Disclaimer ~ I don't own the characters, only the plot.
A/N: And now for the long awaited chapter. Well, I doubt that it's long awaited, but since ff.net is down I figured I'd give it a try!
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
"Look what you did!" Ron yelled angrily as he stood up.
"Cover yourself up, Weasley." Draco muttered looking in the opposite direction and throwing a towel at Ron.
He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist. "Why'd you do that?"
"Do what? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were still in love with her."
"Don't be stupid."
"You do, don't you, Weasley? After all that she did to you? That's pathetic."
"What about all of the good things she's done for me?"
Malfoy chuckled. "Up until now I wasn't positive that you still loved her, or were faking those injuries for that matter. It's true though, isn't it?"
"Sod off, Malfoy."
Malfoy rolled his eyes before grabbing his jacket, which was draped over the back of a chair. He took one last glance at Ron before shaking his head and disapparating from Hermione's flat.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
'Ron's leftovers?' Hermione thought bitterly as she walked down the dark, bare streets outside of London. 'Is that really what everyone thinks of me?' She kicked a stone with her foot and it flew across the street as she sighed and put her hands into her pockets.
She turned as she heard the footsteps coming closer to where she was standing. 'Great.' She began to walk faster and she could hear the feet behind her slapping against the ground as the person struggled to keep up with her.
She felt stupid trying to run, but she did anyway, and was surprised when she could no longer hear the footsteps. Had she just imagined it all? Turning around she scanned the empty streets for some sign of where the noise was coming from.
She began to turn back and continue walking, as she grabbed at the wand in her pocket. She started to sprint back in the direction of her flat. She stopped in her tracks as a short, but demanding figure stepped in front of her.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Ron stood in the bathroom; the towel still wrapped around his bottom. He was half way between leaving and staying to wait for Hermione. He finally decided on the latter, and drained the tub after putting hi clothes on.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Hermione opened her eyes and looked around. After blinking a few times, she still couldn't remember where was. The room was dark, which didn't help her much either. She turned her head to the corner, where a shuffling noise was.
She tried to feel around her, some way to make out where she was, but her hands were tied firmly to her back. She tugged at the ropes, which tightened around her wrists. She grunted as the ropes began to twist into her skin.
"Don't bother." A hoarse voice choked out from the corner.
Hermione's eyes widened at the recognition of the voice. It couldn't be. "Where am I?" She choked out.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Ron paced back and forth in Hermione's flat. It wasn't like Hermione to stay out this long. At least the old Hermione that he knew. But then, he never would've guessed she'd done anything that she had done.
No one deserved what she did. Least of al him. He shook his head. He shouldn't pity himself. He'd done enough of that. If what Malfoy had said was true, then he should forgive her. After all that she'd done for him within the past week. He was close to death, but she took off from her important job to nurse him back to health.
It wasn't true what everyone had been telling him over the past seven years. Hermione didn't hate him. She wouldn't do anything to hurt him on purpose. She cared about Ron. She cared about Harry too. After all it was Harry who brought him to Hermione wasn't it?
He didn't remember coming himself. He picked his wand off the shelf in Hermione's living room and disapparated.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Hermione kept her ears clear for the voice again. It hadn't spoken to her since she tried to loosen the ropes. She sat up and strained her ears again. The person was still there. She could hear the shallow breathing.
"Hello? Please talk to me." She whispered towards the figure. "I know who you are. Just talk to me."
She listened for the voice until she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Slumping her back against the wall, she let her eyes shut as she fell into a state of sleep.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
She could hear the whistling of flames in her ear as she knelt down on the ground. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and leaned down to the figure. She closed her eyes and looked away as she pressed her fingers to the body.
She could feel her fingers melt against the bubbled and mutated skin of the person, but she forced her eyes back to the body. It was still alive. There was still something she could do to help. At least until someone else could.
Her wand touched the throat of the figure and she began muttering spells. She wiped the sweat off of her forehead, when the breathing of the body started again. She couldn't stick around to bring him back to safety, she could only hope that he would find it himself.
She hastily stood up and pushed her cloak of her shoulders. The flames were getting hotter and they began to tickle her legs. The fire was growing. With one last look at the twitching figure she closed her eyes and hoped to Merlin that he would find his way back, before running in the opposite direction.
She could feel the heat against her face; she was getting closer to where the fire was coming from. A hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Don't Hermione." She looked down into the pleading eyes of Neville Longbottom.
