Okay I forgot to put this on the prologue but this is a Ron and Hermione fic, it is my first fan fic so advice and comments are welcomed. The chapter titles are lines from the song Once Upon a Dream from the musicall Jekyll and Hyde (see it if you ever have a chance the music is brilliant).

Special thanks to my beta Leeanne who has helped a ton with this story and to KamiK, thanks for believing in me and making me show you what I was writing.

Disclaimer: Yes I do understand reality, I am not JK Rowling and never will be, these wonderful characters are not mine and they will never be. I also don't own the song Once Upon a Dream that is owned by Nan Kingston who is a brilliant lyricist.

Chapter 1: Once Upon a Dream, We were lost in Love's embrace there we found a perfect place once upon a dream....

Her memories now assaulted her with full force, the first train ride, the first Halloween, the search for the Sorcerer's Stone, the basilisk the second year, the events of the third year finally bringing out the truth about the Potter's death and Peter Pettigrew, the tri-wizard tournament, Victor, Cedric's death, the return of Voldemort, the Order, that horrible night down in the Department of Mysteries- that had been the first night she had ever thought it was possible for her to die, then 6th year- that had held its moments with the news Voldemort was back every witch and wizard in the country was ready for the end to come at any time. She thought of all that as she flipped the pages and found a picture of her and Harry from the 6th year she stared at her 16 year old self and started to laugh this was the year she and Harry had 'dated'- Okay so it was one date but that one date had been a disaster...

They were making their way back to the common room and she knew that this had all been a mistake it was not going to work and now she only hoped that she could still save their friendship. Before they entered the portrait hall Harry turned and stopped her-

"Hermione you know you're really great and all but..." his voice began to trail off.

"I know Harry I feel the same way" she responded quickly

Relief flooded Harry's face and then, taking her by surprise he stuck out his pinky finger. In a deep solemn voice he said, "Swear to me Hermione Jane Granger in the most solemn vow that we will always remain friends."

"Best friends," she added giggling, "no more, no less." with that said she grabbed his pinky with her own sealing the vow.

As they entered the portrait hole Harry leaned over to her and whispered in her ear "but you know Ron, now I could see some fireworks there."

She blushed at his name (When had been the last time she had blushed at the thought of Ron she wondered?) then slugging Harry on the arm she said, "Harry that is one man that you will never have to worry about."

"Just looking out for you Hermione." he said

'Thanks Harry." and she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I will always be here, looking out for you."

And he always had been. Yes both Ron and Harry were her best friends and Ginny was the only girl she felt she could to turn to but Harry had become like the brother she had always wanted but never had and she knew that he felt the same way about her.

Harry! She thought she could go and talk to him, he would know what to do, he would know how to fix it all. With a rush of joy she ran to the fire place, when reality set in. "I just cant right now," she thought, "he can't be burdened with all of this not with the wedding a few days away." Poor boy had enough to worry about without trying to solve her problems.

"Oh Harry I have messed things up so badly this time," she said aloud looking back at the picture "and for once I don't know how to fix it, this one time I don't have the answer."

She turned the page feeling her tears returning when she saw a picture of Ron in full Quidditch gear. She reached her fingers toward the picture and touched his face. "Oh Ron," she said, "Why?"

"Why what?" she thought. "Why didn't we see it sooner? Why did we waste all that time? Why are we doing this to each other?"

Looking back on her Hogwarts years she understood what the little things had meant between them. The fights, the small exchanges with one another. He had always been her friend, he was the one that urged her on making her do better and she had wanted to make him proud. Did she still? When was the last time he had even taken interest in her work or egged her on to finish her research? Then again on the flip side what had she done to support him? It's a two way street she told herself.

Turning to the next page she started to laugh again- it felt good to laugh, she hadn't done it in so long. The picture was one of her, Harry and Ron in the midst of the entire Weasley family. They had all come for graduation day at Hogwarts...

Though the wizarding world was at war there were still some bright moments few that was true but today was going to be one of the best, she knew it. It was today that they were finally graduating from Hogwarts and tomorrow Harry, Ron and she were going to be fully inducted into the Order. Today was for them, their last as children she reflected. Tomorrow and Voldemort would have to wait one more day..

She was sitting under "their tree" by the lake waiting for the boys to arrive. They had arrived together and Harry started to tell her how Ron had just managed to get away from a 3rd year that had developed quite a crush on him and had been following him around like a puppy dog. She and Harry teased him endlessly about this but as they sat laughing and joking she began to feel a deep sorrow inside. This was it- it was over. Gone were the days that they could come back to the safety and protection of this school, her experience here had changed her life and like that, it was over.

She looked at her two best friends and began to cry- she knew that they weren't leaving her and that they would still see each other constantly, but it just wouldn't be the same. Things were going to change and she had the sinking feeling she was the one going to be left behind.

