-1Chapter 6

Ron surveyed the scene with anxious eyes. He needed a plan…quickly. His eyes caught Snape's behind the mask and he thought for a moment he saw something flicker there. Had Hermione been right? She'd tried to convince Harry months ago that maybe Snape had been on their side…maybe he killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore's own orders. He had kept telling Harry he trusted Snape. Perhaps he was not their enemy, but their ally? It was the only chance they had….

"Mr. Weasley, you have an important decision to make. Who shall die first, the mud blood or the Chosen One?"

Ron laughed despite himself. "You'll just kill us all in the end anyway--"

"True, very true, but if you do not chose let's just say Ms. Granger death will be much more painful and enjoyable, for Mr. Dolohov that is. " Voldermort gestured to Dolohov. He had dragged Hermione to her feet and was running his hands all over her. Ron growled and started forward, before being grabbed by Malfoy once again. "Now, now, Mr. Weasley. Remember your manners," Voldermort laughed insanely.

Ron backed down, looking back to Snape. This time he followed the slight upward movement of Snape's eyes. Ron looked up to the trees and saw…it was Fakes. Then he knew, he understood.

"I chose Harry. Harry dies first." Ron spat, his voice shaky.

"Ron, no!" Hermione cried weakly.

"Very well, Mr. Weasley. Very well…why don't you do the honors?"

Ron's eyes widened and Harry gasped. "I-I can't…it won't work--"

"I think you'll see that fear is a powerful motivator. Never cast an unforgivable? Give it a whirl."

Harry nodded at Ron. "It's okay, Ron. Please…you promised me…please."

Ron blindly took his wand back from Pettigrew. He glanced at it…it wasn't his…it was Voldermort's. Why?

A conversation flashed back to him: third year Harry had told them. "Dumbledore told me the day would come when I'd be very happy I saved Pettigrew…he is in my debt now…a life debt."

This year: "I can't destroy Voldermort in a duel. His wand and mine can't battle. Prioroi Incantatum.

Pettigrew had repaid his debt. Voldermort now had Ron's wand and he didn't know it. Harry could destroy him…he just needed the chance.

Ron pointed the wand at Harry. He turned to Hermione, she was crying, struggling valiantly against Dolohov. Ron felt his fury build. He turned to Harry and closed his eyes and prayed 'Please, let this work.'

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

The jet of green light flew from Ron's wand. Fawkes swooped down and swallowed it as he had in the Department of Mysteries and burst into a huge ball of orange flame and then all proverbial hell broke loose.

Snape released Harry and returned his wand. "Voldermort does not have his wand, Potter. Finish him!"

Harry eyes widened. "Y-You--"

"My debts are repaid. DO IT!!!"

Harry did not have to be think twice. He bolted forward, bellowing, "VOLDERMORT!!!"

Ron paused, taking a sip of his drink. He could not look up at his family. When he spoke, his voice shook. "The next few minutes are a blur. Curses were flying everywhere…Pettigrew got Hermione's wand back to her…she took out Dolohov, then there was a scream, and Harry fell…I thought he was dead, but Voldermort was standing over him. Laughing. He pulled back his wand, and cast the killing curse, but Snape appeared out of nowhere and levitated a rock to cross the killing curse's path. . The curse rebounded and I heard Harry shout…"

'…oh, and by the way Tom, the Horocurxes…the locket, the snake, the cup, and the wand--they're gone.' A final look of horror swept across Voldermort's face before he fell, truly dead. Harry jumped to his feet, a wide smile on his dirty face. Ron returned the grin, and soon they were all embracing. It was finally done…

"POTTER!"

Ron saw the flash of white hair and ice gray eyes. He saw the flash of green light, and he pushed Hermione to the ground, and shielded her with his body. After a minute, he heard Tonks' voice and saw Draco fall beside Harry. He turned, and saw the dead eyes of his friend staring into his. He had not saved him…he had failed. "HARRY!!!!NO!!!!HARRY!!!"

