It was two am and Harry made his way quietly out of his room and closed the door. He saw Hermione at the end of the hallway making her way slowly towards him. He grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs, through the hallway and out of the back door. He unrolled the invisibility cloak and draped it over them. Hermione moved forward, heading to the spot at the back of the garden they always went to. They were not even halfway there when Harry grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him. He scanned her face quickly before lowering his head to her and kissing her very deeply. It was a few minutes before he stopped and Hermione felt like her whole world was spinning. He stared into her eyes again and she smiled.

"Goodness Harry," she started, but was interrupted by Harry grabbing her and kissing her once again. She could feel him trembling slightly and he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to him. He kissed her feverishly along her neck and collar bone, then back up to her lips. Hermione began to feel those familiar electric pulses firing throughout her, and pulled away to catch her breath and regain her composure. He buried his face into her neck and continued to hold her tightly. Hermione held him equally as forcefully. She loved being in his arms like this, she felt so protected and wanted. She breathed heavily and inhaled his scent. She started to feel warm simply smelling him and attempted to think of things she found boring, like Quidditch.

"I thought you'd gone Hermione," Harry finally whispered, his breath gently caressing her skin. "I couldn't bare to lose you, what would I do if I didn't have you?" Hermione smiled at his words and felt those familiar butterflies in her stomach. She wondered if he knew how much she loved him. 'I should tell him,' she thought to herself 'right now, I should just blurt out I LOVE YOU!' But she stopped those insane urges quickly. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if he wasn't ready for that yet, after all they had moved very quickly with their 'relationship'. Truthfully, she just knew that the time wasn't right. But when would the time be right? Would there ever be a perfect time to say those words when everything in their lives was such a mess?

"I'm not going anywhere Harry," whispered Hermione "I'd never leave you. Besides, who would make sure you studied if I wasn't around?" Harry grinned and nibbled playfully on her neck, which was a surprise for Hermione and she shrieked playfully. Harry put his fingers on her lips and stared deep into her eyes.

"I need you for more than studying, more than making sure I eat right and more than making sure I'm healthy and in one piece. I need you because of how you make me feel. You make me feel like I'm worth something more than just 'the boy who's supposed to save the world'. You make me feel like you want me because I'm me. Just Harry." said Harry and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Well 'Just Harry' let me show you how much I want you,' said Hermione with a devilish grin and led him quickly to the back of the garden.

Ron awoke suddenly and looked around his dark room. What was that noise that had woken him up? He stood up and moved stealthily to the bedroom door. He was about to open it when he remembered that if death eaters were in the house, he might need his wand. He backtracked quickly and found it on his bedside table. He went back to the door again and opened it quietly, listening intently for any strange noises…Nothing. He stepped into the hallway and walked quietly to the stairs and paused again. Again he heard nothing. 'Maybe I'm finally losing it,' he thought. He decided that he may as well check out the rest of the house just to be on the safe side, or he would just lie awake for hours on end imagining that the general creaks and groans of the house were death eaters…or werewolves…or vampires. He shuddered at the thought and made his way downstairs, leaping around corners with his wand aiming at thin air. After a thorough check of the house, he decided to go upstairs and get some more sleep. He quickly checked the front door was locked and headed up the stairs. He was almost to the top when he remembered that he hadn't checked the backdoor. He stood on the stairs for a moment wondering if it would be safe or not, then sighed and walked back down the stairs.

He pulled on the back door, expecting it to be locked and was surprised when it opened. He shut it quickly and jumped back into the kitchen, then whirled around to see if anyone was behind him. No one. He sighed deeply and turned back to the door again. Why was it opened? What stupid bloody idiot had forgotten to lock the door? He was about to lock it himself when he saw a flash of white at the end of the garden. He gripped his wand tighter and nervously licked his lips. Should he wake Harry? Should he wake everyone in the house? Should he call the Order? He decided to wait for a bit and make sure it wasn't his imagination. He didn't want to look like a total prat in front of everyone if it was just a cat. He was watching intently and thought that he had finally gone insane when there it was, clear as day. A foot…a shin…then gone! He knew right then that It was Harry under the invisibility cloak. But what was Harry doing in the garden in the middle of the night hiding under his invisibility cloak. He laughed to himself in the darkness of the kitchen. Turns out Harry was the insane one. He still felt a deep unease in the pit of his stomach and waited in the kitchen, in the dark.

