Helloooo, I'm SOOOOO sorry I made ya'll wait so long. I hate when people do that and here I am doing it to you guys. Blah!

I think we've got maybe 1-3 left and then an epilogue. I don't think I'm gonna do a sequel because quite frankly, I wouldn't have a clue to write. I'll definitely do that epilogue for you guys though. Enjoy and R/R! Luvs,Sara

Disclaimer: the woman who owns them lives far away from me and has more money than I can ever dream of.

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The first thing Hermione recognized was the smell. It was the smell of the hospital wing. She had visited this place many times. The second thing she felt, was uncomfortable, she was laying on her back and the mattress was conformed to her body. Squeezing her eyes shut she tried pushing herself up on her elbows. She only managed to raise herself slightly, and she opened her eyes. Immediately aware of where she was and the pain she felt, she let out a small moan. She felt as if a knife was jammed between her ribs. Looking down, she realized that she was wearing a pair of pajama bottoms, a dressing robe, and around her chest and rib area was a thick bandage that wrapped around her body starting under her neckline and under her arms, ending right above her belly button. It was quite tight around her chest and made her have a little cleavage. It was still pretty much dark outside, but there was a twinge of light pink making its way over the horizon.

Not able to hold herself up anymore, for her arms were very sore, she put her pillow behind her and rested her back against it so she was sitting up but was still comfortable. Rubbing her sides and ribs, she turned her head to look around her when she heard a voice.

"Hey," whispered Ron. He was sitting just like she was in his bed his bedspread full of chocolate frog wrappers.

"Hey yourself," she repeated back somewhat surprised, her voice thick with sleep.

"How are you?" He asked nervously, taking a glance up and down her body, which made her blush.

She shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm okay I guess. How are you. what about Harry, and Ginny?" She asked about Harry and Ginny with care.

"They're fine. The only reason they're here in the wing is cause Madame Pomfrey wants to make sure we're all okay. They're down at breakfast right now, but I wanted to stay so you wouldn't worry when you woke up. Ginny had a couple bruises and scrapes on her back and Harry has bruises around his neck and some scratches."

Hermione bit her lip. This was all her fault.

He read the expression on her face and he got out of his bed and sat down in the chair next to her bed so he could be closer to her. Her heart began to beat quicker in being in such close proximity with him, and that grin he gave her. Oh he was so wonderful. She took a glance up and down his body and saw he was simply wearing a pair of dark blue pajama pants with his shoes and socks off, one thick bandage covering his left foot with only his toes visible, and his Weasley sweater.

"And - what about you?"

His grin faded a little bit.

"There's some cuts and scrapes, but the curse.. " He trailed off.

"What is it Ron?"

"Nothing."

"Ron. you know you can tell me."

He took a deep breath and said, "It hit where the welts were from the brain which made them hurt like hell."

She didn't know what to say. Her clouding eyes said it all for her anyways.

"But I'm fine."

Hermione shook her head. She let out a small sob and clutched her stomach. It hurt.

"Ron what have I done?" she asked him.

He cast her a confused look and moved closer to her.

"I killed my mum and dad, I almost killed you. I almost killed Harry and Ginny. Dumbledore," she whimpered.

"There was no way of you knowing that this was going to happen to us. It probably would've happened eventually. "

"I begged you to come with me."

"I wanted to."

"You could have died."

"It would have been worth it."

"All my fault."

"No it wasn't, just stop."

"Everything just feels like it is though! I will never blame Harry for his 'saving people thing' ever again."

Ron looked down and let out a deep breath. "This is such fucking shit."

She frowned at his colorful use of vocabulary but chose not to say anything about it. "I know," she said quietly agreeing with him.

He stood up at this point and limped over to the window. "The world! It just doesn't make sense how some people can be SO careless and not give to shits about anything but themselves!"

Hermione sucked in a breath and began to realize how alike they both thought about the world. "Ron - "

"How could they just go and kill innocent people?! You Know Wh - Voldemort, he killed so many damn people, Hermione! Harry's parents, Cedric, Sirius. your mum and dad. What's his point of doing this??? What the hell, is it ever going to change," he asked rhetorically.

