A/N: I absolutely love this story!

Life is a quest and love a quarrel ... -Edna St. Vincent Millay

There are moments in life where time slows down and everything fades into nothingness. It's a time where you are no longer listening to the sounds of life but the sounds of your soul and are able to get some peace.

Ron found himself in that moment while he stared out his window the same night after finding out that Hermione might die.

Harry was already asleep but tossing fitfully in the bed opposite Ron's, the nightmares of war past and war present playing out devilishly in his mind.

Ron rested his forehead against the cool glass and closed his eyes, his chest constricting painfully.

The threat of death had never really bothered Ron until now. Well, bothered was putting it lightly. The thought of death bothered Ron. The threat of death to Hermione ate away at Ron like the curse that was eating away at Hermione.

Would she survive the night or would she die before he ever got to tell her how he really felt. He had wanted to tell her at the Shrieking Shack but she had stopped him, expecting them all to make it back.

Ron ran his hands through his unkempt hair and got up, going out of the room and down the stairs. He had just entered the kitchen when he stopped himself, his face going completely red with embarrassment.

There in front of him was Bill and Fleur. Fleur was sitting on the counter, wearing a bathrobe which was hanging off one shoulder. Bill was standing between her legs, kissing her exposed shoulder reverently while one of his hands rested on her thigh, massaging it as he kissed her glowing skin. Fleur was just sitting there, her hand covering the hand Bill had on her thigh, her eyes closed in pleasure.

The scene might have actually been bearable if it didn't remind Ron so much of what he didn't have.

"Ahem," he coughed loudly, looking away from the sweet sight.

The couple looked up in surprise and spotted Ron standing there. Fleur hopped off the counter, pulling the robe she was wearing back over her shoulder and wrapping it more carefully around herself. She gave Bill a kiss goodnight and then went over to the kitchen door where Ron stood. She placed a light hand on his shoulder before leaving the two brothers alone.

Bill coughed and looked around for a tea kettle.

"Fleur and I don't get much time to ourselves any more," he explained softly as he placed the kettle on the stove and sat down on a stool by the counter.

Ron nodded, sitting down across from him. "I got that," he muttered.

Bill looked up and took in his brother's pale features and dark circles under his eyes. He took in the nervous twitching of his hands and the helplessness that filled his blue eyes. He could also see something that he had come to recognize from years of watching their father.

"You're that scared?" he asked, genuinely surprised by Ron's feelings towards the whole Hermione thing.

Ron looked up, confused. "What?"

Bill pointed at Ron. "Hermione. You're scared that she might die."

Ron gave him a weird look. "She could die, of course I'm scared," he muttered, wondering silently if Bill had been kissing Fleur a little too long. Just then the kettle began to whistle and Bill got up and began to fix some tea for him and his brother.

Bill sighed, knowing that talking with Ron about this sensitive subject would be hard enough. Every Weasley had a temper. The only two who could control their tempers was Bill's dad and Percy, though he had seen moments where even their tempers had reached the limit. But when it came to deeper emotions, especially love, Ron was probably the only one who kept it all inside. Bill had actually seen a difference in the twins when they were around Angelina and Alicia.

He handed Ron a cup of tea before sitting back down.

"Ron… I know you hate talking about it but you and Hermione-"

"We're together," Ron interrupted quickly before looking down at the steaming cup in his hands, his ears flaming up.

Bill sat there in stunned silence, not knowing what to say at first. He had heard stories of Ron and Hermione, most of them not being so good. The tales of their magnificent fights had been told to him hundreds of times and he never really suspected an actual attraction until he'd seen the two at it during the war. Now, the two that were thought to never settle had finally made up and made out?

"What?"

Ron sighed. "Hermione and I got together right before Ginny was attacked. We never actually told anyone, though everyone in Gryffindor knows," he explained quietly, his eyes still down.

Bill watched his youngest brother, trying to figure him out. "Why didn't you tell anyone?" he asked.

Ron looked up, his eyes blazing. "Why? So everyone could feel sorry for me? So everyone can say, 'oh, poor Ron! Let's all pity him and make sure he doesn't do anything hard because his girlfriend's about to die. That way he can really think about it instead of distracting himself with work!'" he shouted, getting up and moving over to the window.

Bill looked out the kitchen door, hoping Ron hadn't woken anyone up before looking over at his angry brother. Ron was looking outside, his fist shoved in his pockets.

"Look, Ron… Hermione's going to make it. She's tough. You know it better than anyone that she doesn't give in that easily," Bill whispered encouragingly, moving over to where Ron stood.

"What if she doesn't survive the night?" Ron asked. The way he said it filled the room with so much dread that Bill felt his chest clench from the pressure of Ron's words. It was such a simple question yet the answer was unimaginable.

"She'll survive," Bill stated more firmly, not wanting his brother to think about the other possibility.

Ron looked up at Bill. "What would you do if Fleur died?" he asked quietly.

He felt Bill stiffen beside him and knew the question had hit home for his eldest brother. They remained silent for a really long time then Bill turned away and Ron could have sworn he saw a tear fall from Bill's face.

"She'll survive," he gritted through clenched teeth before leaving.

A/N: I'm a horrible person. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get back to you guys. I've been away for a week w/out computer. I will get all of the stories updated! I promise!

Romione: What happens to Hermione isn't a mystery, but what happens to Hogwarts is always hard for me b/c I've done so much already. I never really no what I'm going to do to Hogwarts.

smarty350: Wow... I've never gotten that before. Thank you so much!

Wesker888: I'm not so sure anymore. The flow might slow a little during the first few chapters but I think it picks up again.

charma10: I hate doing chapter teases, because I find it hard to find something that gives enough info to make the reader interested but not enough to give away what's going on.

NairobiDawn: Thank you a lot!

OzDust: I can't believe you remember the sheep thing! As for Bellatrix, you'll see how she deals with "competition". As for Ron being King, things might not be that simple, though battles are going to happen!

blooh2: I'm glad you like it. As for my writing looking like JKR, That's interesting. Thanks for liking my work.