"Neville. Go back."
"Hermione don't go in there. Please." He grabbed at her wrist and tried pulling her back towards the opening of the Forbidden Forest. She peeled his fingers off of herself.
"I can't Neville. Go back."
"You can't go in there. Just turn back and leave. Come with me please." He started to back away keeping his eyes locked on Hermione's.
"I told you I cant!" Hermione screamed. She could smell the fire singeing her hair. She pointed behind her. "Harry is in there. Knowing Ron, he probably is too!" She turned back and ran towards the screams. She closed her eyes as the heat slapped her hard in the cheeks.
Her head smacked against a solid figure. She opened her eyes into small slits and stared up at the figure. "Miss Granger. I urge you to turn back now." Professor Snape's black eyes stared back into her own chocolate ones, as he grasped her wrists and attempted to turn her around.
"No!" Hermione cried as the tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She tugged her arms out of his grasp. "My friends are in there!"
"I assure you Miss Granger, that they will get out just fine. Now if you'll-"
"NO! If they'll be fine, then so will I!"
"I don't think you have much of a choice here Miss Granger. Now, do as-" He stopped as a blood curdling yell could be heard from just pass the grove of trees.
"Ron!" Hermione screamed as she ran past the professor into the trees. She could hear him following her, urging for her to turn around now. To just leave. She didn't want to take the Neville Longbottom way out. Her friends were in there and she wasn't about to leave them.
She ran into the opening and immediately felt the heat. She felt like a crayon that had been left in the sun too long, and was beginning to melt to the sidewalk. She could swear she could smell her skin burning as the light began to take over her eyes.
She shook her head and tried looking around. "Hermione!" A voice squawked from her left.
"Ron!" She whispered as she knelt down beside him. "Where's Voldemort?" Hermione choked his name out. Ron pointed his head to a figure standing on the opposite side of the opening.
His wand was pointed towards the ground and he kept spitting spells out as a figure convulsed and cried out in pain. "Harry!" Hermione gasped. She reached forward but Ron's hand grabbed her ankle.
"Go back Hermione. I'll make sure Harry gets back."
She stared down angrily at Ron. "No! You're going to get yourself killed, you stupid git!"
Ron smiled up at her, and she saw a large lump go down his throat as he smiled through the pain. "Stop arguing with me, love."
Hermione tried to smile, as she choked back the sobs threatening to come out. "Quit trying to be a hero, Ron Weasley." She whispered as his arm weakly wrapped itself around her shoulder.
"I'm not. Just go back with Professor Snape." He nodded as the Professor folded his arms across his chest behind Hermione.
"No, Ron. You need my help."
"No I don't." Ron whispered through gritted teeth as he pulled his arm from around Hermione's shoulder. "Please just go."
Hermione nodded and stood up. "Be careful." She whispered to him as Snape took her arm and began to lead her out of the forest.
She kept her head down the entire time. Her regrets started to get in the way as Professor Snape stopped outside of the forest and began chattering with Professor Dumbledore. An idea flashed through her head as she began walking back.
Professor Snape was so busy he'd never realize that she'd gone back in. She nodded her head and clutched her wand in hand as she jogged back to the forest.
It took her a few minutes to realize that Professor Snape was following her back. She could hear his shouts for her. For a moment she considered stopping and listening to his cries for her. But her two best friends were in there, and she wasn't about to stop and let them die just because her ex death-eater professor wanted her too.
For all she knew, it could be his fault that Voldemort found his way back tonight. She shook her head as she came back to where she was with Ron only minutes earlier. This was no time to be blaming the situation on anyone.
She felt her way around as the heat tried pulling her to the ground. Harry stepped out in front of her. "Hermione!" He grabbed onto her shoulders. His legs were melted to the ground and he started to slump to the ground like a pile of goo.
"Harry! Where's Ron?" She turned and saw Professor Snape running towards her. Harry pointed over her shoulder to where Ron lay on the ground. "Stay here. Don't move." She whispered to him as she crawled over to Ron.
She leaned down and wiped the hair off his forehead, and nudged her cheek against his. She couldn't hear his breathing. "What have I done?" She whispered to herself, as the tears started to stream down her cheeks.
She took both sides of his head in her hands and leaned her face down to his. " I told you that you were going to get yourself killed. Why don't you ever listen to me?" She cried out.
Professor Snape was behind her now. "Miss Granger. Come. I have Mr. Potter, let's go." Hermione nodded and grabbed her wand. "What are you doing girl? He's dead, leave him!"
