Author's Notes: Oh boy, oh boy! -rubs hands in gleeeeee- I'm back into writing again! YEY! I know, it's been ages since I last wrote, but RL… had me busy like a bee. I just didn't have time to spare. Now, I've willed myself to come back to writing, because it was as if something was missing from life.

Another interesting tit-bit is that I've actually gone into the Research field! Now, that's quite weird because when I started writing this fic, I was finishing my MBA studies and wanted to go into Marketing not Research.

Anyway, back to the story and some background, I've made up with Buck. Shock and horror indeed readers, but as I say it was the adult thing to do. Our friendship was years old and I guess it wasn't that dead after all.

So, that brings to my lovely readers who waited for the next chapter. Who even came and reminded me that how they were missing this fic. Thank you, Omair, Sequoia, Zippy-Wings, SpikesDreams, Bhekie, Midnight-Pixie, Draco's chica, Pinky, Ninde Annare, Staci, Naushad and Jay. Oh guys and gals, you all are sooo great! I luf you. :)

Omair, I remember how old this review is! I think you were waiting for your CA results then? Man… How time flies – right? Now, you're doing MBA and on vacation, running around with kids. Heheee. What a nice picture. Well, I guess this chapter would have something different for you. New material and all. Enjoy!

Sequoia, Heheeee. Thank you! And something great would happen, I'm not going to end it as a tragedy, so stay tuned!

Zippy-Wings, Glad, that you're liking the fic, and are tuned in for what these four would do. It would be good, I promise. :)

SpikesDreams, Ah, Harry and Ginny can be annoying, but hey at least they're shaking their legs in this chappie. Now they better figure out a way to send Ron you-know-where. ;)

Bhekie, Thanks for sticking around! Much appreciate it!

Midnight-Pixie, Hey girl! I loved all your reviews, and thanks for supporting this fic! I dunno if I'd be able to add anything to your community as I've surpassed my teens unfortunately. But, if you have any ideas you can always talk to me about it. It's been really nice hearing from you, on and off. Thanks for all the support!

Draco's chica, Thank you! I dunno about the flaming bit. Who was Lauren? Ugh! Anyway, here's more for you!

Pinky, Good to hear from you again:) I guess, the whole Lavender thing worked out because Ron actually did have an affair in HBP. Ugh for the whole won-won bit. I didn't like it one bit! But, I'm biased anyway. ;) HBP of course has given me more ammo for this fic, and I'm playing on it, as you can see this chapter. Thankies for dropping by!

Ninde Annare, One of my fav writer is here. YEY! Not that I've been roaming around ff much. –le sigh- Thank you for liking this story, and I hope it keeps your entertained!

Staci, You raise me up. You really do! Thank you for your moving review. It gives me inspiration to do better and work harder. I hope to achieve such a reaction in a wider scale, but thanks for really understanding my ideas. It feels great.

Naushad, Thank you very much! I hope you'll keep on enjoying this and more fics I'll write.

Jay, Thanks for speaking your mind. I know Harry looked a bit unsupportive, but he's missing Hermione too, and somewhere in his heart he thinks its both their faults that Hermione is gone and Ron's there in UK. About Hermione, well, she has changed and that's why she seems different. You know, time changes people and she has too—which was the requirement of the story. Anyway, thanks for dropping by!

- Chapter 5 – Er-My-Nee -

Am I dying? It was the first thought that came to Ron's mind as he fought the darkness that was bent on shrouding his consciousness.

"Ron?"

He was sure that someone was calling his name but even when he tried, he couldn't move his lips to answer back.

Was it Harry… or was it Ginny?

Sudden red flashes covered his vision and he blinked to clear his sight, only to be confused further by many colors bursting through his vision, dominated by a particular shadow. He was sure that it was his own blood trickling down his eyes.

What happened? Why can't I remember what happened?

Darkness followed, and he momentarily lost consciousness, engulfed in total and utter darkness.

Is someone there?

Blinding flashes of light—over and over again—rushing towards him with the sound of many screams…

"You'll be all right. Just relax, Ronald Weasley," a soothing yet familiar voice crooned to him.

No. Don't leave me! Please! I don't want to be alone...

And without even knowing what he was doing, his mind raced five years back, to the day which had shaped the events he was still suffering.

-x-

"Ouch!" Ron screamed in shock, as the Quaffle collided with his head, thrown by Ginny.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake!" Ginny exclaimed, rolling her eyes, while catching back the loose Quaffle from Ron's hands.

"Ron, you're at it again! Pay attention or else I might've to kick you out of the team," said Harry, flying close to him.

