"Happy Christmas!" Hermione's voice rang throughout the house. Ginny & Mrs. Weasley ran to assist her as Hermione struggled in with at least half a dozen bags.

"Moving in are you?" Grinned Ginny. Hermione laughed.

"Not likely. Mum & Dad were hesitant enough to let me come here for Christmas." She lifted her bags & nodded to the ones in Ginny's arms. "These are full of gifts and…."
"Books, of course." Ron finished. He was standing at the kitchen table. He had wanted to run & help his girlfriend, but as with many other regular activities, he could only wait for her to come to him.

A brief sadness appeared in Hermione's eyes. A look only Mrs. Weasley saw & understood. But Hermione put on a smile & ran to hug the young man she loved.

"Come, Ginny. Let's let them catch up."
"Give it up, Mum. They wanna snog. It's probably been, what a day since you've seen each other?" The two Weasley women left the room & Hermione helped Ron to the sofa.
"How are you today?" she asked.

"Getting worse. Magic's not working; I can't feel my toes on the left anymore." Hermione blanched. "Said we'd be honest, right? I'm no weaker, really, but I can tell the wizards at St Mungo's are stumped."
"I'll find a cure."
Ron kissed Hermione tenderly, then blushed & looked around.

"Still so weird doing that in my own home." he said. Hermione didn't reply. She just pulled him close & kissed him again.

She would find a cure.

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The Weasley boys had arrived later that same night, Ron had excused himself just moments before to go to bed. It was still rather early & seemed to throw a damper on the evening. Hermione & Harry had decided to go work on their Auror lessons before bed as well and the rest of the family was left to itself.

"He doesn't look good, Dad." Bill said quietly.

"No, he doesn't, I'll admit. But he's in wonderful spirits. I don't think the realization has truly hit him as to how serious the situation is."

"It's that dear Hermione. She keeps him happy & is working so hard. I'm getting worried about her, too."

"Mione's strong, Mum." Chimed in Ginny, though she was doing her best not to listen. Ron was fully aware of the severity of his condition. He had, in fact, begun making out a will. He had sworn Ginny, Harry & Hermione not to let his parents know. They still had some hope & although Ron himself wasn't going to just give in, he felt it necessary to prepare those he loved. In her heart, Ginny knew her parents were in denial. They were around him every day & small changes went unnoticed, whereas Ron's siblings & friends saw him with the perspective of absence. Ginny had a minor shock when she arrived home from school. She'd had no idea that Ron could actually be worse than when she had left in September. He'd still been at St. Mungos—trying to walk again. He had told her he'd be running by Christmas & she knew it was just a front, but she still half-expected to see the lively brother she remembered from last holiday.

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"Harry, I have a gift for you. It's not much & I wish I had more, but I think it'll help, a little." Dumbledore handed Harry a small bottle. It was full of crystal clear liquid that shimmered in the candlelight. "I was going to gift it to Minerva, but she wouldn't accept & told me to give it to you." Harry, bewildered, just gazed at his friend.

"It's a great responsibility, Harry, to live so long. However, it's a greater responsibility to make a life-extending potion." Dawning realization lit up Harry's face. Renewed hope filled him.

"This'll cure Ron!"

"No, Harry. I'm afraid it won't. As soon as I learned of Ron's illness, I consulted physicians & wizards who are a bit wiser in those matters than I. A small amount was administered to young Mr. Weasley shortly after Voldemort's defeat. It sped up his recovery, but did not reverse any damage that had been done. It'll help slow the process, but it won't cure him. As it is, with Severus' help he could last for another year or so before growing worse. With this, well, it may give Hermione a decade to find a real cure."

Just as quickly as Harry's hopes rose, they fell.

"He can't die, Professor."

"He can & he will, Harry. We all will—in time." He finished with a small wink. "Ron is more prepared than all of you. Remember what I told you, when my friend Nicholas & I decided to destroy the stone?"

"To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

"And it's true. Ron has time & is getting organized, is he not? He's loved & for the most part, he is happy. Be grateful for what you have & try not to dwell too much on things you can't control."

Harry carefully put the small bottle in his pocket. He knew Dumbledore was right, but it didn't make it any easier.

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Christmas morning dawned bright & clear. The snow sparkled & the world looked new. Ron stood at his bedroom window with his hand clenched in a fist. He believed this could be the last Christmas he had—he'd actually been ready & quite accepting of that. Looking at his hand now realized he hadn't been as prepared as he thought.

Harry had given him the bottle last night when they were alone. Ron asked Harry not to tell Hermione yet, as he didn't want to raise her hopes. She'd been studying so hard & working so diligently. Mum viewed her as a saint these days. He smiled. She was amazing.

He didn't want to die. Yet he saw the good that came out of his encounter with Lucius Malfoy. He thought of what could have been & was comforted by the hundreds of lives saved. The loss of his own life was a small sacrifice, he knew—but it would be devastating for his mother, for Hermione, & he know, significantly, for Harry.

