Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A/n: Short chapter. Very short, actually. But I feel bad because I haven't posted in a long time, and this will be it until next week. So enjoy and as always: review!

Chapter Six

"Just get out, Harry," Hermione whispered.

And Harry did just that. Hermione sighed and leaned her head against the back of the couch. She hadn't really thought about Ron's passing since it actually happened. She hadn't really thought about him, or the…accident. Convinced it was her fault, she had shut herself in her room, trying to block out the images as they ran through her mind…

"Ron!"

A scream. A shout. A yell. Ron was in danger. Ron was in trouble. Running fast, Hermione tried to find him.

"Ron!"

He had to be close. She could feel him…she just had to see him.

"Where are you?" She whispered. She tripped. But didn't fall. Brushing herself off, and not checking to see if she had any cuts or bruises, she continued her search.

"Harry!" She called. She heard breathing behind her. Spinning around, she felt Harry's hand slip into her own.

"Find…" Hermione started, but the look in Harry's eyes told her she didn't need to say a thing.

"Ron!" The call was closer, and as they stumbled into view of Ron, they realized he was saying his name.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione sobbed, going to his side. She placed a shaking hand on his cheek, and clutched his hand. "Please, Ron…"

"Hermione…" Ron said, his eyes wide. "What…where…how…"

"Hermione, we need to get Ron to Hogwarts. Do you think you can manage?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded, and turned back to Ron. But Ron looked…different somehow. His eyes had glazed over, and he didn't seem to be breathing…

"Oh no…Harry! Harry! Ron isn't…he's cold…Harry!" Hermione sobbed, pushing herself away from Ron.

"Come on, Hermione. He can't be…" But Harry sounded unsure. Trembling, he reached out a hand, and placed two fingers on his neck, checking for a pulse.

There wasn't one.

Harry removed his hand, as Hermione looked at him. His eyes seemed to say it all, and as Hermione rushed into his arms, only one thought occurred to her:

He was dead.

Dead...

"I hate you, Ron!" Hermione screamed. "I hate you for doing this to me!"

And then she cried.

"I hate you…" The walls seemed to echo back. I hate you for doing this to me.

I'm sorry…

Ron.