Come What May

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Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Beloved Headmaster, Teacher and Friend

As the crowds began to disperse, Ron looked down at the white tomb in disbelief, but the gnawing, depressing feeling that ate at him... it was real. It was all true. It had really happened. Dumbledore was dead. The gentle, caring Headmaster that everyone adored was now gone. And all because of one damned and so-called 'loyal' school teacher - Serverus Snape.

He looked back to see Harry and Ginny, still sitting and talking, and from the look on Ginny's face, they were breaking up. Ron felt a small pinch of guilt, because he wanted his baby sister to be happy and he knew that she was happiest when she was with Harry. But Ron also knew that they were doing the right thing. It had to be done to ensure her safety - just another exclamation of how Harry really did love her.

His eyes then drifted to Hermione, who was standing on the other side of the tomb, teary eyed and alone. Her normally sparkly brown eyes were full of sadness, her lips that usually formed into a cherry smile were now pressed into a thin line, and it looking like she was trying her hardest not to let tears spill over her cheeks. Her bushy hair was even more frazzled from the lack of attention she'd given it the past few days, and instead of standing tall and proud as she did most days, she seemed a small, shrunken version of herself, consumed with grief and despair as it clouded her mind and brought tears to her eyes.

Ron watched her for a moment, his own mind clouding but not with grief or despair. It was bittersweet memories of Hermione that began flooding his mind. He was unexpectedly flooded with all the times he had shared with Hermione over the past years, the good and the bad. It had been over those six years that he had completely and incurably fallen in love with her.

Memory after memory assaulted him. First that of being the most adorable witch he had ever seen, storming into his and Harry's compartment on the Hogwarts Express, looking for a toad, showing him up with wand magic time and time again in first year. The bossy know-it-all had spunk and spirit, and she really was the smartest witch he'd ever met. And he'd made a friend out of her.

It was in second year when he first learned the meaning of fear. He knew Harry was capable of holding his own, even at such a young age. But he'd constantly worried over Hermione after the Chamber of Secrets had been opened again. She was muggleborn, after all. And he was right - she had been attacked. It scared him half to death, seeing his dear friend Hermione, the one he argued with constantly, in the frozen and lifeless state. It was then he'd realized he'd become attached to the little know-it-all. More than he was wiling to admit - to anyone.

Third year was a bad year of rows for him and Hermione. Over that bloody cat Crookshanks and his own rat Scabbers, who eventually turned out to beWormtail, devoted servant to You-Know... to Voldemort. She'd gone all year with that Time Turner, she'd smacked Malfoy, and all the mysteries with Sirius Black and Professor Lupin, she'd figured it all out, saving two lived that night in the process. And he loved her all the more for it.

It was in fourth year that he realized he might actually like Hermione - as a girl. It was all thanks to that bloddy git Viktor Krum. He used to be Ron's idol, the Bulgarian Seeker, still yet a student, and he was making moves on Ron's best 'friend.' This caused a raging jealousy inside Ron like he'd never felt before. Loosing Harry for a few weeks tore him up, but he knew that they'd be back on good terms eventually. If he ever lost Hermione to a guy like Viktor Krum... or at all for that matter, his whole life would shatter. It was also in his fourth year that he realized there were other reasons for his justified anger. Krum had many things that Ron lacked. Good looks, popularity, money... (He even had Quidditch skills, but Hermione didn't care about that.) This hurt Ron to the core - so he tried to change.

Which led into fifth year. Things never were the same after that row in fourth year, the one that woke up the hibernating bears in Russia. Hermione accused him of making her the 'last resort' and for not seeing her as a 'girl.' When in reality, she wasn't a last resort, she was always first on his list, she was simply out of his league. And he saw her very much as a girl. A beautiful, amazing and smart young woman who was just too good for him. So in the fifth year, he tried his hardest to be more complimentary towards her, maybe try his hand at getting the popularity all his older brothers had. He even made an impression on the Quidditch field. And while he didn't get a declaration of love like what tortured his dreams, he did get a kiss on the cheek, just like Harry had the year before. And it was that little kiss that was featured in his dreams every night from then on.

But everything that had happened between him and Hermione during this, their sixth year, had him down right confused. All the talk of snogging with Ginny and Dean, Hermione and Krum... it just got him riled up again, his lifelong desire for Hermione was being rubbed in his face - and it hurt. He had just about given up on Hermione when Lavender had taken a liking to him. This turned Hermione into a raving mad woman. Ron fancied it was something akin to jealousy and hurt. While Ron wanted to enjoy it, he couldn't stand to see Hermione in pain, and after that incident with the canaries... no, Ron decided that he would be better off without Lavender, and he tried his hardest to mend ties with his 'best friend.'

They had always been close, Ron and Hermione. Whenever there were problems at school or tragedy would strike, when ever Harry needed them, it always brought not only the three of them, but the two of them closer together. When Sirius died, Harry was angry and took it hard. Ron remembered once before they went home, he came upon Hermione crying for Harry, upset that he should have to deal with so much in his life. Though the little imp of jealousy was laughing in his head, he held her while she cried, soothing her fears, telling her that they would always be there for Harry to help him through the hard times that were guaranteed to come. That seemed to suffice for the time being, though it looked like he'd be doing it again shortly.

He heard a small hiccup escape Hermione's mouth, and when he looked up, tears were streaming down her face. Ron made his way around the tomb and held his arms open to her. She quickly moved into them, the two holding each other tight.

