye contact with her throughout his rebuttal.
He couldn't hesitate for much longer, though. He knew that he was an unlikely leader in this scenario. He knew that he needed to prove himself. He knew that the people before him would not have any true faith in his leadership skills if he was anything but firm, confident and assertive. He'd learnt that from his two best friends.
"Now, the first thing we need to do is establish the strongest defences we possibly can. Professor Flitwick." The Charms teacher emerged from the crowd, trepidatiously awaiting instructions. "I need you to take..." He looked around to see who would be most useful for this. "... Professor Slughorn, my mum and my dad and tell them the exact spells needed to create the strongest magical fortification around the castle. You should cast the enchantments from outside the front gates. Mum, dad, Slughorn; you each go to the top of the North Tower, the Astronomy Tower or the Clock tower and do the same. They're facing in each point of the compass so, hopefully, all of your enchantments, combined, should form the strongest shield. Now, go!" he barked. The four of them glanced at each other before nodding at him and marching out of the hall.
"OK, now we just need to split off into groups and position ourselves at the easiest points of entry to the castle. Obviously, we want a group by the front gates, overlooking the grounds. Remus, I want you to lead a group to the boathouse. They could find a way across the lake.
"Hagrid. Take a group to your hut. Get inside and put some protective enchantments around it. Maybe if anyone gets in near your place, you and a group can take them by surprise.
"Kingsley. I need you at the clock tower courtyard. Take a group, and Fred and George, split them between you and whoever went up the clock tower and defend that place from the ground and the tower itself.
"Parvati. Take some people and join whoever's up the North Tower.
"Professor Sprout. Take a group, including Neville, to the greenhouses. They can get there quite simply from the grounds, as well as the bridge, and you guys can, surely, use some stuff you've got there as defense, and even offense if and when it comes to it. I remember the pain of the mandrakes.
"Bill. Take Percy and a few Seventh years and join whoever's at the Astronomy Tower. It's the one that's most out in the open and accessible. Between us all, we should have the castle's weakest spots covered. Keep groups to around 15 to 20. We aren't high on numbers.
"Everyone! This is going to be intense. We don't know exactly how many people are coming. But, the advantage we do have... They are coming to us. So, be ready. Have each other's backs. Lay traps. Don't feel any need to fight fair. They won't. Fred, George. Tell me you have stuff we can use?"
"Well, we weren't exactly going to come for a fight without them, were we?" Fred pointed out
"Good. Pass what you've got around. Seamus, if you get a chance, sabotage the bridge or something. Don't let them cross it. Preferably, wait until they're on it and take them down with it. Professor Binns? Are you here?"
"Did somebody call for me?" the dead History Professor glided through the wall, more alert than anyone had ever seen him.
"Yes. Do you think you could get the ghosts to help? Cause distractions, scare them a bit when they're here?"
"We'll do what we can." He began gliding away.
"Oh and get the Bloody Baron to make sure Peeves is getting stuck in too!" Ron yelled out before the Professor got out of earshot. He turned back to the crowd. "Right, group leaders, get your groups together and go! Professor McGonagall, with me." He felt a little odd ordering his Professors about but he needed to maintain his authoritative position if this was going to work. She approached him and looked ready to listen.
"Look, you were right." he began. "You've been at the castle longer than I have. Are there any more safety precautions available to us that can help?"
"Well, I've animated all of the suits of armour and mobile gargoyles to provide extra protection." she answered.
"That won't hold them for long." he whined in response.
"Hogwarts has never been fully equipped to face such a threat as this!" she defended.
"I know." he acknowledged, grimly. "It's just, in light of everything, I'd have thought Dumbledore might've had something in the works to make the castle at least a little more battle ready."
"Yes, I can't disagree with you there, Ronald. While he was a brilliant wizard, he might not have been as wise as he usually seemed. I do recall him regaling some of the staff about his more foolhardy nature as a youth. Honestly, he sounded a lot like Harry, and his father for that matter."
"I suppose we'll just have to make do then" he accepted.
"I suppose so. You know, you've impressed me, Ronald. I wasn't sure if leading like this would be something you'd be up to. But, you've proved me wrong, so far." He smiled at the Professor, briefly. He couldn't get distracted at this crucial moment. Groups of people started to exit the room, heading for where he had sent them.
