A/N: The chapter title says it all. We are almost at the end of their sixth year and something major is going to change in the next chapter. I hope you all understand that because this story roughly follows the canon timeline, certain portions have to be weaved in to close the logic loops of the story. At times these very portions are making it difficult for me to write a more faster paced chapter.

All Characters, props and places mentioned in the story are JKR's.

Chapter 32: Almost But Not Yet

"YOU USED SCETUMSEMPRA ON DRACO?!"

If he was not so morose after seeing the effect of the Prince's seemingly harmless spell on Malfoy, or the subsequent detentions Snape had handed him, Harry would have perhaps found Hermione's expressions hilarious, but that was not the case. He looked away sheepishly from her and glanced at Ron instead. The redhead seemed to have taken the news rather casually, and appeared to be more annoyed with their female friend and her outburst rather than at Harry.

"I... well... I had no clue what it would do." Harry replied ruefully.

"That's even worse! You used an untried curse on Draco! You could have killed him, Harry!" He noticed she had collapsed back on the couch but had not run out of steam as she looked at him with a varied set of emotions playing on her face.

"Would you prefer that Harry was the one wounded, or killed perhaps? That ferret didn't die, though, did he? "

Harry turned around to his best mate, thankful for the support and noticed Ron had turned away and was busy flicking the base of his sneakers with the tip of a broken quill. For some strange reason, he sounded genuinely upset.

Hermione glanced at the taller boy and seemed to breathe in a few times before speaking in an unnaturally calm voice.

"No, I am certainly relieved that Harry is safe but Draco really could have died." She said looking directly at Ron who did not bother to look at her and after a while, she turned towards Harry instead, "Sectumsempra is a dark curse, Harry. I don't know who invented it but I can tell you that it is quite popular with the Death Eaters."

"So, are you worried about Harry using a dark curse or is it because the target was dear old 'Draco'?" Harry turned in surprise at his best mate who had finally looked up and was eying the witch with some kind of a blatant challenge. He noticed she furrowed her brows in confusion before straightening her back, and when she spoke a fire seemed to emit from her eyes.

"I am concerned about Harry, Ron. This could have led to him being expelled." She retorted back icily, and Harry realised that with these two, he could never quite know what was to come next.

Sometimes they would be all nice and shy and seemed to get along fine. But then out of the blue, either or both would flare up, and breathed fire like angry dragons. Honestly, he had no clue how he would survive with these two volatile and temperamental humans, who seemed to be just as likely to die for each other as they were to be the ones to kill each other off.

Somehow the news of a massive showdown with his arch-nemesis had turned into a glaring contest between his two friends. Harry knew Ron hated Draco, and honestly, their bad history was reason enough. But he wasn't aware that the hatred ran deep enough for Ron to wish the Slytherin dead, even if it was at Harry's hands.

"Well... that was stupid of me, really Hermione," He said quickly to pacify one of the two. "You were right. I shouldn't have. It was just that it was the first spell that popped up in my head at that moment." He replied earnestly and she quit her glaring game with Ron to turn at him, eyes softening ever so slightly.

"What happened to the book?" she asked pointedly, completely ignoring the taller Gryffindor, who was still huffing in the background for some reason.

"I had to get rid of it." He replied morosely.

Harry wasn't too eager to tell her about hiding it in the Room of Hidden Things. He hoped he would be able to locate the place correctly with that ugly bust with the wig and the tiara that he had stuck on its head. Harry didn't tell her, but he had every intention to retrieve it back once he was sure Snape was off his trail. The Potion master had known about it, he was sure of it.

"And how did you do that?" she inquired suspiciously.

"I hid it away," He replied in an offhanded manner wishing for Ron to intervene and draw the conversation elsewhere which, surprisingly, the ginger did.

"If you can stop bothering about Draco dearest, can we please go back to the work at hand?" the taller boy asked pointing to the enormous number of books they were currently researching. "I need to get out of this place, I need a break," he added grimly as an afterthought.

