A/N: Thanks to WeasleyIsMyKing540, JeanAndBilius, Crazytulip, tryntee13, Orange Chicken, Warnamagenta and Ron'sLoverMahima for your amazing feedback! I enjoy and consider ever review! If you haven't checked out my other story, From Out and Beyond, I recommend it. Mind you, it's lengthy. Each chapter having more than 2,500+ words or so.

As always, feedback is appreciated! :D

Warnings: Swearing and a gory scene

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, J.K. Rowling does! *Cries in the invisible corner*

Chapter 24 ~ Suffering with You

The next morning, the Weasleys came to see the youngest son. "Oh Ronnie, dear. What happened to you," came the concern and strained voice of Mrs. Weasley. She wiped the tears and snot with her handkerchief. Her lower lip trembled at how severely injured her youngest son was. Ron had bandages on his chest area, left and right forearm and a wound on his neck. He was a shade of unhealthily pale and his red mane was an absolute mess. It was striking out in different directions. It was like he got hair grooming tips from Harry.

"Based off from Miss Granger, he was spiked with Liquid Lunar from something he drank or ate during the Yule Ball," Madam Pomfrey informed the sad expressions of the Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley was bawling her tears out, as her beloved husband, Arthur, tried comforting her by soothingly rubbing her back. The twins looked at their unconscious brother, not even bothering to pull out a joke. Bill was there comforting the youngest Weasley there, Ginny whose bottom lip was trembling slightly.

"Mum. Dad," Ginny caught the attention of her parents and pretty much everyone in the room. "Ron, he saved a crowd of students and professors by taking a spell for us in his werewolf form. Without him, I wouldn't be here. Not even George or Fred would be standing here."

"R-really?" Bill said, amazed. Fred nodded his head in sync with George.

"The guy who was attacking Ron and Hermione in the first place cast Bombarda Maxima on the crowd that included pretty much everyone who attended the ball," Ginny informed her parents and Bill more on the subject at large.

"Wait, did you say Hermione?" Molly asked Ginny. "Is she alright? Oh, the poor darling. She's been through so much lately."

"Mum, without her Ron would've gone on a rampage. She's essential to Ron. It was like they were made for one another," Bill joined in the conversation. "Well, based off of the story Ginny told me," Bill added and continued on, "At the thought of it, it's like she's Ron's mate."

"M-mate?" Arthur and Molly said together in shock.

"Honestly, mother, have you seen the two of them together?" Fred smirked.

"They're quite a match if I say so," George added with a smirk, as well. Bill shot them a glare for the both of them to stop.

"In a werewolf's life, they'll feel like they've found their mate, or how we humans call it, the love of our life. Like they were destined to be together," Bill said. "I've read about how a mate of an Abnormal Werewolf is important in order for them to calm them down, completely. If they don't find a mate, they'll go on a ruthless rampage. Ronald here is lucky to find a mate, even though he is a bit too young to find one yet."

Everyone's eyes widened at Bill's wisdom on the subject. He just smiled, knowing he hopefully answered all of their incoming questions. Before they could continue their lively conversation, their eyes caught a stirring Ron, mumbling incoherent sayings.

They saw his eyes closing tightly and his fist clenching. His breathing pattern became more erratic. The Weasleys turned their eyes to the perplexed completion of Madam Pomfrey.

"That's strange. This wasn't supposed to happen," the healer said, shocked. "He was supposed to wake up with ease."

Ron growled out loud and started to claw his blanket. He was soon drenched in sweat and his legs started to kick on a bed for a brief moment, until he did the movement again.

"Ronnie!" Molly cried out and reached for her son's forearm. He pulled from her grip on his forearm and his mouth started to word out something. He opened his mouth again and nothing came from it. Whatever he was trying to say, it was urgent for Ron to have.

"'Mione!" He managed to call out. They looked at the boy, perplexed on what he needed.

"H'MIONE!" He called out bloody murder. He went back to shaking violently. His fidgeting figure almost looked like he was having a seizure

"Ginny! Go get Hermione, quickly!" Molly ordered her daughter. Ginny ran down the hall, as fast as she could, to approach the Gryffindor Tower. She slipped some stairs in order to get there faster. It was only 5 in the morning and highly doubted Hermione was awake.

