All four of them smiled and blushed Ginny and Harry for the intrusion but Hermione and Ron had just realized that they were in fact still holding hands. Silently they took their seats "hey sis I take it that you didn't change your mind?"
"Nope" Ron and Hermione glanced at one another and instantly decided that now was no time to tell Harry.
"So Ginny have you and Harry decided on when as of yet?" Leave it to Hermione to ask the girly questions.
"Well we haven't really decided the exact date but when know that we want it next winter. We want a winter wedding." Ginny blushed but smiled broadly.
Harry chimed in "yes not till next winter so we can have a double wedding." Everyone but a smiling Harry had a look of shear confusion.
"Hey mate what do you mean double? Who else is getting hitched?"
"Well..." Harry paused ever so slightly then pressed on "you and Hermione."
Ron's head jerked up as he looked at Hermione blushing with embarrassment. "Um mate... Hermione and I just started dating you know." Ron was now red from head to toe.
"I know. Doesn't mean that both of you haven't thought about it." This time both Harry and Ginny smiled while Hermione and Ron blushed. They were both so embarrassed that they couldn't look at one another but grimaced at their friends.
Harry realized he went to far "hey mate I'm sorry about that but I had to say something."
"Well if you say any more some things you'll find yourself Hexed. Truth or not." It was out of Ron's mouth before he realized what he had said. Hermione sat their gaping at him. Ron buried his face in his hands realizing no more damage could possibly be done. As a mutual agreement they all decided to play a game. How they agreed to play truth or dare Ron and Hermione had no idea. It began harmless enough with truths about plans for the future and dares to hex yourself to dance like a ballerina. But suddenly it was Hermione's turn.
"Ron, truth or dare?"
"Truth " he said half heartedly. The game was getting old fast.
"What did you mean by your comment earlier to Harry?" Ron's ears shot bright red, how am I gana manage to get out of this one?
"Which one?" Ron was uneasy trying to stall for time.
"You know the one when you said "if you say another something you'll find your self hexed. Truth or not." What did you mean by truth or not?"
He was trapped and all Harry and Ginny could do was sit there and whisper and laugh amongst themselves. He sighed deeply and pressed on "Hermione, Harry and I.." Ron's voice was unnaturally high but he pressed on if I don't get this out I will never tell her. "Well Harry and I have had many midnight talks over the years. Many about you, how much I liked you. Well at the end of last year I told Harry that I wouldn't mind marrying and spending the rest of my life with you." Ron was to embarrassed to look at Hermione though he was dying to know her reaction.
It was Ginny's turn, "Hermione truth or dare?"
With Ginny, Hermione knew that she was safe. Ron on the other hand would want to get her back somehow. "Truth Ginny." Ron sent his sister a look of apathy. She simply smiled and turned back to Hermione.
"Hermione I would like you to please indulge on what you told me last night in my dormitory." Ron suddenly turned Hermione was in Ginny's dormitory last night? Why?
"What? No! No! Please don't make me." Ginny was smiling and Ron was listening, when Hermione didn't want to answer something it was usually good. "Fine, last night I said that I hope that Ron and I... I said that I hope Ron and I grow old together. Being as much in love as we are today." Hermione couldn't look around she was so embarrassed Ron on the other hand couldn't stop staring at her. Hermione was fiddling with her hands in her lap, Ron reached out and grabbed them attempting to communicate his reassurance. Harry and Ginny took that as their cue to exit, leaving Hermione and Ron by themselves.
"Hermione do you really love me that much?"
Tears were beginning to roll down her face. "Yes Ron, I love you. I would just die if anything ever happened to you." Ron began to wipe the fallen tears off her checks.
"Hermione my love. Please don't cry." It was the first time Ron had called her that. Ron was kneeling in front of her, holding her hands."May I ask you a question?"
"Yes of course." Her voice was barley a whisper but still audible.
"If I asked what would your answer be?"
Hermione didn't need any further explanation, for she understood. "Yes" was all she could muster. Ron's eyes widened he had allowed himself but until know he didn't know to what extent her feelings went.
"Thank you Hermione I needed to know." He stood up and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back there is something I need to do." Just as quickly as he had said it he was gone. When Ron reached the crowded common room he saw her, with great speed he ran to Ginny. "Ginny, were is he?"