Harry had never gotten over Sirius' death. The fact he was spending so much time with Dumbledore attested to the fact that harry felt cheated out of at least a good-by with Sirius. This conclusion, of course, was pointed out to Ron by the ever-observant Hermione. But Ron had started to recognize the same thing. Harry's willingness to teach Ron all he'd learned in Auror training, all the time Harry spent with Ron when he was home….seemed much easier to be the one going as opposed to the one staying.

He put the bottle in a Chudley Cannons tin from his cluttered shelf. Spending years in his current state hardly appealed to Ron. He wanted to basically just get on with it. He would be unable to convince Hermione to stop her searching, but he could cut short the time she wasted & let her get on with her life. He refused to hope anymore. Hoping only led to more disappointment. Better to accept his lot & go bravely than cling to a world no longer meant for him.

He wouldn't tell Harry, no one would know. He wouldn't prolong his life. He put the box under his bed & walked to the door. Sounds of the home's occupants filtered their way upstairs. Taking a deep breath, Ron braced himself for the long day & the finality of his decision.

"All good?" Harry asked anxiously as soon as Ron appeared in the kitchen.

"All good." Ron replied with his characteristic lopsided grin.

"Morning dear." Mrs. Weasley kissed Ron then turned. "FRED & GEORGE WEASLEY! GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT! TODAY IS NO DAY TO PUT FIZZING WHIZBEES IN THE EGGNOG!!"

The others laughed. Christmas in the Burrow had begun.

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"Ate too much….."

"Going to burst…." Fred & George stretched out on the sofa. The family had a long day of celebrating & with dishes done, presents unwrapped & every last treacle tart eaten, they all settled in a good comfy spot to digest. Ron, Hermione, Ginny & Harry had left to escort Dumbledore back to his cottage, along with his guest, Hagrid. Hagrid had arrived with Fang in tow, causing general mayhem & a few puddles that needed cleaning up. But the home had been full to its brim with merriment & Hagrid----as well as Fang----were invited back soon.

The group didn't linger long at Dumbledore's, but Harry & Ginny left Hermione & Ron behind, at Ron's request. Ginny knew they'd be a while & was grateful for time alone with Harry. They hadn't had a minute to themselves yet to really talk. Unfortunately, Harry's mind seemed to be elsewhere so Ginny, content to just be with him, gazed at the diamond-bright stars. Thinking of the beauty of the day & the sorrow they all had hidden in their hearts, she was barley aware of her sigh. Therefore, she was startled when Harry took her hand. She looked at him, to her hand & then back to those green eyes.

"Okay?"

She nodded, words were utterly lost & she thought a fainting might be coming on.

"I've missed you." Harry spoke so softly, Ginny was convinced she'd lost her mind & had started making up voices in her head.

"I've been trying to get you alone for the last 3 days." He continued.

"I know."

"You do?"

"I mean, I've been busy, it's been busy....all of us…" She was flustered and he laughed.

"I know." he said. She squeezed his hand & leaned on his arm.

"I've missed you. School isn't as interesting anymore. I'm quite ready to be done with it."

"Have you decided what you'll do?"
"Auror training, of course," She said, head held high. "Though Mum insists there is no need."

A brief shadow passed over Harry's face. "But there is a need, isn't there, Harry?"

He looked down at her. No longer was she just Ron's baby sister, no longer could he pretend—nor did he want to—that she was only a friend. He loved her and that frightened him.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Dumbledore believes the real fight will never be over. I guess he's right. Someone will always want more power than what's good for them."
"Who?" she had an idea, but hoped to be wrong.

"Lucius Malfoy. Ever since he & Ron……he disappeared that day. Aurors have had no luck, even the Order's spies have turned up nothing. But he's the only one it could be."

"Not the only one, Harry. There's Draco."

He nodded, "I've thought of that, too. But I just can't believe he'd be stupid enough to try anything. He's not strong enough."
"Maybe not yet, but defeat the father & the son may rise to take his place."

Harry paused & then said dejectedly, "I just don't see ever having a quiet life."

Ginny stopped & stood in directly in front of Harry. "It may not be quiet, Harry Potter, but it will be good. You are not alone."

He gazed at her with such a look she felt weak. Her brain screamed "KISS HIM!" and apparently, he heard it to. He cupped her cheek in his hand & smiled.

"I really have missed you."
"Same here."

Softly, he kissed her & the world went spinning. When it was over, Ginny finally felt like she was home at last.

They continued their walk to the Burrow in silence. The lights made the ramshackle house look cozy & inviting. Ginny sighed again, unable, however, to suppress a huge grin. Holding up her hand in Harry's she said, "So, what do you think my brothers'll have to say?"

Harry stopped dead in his tracks & groaned. Ginny giggled.