Disclaimer: I still don't own any aspect of this story, now I'm going to go cry.

Reality sinks in:

Tears streaming down his cheeks. Numbness seeping through his veins, shadowing his mind and heart. The silence, the sheer emptiness, creating a void, a seemingly unfillable well of despair. All this, the ever gaping whole that now seemed to be his world, enveloped Ron. He was drowning, sinking deeper, falling faster. He was so entrenched that getting out was no longer a possibility. Everything was real.

Entering a friendship, especially one with someone like the Boy-Who-Lived, had never been something Ron had had to think about, you either like the person or you didn't. So, as he did like Harry, he had begun a friendship with him, one that was proving to be the most dangerous thing he had ever entered. He had come so close to losing so many of the people that he loved, his father, Ginny, Hermione, his own life and now Bill, all, well almost all, based on his close friendship with The Chosen One, based on what Voldermort was willing to do to hurt Harry, consequently hurting Ron. No regrets. Ron lived with by this. He wouldn't regret his choices, he couldn't regret his choices. If he regretted anything, any choice he made, he would never be able to live with himself, live this life. Regretting meant doubting, and Ron would never doubt his life, he couldn't live if he doubted that everything would be alright in the end, doubted that he would survive. So, though he was risking losing everything, though every one he was close to was at a great risk of being taken away from him, he wouldn't stop fighting. He wouldn't leave Harry and the friendship he treasured so much. Even if it meant death, even if he had to say goodbye to dozens of friends, even as he watched his eldest brother, face covered by the scars of war, fight for his life, he would continue to fight a fight he had begun when he was eleven. Gripping his brother's hand, ferociously wiping the tears from his eyes with the other, he assured himself that he would get through this.

Ron had been so happy. He had the girl he had always loved. He had the best family he could have ever asked for. He was actually receiving great marks in his classes, thanks to Hermione. And he had Harry, his best mate. How quickly things can change, he thought to himself, running a hand wearingly through his hair. The brilliant blue of his eyes had dulled, the spark seemingly dieing, with deep dark circles now seeming to be a permanent fixture on his once bright and bubbly face. The best few weeks of his life had so quickly become a sequence of events he would much rather forget and, if wasn't for Hermione, he was sure that his resolution to do the right thing would have surely failed him. Dumbledore was dead. The one person Voldermort feared was gone and could never come back. It was so hard to believe and, as Ron lay awake in his bed feigning sleep, he chocked on a sob fighting to be let free. Be a man you prat, he chided himself, think about Harry. Worry about how this must be affecting Harry. It doesn't hurt you like it hurts him so grow up Weasley! he continued to yell in his head. Realising that sleep wasn't coming Ron slowly got up, trying not to wake any of his dorm mates, grabbed his nightgown and made for the common room, reasoning that he would be able to think clearer by the light of the fire.

The common room was scarcely lit by the dieing embers of the fire as Ron entered it, sitting in his favourite armchair by the fire, staring into the spitting orange flames. He was completely entrenched in his thoughts when he heard a disgruntled sigh coming from the couch on the other side of the room. Jumping up, startled by the noise and preparing himself to face an intruder, Ron made is way over to see who was there. The familiar bushy curls and slight form of Hermione met him as he got closer and he noticeably relaxed. Kneeling beside his sleeping girlfriend Ron gently placed his hand on her shoulder, revelling in the warmth she emitted and the immediate comfort just touching her brought him.

" 'Mione," he whispered softly in her ear, shaking her arm slightly only to receive a satisfied sigh and have her bury her head further into the couch. Chuckling slightly Ron shook her a little more forcibly and leaned closer to her ear, inhaling her comforting scent.

" 'Mione," he said, this time a little louder, and she opened her eyes, smiling at the face that met hers.

"Ron, what are you doing here at….two in the morning," she scolded while attempting to stifle a yawn.

"I could ask you the same question," he responded, "but if that's the greeting I receive from my girlfriend then maybe I won't ask," he added in mock indigitation, pulling his famous puppy dog face. Hermione just laughed, sitting up and grabbing Ron's arm, stopping him from his attempt to move away.

