Goodbye For Now
Disclaimer: All this stuff belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling, and Warner Bros!
A/N: Thanx reviewers!
freak4hillaryduff- I did think about using that idea but I kinda have a different idea in my head already! Thanks for reviewing though!
Miranda G. Potter- lol thanks for reviewing hope you like this chappie!
purple-shoe- thanks so much! I luv your stories too and I can't wait for more!
confused 1- thanks and here's your chappie sorry to keep u waiting SO long lol!
Ashley Potter13- thanks! I cant wait for your sequel to your story!
karyna- thanks for being patient here it is lol!
marmalady- nice username lol thanks for reviewing! I hope you'll like hhr more after I finish this story!
hpfantic- hey thanks for understanding lol hope you'll update your story asap...can't wait for the next chappie!
EVANESCENCERKS- thanks for reviewing and yep evanescence is 1 of my favorites too!
XxChLaMyDiAkArEn- interesting username) well, Ron didn't actually die yet you know, so...oh I'm not gonna spoil it for you or anyone else so just read this chapter please... thanks for reviewing!
BeaumontRulz- hey your username is so kewl! thanks 4 reviewing and here's your update btw I luv your stories so much! And u update really quickly which is awesome...I update like once every 3 months b/c I never have time(
Chibi Kitty6030- hi im sorry I forgot to thank u in chappie 6 but for some reason I never got a review alert for your review last-last time so...if you're still reading this then thanx!
Anyways, here's chapter 8 thanks for being so patient u guys!
Ron sat up and stretched, wondering why his head was aching so much. Suddenly, he recalled the events from the night before, and he sighed. Why does it always have to be me? He thought to himself, frustrated, as he slipped into his robes and shoes, and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Harry was already sitting there, buttering a piece of toast, when Ron slumped over and sat down next to him.
"Good morning Ron,"Harry said coolly, still remembering last night, and how Ron couldn't even trust him enough to tell him what was on his mind.
"Hey Harry,"Ron replied just as coolly, picking up a blueberry muffin and taking a large bite out of it.
The two ate in silence, unaware that their fellow Gryffindors were watching them curiously, wondering what could have made the inseparable pair angry at each other.
Soon, Harry finished up his breakfast, stood up, slung his bookbag over his shoulder, and left, saying only 1 small sentence to Ron, "See you in Potions."
Ron bit his lip. He didn't want to fight with Harry all over again, but he just could NOT tell him about his plan tonight. It wasn't an easy choice; he had to choose between telling Harry the truth and listening to him go on and on about how important they both were to Hermione and how she wouldn't want him to do that, or he could just remain silent and let Harry be mad at him for who knows how long.
Finally, he decided that he couldn't go without their friendship, so he would tell Harry the truth. Now all he had to do was find him, searching the castle and grounds, in half an hour before Potions began. Great, Ron thought sarcastically. It's going to be easy looking on each damn floor and on the grounds, trying to find that short-tempered wizard, within 30 minutes time...
Meanwhile, Harry was standing on the long bridge between the castle and the grounds, deep in thought. Why is Ron being so secretive? Why can't he trust me anymore? He banged his fist on the wooden rail of the bridge and exhaled loudly.
"H-Harry?" Harry spun around and saw Ron standing a few feet away from him, fidgeting nervously.
"Ron, wh—"
"Harry, I'm going to explain everything to you, but please don't say anything until I'm done, because it's not that easy for me to tell you this,"Ron interrupted. Harry nodded silently. Ron continued, "Okay, the thing is...tonight I'm going to give up all but 6 months of my life for Hermione." Harry's eyes widened but he kept his promise to remain silent until Ron was done. "I know you're going to try and stop me from doing this, but please don't Harry, because I want to do this. Why? Because I want you two to be happy, since I know you would never be happy without her in your life. I'm saving 6 months because I just want to say goodbye to everyone before I...you know. So..."he trailed off.
"Ron, I..." Harry's eyes became slightly watery. "You would do this for us?" Ron nodded. "But Ron, you have so much ahead of you, why let it all go just for this?"
"Because, meeting you two and having the both of you in my life is good enough for me. We've been through so much together, and I think I've experienced enough already, which is why I know that I can do this,"Ron said truthfully.
"Ron...you're the best mate anyone could have,"Harry said, leaning forward and wrapping Ron in a tight hug. Ron hugged him back just as tightly, letting a single tear drop down his cheek.
