Disclaimer: Still I own nothing and never will. This is J.K Rowling's world.

Author Note: I know I said in the last chapter that this chapter would go pass what occurs in HBP but it wasn't getting too long so that will definitely happen in the next chapter instead.

No use hiding anymore:

As much as Ron didn't like Lavender anymore and as much as he wanted to be with Hermione, Ron still hadn't ended his disastrous relationship with the ditzy blonde. It had been a few weeks since he had been poisoned, an incident though almost costing him his life something he would be eternally grateful for, and Ron still hadn't managed to muster the courage to tell Lavender that their relationship, if you could honestly call it that, was finally over. He was currently sitting in the library watching Hermione study, something that he, though he didn't actually like the studying aspect of, enjoyed immensely. The endless hours he could spend just watching the girl he loved without a care in the world amazed Ron. Sometimes such lengthy periods of time would fly by without him noticing anything but her. The way she chewed on her bottom lip as she concentrated on a particularly hard task, the way her eyes would light up, becoming the dark chocolate he adored, when she answered a question correctly and the slight red hue on her porcelain cheeks. Ron knew every inch of her face, he knew that there was a small trail of fading freckles under her chin, that her eyes weren't just brown they were the colour of chocolate with tiny hazel and gold specks scattered throughout them and that she had a small, barely visible, scar above her left eye, a reminder from the battle at the Department of Mysteries. He loved every inch of Hermione and, just watching her in the library, gave him the resolve to break up with Lavender…..at the most appropriate time of course.

"Ron, you have to break up with Lavender," Hermione said gently as they sat on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. They were sitting so close together but still far enough away that they weren't actually touching. Ron just sighed, he knew he had to, he just didn't seem to be able to and he was sick of telling Hermione that, sick of not being able to come up with a better excuse.

"I know that 'Mione but it's hard. I'm waiting for us….maybe we'll just fall apart, like Harry and Cho did," he replied, a failing attempt at a joke. Something had changed in his relationship with Hermione after their conversation in the hospital wing that fateful night. They had an understanding. They both knew that they liked each other as more then just friends and they knew that when Ron broke up with Lavender they would finally have their chance.

"The thing is, Ron, that may not happen. I'm saying this because…well we both know that there something deeper then friendship between the two of us…and for something between us to actually eventuate you need to end your relationship with Lavender. You're not just hurting me, Ron. You're hurting her as well and….it isn't fair," Hermione said, clearly frustrated, tinge of sadness evident in her voice, as she rose from her seat to face Ron, hurt etched in her eyes. Ron was completely shocked at this outburst, not only was this the first time either had actually made a mention, no matter how subtle, to their true feelings for each other, but he was at a complete lost as to how to respond. Reaching his hand towards her she moved away, shaking her head, before moving towards the stairs to the dormitory. She looked back at Ron, a tear sliding down her cheek, before she whipped her head back around and climbed the stairs to her room leaving a befuddled and depressed Ron sitting by himself on the couch. Merlin, now what am I supposed to do? Ron thought to himself before he too rose from his seat and headed towards bed.

Ron stared at the spot his best friend had just occupied before turning to Hermione to see the same perplexed look that most likely covered his face plastered on hers as well. This time Harry's finally lost it, he thought to himself as he rose to go follow his invisible best friend out to common room, bloody hell why would anyone volunteer to go see that spider, dead or alive? He shook his head before turning to see if Hermione was coming. She copied Ron's actions before rising to accompany Ron down the stairs. They both knew, having been friends with Harry for six years, that there was nothing they could do but wait now. As they descended the stairs Ron caught a glimpse of Lavender and immediately wanted to turn back but it was too late for that now, she had seen him too and by the look on her face she was not happy. What could I have possibly done now, Ron thought, rolling his eyes, silently wishing that their relationship could just end.

"What were you doing up there with her!" Lavender screeched at Ron as he came down the stairs, her cheeks having turned so red that she looked almost purple. Ron didn't understand what she was talking about, Harry was there too. But then he realised that she couldn't see Harry and could only see him and Hermione and he let out a soft "oh" as he realised what this must look like. Ron was about to explain himself, about to try and rectify the problem, when he stopped himself as he realised that this situation could enable him to end their relationship. She was still screeching about Ron being a "cheating git" and telling him that he "never deserved a girlfriend like me" but Ron didn't retaliate he just took all her abuse until he heard the words "Hermione" and "scarlet woman" escape Lavender's lips, pushing him over the edge.

"Don't you dare bring 'Mione into this!" he snarled, stepping closer to Lavender who backed away towards the wall, "she has nothing to do with this!" he continued, unable to control his anger. Lavender burst into a fit of tears making Ron almost feel sorry for what he had done.

"All you ever think about is her. If she's so precious to you why don't you ask her out," she cried before regaining some confidence and taking a step towards him.

