thankyou to whoever it was that reminded me i had to get ron out of his wheelchair, this chapters dedicated to you for being a fab allaround grovey type person.

love pez-lou

Ron tentatively leaned on the crutches as the healer helped him to his feet, the shooting pain up his leg was unbearable, but he wasn't going to let anyone else know that, especially not Hermione and Ginny they would only fuss over him.

Hermione had hardly said anything to him in the week they had stayed up at Hogsmeed, she knew she had the upper hand, she had walked away from the fight, the fight that Ron couldn't understand why he had started, all Krum had done was give her a hug to say hello. He knew it was going to happen but still…

Their was always going to be that sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach, the fact that Ron wasn't ever going to be good enough for her, why should she chose him over the likes of Krum?

"you can go now dear"

Said the witch , Ron had been completely unaware that she was standing looking at him, he thanked her and slowly mad his way to the entrance of the hospital to meet Fred.

Hermione watched as Ron made his way across the yard slowly on his crutches, she alone knew the extent of the damage to his leg, due to the fact that she had been resolute in her quest to stay with Ron until he woke up .

No amount of long word's used by the doctors was going to confuse her, she knew them , after all this is Hermione were talking about here.

All that quidditch training was finally getting put to good use as Ron used his upper body to move the crutches across the yard.

"so it went well then" Hermione asked Fred as he joined them at the table, Ron had gone straight inside not looking at Hermione .

"yeah we'll from what he would tell me."

" I wish he would speak to me"

"he'll come around , give him a chance, it's not as if you wont see each other everyday, he can't ignore you forever." said Ginny looking up from her copy of quidditch player monthly, bought for the fact that there was an article about Harry in it , Hermione had laughed at that much to the annoyance of Ginny.

"yeah I've been thinking about that" said Fred shaking his hair out of his eyes. " where are you going to stay?"

Hermione shrugged, Angelina hadn't wasted much time in telling the others about the auror training. sorting out accommodation was proving slightly difficult since Ron was still being a git.

"you know there's a empty flat above the joke shop, Mundungus only uses it to store his ' bargains' I mean I can have a word with him if you want"

Hermione smiled at him . " yeah that would be nice"

"your going to need furniture and stuff"

"mum and dad are going to help with that don't worry about it" said Hermione .

Ginny placed her magazine on the table .

" you know it's going to be weird , I mean I'm so used to seeing you all around school, getting shouted at by you for setting off dung bombs and you and my so called brother shouting , it's going to be a bit weird." said Ginny.

"it's not as if you won't see us , theirs still a bit of work to be done to some of the castle, me Ron and Harry ( Ginny smiled) will still be up at the castle at weekends and on our day's off."

"plus …" added Fred, " you have the Weasley legacy to live up to , since Ron turned out such a disappointment., I mean Head boy? Prefect?" he rested his hand on his sisters shoulder. " we can't let that be the image that tarnishes us forever"

All three of them dissolved in to laughter.

Pig landed on the window of Hermione's bedroom , at first she thought that Ron must have finally come to his senses , but then recognised Ginny's untidy scrawl on the parchment.

Hermione ,

Got my letter from hogwarts today,

Guess what ! They made me quidditch captain!

Dad's really happy, Fred stole my letter as soon as he saw my captain badge just to make sure that the head girl one wasn't in there to.

I think he would have disowned me.

Speaking of Fred, he says mundungus moved his stuff out yesterday so you and Ron can move your stuff in whenever you like.

I was wondering if you wanted to meet me and Ron in diagon ally and we can make a start on the flat?( and I can get my new books.)

Send your answer with pig.

Love Ginny.

P.s Harry has taken a place with puddlemere united, I don't know if hedwig got to you yet or not.

Hermione folded the letter up and put it in the book she was reading before pig had turned up.

She took the little owl in to the bathroom to get him a drink, it was hot outside despite the overcast sky's. Soon she heard the distinctive sound of hedwig landing on her desk carrying Harry's short but straight to the point letter about united, she took her quill and wrote to Ginny, saying that yes she would meet them at about dinner time in the leaky cauldron, and to tell Harry well done.

She tied the letter to pig and gave him an owl treat from the top draw of her desk ,where he was clawing gently.

" go on take it to Ginny" she said carrying the little bird to the window.

Hedwig turned her big doe eyes at her .

" now I need you to take a message to tonks for me, if you could?"

The owl bit her finger affectionately .

Hermione quickly wrote the note and tied it to the leg of the snowy owl.