They were listing out a set of useful spell that Hermione had insisted they practice. It had been that way from the time they had returned back from their Easter Holidays. For reasons unknown to Harry, ever since their return, the brunette had poured herself in preparation. She had made them issue NEWT level books for defence and duelling spells apart from researching protective charms and enchantments. For herself, she had set up a goal to learn more about healing magic which she was absolutely sure would come in handy. And that wasn't all. She insisted on them learning and practicing these newfound spells on a regular basis.

Hermione appeared to be rigorously preparing for the upcoming war, and while that was actually true and very appropriate, it made him extremely edgy all the time. There were times when he wished he had a normal life. He wished he would have the option of being worried about just the simple things in life, getting the girl he hopelessly fancied, Quidditch and perhaps a little about the upcoming exams. However, Hermione's strict schedule had ensured that there was no chance of him getting lost in a wishful bubble of ignorance he so craved.

But still, despite everything, Harry was thankful for her presence and could see why Dumbledore had wanted her as an ally. Hermione was exceptionally resourceful and gave a proper direction to his and Ron's rather wayward ways. She was extremely focused and ensured they were too, at times nagging till he obliged just to make her stop.

As days had passed, Hermione's silent demure, which he assumed was the result of an awful start with Ron and the unexpected loss of her family, had given way to reveal her true personality. She was awfully bossy and was making the boys work harder than they ever had. While it was all for the good, it was also tiring because neither did they have her exceptional intellect nor were they stuck inside a chamber devoid of other duties and tasks; Harry as his Team Captain and Ron as a Prefect. Their exams were also round the corner which meant they were practically half dead by the time they were done with most of the things on their schedule every night. This new change or rather a reversion of her personality had also caused another hiccup. While earlier they were keen to keep their mutual attraction under wraps and were tiptoeing around each other, the work pressure now meant that both Ron and Hermione were back to being their normal selves and bickered constantly. Almost every other night, Harry was sure Ron grumbled under his breath that he was not going back to her chamber to follow her instructions anymore. However, every night the tall freckled young man was the first to get to their practice sessions.

As he looked at the couple sitting sprawled on the floor, who had gone back to their task with a definite sense of tension between them, he realized that most of Hermione's stubbornness stemmed from a fear. This world was new to her. While he and Ron had been dealing with Voldemort for years, it was the first time for her when learning magic was more than about getting the perfect score. It was a struggle to stay alive now, a fight with an evil, the depth of which she knew from personal experience. He also knew that she was irked on having lost the chance to ask Dumbledore a million questions she had regarding the Horcruxes. The headmaster had cancelled his appointment with her the second time and eventually her Apparition lessons had been taken by Professor McGonagall. Even Harry hadn't received a single session with his mentor since the time the old wizard had promised him that he would be a part of the next Horcrux hunt when it was found. He looked at the timepiece and let out a small groan.

"I'll see you guys later, I've got the detention with Snape," He grumbled waiting for Hermione to come back with a remark how it was his own fault. Thankfully, however, she shook her head and sighed softly. It was no secret that, handing a detention to a Gryffindor was Snape's personal equivalent of Christmas, more so when the said Gryffindor was Harry. Ron gave him a comforting pat on the back and mouthed 'Later' as the bespectacled boy lifted himself up from the comfortable couch and dragged himself for a long session of humiliation.

...

The door behind Harry had barely closed when Hermione dropped her quill and turned towards Ron.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked irritated.

Over the days, she had become much more comfortable around him although every now and then, his gaze caused her to fumble for words. Yes, he still made her nervous, but not today. At times, she could not decide if she knew him at all. One day he would be caring and comforting, helping her deal with her deepest fears and then all of a sudden he would flair up for no apparent reason. She paid no attention to their bickering because it eased the tension between them and she knew Ron felt the same about their harmless banter. But his comment from earlier was different. It was said to hurt, both words and tone and she glared at him, unwilling to back down.

