I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters

Previously...

"Um…Mrs. Weasley, as you probably know…" But Hermione was cut off from a loud shriek.

"RON!"

The scared voice had belonged to Ginny. Both Mrs. Weasley and Hermione darted their way to the door; something was definitely wrong.

Chapter 2 Hysterical Laughter

As Hermione sprinted toward the Quidditch pitch, a surge of questions filled her mind, is Ron okay? Are Harry and Ginny okay? What could've happened? But more importantly, is Ron okay?

"Ron? Harry? Ginny?" Hermione shrieked. She could hear loud pants from behind her; Mrs. Weasley had been running too. After what seemed like forever, Hermione reached the pitch to see the most frightening site. Ron was sprawled on the ground with his Cleansweep broken into pieces. Hermione's eyes traveled to a flustered, raven-haired boy who stood closely to Ron's body; his arm protruding forward pointing his wand at…a cloaked figure.

"Oh dear…" Mrs. Weasley immediately ran back to the Burrow to inform the rest of the Order.

The other Weasley was hastily making her way to Hermione.

"Ginny! Who...? What…? How…?" Hermione felt her voice grow weak.

"I don't know how they managed to get here! I thought the Burrow was…protected…" Ginny spoke silently noticing the tears brimming in Hermione's eyes. She drifted her head back at the terrifying scene.

Hermione's eyes squinted to see a pink-haired witch with two other men accompanying Harry.

"Ginny," Hermione began, "did you see which Death Eater it was?"

"No," Ginny said deeply while shaking her head, "it all happened so fast!" Hermione saw Ginny's eyes grow misty.

Harry's head sunk low as he sat impatiently in the waiting room of St. Mungo's. He meddled with his fingers while recalling the events that had just taken place that morning. Augustus Rookwood. How could he? Why did he? Why Ron? His eyes traveled to Hermione and Ginny who seemed deep in conversation. Hermione's face held an interested expression, but every once in a while she would bite her bottom lip. Ginny was doing all the talking, her eyes wide with post-terror and her face red from crying. As he listened closely, Harry could make out what Ginny was explaining to Hermione.

"We were just flying and laughing and having a good time," Ginny started, "and Ron was a little too happy; I don't know really know why, though, but probably because he had just talked to you." Ginny gave a quick wink to Hermione who blushed furiously. "And then…then, out of nowhere Ron swoops in front of Harry before getting knocked off his broom from...from…the Cruciatus Curse. Harry looks up and sees two Death Eaters…he…" but that was all Ginny could say before uncontrollable tears flung from her eyes. Hermione embraced Ginny and let her sob on her shoulder.

It was after hearing the story again that Harry remembered Ron saved me. But why? He clenched his fist ready to punch anyone that came before him.

"But…but Ginny, remember, Ron didn't die. He's…he's going to be okay," Hermione stroked Ginny's auburn hair softly.

Yes, Ron was going to be okay, but why in the Bloody Hell did he do that? He really is my best mate…And with that, Harry felt his eyes droop from exhaustion. A quick nap would be really nice right now.

"Harry?"

Harry cracked open his weary eyes to see Mr. Weasley, Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye all staring down at him with concern.

"Harry," Mr. Weasley began, "We're going to have to talk to you later about what happened. Is that alright?"

No, it's not alright. I don't want to talk about it. Harry nodded.

Some birthday…

Tonks, Mad-Eye, and Mr. Weasley left leaving Lupin alone to talk to Harry.

"Well, Harry, you really dozed off there."

"How long was I asleep?"

"Oh…a good two hours," Lupin said with a smile.

"Anything else happen during that time?" Harry said sarcastically and a tad bit rudely.

"Yes, actually. Ron woke up."

Harry snapped his head to look at Lupin, "Really?"

"Really, and I think Ron would love it if you went and visited him. Hermione and Ginny are already there."

Harry smiled briefly before making his way to Ron's room.

"Ginny, while flying I-I realized that…"

"Yes, Ron?" Ginny asked apprehensively.

"…you're Chasing is a little ridged…" Ron formed a toothy grin.

"Ron!" Hermione and Ginny both said in unison.

"For goodness sakes, Ron, we thought it was something important!" Hermione rolled her eyes while reprimanding Ron.

"Hermione, my Chasing skills are important!" Ginny argued.

"Ginny! They're not really important right now! Ron's hurt!"

"I can't believe you think that my Chasing skills are unimportant," Ginny pouted.

"Well! They…"

"Ladies, Ladies! It was a joke; Ginny you're a brilliant Chaser and Hermione…well, thanks for caring about me…" Ron felt his cheeks grow warm.

"So you're saying I don't care about you, Ron?" Ginny cried while crossing her arms in front of he chest.

"Blimey, Ginny, you know what I mean…"

Before Ginny could retort, the door flung open with a much disheveled looking Harry looking directly at Ron. The room fell silent, no one daring to say a word. Harry made his way to Ron's bedside and just stared at him.