"then go back to Harry ok " she said giving hedwig a treat. Hedwig hooted quietly and took off.

Hermione headed down stairs to talk with her parents.

The sun was finally breaking through the clouds as Hermione Ron and Ginny walked out on to Diagon ally, Ron watched as Hermione fidgeted with the waist band of her trousers. Ron couldn't help thinking that she must be uncomfortable in what she was wearing after all it was hot and the outfit looked really weird in a street full of wizard robes and shorts and t-shirts.

They headed quietly towards the shop only stopping to say hi to Luna when they saw her outside of the supplies shop.

When they got to the shop Fred greeted them and turned to Katie Bell who was leaning on the desk reading an article about her team-mates on the harpies.

"look after the shop for a bit" he said as he led the three of them through the back to the stairs..

Hermione looked at Ron.

" didn't think about that" she said looking at his crutches.

Ron smiled and with a loud crack disappeared and appeared at the top of the stairs.

" when did you ?" asked Hermione rushing up the stairs to him.

Ron saw Fred and Ginny grin at each other as they walked up the stairs.

"yesterday, I made Ginny not tell you " he said looking away from the look of shock on Hermione's face.

"that's great!" said Hermione beaming at him.

"dose this mean your speaking to him yet?" asked Fred squeezing himself past Ron and Hermione who were staring at each other.

" we weren't not speaking" said Ron.

"we never fight do we Ron?" said Hermione they both started laughing.

"you two need help" said Ginny pushing past them in to the flat.

The flat wasn't that big but it would be big enough for the two of them, it was a old house , part of the shop from downstairs' one wall of the living room was a old book shelf, the kitchen was evidently converted from a bedroom, the bathroom was a nice size but a putrid shade of lime green,

The two bedrooms and the living room overlooked the busy street below.

"what do you think?" asked fred.

"I think it's fantastic" said Hermione.

"when can we move in ?"asked Ron .

It took a grand total of a day to move their stuff in to the flat, helped along by anyone who could find some time to help out.

As soon as she had found out that Neville was helping Luna had insisted that she help too , even if the only thing she accomplished all day was to get Hermione to go a little red and proclaimed at the top of her voice that their was defiantly no such thing as the toilet dwelling snafilgator.

"it's an urban myth" she said slamming down the seventieth ( Ron had been counting) box of books on the kitchen floor.

"dad say's its real"

"it's a myth, and the word is alligator, my friend Kate used to believe in it when she was six, used to think that it would come out of the toilet when she was …busy" said Hermione.

" you know their might be some truth in it" said Ron leaning on the box's of book's. " it could be bit of mugglebating sounds like the sort of stuff dad used to get called out to all the time"

"see" said Luna smiling at Ron. " and people think I'm mad"

"no people know your mad, that's why we like you so much , your relatively normal around us lot" said Ginny as her and Harry carried the last of the crates up the stairs.

"anyway" shouted Harry over the resulting fight ( which Ron laughed all the way through) "what's next ?"

After setting all the others on their tasks , painting and cleaning, not to mention trying to lure whatever was living under the built in book case out of hiding, Hermione and Harry set to decorating Hermione's room, a supposedly calming shade of purple, Harry secretly thought it looked like one of his failed potions but didn't say it out loud Hermione looked stressed enough already.

" so how long dose this paint take to dry?"

" supposed to be really fast, Ron bought it from the shop on the corner"

They watched the rollers paint the wall whilst they drank their tea.

" so when dose you're season start?" asked Hermione, Harry smiled, despite the fact that Hermione's two best friends did nothing but talk about quid ditch 95 of the time she was still clueless when it came to trivial things such as when the season started.

"first match is 29th September, but my training starts on the 3rd"

"you looking forward to it?"

Harry thought about it for a bit.

" I guess I am, I mean this is something that I never thought I would get a chance to do , it's just going to be weird not being with you guy's all the time"

"you can always come and stop here any time you want you know" Hermione said passing him a custard cream , Harry eyed it worryingly.

" you're ok all the stock is present and accounted for in the shop" she said smiling.

" you don't think that Ginny and Fred wouldn't , given half the chance?"

"oh I know they would, but they know the consequences don't they"

They both laughed.

"it's going to be strange not having Ginny to talk to, not that I'll have you and Ron ganging up on me anymore"

" we never ganged up on you"

" you always gang up on me and Ginny , always"

"like you and Ginny can't stand up for yourselves." said Harry taking a tiny bit out of his biscuit, when he didn't turn in to a giant feathery bird , he continued eating it.