"Ron, answer me," She said more bravely than she felt as he continued pretending to concentrate on the book which she was sure he was not reading anyway. At her words, he shut the large volume with a loud snap, taking her by surprise.

"What do you want to know?" he asked glaring at her with uncontrolled rage and then suddenly looked away as if fighting some great inner turmoil.

"Ron you can't do this!" Her tone had mellowed down to a mixture of a complaint and frustration. "You can't come to me one day and assuage my fears about my true loyalties and question the same thing yourself the next day!" she said exasperatedly. To annoy her further, he continued to look away without bothering to answer.

Huffing audibly, she half crawled to sit directly in front of him.

"Tell me, and no, I am not taking your silence as an answer." He finally looked at her, and she was shocked by the pain that glinted in those blue irises.

"What is there between you and Malfoy? Last year, he asked you to play with my emotions and you did. Why?" The strength that had made her seek the confrontation lapsed at his words, and she literally moved back a few paces, looking away ashamed.

"Ron... I have told you I am sorry." She mumbled softly.

"Your apology is not what I am asking for." He retorted icily.

It was strange how he could make her nervous in an instant. She could feel his eyes on her face, and cursed herself for picking up this fight which would surely sever the normalcy they had established in their relationship. Biting her lower lip, and moistening them thereafter, she took a deep breath before speaking,

"He...He was a friend..." she said, her eyes downcast but then willed herself to look at his face, "I swear, I was more concerned about Harry getting expelled. Don't doubt me, please."

"Just a friend?" he asked sceptically, and suddenly something clicked in her head, and she blushed under his gaze.

"I-I am not engaged to him, Ron... Our parents wanted it, b-but it didn't happen." Well, it would have if her parents would have been alive for a little longer but he didn't need to know that. Her heart was doing mad flips inside her chest at the thought that, he, Ron Weasley was jealous about her assumed relationship with someone. A smile threatened to break out, and she looked away to hide it from him.

There were sounds of someone stumbling up, and she turned around to find his mask back in place.

"Never mind... It's not really my place to know, is it? I was just wondering if you feel any loyalty towards people who were earlier your close associates. It will be risky for all of us. I am sorry for snapping like that." He managed consciously. She could have groaned in frustration, and hence, chose not to comment.

"I am done for the day, Hermione... I'll see you tomorrow." He said hurriedly and left without further ado.

...

It was precisely two weeks from that day when Ron came in through his door and flopped down straight on the couch next to her without a word. Hermione, who was busy rereading the Secrets of the Darkest Arts, dropped it on the small table next to her and turned to him. Thankfully, they had managed to cover up for that uncomfortable incident by pretending that it never happened. She eyed him carefully while he gazed at the fire ahead.

"Congratulations for winning the Quidditch Cup," She said half-heartedly. Well, she might have changed sides, but house pride was not a thing of past yet.

"Harry kissed G-Ginny," He replied to her in a monotone as if still trying to process the information.

"What! Ah! Finally!" she gasped happily, and he turned to her, visibly surprised.

"You are not... upset?" he asked eying her in confusion.

"What?!" she asked taken aback. "Why will I be upset? I have seen them eyeing each other all through the holidays! I was waiting for either of them to do something about it ever since Ginny broke up with Dean after Easter." She said while he continued to look conflicted.

"How do you know about their breakup?"

"We have been writing to each other ever since we got back. We have a set of parchments that only the two of us can read." She explained. It was good to have a girl best friend, and Hermione, seeing that she would not be able to meet Ginny while at school, had had the ingenious idea the last day at Grimmauld Place.

"Oh..." he replied, and she watched him closely for the true reason, or perhaps reasons, for his distress.

"What is it, Ron?" She asked finally, as he leaned back, his long torso inclined on the couch, and longer legs extended on the rug in front of him.

"I don't know..." he muttered softly, "Harry is my best mate but..."

"Ginny is your little sister?"

"Yeah..."

She smiled to herself. Did he know how endearing she found him when he acted like a protective brother for Ginny?

"It's Harry, Ron," She told him softly.

