A/N- Okay, I one last chapter to go through before I get to the Masquerade dance day. That will be like three different chapters, one for each of our heroes points of view. Anyways, I decided to do this chapter from the perspective of . . . . . Ron

Chapter 9- The Week Beforehand

Several of the Death Eaters crowded around Hermione, Ron ran to throw them off, firing spells everywhere, but it wasn't working. The Death Eaters surrounded her and her screams pierced the darkness.

* * * * *

Ron awoke with a sudden start, sitting u in his bed. He wiped the cold sweat off of his forehead and glanced at the moonlight, it shone through the window above him, into Harry's bed,

"Harry, Harry wake up." Ron hissed softly, not wanting to wake his other roommates. He pulled the curtains back on Harry's bed and was surprised to see no one was there.

"He's probably brooding in the common room again." Ron whispered to himself. Harry hadn't known, but all through the year, if Ron had woke up and not found Harry in his bed, he would sneak downstairs and watch Harry, staring into the fireplace. Obviously Harry still blamed himself for the events of last year, the tournament, Cedric.

Ron put his robes on and went down the common room steps slowly, after seeing no one down there he walked all the way into the common room, wondering where Harry could be.

Britany

Ron hadn't even tried to let his mind slip, yet it had. He thought about earlier, when he decided to show Britany his Animagi form. He knew he shouldn't have, it was against the pact they had mad, but at that moment he didn't feel like facing Hermione, and Harry was with her up in Ginny's Dormitory.

What was Harry doing in Ginny's dormitory anyway?

Ron's thoughts had taken over again, but he let that thought slip too, it was one thing for Ginny to have a rush on Harry, but it was a completely different thing for Harry to like her back.

"And then he said, that's not Oxyhydrochloricsylfin Acid, that's my wife!" A familiar voice said from the other side of the portrait hole, and an even familiar laugh rang out. As the portrait opened Harry and Ginny stepped in, right in front of Ron.

'And where were you two?" He asked in a snide tone. Harry hadn't even noticed his friend.

"We were walking around if you must know mother.' Ginny said hotly. Harry was starting to get a look at the Weasley Temper Ron went on and on about.

"Yeah, there's a Masquerade Ball next week, Valentine's Day." Harry added somewhat lamely.

"So what, during one of your snogfests you decided to separate yourselves for five seconds to read a notice.!" Ron yelled hotly too, but his redness didn't match his expression. He was obviously mad at something else.

"Ronald Arthur Weasley! I . .I . . never! Harry didn't do anything with me, and I didn't do anything with anybody else either, unless you count running from FIlch. Now I'm going to bed, and when I wake up these silly notions better be out of your head . . or else." Ginny exploded. Harry saw Ron flinch slightly at those last to words as Ginny turned around and stormed upstairs.

Ron and Harry were left staring at eachother in the common room,

"I didn't do anything with her Ron."

"I know, I just got . . caught up, sorry."

"Yeah." Harry grinned a little until he noticed his friend wasn't grinning back.

"Do you like her?"

"What?"

"Britany brought it up the other day, your constantly staring at her when you think nobody's looking, you always hang around with her.:

"Maybe that's just because you and Hermione can't get it together for long enough to have a friendship with me!" Harry cried.

"Don't change the subject Harry." Ron said in a steely tone

"Would it matter? Even if I did I wouldn't be able to act on it because of six temperamental brothers with wands." Harry exploded before he knew he was. He collapsed into an armchair by Ron. Ron didn't move, he seemed to be trying to process this information.

Harry likes my little sister? What should I do if he tries anything I'd beat his ass, but then again it's Harry. Harry wouldn't ever try to hurt her, but then again, he goes into his phases when he doesn't talk to people.

"Ask her to the ball." Ron said suddenly after a few minutes silence.

"What?"

"Ask Ginny to the ball."

"You want to kill me don't you?' Harry exclaimed. Ron shook his head.

"You'd mostly only have me to worry about, but then again, I know you'd never intentionally hurt her. Fred and George would just tease you endlessly about it, and Percy, well don't tell Percy or else he'll have a chart set up about how close you can sit together." Ron laughed.

"Three inches too close Harry." Ron mocked Percy's pompous voice. They both laughed.

"You think she'd say yes?" Harry asked suddenly, it seemed silly but he thought Ginny might have stopped liking him.

"probably, but then again I don't hear her idolizing you anymore, really it's just me and the twins messing with her from her first year." Ron said. This hadn't seemed to give Harry the confidence he needed.

Ron and harry sat up all night, laughing and joking, but then they heard something outside of the portrait hole, it sounded like ,. . .weeping. the portrait hole opened and Britany stepped in, oblivious to the two sitting there. Her face was in her hands.

"Britany, what's wrong?" Ron asked. Her head snapped up suddenly and she ran over to him and hugged him. they sat in a position of embrace for a few moments until he kissed her softly on her forehead and repeated his question,

"I . .I . . I just went to the Headmasters office, about and hour ago." She started, that was right before Ron had come downstairs, "and my father was there, he said that the job he was going to do moved to another place Ron, I'm leaving on Valentine's Day, right after the ball I'm taking a carriage out of here." She cried again. after a while Ron's robes began to get soaked and Harry stepped up. he held Britany while Ron dried his robes. In the end Britany ended up lying on the couch, cuddled up in Harry's arms. Ron ended up in a sofa, Daily Prophet spread out across him, looking for any architect jobs. Slowly, the embers in the fireplace began to die down, and the scene played out looked just like one from months ago, the night they became Animagi

* * * * *

Hermione was lying sweetly in Ron's embrace, both asleep. He could still smell the way her hair smelled like peppermint though. Harry had fallen asleep on the other sofa, busy reading up on Voldemort's latest attack, and Rita Skeeter's garbage on how Voldemort was going to attack Hogwarts on Valentine's Day. More than three sources already stated he wasn't, that was just a rumor started by Fletcher in order to try and still a pair on Omniculars while everyone panicked, luckily Percy Weasley caught him before he left the door. nevertheless the scene was one that had been repeated, and if things went well, it would b repeated again.

A/N- Hey Hey Hey! I like that chapter, i might have to do another one before the ball though, to show exactly what happened with Britany. Thanx for your help!