Sorry this took so long, and please pardon the somewhat chaos order. Hopefully I edited enough to make sense, but if any dates are out of line, just remember...they are preparing for the final battle. Please r/r! And thank you once again for your reviews. Thoughts are welcome, as I am NOT good at writing battle scenes.

Chapter 20: Resolving and Preparing

The next day the hall was abuzz as usual. As Ron entered the hall a smile was on his face as he saw Hermione already sitting, eating her breakfast while reading the Daily Prophet. Ginny and Harry still had yet to appear, and he took in a deep breath before approaching the table.

Hermione didn't look up as she felt someone sit beside her. She figured it was likely Ginny or Harry, more likely the latter considering the sounds of it.

"Morning, Mione."

Hermione nearly gasped as the paper fluttered to the table and onto her breakfast. She looked to her left and saw Ron sitting beside her.

He smiled at her. "Anything of interest in that old relic of a newspaper?"

Hermione smiled meekly back. "Just a few mishaps at the Ministry. They still don't seem to grasp that war is coming."

The smiles dropped from both their faces as the thought hit them both. Each knew that the war was indeed coming, or rather, it had already started. But was the final battle already upon them?

A voice broke their thoughts. "Hermione? Ron?" It was Luna. She leaned down to whisper. "I just needed to tell you that Draco wants to speak with you both after classes, well, actually after dinner, in the Head's common room. He said to bring Harry, too."

Hermione frowned. She knew this couldn't be good. Draco had been called away the night before from their shared dorms by Professor Snape. She hadn't seen him since, and from the looks of it, he hadn't returned last night or this morning.

They both nodded as Luna slipped away to rejoin her fellow Ravenclaws.

Later that day when Ron had finished his classes he slipped away from the castle and went into the Forbidden Forest where he knew Aumon was waiting for him. It was part of his own specialized training, to meet with the centaur three times a week. The centaur herd had their own secrets, and their own ways to battle the enemy. Aumon was teaching Ron things most of the magic human population had long forgotten.

Aumon had been delighted to find that Ron was a quick learner in battle skills, especially with a bow. He was preparing to give the young lad special arrows that had tips tainted with ancient magic, and could bring down some enemies faster than casting spells toward one at a time. If they hit a non fatal area, the poison would seep into the blood stream and cause temporary paralysis. If they hit a fatal area, then death would come as quickly as the killing curse.

"Something has changed in you, young Ron." Aumon said when the boy finally appeared through the thicket.

Knowing Aumon would respect only the truth, Ron replied "Harry and I are on much better terms, and I think Hermione and I as well."

Aumon smiled. "That is very good indeed. No matter your decision, no matter where your heart leads you or the choices you must make, you must come to terms with what you feel deep inside."

Ron nodded. Of course, he did not know how much Aumon knew.

"All right, son, here is what we shall do for today." Aumon circled around Ron slowly, as if waiting or further thinking where their training would take them this day.

Aumon stopped just beside Ron. He whispered an incantation and soon his form turned ghost like into the image of a young woman. It was Hermione. Or was it supposed to be Maria? Ron had to shake his head to let the image form itself in front of him. Hermione.

"You are in battle. This young woman is beside you. I do not know who it is you see, but there will be a curse sent her way. What do you do?"

Ron growled. He wanted to walk away from this. But in his heart, he knew what he would do.

Later that night the trio, who were now back on better terms with each other, entered the Heads Common Area together. Draco was waiting, as was Professor Snape and Dumbledore.

Once the door was locked and warded behind them, Draco started. "I was summoned last night."

Snape then took over. "The Dark Lord is convinced he will be able to lure Mr. Potter here to an unknown location quite soon. He has yet to tell us how or when," He winced inside, unable to share the exact details he already knew, "but we do know that Draco will be involved and will be the one to summon everyone. You must be prepared, so no time for fun, this is serious."

"How soon can we expect this to happen?" Hermione asked.

Snape looked at her seriously. "You should be ready at any time."

The revised members of the DA and Hermione kept busy with their schedules over the next week, preparing for the final day, as if it were about to occur. Of course, only Harry knew the exact truth and it was killing him. He had been allowed, of course, to tell only Ron and Hermione that the day was quickly approaching.

Ron kept his regular meeting with Aumon. In fact, they were his favorite. There was hardly any magic needed, mostly skill and careful planning. Aumon continued to be delighted with the young lad's progress. On Monday before the big day, the centaur asked Ron about his thoughts on Hermione and Maria.