Ron was the first that had noticed she was crying, she had learned to control her emotions over the years and he had known that her crying was not a good sign. He then moved over and hugged her with Harry soon joining in. The three of them sat there for a minute tears falling down all three cheeks as they thought about the changes about to take place in their lives. It was then that they realized the special bond that they had- they had survived so much over the past years: death, love, heartbreak, trolls, Ron's idiotic comments, Harry's moodiness and her bossy know it all attitude- and they had remained friends.

The three of them had sat there and knew that no matter what this bond would continue and nothing would ever be able to break that friendship.

She looked down at the picture one more time and offered a quick prayer of thanks for these two men in her life. They were her everything and she knew she would have never made it without them.

The next two years had gone by quickly living in virtual hiding as they worked with the order, they were fighting a losing war and the weight of knowing that it would only end after your best friend either killed or was killed really had weighed on her. On top of all this she had started to develop feelings for Ron and was trying, very successfully, she thought to hide them.

Together the three of them had devised plan after plan only to have them shot down by members of the order. The plans were thought to be too dangerous and too risky. They all knew that the end was approaching they couldn't stay in hiding forever but no one seemed to think the time was right. Till the night they had decided to take matters into their own hands, this was the night that had changed her life forever....

She couldn't breathe. Someone's hand was covering her mouth and saying her name in her ear-

'Mione, wake up.' There was only one person that called her that she thought as she forced herself awake. She looked up at Ron and then down at his hand "Sorry," he said sheepishly as her removed his hand "we didn't want you to scream."

"What are you two doing in here?" she whispered

"I'm going tonight Hermione," Harry said his gaze falling to the floor "I have to end this once and for all. Ron and I just wanted to say goodbye before we left."

"I'm going with you," she stated jumping out bed and heading towards the dressing screen in the room. "You know you will both need me it is going to take all three of us and..."

"No Mione," Ron interjected "You need to stay here, I don't want to see you hurt and I know that Harry doesn't want to see it either, Mione we just want to see you safe."

She walked from behind the dressing screen now full clothed and ready to go, pulling her hair back into a pony tail she said "I'm going, you know you are going to need me." Ron had started to protest again but she quickly cut him off .

"Boys, I am flattered that you want me safe but this will take all three of us. Plus Ron, I don't want your mum yelling at me tomorrow when she finds out you and Harry are gone."

"Mione we have talked about this and we can do it on our own. You've taught us everything that we need to know and then some. We aren't letting you come." Ron stated his voice starting to rise.

She walked over to him "You really are sweet sometimes, you know that right?" and she kissed him on the cheek, "but I am still coming."

"Mione-"

"No Ron," it was Harry this time that cut him off ,"she is right... she needs to come."

Ron looked at Harry as if he had just committed and unforgivable curse. "Come on," Harry continued "We are wasting time, lets go." Harry began to make for the door but then turned around and added "but Hermione one scent, one inkling of mortal danger for you and you are to apparate to the Three Broomsticks- are we clear on that?

"Yes Harry." she said fully intending on not keeping that promise.

They then hurried out of her room and made their way outside where they apparated to the Burrow.

Since all the Weasley's were at the Order's Head Quarters, the Burrow was the safest place to meet and discuss everything. No one could apperate there unless they were a member of the Order. The three of them had just arrived and were beginning to discuss the finer points of the plan when they heard a voice from the shadows-

"There you three are. I thought you had decided to go strait to Hogsmede and that I would have to find you there."

"Ginny," Harry exclaimed pulling her from the corner she had been hiding in "You are not supposed to be here."

"Why not? You let Hermione come." she replied.

"How did you know we were coming anyway?" Harry asked

"Well you two," her head indicating to Harry and Ron "made quite the scene in Hermione's bedroom earlier how was the girl sleeping next door not supposed to wake up?" Ginny giggled but then quickly turned somber "Do you really think that I would let my two best friends and my brother go off and fight with out me? If anything happened to any of you three and I wasn't there to at least help..." her voice began to trail off as tears began to fill her eyes.

"It's okay Gin," Hermione said pulling her into a hug "I'm glad you are here."

Ron and Harry didn't look like they felt the same way but the girls were here and there was not much they could do to stop them now. They had been together for so long now, the four of them, that they worked together as a team reading each others thoughts, anticipating each others actions- yes this is how it needed to be as hard as it was, there was no other way.

They sat up until early in the morning planning and strategizing before heading upstairs for a quick and needed rest. When they reached the spare room, where she would be staying for the night, Harry and Ginny hugged her and then went on towards Ginny's bedroom. As she watched them go she wondered if tonight would be the night that Harry told Ginny everything? How he felt about her, his hopes and dreams for the future. She watched them go not failing to notice the man who still was standing beside her. Slowly he slipped his arm around her shoulder drawing her closer in.

