Hermione's POV

"Expelliarmus!"

Ron roared over the choir of screaming witches and wizards alike. I glanced back quickly and watched as Waxley's wand leapt from his grasp and rolled across the tiled ground into the shadows. I had hoped that wand-less, he would give up on his pursuit yet he kept sprinting in our direction. His features tangled into an angry grimace.

I ran as fast as I possibly could, the muscles in my legs burning, begging to rest but I couldn't stop. Not yet. Harry was right on my tail and Ron was on his. We were heading for the fireplaces, the Floo Network was our only way out but suddenly golden bars came crashing down in the gateways, stopping witches and wizards from entering...or leaving.

We had to get there! We might make it! Harry passed me then and gave me a quick A 'Don't stop!' glance and I nodded. I watched as Harry threw himself head first into the fireplace and just seconds before his head smashed against the granite tiles his body curved upwards and spiralled into the air. I reached for Ron's hand and just as his fingers locked with mine and our eyes met, we too threw ourselves after Harry and away from danger. Or so I thought.

My limbs, organs and everything in-between tossed and tumbled as my body, our bodies travelled in time and space across the country. Flashes of different colours blinding me but I couldn't stop, not until I was one hundred percent sure we were safe. Suddenly I knew we were back at Grimmauld Place. We had made it. But we weren't alone. Before he had fully materialized, Yaxley's hand reached for Harry.

With a panicked cry I yanked both boys (who still themselves had yet to fully appear) away and I apparated us straight out of there into the void, hoping and praying for the best. Suddenly I felt nothing but empty air and I went tumbling across the dirt. Leaves and twigs covered me and scratched at my skin and clothing. When I stopped, I forced myself up, spinning to search for Harry and Ron.

That's when I saw all the blood.

Ron lay on the ground before me, flat on his back with blood, a lot of blood, seeping through his shit around his shoulder, spilling around him. He jittered on the ground, moaning in pain. No! I threw myself at him and ragged his jacket off. Pulling out my wand I pointed it at his jumper "Diffindo!" I said in sheer panic. His jumper tore open, exposing his bare chest and slightly auburn chest hair. I dragged away the remains and then focussed entirely on the wound.

I winced. At least half of his upper arm and shoulder was slashed, muscle exposed and constant gashing of blood. I heard Harry scuffling to his feet behind me and turned to him. "Harry! Harry quickly! In my bag, there's a bottle labelled essence of Dittiny!" Ron let out a loud groan as lay my hand gently on his arm, keeping him still.

"Shhh...shhh..." Harry was taking too long! "Quickly!" I snapped.

"Accio Dittiny!" I heard the bottle fly out and he made his way over,

"It's alright..." I whispered to Ron. "Unstopper it," I demanded of Harry.

"Hermione his arm!" he gasped. For god's sake, Harry!

"I know just do it!" I yelled, he passed me it and I held it above Ron's bloody, fleshy wound. "I know...I know its okay..." I whispered. "It's going to- it's going to sting a little bit." I cried, I started pouring it on him and had to watch as his body arched in pain, his teeth clenched and his forehead was drenched in sweat.

The sound made my heart snap, even more than it had that night when I told him the lie about not caring about the kiss, all those weeks ago.

"What happened? I thought we were meant to be going back to Grimmauld Place?" Harry asked.

"We were, we were...shhh, it's alright, one more, one more," I turned to Ron, then back to Harry. "We were-we were there but Yaxley had hold of me, and I-I knew once he'd seen where we were we couldn't stay...so I brought us here but Ron got splinched.' I cried. I finished the last few drops and Ron's arm started to heal, slowly, but it was healing. "It's alright." He would be okay. I looked down at my bloody hands. I never thought I would have his blood on my hands. Ever.

Harry dropped to his knees, watching his best friend with very badly hidden concern. I knew we weren't safe out here in the open, without any form of protection. Yet. I got up, snatching my wand with me and went to cast the enchantments. After casting the protective spells and I commanded Harry to pitch the tent, we took a still trembling Ron inside.

Later that night I was woken from my sleep by Harry who'd just come in from his watch. Rubbing my eyes, I pulled myself upright and wobbled out of my bed. I looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw the time.

5:00 AM.

"Harry!" I scolded quietly, glancing over at Ron who hadn't stirred, well...not at the sound of my voice at least. "You were supposed to wake me at midnight!" He'd let me have another five hours of sleep! He shrugged; perhaps too tired to respond with a good enough excuse other than generosity. I pulled him into a gentle hug before commanding he go to bed.

I went outside, dropped into the indentation Harry's behind had made in the grass and prepared for my watch. I sat there for an hour and around six o'clock, the sun was beginning its very slowly rise. I took in the beautiful scent the forest gave off; letting the cool air sooth and I listened to the lullaby around me. After all that time had passed, another sound caught my attention.

"Her-Hermione?" Ron. Forgetting my duty of watch I turned and hurried into the tent and I dropped into the chair beside his bed. He pulled himself away from me, bolted upright. His eyes wide, alert and panicked. When he grunted in pain my hand shot out to his good shoulder.

"Don't." I ordered, "Lay back down." I whispered, hoping not to wake Harry. He did as he was told. I noticed the tears pouring down his cheeks and felt a lurch in my chest. I wiped them away for him, rubbing his pinched warm cheeks as I did so. Then he did something that caught me off guard, he leant into my hand and kissed it.

Startled I look away, around the tent as if I could express my shock to another while in the same moment hide my wonder. After a moment I started to think that he didn't even realize he had done it. With my free hand, I flicked my wand and the candle beside us lit up. I turned back to him and saw all the dried blood on his chest.

"Oh." I said, I hurried away, wet a sponge and hurried back. I sat there, and held the wet sponge on his chest; he lay back, trying to remain still as I gently cleaned him up. It seemed to calm him, as I sat next to him, I sat on the bed now, closer to him as I wiped away the dry blood, and I wrung the sponge out in the small bucket, and then went back to cleaning.

"Thank you." he mumbled, a little more awake that he had been a moment ago.

"It's okay." I said, "You should sleep." I said, he shook his head, "Why not?" then his good arm came up and out his large, warm hand on my cheek, I put my cheek into it, copying the move had had made a moment ago with the exception of a kiss.

I loved him. I did. I loved my best friend. His arm dropped moments later, and though but his eyes remained open, they fluttered, as he fell, unwillingly back into unconsciousness. The last thing he saw then was my face, smiling at him from above. Without hesitation, I copied his move. Except I couldn't settle for his hand. Leaning over, I kissed him on the cheek. My sweet Ron. He was asleep.

FanWriter's Note:

Hey guys, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Not one of the best but I still liked it anyway. Let me know what you think

~FanWriter Harrison~