CHAPTER: THE PROMISES OF EMOTIONS

Several hours later, not much had changed. Harry had eventually fallen asleep; as had Hermione. But desperate to keep his promise to her, Ron managed to stay awake.

With nothing else to keep him occupied, Ron studied Hermione. Something he realized he'd never really done before. And the more he looked at her soft curls, her slightly freckled skin, and her pink full lips, the more he suddenly realized how beautiful the girl he was holding was.

But before his thoughts could continue any further, Hermione moved against him and squinted her eyes open. "Mm" she said, still in the process of waking up "Ron?" she whispered "You still up?"

"Yea" he replied, watching in awe as she stretched and then settled back against the pillows

"Mm. Good" she said, drifting back into sleep

"'Mione?" Ron whispered

"Yea?"

"Why do you want me to stay up? I mean I don't mind, but I'm just curious"

At this, Hermione opened her eyes fully "Because"

"Would it be terrible to ask for a better excuse?" He teased

She sighed, "No. I don't know I just—I'd feel a lot of better if you were awake and alert and stuff"

"What for?"

"Just in case…something happens," She said apprehensively

"What do you think could happen that I need to watch out for?" He asked softly

To this question, Hermione fell silent

"Mione?"

"In case the school goes under attack," she whispered quietly

"Why would you--"?

"I had a dream," she said more to herself than to Ron

"A dream?"

"Well I suppose it was more of a nightmare. Yes, the worst nightmare I've ever had"

"What was it about?" he asked comfortingly, drawing circles on her arm. He felt her tense up at his question.

"A lot of things." She replied slowly "The school was under attack. It was on fire. I tried to save people but one of your brothers died."

"Oh" was all Ron could manage to say

"Then you found me and calmed me down" she continued, blushing in the darkness, though for what reason, she did not know "And then there was Harry. H-he---Voldemort killed him. We were running and went to get Dumbledore when you died. Then I turned around and Voldemort was there"

"It was just a dream 'Mione"

"If it had just been a dream I might have run in here to check if you two were alive and then left. I wouldn't be in your bed if it was just a dream" To this, they both blushed, thankful that it was dark

"No matter what you say it was a dream. Just a really bad dream" He said stubbornly

"The dream itself wasn't what scares me"

"Well what is?"

"The fact that it could be real. It could easily be our futures. It could be tomorrow," She said quietly, not daring to look Ron in the face.

Astounded by the newfound realization that occurred to Ron's mind, he simply sat there not saying a word. Finally he managed to croak out, "That's not going to happen."

"What?"

"It's not going to be our future 'Mione"

"How do you know?"

"I just do!" He snapped. "I won't let it," he whispered, kissing the top of her head

"I'm just so scared Ron. You didn't see Harry's dead body, or Hogwarts burning to the ground."

"I don't need to have a dream to see it."

"I don't know what I'd do without Harry." She said, her voice starting to waver as she struggled to hold back tears, "Or you" She added

Not trusting himself to speak, Ron simply held her as she began to cry. What was happening? Ron had never seen Hermione act like this. She'd always been the cool-headed rarely emotional one, when did she suddenly become this frail, fearful girl that Ron felt a huge desire to protect? When several minutes passed and her tears had not subsided he let go of her and twisted around to face her.

"Shh" he said, taking her face in his hands and wiping some tears away with his thumbs.

"Everything's going to be okay."

"N-no Ron. We don't know when he's going to attack, but Dumbledore knows it'll be soon."

"Well we'll handle it when the time comes. There's no use in worrying about it quite yet. But I promise Hermione; I'll protect you okay? Do whatever I can."

"Just promise me one thing"

"Anything"

"That you won't take a curse meant for me or Harry. I know you Ron, and if there's one thing you are, it's loyal."

Ron sighed. "I-I can't promise that 'Mione" he said looking at his hands

"You have to!" She cried hysterically

"Hermione, I'm not going to promise you something that I'm not sure I'll be able to keep!"

"Ron, you and I know that when that curse heads for Harry, you'll be the first one to jump in front of it. What if Harry would have dodged the spell? Then you're dead for nothing. I can't have that Ron. If Harry dies, I need you with me. You have to promise me!!"

"'Mione…"

"Just do it dammit!"

A few moments of silence followed her outburst. What was the bloody world coming to?! Hermione never swore.

"Will you promise?" Ron finally asked facing her for the first time since her request

"That's not the question," Hermione said, now being the one to turn away

"I don't care. Answer it"

"Ron…"

"If you want me to promise I won't sacrifice myself for you two then you're out of your bloody mind if you think I'll do it with you planning to do the opposite. I swore I'd protect you didn't I? I intend to keep that. If I have to lock you up in Gryffindor tower then so be it"

"You wouldn't…"

"Try me" Ron said seriously staring into her eyes.

Though she was sitting on the bed, Hermione felt her knees go weak. Something strange was definitely going on tonight--He'd never made her knees go weak before. And to think it was all over the way he looked at her! But the more the two looked at each other the more it felt different. The way he was staring at her right now, with care and that damn male protection towards her gushing out of his bright blue eyes, like he was trying to see through her soul, it-it just made Hermione want to kiss him.

"You know" Ron whispered, not breaking eye contact "I used to think that when the final battle was coming, you'd have us living in the library researching things to help Harry. That we would be worried about Harry's success first and us later."

"And now?" She whispered back

"Now…" Ron trailed off, but scooting ever slightly closer to Hermione "Now your safety is the one thing I can't get my mind off of. Harry has always had that threat of death over him, but you never have, and in my opinion there's no use in putting you in danger."

"Harry needs us to help him fight. No matter what you think, he needs BOTH of us there. So locking me up in Gryffindor tower won't do any good. But promising me you won't do anything reckless and jump in front of curses meant for other people…well that is what will make me feel better about it all."

