-1Chapter 5

Ron hesitated outside the Burrow's front door, breathing deeply to calm his anxious stomach. He knew he needed to do this, to finally tell his family…tell Gin about that dreaded night, but could he get out the words? He had to try….

He opened the front door quietly, surveying the comfortable but run down surroundings. He hadn't been home much in the last three years…this place, like most others, were full of old memories of Harry. It was in essence the only real home Harry had ever known. Ron had wanted so much to give it to him…to stand at his side when he married Gin, to be their children's godfather, to spend Sunday afternoon with his and Hermione's kids and theirs. That was the future he had fought for but it was gone. And despite his new determination to honor his best mate, to love Hermione, to forgive himself, he was afraid. Afraid the guilt would overcome him again., afraid that once he spoke the words his family would look at him ashamed and disgusted….Well, is it really worse than the pity?

"Ron?" a soft voice drug him from his thoughts. Fleur was holding a handsome toddler with strawberry blonde hair. He took the squirming bundle from her arms. She thanked him, stretching her back. The small bump on her stomach became more pronounced and Ron's eyes widened. "Congrats, Fleur! I didn't know." Ron instantly felt like a heel. She was obviously more than a few months along. Of course he didn't know. He was never around. Fleur squeezed his hand, and as if to read his thoughts answered soothingly. "We just told everyone a few weeks ago. No worries."

Ron chuckled. No worries was something Bill often said that he'd picked up form their Dad. Ron turned his attention back to his giggling nephew. Artie squealed delightedly as Ron tickled his sides. "Giving Mummy a hard time, Arite?"

"UNCLE WONNIE!! I MISS YOU!" Arite squeezed his short chubby arms around Ron's neck.

Ron returned the greeting warmly. Artie always made him feel better. "Where is everyone?"

"In de kitchen," Fleur gestured towards the door. "Ginny is …"

"Yeah, I reckon, you lot want some answers." Ron looked down at his feet. Fleur gently touched his arm. "They love you, Ron. Not a thing will ever change that. Oui?"

Ron nodded thankfully. Fleur leaned over to kiss his cheek. "I vill be back. Artie needs a nap."

"I'll be in the kitchen…please, join us when you're done…I want to speak to the family."

"I can give you some privacy--"

Ron interrupted gently. "You are family Fleur."

She smiled gratefully, and turned to walk up the stairs.

Ron braced himself and headed into the Burrow's kitchen.

The sight he found once he got there was not unexpected. Ginny was seated at the table, her head in her hands as Neville rubbed her back soothingly. Everyone was staring at a copy of The Daily Prophet that sat open to the front page. Ron cleared his throat. "Hey, Ginny."

All eyes flew to his, surprise etched in their faces. But Ron's focus was only for Gin right know. She looked up at him with red rimmed eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't talk about it--"

"Couldn't or wouldn't?"

"Is there a difference?" He sighed heavily, running a shaky hand through his fiery hair. "Gin, look, you have to understand," he began as he took a seat at the table, "when Harry asked me to make that promise he was terrified of what lie ahead, and desperate, and just---he was so damn sad, Gin. Sadder than I'd ever seen him. He had already lost so much--his parents, Sirius, Dumbledore, you. He loved Hermione and I like family…we were his family, the only one he ever had. Hermione was his sister, it didn't matter that they didn't really share blood. He had to protect her, and he knew…he knew she'd protect him at all costs. I never thought it would come to a choice between them. I was so determined to save them both, or die trying. But, I failed…" his voice broke, and he buried his face in his hands, trying to head off the wave of anguish threatening to engulf him.

"Tell me, please." Ginny took his hand and he raised his blue eyes to her brown. "Please."

He nodded numbly. "I-I want to tell you, Gin, I just not sure that I can."

Ginny nodded . "Can you try?"

Ron looked at her and around the table at his family. "Yes, I want to tell you, all of you." His voice shook, but his words were firm.

"Ronnie," Molly stepped forward with a worried look, "you don't have to--"

"I do, Mum, I do. Don't you see? Holding it inside, it's killing me a little each day." Molly whimpered softly at his words, and pulled Ron into a crushing embrace. He went willingly, grateful for the comfort.