"are you sure your going to be alright living together? I'm not going to get an owl saying that you've cursed each other so bad all that's left are tiny pieces am I ?"

Hermione glared at him.

"I'm sure me and Ron will be fine, after all were adult's now right?"

"yeah I guess but all the same, please don't kill each other"

"I can't promises anything…"

The two of them sat in silence for a bit not entirely sure what to say, trying not to laugh at the weird noises of what sounded like a paint fight going on next door.

"you going to miss Ginny?" Hermione asked Harry as he drained the last of his tea.

"I guess I am."

"you should tell her how you feel you know."

"Hermione I'll take you're advice when you start listening to your own" he answered in a knowing tone, Hermione just shrugged.

"you know we're not all totally oblivious to you and Ron, no mater how much the two of you pretend that we are."

Hermione didn't answer she just walked across to the window and stared down at the street below.

"you can't use me as an excuse anymore, your running out of excuses now Hermione , you need to do something cause you know for a fact that Ron's never going to be the one to do it."

"Harry as much as I love you and trust you , I can't talk to you about stuff like this…"

"and it wasn't weird for me talking to you about cho?"

" that was different…"

"not that different Hermione, so don't give me that."

Hermione looked across at him, and turning rested on the window.

"I'll tell you the same as I told Angelina, I'll do something when I'm good and ready."

"we'll don't leave it to long.."

"when did my love life become a spectator sport?" she sighed .

"we'll you and Ron aren't the quietest of people in the world are you."

"ha,ha" said Hermione dryly.

"just one question?" said Harry as he got up to put the cup's in the sink.

"yeah what?"

" what did happen between you and Ron ?" he said pausing at the door frame.

" if I knew that you wouldn't have had that conversation." said Hermione pushing him out the door .

As Ron and Hermione said goodbye to everyone at the leaky cauldron, Ron turned to Hermione.

"this is it you know."

" yeah" said Hermione smiling at him nervously.

They made their way in to the back and on to diagon ally. Ron's crutches making a rhythmic clunk on the cobbled street.

"glad your with me" said Ron quietly.

"glad to be here" said Hermione as they reached the joke shop and headed up the small alleyway at the side and to their front door.

The two of them sat for a long time in silence as they looked around their new home, Hermione's books filled the entire book case, old wizarding novels stood alongside tales of espionage and intrigue. The old wireless from Mr Weasaley's garage sat on a upturned box, with a flick of his wand Ron turned it on , the music softened the silence a bit.

"I know what's wrong" he said suddenly.

"you do." said Hermione looking at him.

"yes, we haven't had our daily fight today." he said smiling as Crookshanks slinked out from under the bookcase and jumped on his knee.

"I'm to tired to fight with you today." said Hermione yawning.

"tiered you did nothing all day…"

" yes I did " snapped Hermione. Crookshanks jumped slightly and turned his face to her.

"you fall for it every time." said Ron lifting Crookshanks gently of his knee and handing him to Hermione.

"g'night H" he said lifting himself on to his crutches.

"you're going to bed so soon?"

"Harry's coming over in the morning, nice and early to see if we can get whatever that thing is from under their" he gestured in the direction of the book case.

"oh" said Hermione. "what do you guys think it is?"

" from the noise I recon it's a goule , but I could be wrong."

" I hope you are, their really creepy."

"it's ok, I'll save you from the scary goule" said Ron as he headed for his door.

"you wish, I think I can handle myself Ron"

"oh we'll the offers always their night H"

Hermione sighed as she watched him close his door. even if she wanted to she was not about to start playing the damsel in distress for anyone.

The staring eye's looked at him through the mask, they flicked to Hermione , a evil glisten flashed in the heartless pupils , an evil high laugh echoed through the air.

Ron watched as Hermione's body fell limply to the floor and her killer turned to face him.

Hermione woke to what at first she thought was the goule under the bookcase, the moaning sounded weird and distant, Crookshanks purred in her ear as she lay staring at the street lamps flickering on the ceiling. she reached up and stroked him subconsciously ,he head butted her gently in the side of the head.

" you want something to eat hu?" she said sitting up, Crookshanks jumped up and made his way to the door. Hermione yawned and made to follow him.

she routed around in the kitchen for a box of cat biscuits, a saucer and a can of pop for herself.

she was about to open the can when she heard the low moaning noise again.

she took her wand out and headed to the bookcase, crouching on all fours she cast lumos and looked under the shelf's.