She dropped her wand and rounded on her heels facing the professor. "I'm not about to leave him here. He's coming with, or I'm staying here with him."
"Miss Granger. We don't have time or this. The fire is growing. We have to leave now. We don't have time to drag your dead boyfriend out of here."
"I'm not leaving him here to burn."
"Hermione, please come." Harry pleaded with her. "I've already lost one of my best friends tonight. I'm not going to lose another." He tugged at her hand, but she stood in place.
"Harry you need to get out of here. Just go. Ill be out in a few minutes. Professor bring him back."
"No." Harry said. "Hermione. I can't let you stay. You'll burn to death."
"No I won't. I promise you. I'll be back in a few minutes." She pleaded with Harry. He finally nodded his head and grasped onto Professor Snape's shoulder as he limped out of the forest. She looked back to Ron as soon as they were gone, letting the tears fall freely.
"I hate you." She whispered as she stroked his cheek softly with her fingertips. "But I hate me even more for letting you kill yourself." She knew that if he were still alive he would be smiling at her for saying that. "I loved you, Ron. You know that don't you?" She closed her eyes and tipped her head back.
"Loved?" She heard a voice whisper. She looked down at Ron. He was wearing a smile across his face.
"You're alive!" She screamed.
He smiled and reached his hand up to stroke her hair. " Of course. I told you I wouldn't get myself killed." She smiled as she leaned down and brushed her lips against his. His callused fingers tangled in her snarled hair, but neither cared as their lips met.
His fingers kneaded the back of her head as he kissed her hungrily, as though he needed her to stay alive. At the moment he was positive that he did too. Finally, she pulled away from him and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now, what's this I hear about you loved me? You don't love me anymore?"
She smiled, "I love you."
"Me too, love." He touched her cheek.
"Miss Granger!" She heard Snape's voice behind her. She turned around to find that they had both become blocked from the other side of the forest.
"I'm okay Professor. So is Ron!" Hermione yelled. Her voice was barely audible as the flames closed in quickly towards where she stood next to Ron.
He tried to stand. "Hermione! I can't move!"
"Stay put, Ron." Hermione rushed forward as she hear the cries of Professor Snape. She pulled out her wand and screamed a spell that made water shoot from the tip of her wand. The flames in front of her extinguished briefly before being swept up into bigger flames.
Snape's yells became louder as he emerged to their side of the flames. "Professor!" Hermione pointed her wand at him and muttered the spell once more as the water flowed from the tip of her wand, putting out the fire on her professor's cloak.
She grabbed his arms and began to drag her professor across the ground and dropped him next to Ron. She plopped down beside him and put her fingers to his neck. He was still breathing.
The flames were coming closer. She had to get Ron out of there, Snape too. The fire was closing in so fast. She knew she wouldn't have enough time to get Snape back to Dumbledore and come back for Ron, and vice versa.
She was faced with a decision. "Ron I can't get you both back." She didn't know what to do. She had to make up her mind quickly, before it was too late to save either of them.
"Take him." Ron nodded towards Snape.
She shook her head. "I can't. I want to take both of you."
"You can't do that Hermione. Just take Snape." He grabbed her hand.
Hermione picked up her wand and looked back and forth between the two men. Ron's eyes looked back into hers, He swallowed hard and looked away. She quickly took a glance at Snape, whose eyes were tightly shut.
She knew what she had to do. She couldn't leave Ron here to watch as the fire burnt his flesh. Professor Snape was unconscious, he'd never know that the fire had killed him. He wouldn't feel it, and he wouldn't see it.
She pointed her wand at Ron, "Mobilicorpus." His body lifted from the ground and she floated it away from the flames that grew closer. She turned her head once more as she looked at Snape's body on the ground. His eyes shot open and his screams were the last thing Hermione could remember hearing as she rushed to get Ron from the forest.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
Hermione sat up in her state of sweat. She looked around the room and tilted her head to the left as a loud crack came from her neck. She was stiff, and it took her a few minutes to remember where she was.
"Professor Snape?" She wondered aloud. "Are you still here?"
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Well, please review. I only have school on Monday and Tuesday this week so I should have more time to update. (Can you believe how long I've been working on this chapter?) Well, stay tuned. I'll try to pop out another chapter.
Please join my R/Hrm. Group @: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RonMione/ Read, post or recommend stories for reading their. You can learn more about nc-17 chapters of this and my other HP fiction there.