When she made it to the Commons, she arrived to see Hermione reading, Hogwarts: A History. Her eyes started to swollen from all her crying last night. Her mass of bushy brown hair was in a neat mess.

"Oi, Hermione!" Ginny spoke out. She turned to see the familiar ginger colored long haired, that was her best friend.

"Ginny? What are you doing up so early?" Hermione asked her. The bushy haired brunette was still in her periwinkle colored nightgown.

"It's about Ron! He's gone mental," Ginny quickly elaborated the situation at hand. Hermione stood up from her seat and followed Ginny to the hospital wing, briskly. The first thing she saw was the group of a red haired family, known as the Weasleys.

"Hermione, darling!" Molly approached her and gave her a bone crushing hug. Hermione greeted her and looked to see a fidgeting figure at the end of the infirmary. She ran to the side of Ron.

"Wh-what happened to him?" Hermione croaked out.

"He's calling for you, Hermione," Bill said to her. She looked at the boy who laid there, helpless.

"HERMIONE! ST-STOP! GET. AWAY. FROM. HER!" Ron roared out in a strangled voice.

Warning! Gory scenes are upon you. If you're sensitive to this kind of stuff, please skip onto the next scene (the next line)!

Ron roamed around the woods in the night for what seemed hours to find his lost best friend. He sniffed the air, trying to smell the familiar scent of her. He used his enhanced hearing skills to listen out for footsteps or her reconciliation e voice. After wandering around like a headless chicken, he heard footsteps and the scent of coconut and vanilla. He smiled broadly at the familiarity.

"Ron? Where are you?" Came the voice of the bushy haired brunette called out to the night that led her deeper to the unknown of the woods. She paced around for hours looking for Ron.

"Hermione!" Ron called out happily. Hermione turned around to see Ron running up to her. She gleefully smiled at the sight of him. He hugged her tightly in his strong arms. The both of them never wanted to let go of one another, as they held each other close, away from any harm. Ron thought this was end all happily ever after. He was wrong.

"R-Ron, it's not safe here anymore," Hermione broke the hug to look into his crystal blue orbs. A hooded figure was behind her, wearing a mask. It was a Death Eater.

"It's over," the masked man said to Ron. He took out a sharp knife that slit Hermione's throat. Ron and Hermione yelled out bloody murder at the same time. His mouth was agape at the scene unfolding a horrid gift to his liking. His entire body was trembling; he then smelt her blood. Her blood. He snapped out of his mourning, momentarily to breathe out fire.

"STOP! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE TOUCH, MY MATE!" Ron roared out.

"But Ronald, the fun has just begun!" The man mocked him. He disapparated into nowhere, making Hermione's lifeless body fall in a pool of her own blood. He could saw her gagging, suffocating on her own blood, one of essential things that helped her live. She looked up at Ron, slowly. The dull and almost lifeless brown orbs pierced through Ron's darkening cerulean blue eye. Ron sobbed out at the sight of the love of his life, laying there, dead. He fell on his knees, as her own blood soaked her clothing and his jeans.

If things didn't get any worse than it was, Hermione's stomach was cut open. Her guts and organs plopped on the blood. Her whole digestive system spilled out erratically in a bizarre way. Hermione threw up the blood she breathed in. It splattered over to Ron's hand-me-down shoes. Her body was now as cold as ice. Ron screamed out at the sight, as he hung his head low and tightly gripped onto his handsaws with both of his hands. Her eyes were wide open like of the eyes of a dead fish. The boy's crystal blue orbs shrunk to the size of a raisin. His face was soon contorted with grief and rage. His body tensed from the sight and smell of her blood. He was constructed by his own guilt that he couldn't save her in time. Ron gave up on everything and everyone at that point. His eyes turned a shade of dark blue. His bloodshot eyes made him scarier, as well.

"Kill.."

