Disclaimer: These are not mine! Thought...I would love it if Ron WAS mine! Hmmmmm...snatches Ron and runs away

A/N: I am BACK, people, with another great chapter or at leastI HOPE you think it's great! mumbles on

Chapter Seven

Voldemort.

Hermione hid her face as she saw HIS face once more. It had only only been a brief glimpse, byt the image she saw had marked her memory forever. His face had been deathly pale and frighteningly snake-like, his slit eyes glowing a bloody-red and his whole body had been completely see-through.

The only thing was was that Voldemort hadn't been the reason for her not telling.

The reason had been seeing Ginny, standing beside Voldemort. Her normal blue eyes tinted with the same red, her usual laughing lips curled into the same malevolent smile. No trace of the Ginny Weasley she had come to known well. Gone.

That had been the reason for her not telling everyone about her experience, because if Ginny ever found out, it would shatter her completely.

All of a sudden, Harry stood up and walked over to the window by his bed, his emerald eyes avoiding her own. Hermione could see his fists clenching and unclenching as he stared out of the window. It was clear to her that he wasn't happy.

"Harry?" she whispered. "Harry, it wasn't your fault! You had a Quidditch match that day and it had been my decision to go to the library that day! Please don't blame yourself for something that was my own fault!"

Turning to face her, the emotions reflected in Harry's eyes shocked her. There was anger, fear, concern, guilt and sadness.

"No, it wasn't my fault!" he said, his voice low and shaking. "It was HIS! It's always his fault! Because of him, my friends are constantly in danger!"

Hermione shook her head.

"You're wrong! We're safe because of you! You've saved so many people over the years and even though you hate to admit it, you ARE a hero, Harry, and one of the most powerful wizards in this world! You can beat Voldemort, Harry! I KNOW you can!"

By hearing Hermione saying his enemy's name, Harry glanced over to her and gave a small smile.

"I'm really glad to have you as my friend, Hermione,"

Hermione smiled, then it faded when she realised that she had to tell him about the latest happenings.

"I've been meaning to tell you something," she muttered. "Yesterday, when I was in the library, one of the bookcases nearly fell on top of me. It was as if something or someone had pushed, but no-one had been nearby at the time!"

"Oh no!" Harry groaned. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because you and Ron had been at Quidditch and I didn't think it was all that important!" came Hermione's reply.

"You were nearly killed, Hermione! Of course it was important!" he cried, shocked that she didn't think about herself.

Suddenly Harry cried out in pain, clutching his scar.

"Harry, what is it?" Hermione said, panic in her voice.

"He's happy! REALLY happy! Someone's been killed!" Harry croaked as the pain receeded. "I have to go and see Ron."

Hermione gazed him, shocked.

"Harry, it's after curfew and your scar has just hurt!" she said, her curt manner returning. "You can visit him tomorrow!"

She watched him bend down, pull out his school trunk and fetch his invisability cloak and Marauder's Map.

"As long as I have these, I'll be fine," he replied.

Before Hermione could protest, Harry unlocked the door and headed out of the dormitory.

She stared after him.

What was he going to do?

In the Hospital Wing, Ron had just woken from an unsettled sleep. His dreams had been plagued with images of Hermione and strange visions of a sword and a lion.

Leaning deeper into his pillows, he couldn't throw the feeling that something was wrong. With a sigh, Ron attempted sleep once more but as soon as he had closed his eyes, the door into the Hospital Wing creaked open. Ron's eyes snapped and sat up straight, frowning at the opened door. It couldn've been a ghost because they usually leave a chill in the room.

So what was there with him?

Ron quickly felt for his wand and pointed it ahead of him, not knowing where to aim.

"Who's there?" he said, his eyes darting around the wing for a sign.

"It's me, mate," came a familiar voice from beside his bed and Harry appeared.

"Bloody hell, Harry, what the heck are you doing here?" Ron whispered, lowering his wand. "I thought we arranged for tomorrow night?"

Harry gave a heavy sigh and explained his reason for being there. As he explained, Ron's eyes narrowed and the grip on his wand tightening to almost snapping point.

When Harry finished, Ron closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths to calm his anger.

"We have to start it, Harry," Ron said, opening his eyes.

"Ron, we aren't ready!" Harry hissed.

"We've got no choice! I'm not waiting for Hermione to be killed!" Ron said through gritted teeth.

Knowing Ron wouldn't change his mind any time soon, Harry sighed and nodded.

With a grateful smile, Ron puled out a small golden necklace from underneath his pyjama top.

It was a delicate chain, which held an acorn-sized ruby on the bottom of it. The ruby was protected by a small golden claw, like that of a dragon's.

"I've read up on how to perform the spell," Harry said, looking nervously at the necklace. "I just hope I do it right!"

Ron put a hand on his friend's shoulder and gave him a reasurring grin.

"I have every faith in you, mate," he said. "You're even better than Hermione in DATDA now so I have no worries."

"I'm glad someone does," Harry muttered, bringing out his wand and a medium-sized leather book.

He opened the book and quickly flipped through the pages until he got to the one he wanted. Taking a big gulp, Harry pointed his wand at Ron's necklace.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

Ron nodded and readied himself for what was about to happen next.

"Gaudeamus Igitor Juevenuaus dum...SUMUS!" Harry chanted and he shouted the word. His wand suddenly let out a bright, blue light and shot towards Ron. It reflected onto the ruby, and up into Ron's wide eyes.

Ron cried out as the light blinded his sight. He gripped his eyes with hands.