Disclaimer: I don't own this story. All belongs to J.K Rowling

Life ends when living ceases:

Those last few peaceful days of summer disappeared in a blur of happy smiles, light hearted conversations, sticky mornings followed by showering afternoons and freezing darkness. It all ended too soon with the foreboding battle, the increasing depression, clouding the Golden Trio, denting their once bright spirits, distinguishing the fire in their souls. Leaving, the last hugs, the tight smiles, the tears, had instilled a deep sense of regret in Ron. With the normal what ifs running through his head he had wished that he had done so much more, wished that he had savoured every moment and wished that he hadn't complained, hadn't whined, hadn't at some stages hated the family he loved so much. The family he was going to miss more then words could ever describe. Clinging to his mother, his father, even his brothers, he had attempted to memorise everything about them and promised them that he was trying to keep them safe, begged them to stay safe. After the summer, when all the joy halted, the dark depressing spiral spinning constantly downwards, shifting out of control, enveloped Ron, cast a shadow over the Golden Trio. As hardship among endless hardships loomed in the near and distant future the lights went out on the Burrow, a light was switched off in Ron's heart.

This wasn't supposed to happen, Ron thought to himself as he stared around the battlefield, taking in the death. His heart was beating fast, the adrenalin of the battle still pacing through his veins. He couldn't focus properly, it was all too much. Everything had happened so quickly, too quickly. No one had enough time to react; curses were sent flying at a rapid speed as the bodies began to fall, the death toll rising at an unimaginable pace as the corpses littered the ground, the site that was once Harry's family home. How the bloody hell did this happen, Ron thought angrily as he scanned the body ridden area for a familiar face, praying his loved ones would all be safe, cursing himself for not watching them better, for failing to protect them to the best of his abilities.

"RON!" a familiar voice screamed and he turned to see Hermione streaming towards him and before he knew what was happening she had thrown her arms around his neck and had buried her head in his chest.

"I was so worried…I couldn't see you…I thought…well it doesn't matter now, you're safe," she mumbled into his chest. Ron, still going through everything that had just happened, simply pulled Hermione closer to him, planting a kiss on her forehead, telling her, in his own way, just how pleased he was that she was safe. He was just beginning to get lost in the comfort of his 'Mione's embrace, her scent, the way her brown curls gently tickled his cheek and the pure warmth she emitted, when a piercing scream meet his ears. Immediately releasing himself from Hermione's embrace, Ron ran towards the noise, scanning the area for who was in danger, for whatever may be causing the danger. There was something so familiar about the scream that made Ron's blood curdle as he continued to sprint towards the noise, searching for something, anything at all. Suddenly he spotted a glimpse of red near an old, burnt out tree and he quickened his sprint, practically flying towards the shiny red hair that, as he got closer, he recognised belonged to Ginny. Thank Merlin she's safe, Ron thought as he quickly realised that she wasn't being attacked and he was just about to sweep her into a hug when he noticed the mop of unruly brown hair that she was staring at, her face contorted into a look of utter shock. There lying on the hard mud, body distorted, unmoving, was Neville Longbottom.

Poor bumbling, clumsy Neville, Ron thought to himself sadly, almost angrily as he sat patiently in a wing at St Mungo's, Hermione curled up beside him as he absentmindedly stroked her hair. After the battle, a battle that had occurred so spontaneously that Ron still didn't know what had caused it, Ginny had found Neville dead, completely mutilated by a fleeing Draco Malfoy, and Harry had been found unconscious only a few metres away from the mangled body of Neville and the Order had immediately taken him for treatment at St Mungo's, hence Ron and Hermione's current position waiting for Harry to wake. He bloody didn't deserve to go that way, his thoughts continued and he felt tears begin to fill his eyes. Neville had always been a good mate, a complete idiot at times but he was so fiercely loyal and brave that any fault he may have had seemed insignificant. The hunt for the Horcruxes, the journey to defeating Voldermort, was supposed to involve only three people, Harry, Ron and Hermione- The Golden Trio, yet as the search begun more people became involved, more people had been needed. Neville joined the Order. He had wanted to avenge his parents. He had wanted to destroy Bellatix Lestrange, longed to see her suffer the way she had made his parents suffer, made him suffer. Ron let a lone tear fall down his cheek and, looking solemnly up at the ceiling, whispered a hoarse goodbye to his friend.

"Neville…dead," Harry chocked out staring disbelievingly at his two best friends. Hermione gently took Harry's hand but he pulled away quickly, shaking his head.

"If I'd known that was the curse I would never have…" he mumble, eyes closed, allowing his unfinished sentence to hang in the air. Ron turned to Hermione, eyes wide with curiosity, and saw that she was as confused as he was. Nodding her head from Harry to her boyfriend Hermione silently told Ron to ask their best friend what he meant, to find out what was happening.

"Harry, what do you mean?" Ron asked gently, startling Harry out of his thoughts. Turning once again to face his best friends Harry crinkled his face into a thoughtful expression, looking as though he was trying to remember something.

