Once again a new chapter, hopefully there should only be about two more and then we are done. Thanks for all those who have reviewed and I promise to make sure there is a happy ending, in fact it starts in this chapter. Let the healing finally begin. Thanks as always to my lovely beta as well to the DB crew all of you have made this story what it is today.

Disclaimer- To think if I was JK Rowling, I would be so stickin rich right now I wouldn't have to worry about the bills on my desk or the car repairs that had to be made. Oh well as always I am not her.

Chapter 6: But sadly I'm not wise, it's hard to talk away the memories that you prize.

Ron stood looking at her, the shock at her words evident on his face. He looked as if he was going to speak but she cut him off. "Ron that was my decision, you know that as well as I do. You were ready to kill him and I was the one that stopped you. If I had just let you, Richard never would have died. Oh Ron, I am so sorry. I am so very sorry." She turned away from him not being able to hold the tears anymore.

She really hadn't meant for any of this to happen but her choices from years before were now coming back to haunt her. Why had she been so stupid then? No, not stupid, naive. She really thought that a life in Azkaban would have been worse for him than death, she had hoped that even if he had ever managed to get out he would remember she had showed him mercy when he least deserved it. Some people, she realized too late, have no honor. She felt a hand placed on her shoulder....

Night was falling over Hogsmede when they had arrived. There was no longer the bustle in the streets that there once had been, the shops stood empty and destroyed. Hogsmede had been abandoned soon after Dumbledore had closed Hogwarts to devote his full attention to stopping Voldemort. She could see the castle in the distance wondering what awaited them there. Only a few professors remained there to protect it but the Death Eaters surrounded them. Making camp in the Forbidden Forrest they waited for their chance to take the castle and those inside.

She stiffened as she felt a hand on her shoulder, but relaxed when she turned and saw it was Ron. He smiled at her and then looked over to Harry and Ginny. Nodding to one another the two boys lead the way towards the building that used to house Honeydukes. The four of them planned to get into the castle through the passageway in the basement. Moving slowly and carefully down the street they finally arrived. Harry and Ron ushered her and Ginny inside and then closed the door behind them.

She was shocked at what she was seeing; shattered glass everywhere and blast marks covered the walls. Had it really only been a few years ago she was in this store with the same three friends buying sweets? It didn't seem real to her anymore; none of this was real. "I'm going to wake up," she told herself "and find this all was a dream." The reality was only too apparent though as Ron took her hand and lead her down the stairs. Opening the passage way Harry looked at the three of them.

"Alright, we don't know what we are going to find when we get to Hogwarts, remember that. We know that Voldemort's camp is set up where the Quidditch Pitch was and from the last message Snape was able to get through he is ready to attack at anytime." The three nodded remembering the meeting the week before. "Once we are inside head directly to Dumbledore's office, I am sure by now he has been informed by the other members of the order that we have disappeared. I am also sure he has guessed we are coming here. No matter what he says, stick to the plan we are going to end this tonight. We need to." he added quietly

Finishing Harry entered the passage followed by Ginny. As she made to follow after her Ron grabbed her hand.

"Mione," he started and then seemed at a loss for words

"It's okay Ron, I understand." She said going up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Don't worry; I am going to be fine."

"Just promise me he said looking down at her, no matter what happens in there you will not go off by yourself. Stay with either me or Harry, you will be safe there."

"Ron," she sighed "I can take care of myself. It isn't like we haven't been in jams like this before. We will all come out of this alright you'll see. Voldemort will be gone and we can live our lives without fear anymore. I promise Ron, I can handle anything that comes my way." Seeing the look of doubt on his face she added grinning, "Has anything stopped me before?"

He looked down at her and smiled, "Of course not love, nothing has ever stopped my Mione. Just is careful okay- I don't want to lose you."

"You won't, I promise." They began to lean towards each other when Ginny's voice broke them apart.

"Oy, Ron? Hermione? Everything alright up there?"

She smiled at him and rolled her eyes at the unwanted interruption. "We are fine Gin. Just making sure no one can tell we have been here." She responded making her way towards the voice. Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"You are not going to get out of it that easy Granger." he said and finished what they had started only seconds before.

"Ron, we have to go. I promise to be careful okay- just make me the same promise? Don't try and act the hero Ron, please?" she pleaded with him

"We'll see Mione." he said as he helped her into the passage "We'll see."

