Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter or any other character in this story, only the plot belongs to me! There's also one line right at the end which apparently comes from Star Trek so please don't sue me for using it - I did not make it up :)

A/N: Thank you to all my loyal readers (and especially reviewers!) for supporting this story - it really means a lot! I'm sad to say this is my final chapter but it is a long one & hopefully it will leave you all feeling satisfied! And please remember to leave me one last review! Thanks, Sunflowa :)


Chapter 12 – The Power of Love

Ron sat beside Hermione's bed in the hospital wing – It had been decided that it would be the best place for her until she woke up completely. He sat and reflected on everything that had happened over the past few hours. He hadn't slept at all that night – he couldn't.

It had all happened so fast. One minute he was sitting with his beautiful Hermione on the moonlit bench in the enchanted forest, and the next, Dumbledore was telling him that Harry had gone off to fight Voldermort alone, and there was nothing he could do but sit and wait! Dumbledore had explained that he needed to stay behind for Hermione's sake, but that did nothing to ease his frustration at not being able to do something to help. How could he just sit here, while Harry was risking his life to save everyone? He turned it over and over in his mind until he thought he'd go insane. Harry was his best friend – and he knew Harry was strong and could face up to whatever Voldermort threw at him – but he couldn't help feeling like he was letting him down somehow by not being there –

"I can't take this!" Ginny exclaimed suddenly. Ron looked up from the spot he'd been staring at for the past half hour – he been so absorbed in his own disconcerting thoughts he'd completely forgotten about Ginny, who was sitting in the chair across from him. Ron knew that Ginny cared for Harry a great deal – they had always teased her about her obvious crush – but it suddenly dawned on him, upon seeing the look on her face, that it was more than just a crush – he suddenly realised that she might actually love Harry – the same way he loved Hermione – and it occurred to him then that she needed her brother's comfort…

"He'll be okay Gin" he tried to sound convincing

"Ron" her voice broke suddenly "I can't…" A tear rolled down her cheek and Ron walked over to her and enveloped her in a hug "Shhh" he soothed as Ginny broke down "There's no point in thinking the worst, okay? We don't know anything yet. We have to think positive…"

"But…" Ginny sobbed "I… didn't… even… get to say… good… bye. What if… ?"

"No What-ifs, okay? Besides, Harry knows you care about him – you don't have to tell him for him to know"

"I… just... can't stand this… waiting! I feel… so… helpless!"

"So do I, Gin. I would give anything to be there, helping my best friend win this war and save Hermione. But we can't be there, okay? And there's no point in driving ourselves crazy thinking about all the possibilities…"

"Well – I need to get out of here for a while" Ginny said, suddenly pulling away from him "Just sitting here - doing nothing - IS going to drive me crazy!"

"But Gin, you can't leave – it's not safe"

"Ron – I just meant a walk… around the castle or something… please… I can't stay here anymore"

She flashed him one of those 'I dare you to stop me' looks that he knew only too well from the Weasley women and he knew it was pointless arguing with her – Ginny was going to do whatever she wanted to do, regardless of what he had to say about it –

"Okay – but if you're not back in half an hour I'm coming to look for you!" he conceded

"Fine" Ginny said, heading for the door "Oh, and Ron – Thanks…for before…I know you're right…"

"Sure" he smiled "What are older brothers for, right?"

She smiled appreciatively and swiftly turned and exited the room.

Ron slowly turned back to Hermione. He sat back down beside her and took her hand in his. It was so cold. He softly pressed his lips against her palm, hoping to breathe some warmth into her icy skin.

"I miss you" he said quietly "I know it's only been a few hours but I miss you already. Hermione – I've got so much to tell you…" he looked at her expressionless face and felt a sudden well of emotion rising up inside of him - "Hermione, the truth is I'm a bloody coward! I've been in love with you for so many years now and I've never had the guts to tell you! You asked me why I kissed you – well, I couldn't not kiss you" the words just seemed to be tumbling out - there was no stopping it now – the years of pent up passion could not be denied any longer "I've been wanting to kiss you ever since that stupid Yule Ball back in Fourth year! I didn't realise it then but I was such a prat to you that night because I was insanely jealous of Viktor… because he had you, and I didn't... and things just got worse from there. After that night, the more time I spent with you, the more I fell in love with you! And it was a mixture of agony and heaven to be near you. It was agony because I couldn't tell you how I felt – I couldn't have you, Hermione. But I'm telling you now – Hermione Granger – I love you. Deeply. Passionately. So much…" a single tear escaped his eye and fell onto her wrist. He looked at her unchanging expression again and wondered whether she could hear anything he was saying. "Bloody brilliant, I am. Telling you all this now, when it's too bloody late" he mumbled angrily.