"Hermione," Harry groaned "I think we should go in. We've been kissing for so long I can't feel my lips anymore. Besides, you're driving me mad…"

"In a good way thought?" said Hermione playfully, kissing his neck and running her hands down his back.

"Almost too good actually," said Harry grinning. He kissed her deeply again and felt her moaning against him. Time to go now before he lost control. He didn't need to have that discussion again. Besides, he wanted it to be special between them too, and Hermione had as little self control as he did. So it was best, while one of them was thinking clearly, to go back into the house. He kissed her a few more times and pulled her up. She pouted adorably and he kissed her all the way into the kitchen. He quietly opened the back door, and pulled Hermione inside. He whipped off the invisibility cloak and Hermione grabbed him and kissed him passionately. Harry's mind was spinning when she finally pulled away.

"You are evil Hermione," he said with a dramatic groan. She giggled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Lets go to bed then. I will see you in the morning Mr. Potter," said Hermione playfully.

"Would you like me to escort you to your chambers madam?" said Harry acting equally as goofy.

"If you can be trusted, then of course," she said smiling. She linked her arm through his and they turned to leave the kitchen. They were almost through the door when a hard voice called out from the dark.

"Not planning on saying goodnight to your best mate then, eh?" said Ron, a fierce anger emanating from him. Harry and Hermione stopped dead in their tracks. 'Not this way' thought Harry 'I didn't want him to find out this way! Why didn't I sit him down and make him listen? Oh no…' The light suddenly turned on above then and Harry turned around to face Ron. He looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him. His face was red, his eyes looked like they were made of steel and he was visibly shaking from anger. Harry opened his mouth to speak but Ron advanced on him quickly. Harry knew that he could stop it, he knew that he could easily overpower him, but he just stood there. Ron slammed his fist into Harry's jaw, then again into Harry's eye, and then into Harry's stomach.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME! YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" He shouted at the top of his voice, still punching Harry as hard as he could. Hermione screamed as Harry fell to the floor, with blood gushing from his nose.

"Harry!" she cried "Get up! Ron! Stop this now! You're hurting him…"

"GOOD!" Yelled Ron "I WANT HIM TO HURT! I WANT HIM TO HURT AS MUCH AS I AM RIGHT NOW! HOW COULD YOU HARRY? HOW COULD YOU?" Instead of continuing to punch him and Harry had expected, Ron fell to the floor in silence. He curled up and rocked backwards and forwards. He was like that for a couple of minutes, with Harry and Hermione watching in horror. When he finally stood up he looked broken and defeated. He had tears streaming down his face and he was shaking from sadness now, rather than fury.

"Why Harry? Why would you do that to me? I would never do anything to hurt you. You were with her all along, you pretended to comfort me and be my friend. I trusted you and you stabbed me in the back. I thought you were my best friend. Guess I was really wrong about that. You're a fucking wanker like the rest of them."

"Ron, please…" Harry started but Ron just stared at him, the fury beginning to find its way back into his eyes.

"Don't talk to me Harry…ever again." said Ron angrily. With a crack he was gone. Hermione burst out crying and ran to Harry. She buried her head into his shoulders and sobbed. Harry was staring at the spot where Ron had disappeared. What had they done? How could he have done that to his best friend? He noticed Susan and Luna in the doorway, both of them had tears in their eyes.

"You have to go to him," said Luna sounding anxious.

"Now," said Susan firmly. Harry nodded his head and kissed Hermione quickly on the lips.

"I'll be back soon," he said stonily. He knew where Ron would go, but he doubted he would speak to him.

He appeared at the Burrow a moment later and looked around desperately. He saw Ron a few feet from the front garden, staring up at the sky. There are no words to describe how wretched Harry felt as he rushed towards Ron, desperately hoping that he hadn't lost his best friend for good. As he reached Ron he looked to see what he was looking at as if he were hypnotised, and almost passed out in horror. There, flying over the Burrow, was the Dark Mark…