"Talking to McGonigal. Should be back in about 10 minutes." With that Ron bolted through the portrait hole leaving a rather perplexed an confused Ginny behind, wonder what was on her brothers mind. But Ron didn't care all he knew was that he needed to talk to Harry.
Ron reached McGonigal office and politely knocked even though he felt anything but polite. The door creaked open revealing a very sturn looking Professor McGonigal. "Professor is he here?"
"Come in Mr. Weasley." Ron didn't wait for anymore questions .
"Harry I need you to do something for me. I need a ring."
A ring Mr. Weasley?" Harry simply smiled knowingly.
"Hey mate can it be my present to the two of you?"
Ron thought for a moment "sure Harry but make sure it speaks her name."
Will one of you two please explain yourselves?" McGonigal was losing her patience.
"Ron's gana propose to Hermione, Professor."
What?"
"Yes but I need a ring first." Ron was blushing but decided to show himself out leaving a flabbergasted professor McGonigal.
A couple of days had passed still things were very awkward between Ron and Hermione. It had been the first time that they had seriously talked about marriage. And unbeknownst to Hermione he was awaiting an owl that would change their lives forever. Day after day Ron waited anxiously for the mail but it didn't come. Ron figured that time would pass quicker if he kept busy in the Room of Requirement. Hermione's presents made time go even slower than it had two weeks ago.
About a month after the embarrassing indecent and owl arrived for Ron. instead of giving the package to Ron the stupid bird wanted to give the small white box to Hermione. Ron grabbed it hopeful that she had not seen it. "hey Ron what that?" Oh crap how am I going to explain this one?
"Nothing" Ron tried to hide the box but to no avail. Hermione had grabbed it from him faster then you could say alohamora. She opened the box and gasped looking from Ron to the ring and back again. Ron could take a hint he walked around the table bent down and grabbed her free hand. "Hermione Granger, I love you with all my heart. I was a git for trying to hide my feelings for so long. I know we get in our rows every now and then, we probably always will. But I have one question for you. Will you marry me?" Tears were streaming down her face and the great hall had grown completely silent. Everyone leaning twords them in attempt to hear what was going on.
Hermione couldn't stop the floor of cheers that had erupted yes she spoke "yes Ronald Weasley, I will marry you." The great hall burst into applause and cheers of "hooray for Weasley and Granger" or "love conquers all." Ron and Hermione didn't hear the cheers or applause for they had embraced themselves into a kiss that was more happiness and joy then passion. At that moment in time Ron and Hermione were the happiest people on the planet. Ron felt that at that moment he had finally lived up to the Griffindor house name. Ron took the ring out of the box and slid it over her finger allowing her to look at it once more.
Ginny was not far away jumping up and down, hands clasped under her chin smiling from ear to ear. He had done it Ron had finally asked Hermione to Marry him. And more importantly she had said yes.
Many happy days passed in a blur, each seeming to pass in a blending of events. For Ron and Hermione the thought of Harry, Voldermort, and the hexocruxes had been pushed from their minds. All they knew was each other and spending as much time as they could together snogging and simply enjoying each others company.
One of these days in the middle of March they were pulled into Professor McGonigal office. "Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger please have a seat. Mr. Potter and I have been wondering how the Room of Requirement was coming?" Ron couldn't look at her but Instead examined a dead fly on the ground.
Hermione was fidgeting but was the first to speak. "Professor, we have gotten half the room done. We got kind of destructed by resent events."
"So I understand Miss Granger." Professor McGonigal looked at Hermione's left hand that was sparkling like a star. "Do the two of you understand the urgency of the situation? McGonigal voice grew cold.
"Yes mame'" they muttered in unison.
"We will get started first thing tomorrow professor." Hermione was disappointed in herself Ron could tell. But he couldn't help in turn being disappointed in himself. It was him and his question that had put a stop to all head way. Ron and Hermione left McGonigal office five minutes later holding hands but very disappointed in themselves. Without any form of communication they knew that this weekend when everyone else was in Hogsmead they would in fact be at the castle in the Room of requirement. Sure enough after breakfast when most of the students were waiting in the great hall to leave Ron and Hermione made their way up to the seventh floor. They were back to cleaning throwing away and straightening still there was little conversation but the reason was different Hermione and Ron were mad at themselves for allowing the idea of marriage to distract them from something so important.