"Hagrid!" he yelled, just before the gamekeeper left earshot. "If you can, lure some of them towards the whomping willow, couldn't hurt to have that thing join in the fight, eh?" Hagrid grinned at this and nodded, turning away, again, promptly.
Ron then turned to inspect what was left of the force for him to fight with at the front. There was about 25 or 30 of them. It must have been the biggest of the groups. He was relieved. He had no doubt that this would be where the majority of the Death Eater forces would hit. But, there was something else that needed attending to.
"Professor Sinistra, Professor Trelawney. Could you two go and help with the evacuation. Come back as soon as everyone underage is into the Room of Requirement. Make sure the doors are shut before you leave them." They both nodded and sprinted out. His eyes then met Luna's. He surged forward to have some kind of physical comfort from her.
Their hands met and gripped one another. He didn't want to send her somewhere else, but there were the last people in the castle that needed to be warned.
"Luna, do you know how to get into the kitchens?" She looked at him, curiously.
"Yes, why?"
"I need you to go in there and warn the house elves. Tell them that they either need to evacuate or come and help fight. Make sure they know they have a choice. They don't need to fight, but if they don't, they cannot stay here." he requested earnestly.
"Of course, right away." She raised herself in her toes and kissed him on the cheek before disappearing out of the Hall. He wanted to take a moment to ruminate in the sensation of having been kissed by her, however fleetingly and not on the lips it may have been. But, he couldn't. This was not a time for pining over her, but for preparing to fight.
He and McGonagall led their group out into the grounds, putting themselves in good positions for the attack. Flitwick was already there, putting the finishing touches to his enchantments to protect the castle. He finished and turned back, joining the rest of the group.
"That shield is nearly impenetrable now. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't actually manage to break through at all." he asserted with an assured nod.
"Don't get too confident Professor." Ron interjected. "You don't know the extent of what he is capable of. You-Kno..." He sighed, resigning himself to the knowledge that avoiding the name was useless. He took a deep breath and continued. "V... Voldemort... has power you could hardly comprehend. Even without the Elder wand."
"Excuse me?!" the Ravenclaw head spurted. "The Elder wand? That's rubbish! That thing is a myth; a fairytale. Don't spout such nonsense Weasley. This is a serious thing we're about to face."
"I am being serious, Professor. The Elder wand is real. And he has it. He stole it from Dumbledore's grave."
"What?" McGonagall contributed. "He robbed the Headmaster's grave? Do you also mean to tell me that Professor Dumbledore had the Elder wand this whole time?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yup. I'm pretty sure he won it off Grindelwald back in the forties." McGonagall was aghast.
He knew there would be a bit of a wait now, so, he extracted the map from is pocket and opened it up and muttered the words of activation. He laid it on the ground, fully extended, and crouched down to inspect it. He saw Luna in the kitchens with the House elves and he saw all of the others exactly where he had sent them. Then, he caught sight of Harry and Hermione.
They were sprinting away from Ravenclaw tower. He wondered if they had found the Diadem there, or at least some information that led to the location of it. He then realised the path they were on. It was towards the Room of Requirement.
Of course! However long it's been lost, the Room of Requirement is where people who are the most familiar with Hogwarts hide things. And, if Voldemort knew Hogwarts as well as he thought he did, and did indeed take the Diadem as one of his Horcruxes, where better to hide it.
Then, his eyes bulged. There were three dots following the dots that were his two best friends. The names by those dots were Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Draco Malfoy. He was incensed. But Sinistra and Trelawney were there, ushering away all of those underage. He looked over to double check, but no. They were on their way back already. He couldn't just tell them to go back, that would waste time. He did the only thing he could think of. Oh, he prayed this would work.
"Kreacher!" he exclaimed. After a moment or two, the house elf appeared.
"Master Weasley." he said, bowing low.