Moments later, they'd moved to the Burrow's living room, as Fleur had returned from laying Arite down. Percy was still at work, but Ron preferred it this way. He still didn't trust Percy, and refused to share the events of that night with him. He was relieved when his brothers supported him and Molly didn't protest his request. Bill handed him a fire whiskey he wordlessly accepted. He sat on the table, directly in front of Neville and Gin, and began…

"It was mad…like a D.A. meeting gone crazy, remember? You were with Neville and Luna when Hermione and I ran past you. Hermione was ahead of me, I had just passed you when the curse hit Luna. I stopped to try and help, but God, so much blood, it was everywhere. Neville took out LeStrange and you took out Goyle. Then--"

"Hermione screamed," Ginny shuddered, remembering herself. "You said you had to go, to get to her and Harry…"

Ron nodded, " I reached a clearing in the forest, and I could see them. I could see Harry and Hermione…"

"Let her go, you bastard. This is between you and I," Harry yelled , struggling against the Death Eater who was restraining him. "Let her go!"

Voldermort laughed, signaling Dolohov to release Hermione from the Crucio she was currently under. Her screams slowed to low moans, as she curled into a ball on the ground.

"Once again, young Harry, you are mistaken. THIS is about destroying you, once and for all. What better way is there than to make you watch while I destroy everything you love, one by one. You do love her, don't you Harry?"

Harry laughed, surprising Voldermort. "What do you know of love, Tom? A person who knows love doesn't' become the evil monster you are."

Voldermort cringed at the use of his given name., but recovered quickly. "Ah, yes, Love. The ultimate weapon, the one Dumbledore depended upon to save you, all of you . Alas, it couldn't save him, could it, Severus?" Voldermort looked beyond Harry to the Death Eater who was restraining him. Harry turned slightly, recognizing the cold black eyes beyond the mask.. "You, it's you. You bastard!"

Harry began to struggle again, albeit uselessly. Voldermort laughed heartily, and walked over to Hermione laying upon the ground. He kicked her viciously, and returned his attention to Harry. "Who will save you now, Harry?"

Dammit, Ron swore softly. What the hell do I do? He was watching the scene unfold from just beyond the trees when the pair of hand and seized him and dragged him forward. "M­­-Master, look who I found?"

Pettigrew gushed as he was dragged Ron forward. Voldermort red eyes seemed to glow even brighter, and he motioned Lucius Malfoy to bring Ron forward. 'Well, well, well…the Golden Trio at last…Mr. Weasley, I had wondered where you'd got to. Please join us. We were just discussing how to kill the mudblood--"

"You'll not touch her , you evil bastard!" Ron screamed, receiving a kick in the gut from some random DeathEater in way of response

Voldermort only laughed, signaling Dolohov who unleashed another wave of Crucio upon Hermione. "So defiant, the youth of today," he muttered carelessly. "I had really expected Dumbledore would have taught you better manners." He signaled Dolohov. Hermione's cries were becoming weaker. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes … the mudblood."

"Please," Harry begged. "Please, just let her be. What do I have to do?"

But Voldermort was not listening, he was looking from Ron to Harry to Hermione with pointed interest. "I wonder," he murmured. "Malfoy, bring Weasley to me."

Ron was pushed forward. He spat at Voldermort's feet. He looked at Ron disdainfully before raising his hand to Dolohov. Dolohov dragged Hermione to her feet, and slapped her hard, sending her body back to the cold hard ground. Ron flinched, "Stop! I'm sorry…stop!"

"Very good, Mr. Weasley, now I will talk and you will listen. It's time for an examination, a test if you will. Hogwarts taught you well, did it not? Dumbledore taught you all about love…but love cannot save you now." He laughed, his Deatheaters joining him. Then the laughter seized and a horrible billowing silence entered the air. Voldermort was looking from Harry to Hermione to Ron once again. "You both value the mudblood…one as a lover , the other as a sister. But what if you had to choose…"

Ron's wide eyes flew to Harry. Harry was looking at him, hard and determined. He mouthed one word, REMEMBER. Ron nodded , and braced himself for the moment he had been dreading. He had already decided he could not choose. He would be the one to die tonight, he would protect them both, somehow….

A/N Sorry it took so long…it was very difficult to write. I would appreciate feedback. I was going to do the entire encounter scene with Voldy but decided to break it up, it was getting a bit long. Just one more chapter and an Epilogue after this! Thanks for the reviews, they're better than chocolate. Well, okay nothing is better than chocolate…but they are great!