(I don't own JKR's characters. I don't own the song Only Hope by Mandy Moore)

Chapter 5

The feast was nothing short of delicious. But Ron barely chewed his food let alone taste it. All he could think of was the fight he'd had with his best friend and his new girlfriend. He was worried about her. 'Where is she? She never misses a meal. Well not since that whole S.P.E.W. thing.' He couldn't help thinking if Hermione would break up with him over this. Over the fact that Harry had overreacted and that he knew Hermione had feelings for both of them.

-There's a song that's inside of my soul. It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again.-

The feast finished and Ron mechanically got up and went to the dormitory. Harry watched as his friend went upstairs. Realizing what kind of pain he had caused was not something he wanted to think of. Ron on the other hand had one thing on his mind; where was Hermione? And was she alright?

-I'm awake in the infinite cold. But you sing to me over and over again.-

Ron lay on his bed fully dressed. Looking out the window he thought about everything as his heavy eye lids closed. But just as they had closed they opened again. Hermione was penetrating his dreams, he could not escape her. He lay on his back staring blankly at the ceiling.

-So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray to be only yours.I pray to be only yours. I know now you're my only hope.-

He thought of the time he, Harry, and Hermione were all lying out on the grass looking at the stars. Hermione had heard Ron singing earlier that day and that night she asked him to sing her the song of the stars. He never really knew what she meant by that. But he sure wished he had done it now. He and Hermione had countlessly talked over ther plans for them, the three friends, everything. They would stay up long into the night discussing what they wanted to be and how they'd do it. With these good, happy thoughts in his head Ron drifted into a deep sleep.

-Sing to me the song of the stars. Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again. When I feel like my dreams are so far. Sing to me of the plans you have for me over and over again.-

The next morning Hermione woke with a sudden start. She had fallen asleep fully clothed thinking of Ron and Harry...but mostly Ron. Her bedding was muddy and wet as was the rest of her. She stood up and rushed to the bathroom. She switched the shower on and got in. After she had cleaned herself and steamed off a bit she got out of the warm shower and wrapped herself in a towel. Shaking her wet curly hair she went back into the bedroom. Lavender and Pavarti were standing next to her bed examining her wet, muddy, and bloody bedding.

"Hermione, what on earth happened!" Lavender cried after Hermione came out.

"Yeah, honestly look at your bed.You'd think you'd been in a fight or something." Her eyes got wide. "Who hurt you?" She asked stubbornly. Hermione grabbed the mirror nearest her and looked at her face, there was one scratch fromt he extremely large branch that had made her bleed. Other than that her face was clean. Her knees and hands had scratches as well but nothing that some cover up or a spell wouldn't fix.

"Nothing, I ran into the woods and sat for a bit, then the storm came. Nothing to worry about." She flicked her wand and the bedding landed in the hamper while the new bedding came out of the closet and made her bed.

Lavender and Pavarti did not want to accept this as the reason but let it go, Hermione didn't lie. She just didn't.

After Lavender and Pavarti thankfully left the room Hermione pulled out a white and green tank top along with a pair of hip huggers and a jean jacket. She dressed herself and went down the stairs, seeing the common room empty and Harry's things gone she went up to the boys dormitory. Hoping to find Ron there.

Sure enough when seh reached the boys dormitory there was Ron, he'd gone back to sleep. Half on half off the bed and fully dressed. She went and sat next to his head, stroking his fiery red hair and thinking of how happy she was that he was hers.

-So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray to be only yours. I pray to be only yours. I know now you're my only hope.-

Ron felt something brushing his head and flicked his eyes open. He saw Hermione's smiling face above his, as soon as he opened his eyes he felt her kiss him. He was glad to be awake.

"Ron, I love you. That's not going to change. But also...we've got to make ammends with Harry." Were the first words out of her mouth.

"Hermione, I love you too. More than anything and I always have. But to make ammends with Harry means to accept that we were wrong and we're not Hermione..." He took her hands, "We're...not." He took her face in his hands and gently kissed her, pouring all he had into it.

-I give you my destiny. I'm giving you all of me. I want your symphony singing in all that I am. At the top of my lungs I am giving it back.-

"C'mon Ron, get dressed we're going to be late and I have to find my bag. I didn't do any of my homework. I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Okay, I'll be down in a bit." He said, letting go of her hands. She turned and ran down the stairs, pulling her hair up into yet again another ponytail. Her curls were perfect and fell into exact place without even meaning to.

Ron looked around the dormitory a bit, looking for some clean clothes, scratching his head. He put on his clean clothes and grabbed his bag which Harry had been so gracious to bring in. He laid on his bed a minute thinking about what Hermione had said. They had to make up with Harry, he knew they did but to make ammends would mean letting Hermione go or letting Harry go. Harry would not let him have both. He knew that Hermione was all he had left. He was hers and that's all he wanted to be.

-So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray to be only yours. I pray to be only yours. I pray to be only yours and I know now you're my only hope.-