A/N: And now for the long awaited chapter. Well, I doubt that it's long awaited, but since ff.net is down I figured I'd give it a try!
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
"Look what you did!" Ron yelled angrily as he stood up.
"Cover yourself up, Weasley." Draco muttered looking in the opposite direction and throwing a towel at Ron.
He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist. "Why'd you do that?"
"Do what? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were still in love with her."
"Don't be stupid."
"You do, don't you, Weasley? After all that she did to you? That's pathetic."
"What about all of the good things she's done for me?"
Malfoy chuckled. "Up until now I wasn't positive that you still loved her, or were faking those injuries for that matter. It's true though, isn't it?"
"Sod off, Malfoy."
Malfoy rolled his eyes before grabbing his jacket, which was draped over the back of a chair. He took one last glance at Ron before shaking his head and disapparating from Hermione's flat.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
'Ron's leftovers?' Hermione thought bitterly as she walked down the dark, bare streets outside of London. 'Is that really what everyone thinks of me?' She kicked a stone with her foot and it flew across the street as she sighed and put her hands into her pockets.
She turned as she heard the footsteps coming closer to where she was standing. 'Great.' She began to walk faster and she could hear the feet behind her slapping against the ground as the person struggled to keep up with her.
She felt stupid trying to run, but she did anyway, and was surprised when she could no longer hear the footsteps. Had she just imagined it all? Turning around she scanned the empty streets for some sign of where the noise was coming from.
She began to turn back and continue walking, as she grabbed at the wand in her pocket. She started to sprint back in the direction of her flat. She stopped in her tracks as a short, but demanding figure stepped in front of her.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Ron stood in the bathroom; the towel still wrapped around his bottom. He was half way between leaving and staying to wait for Hermione. He finally decided on the latter, and drained the tub after putting hi clothes on.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Hermione opened her eyes and looked around. After blinking a few times, she still couldn't remember where was. The room was dark, which didn't help her much either. She turned her head to the corner, where a shuffling noise was.
She tried to feel around her, some way to make out where she was, but her hands were tied firmly to her back. She tugged at the ropes, which tightened around her wrists. She grunted as the ropes began to twist into her skin.
"Don't bother." A hoarse voice choked out from the corner.
Hermione's eyes widened at the recognition of the voice. It couldn't be. "Where am I?" She choked out.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Ron paced back and forth in Hermione's flat. It wasn't like Hermione to stay out this long. At least the old Hermione that he knew. But then, he never would've guessed she'd done anything that she had done.
No one deserved what she did. Least of al him. He shook his head. He shouldn't pity himself. He'd done enough of that. If what Malfoy had said was true, then he should forgive her. After all that she'd done for him within the past week. He was close to death, but she took off from her important job to nurse him back to health.
It wasn't true what everyone had been telling him over the past seven years. Hermione didn't hate him. She wouldn't do anything to hurt him on purpose. She cared about Ron. She cared about Harry too. After all it was Harry who brought him to Hermione wasn't it?
He didn't remember coming himself. He picked his wand off the shelf in Hermione's living room and disapparated.
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Hermione kept her ears clear for the voice again. It hadn't spoken to her since she tried to loosen the ropes. She sat up and strained her ears again. The person was still there. She could hear the shallow breathing.
"Hello? Please talk to me." She whispered towards the figure. "I know who you are. Just talk to me."
She listened for the voice until she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Slumping her back against the wall, she let her eyes shut as she fell into a state of sleep.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
She could hear the whistling of flames in her ear as she knelt down on the ground. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and leaned down to the figure. She closed her eyes and looked away as she pressed her fingers to the body.
She could feel her fingers melt against the bubbled and mutated skin of the person, but she forced her eyes back to the body. It was still alive. There was still something she could do to help. At least until someone else could.
Her wand touched the throat of the figure and she began muttering spells. She wiped the sweat off of her forehead, when the breathing of the body started again. She couldn't stick around to bring him back to safety, she could only hope that he would find it himself.
She hastily stood up and pushed her cloak of her shoulders. The flames were getting hotter and they began to tickle her legs. The fire was growing. With one last look at the twitching figure she closed her eyes and hoped to Merlin that he would find his way back, before running in the opposite direction.
She could feel the heat against her face; she was getting closer to where the fire was coming from. A hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Don't Hermione." She looked down into the pleading eyes of Neville Longbottom.
"Neville. Go back."