"Hey Ron, why do you want to marry me? I mean I am muggle born and all."
"Hermione" Ron came to her holding her close to him "I want to marry you because I love you, and I would be a fool to let you go." That was obviously what she had wanted to hear because she looked up at him and smiled the way she always did when Ron gave her a complement. They stood embraced by one another for many long moments and realized that they were wasting precious time. Grudgingly they returned to the task at hand not even knowing what the result of there efforts would be. All that day and then next they spent in the Room of requirement. They had managed to almost complete the room they had on corner left. The Corner had a cabinet and stuff but they were not quite sure all that was left. They room was empty except for the corner and the occasional box filled with junk.
It was on the fallowing Saturday that Hermione found something. Hermione was going through the cabinet and found 'the princes' potion book. Instead of simply throw it away she began to pull the pages out tearing them as small as she could. Ron gave her a quizzical look but said nothing. Hermione was attempting to inflict as much damage as she could on Snape's potion book. When she had finished little shards of parchment were flying about her feet and the cover was bent to what looked like an attempt at a ball. "Feel better Hermione?" Ron had finally spoken after watching her demolish a book.
"Actually yes. I never thought I would see the day that I would destroy a book." Ron simply smiled and returned to his work suddenly Hermione shouted. "Ron I found a globe!"
They were jumping with excitement and anticipation. "So how do we know if it's a hexocrux?"
"Well we could try to touch it or..." she pulled her wand out and muttered something under her breath. Suddenly a fake hand appeared and went to touch it. At first nothing happened and then the hand began to turn black and smoke. Hermione flicked her wand and turned to Ron "I think that settles it don't you?" They both dashed out of the room and headed straight to the head mistress's office, they had to tell McGonigal.
They knew the importance of this hexocrux. With the destruction of this one Voldermort should become mortal and then if he didn't Harry was in fact a hexocrux. They were hoping for the best as the staircase began to turn. When they reached to top the door was already open with McGonigal at the entrance "welcome Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. I expected you it seems when ever Mr. Potter shows up the two of you are not far behind."
"Harry's here?"
"Yes Mr. Weasley just arrived actually."
They all walked in with excitement and anticipation. "Professor before anything is said Ron and O have something of great importance to tell you."
"Go one Miss Granger."
"Well we found it. It's in the room of requirement."
"You found the hexocrux?" Harry and Professor McGonigal asked together.
"Yes."
Everyone's faces were white with anticipation and wonder. What would the future hold, how could the future events be altered by this hexocrux or could it?
"Are you sure you found the hexocrux Ron?"
"Well Hermione did this thing with a fake hand."
"Yes we are sure Harry the hand determinated just like... Dumbledore's."
"Well what is it Miss Granger?"
"Rowena Ravenclaw's globe."
Next thing anyone knew they were all sprinting twords the room of requirement, Harry was fluttering in the passing under his inevitability cloak. Upon entrance Harry and McGonigal stopped and enameled the room. Hermione and Ron on the other hand lead the way. By the time Harry and McGonigal reached the far corner Hermione had already conjured up yet another hand, moving it twords the globe. Once again upon contact the hand began to deteriorate. McGonigal gasped Ron thought it was in fear but Hermione knew what it was from. She knew that this hexocrux was the determining factor in if Harry was in fact a hexocrux. Since no one wanted to try and kill him the only other way was to try and kill Voldermort.
McGonigal suddenly shooed Everyone out of the room "what?" they all tried protesting but to no avail. It wasn't like they hadn't destroyed a hexocrux before. "Hey Harry" Hermione's voice raised above the silence "have you told Ginny? You know the possibility?"
"No" Harry sounded almost regretful. Was it possible that he Harry Potter had lost his nerve?
"Hey mate Ginny being my sis and all I think you owe it to her. I think she would like to know."
"I know the two of you are right. There are so many times that I have started telling her but then I chicken out."
"Mate what does a chicken have to do with anything?"