Ron had been battling for over an hour and was drenched in sweat. He sat down on a log to catch his breath. "I think I know the answer, but it's like my heart is keeping it secret. It's still…difficult with Hermione. I mean, we hang around Harry enough so that I see her but I haven't really talked to her. Not in the way we did before…"

Flashback

They were walking around the lake one day, a couple of weeks after the holidays. His hand was wrapped around her small delicate one, and everything seemed perfect and peaceful.

"Ron, do you still want to become an auror?" She asked. He had told her his long ago dream of becoming one after school let out.

"I don't know, Mione. There's just so many things I want to do…play quidditch, join my brother's business, or maybe even find one of my own. I never really thought I could do much, but sometimes I just lie in bed at night wondering what kinds of things the world really has to offer."

"Oh, Ron! That's wonderful!" Hermione beamed at him. They stopped and sat on a log near the lake, far from the castle.

"And what about you? Thinking of becoming the youngest Minister, er, Ministress?...of Magic?

Hermione laughed playfully. "I guess my first priority is to see how I do on NEWT's."

"You'll probably make the highest score since Dumbledore."

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm not that smart."

"Yes you are. You could do anything. You just have to pick something. Me? I have to first figure out what I'm actually good at."

"I think you have more options than you think, Mr. Weasley."

Ron blushed, then turned and kissed her deeply. "As long as I have you by my side, I might just believe that."

They kissed for awhile, forgetting themselves in a world of chaos.

End Flashback

Ron shook his head from his thoughts and found Aumon smirking at him. Then they continued the lesson.

AN: Oops! I almost made Aumon into Ernand! Slip of typing.

It was now Tuesday, and Harry was nearly going mad at the thought that the final battle was only a few days away. But what if it wasn't? He wanted to desperately to talk to someone about it…someone like Hermione or Ron, or even Ginny. But he had sworn he wouldn't tell them. As he thought about it, he realized how much it must have tortured Hermione not to tell him or Ron that she was Maria, although the circumstances were different, but still…Dumbledore had been involved.

He trusted Dumbledore…perhaps more than anyone in the sense that he was more wise and experienced than his closest friends. There was a reason Hermione couldn't tell them. A reason why he couldn't tell his friends they would be fighting for their lives by the end of the week. He groaned. Valentine's Day was on Saturday. Who would live to give pleasant gifts to their sweethearts?

Meanwhile Hermione was studying in the library before she had to go and meet Charlie. She heard the footsteps behind. Not male, no, definitely female by the sound, she thought to herself. Thinking it must be Ginny or Parvati, she turned around. It was Lavender, and the girl was shaking.

"It's coming, isn't it?" The girl whispered as she trembled.

Hermione nudged the chair next to her, inviting the girl to sit down. She looked around. No one else was about.

"We'll be fighting soon, won't we." The blonde girl stated it as if a fact.

Hermione nodded. "I believe so."

"I've been such a bitch to you." Lavender murmured.

"No, you've been growing up. Apparently more so given recent events."

Lavender lifted her head to look the Head Girl in the eye. "I realized it last week. When the DA started again, Parvati urged me to go. I didn't want to, so she's been teaching me new spells and the like."

"I don't know much more, but it's good that you have been preparing yourself." She had noticed how Parvati and Lavender had been spending more time together again.

"And you? The lot of you keep disappearing all the time. They're teaching you, training you, aren't they?"

Hermione nodded. Despite her dislike for the girl, she knew Lavender wasn't on the Dark Side.

"I really wanted him, you know."

She didn't need to say Ron's name aloud.

"Perhaps you do not know yet what you truly want. So you made it up, your ideal. I'm not entirely sure what I want, either, it comes with time."

Lavender nodded. "I know. I think I realized that after he rejected me again. You know, the night after your big fight. I tried…well, it doesn't matter now. He told me he's still in love with you."

Hermione arched her brow. He did? When? She wondered if he'd shared that with anyone…or if he still felt that way. At least they were somewhat talking now. Only just in pleasantries.

"I had a vision you know." Lavender continued. "Not the Divinations sort…just about what we're facing. We'll be fighting on the same side. I…I just can't do that without making some type of peace with you. And Ron." She added the last part quietly. "And I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do after Hogwarts. How I don't want to mess it up."

"And what do you want to do?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Perhaps become a teacher. I've been tutoring the younger students in Divinations for the last couple of years, and I enjoy it. Or maybe a therapist; I enjoy helping people, I guess. I know I'm not good at it in my personal life, but I guess with strangers it's different."