Ron sighed ignoring her last comment, "I suppose there are a lot of things I didn't count on when we were younger"

"Like what?" Hermione whispered

"Like" Ron chose his words carefully "My emotions towards it all"

"Enlighten me, what emotions?"

"Anger, fe--"

"Anger?"

"Towards Voldemort for screwing up our lives" Ron said hotly

"On the contrary, if it weren't for Voldemort and Quirrell, there would have been no troll let into Hogwarts on Halloween. I happen to remember that being the night we became friends."

Ron grinned despite himself, "The night I saved poor little Hermione from the big bad Troll"

She hit him in the arm "Don't flatter yourself. Harry was there too you big prat."

"Ah yes, now I remember." He said, pretending "But I happen to recall knocking out the beast with my amazing magical abilities"

"I taught you how to do that and you know it," She laughed

"See now that I do not remember," He teased, "You should tell me…what was it like when your knight in shining armor burst through the bathroom door to save you?"

"Well I remember being blown away by his angelic appearance." She said, smirking

"Yes well I suppose I was rather dashing as an eleven year old squirt"

"Oh yes, I remember him swinging open that door, his raven hair flipping to one side …"

"Hey!"

"And his emerald eyes…ooh! I could have died and gone to heaven!" She giggled

"You're going to pay for that one Missy!"

Her laughs subsiding she lifted an eyebrow "Oh I am, am I?"

Ron didn't answer. Instead he rolled on top of her, straddling her waist so that she was pinned down to the bed; and he began to tickle her.

"Ha Ha Ha Ron stop! Ha Ha Ha Oh Ron please stop! Ha Ha Ha I can't breathe!" She said through bursts of laughter.

Ron felt his chest constrict with the sight of her. Her laugh was like music… and the way she smiled right now…truly happy and carefree…He'd never seen anything quite as beautiful before in his life. His fingers stopped poking and tickling her, and as Hermione calmed down, she found herself getting lost in his eyes again.

Neither dared move. Hearts thumping, they continued to stare into each other's eyes; Blue on Brown.

"Hermione…" He whispered

"Shh…" she said, putting a finger to his lips, not wanting to ruin the moment with words

Maybe it was the feel of her small finger on his lips, or maybe it was the way she was looking back at him now, but for whatever reason, Ron felt himself drawing closer to this angel that he was currently sitting on.

"Ron…" She whispered as she felt his hot breath on her neck.

"Mm?" He asked, their noses touching

"I-I--" She stuttered, her mind turning to mush with the feel of their lips barely touching each other.

Ron smiled, for the first time in his memory, Hermione was lost for words…. and he was the cause of it. Smiling as he rested his forehead against hers, savoring this feeling of her lips just scarcely touching his, but enough to make him go mad with desire, he paused, taking a deep breath, getting lost in her scent, one that was all Hermione.

But a cry from Harry's bed broke the silence, startling both Ron and Hermione enough to separate. A second cry made Ron reluctantly get off Hermione, striding his way over to his best friend's bed, desperately avoiding eye contact with her.

"What's wrong?" He heard her ask him in a voice barely above a whisper, that he noted, was shaking.

Bending over to see Harry moaning in his sleep, Ron patted his head and closed the curtains around him. "Just a nightmare" he said simply, returning to his own bed, where Hermione still laid, propped up on her elbows. Unsure of what to do, he sat down on the edge of the bed, not trusting himself to get too close to her.

"Oh" was her reply, not knowing what else to say. Silence followed.

"We better get some sleep if we're going to be any use tomorrow" Ron said hesitantly

"Yea we should," She agreed not moving

Another uncomfortable silence hung about them. Neither knowing what else could be said to each other, Ron got into bed and turned off the light from his wand that had been faintly glowing most of the night.

Backs facing each other, sleeping on the edges of the large bed, they refused to say anything.

How could I have been so careless? I should have stopped him the moment he got that look in his eye! Hermione yelled at herself Just look at how things are now! If it's going to be this uncomfortable edginess all day long tomorrow, maybe I should eat in the library. Yes! That's a good idea…Harry might suspect something but he never does confront me about things like that unless their important. I do hope Ron doesn't jump to the wrong conclusion though…he does have that tendency. Oh how could I have let things go so terribly wrong? Just look at us now. Before he had his arms wrapped around me. Now…I'm cold. It—Hermione stopped her train of thought, and smiled in the darkness, as she felt a strong muscular arm, snaking it's way around her waist, holding her close, and keeping her warm.

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(To Be Continued…)

(A/N: I'm real sorry for the long time gap in between this update and the last chapter but my internet on my computer was down for four days! I promise that will not happen for this next chapter! Thanks so much for the wonderful response!! They truly were all amazing, and brightened my week very much! So thank you!! I've reached a sort of first marker in my mind, for this story so I'd love to hear what you all think so far if you haven't told me already! Hugs, Haystack)

Bhekie: You are quickly becoming a much-treasured reviewer! Your review last chapter so great! Thanks! Hope you liked this last chapter!!

cumbacksirius: I'm so glad you thought the dream sequence didn't feel like a dream; it was what I was going for! Thanks so much for your encouraging reviews!

AmyChris: Another new favorite reviewer! You're review really was a boost for my day! I am sorry about the update but if my internet will cooperate than it'll be up probably around Wednesday! Thanks again!

ShimmeringEvil: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you liked this last chapter!

Smiles28: And the award for one of the best reviews I've ever gotten goes to…you! Seriously, you have no idea how happy that last review made me!! I am glad that you're starting to like Ron though…I'd rather portray him this way then the other way that some ppl do….he certainly is different than our favorite Slytherin isn't he? Lol anyways, I do hope you got my reviews! I'll be looking for your next update! Hugs!