"IT'S OVER!" she screeched, slapping him across the face before she ran from the room. Ron, still completely astounded by what had happened, smiled helplessly over at Hermione who, at the sign of a fight, had retreated into the corner of the common room. It was finally over.

It had been a week since the tumultuous relationship between "Lav-Lav" and "Won-Won" had come to an end and still nothing had changed in Ron and Hermione's relationship, they were still "just friends", a fact that Ron was extremely upset about. I'm such a ruddy pumpkin head! Why do I have to be such a bloody coward? Ron thought to himself, running a hand through his bright red mane as he looked over to where Hermione was studiously studying in the corner. She looked so…….so like Hermione as she sat, nose buried in another exuberantly large book, in her usual cushiony lounge chair, face illuminated by the fire, looking so utterly beautiful, looking exactly like the girl Ron had fallen for so many years ago. Right, tonight's the night. Harry's not here, it's the perfect opportunity. Get your act together Weasley and go get her! Jumping up, this last thought reverberating through his head, Ron headed determinedly towards the armchair near the fire, towards Hermione.

He stood before her, desperately trying to string the right words together, waiting for her to look up and notice him, he had always been waiting for her to notice him. Finally, noticing the shadow that he was casting over her book, Hermione looked up, eyebrows furrowed into a look of annoyance that almost immediately turned to one of intrigue when she noticed the red head standing before her.

"Is everything alright, Ron?" she asked smiling. Ron was unsure how to begin, how was he supposed to tell the love of his life that he loved her? After pacing the ground before him for a while, causing Hermione's smile to fade and become replaced by one of concern.

"Ron, something's wrong, isn't it? What happened?" Hermione asked, placing her hand gently on Ron's arm. Startled by this movement Ron shook his head and knelt before her, this was it, he had to say it.

"No 'Mione, nothing's wrong. It's the complete opposite, well sort of anyway. I mean I don't know if it's the complete opposite. Actually something is wrong, with V-Vol…. well you know who I'm talking about…" he rambled only to be cut of by Hermione,

"Ron, is…is there something you specifically want to tell me?"

"Um…yeah there is. Something really, bloody important. And before you scold me it is bloody important and...I'm…..I'm not as…good with words as you and that is the only way I can describe what I'm about to say," Ron started looking over to see if Hermione was willing to allow him to continue to see that she was nodding, asking him to continue. Confidence lifting at this positive sign, Ron took a breath before continuing with his speech.

"The thing is Hermione… 'Mione….I...For years I've…" he stumbled running his hand through his hair again, making it even wilder then before, "Merlin this is hard. What I'm trying to say is… I love…love…I love you. Ever since I met you I've had…these feelings for you that go beyond friendship and slowly they've developed into…into love and I can't keep lying to you, lying to myself anymore. I love you, Hermione Granger," he finished, taking a breath, his face surely having turned a brilliant shade of red. He stared at her, trying to gauge what she was feeling, yet her face remained emotionless and Ron began to lose hope. Bloody git, you've misread the signs. She doesn't fancy you and now you've ruined your friendship with her, he scolded himself as he began to stand up, began to form an apology. Turning away and mumbling "sorry" Ron felt a warm hand touch his cheek, electricity resonating throughout his body. Slowly he lifted his gaze to meet rich chocolate eyes, brimming with tears, restoring his lost hope.

"Ron, even though you've been a prat and you've made me cry more times then I can honestly count. I love you too," Hermione cried flinging her arms around a thoroughly surprised Ron. Smiling what seemed the most genuine smile he had ever had, Ron pulled away to look at Hermione before leaning forward and placing his lips tenderly against hers. A jolt shot through Ron, spiralling up his spine, filling him up and making him feel complete, leaving him feeling as though something had been missing up until this point in time. She wasn't as refined a kisser as Lavender had been, nowhere near as experienced, but to Ron she was a hundred times better. He moved his hand to gently cup her cheek while the other moved to her waist, pulling her closer. Her arms around his neck, running through his hair, their lips moving slowly, tentatively, together was simply perfect. It was a billion times more right then wildly snogging Lavender has ever been and Ron knew that, as clichéd as it sounded, he would be perfectly content to spend the rest of his life kissing Hermione, his 'Mione.

"Ron, we have to tell Harry," Hermione exclaimed, biting her lip in that way that Ron found so endearing. He sighed as he pulled away slightly, arms still firmly holding Hermione's waist. He had been enjoying their snooging session, something that happened far to infrequently for Ron's liking, and seeing his 'Mione, lips freshly kissed with pink cheeks and hair out and untamed due to the previous occupation of his hands, all he wanted to do was resume his favourite activity. But Hermione's state of mind was far more important to him and he knew that he had to reassure her, he was her boyfriend after all. After that night in the abandoned common room when they had both confessed their feelings for one another, Ron and Hermione had agreed not to tell Harry about their relationship straight away, he had too much on his mind. This meant that couldn't be open about their relationship with anyone, so they had taken to meeting in the common room when everyone else was asleep or in empty classrooms whenever they had time. They were currently situated in the empty Transfiguration classroom; Hermione sitting on the desk where Ron had placed her, their massive height difference was a nuisance when it came to kissing.

