Last Request

By: pengz

Disclaimer: Don't own much but the clothes on my back, really. :

A/N: While reading this 'fic, please disregard the Epilogue. I liked it, it just doesn't fit with my 'fic is all.

This part of the prologue consists of a few memories that are part of the adventure that the Golden Trio had during their adventures in Deathly Hallows.

Prologue Part Four: The Adventures

Harry had been asleep for half an hour before Ron said anything. Hermione, who had been so quick on her feet out on the streets was slowly falling apart inside the walls of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.

"Hermione," he whispered hoarsely.

Her chocolate brown eyes were bright as she looked at him. There was a defined loneliness in her stare, like a part of her world had been wrenched away from her. Then she smiled.

"Thank you for saving my life back there." Hermione spoke in a scratchy voice. "I didn't see them move."

"I promised, didn't I?" Ron replied, taking her hand in a comforting gesture, smiling all the while. "Said I'd make sure you'd come back alive, didn't I?"

"She's like my sister, I love her like a sister and I reckon she feels the same way about me. It's always been like that. I thought you knew."

Ron was thick at times, especially about feelings, but he wasn't Harry's best friend for the past six years for nothing: He knew Harry and Hermione had a platonic relationship. The only comfort in any of the words that Harry had spoken to him were that he was convinced that Ron was in love with Hermione. Hell, he had even fooled that wretched piece of Voldemort's malevolent soul into the same mind set!

He figured the thing thought that he had feelings other than friendship for Hermione because she was all he could think about all these weeks. The fact that he had made a promise and then deserted the one he had made it to was always on the forefront of his mind. Then, whenever he had worn the damn thing, in turn with Harry and Hermione, he could only think of doing it for Hermione. Truth be told, he had pushed Luna from his mind knowing that it was the only way he could help with the labors of their hunt for the horcruxes.

Tears misted his eyes and flooded his throat, thinking about how badly his absence had affected Hermione and put strain on both her an Harry. Not to mention the major hindrance his blunder had put in their path to destroy the horcruxes. He had never felt so ashamed of himself in all these seventeen, almost eighteen, years of living.

She was still angry in the morning, feeling like she had not hit Ron enough the night previous. Deep down inside she was highly relieved that he was back, of course, but it still did not forgive his desertion of the group, of his promise to her. Sighing deeply she threw Ron another dirty look for good measure, Hermione returned to her bunk after agreeing to visit the Lovegoods for answers.

Though Harry and Ron had lowered their voices she could still hear them faintly as they muttered together at the mouth of the tent. "You only agreed to try and get back in her good books." Harry mumbled at Ron.

"All's fair in love and war, and this is a bit of both. Cheer up, it's the Christmas holidays, Luna'll be home!"

Ron's excited tone nearly made Hermione cross the tent and smack him in the forehead: To be so tactless would be Ron's undoing, she was sure of it. She, too, was glad to be visiting Luna, a familiar face and some answers was what they really needed now.

She stirred under the covers, pain still prickling her here and there.

"She will be fine now, Ron." came s soft voice somewhere above her. A door closed and all was silent.

There was a sniffle to her left. Cracking an eye open, Hermione saw Ron, looking worse for wear.

"We're at Bill and Fleur's." He supplied at her confused expression.

"Broken a few things, haven't I?" Hermione whispered with a weak smile. Her bones, actually, were healing quickly with Fleur's ministrations and Skele-grow.

"I don't see how you can do that, after what you've gone through." Ron said, his voice crackling. "I thought Harry and I wouldn't be able to save you this time. I thought you'd end up like the Longbottoms... or worse."

"There are more terrifying things upon us, Ron." She had come to a sitting position with his help and now drew her limbs close to her, hugging herself. "I'm so scared."

He looked into her eyes as she said it. The determination that was once alight there was now dominated by fear. Even in the warmth of the cottage, Ron felt a chill at her words.

"Hermione," he said, climbing onto the bed to soothe her into a hug, "We have to be strong, alright? For us, for Harry. We can't help him is we're broken" he grimaced at the unintended pun, "metaphorically. We can't help Harry end this if we're not a team."

She sighed. "I know he needs us. We'll end this so we can finally come home, together." They sat in silence for a moment. "I thought I heard Luna..?"

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door and a dreamy voice on the other side. "I think there in here, Dean." It opened to reveal none other than Dean Thomas and Luna Lovegood.

"Hey, you alright, Hermione?" Dean asked with a sympathetic look.

"I've been better." She replied softly as Ron stood to exit the room.

"Should see where Harry is getting to. Coming, Dean?" Ron nodded to Luna in a silent greeting as she gave him a small smile. The boys left, leaving Luna and Hermione alone.

Hermione could see that other younger girl had lost a significant amount of weight. Yet, despite her imprisonment at Malfoy Manor, she still held her odd demeanor. She patted a spot on the bed next to her, motion for Luna to sit.

"Seeing loved ones is such a tonic, like a good cup of Gurdyroot Tea."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at Luna's words: This must be why Ron couldn't help but like her.

Emilytheweird: I love them too!

nomanslandvicki: Thank you. If I told you, that would take the fun out of writing it. ;)

Trainwreck729: I wouldn't be so sure about the inevitable.

Anywhoo! Thanks, everyone for reading and these three for reviewing, it means a lot. I've got the last prologue in the works so sit tight and we'll get this thing rolling out of the pensieve Oh, and I know these are short, but I'm not the best writer, I just do this for fun so don't send flames on length or yeah...

xxx
pengz