"Kreacher, hi. Look, I know you have no obligation towards me. I know I have no right to ask this of you. But Harry and Hermione are currently trying to finish what your Master Regulus started. Although, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle are following them and I think they want to stop them. I was hoping you'd be able to stop that happening. Harry and Hermione need to get this done and I don't want those three to get anywhere near them. Again, I know I have no right to ask... "
"I will stop them, Master Weasley." At Ron's wide eyes, he explained. "Master Harry, and his two friends have been kind to Kreacher. And, if Master Regulus wanted it to be so, it shall be so." He bowed one last time before apparating again. Ron looked down again to look at Malfoy's dot. In front of it, a dot with Kreacher's name on appeared and the Slytherins trio scampered away, Kreacher hot on their heels. Ron had to stifle a laugh at the image of the bullies of Hogwarts running away, screaming, from an angry house elf.
However, he didn't stay amused for long. A massive, echoing thud occurred above him. He looked up to witness their shield crumbling under the weight of a spell that he could only assume was from Voldemort himself.
"Oh Merlin." Flitwick squeaked. The shield was falling apart, disintegrating like it was nothing. Voldemort's power, combined with that of the Elder wand, seemed unstoppable. Ron was terrified he might end up meeting the Dark Lord himself in battle.
From the corner of his eye, he saw McGonagall turn around and wave her wand in a fairly complicated movement. Moments later, a large group of the suits of armour, that she had animated, marched through the front gates, past them, and lined up at the edge of where the shield was fading. He knew they wouldn't last long, but he was thankful for the extra line of defense before them. He felt like a coward at that notion, but comforted himself with the thought that no one would want to be on the front lines. He definitely didn't, but he needed to be, so here he was.
The last of the protective enchantments disappeared and the sound of cheering coming from the edges of the grounds reached his ears, along with the ominous drumbeat of their running. The first thing he saw was a giant and its humungous club. There were even a couple of trolls coming up behind it. The giant got closer and closer and, when it got within 50 yards of the armoured battalion, it slammed the club down, taking out the entire middle section of the group. The rest of the suits or armour stumbled a little before preparing themselves for battle.
The trolls tries to take out the other suits but they became more active and sliced at the trolls' legs, flooring them quite quickly. After a few moments, they were even able to take down the giant. It landed, face first, with an almighty thud, shaking the ground.
Then, the Death Eaters came into view. Ron recognised a couple of the ones at the front, including Dolohov and the Snatcher who had taken him, Harry, Hermione and Dean to Malfoy Manor. One of the ones he didn't recognise flicked her wand, raising every suit of armour before her into the air and propelled them at Ron and his compatriots.
Before he could say anything, McGonagall stepped forward, flicked her wand and, almost instantly, the suits were transfigured into a murder of crows. Those crows changed direction and flew straight for the Death Eaters. They grabbed, nipped and stabbed at the Death Eaters with their claws and beaks. Several wizards and witches were downed immediately. Ron could see blood spurting out of some of their eyes or their necks. He was suddenly horrified by the reality of what this was about to be.
Some of the crows were destroyed by Death Eaters and the majority of the group made it through. But, they weren't 'out of the woods' yet. Ron was the first to send an Expulso at the group. A large explosion occurred in the centre of the herd approaching them. A dozen or more Death Eaters were, literally, blown away and some were simply scarred or knocked over. The others that stood with Ron started to copy him and countless more explosions occurred, killing dozens more Death Eaters and downing even more.
Ron caught sight of the familiar Snatcher on the ground, wide eyed but with no emotion or life in them. His breathing became shaky. People were dying already. He knew that it was one of the bad guys but it was still worse than he had ever imagined. The feeling of being responsible for someone's death. Then, something happened that made him feel even worse.
A flash of green flew past him and hit one of the Sixth years of the group. She was dead before she hit the ground. In fact, she hit the wall before she hit the ground, and he heard a sickening snap and, seeing her body on the floor, he could tell that it had been her spine. Even though she was dead, the fact that her body had been broken further just made it worse. And he didn't even know her name.
Fury rose up in his chest and he yelled in anger. It was not a word, just a primal scream that came before a tirade of curses and jinxes he sent into the group of Death Eaters that were getting gradually closer. There weren't as many as there had been approaching before. The numbers had dwindled and he was feeling more confident.