"No, Harry, you are,"Ron said as he pulled back.
"Me? Ron, I don't have the guts to do what you're going to do, even though I've thought about it many times. You're the only person I know who would do this,"Harry said quietly.
"Thanks,"Ron said, smiling slightly. "Come on, let's go, or we'll be late for Potions." The 2 of them headed back into the castle.
The day flew by, and soon they had already finished dinner, which was pretty quiet, and were heading back up to the Common Room. Ron stopped at the 3rd floor, where Professor Dumbledore's office was.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later then,"Ron said to Harry.
"Yeah. Good luck Ron,"Harry said sincerely, giving Ron another bone-crushing hug.
He turned around quickly and continued up the stairs, not wanting to let Ron see the tears that were flowing from his eyes. Ron watched him go, then walked along the corridor until he reached the statue.
He thought for a minute, then remembered the password that Dumbledore had told him. "Reeses Pieces,"he said, and the statue moved aside, allowing him to go up the stairs. He raised his hand to knock on the door, and as he was about to knock, Dumbledore's voice said, "Come in, Ron." Okay...that's a little scary, Ron thought as he entered the room.
"Good evening Ron,"Dumbledore said. "Are you ready?" Ron gulped and nodded wordlessly.
Dumbledore got up and went over to the cabinet, where he took out a potion vial and placed it on the table. Ron took out his wand and tried to hold it steady, but he wasn't doing too good.
"Relax, Ron, and take a few deep breaths." Ron inhaled and exhaled a few times, and he was able to grip the wand more firmly.
"You must not lose your grip on the wand throughout the whole process, otherwise the potion won't be done right. You will have to flick your wand 549 times (Ron's eyes widened at this) and then halfway down for the half a year that you will save. Are you sure you're ready?"
"Yes Professor, I'm ready,"Ron said in a tight voice.
"Very well,"Dumbledore said. He put a spell on the vial to keep it upright in the air. "1...2...3."
"Lifenarus transferos,"Ron said loudly, and he began flicking the wand, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...he went on, counting the numbers in his head as he flicked and flicked. 51, 52, 53...
Dumbledore watched silently through his half-moon glasses, knowing that Ron would be in for a surprise when he finished.
137, 138, 139...Ron's hand began growing tired, but he kept a firm grip on it. 194, 195, 196...Please don't be mad at me for doing this Hermione, he thought. 246, 247, 248...Each time he flicked, a tiny drop of some sort of blue liquid formed at the top of the vial and slowly fell in, and the whole vial was emitting this blue glow. 322, 323, 324...He kept a steady rhythm of flicking, afraid that if he went too fast or too slow, then it would all go wrong. 399, 400, 401...God, his hand was getting so tired, but he kept going, for Hermione's sake. 466, 467, 468...Less than 100 to go now, he thought. 503, 504, 505...Hermione better do something useful with these years! 547, 548, 549...and Ron flicked it down halfway and stopped. The blue glow faded. He dropped his wand and collapsed into a chair.
Dumbledore conjured up a glass of water and handed it to Ron. "Thanks,"Ron said gratefully, taking the water and draining it. He wiped the tiny beads of sweat of his forehead and sighed. "Did it work?"
"Yes, it certainly did,"Dumbledore replied, picking up the tiny vial, now filled up almost to the top with the blue liquid.
"You know, I think I'm just going to do that lifenarus numbreus spell, just to check and make sure,"Ron said, picking up his wand from the ground. Dumbledore merely smiled but said nothing.
Ron glanced uncertainly at Dumbledore; it seemed like he knew something that he himself didn't. "Lifenarus numbreus,"he said, pointing the wand at his heart. Suddenly, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. The pop was heard, and the tiny dots flew out of the wand so slowly that Ron felt like shaking it to make it come out quicker, but he didn't. Slowly, slowly, the dots began forming a number, which Ron knew was going to be 0.5, so he waited and waited. The dots made a 5 very slowly, so Ron knew he was right. But instead of moving to the left of the 5 to make a point and a 0, the dots flew to the right of the 5. Ron stared at them, wide-eyed. They curved down slowly and made...another 5. Then they moved to the right again and made...a 0. Ron gaped at it. There had to be some mistake. He already gave up his 550 years...hadn't he? Then, everything returned to regular speed, and the numbers floated clearly in front of him: 550. Then, they vanished with a small pop.
"P-Professor?"Ron turned to Dumbledore.