"I….he…we were both fighting a couple of Death Eaters…Malfoy and Crabbe I think…anyway Crabbe ran away and then Malfoy shot a curse at me and I didn't have enough time to react so I waited for the inevitable…I assumed it was…well you know what curse…so I closed my eyes and then nothing hit me and Neville was lying at my feet…" Harry said quietly, choking on the last words. He shook his head silently as though he was clearing it, resolving himself to continue. Clearing his throat he looked up at his two best friends, telling them he had more to say and halting Hermione who was already moving towards him, tears flowing freely down her face.

"Malfoy's face contorted for a second and I knew I had a chance to…to…to finish him. Just as I was about to…well kill him…he began to run and just before he disapparated he sent some sort of curse at me and know I'm here," he added with a grim smile that faded quickly from his face, "If I had have know for sure what curse he was sending then I would have made sure it hit me. Neville didn't deserve to die like that," he whispered fiercely as Hermione encumbered him in a bear hug. For a second Harry's eyes darkened and Ron thought he was going to push Hermione off him, scold her and tell her he didn't need comfort, but almost immediately they softened and he gripped her tighter, letting himself break down as he clung to his best friend, his sister. Ron smiled to himself despite the overwhelming sadness of the situation. He was surprised, at first, that he wasn't at all jealous. If any other man merely touched Hermione he had a jealous fit and attempt to kill the other man with his bare hands…but with Harry it was different, he understood that they were like siblings to each other. Finally the two broke apart and Harry smiled at Hermione, whispering a thankyou, before turning to smile at Ron.

"You better watch your back, Potter. Honestly what made you think you could touch my 'Mione like that?" Ron said ruthfully, desperately trying to keep a straight face. However, at the site of Harry's utterly terrified face with an apology about to escape his stuttering lips Ron burst out laughing. It was the first time all three of them had truly laughed in months but it all ended too soon when the joke wore out, Hermione hitting her boyfriend half heartedly on the head, and that dark well of depression kicked in again.

Ron was sure he was going to be sore for the rest of his life. As he shot curse after curse at the rampaging Death Eaters and had curse after curse fired at himself he felt bruised and scarred and tired. He always felt bruised and scarred and tired. War, the greatest wizarding war, was killing him, sucking away at his soul, crushing his spirit, until he felt like an inanimate object, something whose soul duty was to fight and, eventually, die. He wasn't the same anymore. He didn't joke like he used to, didn't laugh as quickly as he used to and he no longer cared like he used to. If it wasn't for Hermione, his family and Harry, the brief shining moments of happiness he spent with them between the battles, he would give up, like so many before him had, and welcome death. As the Trio travelled through Europe in their desperate search for the littered pieces of Voldermort's tattered soul they had all lost a piece of themselves and it was only the bond that they shared and the love that flowed through all of them that they remained together, continued to fight the seemingly impossible battle. So far they had destroyed two more Horcruxes, Hufflepuf's cup and Gryffindor's sword, and everyday they were inching closer to the third, Ravenclaw's necklace. They knew where it was hidden, Voldermort's old orphanage, yet the constant onslaught by the Death Eaters kept them moving forward at only a snails pace, frustrating terribly the not so Golden Trio. Hermione, undoubtedly the brains, researched constantly, leaving little time for late night "chats" with her disgruntled boyfriend, so that when they could finally move forward and destroy the Horcrux the knew about they would know what route to take next and so that maybe, just maybe, they would be able to finally end this war. Ron kept guard as the trio slept in uninhibited hovel after uninhibited hovel. He was their watch dog, their safe keeper. Ron knew his role and he was happy to adhere to it, having a job kept him going, kept him motivated and kept him prepared to fight.

Huddled by their man made fire, out in the open magic being way to dangerous, Ron tried his best to comfort Hermione, Harry having fallen asleep almost immediately after the latest, cruellest battle. Luna had fallen bravely taking two Death Eaters down with her and Ron knew there wouldn't be a funeral, there never was anymore. They had lost so many, Neville, Tonks, Hagrid and now Luna, and Ron felt as though he was constantly fighting back tears. He had only broken down once, that sad, cold, heartbreaking day that Hagrid had died. Like a child he had wept in his girlfriend's embrace and he knew that he had never loved Hermione more then when, at the site of his tears, she had embraced him and told him that it was okay to cry, to let his guard down, instead of turning away in disgust like he thought she would do. Now it was his turn and Hermione sobbed into his shoulder as he hugged her by the fire, both mourning the loss of their friend Luna. Ron remembered what Lupin had said earlier, "At least she died bravely in battle", and he let out a bitter laugh. Luna didn't want to die. How the ruddy hell was dying bravely going to make it a better death? You're still bloody dead and you won't come back, Ron thought bitterly to himself as he hugged Hermione tighter.

"Ron," she whispered hoarsely, startling him slightly as it is the first thing she's said all night, looking up at him and he notices that they're glistening with fresh tears and he rubs them away with his thumb on instinct. She smiles slightly and then clears her throat, "tomorrow may be the last day to…to say this and I…I just want you to know that I love you more than anything and…when…when this is all over I want to be with you for the rest of my life," she managed to choke out, "I'm not asking you to propose or anything I just want to let you know how I feel because…because…because I'd hate to die and not have you know just how much you mean to me," she finished, almost shyly. Ron's heart swelled with a pleasant mixture of pride and love and he hugged Hermione closer to him, gently caressing her lips with his quickly before drawing back to look straight at his 'Mione. He loved her more then anything in the world and would be eternally grateful to whoever put her in his life.