Hermione nodded. "That makes sense, I suppose. Sometimes I think I want to be an Unspeakable, sometimes a Healer. And then I think perhaps somewhere in the wizarding business world so I can be an activist in my spare time, building a network to support my causes."

Hermione paused. She couldn't believe she had just shared all of that, and with Lavender of all people.

"Well, I don't want to keep you. Hermione…thank you." Lavender said as she got up and left.

Little did they know that they were being watched. Of course, Ron couldn't hear what the two girls were saying, but he had a feeling that something had been resolved. He had passed the library on his way to his next training session, and couldn't help but want to see if Hermione was in there. Not to talk with her, he wasn't ready for that. Just to see her.

He had been more than surprised to see whom she was talking with. He waited until Lavender was well gone and Hermione completely immersed in her studies before leaving. Ron continued on his way, somehow knowing that the conversation between the girls didn't mean trouble for him.

Tension was building in the hallways, in the room, and in all the houses during the past couple of days. Students knew something was coming. Word had gotten around, and many of the students eyed each other suspiciously (especially to the Slytherins) as if wondering what side they were on. Of course, some new that those from deatheater families hadn't returned after the holidays. Others didn't care; they simply did not trust anyone in that house. Owl communication had been stopped, to prevent any messages sent to the outside world.

Magical items had been confiscated, Snape was particularly attentive and in charge of all efforts. Since the students seemed to know something was going on anyway, he used every power within him to collect hidden items that students felt they couldn't depart from, or didn't want found. He was successful in every attempt.

And those many items collected were now hidden in a special vault, in a building outside the castle, guarded by Fluffy on the inside, and Buckbeak and mate on the outside. New traps were set so that even Harry and his clever and scheming friends couldn't break them if they tried.

Harry certainly had his number of followers; students asking questions, or just wanting to be near the expected hero. He found himself constantly trying to get away, and would have to resort to more sneaky tactics just to get to his trainings so that no one would figure out what was going on, even if some of the sessions were now getting out into the gossip circle.

Hermione was exhausted, between her studies, her training, and keeping up with Harry and Ginny as well as the DA members and the Order. And then there was her duties as Head Girl, but Draco had been helping out with that part a lot, as had Luna. They each also trained, but not as much as the others so they were given more free time. Even the Patil sisters helped, as did Neville and Dean (who was now dating Padma).

And then there was Ron. He still hadn't come to any conclusions, but somehow he knew his heart held the answer to his dilemma and Aumon seemed to be dropping hints here and there. Very subtle hints, mind you readers. He couldn't give the boy anything concrete; Dumbledore had forbidden it.

He would watch Hermione at times. When she was in the library, during meals, and would sneak glances during classes. He couldn't help it, whether or not he was truly in love with the girl.

With everything closed off from the outside world, Dumbledore announced the cancellation of classes for Thursday and Friday. For once in history the students were not truly relived, for it only meant confirmation of what they had been fearing the last week.

Even Ron wished they were holding classes and the scheduled exams for his Herbology and Potions class. Or looking forward to the scheduled quidditch game between Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Draco would have caught the snitch, of course, but Hufflepuff was extraordinarily good at scoring and could easily win if the snitch was caught too late in the game.

Speaking of Ron, he couldn't help but recall the interesting conversation he'd had with Lavender the other day.

Flashback

"Ron, can I speak with you a moment?" She had asked him in the Common Room when he was watching Dean and Seamus play a game of Exploding Snap.

"Sure." He said hesitantly, earning him a wink from Dean. He knew it was a joke, but still gave his mate a frown.

"What did you want?" He asked once they were alone.

"I just wanted to say I am sorry. I'm sorry for trying to get between you and Hermione."

"Lav, you know…"

"I know well enough what's been going on. But remember, you told me you were still in love with her. Whatever happened, you need to remember that."

Ron couldn't believe his ears. Lavender of all people was telling him this? When Harry and Ginny had backed off of the subject?

"You just need to find the right moment to talk with her. Remember, tomorrow…or whenever…just might be too late." She started to walk away.

"Wait!" He called out to her.

She looked back at him in surprise, but was even more surprised when he embraced her warmly.

"I'm sorry, Lavender. I'm sorry I hurt you."

She choked back a tear. "Thank you. I really thought I was in love with you. I know better now."

And then she left him alone to think about what she had said.

End Flashback

Next chapter already started...hopefully coming soon!