"Yes, Ronald?"Dumbledore smiled.
"I...I think there's something wrong with the wand. It made a...550 when I cast the spell."
"No no, there's nothing wrong with it,"Dumbledore replied, still smiling.
"So then, why...why isn't it a 0.5? The potion didn't work?"
"No, the potion worked."
"But I still have 550 years..."Ron said, confused.
"Indeed you do. Ronald, if I'm not mistaken, I believe that the potion... how should I put this...the potion, in a way, realized that you were doing an extremely selfless deed, all for love and friendship. I don't think that anyone who did this potion has ever had those reasons in mind as they performed it, but you did, and it showed how loyal, brave, and noble you are as a person, so it decided to let you have your life back, even after you finished the potion,"Dumbledore explained.
"The potion...has a mind of its own?"Ron asked, amazed.
"Don't forget, in the wizarding world, anything is possible,"Dumbledore said simply. Ron stood there, speechless.
"You knew this was going to happen all along sir?"Ron asked.
"I had a strong feeling about it,"Dumbledore said, smiling.
"So, Hermione gets to live, and I get to live too?"Ron asked, awed.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. Now, I'm sure you would like to tell Mr. Potter as soon as possible wouldn't you?"
"Yes sir,"Ron almost shouted.
"All right, then you may go, and bring the potion with you, as I'm sure you would also like to get it to Ms. Granger as soon as possible. I will write you a special pass that you may show to any prefects or teachers who stop you in the halls on your way back up." Dumbledore took a vial cork out of the cabinet and pressed it onto the top of the vial, sealing it tightly. Then, he conjured up a small silver piece of paper and handed both the paper and the vial to Ron, who took them and held them as though they were fragile diamonds.
"Th-thank you so much sir,"Ron said gratefully.
"For what? You did most of the work,"Dumbledore said, smiling. "Now hurry along, if you want to avoid Mrs. Norris's patrolling on this floor."
Ron nodded and left quickly, clutching the vial and the pass in his hands. He raced down the hall and up the Great Staircase to the Fat Lady. He gasped out the password and stumbled in, tired from running at full speed up the stairs.
Harry was sitting in the Common Room, half-asleep, but when he saw a shadowy figure, he knew it had to be Ron.
"So? How did it go?"Harry asked excitedly. "I'm assuming not too bad since you're still alive and breathing."
"Harry, you will not believe what I am about to tell you,"Ron said happily.
"Come on Ron, tell me already!"
"Hermione can live, I can live, no one has to die!" Harry's mouth dropped open.
"Wha-what? Ron, stop it and tell me the truth already."
"Do I look like I'm lying Harry? Do you think I would be this excited and happy if I had to die in 6 months?"Ron said, stating the obvious.
"Oh wow Ron, that's amazing,"Harry gasped. He forced Ron to sit in the armchair. "Now tell me everything, every single tiny little detail that there is, okay? Start...now."
So Ron told Harry everything that happened, even the useless little details, and Harry listened eagerly.
Suddenly, the portrait hole opened, and Neville came charging in, looking panicked and out-of-breath.
"What's wrong Neville?"Harry asked worriedly.
"It's Hermione,"he said between gasps of air.
"Hermione?" Both Harry and Ron stood up at the same time and walked up to Neville.
"What about Hermione?"Harry asked.
"I was helping Madam Pomfrey out in the Hospital Wing when she got an owl from St. Mungo's, and they said that Hermione had collapsed and was in critical care, so I excused myself so I could come and tell you, even though no one is supposed to know yet, but I know that you two care a lot about her so I HAD to tell you,"Neville said hurriedly.
"Oh no,"Harry muttered. "Thanks so much for telling us Neville. I owe you one."
"But Harry, don't..."Neville began, but he never got a chance to finish, because Harry ran past him and out the portrait hole, Ron at his heels, clutching the potion vial. Neville turned around and followed them, trying his best to keep up, and the three of them raced to Dumbledore's office.
A/N: Okay, I'll leave you guys off with that! I'm pretty sure the next chapter will be the last, but it might take me a while to update, so PRETTY PLEASE bear with me! Also, I really REALLY wanna thank you guys for being so patient and I'm really sorry that it took me so long to update, but please review this chappie! THANKS SO MUCH! Btw, if any of you use AIM, my sn is krazydolphin99 or xHPxLuvRGurLx so feel free to chat) HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Luv u guys!
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