Ron had been staring off towards Hermione—yet again—who was studying in the Quidditch stands, totally oblivious to the heated practice game between the Gryffindor and their reserve team.

"I think my broom's getting old, Harry," Ron offered, going a little red—knowing full-well that he could never fool his best mate.

"Why don't you just ask her out, Ron? At least it would save you from getting killed by my bare hands!" Harry gave him a threatening glare, showing his chagrin.

"I don't want to see a single satisfied smile on Zacharias Smith's face." Ginny pouted at her brother, who was ignoring her, reminding him of the upcoming match. In a hushed voice, she continued, "If you don't spill it soon, you might lose to McLaggan."

That got his attention all right. "Argh! I will. Happy?"

"You'll be thanking us someday, Ronniekins," Ginny said, sharing a meaningful look with Harry.

Ron made a disgusted face and continued with the game.

For the rest of the day, he tried to find the courage to finally confront Hermione. It was high time, he thought, to resolve this once and for all. Afternoon changed into evening, the evening molded with night, and the crowd of the common room dissipated to a few.

Harry and Ron said goodnight to Hermione and made their way to the boys' common room. While Ron pretended to be preparing for bed, he was happy to see Harry go to sleep, and, the rest of his roommates following suit, it was then Ron thought to finally go for it.

I can do it! he assured himself for the umpteenth time, as he made his way towards the Gryffindor common room downstairs. It was late in the night, and he hoped that everyone would have emptied the room—except of course for Hermione, who had the habit of revising her homework by that time.

Ron took a deep breath and went down the stairs. He got the reassurance of privacy from the empty common room. Hermione was poring over what seemed like a Runes assignment, her bushy curls cascading over her forehead. Ron had the sudden urge of brushing those tresses away and kissing her silly—right there and then.

He got over the urge though, as she looked up from the assignment hearing his footsteps, startled.

"Hi…" Ron uttered in a meek voice that he quickly covered with a cough.

"What're you doing down here?" Hermione looked puzzled, as her eyes flickered past the stairs of the girls' common room, as if expecting to see Lavender Brown crouching behind.

"Couldn't sleep…" Ron went red as he understood what Hermione was getting at. So, he had a fling with Lavender once; that didn't mean he still harbored feelings for her. "Hermione, I came to talk to you…" Ron looked deep in her eyes, and he was happy to see her unsettled.

It's better that she doesn't know what I'm getting at. Maybe the surprise element would work in my favor and make her say yes, Ron thought optimistically, while a melee of possibilities flashed past his eyes.

"What about?" Hermione asked amicably, but Ron could easily see tension raging behind her soft brown eyes.

"Hermione… I feel that there's something between us…." He looked at her dilating eyes, and continued, "It's been there for ages, and I think we should do something about it. Well, ah… at least what Harry and Ginny tell me to do anyway… Not that, I don't realize it myself," he finished hurriedly.

"Ron, d'you know what you're saying?" The roll of parchment that she was poring over slid to the floor from her lap and she didn't even notice.

"Yes, Hermione… I like you, and I reckon you feel the same way. I—I reckon we should do something about it before the war… You know with the Horcrux hunt and all that." Ron stopped himself from going on, as he felt a constricting feeling in his heart.

And I want to spend the rest of my days with you, Hermione. Because I don't know what's to come… Ron didn't say this, but he hoped that she understood.

"Oh, Ron…." Hermione slouched in her seat, whilst her bowed head hid her face from him. "How can I make you understand?" she whispered more to herself.

After some time, she finally stood up from the couch and came towards him. She touched his cheek, and stared at him as if battling herself internally.

Ron tried his best to read what was going through her mind but to no avail; he was distracted by her closeness anyway.

"It's just too complicated, Ron. I'm so sorry…." Hermione trailed off, stifling a sniffle.

"But—but—"

"Shhhhh….." Hermione put her hand on his mouth gesturing not to speak. Her eyes momentarily shone with unshed tears, as she kissed him lightly on the lips.

Both of their lips trembled as if afraid of the next step. Ron dared and moved further, but Hermione retreated quickly.

She opened her eyes and looked deep into his. What she found was too powerful to take. In a confused gesture, she turned away from him in a hurry. "Ron, let's not talk about this anymore… Harry needs us, and we don't know what's to come next. I can't do this… It's just too complicated right now…."

Ron didn't know why she was doing this, but his confusion gave away to a rage that was building inside of him, wanting to take over his entire mind.

It must be Vicky, his mind pounded. Why else she would talk like that? I can be dumb but I'm not so dumb that I can't understand the soft looks she gives me. What's all this rubbish about complications? Vicky's the problem, he assumed, he had always been anyway.