"Why Ron?" she whispered "Why couldn't we have had a normal childhood? Why couldn't we have just grown up and been friends and never have to worry about Voldemort taking over, our family and friends being tortured and killed?" her voice began to get shaky, "Not having to worry about your best friend dying" she choked out before breaking into a full sob.

Ron just brought her to his chest and let her cry. After several minutes she just looked at him again "Why Ron? Why do we have to go through this? Why can't we just be us not having to check around every corner and every alley to make sure a death eater is not there to kill us? Why does Harry have to worry about telling Ginny how he feels? Ron I just want to know, I just want this all to be over and for all of us to be happy again."

"Mione, I don't have all the answers. I wish I did, but I don't. I don't know why it couldn't be different- I can't even tell you if we are going to succeed today, but I can tell you one thing." he hesitated for a moment here "I know why Harry hasn't told Gin how he feels yet. He is afraid- afraid that he will lose her. Afraid that if he tells her how he really feels and he dies she won't be able to go on. It is just easier to leave it at friends right now and then see what happens. Then if something does go wrong tonight it...." his voice trailed off not realizing he had been speaking with so much passion and conviction he began to blush slightly.

She rounded on him, "Well what about her feelings? Have you thought of those. If anything does happen tonight couldn't she find some solace in what she did have? She wouldn't have to worry about what might have been had she told him and she could be able to find comfort in that he had cared for her and that she might be able to cope with this all a little better." her own voice now rising.

"Mione"

"No Ron, she has a right to know, she has a right to know in case anything happens she needs that-"

"No she doesn't. Dammit woman! He is just trying to keep her safe. If Voldemort knew how Harry really felt about her it would be used against him and her. He is trying to protect her like I am trying to protect you!" he hadn't even realized what he had said until he saw the look of shock on her face.

"Bloody hell, Hermione, I'm sorry I was just, you know.."

She stopped him "No Ron tell me. What did you mean 'you're trying to protect me?' It is the second time tonight that you have said that. Why me? Why not me and Ginny? Why not Harry? Why are you trying to protect me?" she said he voice sounding very small

"Never mind it is not important. Go to bed now, I will see you in a few hours." he said turning to continue up the staircase to his room.

"Dammit, Ronald Weasley, you turn around right now and tell me what in the hell you are talking about."

Ron knew from her tone and her word selection that he was in trouble. She never cursed, rarely let anyone see that she was not in control of her emotions and here on what could be their last night together he had made her mad.

'Mione' he said exacerbated.

"Don't you Mione me right now Ronald. That is not going to help you at all. You either tell me what you meant or I'll..." but he never got to find out what she would do. He'd walked over to her in two steps and without hesitating pulled her into a kiss.

At first she didn't know what to do or think. She just stood there as the shock set in. She was kissing her best friend, her friend that she had tried to bury all feelings for knowing that it would never happen, but it was. He drew away staring at her with regret and disappointment. Then it hit her, she hadn't kissed him back, she had been in shock that she hadn't responded to him.

"Well, um, goodnight then Hermione." Ron whispered. As he began to turn away she grabbed him and kissed him again. As they broke apart he looked at her as if waiting, no, willing her to say something.

"Ron, I, I, I ...." she said trailing off

"Oh Mione," he said drawing her into him again "I didn't want to tell you, I don't want to see you hurt any more than is necessary. You didn't, no, you shouldn't have found out this way.

"Found out what Ron? So far you haven't told me anything." she said looking up at him.

"Please don't make this any harder then it already is, let's just..."

She cut him off "Let's just what Ron? Worry about it after? Well wake up. There may not be an after there might not even be a tomorrow- this might be it."

"And if it isn't?" he asked

"Then we will worry about it then but for the first time in years you have finally gotten a clue and now you want to forget it? Maybe you can Ron but I can't so here it goes. I may live to regret this, and Merlin knows I hope I do but I love you Ron Weasley. I have for a long time now, if this really is my last night I just want you to know that." She turned around and opened the door to her room praying that he would stop her. She felt a hand on her shoulder willing her to stay.

"Do you mean it?" he asked softly

"Yes, every word." she said still not turning around but hoping he would say something.

"Mione please don't go. I love you, I always have, well maybe not as much as I do right now," he said with a grin "it has come on so gradually that I think I was up to my knees when I realized. I love you Hermione Granger, no matter what happens you need to know and understand that. With this said he turned her around and kissed her again, together they broke down the last walls of resistance and fear.

"Ron," she said moving away, "Will you just stay and hold me tonight? I need you, I need you to be there when I wake up, I just want you to hold me please."

He took her hand and led her into the room and shutting the door behind them.