It was a full blown battle now. Bits of brick were falling from the castle, some of them big enough to become good defensive positions. None of those who had run in on foot from the front had made it into the castle yet. A giant threw a large rock from a great distance but it was transfigured into a large group of knives that were then redirected at the invaders, taking down many, including the giant.
Ron turned to see who had managed it and saw Kreacher, stood in the gateway to the entrance hall, his hand raised high and Luna stood behind him. They then surged forward to enter the fight. Luna stopped beside Ron, behind one of the large bits of fallen debris and started fighting with him. But after a few moments, she yelped. She cast a shield charm behind him and he heard it deflect something and then a thump in the gateway.
He turned and saw a death eater on the floor in the gateway. They had got inside from one of the other ways. He briefly despaired that someone in the other groups, or maybe an entire group, had been killed. He turned back and saw that there weren't many more people heading at them from the front so turned to Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, have you got this?!"
"Yes, go!" He nodded to her, grabbed Luna's hand and bolted inside, Kreacher following them. They turned a few corners, getting nearer to the greenhouses, and came across some death eaters that had been put down by an assortment of plants. The vines
were tangled around the bodies, clearly having strangled them. He recognised them as Devil's Snare.
"Careful." he said to Luna. "Don't get too close to those vines. They're alive and won't differentiate between us and them." She nodded and edged by the wall with him. They made it past and found themselves at the Greenhouses. A couple of students were on the floor, eyes bland. Sprout was hiding under a table, her leg severely injured while Neville and a few others were casting curses and lobbing, what seemed to be, young Devil's Snare, by magic.
They got stuck in. They fired curses and jinxes at anyone they didn't remotely recognise coming towards them. At one point, Ron got hit in the leg by a particularly strong stinging jinx and Luna got stunned. In his anger, Ron dared to use Sectumsempra on the one who cast them as Kreacher renovated Luna. He decided he never wanted to use the spell again. If was exactly as horrific as Harry had described.
Once they were all back on their feet, they surged forward, pushing the remaining Death Eaters back.
"Thanks Ron!" Neville said, breathless.
"No problem." he responded, his eyes trained on the collapsed wall that led to out onto the grounds. That must have been how they got in. "Neville, find a way to block that gap! Don't let anyone else get in that way." He then, making sure Luna and Kreacher were on his tail, ran through the Greenhouse yard and out into the Training Grounds. From there, he could see nearly all of the towers he had sent people to.
The Clock Tower was a wreck. The North Tower was mostly intact but still in the midst of battle. The Astronomy Tower was empty, but he could hear the battle raging on in the corridors below it.
Then, completely surprising him, Harry and Hermione emerged onto the Training grounds and were headed out into the main grounds. They saw Ron, Luna and Kreacher and changed course to talk to them.
"Hey, how's it going out here?" Harry asked.
"As well as can be expected. The Diadem?" Ron replied.
"Destroyed." Hermione stated succinctly.
"Good. What's next?"
"The snake." Harry replied. Ron was a little confused. "Voldemort's snake, Nagini. She's the last one and I think I know where they are. We need to get to the Whomping Willow and down the passageway."
"OK." Ron nodded seriously. "Follow us. There might still be a quicker way." He led them back the way he had came and was relieved to see that Neville hadn't managed the close the gap yet. He slowed before going out, checking that he coast was clear before bolting out of the hole in the wall and heading straight for the famed tree.
They got closer, only around the corner, but they could hear battling. They all rested on the mound of grass and peered round to see the situation. Hagrid and his group were mid battle and there were several death eaters that were only just out of reach of the Willow's branches. He knew he couldn't get them near enough without them being caught.
Thankfully, he was able to catch Hagrid's eye and gesture go him to move the fighting away from the tree. Hagrid nodded and, recklessly, just charged at the wizards by the tree. He ran faster than Ron had ever seen him run, so fast that the people in his way couldn't fire a spell quick enough so just jumped out of the way. He then chased them away from the tree. Ron had to stop himself from laughing at the sight of it.
"Kreacher." he called, turning back to look at the others. "Can you apparate to that knot at the base of the willow and push on it? That'll stop it moving so Harry and Hermione can get through." Kreacher nodded and did exactly that.
