Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters.

A/N: Happy Sunday, all! I wish I could say this chapter was happy, light, fun...but it's full of pure angst. Keep in mind though that there's three more chapters to go :)

Thanks to adenei and accio-broom for looking over this chapter for me!

Brave

Chapter 2

Wanting you it isn't fair

I hope that it's not too late

Till now I was unaware

How much I want you to stay

When I saw you, I was helpless

To a feeling, that was reckless

You know I've been waiting all my life

I know you've been waiting all your life

When I hold you, I'm defenseless

If I died here, I could care less

You know I've been waiting all my life

I know you've been waiting all your life

When I'm with you, it's so hard

To let you know the way you make me feel

When I'm with you, I can't feel the time at all

It seems to stand so still

I could die in your arms

Die In Your Arms - MSVE

"Ron, I don't know how much longer I can hold this protective shield. We have to move."

The heavy pulse beating through his ears blocks out all other sounds. Nausea swirls through his belly as a tangible, living terror creeps over him.

Ron is on the threshold of his worst nightmare.

He's too stunned to move—too petrified by the series of flashes and spellwork that led to this moment. His insides are ripping apart as if he's been hit with Sectumsempra.

But he doesn't particularly care about his own fate at the moment. All that matters is her.

Ron blinks multiple times in rapid succession, a desperate attempt for his eye to settle on anything that could save him from reality.

Where is…

"Wait. Where's Harry?"

"We don't know. Ron, we have to move. Now!"

He's too aware of everything going on around him to focus on Fred's voice, yet not aware at all. Ron wills his body to take him to an otherworldly place where chaos and death and tragedy and shit no longer exist.

But he can't.

His choice here is crucial; it could very well be a matter of life or death. He wants to run for safety, run her to safety, but his feet don't allow him to do so.

Come on, Ron.

He's not quite sure if his thoughts are taking over, or if those words were shouted at him in the midst of the madness, but his brain clicks into place and his feet start to move.

Not wanting his efforts to be futile, he hooks one arm under her legs and keeps the other wrapped around her backside. Ron maintains a firm grip on his wand that sticks out from beneath her tattered jeans as he makes a mad dash towards the entrance to the castle. He uses an array of tactics against any enemies that try to subdue him and dodges bewitched suits of armor.

Ron will not be deterred, and he will not allow any Death Eaters to distract him from his mission.

Once inside the front gates, Ron tucks their bodies against the nearest wall that hasn't been blown to bits, narrowly escaping another blast of red light. Percy and Fred huddle close, forming another protective shield around them.

Ron hides his face into the crook of Hermione's neck. He can feel his own rapid breathing reverberating on her cold skin. She's gone completely limp now in his arms, but the faint pulse is still there, and as long as it is, he will hold on to the slightest bit of hope he has.

A sudden tautness assails Ron's stomach. How could he have fooled himself into thinking they had an infinite amount of time together? All the time they spent arguing and miscommunicating and not talking at all now seem wasted.

"What happened?!"

The voice comes from Ginny, who runs towards them and slides down onto her knees as she inspects Hermione's lack of response. "Is she-"

"She's not dead!"

His words come out sharper and rougher than he had intended, but he can't stomach someone else asking. She's not dead. She's not dead.

Ginny speaks softer this time. "What happened, Ron?"

"I don't know. She was hit with something, but she's got a pulse...just barely."

"Ron, let me take her."

Fred holds his arms out and Ron clings to Hermione's body even more. Is he fucking insane?

He stretches out his hands as if to stop Fred or anyone else from coming any closer. Ron cradles Hermione's head close to his chest.

"No, I've got her. I've got to get her to the infirmary."

"Ron, the infirmary won't help her right now," Ginny insists. "She needs to go to St. Mungo's—"

"Then I'll take her there myself. Out of my way."

He attempts to stagger to his feet and brush past his family, but a hand closes around his elbow, pulling him back.

"No, Ron. You need to stay here and help Harry. Please, he needs you!"

Ginny cries out to him, and Ron pauses all movement. He meets his sister's gaze for a brief moment, but it's long enough to see the worry and fear in her eyes. He knows what Harry means to her, and he also knows she must be just as terrified for her love as Ron is for his.

Harry. Hermione.

Fuck.

She's right. He can't leave Harry. His gut twists like the vines on Hermione's wand as he thinks of his best mate in the heat of the Battle, fighting for his life without Ron or Hermione by his side.

Although Ron opens his mouth to fight Ginny's proposal, no sound comes out. He can't argue her point. He just can't.

Ron glances down at Hermione's closed eyes. She looks so peaceful, like she's resting in a deep sleep, and he's almost jealous of her—she's not having to make the hardest fucking decision of her life right now. As long as she's not—

A choked sob leaves Ron's lips as the tears blur his eyes. "I-I can't leave her…"

Ginny leans closer, resting a gentle hand on Ron's shoulder. "We know you don't want to. But don't forget about the end game. Ron, you know Hermione would want you to keep going."

His sister is right. Of fucking course she's right. Hermione would be shouting at him right now. They didn't come this far for him to give up.

How are we supposed to do this now, without her?

He doesn't yet have the answer to the burning question in his mind, but the heat of the latest blast indicates he's running out of time to decide. Ron releases an exasperated, tortured sob just before lowering his head until his lips make contact with Hermione's forehead. He lingers on her skin for several moments, allowing his eyes to close. The scent of everything that is Hermione consumes him.

The tears fall from his eyes, dripping down his nose before splashing onto Hermione's face. Ron furiously wipes them away as his heart hammers against his chest.

I love you.

With great reluctance, but conceding that it's the right thing to do, Ron transfers Hermione to Fred's waiting arms.

"Don't let her out of your sight."

"We'll do everything we can to take care of her, Ron. You have my word." Fred meets the intensity of Ron's gaze, his eyes full of promise. He gives his youngest brother a single nod before barreling down the end of the corridor.

Ron watches Fred go until he falls out of sight. Then he holds his wand at the ready, thinking of only one person as he channels his anger into determination.

We'll do this for you, Hermione.