Disclaimer: My name is not JK Rowling, therefore the characters which are used are not of my creation.

Authors note: Hello Everyone! Someone asked why Draco poisoned Hermione instead of Ron. I'm sorry if I did not make it clear, but it is because he feels that if he could not have Hermione, nobody could. Plus, he wanted to make Ron suffer as well. Enjoy chapter seven!

Chapter seven

Ron's eyes blurred and then refocused as he started the first page of the fourth book he had obtained from the library; this one titled "Potions and their Remedies". The other three books which he had searched through cover to cover gave no clue unto how to cure the Mortalva Dectova therefore giving no clue of how to save his precious Hermione. At the moment Ron was sitting in chair next to Hermione in the Hospital Wing with his feet propped on a chair next to him. There were black rings underneath his sapphire eyes that gave evidence of the three days and nights he had spent without sleep. Day in and day out he would remain in the exact position he was in, simply reading and glancing at Hermione. It was her fourth day in her stupor. While Ron knew he had three days left until her heart and fever would consume her, he knew the swifter he found a cure, the better she would be when she awoke. The longer she was in her state, the more of the chance that she would be brain dead if she was ever cured.

Ron felt the pressure of the world on his shoulders. It was up to him whether or not Hermione lived or died; he knew it was. He felt an intense anger build up inside of him as he thought it over. Everyone else believed his searching useless; an insane search with a fruitless hope. Despite his fatigue Ron felt an intense desire to hit someone good and hard. He wanted to make the same indentation into their body that he felt was embedded in his heart. He wanted others to suffer. Perhaps if they felt his pain they would too search for the cure.

Ron heard the door to the hospital wing open and close, and he knew without looking that it was Harry and Ginny. Everyday they came to check up on him and Hermione. They had tried to pull him away from her bedside, at least to eat, but he would not budge. He could not stray from his post for a moment. Madam Pomfrey too had insisted on him taking a leave but he stood as firm with her as he had with Harry and Ginny. When Ron had told her that he could not leave Hermione; that he would never leave Hermione, Madam Pomfreys eyes had filled with tears. She quickly turned to arrange some sheets and Ron had heard her mumble something about how she could "never refuse the request of a true young love."

Harry and Ginny approached Ron, and Ginny laid a package of food on the table next to him. She had brought him his meals daily, but more times than not they remained untouched.

"Hello Ron" said Ginny. Ron nodded his head as a greeting.

"We brought you your dinner," said Harry attempting conversation.

"Thanks" was all was that Ron said as he turned his attention to another page of the book.

Ginny put her hand on Hermiones forehead and gasped when she felt the heat. She squeezed Harry's hand to get his attention. Harry touched her forehead and sighed.

"I take it she isn't doing any better."

Ron stiffened when he heard the comment. 'Well she wouldn't be, would she?' he said to himself. He breathed deeply a few times to control his temper that was forming from stress and fatigue. "Worse in fact. Worse every day." he said to the couple in front of him.

"Harry and I are worried about you. Both of you." Ginny's eyes filled with tears as she looked from Ron back to Hermione.

Harry's eyes were to glistening. It was very difficult but he finally said "Wewe just don't want you to get your hopes up too much. If she doesn't make it"

Ron finally detonated. "Look I know you care Harry, but it is not your girlfriend laying there is it? You don't understand! I can't just sit around and wait for her to die. I have to try something. If I care enough there must be something. She can't die! I love her too much!"

Harry tightened his hold on Ginny as Ron spoke. Again it was as if he was trying to protect her from any infliction that could somehow come her way from Ron's words.

"No, it isn't my girlfriend, Thank God! But it is one of my best friends. You guys are the only family I have!" he said gesturing to the group in the room. "Its justI've lost people in my life that I've loved-" his eyes darkened as he thought of his parents and Sirius-"and it's hard. But it will be worse if your hopes are high. It'll be a disappointment and you may blame yourself, which you cannot ever do!

By this time Ginny was sobbing. A single tear fell from underneath Harry's glasses that he brushed away quickly. Ron knew there was some truth to Harry's words, but they could not change his mind. He would not give up the miniscule hope he had hoarded in his heart. All he knew was that he loved Hermione, so he had to try. That was the anthem that he repeated in his head.

Ginny let go of Harry and bent down to give Ron a hug. When she did she felt a tear fall on her cheek, and when she looked up she saw that it had come from Ron's stormy eyes. She then went to Hermione, and took her practically lifeless hand between her own two.

"Be safe Hermione" she whispered so softly that no one else could hear her.

Harry looked at Ron. He sat below him pale and gaunt, his bright red hair in all directions. His face was paler than usual. Instead of giving him a "manly" clasp on the shoulder, Harry bent down and hugged Ron with the love of a best friend. He then went a kissed Hermiones forehead before he and Ginny exited the Hospital wing together.