"Thank you, Ron. Now, get back up there." Harry said, patting him on the arm.
"Be careful, Ron." Hermione said, pulling him in for a brief hug. Then, they disappeared under the Willow. He made sure that they ran off before the thing woke up again.
They caught back up with the battle but it didn't seem to be going brilliantly. The Death Eaters simply had the greater numbers. He, Luna and Kreacher fought their way through, back towards the castle, Kreacher making a much bigger dent in the enemy forces than either of them.
That's when the spiders appeared from the forest. Everyone turned to see the source of the noise and everyone was terrified. Death Eaters and Hogwarts students alike fired at the Acromantulas. However, Hagrid surged forward shouting "Don't 'urt 'em!!!" but he got too close and, without Aragog to protect him, he was swarmed by the spiders and dragged back to the forest.
"HAGRID!!!" Ron screamed. He started to sprint to his friend's aid but was caught mid stride by his brother, Charlie.
"No! Ron, go back. There's nothing you can do for Hagrid! Get back in the Castle! You can still help everyone else!" he yelled. Ron could feel the tears trailing his cheeks, but turned away anyway, after a moment. His heart broke and he let a sob or too escape as the overwhelming nature of what was happening hit him.
Then, from behind him, Luna took a tight hold of his hand. He looked back at her and took a deep breath in. She was, miraculously, able to centre and focus him again. He turned forward with renewed determination and marched back into the frey.
They ran through the halls, seeing the extensive wreckage that was being caused and how much the groups had been spread out since. But, no one was on their own. Everyone had at least one person watching their back. He was so relieved to see it. He cursed and transfigured and stunned at anyone who threatened him or his school. But, it was only a few minutes before the whole of Scotland, probably, heard Voldemort order his troops to retreat. But, terrifyingly, he also stated that Harry had an hour to meet him in the Forbidden Forest so no one else would die for him.
He had to find Harry and make sure he didn't.
So, he sent Luna and Kreacher to get everyone to convene in the Great Hall, and to bring any wounded or... fatalities. He couldn't bring himself to say dead. He, himself, went back to the Whomping Willow, repeating those orders to anyone he passed.
He made it to the Willow just as Harry and Hermione were exiting the passageway. They met in the middle and Ron didn't even bother saying hello.
"You're not going out there, are you?" he insisted.
"No, he's not." Hermione replied, firmly. Harry just looked at her, despairingly, but then looked at Ron and nodded.
"OK, good. So, what happened at the shack?"
"Umm... The snake is protected by some kind of forcefield. And, the Elder wand wasn't working properly for him before, but he thinks it will now." Harry explained.
"Why? What's changed?"
"He's killed the guy he believed it truly belonged to." Hermione pointed out.
"Which would be?"
"Snape." Harry told him, a little subdued.
"OK, well, I won't exactly be mourning for him. You?" However, after Ron had said this, Harry's expression didn't change but his fist clenched a little more. It looked like he was holding a vial of something Ron couldn't quite make out. Judging by the look on his friends face, he decided not to inquire. "Right, well, everyone's meeting in the Great Hall. How about we go and join them, eh?" They simply nodded and Ron led them back.
He wasn't ready for what he found when they got there.
From what it looked like, there were about 25 people dead on their side. They had passed several bodies of Death Eaters, but all of the dead that had fought with them had been brought back, as Ron had requested. His heart broke a little bit more with every face he saw, which, unbelievably, included Professor Flitwick.
But, then he saw his family. The majority of them were huddled together, looking at something on the floor. That was when he noticed the absence. He couldn't see Fred.
His stomach dropped, heavy with dread, and he accelerated towards his family. Ginny was the first to see him. Her eyes were drowning, her cheeks red with tears. She broke off from the group and collided with Ron in a fierce hug. He couldn't hug her back. He needed to see first.
He managed to extract himself from Ginny's desperate embrace, vaguely aware of it being transferred to Hermione, and broke through the group. He fell to his knees. The tears barely hesitated to break through. The sight of his brother broke him. He crawled forward, almost on top of his brothers corpse as he wailed in the grief. He pressed his forehead against his cheek and just sobbed, loudly.