"Hermione don't go in there. Please." He grabbed at her wrist and tried pulling her back towards the opening of the Forbidden Forest. She peeled his fingers off of herself.
"I can't Neville. Go back."
"You can't go in there. Just turn back and leave. Come with me please." He started to back away keeping his eyes locked on Hermione's.
"I told you I cant!" Hermione screamed. She could smell the fire singeing her hair. She pointed behind her. "Harry is in there. Knowing Ron, he probably is too!" She turned back and ran towards the screams. She closed her eyes as the heat slapped her hard in the cheeks.
Her head smacked against a solid figure. She opened her eyes into small slits and stared up at the figure. "Miss Granger. I urge you to turn back now." Professor Snape's black eyes stared back into her own chocolate ones, as he grasped her wrists and attempted to turn her around.
"No!" Hermione cried as the tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She tugged her arms out of his grasp. "My friends are in there!"
"I assure you Miss Granger, that they will get out just fine. Now if you'll-"
"NO! If they'll be fine, then so will I!"
"I don't think you have much of a choice here Miss Granger. Now, do as-" He stopped as a blood curdling yell could be heard from just pass the grove of trees.
"Ron!" Hermione screamed as she ran past the professor into the trees. She could hear him following her, urging for her to turn around now. To just leave. She didn't want to take the Neville Longbottom way out. Her friends were in there and she wasn't about to leave them.
She ran into the opening and immediately felt the heat. She felt like a crayon that had been left in the sun too long, and was beginning to melt to the sidewalk. She could swear she could smell her skin burning as the light began to take over her eyes.
She shook her head and tried looking around. "Hermione!" A voice squawked from her left.
"Ron!" She whispered as she knelt down beside him. "Where's Voldemort?" Hermione choked his name out. Ron pointed his head to a figure standing on the opposite side of the opening.
His wand was pointed towards the ground and he kept spitting spells out as a figure convulsed and cried out in pain. "Harry!" Hermione gasped. She reached forward but Ron's hand grabbed her ankle.
"Go back Hermione. I'll make sure Harry gets back."
She stared down angrily at Ron. "No! You're going to get yourself killed, you stupid git!"
Ron smiled up at her, and she saw a large lump go down his throat as he smiled through the pain. "Stop arguing with me, love."
Hermione tried to smile, as she choked back the sobs threatening to come out. "Quit trying to be a hero, Ron Weasley." She whispered as his arm weakly wrapped itself around her shoulder.
"I'm not. Just go back with Professor Snape." He nodded as the Professor folded his arms across his chest behind Hermione.
"No, Ron. You need my help."
"No I don't." Ron whispered through gritted teeth as he pulled his arm from around Hermione's shoulder. "Please just go."
Hermione nodded and stood up. "Be careful." She whispered to him as Snape took her arm and began to lead her out of the forest.
She kept her head down the entire time. Her regrets started to get in the way as Professor Snape stopped outside of the forest and began chattering with Professor Dumbledore. An idea flashed through her head as she began walking back.
Professor Snape was so busy he'd never realize that she'd gone back in. She nodded her head and clutched her wand in hand as she jogged back to the forest.
It took her a few minutes to realize that Professor Snape was following her back. She could hear his shouts for her. For a moment she considered stopping and listening to his cries for her. But her two best friends were in there, and she wasn't about to stop and let them die just because her ex death-eater professor wanted her too.
For all she knew, it could be his fault that Voldemort found his way back tonight. She shook her head as she came back to where she was with Ron only minutes earlier. This was no time to be blaming the situation on anyone.
She felt her way around as the heat tried pulling her to the ground. Harry stepped out in front of her. "Hermione!" He grabbed onto her shoulders. His legs were melted to the ground and he started to slump to the ground like a pile of goo.
"Harry! Where's Ron?" She turned and saw Professor Snape running towards her. Harry pointed over her shoulder to where Ron lay on the ground. "Stay here. Don't move." She whispered to him as she crawled over to Ron.
She leaned down and wiped the hair off his forehead, and nudged her cheek against his. She couldn't hear his breathing. "What have I done?" She whispered to herself, as the tears started to stream down her cheeks.
She took both sides of his head in her hands and leaned her face down to his. " I told you that you were going to get yourself killed. Why don't you ever listen to me?" She cried out.
Professor Snape was behind her now. "Miss Granger. Come. I have Mr. Potter, let's go." Hermione nodded and grabbed her wand. "What are you doing girl? He's dead, leave him!"