He leaned over and kissed her cheek "Please, Hermione" he whispered desperately "come back to me – don't leave me here to live without you…" another tear trickled down his cheek and fell onto Hermione's lips. He brushed it softly away, gently touching her lips with his fingers. An overwhelming wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over him and he rested his head on the side of her bed, still holding her hand and shut his eyes for a second… I'll just rest for a minute, he thought, just for a second…


Ron wasn't exactly sure what, but something jolted him awake several hours later… he felt a bit dazed but he was certain he had felt something… something

And then suddenly the memory came flooding back… his hand. Someone had squeezed his hand!

"Hermione!" he cried. He got up to look at her. Her eyelids were fluttering, as if she might open her eyes at any second. Ron felt his heart jump.

"Hermione! Open your eyes! I'm here…" he exclaimed, squeezing her hand gently.

Then he noticed Ginny – she'd fallen asleep in the chair opposite him, but was stirring now, probably because of his yelling.

"Ron?" Ginny said, sleepily lifting her head "Is that you?"

"Ginny! I think Hermione's waking up…" His words quickly jolted her out of her stupor

"What?" she shrieked "That means…"

"Wait… we don't know yet… Hermione" he said urgently

Hermione's eyes flew open suddenly and she gasped for breath, as if suddenly being resuscitated.

"Ron! Oh Ron!" she flung her arms around him "It was so horrible!"

He held her close, never wanting to let go. "Shhh" he soothed "you're safe now". There were a million thoughts racing through his brain, questions all begging to be answered but he found himself unable to speak – the words could simply not get past the lump in his throat, which threatened to set free the waves of tears that were welling up behind his eyes. He hugged her even tighter.

Finally Ginny spoke -

"Hermione – I have to know" she said despondently "Harry… is he…?"

Hermione broke away from Ron to look at Ginny "It was horrific, Gin – I've never seen such terrible things…" she looked like she was holding back tears "There was so much blood…" she looked down despondently "And Tonks and Kingsley…" her voice broke

"So then you're saying… he's dead" Ginny forced the words out

"Oh… No" Hermione said quickly "I didn't mean Harry. Harry's plan worked – he tricked Voldermort into thinking he was Malfoy – and Voldermort wasn't fooled for long, but it gave Harry the edge he needed. The battle seemed to last for hours though – I thought at one point it was hopeless – people were getting cursed left, right and centre – and it didn't seem like either one of them, Harry, or Voldermort, were making any progress! I was beginning to think that neither one could ever win – but somehow, towards the end, it was as if Harry suddenly got a boost of inspiration and strength and that was it – he took Voldermort out just like that. I've never seen anything like it"

"What? So then it's all over?" Ginny questioned disbelievingly "He's alive?"

"Yes – Harry's alive" Hermione smiled weakly "he got quite badly injured but they took him straight to St. Mungo's, along with all the other injured people – he should be fine…"

"I'm going!" Ginny said triumphantly, wiping away her tears of joy "I have to see him! I don't care how I get there but I'm going – right now" she said emphatically and stormed straight out of the room.

Despite all the rules they knew she'd be breaking, neither Ron nor Hermione tried to stop her – a few rules seemed so pointless now in the light of everything that had happened over the past few hours.

"Pretty unbelievable, isn't it?" Hermione said, turning to Ron "It's all over. The war. Voldermort. The trances. Harry's going to okay…" but before she could continue Ron had wrapped her up in another hug –

"I was more worried about you" he said earnestly "I thought I might lose you, for good this time"

"Ron, I'm okay now – I promise – you can let me go" she grinned

"I'm never letting you go again" he said, refusing to pull away

"But Ron… I need to breathe" she said eventually

He laughed "Okay – well, maybe occasionally so you can breathe"

"Very funny Mr Weasley"

"So, are you going to tell me what happened…to you?" he ventured finally. He saw the pain in her eyes and wondered if he'd asked the right question.

"Eventually" she replied, looking down "but right now, all I really want to do is forget" she looked up and caught his caring gaze "What happened tonight, none of it seems that important right now – all that really matters is that I'm back here, with you…" she smiled

Ron looked at her earnestly. He took her hand and stared into her eyes "Hermione, there's something I need to tell you…" he looked down at his feet "I've waited too long and now that I have you back…" he blushed slightly as the words resounded inside his head - 'now that I have you back…' Did he have her at all? - "…I'm not going to waste any more time…" he continued

Hermione grinned at his awkwardness "Ron – that's what I'm trying to tell you…" she said simply "I already know"

"No, you don't know" he said expressively "You think you do but…"

"Ron" she said, taking his hand "I know". She looked into his puzzled eyes, willing him to understand what she was saying. Ron felt the heat from her touch creeping up inside him.