He was one of many in the room. His parents were sobbing, all of his siblings were sobbing, Fleur was sobbing so it was Remus he approached him, tearing him away from his brother's body.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, shhhh." he said as he embraced Ron, a comforting hand placed on his head, rubbing slowly. Ron could hear the shake in his voice though. He was then vaguely aware of Tonks approaching from behind Remus. She whispered something to him and Remus let go of Ron. But, almost immediately, there were another pair of arms holding him tightly. He looked up and met Luna's sympathetic gaze. There were tears in her eyes too, but her entire focus was on him.
"I'm so sorry, Ron." she said, pulling him closer, pressing his forehead against hers. They stayed like that for a while. Sobbing in each other's arms, just like many others in the room were. She was able to calm him, slowly, but more than anyone else would've been able to. He tightened his hold on her.
The moment couldn't last forever, though. Once he was a little less hysterical, he heard his name being called, the voice sounding a bit panicky.
"Ron?" He turned to see Hermione frantically looking around the room. "Where's Harry?" His stomach dropped more. He stood up faster than he had thought himself capable in the previous moment, scanning the room in a similar manner.
"I don't know."
"No." he heard his mother mutter. "He hasn't, has he? He can't have done. He wouldn't do that to us. Not now. Not after this!" she said, getting increasingly loud, which morphed into more sobs.
"No, I don't think he has. Yet." Ron assured her. He approached Hermione, whispering so they weren't overheard. "He had something in his hand before. What was it?" She looked at him for moment, before realising what he meant.
"It was weird. They were Snape's tears, but they weren't normal tears. They were a, sort of, glistening white colour. I didn't recognise it but Harry seemed to." she explained. Ron's eyebrows furrowed in his utter discombobulation.
"What? His tears?" He thought deeply about what that could be, but came up with nothing. He and Hermione just stared at each other as they both contemplated what that could've been. That's when Remus approached them, adopting their hushed tone as well.
"What is it? Where do you think he is?" Ron looked to Hermione again and they, silently, agreed to let Remus in, if only a little bit.
"Well, Harry had this vial with him." Hermione began. "He got it from Snape. Well, technically the vial came from my bag, but it was filled with Snape's tears." she explained, but Remus only looked more confused. "Riddle just killed Snape, trying to ensure that Dumbledore's wand works for him properly. But, Harry and I managed to get to him after Riddle left and he was still conscious. He started crying, but the tears weren't tears. They were a sort of glistening white. We're not sure what they were but Harry knew." By the end, Remus seemed to recognise it.
"That sounds like a memory. One you'd put into a pensieve to revisit. It seems like Snape had memories he'd like Harry to see. I've got no idea what they could possibly be though." Ron and Hermione's eyes met once again, and it was clear they were both on the same page. They remembered everything Harry had told them about his meetings with Dumbledore during sixth year. They knew where to go.
"Remus, make sure everyone stays here. No one leaves until we're back." Hermione asserted.
"Alright, but where are you going?" he asked, but they were already on their way out. Ron spared a glance to Luna, smiled encouragingly, but then followed Hermione out.
They sprinted straight through the castle towards Dumbledore's office. They went through the two or three shortcuts they knew and were there within 5 minutes. The entrance was damaged so they didn't need to ask the gargoyle for entry or give it a password. They just ran up the stairs and burst through the door.
They couldnt see Harry though. The room was nearly desolate. Likely Snape's influence, Ron pondered. Then, they noticed the basin that was hovering over the desk. The liquid in the basin was dark and misty, almost unnatural.
"I'm guessing that would make this the Pensieve?" Ron asked.
"I'm inclined to agree." Hermione responded. "And, I'm guessing he's inside. So, it's a waiting game now." They both found comfortable positions, Hermione sitting on the front of the desk, Ron perching on the small step in front of it.
As he sat, his thoughts, inevitably, went back to his brother. To the battle. The grief washed over him again, but he didn't sob like he had. The other feeling he found was exhaustion. He was way too tired to cry properly. He felt a few tears work their way out, but he was too tired to make a sound. Without warning, he saw, out of the corner of his eye, Hermione come and sit down next to him. She looked at him for a second, before resting her head on his shoulder. Revelling in the companionship, he rested his head on top of hers. He revisited the feeling of knowing they loved each other like they did. Not like she did Harry, or he probably did Luna. But, the best of friends.