In an instant he heard a CRACK! A mysterious shadow dawned upon the dead body and the young werewolf who cried over his mate. "Look how filthy her blood actually was," the man appeared before Ron's eyes once more. He carelessly stepped onto the body's organs, making a cringeworthy squish. Ron slowly yet surely looked up to see the Death Eater, again. Ron's teeth started to turn razor sharp, as he started to

"You. Must. Die. Mate is gone because of YOU!" Ron roared out loud as loud as a lion who roared up at the mountains. The Death Eater simply smirked.

Ron started to sob and mumble incoherent words. He felt his conscious coming back, which wasn't the best of his hopes. He felt rather numb at the bottom half of his limp body. Ron could still feel the pain coming from the cut across his chest from the silver dagger. He could also, sense the presence of other people, wherever he was. He heard someone pushing a chair near his bed and sat by his side. The person's soft hand gently grabbed onto his hand to her hand, rubbing back of his hand to sooth him down.

"Ron," a familiar voice said in a soft and caring tone, enough for his liking. "I need for you to calm down. I won't be leaving your side, I promise you that."

Ron's eyes started to flutter open at the sound soft and soothing voice. A voice he found relaxing. His crystal blue eyes met her chocolate brown eyes.

"He's awake!" Molly cried with joy. The twins looked at the two lovebirds and smirked. Ginny smiled at the sight along with Bill and Arthur.

"Her-Hermione?" Ron groaned out, trying to sit up. He groaned out in pain, not realizing the damage he took last night. Hermione forced him the lay down again.

"Ron, you need to rest. You've been severely injured for Merlin's sake. We need you to relax for a bit," Hermione said. Ron gave in and did what he was instructed by Hermione. He looked around the room to see his family. Well, with the exception of Percy the pompous prat and Charlie. Ron tried his very best to swallow his saliva. He noticed his throat was as dry as the sand from his Egypt vacation when he was in his 3rd year.

"Oh, Ronnie! Don't you ever do something so extreme that it'll leave is worried out in the cold!" Molly said; she hugged her youngest son tightly. Ron yelped out in pain. She stepped back. "Oh sorry, I was just so worried!"

Ron gave a weak reassuring smiled to his mother. He looked up, looking every single one of them. His eyes landed on Hermione. He formed a sad smile at her worried face. Hermione's concerned eyes pierced through his. He looked away from her to see his little sister. Ginny's lower jaw was trembling quite a bit.

"Glad you're still alive. You nearly gave Mum a heart attack," Ginny's strained voice joined in the party of relieved Weasleys. She almost looked like she was about to cry, but she managed to hold it all in, unlike her mother. Bill smiled at the sight of his youngest brother. Ron's eyes wandered around to stop at Hermione's, again. His crystal blue eyes softened upon seeing her concern eyes. He made a poor attempt to reach out to Hermione. She immediately took her hand to his hand. She grasped his hand, gently.

"Hermione Granger, is it?" Came Bill's voice. Their little moment was ruined to bits. Hermione silently sighed and looked up to see the eldest sibling of the Weasleys. His long red hair was pulled back in a ponytail. His eyes were looking directly at her, awaiting her response.

"Yes," she answered. "You must be, Bill, I assume." He simply nodded.

"Hermione, I don't know if you know this, but you're very important to, Ron," Bill continued on, "Without you, he would've gone berserk."

Hermione blushed by the sudden compliment. "I assure you, that I really wasn't the cause for Ron to calm down. This is a whole misunderstanding. I'm sure of it!"

"Hermione, Ron told me all about how calm he felt around you when he was a werewolf," Ginny pointed out. Ron could feel his ears hearing up, even his cheeks. He slowly slumped down on the bed. He could see Hermione's expression change drastically. She turned around to face him, eye to eye, face to face contact.

"Is it true?" She asked, displaying an emotionless façade. Ron gulped out loud. He stole a glance at Ginny and gave her a murderous look; she responded with her brown eyes rolling.

"Hermione-"

"Just spit it out.."

"Yes! It's bloody true!"