Ron continued to read through the book in front of him, occasionally drinking some of the coffee that sat next to him. His face was expressionless as he read. Suddenly his eyebrows shot up and he sat up quickly in his chair. He trembled with excitement as he read a passage titled the "Amorus Coctus" which said:

"The remedy of any spell or potion, no matter how grotesque, horrifying, or black they may be, can be found in the Amorus Coctus. It is a remedy, which is fueled by the purest of loves. He who is trying to cure a loved one must fill a glass with their own tears, and then he who is infected must drink this liquid. If the love and grief is pure and true from both parties, the infected will be healed. One may only consume one glass of tears in a lifetime, so the remedy may only be attempted once."

The hope that had been stored in Ron's heart grew as he read those words. Could it possibly work? He quickly stood with the book and ran to show Professor Dumbledore what he had found.

********

Ron stood in front of the entrance to Dumbledores office and tried to remember the password that they had been given as prefects. 'Damn, what the bloody hell was it?' Ron asked himself impatiently. 'Sweetssugar quillsevery flavor beanspumpkin pastiesahh yes!!! Chocolate frogs!!!'

"Chocolate Frogs" Ron said and smiled when the statue he was facing moved to show him the entrance to Dumbledores office. He ran up the steps and finally got to the door. This was no time for politenesshe knocked quite loudly on the office door and shouted "Professor I must speak with you, right away!!! I think I found a cure!" As he was knocking at the door it suddenly opened which almost caused him to fall on his face. He looked up and saw it was none other than Snape who had opened it as he was exiting the meeting he had had with Dumbledore. Ron and Snape exchanged their usual dirty looks before Ron went into see Dumbledore. When Snape had passed Ron he smiled to himself. He actually found Ron's devotion to Hermione a bit touchingnot that anyone would ever find out

Meanwhile, Ron had entered the office. He sat in a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk. The headmaster looked at him as he sat and asked, "How may I help you Mr. Weasley?"

Ron quickly prayed that what he was reporting would work and then replied "I think I may have found something to help her." They both knew who "her" was. He put the book he had brought in front of Dumbledore and fidgeted nervously as the Headmaster read the passage. 'I really hope this is good news, and not a waste' Ron thought.

Dumbledore looked up and into Ron's eyes and said "Yes, Mr. Weasley, I have known of this remedy. I'm not sure whether or not it will actually work, though."

"I don't understand sir."

"Well, a love pure enough for this spell to work is a rare one to find. Family cannot use it because that kind of love is obligatory to an extent. This love may come straight from the heart. It must be unquestioned and true. Plus, the receiver must feel the same love for the person who is concocting the remedy. True love nowadays is rare, which is why the Amorus Coctus is rarely used."

Ron thought over what the Professor had just said. Hermione's family could do nothing. 'Well, I love hermore than anythingbut does she love me enough?' he asked himself.

He thought about Hermione, her every word and gesture. He knew he could not live without her; that he had to try.

"Sir, I think I could do this. I know I love her enough, and in that way." Despite the seriousness of the situation, Ron began to blush at his words.

"This love must be unquestioned. Has your devotion ever been tested?"

Ron thought over the events of his relationship with Hermione. Had it been questioned? Then he suddenly remembered. "The tart in Ravenclaw!" he exclaimed.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows questioning Ron's words. "What was that Mr. Weasley?"

"Ohuh excuse me sir. I meant the half veela in Ravenclaw. AhNatalia's her name. When Hermione was first infected she kind of tried to get something going with me. You know what I mean don't you sir?"

The headmaster was almost amused at the question. "Yes, I think I remember what that means."

"Yeah...well-" Ron continued, "-she was saying all this stuff about how no one had to know. She is quite beautiful but I wasn't even tempted. I knew I could never do that to Hermione, without question."

A spark of hope began to dance in Dumbledores cerulean eyes. "You resisted veela charma rare victory in itself." He looked over Ron. This boy who had come to Hogwarts that was now almost a man. Then he decided.

"Mr. Weasley, I think you may be able to succeed. This is in fact the only hope we have to save Ms. Granger. Now I suppose the only question is if she feels the same way towards you. Are you sure about this?"

Ron sighed. At any other time that would simply be a crushing blow to his ego. 'This is the only chance she has ' he reminded himself. Ron stood up from his chair, took the book from the desk, and said in a steady voice "I'm positive" before nodding and exiting the room.

Ron raced back to the Hospital Wing, ready to do what had to be done. The only question was, did she in fact love him enough?

Authors Note: Will it work? Will she be saved? Will she be saved, but be brain dead? Review to find out! (Thanks to all whom have!)