"Honestly Ron, you can be such a girl sometimes," she giggled, "but despite everything I love you anyway." Smiling he leaned forward, meeting Hermione's lips with his own. To Ron it was amazing how each kiss with Hermione could be so exhilarating, how she always ignited that spark in him and how she made him forget everything else. The kiss started of tenderly enough but soon, as they both felt the need to get closer, become more absorbed in the other, the passion increased as their tongues entwined together, battling each other. Not really knowing what was happening Ron soon found himself positioned above Hermione, who was know lying on the couch again, as they both lost themselves in the kiss. Merlin, we've never kissed like this before, Ron thought to himself as he began to trail kisses down to her neck, emitting many arousing moans from Hermione, Bloody hell this is brilliant! Her hands was fiddling with his hair, gently pushing his mouth closer to hers, deepening the kiss, as his hand gently cupped her cheek while the other encircled her waist, pulling her closer to him. Both were trying to bring the other closer, desperately trying to forget everything else in the other person. His hands were starting to roam, feeling previously unmanned territory, as the passion of their kiss, as well as his arousal, grew. Not wanting to get caught, and feeling as though he would lose all control if they didn't stop soon, Ron pulled reluctantly away, causing a disgruntled groan to leave Hermione. Giving her one last, sweet kiss before getting up and helping her to her feet Ron embraced his girlfriend,

"It's getting late Hermione, we have a big day tomorrow," he whispered gently in her ear, squeezing her hand and leading her to the staircase to her dorm. She smiled warmly before standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek,

"Everything will be alright Ron," she whispered reassuringly before turning to go up to her bed, turning to face him one last time before she reached the top of the stairs and blowing him a kiss. Smiling to himself Ron headed towards his own bed. She always knows how to make everything better, he thought before drifting off into the first peaceful sleep he had had in a week.

Watching his headmaster sink into the ground Ron let out an involuntary sob, clutching Hermione closer to him as he soothingly ran his hands through her hair. He's not coming back now.He could feel his shirt getting damper from Hermione's heart wrenching sobs, breaking his heart as he failingly attempted to comfort her. Merlin I hate it when she cries, he thought as he continued his desperate attempt to sooth her and control his own tears.

"It's going to be alright, 'Mione," he whispered in her ear, rubbing circles on her back, "you said it before, everything will be alright," he smiled reassuringly at her, not sure whether he was just trying to reassure her of it this was for himself as well. Still silently sobbing Hermione's tear glazed eyes met his,

"Oh Ron, you can't know that for sure. I know I said that but Dumbledore's gone. If Dumbledore's gone then what makes any of us think we can survive. I…I don't know what I'd do if I lost you" she wailed, breaking down in his arms, and Ron felt his heart rip, if Hermione had no hope then what was he supposed to do? He couldn't lose hope, he just couldn't, and he wasn't about to let Hermione lose hope either so grabbing Hermione firmly by the shoulders he turned her around to face him.

"Listen to me 'Mione. Nothing is going to take me away from you, nothing okay?" he stated firmly to a bewildered Hermione who merely nodded, "I love you 'Mione, I wont let anything hurt you, alright. Just promise me that you wont lose hope, you can't stop hopping 'Mione," he whispered this last part in her ear, choking on the words as he stifled his tears. Gripping Ron even tighter, Hermione nodded against his shoulder, assuring him that she wouldn't give up and Ron closed his eyes, hugging his 'Mione as though his life depended on it, convinced that everything would be alright.

After what, to Ron, seemed like hours the couple broke their embrace and Ron turned around, searching for Harry. The last thing he wanted was for his best mate to find out about him and 'Mione before they had a chance to tell him so, though he wanted nothing more then to kiss his girlfriend, he reluctantly got up, pulling Hermione up with him.

"We better go see how Harry's going?" Ron said, smiling down at a now no longer crying Hermione who nodded, giving Ron a small smile and looked around, scanning for their missing best friend.

"His over there," she said, pointing over to the lake where Harry was standing and, when Ron squinted, he looked like he was talking to the Minister of Magic. Ron felt his face contort with rage, he could feel his hands balling into fists, as he saw the traitor standing just behind the Minister, Percy. All he wanted to was run over to his brother and show him what he had done to his family, Percy's now ex-family, but, just as he was about to speed forward, he felt a placating hand on his shoulder and turned around to see Hermione gently shaking her head mouthing "Harry" and he calmed down, he had to be calm for Harry's sake. Nodding he took Hermione's hand and they made there way towards the lake. As soon as they arrived they dropped their hands, walking over to where Harry was glaring at the retreating back of the Minister.

"What did he want?" Hermione asked, reaching Harry's side while Ron flanked his other.

"Asking me again to be the poster boy for the Ministry and wondering where Dumbledore always went," Harry replied bitterly, "I said no, offcourse"

"Let me at Percy. Just one hit will make me feel better" Ron joked, trying to ease the tension that was building between the three friends, successfully earning a laugh from both of them. Harry resumes staring solemnly into space while Ron watches as Hermione looks despondently back at the castle that they have called home for six years.

"It's strange to think that Hogwarts might close down," she sighs, seeming to fight back even more tears. On instinct Ron moved towards Hermione, wanting to comfort his girlfriend, but then he drew back remembering that to Harry they were "just friends."