"Hermione?' Ron's voice cut across the memory

"What Ron?" she snapped through the tears

"I don't blame you, I never have." Ron said quietly, removing his hand from her shoulder and turning to leave again.

She watched him start to walk away feeling her soul leaving with him. She wanted to believe him. Wanted desperately to believe the words that he had just told her. But she didn't know if he meant them. She wasn't sure if she was willing to trust herself again or if he was willing to trust her. She had harbored so much grief and guilt over the past 5 months and had been awful in what she had said tonight. Why did she do this to herself? Why was she doing this to him? She watched him walk away knowing that he deserved more but she also realized that she did not want him to share the rest of his life with anyone else. But what could she do to stop him? She had said so many hateful things, she had left him. Then, unbidden, came the words her mother had written in the post script of her last letter "Tell Ron how you feel. I promise he will love you and take care of you more than anyone else that I know." Gathering her courage she called out.

"Ron wait."

The four of them walked quickly down the corridors of Hogwarts. She noticed that the pictures seemed to be empty of occupants. It was so quiet, there were no ghosts popping in and out of walls nor was there any students running up and down the corridor or owls swooping in and out. There was nothing but stillness. When they passed the portrait hole that once housed the Fat Lady, she felt a twinge of sadness and loss. They had lost so many friends in this war. Too many had either gone over to Voldemort's camp or had died resisting him.

She reached out and grabbed Ron's hand; he looked over at her concerned but offered her a slight smile and squeezed her hand reassuringly. This was so new to her. She and Ron had always been the best of friends and she had always turned to him for comfort but knowing that she loved him and he her- well she didn't know what to think about that. She only knew that if she lost him tonight she wouldn't be the same.

Reaching the staircase to Dumbledore's office, Harry looked over at them and noticed their hands. He smirked "Want to tell me something mate?" he asked Ron

"Mind your own business Harry." he warned

Harry had been on the verge of saying something else when Dumbledore appeared

"Harry, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, Mister Weasley," he said nodding to them all in turn "We have been expecting you and were getting worried that you had not arrived yet. Follow me please."

The four of them looked at one another and Harry shot them a look saying "I told you so" and they turned to follow the Headmaster.

Dumbledore had always amazed her. She had no idea how he knew half the things that he did. How his mere presence at the castle could ward off Voldemort. As she entered his office she noticed that he was not alone there. Professors McGonagall and Lupin were there along with Tonks and Hagrid. She looked at them all and wondered if they were going to try and stop them.

As if anticipating her thoughts Harry started immediately,

"We are not leaving. You all know that we have to end this and I am the only one that can. You've heard the prophecy and know what has to happen. Dumbledore can't do it, it has to be me."

"Thank you Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall cut him off. "and I suppose running off in the dead of the night and bringing three others into your fight was the only course of action you could take?"

"Minerva," Dumbledore spoke "calm yourself. Harry is right, this does need to end. We have all tried to long to protect him. He's ready."

Professor Lupin turned to him, "Dumbledore, I am not sure. I mean he is only..."

"Remus, do you really think that even if we force these four to go back they will not try again. I don't know if you have noticed in the past nine years but these four really aren't the best at keeping all the rules." Dumbledore said resignedly.

She just stared and watched the five adults carrying on the conversation as if they were not there. This is the way it always was, in every Order meeting, every time they had a plan they were constantly ignored and shot down. It wasn't as if they hadn't been fighting Voldemort and his followers since they were eleven. They probably had more experience than half of the older members of the order. She was tired of it. Tired of being treated as a child.

When Professor Lupin went to challenge Dumbledore again she cut him off "Look. We know what we are doing and we are going to do it tonight. You can either help us or not, that is your choice, but nothing is going to stop us. We have made it this far with out your help and we will continue. So stop speaking about us as if we are not here!"

Ron and Harry looked over at her in admiration and Ginny just smiled. It wasn't everyday that Hermione Granger talked back to an adult let alone these five. She just looked at them all questioningly and Ron came and stood beside her placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Look Hermione is right. We can do this with our without you but it is going to be easier if we have your help."

The five looked at each other then to Dumbledore who nodded

"Tell us what you need us to do." The headmaster conceded

"What do you want now Hermione?" Ron answered back "I am leaving, I am doing want you wanted me to do. Am I doing something else wrong?"

