Right...well I feel like scum. For one, I'm back in school which is enough to kill off any decent person. And then I haven't had time to update for a number of reasons (like my stupid virus infected computer. Kill all pop-ups!). Oh, and my dog is like injured. On the bright side though my friend's got a new little sister. However, with all this chaos, please understand, I'm gonna have to skip reader recognition again. I am reeeeeally sorry. As soon as I get a little more organized, I promise they'll be back.

Now, as a heads up, the story is not even close to over. I'll bet you thought Hermione was gonna go find George and they'd defeat Voldemort and Ron would be mad and that would be bad. Well, sorry, not so easy. That would be a rather short story anyways. Remember, this story is about Ron and Hermione. Not George and Hermione, Ron and Hermione. (Don't yell at me sheesh it's just a story) So there won't be much George and Hermione till the end, which will be a little while.

Ok, so neways. I'll shut up and get on with it.

??START??


"Comfort her Harry!?" Ron laughed. "Right."

Hermione jumped out of Harry's arms. "Ron..." she began.

"I was comforting her Ronald!" Harry cut in. "You don't even know the half of it!"

"Harry..." Hermione warned.

"Yeah, well she seems very comforted!"

"Ron..."

"Well then I did a better job then you!"

"Harry..."

"Ha! Comfort my arse. Bloddy hell Harry! If you—"

Hermione lost her temper. "Shut up both of you!!" She turned towards Ron. "I came out here to—well just to get away. Harry was just here to see if I was ok. I do not like him in that way. Will you just calm down."

Ron bowed his head ashamed.

"And you Harry," Hermione scolded rounding on the dark haired boy who cowered under her glare. "Ron is your best friend. I am fine and from now on...I will take care of myself."

"No!" Ron interjected. "I can't let you do that."

"And why not?"

"Because..."

Harry stepped in. "Because he promised George he'd take care of you Hermione." He smiled at Ron. "And he can do that. I'm not your older brother Herm."

Ron smiled at Harry and the two boys laughed as Ron punched Harry's shoulder. "Thanks mate."

"Is that really true?" Hermione asked in a tiny voice.

Ron and Harry turned to face her startled. They had almost forgotten she was there. "What?"

"Ron, did George really ask you to protect me?"

Ron nodded firmly. "Yeah. Why?"

Hermione let out a gasping sob. "He knew..."

"Hermione?" Ron asked concerned.

"He knew he wasn't coming back."


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Voldemort's eyes shot open. "No, she's not coming. Maybe I have been wrong?" He shut his eyes again and the face of a freckly young redhead swam in front of his eyes. "No. No it can't be."

He glanced over and the once withering George who now stared up at him in triumph. "That's my brother. I told him—to protect her."

"No! Lord Voldemort is never wrong! It just may take a while. Sleep." Voldemort pointed his wand at the twin and George felt his muscles tense.

"No. What. Are. You. Doing."

"Sleep boy. Sleep until she comes again." George's movements stopped all together as his breathing became smooth and even.


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Fred's search team met with Hermione, Ron, and Harry half way out of the woods.

"Hermione!" Ginny screamed dipping down and landing beside her. She wrapped her friend in a hug. "You're ok!"

"Where's Luna?" Harry demanded of Fred.

Fred pointed over his shoulder. "Calm down mate. She's back at the house safe and sound." Harry let out a deep sigh of relief. "Well, mates, what are you waitin' for. Let's get going. Mum'll have a fit if we don't get back soon."

He mounted his broom and Angelina settled behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He turned his head and smiled at her. Hermione swung her leg over the back of Ginny's broom and closed her eyes. Ron and Harry got on Angelina's unoccupied broom. Each person kicking off the ground they headed home to The Burrow.

Hermione opened her eyes to look at Ron and was startled to find him staring back at her. She smiled and he waved. Harry laughed and rolled his eyes. Hermione went back to closing her eyes. She did not like flying.

Ron's eyes never left Hermione. He loved her, he really did. And he would protect her with his life. There was something strange though, like she was hiding something from him.

By the time they reached The Burrow the sun was setting. Everyone in a much better mood then they had been that morning they hurried inside to a worried Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh you're all ok! Oh I was so worried!"

"Mum!" Ron flushed as his mom pulled him into a hug. "We're fine."

She turned her attention to Hermione. "Dumbledor wishes to speak with you dear. He contacted me not three minutes after Fred left to find you."

Hermione gulped. "Um, did he mention what he wanted to talk about?"

Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "Are you ok Hermione?" Ron asked concerned.

Hermione nodded slowly then, "No, no I'm not." And it was true. She had gone pale and seemed like she was ready to get sick. "I—I think I'll just go lie down for a while." With that she raced upstairs dramatically leaving the rest of them staring after her.


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Ok, skipping all sorts of ending stuff here cuz I want to get this update in. I'm going to try from now on to update at least every two weeks, but you've gotta understand, my teachers have no respect for fanfiction and they don't see it as a reason as to why I didn't do my literature homework. So, I guess I had better go do that

Chilli