She dropped her wand and rounded on her heels facing the professor. "I'm not about to leave him here. He's coming with, or I'm staying here with him."
"Miss Granger. We don't have time or this. The fire is growing. We have to leave now. We don't have time to drag your dead boyfriend out of here."
"I'm not leaving him here to burn."
"Hermione, please come." Harry pleaded with her. "I've already lost one of my best friends tonight. I'm not going to lose another." He tugged at her hand, but she stood in place.
"Harry you need to get out of here. Just go. Ill be out in a few minutes. Professor bring him back."
"No." Harry said. "Hermione. I can't let you stay. You'll burn to death."
"No I won't. I promise you. I'll be back in a few minutes." She pleaded with Harry. He finally nodded his head and grasped onto Professor Snape's shoulder as he limped out of the forest. She looked back to Ron as soon as they were gone, letting the tears fall freely.
"I hate you." She whispered as she stroked his cheek softly with her fingertips. "But I hate me even more for letting you kill yourself." She knew that if he were still alive he would be smiling at her for saying that. "I loved you, Ron. You know that don't you?" She closed her eyes and tipped her head back.
"Loved?" She heard a voice whisper. She looked down at Ron. He was wearing a smile across his face.
"You're alive!" She screamed.
He smiled and reached his hand up to stroke her hair. " Of course. I told you I wouldn't get myself killed." She smiled as she leaned down and brushed her lips against his. His callused fingers tangled in her snarled hair, but neither cared as their lips met.
His fingers kneaded the back of her head as he kissed her hungrily, as though he needed her to stay alive. At the moment he was positive that he did too. Finally, she pulled away from him and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now, what's this I hear about you loved me? You don't love me anymore?"
She smiled, "I love you."
"Me too, love." He touched her cheek.
"Miss Granger!" She heard Snape's voice behind her. She turned around to find that they had both become blocked from the other side of the forest.
"I'm okay Professor. So is Ron!" Hermione yelled. Her voice was barely audible as the flames closed in quickly towards where she stood next to Ron.
He tried to stand. "Hermione! I can't move!"
"Stay put, Ron." Hermione rushed forward as she hear the cries of Professor Snape. She pulled out her wand and screamed a spell that made water shoot from the tip of her wand. The flames in front of her extinguished briefly before being swept up into bigger flames.
Snape's yells became louder as he emerged to their side of the flames. "Professor!" Hermione pointed her wand at him and muttered the spell once more as the water flowed from the tip of her wand, putting out the fire on her professor's cloak.
She grabbed his arms and began to drag her professor across the ground and dropped him next to Ron. She plopped down beside him and put her fingers to his neck. He was still breathing.
The flames were coming closer. She had to get Ron out of there, Snape too. The fire was closing in so fast. She knew she wouldn't have enough time to get Snape back to Dumbledore and come back for Ron, and vice versa.
She was faced with a decision. "Ron I can't get you both back." She didn't know what to do. She had to make up her mind quickly, before it was too late to save either of them.
"Take him." Ron nodded towards Snape.
She shook her head. "I can't. I want to take both of you."
"You can't do that Hermione. Just take Snape." He grabbed her hand.
Hermione picked up her wand and looked back and forth between the two men. Ron's eyes looked back into hers, He swallowed hard and looked away. She quickly took a glance at Snape, whose eyes were tightly shut.
She knew what she had to do. She couldn't leave Ron here to watch as the fire burnt his flesh. Professor Snape was unconscious, he'd never know that the fire had killed him. He wouldn't feel it, and he wouldn't see it.
She pointed her wand at Ron, "Mobilicorpus." His body lifted from the ground and she floated it away from the flames that grew closer. She turned her head once more as she looked at Snape's body on the ground. His eyes shot open and his screams were the last thing Hermione could remember hearing as she rushed to get Ron from the forest.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
Hermione sat up in her state of sweat. She looked around the room and tilted her head to the left as a loud crack came from her neck. She was stiff, and it took her a few minutes to remember where she was.
"Professor Snape?" She wondered aloud. "Are you still here?"
~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~
Well, please review. I only have school on Monday and Tuesday this week so I should have more time to update. (Can you believe how long I've been working on this chapter?) Well, stay tuned. I'll try to pop out another chapter.
Please join my R/Hrm. Group @: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RonMione/ Read, post or recommend stories for reading their. You can learn more about nc-17 chapters of this and my other HP fiction there.