A/N: Ok I know its been ages since I last updated, but I had some thinking to do about this story after seeing little interest shown in it, but i have decided to continue on anyway for those of you who enjoy it!

Another reason for the lateness in this chapter being posted is of course the release of the Penultimate Harry Potter Book - The Half -Blood Prince. i have of course decided to ignore the new events that have taken part in this book and will be continuing from the 5th book.

Right I always forget this! The...

Disclaimer - as we all know I do NOT own Harry Potter or any of the characters they all belong to the wonderful J K Rowling, the only thing i can lay claim to is the plot of this story.

Another enough of all that formal stuff! And on with the story - there's a lot of talking and stuff in this chapter, but its all needed! anyhoo, on with the story!

Part Four: Is this the end?

Ron was standing in front of the Great Hall; he lifted a trembling hand to the cool brass doorknob. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and pushed the oak door open and the scene was revealed to him. Ron glanced around the room and saw Hermione lying motionless on the floor with her back to the door so all Ron could see was the tangle of curls sprawled on the floor and Harry wand tip pointed at Lord Voldemort locked in a heated battle.

Ron wasted no time and ran towards Hermione, darting in-between the tables in an attempt to get to her quicker. He stumbled and his side hit the edge of table painfully, winded and clutching his injured ribs he continued his efforts to get near Hermione, all of the commotion cause by his fall had drawn Voldemort's attention away from Harry and towards himself. He was aware of a swift movement behind him as he skidded to a halt in front of her; he had to check if she was alive, and he had to be sure. Before he could reach her a flash of green light filled his vision and…

Ron sat up in bed drenched in sweat; his eyes darted around the room. The curtains to his bed where open and the morning light drifted across his chrisom bedspread. Ron let out a low shaky breath and clambered out of the twisted sheets and onto the floor. He looked around the room slowly, aware of his uneven breathing and his shaking knees. The sounds slow steady breathing and low snores filled his ears and he looked in turn at the four beds in the room.

After crossing the room Ron made his way to the bathroom, just dreams… where they dreams? Lost in his thoughts he absentmindedly walked toward the showers. Ron ran a hand through his hair in disappear, maybe he was loosing his mind. He let out a laugh at this…

"Yeah Ron that's it your insane, finally crack, maybe you could get a bed next to Lockhart's, think of the fun you'd have!"

He shook his head and reached into his pyjama pocket for his wand, every since the events of last summer he had not gone anywhere without it and had taken to sleeping it where he could access it easily, something he should have taken to doing earlier, taking care of his wand better that's it. He lazily waved it in the direction of the shower and muttered

"liquidus unda"

A hot jet of water began to pour from the ceiling of the cubicle. He stretched out a hand to test the temperature of the water. He watched and the water slipped through his fingers and slid down his wrist and to his elbow, after satisfied that the water was warm enough he began to unbutton his Pyjama jacket, letting it slip of his broad shoulders and fall to the floor, to revel a pale defined chest with a dusting of freckles, there were faint lines that outline the muscles of his abdomen and a thin line of red hair that made its path from his belly button and disappeared into his trousers. Ron's maturing form had gained him looks from more and more girls these days but went unnoticed, for he had eyes for only one.

In one fluid movement his pushed his Pyjama bottoms down and off, kicking his discarded clothes to one side he stepped into the shower hissing slightly as the water cascaded down his back. He ran his hands lightly over his neck and over his chest as the hot water poured over him. Feeling a little more relaxed and enjoying the sensation the water was providing he began the routine of washing his hair and body. As he lathered his soap up and applied it to his body his winced in pain and his hand travelled down his right side. Making sure all the soap was rinsed of his body he pointed his wand at the water and muttered

"unda subsisto"

Stepping out onto the tiles of the now steam engulfed shower room his hastily grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist and crossed to the mirrors.

Once in front of the mirror he viewed a dark purple bruise that covered his right side. He carefully ran a hand over it and then the realisation hit him like a tone of bricks. These weren't dreams he was having!

Ron dumped himself into a seat next to Harry at breakfast, and immediately reached for some bacon and eggs. Harry was staring off into space and had an unreadable expression upon his face. Ron studied Harry for a moment then realised just how self absorbed he had been since yesterday. He was his best friend who had just probably had the worst summer of his life; his Godfather had been killed in front of him and he had been isolated from his friends all summer, then what with everything going on with Hermione he hadn't even spared a thought to ask him how he was holding up!