They were sat there for about 20 minutes before Harry reappeared, being flung out of the floating basin and landing, unsteadily, on his feet.
He looked like he was in shock. More shock than Ron had ever seen him in. He suddenly felt a massive sense of dread seeing his friend's face like that. Hermione was already on her feet when Ron found his strength to stand up.
"Harry? What is it? What did you see?" Hermione asked, her voice shaking as she placed a hand on Harry's arm. He leant onto the wall before sliding down and landing on his bum, his back against the wall. It was several moments of silence before Harry spoke.
"My mum's patronus was a doe." he said. Ron and Hermione shared a look of perplexion before Ron remembered the night he returned.
"Like the one that led you to the sword." he confirmed. Harry just nodded. Hermione turned to look at him then, tilting his head up towards her to make sure he listened.
"Harry, I so wish it couldve been your mother's patronus but..."
"It was Snape's as well." Harry interrupted.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Snape's patronus was also a doe. It was his that led me to the sword."
"What? Snape led you to it?" He then added, mumbling "And what are the chances that Snape and your mum had the same patronus?"
"Well, it wasn't a coincidence. You remember how Tonks' patronus changed when she fell for Remus?" Harry pointed out. Hermione gasped.
"You don't mean...? You can't be serious? Are saying that Snape was in love with your mum?" she enquired incredulously. Harry nodded.
"That's why Dumbledore trusted him. That's how he proved he was on our side."
"He wasn't though, was he?" Ron interjected. "He still betrayed him. Betrayed your mum's memory."
"But he didn't." Hermione and Ron both looked at Harry skeptically. "He didn't betray Dumbledore or my mum's memory. He saved my life in first year, remember? And he only killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore ordered him to."
"WHAT?!" both of Harry's friends exclaimed.
"He was already dying. The curse on his hand from the ring was spreading. He had a few months left, at most. So, when Dumbledore discovered Voldemort's plan to have Draco try and kill him, he saw the opportunity to cement Snape back into the Death Eater ranks, so that we'd have someone on the inside. Snape left us the sword, and Snape fed Mundungus the idea of using Polyjuice potion to help me escape Privet Drive. He was fighting for us the whole time. Ever since Riddle decided to kill my mother. "
"Bloody Merlin." Ron muttered. "So, why was he such a dick all these years? To try and convince the world that he was still evil so it would be more convincing when he went back to them?" he suggested.
"Or, just because he would fight for us, for Lily's sake, doesn't mean he had to like us." Hermione countered. "Or the boy who looks almost identical to the man who stole the love of his life. Plus, switching sides because of one person who died doesn't change your world view."
"Mmmh." Harry mumbled. "But, I think he wanted me to see all that so I'd know the important bit wasn't a trick." The pair's gazes whipped back to their friend.
"What important bit?" Hermione asked, starting to sound a little bit panicky. An ominous tear tricked down Harry's cheek.
"The reason for the connection between us. How he was able to look inside my head so easily. Why I can see into his and why I can speak to snakes. It's all the one reason. And it all goes back to the night they died." The tears were properly flowing down Harry's face now, Hermione not far behind. She seemed to know where this was going, but Ron was still a little lost.
"What reason, guys?" Harry's eyes met Ron's. His eyes showed heartbreak and resignation. Ron's stomach filled with a bad kind of butterflies, knowing he wasn't going to like this.
"I'm the last one. The one he didn't mean to make. Nagini still needs to be destroyed but so do... So do..." he struggled to finish the sentence, but Ron had figured it out now.
No way. He couldn't really be a horcrux could he? He couldn't die?
"No, no, no. You can't." Ron determined. "We'll find another way." He stared at the his two friends before him. Harry was crying, head against the wall he was sat against and Hermione knelt down in front of him, sobbing. "There has to be another way."