"What do you mean, you know?" he asked cautiously

"I heard you before" she said softly "I heard what you said about the Ball, and Viktor, and well, all of it"

Ron felt his ears starting to burn and quickly pulled away, and studied his shoes.

"But how?" he stammered, not quite sure what to say next.

"I don't know how but Ron…" she said, looking at him intently "Ron" she said, touching her hand to his chin and forcing him to look at her "Quite frankly I don't care how it happened, Ron, all I really care about is that it did…"

"Hermione" he said, not quite registering what she had said "I was rambling before… I mean, I didn't know if…" he paused "you looked so lifeless and I was so worried and…"

Hermione sighed. She leaned forward and pulled Ron's head closer to her own and whispered "Ron – Shut up!" she grinned. And before Ron knew what was happening, she'd pulled him even closer into a deep embrace, and kissed him daringly on the lips. He stopped to look at her for a split-second but he didn't need a second invitation – he attacked her lips with his own and kissed her hungrily. The room started to spin and Ron felt his heart hammering so violently he thought his chest might explode. Hermione ran her fingers through his flame-red hair and sent shivers down his spine. They were totally swept up in each other for several minutes before Ron finally came up for air.

"Wow" Ron beamed "That was… wow" he said, completely dumbstruck. He looked at her questioningly.

"So… does this mean… ?" he ventured cautiously

"It means I've been waiting for you to say those words to me ever since Fourth year, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed "And when you do finally say them, I'm completely unconscious!" she grinned "And it means Ron, that I…" she paused, starting to blush "that I… love you".

Ron beamed. "You do?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, you ignorant prat! I only went with Viktor to that stupid Ball to make you jealous!"

Ron could hardly believe what he was hearing - "But you never said anything…" he stated simply.

"I guess I didn't want to risk anything that would jeopardise our friendship" she said calmly "in case you didn't feel the same way"

"Oh, Hermione" he said, touching her cheek "I've always felt the same way – I just didn't always know it! Even back in Second, after you'd been petrified, I was so worried you weren't gonna wake up. But I didn't understand why I cared about you so much back then – you were just a friend, right? But it's so clear now, Hermione – you're so much more than a friend to me!" He sat down on her bed and enfolded her in another hug.

"Tell me again" she whispered close to his ear "tell me what you said before…while I was unconscious"

"Uh… okay" he grinned. He felt his cheeks turning red again but realised there wasn't any reason to feel embarrassed anymore – Hermione loved him back! He looked into her eyes and smiled "Hermione, I love you" he said earnestly "and I want you to be mine… and only mine. Will you go out with me?"

"Oh Ron" she sighed "I've always been yours – you just didn't realise it! My heart's only ever belonged to one person – one tall, red-headed Weasley person" she grinned naughtily

"Right – so George then…" he teased.

Hermione smacked him playfully.

"You didn't answer my question" he said expectantly

"Come here" she said, and pulled him in for another passion-filled kiss. She grinned at him slyly.

Ron beamed "So, I'll take that as a yes then…" he said, before pulling her back into his arms, and kissing her vehemently.


And they were completely inseparable from then on out. That eventful day culminated in one enormous celebration as the entire magical world once again celebrated the demise of Voldermort. And although there were sacrifices and loss, for the most part, it was a day to rejoice. For good had triumphed over evil, once and for all.

After things had just about returned to normal, Hermione had told Ron about all the awful things she'd seen. She also told him about the pain Voldermort had tried to inflict on her, during her capture, but she remained strong through it all, knowing that her love for Ron Weasley would pull her through. It was then that Ron told her about what Dumbledore had said, about the power of true love, and he knew right then that they were meant to be together – it was their love that had saved them. It came out later that Harry said the same thing about Ginny – although Dumbledore had thought it would be Harry's strong feelings of anger that would spur him on, he hadn't realised that Harry's love was stronger than his hatred - it was his love for Ginny that had kept him going, kept encouraging him to fight, and to finally end the war.

There had been funerals for the people that had died that night – Tonks, Kingsley and a few other members of the Order – and although everyone was still sad and missed them terribly, there was the general feeling that a huge weight had been lifted, and that after the shock and grief of it all wore off, things were not just going to be okay, things were going to be much better.