"It's got to," she whispered.

"How can you know that?"

"Because, we can't be living in a hell like this forever. Voldemort is going to have to die eventually."

Ron looked over at her with narrowed eyes. "What do you think the prophecy is? We only heard some of it."

"I don't know, but I don't think Harry would tell us until he's ready; but we know he knows it at least." Hermione said loyally.

"Hermione?" He said breathlessly.

"Yeah?"

"If I tell you something, will you promise not to hate me?"

"Ron - I could never hate you."

"You might for this.. "

"Try me," she said as she raised her eyebrows at him.

He walked over to her and perched himself on her bed sitting with his leg on the side, one knee resting on the bed, he was very close to her. So close in fact, that she could smell his scent of pine and chocolate.

"When it was only me and you fighting the Death Eaters and everything, I was almost hoping Harry wouldn't show up, so I could save you and me on my own so I could be the hero for once, ya know?"

Hermione nodded. She understood, because she and Ron were the only ones in the world to know how it felt to be Harry Potter's best friend.

"Is that it?" She asked with confusion.

He shook his head, "No. When Harry was saying the prophecy, I wanted Voldemort to keep the curse on Harry. Just so I could hear the prophecy."

Hermione swallowed.

"I feel so selfish, but I just want to know it. Sometimes it feels like he just never tells us anything anymore, and I want to be more than the low key best friend who is always looked at second."

"Ron - you're not low key."

"I'll never be the hero Harry is. I'll never be as smart as you are. Never as good as Ginny is at hexes," he said with resent.

"You're good at so many other things though Ron!"

"Like what?" He asked disbelieving. The look on his face melted Hermione's heart. He was such a wonderful person and he didn't even know it.

"You saved my life 2 nights ago, you'd protect and die for your family, you've backed Harry up more than anyone else, you always stand up for me if Malfoy takes a go, and nobody in the universe would ever burp up slugs for me," she finished with a grin.

Ron let out a shaky breath, "How can everything be so terrible. "

"But so wonderful at the same time," Hermione finished for him.

Their eyes locked on each other's, and in that moment, it felt as if nothing existed except the two of them. No war outside. No prophecy. He grinned at her that breathtaking lopsided grin and she smiled back her eyes shining with pure desire for the boy - no, young man in front of her.

He took a deep breath and the next few words he said made her heart stop.

"I reckon I'm going to kiss you Hermione."

And he did just that. With 8 simple words.

Hermione was so shocked that her eyes flew wide open but after realizing what was actually happening, she let them close softly and relaxed into the kiss. Neither of them made any move to deepen the perfectly innocent kiss. She noticed how soft and gentle his lips were and wondered how and why she had never kissed him in the 6 years they had known each other. It sent tingles over her entire body and she never wanted to stop.

Ron's hand was resting lightly on her hip and his other was on the other side of her holding himself up. Hermione had one hand on his shoulder while the other was behind his neck keeping him close to her. She had never felt anything more wonderful and comforting than Ron's kiss.

Then he pulled away softly. She kept her eyes closed though and brought her hand out from behind his neck to place her fingers softly on her lips as if she could still feel his lips there.

She opened her eyes and looked into Ron's. His eyes were so blue at that moment. Darker than she had ever seen them before and he was looking at her as if he adored her.

"Wow," she said looking at him pleasantly surprised.

Ron blushed and she said, "That was.. "

"Hermione I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted. I didn't expect you to. I don't know what came over me," Ron looked down embarrassed.

"... Wonderful." Hermione finished.

"Really?" Ron said a hopeful squeak in his voice.

She didn't vocalize her answer. Instead she took his face in her hands and brought it towards her capturing him in a kiss again.

He pulled away slightly and said with a smile, "I'll take that as a yes."

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Well I HOPE you're all happy. I know I am. I was thinking maybe I'd wait, but I decided not to. Hope you guys liked it and I promise I'll update faster this time. Pleeease R/R! Much Luv, Sara