"Ron it's just an expression." Hermione couldn't hide the smile creeping onto her face. Ron was just so cute at times like this. Hermione knew that understanding everyone muggle or not was one of the few advantages of growing up in the muggle world.
"Harry I think Ron is right I think you need to tell Ginny. Especially now that the other hexocrux had been found."
"Alright already! I'll tell her tonight."
Just then the door began to reappear a cloud of dark smoke moved through the door along with McGonigal. "Um Professor what happened?"
"It's taken care of Miss Granger I would appreciate if you all went to bed."
They needed no further encourage, slowly they headed to the dormitory wondering what tomorrow held and wondering how Ginny would react. "Um Harry does she know that you are here?"
"Yes McGonigal told her this morning that I was coming. I haven't seen her yet though." The three of them crept up the spiral stair case in silence until they reached Ron and Hermione's dormitory.
"Hey mate am I just being a git not telling her?"
Hermione and Ron both took the liberty of answering the question. "Yes" "no."
"What?"
"Get in we will explain." Well there was going to be no explaining for upon entering the room they all saw her it was Ginny."Ginny what are you doing up here?"
"Hermione were is he?" Her voice was shaking and they instantly knew that she knew. "Um Ginny Ron and I will be down stairs in the dormitory if either of you need anything. Please sound proof the door no matter what you do in here." With that Ron and Hermione quickly turned around and left.
"Wow I would hate to be Harry right now. Poor git. Anyone that gets Ginny mad is got sympathy in my book." Hermione smiled in a way that only Ron could make her smile. Wow she is so beautiful, why me? Why did she pick me?
The common room was surprisingly almost empty for such an early hour. Ron and Hermione directed themselves to their favorite couch by the fire. It seemed that they had sat there ever since their first year. Seating entangled by their love for one another they simply sat in silence listening to one another breath, smelling the all to familiar smells, and loving each other to no end. No words escaped their mouths for they were content in simply being with one another. Ron was running his finger up and down Hermione's arm hoping that it would communicate his need and desire. It did, the next thing he knew Hermione stood up grabbed him pulling a bewildered Ron behind her. Ron was pulled out of the portrait hole and into the room were it had really all started, with Hermione sending her birds at him. Ron shut the door and Hermione grabbed him not waiting for his to start she kissed him gently but passionate none the less. Slowly there mouths formed together once again they were mouth to mouth, lip to lip, and tongue to tongue. Oh Hermione I have wanted this for so long, you to be mine. Each growing moment the passion grew till it felt like it was going to burst if it was not satisfied. Hermione was the first to break the impassioned kiss. Ron stood there completely dumbfounded.
"Hermione was?" Hermione quieted his protests by brushing her lips across his wishful mouth. She stood there gazing into Ron's eyes, and lifted her head Ron recognized his cue and bent his hear and kissed her ever so gently. Hermione could drive Ron crazy like no one else could. She was able to make him love her and hate her all at once, When he kissed her he couldn't help but think that the lips that he was connected to were the very lips that had scolded him so many times over the years. Yet today at this moment they were whispering the sweetest sound Ron had ever heard. Deep sighs of happiness were escaping Hermione's mouth. Ron thought he was hurting her so he backed off a bit but Hermione Instead went on harder.
"Hum Hum." In astonishment Ron and Hermione broke apart wiping there mouths as they did so.
"Harry? Um what's up how did your talk with Ginny go?"
"Well Hermione in case you actually are worried" the sarcasm was evident but truthful none the less "Ginny took it fine, she had a feeling something like this would happen. And I am off to see if in fact Voldermort is mortal yet." Before Ron and Hermione could say anything in protest Harry had disappeared under his inevitability cloak and into the night. Ron and Hermione stood there in despair, what would befall Harry? Was Voldermort mortal yet? Or in truth was Harry the very thing standing between life and death?
Ron and Hermione made there way back into the common room and found Ginny on the stairs waiting for them. "Hey guys" the disappointment in the words were evident "can I have a chat with the two of you?" They all knew what this conversation was about so they headed to Ron's room for the mear safety of no on listeners.