Hermione's lips pursed at the confession. Ron's eyes turned a darker shade. He tightly gripped on to the bed sheets, trying to contain himself. The look of shock was spread on her pale face.

"Ickle Ronniekins likes the company of Hermione!" Fred grinned.

"Give it 'ere," George smirked at Fred. They exchanged sickles. Ron's eyes narrowed in disgust. He sighed heavily and tried looking up at Hermione. There she was, still staring at him with disbelief. Her mouth slightly agape, still. She took deep breathes. Ron stared at her terrified face.

What is she so terrified about, he asked himself.

"I'll be going now," Hermione quietly said. She stood up and walked out. Ginny ran after her, shortly. Mister and Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron with a sadden expression.

"I-I don't know what I did wrong," Ron grumbled. "I just wanted to tell her, how she helped me. I just wanted to thank her.."

Molly came up to her son and placed her palm on his hand. "I know, Ronnie. Just let Hermione soak all it in." Ron but her bottom lip.

"I'll be going now," Bill said. He then before leaving, he turned to face his younger siblings. "I heard there's going to be a nasty snowstorm, tomorrow. I want every single one of you to stay inside the castle. Got it?" They shook their heads up and down.

After an hour, the rest of the Weasleys departed from one another to give the injured family member some rest. Ron rested his head to the left of the pillow. He stared into the windows of the late morning. He sighed, bored. Ron tried closing his eyes; he still couldn't rest. He tried counting dragons, still, he just couldn't.

Ron then started to think of things to think about. Then, a thought appeared.

Hermione.

Last night, he had called her his mate. Being new to terms like those, made his think till his brain would rot. He swore he heard that term used before because Uncle Bilius had a Jack Russell Terrier. Uncle Bilius would talk to his father about mates and stuff about wolves and dogs.

His thoughts started to subside, leaving him to get a decent amount of sleep.

"I'm sorry, Ron," Ron's ears perked up to the voice of the mysterious person. His eyes were still close, as well. He felt the person's hand hold his. Her breathing was nice a steady. It almost felt like she was trying to keep calm. Ron stole a brief sniff to smell vanilla and coconut. If Ron's eyes were open, they would literally bulge out.

"Miss Granger! It's past your curfew! What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Came the irritated voice of Madam Pomfrey.

"I was just checking on him. I just came here to give him a turkey sandwich," Hermione simply replied.

"During this hour?" Madam Pomfrey said in disbelief. Hermione guiltily nodded her head. By now, the healer was about to give a detention to Hermione, but her knight in shining armour came in.

"Madam Pomfrey," Ron's eyes fluttered open. "Please, let her and I talk." Madam Pomfrey scowled.

"Fine, I expect for Miss Granger here to get going back to her dorm in 5 minutes or less," Madam Pomfrey walked back to her office. Hermione turned around to face the refreshed face of her best friend with his ruffled flaming red hair.

"Thanks," she said to him, as she took a seat to the stool near to his bed.

"What are friends for?" He said with his handsome lopsided grin. Hermione chuckled softly, remembering that he said that when he saved her and Harry from the troll.

"Hey," Ron grabbed the attention back to him. "I'm sorry," he shrugged. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed in perplexion.

"For what?" She asked, very confused.

"The promise I made, before the Yule Ball. I promised that we'd hang out after the ball but things got in the way," Ron replied quietly. Hermione's eyes softened at how he looked miserable for breaking a simple promise.

"Ron, it's all right," Hermione said. "If this makes it better, we could hang out tomorrow," she paused briefly. "We'll talk all about the whole situation about the Yule Ball and so forth on. Promise?" Ron nodded his head in agreement.

They sat there in silence. Ron stole some glances at Hermione when she was looking out in the distance. What he didn't know was that Hermione was doing the same thing, as well.

"Goodnight, Ron. I'll see you tomorrow morning," Hermione broke the silence. She stood from her stool, ready to departure.

"Wait!" Ron cried out. She turned around.

"Thank you," he said, forming a lopsided grin.

"What are friends for?" Hermione playfully smirked and left a relieved Ron to rest.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hopefully, next chapter will be out soon (if I don't procrastinate).