And it wasn't long before everyone was back at the Burrow, enjoying a delicious Weasley breakfast. Fred and George were deeply engrossed in some important discussion regarding their joke shop; Bill had invited Fleur over to meet the family, and the two of them were being fussed over by Mrs Weasley; Charlie was debating 'the importance of Ministry reports' with Percy and Mr Weasley was desperately trying to get his youngest son's attention by talking about Quidditch…but to no avail – Ron was completely wrapped up in whatever Hermione was saying – something about house elves, was it? He grinned at her and wondered how he got so lucky (they were holding hands underneath the table to avoid the twins' taunting) - it had been a month since that night and he'd been completely absorbed in her ever since. And although everything seemed to be back to normal, there was a sense of anticipation in the air –

"Where is he?" Hermione questioned impatiently

"I don't know" Ron replied anxiously "You don't suppose Harry's managed to splinch himself, do you?"

Hermione looked at Ron anxiously.

Today was the day that Harry was to be released from St. Mungo's and everyone had excitedly gathered at the Burrow to welcome him home. Since there was no longer imminent danger for Harry, Dumbledore and Mr Weasley had agreed that Harry no longer needed to remain in the Dursleys' care and could stay with the Weasleys for as long as it took for more permanent arrangements to be made. The healers at St. Mungo's had insisted on Harry staying there for at least a month for his injuries to heal properly (he still had several broken ribs which had not fully healed) but they could not keep him locked down in bed all day – he was going stir-crazy! Eventually, after several of Harry's desperate pleas, they had agreed to let him take his Apparition Test right there at the hospital. He'd passed with flying colours and since it was all still a novelty, he had insisted on apparating to the Burrow for his welcome home celebration. He was to be expected any minute…

Ron and Hermione could barely hear themselves above the excited chatter emanating from the kitchen table. But before they could continue, there was a sudden crack and the room fell silent. Everyone turned to see what had happened, and then –

"Harry!" George exclaimed "Nice job Mate! We were starting to wonder if you'd splinched yourself somewhere!" But before Harry could respond, a certain redhead had come flying across the room and flung herself into Harry's arms…

"Ginny" Harry said, and hugged her tight "I missed you"

"Missed you too" she grinned

"Oh, get a grip you two" Fred chirped

"Yeah, it's not like you haven't seen each other every other day!" George added

Ron and Hermione soon entered the fray and Ginny finally let go of Harry to let him chat to his friends – Hermione immediately lent over and gave Harry a hug. After what they'd both experienced together, she knew they would always have a special bond of friendship…

"It's good to see you Hermione" Harry said eventually

"I owe you one" she whispered in his ear "you saved my life"

"Actually, I believe it was Ron who saved you" he winked at her, as she pulled away to look at him.

"Ron" Harry smiled and gave his best friend a hug. It was an emotional moment – finally being reunited with the ones he cared so much about – this is what he had fought for – and now he struggled to fight back the tears, which were threatening to fall any second now.

"It's good to be back, isn't it?" Hermione said "I mean, here at the Burrow…"

"You have no idea" Harry said, but before he could say anything else, Mrs Weasley had rushed in and pulled him into one huge embrace.

"Now it's breakfast" she said cheerfully "this family's just not complete without you Harry" she grinned, and hurriedly swept him along to the table.

Everyone sat down again, and Ron looked around the room and smiled to himself –

"I'd like to propose a toast" he said suddenly, rising from his chair. Everyone turned their attention to him.

"To us, the Weasley clan" he beamed.

"Hear hear!" yelled Fred

"May we live long and prosper!" George interjected. Mrs Weasley shot them warning glares.

"And by that, I mean everyone here at this table" Ron continued "because every one of you is pretty much family anyway…"

He looked at Harry "To Harry – my best friend - for basically saving the world" he grinned "and for being the best mate a guy could ever have… welcome home!" Everyone started clinking their glasses but Ron wasn't quite finished… "And there's one more thing… to Hermione – for keeping me educated" he teased as she rolled her eyes at him "And for being the best girlfriend ever" he added, blushing slightly.

"So – here's to all of us finally being back at the Burrow together – Cheers!" he finished and raised his goblet.

"Cheers!" everyone responded and stood to do the same.

Ron had never felt so light-hearted in his life – everyone he cared about in the world was right here in this room – and they were all happy – and most of all, his heart's utmost desire was sitting right next to him, playing with his hand below the table and whispering tempting suggestions in his ear - what more could a guy ask for?

The End