"Even if Hogwarts does re-open I won't be coming back," Harry stated calmly, still not really looking at his two best friends. Though his mouth dropped open, shock evident on his face, Ron wasn't actually that surprised. He knew it was coming. With Dumbledore gone Harry wouldn't want to continue his education. He had a job to do now. He had to find the Horcruxes. Ron also knew that if Harry wasn't going back to school then he wouldn't be either.

"We'll come with you mate," Ron added determinedly as Hermione nodded her head in consent, "you cant get rid of us."

He was home. Even though he loved Hogwarts, he had spent most of the last six years there after all, the Burrow was his real home. The smell of his mother's cooking, the crooked house that always seemed as though the wrong gust of wind would knock it down, the annoying garden gnomes that seemed to always need to be thrown out of the yard and the knowledge that he was safe was what made the Burrow the place he loved most in the world. Spending the days playing Quidditch with his brother's and Ginny, eating ominous amounts of his mother's food and just relaxing was, to Ron, the most enjoyable method of drifting through the summer and he wished that he could spend the rest of his life soaking up everything about the Burrow and the family he loved. The only thing missing was Harry and Hermione, both whom would be arriving in a few weeks for Bill and Fleur's marriage. He missed them both but he longed for Hermione and was so glad that she was coming a few days before Harry so that they could figure out a way to tell him, and his family, about their relationship, not to mention the alone time he longed for. The war was looming, Ron knew that, and soon Harry, Hermione and himself would set off on the almost impossible quest of defeating the Dark Lord. He wasn't being naïve by thinking about how wonderful his family, best mate and girlfriend were, he was simply trying to soak up life before the unmistakable gloom of death settled over everyone.

Walking up to his room, thinking about the joys of life while trying not to dwell on the fear of death, Ron heard the almost inaudible crying of his sister and was immediately jolted from his thoughts. I wonder what all that's about, he thought as he made his way to her door, knocking on it gently.

"Go away, mum! I don't want to talk," Ginny screeched through the door

"It's me, Ron," Ron whispered gently, unshaken by Ginny's sudden outburst. Ron heard a sigh followed by a scuffle before the door was open and he was greeted by the tear stained face of his little sister. He could feel his heart drop as he saw her quivering lip, her tear glazed eyes and the look of utter hopelessness plastered on the face of his once feisty sister. She motioned for him to come inside and he obediently followed, closing the door behind him, only to have her collapse into his arms before he could more then a few steps inside the room. Her sobs racked her body, reverberating onto his, as he gently lifted her up moving to sit on her bed.

"He…I can't believe he…can't he see…," she cried into his chest, clearly to upset to string her words together into a single, flowing sentence. Not sure what was upsetting his baby sister Ron merely clung to Ginny and soothingly rubbed her back, whispering assurances that everything would be okay in her ear. Being the two youngest of the Weasley clan, Ron and Ginny had always been close. Ron believed this was because for two years they were the only thing close to a friend each other had, with all their other siblings already at Hogwarts, and this resulted in them depending on the other more then any of their other siblings. Ginny was the first person to know, well officially anyway, that Ron liked Hermione and he was the first to know that Ginny liked Harry. They had always been, and would always be, there for each other.

"Don't worry Gin, whatever it is you can tell me about it. We tell each other everything. It'll be alright you have me and the rest of the family, blimey even Fred and George," he began, earning a tear filled laugh from Ginny, "and you have Hermione and all your friends and don't forget Harry…" but he was cut off before he could continue by a loud sob being emitted from Ginny at the mention of her boyfriend's name. Startled by this Ron hugged her tighter, waiting for an explanation.

"Ron," she sniffled, moving slightly away from him, "that's the thing. Harry….he…he…he broke up with me," she chocked out, trying not to cry anymore. Ron felt anger boil inside him, rising steadily through his whole body, filling him with rage. Some best mate, he thought, contorted by his rage, how could that git do this to my little sister? Was she not good enough for him, bloody Chosen One. He'll pay for this! Ron's thoughts continued as he made to leap up before he was stopped by Ginny placing a forceful hand on his shoulder

"No! Ron, I'm just being stupid. He…I'm sure…there was some logical reason behind it Ron. He…well he said…he wants to protect me. I understand it. I do. It just hurts," she cried, gripping onto him once more, "I love him and he…well he's always been a noble git but it doesn't make it hurt any less."

"You deserve better then him, Gin," Ron replied gently, "you don't deserve this,"

"Thanks Ron but don't…just promise me you won't hurt him. He doesn't know what he's doing, really," she stated bravely hugging Ron tighter to her.

"I promise, Gin," Ron replied, soothing his fragile sister, letting her cry to him for the rest of the night knowing that that was all he could do, Ginny needed her big brother.

Author Note: So this isn't the best chapter but I wanted to put something up sooner rather then later. Tell me what you think. Read and Review

Cheers!