The door closed behind them and with it the silence was broken. "How dare you Ronald Weasley keeping something like this from me! How long have the two of you known? When were you planning on telling me? Were you even concerned about my feelings? Harry could die and I not even know why don't you understand that?" Ginny was in tears but Ron knew she was far from done. "I love Harry, I love him enough to die in his place if he would let me but I need to know what is going on. If I am left in the dark there is simply no way I can help. I was meant to help." Ginny collapsed and with it came the eruption of the emotional damn. Both Ron and Hermione knew that things were going to be hard for her when and if Harry ever told her the possibility but they also knew they needed to be her support and anchor when that time came. Well that time was now and yet Ron just stood there completely dumbfounded not knowing what to do watching Hermione wrap her arms around a teary eyed Ginny. Ron couldn't help wish that he had never promised Harry not to tell Ginny or that Harry had indeed told her earlier. Hermione was wiping away Ginny's tears whispering that she understood and that she would be there for her no matter what happened. Somehow Ron knew that Hermione was doing the right thing.
Ron walked over knelt down at Ginny's side and kissed her forehead and gave her a reassuring hug. Ron wished that he could protect Ginny from any hurt that might come about, any pain that might make his sister cry. Why do I always hate to see Ginny cry. I never cared if I saw Fred or George cry why is Ginny so different? The three of them sat there in a deep embrace for a long time hoping to erase the pain that was so evident at the present moment. Slowly Ginny's tears subsided and her breath became more even. Ginny was drifting off to sleep in there arms. "Hermione? Can you help me move Ginny to the bed? I'll sleep in the common room on the couch. Ginny needs the bed more then I do." Hermione gave Ron a smile that only Ron could understand thank you for being you. Hermione helped lift Ginny onto the bed and placed a blanket over her, then headed into her room returning moments later with a pillow and blanket in hand.
"Ron you'll need these."
"Thank you Hermione." Ron took the blanket and pillow thankfully and kissed her gently. He knew that tonight would be a restless night. For Harry was heading to the uncertain, Ron would be on a couch Instead of a bed, and he was sleeping with a blanket that smelled like her. Ron was awaken in the early morning hours by the whispering of his name "Ron? Ron wake up!"
"Ginny? What do you want? Is everything alright?" Ron sat up allowing his sister to occupy one of the cushions.
"How long have I been out?"
"Well you fell asleep so we just let you be. Is anything wrong?
"No I'm just worried."
"About Harry?"
"Yeah I just hope he's okay. This happens every time he is gone but knowing what he is up to has made it worse somehow." Ginny attempted a smile hoping to reassure Ron but to no avail. "I don't know what I will do if he gets hurt."
"Gin we can only wait and see."
"I know but you know how I am with waiting. Waiting and I are like total opposites."
"Yes I know but I also know how much you love my best mate. Things will work out I promise." Ginny and Ron embrace, as much as Ron wanted to hope for the best he couldn't help but feel a dark cloud of uncertainty over him. He kept thinking that something horrible was going to happen, but he wanted to be brave for his younger sister so he put on the happy face.
Ginny went up to the girls dormitory with out another word leaving Ron to think and wonder if Voldermort was mortal or was Harry in grave danger? Ron didn't want to dwell on the future at the moment so he grabbed the blanket and pillow and headed to his room. He had actually slept surprisingly well under the circumstances. Ten minutes later Ron was descending the spiral stairs entering the Great Hall nothing not even a restless night sleep would keep him from a Saturday breakfast. Ron looked forward to Saturday breakfast because they had warm tapioca, custards, bacon and fried eggs. The great hall was empty except for a few scattered students Everyone else was still asleep in there beds.
Ron sat at the table trying to quickly satisfy the growing monster in his stomach when Professor McGonigal approached him. "Mr. Weasley?" Ron almost cocked on his bite of bacon and hash. "I would like to speak to you in my office please, in twenty minutes please." Great what have I done this time? As if reading his thoughts McGonigal pressed on"If you would also be so kind as to bring Miss Granger and Miss Weasley. I do believe they should be there"
"Yes mame'." With that she whirled around exiting the great hall her skirt whirling around as she did so.