"I can't believe he's gone, Ron." she sobbed. "I just can't believe it."

The anguish in her voice brought tears to his own eyes, but he only ran his fingers over the frizzy hair of hers, the hair that he loved so much, trying to soothe her dears as he had once before. "It'll be okay, Hermione."

But she continued. "Poor Harry, had to (hic) watch Dumbledore die! Now he has to go off and battle (hic) Voldemort... Oh, Ron!"

He held her fast and gently "Shhh"ed her as she began to sob uncontrollably, tears burning in his own eyes.

"And we'll have to be there for (hic) him, stand by his side through everything... Oh but Ron, I can't bare it if you die!"

Ron was suddenly taken aback. "What? Me, die? Hermione, what are you going on about?"

Hermione didn't meet his eyes, she only clung to him tighter. "You're ever much a hero as Harry is! You'll (hic) be there with him till the bitter end, even if it means death, because (hic) that's the kind of friend you are loyal and selfless to a fault. If you go with (hic) Harry, and you die..." she cried, "Promise you won't leave me Ron."

Ron shook his head and held her closer still. "Never. I'll never leave you, Hermione."

He hoped her tears would stop; he hated to see her cry; but she didn't. The heart wrenching tears she was shedding brought a burn to Ron's own eyes and he didn't bother to wipe away the tears that trickled off his own long nose. He stroked her hair to try and soothe her, but at the moment, he needed comforting of his own. Her words made him realize something - what is something happened to Hermione? Could he make it one day without her constant nagging, her beautiful smile, her ever encouraging and faithful companionship? Never. He could not let anything happen to her, she must stay safe. If not for her own life, also for his sanity.

Then unbidden words escaped his mouth so gently, so quietly, he wasn't even sure he'd spoken them. "I love you, Hermione." he whispered.

When he felt her tense in his arms, he opened his eyes. Had he spoken his thought aloud? His most deepest desire, his darkest secret; had he finally said it, while holding his beloved so tenderly?

She slowly pulled away and looked up at him with a sad smile, wiping away her tears. Her last retort when he'd accidentally let it slip had been, "Don't' let Lavender hear you," and he expected something similar. But there was an understanding, a hope shining through her eyes that made Ron's heart soar.

"I love you too, Ron." she said simply. "You're such a good friend to me. We may argue about everything under the sun, but you're always there for me when I need you." Then stepping on her tip toes, and kissed him on the cheek, as she had once before.

Ron silently cursed his family for the millionth time, and his hereditary blushing burning the tips of his ears. He also cursed his own bloody feelings, for getting his hopes up too high. It was obvious to him that she didn't see him in that light. And he wouldn't pressure her, she didn't need that now. She needed him as a friend - so that's what he would be. But he would never stop praying for the day when she would change, see him in a different light, not just as her best friend, but as a man who loved her more than anything.

"That's what I'm here for," he finally said. She didn't look away under his heavy gaze, her eyes locked with his own.

"I'm going with you." she said firmly, tears and hiccups now gone. She was composed, but obviously not clear minded.

"What? Where am I going?" he questioned.

"Oh, don't play a prat, Ronald Weasley." she smirked. "You're planning on going with Harry, wherever he decided to go. And I'm telling you right now that I'm going with you."

Ron's eyebrows narrowed. "Hermione..."

"Don't! Don't, Ron! Don't tell me I'm a girl or it's too dangerous. We've been with Harry through everything and this is no different. This is not some guy time, thrill seeking adventure. Harry is my best friend too, damnit, and I will be there with him."

Ron couldn't help but smile. Hermione had never swore in her entire life, but at the moment he fount it endearing to see her pretty mouth say the curse word. And he knew she was right - she was going to go, not matter what him or Harry had to say about it.

"Besides," she smirked, "I can't let you be the side kick that gets all the glory."

Ron chuckled, then took a step forward and cupped her adorable face gently. "Of course, Hermione. Not like anyone would stop you anyway."

Their eyes locked once more and Ron felt his heard begin to pound in his chest, as it often did when he looked into Hermione's brown-sugar colored eyes. It would be hard, with danger and death would be lurking around every corner; it would be hard to keep his confession of love for this beautiful and headstrong woman to himself. But if it meant keeping her happy, he would do it. And it felt like it was everything against nature to pull away from her instead of kissing her adorable lips that were mere inches away from him, like he wanted to.

"I guess we should go find Harry then?" Ron said, not wanting to meet her eyes. When he did ... was it wishful thinking, or did he see disappointment there?

"I guess so." she said in a quiet voice.

Ron then took hold of her hand and smiled at her. Her small hand in his large one, hers warm and soft against his strong and calloused skin. It ached Ron to the core how right it felt, how perfect it was to hold her, to be with her. But he was strong, and so was his resolve. He would resist.

She looked up at him and any unsureties he may have seen melted away into a beautiful smile. She squeezed his hand as she stood beside him, and Ron felt ready to take on Malfoy, Voldemort, the world if needs be. Hermione was with him. And maybe she didn't love him today, but maybe someday, she would. Ron lived for that day.

And so they walked, hand in hand, off to find their best friend, Harry Potter.

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A/N: So what do you think? "No kisses... wtf?" I know, but it had to be done. The bitter with the sweet.

Up next: HarryGinny; LupinTonks; BillFleur; HarryLuna; DracoGinny; RonHermione. In no particular order.