"Harry? You all right mate?" Ron began setting down his knife and fork. Harry looked at Ron his expression desperate for brief moment then he force a smile.

"I'm fine thanks" he muttered buttering his toast. Ron placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze telling him without words he was here for him.

Ron was torn from his thoughts about Harry and Hermione by professor McGonagall; he took his time table from her and began to examine it, Double Charms first. He was aware that McGonagall was still standing next to him; he turned to look at her.

"Err… is there something else" Ron cursed himself for sounding so dismissive, to his relief she choose to ignore it.

"As a matter of Fact Mr Weasley I would like to see you in my office, after you have finished your breakfast that is." It was more of a demand then a request. it had shocked Ron to see his head of House so caring the previous night, but she seemed to be back to her old self again. Ron merely nodded and rose from his sit, after a quick goodbye to Harry Ron made his way to Professor McGonagall's office.

"Ah… Do sit down Ronald." Ron sat down in the chair opposite the desk and turn to look at McGonagall. She smiled briefly before her expressions hardened and she was back into the professor mode.

"What I'm going to ask you isn't exactly proper conduct as such but…" Ron began to get a little nervous a hundred and one scenarios ran through his head about what on earth his professor could be propositioning him, the last few where quite disturbing (well his is a 16 year old boy).

"It's about Hermione" Ron almost laughed with relief but composed himself quickly and focused once more on his Head of House.

"Although I know she should be spending her time in the hospital wing… she is refusing, plus she is in no fit state to go to any of her classes despite her protests, and when I suggested that she should have a friend to stay with her today she insisted upon you Mr Weasley, thus my dilemma, I was hoping that you would spend your day with her, just to keep an eye on her and make sure she eats something. What do you say?" Ron thought for a moment, of course he was going to do it. What stunned him the most was the fact that McGonagall had said Hermione insisted it be Ron to look after her.

"Ahem" Ron's head snapped up.

Professor McGonagall coughed politely after a long pause of silence and seeing the glaze expression on Ron's face.

"Yes Professor, Ill look after Hermione today, where can I find her?" Professor McGonagall smiled and rose from her seat and motion toward the door.

"She is in her dormitory," Ron looked at his Professor and cleared his throat.

"And…err…how do I get into the dormitory?" Ron asked a little embarrassed remembering the incident when Harry had attempted to get into the girls dorms.

"Don't worry Ron I've arrange for it so that you can enter the girls dormitories today, but today only" she gave Ron a glare and gently pushed him out of the office.

Ron walked into the common room and found it filled with people running around dropping parchment and quills all over the place, some of them with robes hanging of them and half eaten bits of toast in their mouth, all in an attempt to reach their first lessons of the day on time.

After the common room was empty Ron got to his feet from the armchair he had taken refuge in to avoid the stragglers. He was apprehensively toward the staircase leading to the girl's dorms; he stretched out one foot and tested the step. It seemed solid enough, well no alarm was going off and the stairs hadn't turned into a slide. Ron began to climb the stairs still not convince that they would permit him to until he reached the 6th year girl's dorms. He began to read the small brass plaques that had the student's details written on them.

"Lavender Brown…Hermione Granger…Parvati Patil aha this is the one" Ron knocked on the door softly after receiving no answer he pushed the door open and entered the dormitory.

The dorm was practically the same as his own, 5 four poster beds all decorated in the Gryffindor colours, the main difference the was the fact that there where posters from witch weekly plastered over the walls all of the occupants winking, grinning and showing off their muscle, all of who where now upon noticing Ron where glaring at him disapprovingly.

"Hermione?" Ron called, a movement by the open window drew his attention, and there was a small balcony upon which Hermione stood leaning slightly over the low wall.

"HERMIONE NO!"

A/N: ok there we go, no as long as i wanted it to be, but I needed to post something soon for fear you'd all abandon me! I hope you liked it, review if you want, the more reviews I get the motivation it provided to make me update sooner!

The meaning of the spells are as follows:

liquidus unda – Flowing water

unda subsisto – Water stop

ooooooooooooo! and another note I am in need of a Beta, in case you hadn't already noticed my awful spellingand other mistakes, so if you would like to Beta my story then please contact me thank you... until next time!