"I know we have to 'Mione, but we both know that Harry has other things to worry 'bout right now and we don't want to upset him," Ron replied soothingly, gently caressing her cheek.

"I know, Ron. It's just I'm sick of sneaking around and lying to our best friend. I love you and I don't want that to be a secret anymore," she argued, her voice shaking slightly. Ron smiled and kissed her again, lovingly pulling her into an embrace. She loved him, she loved the clumsy, lanky, and unintelligent Ronald Weasley and he was struggling to come to terms with that.

"What was that for?" Hermione inquired as she pulled away from his embrace, a wry smile plastered on her face.

"Cause you love me," Ron answered matter-of-factly causing Hermione to pounce on him, assaulting his lips with her own. He was just beginning to get caught up with the kiss when she pulled away abruptly.

"Why do you have to be so sweet, Ron?" she asked before resuming her previous attack on his lips. They would tell Harry later.

Harry had gone to try and find one of Voldermort's Horcruxes and Ron and Hermione were alone once more, though this time Ron wasn't interested in snogging, well he had been able to keep that urge under control. Everything was real to Ron now, not that it hadn't been real before but now everything seemed more final, more likely to affect those he was intimately connected with, more likely to affect him. Death was looming over everyone's shoulder while the fight to live was become increasingly difficult. Ron knew he would fight, it was unquestionable. He would fight for himself, he would fight for his family, he would fight for Harry and most of all he would fight for Hermione, for the endless possibilities that came with his 'Mione. Before Hermione, death didn't scare Ron but now it terrified him, now he had everything to lose.

"It's about to begin," Ron whispered to Hermione, looking cautiously around, desperately searching to make sure it was safe for him to be with his 'Mione like a couple, instead of maintaining their "just friends" façade. There was no one around and he knew that they had a job to do so this could be the last time, if only for tonight, that he could embrace his girlfriend. Almost diving forward, Ron crashed his lips onto hers, making the kiss as fierce, loving and tender as he could, trying to make this kiss communicate everything he had ever felt for Hermione. She responded with equal eagerness and the two stayed like that, glued to each other, for what seemed like eternity before they broke apart, knowing that they had to go and fight.

"It will be all right, 'Mione. I know it will be all right," he whispered gently into her hair before giving her one last soft, tender kiss and leaving to go face the upcoming battle and whatever would ensue.

An onslaught of curses, the blur of Death Eaters and the tenacious fighting of the Order spiralled around Ron but all he could think about was Hermione, constantly looking for a wave of brown hair, any sign that she was alright. Blimey I'm a git! I should have stayed with her, what type of boyfriend are you Weasley? Ron scolded himself, throwing curses in every direction, barely dodging those being thrown at him. Merlin I hope she's alright. I'd…I'd die if she wasn't alright. His thoughts continued in this trend as he continued to fight the Death Eaters, continued to fight for the future and Hermione. Everything was blurring together, one curse after another, one near miss followed by another. Dizziness began to overcome Ron, the inability to concentrate on the battle was enveloping him and he knew that if it wasn't for the Felix Felics then he would have been killed a long time ago. The Death Eaters were beginning to close in around him, the effects of the Felix Felics coming to an end, and then he saw the slicked blonde hair of Malfoy sprint out of the Astronomy Tower alongside the greasy black mane of the potions master closely followed by the messy mop of black hair that he knew to belong to Harry. All the Death Eaters began to dispatch, following the retreating Snape, smug looks adorning their faces, they had had a victory. Firing a few last, lone curses after the backs of the retreating Death Eaters Ron searched the battle ground, trying to seek out the damage. Blimey, that guy looks worse for ware, Ron thought to himself when he noticed one member of the Order sprawled out on the floor, blood oozing from the myriad of cuts covering every inch of his face. Stepping closer towards the lifeless figure Ron saw the red hair tied neatly back into a ponytail and his stomach dropped, it was Bill. Crouching over the figure, barely able to contain his emotions, Ron felt for a pulse and found the small, irregular, slow heartbeat of his brother. Unable to suppress a small sob he ran his sleeve over his face, battling to control his tears. He was alive, there was still hope.

Author Note: Another chapter up! I know it isn't that good but I have exams next week so this was the best I could do. Dumbledore's funeral and beyond is next, this time I swear on my life. Anyway review away. Cheers!