"want to shut up your just being annoying , you do know that don't you " she said to the empty crawl space.

a low moaning answered her , but it wasn't from the book case, it was from Ron's room.

she stood up and looked across at Crookshanks, he was busy chewing his kitty bits oblivious to everything, owl hooted doe fully from the small shelf across Ron's door.

she stared at the door again , should she go in their was something wrong?

another low moan sealed her thoughts and she turned the door handle quietly.

Ron was thrashing about in his bed, Hermione had seen him like this several times since he woke up from his coma like state. she rushed over to his side and tried to get him to stop thrashing around.

"Ron , wake up Ron , your having a bad dream" Hermione's voice seamed so far away, but it was her voice , but how could it be she was lying dead in his arm's how could she be talking to him?

The violent red to f his bedroom came swimming in to focus, it was dream, it had been a dream a nightmare, Hermione was alright she was here, the way she had been so many times before.

"you ok ?" she asked him her face was worried as she clung on to his hand.

Ron shook his head, he wasn't going to lie, he thought he had seen the last of the nightmares, people he loved dying and him having no way of stopping it, yet he he'd never dreamt of Hermione in that way before, and that worried him, especially as all the people he he'd though of in that way were now dead.

"you want a drink?" she said handing him her can of pop. he took it and drank it trying not to look at her, she sat on the side of his bed.

"what was it this time?" she asked.

"same thing as always" he said plainly. even if it had felt so real. Hermione took the can back from him and took a drink.

"who was it this time?"

"it was someone new" he said looking at her , she looked so worried for him, she reached out and took him by the hand.

" come on, like you said you have to get some sleep" she said looking away and breaking her eye contact with him.

"why can't I save them Hermione. in my dream they all die, mum, Bill, George…(he had to stop himself saying you ) and I can't do anything about it."

"Ron you've been through a lot" said Hermione moving so she was resting on his head rest alongside him. Crookshanks plodded across the room and jumped up on to Hermione's knee.

Ron stroked him behind the ears.

"it hurt's so much , I keep expecting to see them you know…" he said resting his head on her.

" yeah I know what you mean, it's strange not having your mum around to tell me what I'm doing wrong"

"she never meant it you know"

"I know she didn't , it was just your mum being your mum wasn't it"

Ron nodded.

"I miss her"

Ron rested his head on her shoulder and Hermione looked down at his red hair in the light from the street, she listened to him talking about his mum and his brothers, it was what he needed, and she would be their for him, she wanted to be their for him.

when talk finally drizzled out, they sat in silence Ron still resting on Hermione's shoulder.

after some time had passed without either of them saying anything Hermione looked down at him.

his eyes were closed in gentle sleep. she moved him in to a sleeping position and made to get up, but Crookshanks hissed at her warning her that moving to far might be a bad idea, she wiggled her way slowly down the bed slightly, Crookshanks looking up from her lap warningly. she tipped her head to one side and looked at Ron his face looked so peaceful in his gentle sleep, whatever and whoever that nightmare had been about had certainly disturbed him. she lay watching him whilst Crookshanks got himself comfortable on Hermione's stomach. Hermione was dimly aware of the noise of the street outside as sleep crept over her.

The daylight creeping across the room woke Ron . It' took him some time to adjust to his new surroundings . it took him even longer to realise that he wasn't alone. Crookshanks purred loudly in his ear. bringing him in to the land of the awake. it took him two seconds to realise the arm wrapped around him wasn't his own. she had stayed their all night?

He tried not to read to much in to it, it wasn't as if they hadn't spent all night together before, but that was different, they weren't alone then , and they defiantly weren't in the same bed.

he gently lifted her arm off him against his better judgment, and rolled over, he gazed in to her sleeping face.

again she had been their for him when he needed her. he felt a great rush of gratitude to her for that.

he reached up and moved the hair away from her face, Hermione reached up and stopped him.

"your awake?" he asked quietly.

"let me sleep a bit longer" she said quietly.

"I'd love to but Harry will be here soon" said Ron lifting his head in to a resting position on his hand.

"just a little longer" she said stretching slightly.

"ok a little longer" he said quietly making his way out of the bed and in to the living room, he lingered at the door for a moment. he gazed at Hermione resting peacefully on his bright red bedspread , Crookshanks rubbed around his feet. his insides squirmed, it was a weird feeling that he wasn't at all used to, seven years now he had known her, he had watched her change and not even noticed it, they had both changed so much, but for so long now she had made him feel both safe and scared, nervous and sometimes overly confident.

As he boiled the kettle Ron wondered if all women should come with health warnings, or just the one that was now sleeping in his bed.