"Hermione—"

"Please, Ron. I can't," her hoarse voice seemed to scream at him, as she kept on showing her back to him, while her shoulders rose and fell.

Ron turned away defeated. He didn't want to cause more distress; hell, he couldn't see her cry.

They never talked about this incident afterwards. Ron even felt Hermione sometimes looked disappointed, but he couldn't face rejection again and so he never tried. Nonetheless, Ron neither forgot that day nor the pain in his heart ever let him forget.

-x-

St. Mungo's Hospital: center of usual discord and chaos. Patients of all sizes and shapes being turned back to their normal self by the overworked yet still-smiling staff of Healers. It was a wonder, how they managed to piece together such varied maladies, ranging from old fashioned curses and hexes to the new and usually bizarre invented spells.

The Spell Damage ward—usually quiet—was buzzing with sounds of the staff and few patients that were conscious over the arrival of a few high profile Aurors. Everyone craned their necks for another glimpse of Harry, because of whom the magical world was now at peace.

But Harry seemed not to notice the admiring stares; instead, he kept on pacing the length of the lobby outside the ward, as Ron was still being treated.

"It's all my fault, I should've—"

"It's not, Harry!" Ginny—who was curled on a corner bench—brandished. "It could have been any one of us."

"But—"

"Don't torture yourself, Harry." Ginny shook her head understandably.

"I wish Hermione was here…." Harry sighed, as Ginny grabbed his hand.

"Me too—"

They were interrupted by a loud, "Ginny! Harry!"

"Luna!" Harry was pleasantly surprised by the green-robed Luna Lovegood.

"I thought you were posted in Hungary?" Ginny asked, as she hugged Luna.

"I came back just a week ago. That trip was very exciting! But, of course you don't want to know about that. You're worried about your brother, Ronald," Luna said quite matter-of-factly, as she peered at the rest of the Manticoras gathered about as if looking for someone.

"I can only allow two. Immediate family please. Where's—?"

"We haven't informed the rest of the family yet," Ginny cottoned on. "We wanted to make sure that he was out of danger before we worried anyone. You know how mum gets in such situations."

"You two then," Luna said, steering Harry and Ginny along. "Ronald's out of danger. Even the Head Healer's satisfied, which is something because she never seems to be satisfied with my work." Luna shrugged her shoulders, while Harry and Ginny exchanged looks. "He was attacked by the Goliath Demons? Right?" Luna asked with a knowing air.

"What!" Harry sputtered, while Ginny hushed him up.

She was more aware of Luna's tendency to believe everything that was printed in Quibbler, and had gotten used to her erratic musings. "He was hit by a lethal dark spell, Luna. I can bet the Lestranges have a hand it in. But, that's beside the point; it was quick thinking by Ron that he used an advanced Shield Charm. I can't imagine what would've happened if he hadn't…."

It was Harry's turn to hold Ginny's hand. They neared Ron's bed by that time, and were relieved to see him asleep.

"We've administered the Sleeping Draught. He'll be fine in two days' rest." Luna smiled at them vaguely. "Can I know where all this happened?"

"We were tipped about a Death Eater scheme. They're not as organized as before, but Rodolphus is getting better. He's trying his best to resurrect himself as Voldemort," Harry's voice became distant as if he was remembering something he had locked away years ago, "I'll stop him if I have to."

"You're not alone. We're with you." Ginny pressed his hand.

"Er-My-Nee…" Ron suddenly groaned.

"He's battling some kinds of demons all right," said Ginny, sharing concerned looks with Harry.

"His past demons you mean?" Harry said. "He never got over Hermione. I still don't understand why they fell apart. I always thought they loved each other."

"They still do, you prat." Ginny shook her head in dismay. "They've just buried it for a while."

"How could that be possible?"

"Oh, as if this is something new for you?" Ginny raised an eyebrow at him, while Harry smiled sheepishly.

Of course, he remembered. He hadn't seen Ginny until his sixth year at Hogwarts. But, he thought, there was something different about Ron and Hermione. It felt as if they knew but never acted upon it.

"No, no! This wouldn't do!" Ginny shook her head. "I don't want to see my brother miserable for the rest of his life. And I'm bloody sure that Hermione's no happy pigeon."

"Don' leaf 'e, Er-My-Nee…" Ron groaned again.

"That settles it then," Harry said with resolve. "We'll send him to Egypt, and I'll make him. I don't care if I have to Imperius him for it."

"I knew you would catch on!" Ginny said happily, as she looked meaningfully at Harry.

A/N: Neeeed your feedback! If you've read this, click that GO button. ;)