She looked at him and mustering all the courage that she had she started,

"Ron you have every reason to hate me right now, and in all honesty I hate myself. I have for the last few months and not only over Richard's death but also because how I have treated you. I kept telling myself that there is no way we could be happy again so why even try. I saw you hurting but couldn't make myself tell you how it was going to be okay. I wanted to, I still want to but I don't believe it. Ron, I thought you really did blame me for everything because I blame myself. When I think about that night when you almost killed him I asked myself why I stopped you, I knew what he deserved but I didn't want you to become a murderer. Isn't that funny, we had seen so much death that day and he had almost-"

"Mione," he cut her off she was shocked at how close he was to her now "you are rambling love."

She looked down not wanting to meet his eyes. He hadn't called her love in so long. Could he really just forgive her like that? She doubted it. She knew that everything he had said tonight was the truth. She was being selfish, she was running away but she wasn't going to run anymore. There was something that he had to know. It was time she told the truth about what had happened.

"Ron," she looked up at him "I am so sorry. Please know that, sorry about everything. I didn't mean what I said tonight. I was just afraid that you really did hold me responsible for what had happened. We have hurt each other so much Ron and I am so sorry."

"Stop apologizing okay?" he said "I am going to say this for the last time. I do not blame you, no one else does either. Everyone has been worried about you Mione. You haven't been yourself and the nightmares have gotten worse over the past months, haven't they?"

She nodded; surprised that he had noticed that the nightmares had returned with frequency. After they were married she still had them but they had subsided when Richard was born. After he died they came almost every night. Some nights were worse than others but she had never told him.

"What are they about Mione?" he asked concern in his voice "Richard? Voldemort? She shook her head.

"Malfoy?" he whispered. She nodded and looked at him.

"Ron, that there are parts of the story that you don't know and that I need to tell you."

"Okay," he said nodding. He took her hand and led her towards the tree. She felt a sudden rush of joy when he held her hand. It wasn't a solution but it was a start.

They had left the adults in Dumbledore's office and were making there way towards the Great Hall when she remembered that there was a certain spell she had to ask Professor Lupin about. She turned to the three others and smiled. "I'll be right back, don't wait for me. I will catch up."

She ran quickly down the corridor, Ron calling after her but she ignored him. She was only going to be gone a few minutes and didn't want them there when she asked Lupin about the effects of the spell.

She slowed her pace as she neared the staircase to Dumbledore's office and stopped when she heard the voices. She recognized Professors Lupin and McGonagall making there way down the stairs, she was about to call out to them when she overheard their conversation.

"Minerva, why won't you trust the girl. She needs and deserves, I might add, to know how her parents died."

"Remus, it isn't that I don't trust her. She has always been an outstanding student with a clear head but she is also fiercely loyal. Didn't you see her tonight? If she finds out that he was the one that killed her parents she is not going to let it go."

He tried to stop her but the professor continued. "Don't you remember what she did to Umbridge in her 5th year? And at that time she didn't even believe that Sirius was in trouble. She'll do anything for her friends or family. If she knew that it that her parents were killed in an effort by Voldemort to find her I don't know what she will do."

She was in shock at what she was hearing. She knew that her parents had died in a Death Eaters attack but she didn't know they had been targeted. She didn't know that they have only come after her parents in order to find her. She felt anger racing through her body that this had been kept from her. Who else knew? She was sure the Weasley's did, why hadn't they told her? She was ready to confront the two when Professor Lupin spoke again.

"Minerva. You have to tell her. She needs to know the truth. Imagine what she will do when she finds out we have been hiding this from her, and she is going to find out Minerva. You know that as well as I do."

"You weren't there Remus. Right after we found out who had been killed in the attacks I apparated over to the Granger home to see if there was any hope. The house was in shambles everything destroyed and the Grangers..." her voice broke at the mention of the name "Elizabeth had been hit so many times with the Cruciatus curse that her body was barely recognizable and William he had just a look of horror in his eyes." she shivered at the memory and then continued

"We found out a few days later that they had tortured them to find out where Hermione was. They didn't tell them anything, not that they could have told them where Headquarters was but they even refused to tell them who she was with."

"Who was it?" she said making her presence known to the two professors

They turned towards her and looked at her in shock. "Tell me who it was!" she demanded

"Hermione," Lupin started "just calm down."