"I love you too, 'Mione, more then you could ever imagine. You're it for me and when this finishes we'll get married, if you'll have me offcourse, and have a brilliant bunch of red haired know-it-all little kiddies," he whispered gently smiling ruggedly at her, pleased to see her face light up in a way it hadn't for ages.

A scar spiralled up Ron's side, it hurt constantly and when he moved it made him believe that death was fast approaching. Yet despite the pain, the thumping, cursing singe of pain surging through his body at every moment, he continued to fire curse after curse at the attacking Death Eaters, dodging the rampage of curses being sent at him. Only one Horcrux remained, Voldermort's snake, and the battles were becoming fiercer as the Death Eaters tried everything to stop them from weakening their master, try and halt the inevitable final battle. Dodging another Unforgivable curse Ron quickly stunned his opponent to give him enough time to scan the field and make sure everyone else, everyone he loved, was still alright, still fighting. Merlin she's brilliant, Ron thought to himself as he saw Hermione fending of two Death Eaters without assistance, her face set with determination as her eyes blazed with the ferocity he loved. Ginny was holding her own as she battled Malfoy, her red hair flying wildly in all directions, and Ron cursed himself for doubting that she would be able to fight. He didn't have time to look for Harry as another Death Eater marched towards him, wand out and pointing straight at his chest. Ron was too quick and knocked the bumbling Death Eater unconscious before he even had time to register the wand aligning with his head.

"AVADA KED-" a woman began to scream only to be stopped before the deadly curse could fully escape his lips. Ron turned around instantly, his heart thumping in his throat, the adrenalin pumping through his veins. A resounding thump echoed through the battleground as everyone turned to face the scene unfolding before them. Ron could feel his heart quicken, the blood pumping in his ears and draining from his face as his eyes widened. There stood Harry with his wand raised over a cowering Voldermort, a shell of the former Dark Lord, an intense blaze of determination setting his eyes on fire as he stared coldly at the man who had destroyed so many, pure hatred boring into Voldermort from Harry's very soul. Bloody hell, this is ruddy brilliant was the only thought that passed through Ron as he sprinted towards his best friend, turning only to make sure Hermione was right behind him. As they reached their heroic best friend, taking their place flanking the Boy Who Lived, Ron saw the woman who had tried to kill Harry, his best mate. Bellatrix Lestrange, the woman who had caused Neville so much pain and destroyed his parents' lives, was dead, the light had left her eyes, and Ron had no doubt that it was Harry who had killed her, that Harry had settled his score with Neville. Lying in a bloody heap beside the cruel, heartless witch was Voldermort's treasured pet, the last Horcrux was dead. A sudden urge to cheer filled Ron as he realised why the weak and wounded Voldermort was cowering on the floor, begging for mercy. He was immortal no more. Stifling this urge he too pointed his wand directly at the heart of the famous Dark Lord, feeling venom of pure hatred seep into his veins, will him to kill.

"The tables have turned Voldermort," Harry whispered coldly, his words so harsh, so cruel, so deadly.

"You don't…you can't kill me, Potter. What would your Mudblood mother say if she saw you now, so ready to kill? So ready to allow another to meet the same sticky end she did?" Voldermort laughed, fear seeping subtly into his once fearsome voice, as he tried desperately to find his lost wand. His red eyes were gone. He no longer resembled a snake but a depleted, older version of the handsome teenager Harry had described from the diary in second year. His ice blue eyes filled with so much fear that all the malice from his words disappeared and Ron was instantly reminded of a small frightened, lost little boy. The word petrified couldn't even begin to describe this once powerful, fearsome man. A cold heartless laugh was emitted from Harry, a sound so unnatural that Ron felt his own heart freeze a little. Noticing what Hermione was doing, sending curse after curse at the remaining Death Eaters, he silently cursed himself for his own lack of innovation before beginning to vend of the oncoming Death Eaters as well.

"Do you honestly expect me to forgive you?" Harry spat, "forgive the man that caused me and countless other's so much pain," he paused laughing icily again as he stepped threateningly closer to his nemesis.

"My mother would be proud. Proud to know that I faced you, the most despised, cowardly wizard to ever live, and won. I will win Voldermort. I will see the light's fade from your eyes. I will finally fulfil the prophecy you stored so much by and get the revenge," he whispered chillingly, staring straight into Voldermort's eyes and smirking as he saw his lip tremble, "this is for my parents', for Cedric, for Sirius and Dumbledore," he yelled pointing his wand at the Dark Lords heart as he made one last fleeting attempt to flee.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Harry bellowed, face contorted with all the rage and hatred he had ever felt.

Author Note: So I finally updated and the last chapter, which is really and epilogue is underway. I know this is a really bad chapter but I want to finish this before the last book comes out. Read and Review.

Cheers!