Ron's mouth went as dry as a desert, what did McGonigal want to say to them? Was it about Harry? Ron had no taste for food any longer and so he raced from the great hall and up to the dormitory. Upon entering he saw both Hermione and Ginny getting ready to head down to the great hall. They smiled at him and he spoke just as they were reaching the portrait hole. "Hey Hermione Ginny! Can I speak to you?" They stopped and turned twords him both giving him quizzical looks what did he want with both of them.
"What is it Ron?"
"Well Gin, Professor McGonigal would like to speak to the three of us in her office in five minutes." Hermione and Ginny looked from each other to Ron and back to one another. Was he crazy? What did McGonigal want with all of them? All thought of food was lost as they headed huddled together to McGonigal office. Each step they took them closer to there destination but in truth it felt like they were heading to an execution. They were afraid that this meeting was about Harry that something horrible had indeed happened. They finally reached the statue marking the entrance and headed up the hidden stair case yet they were hoping that there was a reason other then Harry that all three of them had been summoned. Ginny slowly pushed open the door and found McGonigal conversing with none other then "Harry!" Ginny screamed with delight and ran twords him and embraced. She had a horrible nightmare that he was dead and never returning to her so the image of him standing there was a prayer come true.
"Miss Weasley, Miss Grange, Mr Weasley, please do have a seat." Once they were all seated she pressed on. "As you know Mr. Potter here took it upon himself last night to find out if he-who-must-not-be-named is mortal or not. Mr. Potter knows how disappointed I am with the fact that he went alone. As you may be wondering he never had the opportunity to find out He could not find he-who-must-not-be-named. I have found this out through discrete connections that he is in Bulgaria. Do not ask how because I can not tell you. " Just then a light knock came to the door "come in please." The door swung open and in walked Neville.
"Professor I'm sorry I.. I'm late. Everyone sat there in awe. Why were the three of them now four of them called here?
Now the reason I have called the four of you here, for a specific reason. Mister Potter has a special calling and I know that he can not do it alone. He-who-must-not-be-named is in Bulgaria and I as spokes man of the Order as asking you four to take on a mission of top secrecy to accompany him." Every body looked at her in utter shock but she seemed not to notice. "I want you all to understand that this mission is dangerous and if it weren't of utmost importance that Harry succeed then the Order and I would not be asking this of you."
"Professor?" Hermione's voice squeak in fear and uncertainty. "Why us and not some of the older people from the order?"
"Well Miss Granger that is because we feel that you are all a great asset to Mr. Potter it was you guys that were there last year fighting the death eaters, along with Miss Lovegood.."
Then why isn't Luna coming with us?"
"Miss Weasley that is because believe it or not the prophecy in some way affects the four of you along with Mr. Potter." Neville's confusion was evident.
"Professor when you said prophecy did you mean the one that we fought against he-who-must-not-be-named for?"
"Yes"
"I thought no one knew what it said?"
"No one but the person that hear it who then told Mr. Potter. Don't worry Neville the others will catch you up on the way. I want you all to pack and leave at dusk."
"How are we suppose to get there" Ron questioned hopping for a port key or something of that speed.
"Mr. Weasley you all are going to be taking a port key to London were Luptin will meet you and then you will be taking brooms from there."
They all understood the danger and they all understood the reason but how could they go knowing the fate that lay ahead of them. Yet at the same time how could they say no and let Harry down. Slowly one by one a voice rand across the room "I will go" one by one they all added there commitment to the journey. Slowly they began to dispersed with the plan to meet by Hagrid's hut at 6:45. They knew the long night ahead so Ron and Hermione planned on going back to bed for a couple of hours. Yet the idea of sleep was unsettling to Ron he couldn't help but think what the night would bring, what if everything changed forever? The minutes passed as if they were hours seamanly lasting forever.
Everyone had dispersed to there rooms after they told Neville all they knew minus the whole fact that if Harry did die it would be up to him to kill Voldermort. They didn't want to think about the possibilities and they also didn't want to totally scare Neville. Neville was already leery about the trip, not knowing what would befall them and at the same time excited that out of all the students he had been picked to join the expedition of sorts.
Finally after what seemed like forever it was time, time to meet everyone at Hsgrid's hut and time to meet with uncertainty. Why was it that they were so worried about everything? Was it because of the possibility or was it just the fear of fear itself? No one knew and yet they did know that they had to continue for all the wizarding world.