Disclaimer: See first chapter.

A/N: evil, evil, evil fic...

Harry walked fast. Hermione had to take two steps to match his pace. His steps were confident and unwavering. He knew where he was going.

"Harry?" She asked breathlessly. "Where exactly are we going?"

"My house." He muttered.

Hermione was confused. She brushed her hair out of her eyes to better look at his face. It was unreadable.

"Why are we going to the Duserly's?" Clearly there was something more to this puzzle then she knew about.

Harry stopped walking out of pure frustration. He turned to look at her, his eyes angry.

"We're not going there. We're going to my old house. My parent's house."

"Oh. Why?"

"Because Hermione, Ron is there. Think about it. Voldemort," Hermione flinched, "is leading me to my death. Why not die the same place I was born?"

Now Hermione was angry. Why was he mad at her? Why was he yelling? He didn't lose Ron. He probably didn't even care. She stalked off, not caring if he followed or not. Harry's house was a museum now, a tourist trap for wizards and muggles alike. She could find it on her own.

Harry made a sigh of frustration and ran to catch up to her.

"I'm sorry," He said as he gripped her arm. "I'm just... I don't want to do this!" He wanted her to stop so she made sure to walk faster. "Hermione!" He shouted.

"Piss off. Honestly, you're making it seem like I had no choice. You had one! You could be at home sitting on your perfect little ass and continue to not care if I lived or died, just like you always did before. I don't need you! I can do this alone!" She pounded on his chest, wanting more then nothing to get rid of her anger. He caught her hands and held them in hers. She was left defenseless. Her glare was now riveted to his no less then perfect eyes. Why did she have to look in his eyes? "Go home Harry." She whispered. "Go home. Go home. Just go home."

It was at that moment that Harry Potter kissed her. Maybe it was an effort to stop her from talking anymore. Or maybe he just wanted to express his pain. Whatever it was, he kissed her. And when that kiss ended, Hermione started another one. They kept kissing, ignoring the onlookers. They embraced each other and refused to let go.

After what seemed like hours of passion, Hermione broke away with tears in her eyes. "I can't."

Harry seemed to understand and only kissed away her tears. He took her hand and checked them into a hotel.

They walked silently to their rooms. Harry made sure to get them separate suites. Hermione didn't object when he kissed her cheek as he dropped her off at her's. She yawned and crawled into the plush and inviting bed.

It was pure haze. Fog was everywhere. It was suffocating her, filling every opening. Hermione felt like she was drowning.

"Hermione!" Someone was calling her from beyond the fog.

A feeling of desperation washed over her. She HAD to get to the voice.

"Hermione!" It called again. It was scared now, demanding her to come closer.

"Ron?" She asked questionably. There was really no need to, she knew it was him.

She started to run. She ran harder and harder. She simply had to get to Ron. Something was pulling her back when she was going forward.

Suddenly, she was there and Ron was in front of her. His face was mangled, covered in blood.

"Help me Hermione," He said.

"Where are you?" She asked him.

"Help me Hermione," He repeated.

"Where? Where are you? Harry's here. He'll help me. Where are you?"

"Help me Hermione..."

A blinding light appeared behind Ron and Hermione was ripped from his grasp.

She woke up with a start, her sheets covered in sweat. Her scar was searing with pain. But, she knew two things. One- Ron was badly hurt and dying. And two- he wasn't at Harry's house.