"Hey, mate!" Ron finally spoke to break the awkward silence, "Pretty great birthday present, huh?" He smiled nervously hoping to cheer Harry up.

After hearing this, Harry's eyes widened. He looked over at Hermione and Ginny who seemed a bit uneasy, especially Ginny. But after another awkward moment of silence, Harry keeled over in laughter. Ron and Hermione stared at each other in utmost shock. He was hysterical!

"Uh…mate? Are you okay?"

As tears sprung from his eyes, Harry fervently nodded, "Of course, I am! I'm glad you're okay, Ron."

"Harry, I think you need some fresh air," Ginny stood up to make her way toward Harry, "so let's go take a walk, okay?"

With Harry still laughing like a madman, Ginny led him out the door. Ron and Hermione could still hear his laughter outside.

"He's gone mental!"

"Ron," Hermione began.

"No, Hermione, he really has! Did you see him?"

Hermione stifled a small giggle.

"Why are you-"

"You should see your face right now, Ron!" He smiled at this; good, he was making her laugh. But suddenly, Hermione's laughter ceased to a halt, and she began to whimper softly.

"Oh Merlin, Hermione! I didn't mean to make you…to make you cry. Please stop," Ron said sympathetically.

She shook her head no and then flung herself on top of him. "Ron," she spoke through tears, "when I saw you on the ground, I thought…I thought you died! I thought you died Ron! Do you know how awful that would've been?"

Still shocked from Hermione lying upon him, he quietly said, "Y-Yes, it would've been awful." He stroked her curly brown hair tenderly. He loved her hair; it was so big and beautiful, "But, Hermione, that's never going to happen—me dying—because I promise I will never…leave you, okay?"

She stared up at him with her puffy red eyes and sticky cheeks. Merlin, she looked gorgeous. "Okay, Hermione? Did you hear me? I'm not going to leave you."

She blinked once or twice and then continued to gaze into Ron's big, blue eyes. They were so close that Ron could feel her faint breath linger near his lips. Is she going to…

"OH MY RONNIE!" Mrs. Weasley burst through the door and let out a little gasp at the site in front of her. Sure enough, Hermione was lying on top of Ron in a very intimate position, "Ronald Bilius Weasley, you aren't even out of the hospital yet and you're doing this!" She placed her hands on her hips angrily and shook her head.

Hermione edged herself off of a very red-faced Ron.

"Mum, we weren't doing anything, honestly…"

"I suppose you want me to believe that!"

"Mrs. Weasley, really, Ron was just…comforting me because I was really…upset that he could've died…honestly, that's it."

Mrs. Weasley seemed to believe Hermione or maybe she was just reminded that Ron could have died. Either way, she walked over to Ron and embraced him tightly, "Ron, you gave all of us a fright! Don't you ever do that again!"

Ron nodded, but really, he wasn't agreeing. Of course he would do it again! If it meant saving his best friend from death, then he would do it again in a heartbeat.

After a few days, Ron was back at home. Well, he wasn't really back at home; he was back at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the new home for the Weasley's. Because of that incident, the Burrow wasn't safe.

Ron, Harry, and Hermione situated themselves around the fireplace drinking hot chocolate. They weren't talking, just thinking, most likely about the same thing. Suddenly, Hermione spoke quietly,

"I think this is a sign."

"Me too," Harry said.

"What do you mean?" Ron spoke inquisitively, "that me almost dying is a..."

"Ron!" Hermione interrupted, "don't say things like that! We mean that the Death Eaters attacking is a sign that we should start looking for the Horcruxes…"

"N-now?"

"Yes, Ron, now," Harry said strongly.

Ron studied Hermione who was nervously biting her bottom lip. She looked up at him and nodded. He nodded back before closing his eyes. He knew they had to do this, but he didn't want Hermione and Harry to be in danger. He couldn't bear to see that.

"Harry," Ron, Hermione, and Harry looked up to see Mr. Weasley, Lupin, Tonks and Mad-Eye all standing at the doorway.

"Oh yeah," Harry said, "Guys, they have to talk to me about what happened…"

"Oh," Ron and Hermione looked at each other, "Should we leave then?" Ron asked while they both stood up.

"No, stay. I mean, you two should hear this as well, right?"

"Oh course, Harry," Hermione said kindly.

Harry nodded at his two best friends to sit back down, "Right so, what do have to ask me?"

"Well, Harry, we want to know what Rookwood said to you; Dolohov was stunned by your spell so he probably didn't say anything. But, did Rookwood?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat; he hadn't told anyone—not even Ron or Hermione-- what Rookwood had said yet, and he wanted to leave it at that. It was too intense to even think about.

A/N- thanks for the reviews! sorry about the cliffy hehehe, please give me some input! I love reading it!

thanks

-fernie