Ron looked up and peered into his sister's face. Tears were streaming down her face. Neville's head was buried in his hands as he was valiantly struggling to control his own sobs and comfort Gin. He glanced around and saw bright eyes everywhere, but he also saw something else….

"Ron," Ginny whispered, gently bringing his face back to her own, "Ron, you did nothing wrong."

"I-I failed…I killed --"

"NO RON!!! You tried to save them both…you never meant to choose him…it was part of a plan…a plan that almost worked. Draco Malfoy killed Harry. Not you, Ron. Not you!!"

Ron looked deep into his sister's eyes and began to cry. He grabbed her small body tightly and held her fiercely as he sobbed into her shoulder. He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew it was George crying as well. "You are not to blame, Ronnie." he insisted.

"BUT, GIN…I promised myself--"

"LISTEN TO ME!" Ginny voice rose and she held his face firmly in her hands as she spoke to him. "You did as Harry knew you would. You protected Hermione. He was counting on that Ron."

"I should have shielded Harry. I knew the curse was meant for him--"

"You knew no such thing. Malfoy hated Hermione more than anyone. You acted on instinct, Ron. You protected the woman you love. Just as Harry would have protected me. Just as you would have expected him too!"

Ron looked at Ginny for a long moment. Neville too was nodding at him. Finally, he looked around at his brothers, all nodding their heads firmly. Bill stepped forward and embraced him. "You make us proud, Ron. PROUD!!" Ron returned the hug firmly before turning to his parents. "M-Mum?"

"Oh, Ronnie, I'm so sorry you've been carrying this around. I'm so sorry you felt you couldn't come to us."

"No, Mum, that wasn't it. I just…the guilt consumed me. It made it impossible to think clearly."

"And now son?" Arthur Weasley gently asked his son.

Ron was a silent for a moment. "H-Harry always knew he was going to die. I know that now. He never expected to survive. He was my best mate…my brother. He counted on me to keep my promises and I haven't."

"Ron--" Ginny began but he cut her off.

"No, Gin, I'm not talking about that. I promised to live…to love and take care of Hermione…to remember him as I knew him. Not as the Chosen One or the Boy Who Lived but as Harry, my best mate who loved treacle tart and was an amazing Seeker. That is what I need to do…I need to get on with my life. I need to live."

Charlie patted Ron on the back. "Well, said, Ronnie."

"Any idea where to start?" Fred asked supportively.

Ron nodded and took a long shaky breath. "I have a date…with Hermione."

Gin jumped into his arms and hugged him hard. He returned the hug, chuckling. "You approve, Gin?"

"YES!"

The Weasleys all laughed, and eyes fell to Ginny and Neville. Ginny cleared her throat and turned to face her fiancée. They were looking at each other apprehensively, and then at the same time blurted out, "I can't marry you! Really? Are you sure?"

They laughed and Neville took Ginny's hand. "I care about you. I couldn't have survived Luna's death without you, but I'm not over her Gin, not even close. And you--"

"I still love Harry…maybe I always will." Molly sniffed and Ginny turned to her. "I'm sorry, Mum. I can't live my life for you, or anyone else. Harry wanted me to be happy…I'm not sure how to do that yet, but I do know marrying Neville isn't the way." Ginny squeezed her mother's hand.

Molly shook her head. "I'm sorry if I ever made you feel you needed to do this because of us. We want you to be happy, Ginny, dear. Whatever that means for you. We support you, Ginny. Always." Molly embraced Ginny in one arm and reached for Ron with the other.

The future had arrived.

. A/N Just the epilogue left! This was sad to write. I kept wanting to save Harry, but alas, it was not meant to be. I think I am just mentally preparing myself for the deaths to come. (Book 7) How does JKR do it? I now how hard it was for me, and I'm just a crazy but devoted fan. She has lived with these characters for God knows how long? Amazing! I PROMISE the epilogue is happy! Notice I did not promise you wouldn't cry…it will just be happy tears! Please review!

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