A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying themselves.

Adversity introduces a man to himself. --Unknown

It had been two days and other than the screaming, Hermione's status had not changed much. She was still seeing people and her nightmares were becoming more real to her.

Ron had become a wreck.

He had gone back to the Ministry, consuming himself in his work and then finding himself in Hog's Head, numbing his mind and heart to the uncontrollable pain that pierced him with the amber liquid that burned his throat. He wanted to just forget everything and not be there. Hermione was still not letting him see her and after another argument with Harry, everyone had given up on pressuring her.

"Ron."

"Not now."

"Ron, please…"

"I said not now."

"Ron, I just want to talk-"

"Piss off," Ron growled, looking up from his desk and into the sad eyes of his sister.

"Ron, you can't keep pushing everyone away just because of what might happen. Hermione still has a chance," Ginny whispered, stepping into the office and sitting down in a chair.

"Go away, Ginny," Ron gritted through his clenched teeth. "I don't want to talk."

Ginny flared up, annoyed by his juvenile behavior. "No! You'd rather work all day and then drink yourself to death!"

"GET OUT!" Ron bellowed, standing up and slamming his fist down on the desk, scaring Ginny out of her seat and to the door. "JUST GET OUT!"

"Ron!" Ginny tried.

Ron grabbed a pictured off the wall and chucked it at her, nearly missing her head. "GET OUT NOW!"

Harry looked up when he saw Ginny appear from the backyard, throwing her soaking cloak on a chair.

"He's not talking is he?"

Ginny looked up at him in surprise and then bit her lip, shaking her head. "He's trying to deal with this in his own way, Harry. He's doing what he'd do if he really did lose her…"

Harry sighed. "It's not fair."

"What?"

Harry waved his hand in the air. "Ron and Hermione. They've worked so hard for what they had and now… they're going to lose each other."

Ginny nodded, moving over to the kettle. "People will never have the perfect relationship, Harry. I remember looking up to Hermione for help when Hanton and I had trouble…" she drifted off, her face going red.

Harry looked up, watching her intently. "How are you and Hanton?"

Ginny turned around, amazement in her eyes. "He's your boss, Harry."

Harry stood up. "Well you're my…"

Ginny frowned, moving over to him. "I'm your what?"

Harry hesitated and looked down at his feet. "My best friend's younger sister," he muttered.

Ginny shook her head, somehow wishing he had said something else.

"You're unbelievable," she muttered, pushing past him.

Harry turned to watch her go. "What do you want, Ginny? What do you want from me?"

She whirled around, her eyes blazing. "Try, Harry! I want you to try!" she shouted. She looked around for the words to say, her heart racing as she struggled to control her emotions. "I want you to… kiss me like you did that night by the fountain. I want you to hold me like you used to! I want you to tell me that you care and that you love me! I want you to do anything except what you're doing right now!"

Harry froze after hearing her speak. Ginny watched him try to handle what she had just said and could feel the tears coming to her eyes.

"You said it yourself, Harry. It's not fair… It's not fair that I have to be forced to live with your decision."

"Ginny-"

"Forget what I said six years ago! Damn it, Harry! Stop thinking rationally for once! Stop thinking about the risks! Forget the fact that you happen to be the most wanted man in the Death Eater world! Forget everything that's happening around us and make a choice!" she screamed, handing him her ultimatum. It was now or never. She couldn't keep waiting.

He stared at her for what seemed like forever and Ginny could feel her heart break again. She wiped her eyes and sniffed.

"Goodbye, Harry," she whispered before turning around.

Harry reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her to him and letting their lips meet heatedly. At first Ginny tensed up at the sudden action, but she then relaxed, sighing into his mouth and clinging to his shirt as they kissed. She found it hard to think as he deepened the kiss, his tongue prodding hers gently. She wanted to get lost in him again, but beneath the bursting passion, she was afraid that he might back out. She was afraid he might use the same stupid excuse he had used six years ago and leave her hanging there, helplessly broken and hopelessly lost.

When they pulled away to breathe, Harry held her face, kissing her face as he struggled to think through everything.

"What about Hanton?" he asked.

Ginny shook her head. "Forget Hanton… Forget everything, Harry," she whispered.