"Nope." Harry said, standing up abruptly. "There's no other way. He's invited me, I've got to go." He turned back to Ron then. "But, you still need to kill the snake. Once... what happens happens, he'll come back to the castle. The snake won't be in it's forcefield anymore so you'll have a free shot at it. Take that thing out and it's just him. You'll need to work together to take him down. There's a reason he's the most powerful dark Lord in history, right?" Ron was listening, but was simultaneously flabbergasted at his friends ability to sniff and move in from the heartbreak he had just been experiencing.
Suddenly, Hermione appeared from behind Harry, rushed in front of him and engulfed him in a fierce embrace. Hardy stumbled a little but hugged her back quickly.
"No, you're not going anywhere. I won't let you... I can't let yo..." She dissolved into tears before she could finish. Harry wasn't far behind in returning to his own sobs. Ron watched on, horrified by the turn of events in the last couple of minutes, as Harry and Hermione bawled into each other's shoulder.
"Hermione, please." Harry begged, beginning to try and extract himself from her embrace. She held on.
"No, Harry. I won't." She didn't let go, but she pulled her head back and pressed her forehead to his. "I won't. I lo..."
"No, don't say it!" Harry begged. "Please, don't say it. I can't walk away if you say it and I have to walk away. I have to, Hermione. I have no choice." Hermione stared deeply into Harry's eyes and saw the same thing that Ron had been feeling; heartbreak and resignation. It had to happen. None of them liked it, but it had to.
"Then I'll go with you!" Hermione asserted, but that was quickly shot down as well.
"No! You are no help to anyone dead alongside me. Be here, help kill the snake and him. The world is much better off with you still in it." Hermione crumbled a little more at that. Her hands dragged down Harry's body as her knees gave way and she sank to a kneeling position.
Harry sidestepped and approached Ron. They embraced in what was destined to be the last of the few hugs they had shared in the six and a half years they had been best friends. Ron held on tighter than he ever had. He crumbled too, sobbing into the shoulder of his condemned best friend. He could hardly believe that this would be their final moment.
"You've done amazingly, Ron. I'm so proud of you. I couldn't wish for a better friend." Harry whispered, his voice thick through the tears.
"Nor could I find one better than you, mate." Ron found himself saying through his own. Harry pulled back, gripping the side of Ron's neck and looking him in the eyes.
"Get this done, yeah? For everyone this monster has hurt or killed. For Sirius, for my mum and dad, for... For Fred, for Flitwick and for everyone else down there that died." he encouraged.
"But, it's supposed to be you." Ron whined. "The prophecy said that it would be you that had the power the dark Lord knows not, or whatever. We can't destroy him without you."
"That's not true. The power I have that Voldemort doesn't have is people who I love and who love me. My friends. My family. You are my greatest weapon. All of you. You need to all fight together and you will win. For all of them, yeah?" Ron resigned himself, once and for all, to his friend's fate and this final, upcoming fight.
"And for you." Ron gripped his friend's neck, just as Harry was to him, and pulled him so their foreheads met. He closed his eyes, held him their for a moment, before letting him go for the last time.
Hermione had stood up again now and was staring, teary eyed, at Harry. He went back to her and, after hesitating for just a moment, pulled her in for another searing kiss. Ron thought this may have defeated the point of telling her not to say the L word, but, maybe he just couldn't resist kissing her one last time. After a few seconds, he pulled back.
"I know I'm being selfish, not wanting you to say it, given what I'm about to say. But, if I hear it, it will be so much harder to leave. And yet, I can't leave without you knowing... I love you, Hermione." She sobbed again at that, kissing him one last time before collapsing back to her knees as Harry marched to the door, draped his Invisibility cloak over himself and shutting the door behind him.
He was gone. That was it.
But, the fight wasn't over yet. He was exhausted, but Ron couldn't let himself stop, or he'd fail in continuing Harry's mission. So, he steeled himself and approached Hermione. She definitely still needed a moment. He crouched down and embraced her. For a few moments, they were silent.
"Ron?" she whispered. "What do we tell the others? They know we came to find Harry. How do we keep this from them?" Ron considered this for a moment, but the solution seemed clear. Once they got back down to the Hall, Harry would've been gone already and there was no one in that Hall that he thought could possibly betray them. Therefore, there was only one real way to proceed.
"We don't." he said with conviction. "We tell them everything."