"No Professor I will not. Tell me who it was. I know Voldemort would not do that himself. He has others to do it for him and I want to know who it was."

"Miss Granger" a new voice came from the stairs. She turned and saw Dumbledore descending them and her anger intensified.

"You all knew and you never told me? Why? Did you think that I would rush out and track this person down? Why don't you trust me?" her eyes turned to McGonagall "Haven't I proven myself enough to you in these last two years?"

"Miss Granger that is enough." Dumbledore stated with authority. She looked at him demanding the answers to her questions.

"It has never been a matter of trust Hermione." Lupin said

"It seems to be. I am an adult now and I don't want to be treated like a child anymore so stop trying to protect me."

"Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall started towards her. "it's not that we don't trust you. It was that if you knew who it was we were afraid that you would take vengeance personally on them."

"Who was it Professor?" she asked again

"It was Mister Malfoy and his father."

She looked at Ron and was surprised to find that he didn't look shocked at the realization that Malfoy had killed her parents.

"Ginny told me. When you were still unconscious after the last fight and I asked her, she told me why you had gone looking for Malfoy."

"Why didn't you ever tell me you knew?" she asked

"I figured that it was something you would tell me as soon as you were ready. Why did you go looking for him by yourself though?"

"I wasn't thinking straight. I was so angry Ron. Angry at them for not telling me, angry at the Malfoy's for killing them but I was more angry at myself for not protecting them the way I should have. I told myself that if I had been there instead of with the Order I might have stopped them, or at least spared my parents and let them take me instead."

"Mione," he said cautiously "You know that they would have killed them anyway whether you had been there or not?"

"I do know. But at that time I just wanted to find them both and kill them. They had taken my parents away from me. My parents who had never done anything to them, they tortured and killed. That was when I decided to head towards the forest."

"When you didn't come right back we were afraid that something had happened to stop you. That is why Ginny came looking for you. We tried to stop her but she said it was better that she went."

"Did she tell you anything else about that night?" she asked worriedly.

"No, she wouldn't. Just told me that it was all okay now and not to worry about it. What happened Mione? All I know is that when I finally found you two. Malfoy was preparing to kill you both. What happened before?"

"Hermione?" the voice from the window stopped her.

She looked up and saw Ginny looking out the window shouting at her.

"Not now Ginny." she thought trying to ignore her

"Hermione? Wait please." she heard and then sighed. Ginny was going to alert every Death Eater on the grounds that she was here. She made her way towards the forest when she heard her name again.

This time she turned around and looked at the girl running towards her. She knew that she would have to send Ginny back or take her with her. The racket the girl was making though astounded her, didn't she know that there were Death Eaters everywhere? She supposed that she would have to wait for them her to catch up.

Out of breath Ginny arrived and started "Hermione, where are you going? What are you doing out here?"

Before she had time to answer a spell shot over her left shoulder. She grabbed Ginny's hand and led her towards Hagrid's hut throwing spells along the way. "Why was I so stupid to come out here?" she thought "What possessed me? Now I am in trouble and so is Gin. Stupid, Granger, stupid."

They reached Hagrid's cabin and she slammed the door behind them. It wouldn't be a protection for long she knew but at least it was a place where they could take a minute and figure out what they were going to do.

"Hermione?" Ginny gasped "What is going on? Why are you out here?"

"Why did you follow me?" she rounded on her

"The boys were worried about you so I volunteered to go and find you. I saw you leave the great hall and enter the grounds, that's why I called out to you. Why were you running though Hermione? What is going on?"

She couldn't hold it into herself anymore "He killed them Gin." she said quietly

"He killed who? What are you talking about Hermione?"

"Malfoy," she spat his name "he is the one that killed my parents."

Ginny looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. "I am so sorry," she said pulling her into an embrace "but why were you out here? What was it that you were planning on doing?"

"I am going to kill him." she stated

Ginny looked at her, her eyes widening in fear. "Hermione, I am not sure."

"Look Ginny we don't have a lot of time. Somehow we have to figure out what we are going to do and how to get out of this mess. They had been so absorbed in the conversation that they didn't hear the door opening. They weren't aware that someone was in the room with them until they heard the familiar drawl.

"Well, well, what do we have here? If it isn't the Mudblood and the Weasel Queen."