Hermione sighed, breathing in the night air as they walked through a park near Hermione's flat. Ron held her hand as they strode closely, occasionally kissing her brow.

"Thanks for dinner, Ron," she whispered as they walked. "I was so busy today and I've been stressed all weekend. I really needed a break."

Ron smiled, looking down at her. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

Hermione looked up at him. "But you do know you didn't have to take me to that restaurant. The Three Broomsticks would have been fine," she commented.

Ron shrugged. "Well, I thought you could use something nice."

Hermione looked ahead, her heart fluttering at his thoughtfulness.

"Thank you, Ron," she mumbled as they stopped under a tree. Ron twirled Hermione around before pushing her back into a the tree, one of his hands splayed on the bark while the other went around her waist. She smiled up at him.

"My, my, where did you learn such moves?" she asked.

Ron leaned in and began kissing her neck as his hand rested on the small of her back. When he felt her shudder under his touch he couldn't help but pull away and grin.

"Cold?"

She looked up at him through glazed eyes. "No…"

Their lips met, both taking their time to savor the moment as a gentle breeze came through the trees and caressed their skin. As they kissed, Hermione felt Ron slip something velvety in her hand. Frowning, she pulled away.

"Ron, what is…" she drifted off when she saw the small black velvet box in her hand. Her heart stopped as she continued to stare at it, completely at a loss as to what to do.

Ron watched her stare and reached up, touching her face and forcing her to look at him.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered.

Hermione finally started breathing, her eyes watering as she looked back down at the box.

"Ron-"

He placed a finger on her lips, cutting her off before kneeling down before her. Hermione placed a hand on her mouth, her eyes going wide as Ron took her hand in his.

"We've been through a lot, Hermione and I couldn't have made it without you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he told her.

Suddenly tears started falling from her eyes and Ron smiled up at her.

"Hermione Jane Granger… will you marry me?"

Hermione broke out sobbing, motioning him to stand before throwing her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder; nodding.

"Yes! Yes!" she sobbed, holding him close.

Ron let out a whoop and swung her around, his heart soaring as she screamed to be let down. When he finally let her go, their lips met eagerly. He reached up and wiped her tears away as he kissed down her jaw and nipped at her soft skin, making her gasp.

"I love you, Ron," she cried into his shoulder as she held him.

Ron felt his chest constrict when he pulled away. He had never seen anything more beautiful than the way she looked now, her hair ruffled and tears running down her smiling face. He reached up and tucked a curl behind her ear and was amazed at how her eyes fluttered shut under his touch.

"Open the box," he whispered and her eyes popped back open.

She took a deep breath and looked down at the small box.

"Oh Ron!" she gasped when she opened it, taking the ring out of the box and holding it up to the light for a better look. It was a simply cut diamond with a platinum gold band which shimmered in the moonlight.

"It was my grandmother's," he whispered, watching her slide it on her finger slowly.

Her eyes widened and she looked up at him.

"Really?"

He nodded and she grinned, leaning up and kissing him fully.

"I love you, Ron."

A/N: I thought this was appropriate.

Idunn: I know what you're saying but the thing is, they knew they've got the main guy dead and the other one missing and not likely to appear anytime soon. They also know why she's having these nightmares, so there's actually nothing to look for anymore. Good analysis or whatever you call it. Great job!

Lisha: I won't make her suffer, but I might make Ron suffer. (wink, wink)

tefy: I know what you mean. Thank you.

mione-ron-4ever: You never know. Being married might make it worse if Hermione does lose her mind completely.

Coconut Girl: Fatalistic isn't always bad... Well, maybe it is, but it makes for a great story! I'm still so excited for you!

sballLuvr5: Well... anything can happen.

LitaFanForLife: I love my cliffies!

LunaSky: I apologize for not getting to this sooner. I'll explain at the end.

Wesker888: I'm sorry, but that last comment made me laugh. "Happy writing". I know it probably wasn't your intention, but you made me think of someone at a computer smiling the whole time. I don't do that. (Continues to smile) :-)

HerFathersJoy: Thank you.

charma10: How about this, you take Ron and I'll have Hugh Laurie. That way we both have hot, sexy British guys.

I must apologize. I was on vacation for a week with absolutely no way to download my documents on my computer. Sorry!