"I know, Hermione." He breathed back, and with a sigh, lifted himself up only to collapse back on the floor while resting his back on the couch this time.

"It's Harry... He has a destiny to fulfil, an evil madman to defeat... His life is not so easy, not for him and neither for the people close to him..."

She could easily make out how conflicted he was, and perhaps a tad bit annoyed at himself too for questioning his friend's right to be happy.

"Do you think this will endanger Ginny?" she asked in a small voice, and he chose not to reply for a while. She sat curled up on the couch looking at his flaming hair and biting down the desire to run her fingers through them as he continued to gaze at the fire.

"I know, if anyone has the right to be happy it's Harry, but he can be a sacrificing git at times. I know she has fancied him for years... I don't want him to break her heart."

"You don't know that Ron... "

He blew out softly in exasperation.

"Even if we all survive the catastrophe that lies in front of us, and they are still together, people will assume she is a fortune hunter, enticing the Chosen One for name and fame." He said finally, and she was jolted with the words that hit close to home.

"Why would you say that? They really like each other!" she exclaimed, and he laughed mirthlessly at her words, but she continued. "You won't find a better guy for Ginny, Ron, and you know that. Harry really feels deeply for her."

"No one really cares about feelings, Granger," He said as he tilted his head sideways very slightly to meet her eyes, for once, allowing his mask to slide down.

"People see what they want to see." He added softly before turning away to continue gazing at the flames.

"For them, we, the penniless Weasleys, will be the fortune hunters who would have trapped the famous Harry Potter for his money and fame. I have heard that for years, I don't want Ginny to face it too." He finished while Hermione cringed at his confession. It hurt to think that even till a year back, she too was a part of these 'people'.

"People who know you, who know Ginny and your family will never say that, and as far as the others are concerned, I guess they are not worth paying attention to." She hoped that he would realise that she honestly believed what she said. He turned towards her once again and then nodding softly, released a deep sigh and closed his eyes.

Hermione didn't know what made her do it. Maybe the confessions which she was sure he had not shared with anyone or perhaps the pain that she had seen in his eyes earlier, but before she could comprehend her own actions, she had inched closer to him. She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder, feeling him twitch slightly at her touch. Even as he opened his eyes in surprise, she angled herself closer still and guided his head to her lap. She knew this was way beyond the line of their personal spaces, and every second she expected him to snap at her or move away. To her great astonishment and relief, he did neither, rather closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair in a gentle caress. She had never seen him as peaceful as he remained there with her fingers playing gently in his silky hair. Her heart was thudding madly in her chest asking her to bend and press her lips lightly onto his. Just an initiation from her end and she hoped Ron would take over from there. Wouldn't that be an easy way of telling him everything that she was struggling to keep inside her? For once she did not care for his reaction, he might break her heart but, at least, he would know... She was still lost in her own thoughts when he spoke up.

"Where is this going, Hermione?" he asked ever so softly. He opened his eyes, and as the mesmerizing blue met her own, she realised she had lost herself to him a little more.

"I don't know, Ron..." she managed to whisper back as her fingers stopped their ministrations but remained interlocked in his hair.

He continued to watch her, and eventually his eyes began taking in her face in what she could only describe as a loving manner before they stopped on her lips. Her whole body was aware of their proximity now, aware that she was giving herself to him wordlessly, and that he knew what was happening. A space of her heartbeat when she hoped and prayed that he would seal the deal, but that moment passed, and he moved away as if the very same proximity was tearing him apart.

"I shouldn't be doing this," He said in a rugged voice as he scooted further and Hermione could hardly cut out the whimper that escaped from her lips.

"Yes, you shouldn't be doing this," She whispered almost to herself, looking at her now vacant lap, and avoiding him altogether. She heard him coming closer and looked resolutely at her fingers to avoid him seeing the tears of frustration and resentment that clouded her vision.

Ron kneeled down in front of her, and his hands came up as if to lift her face up to meet his eyes but then he seemed to think better, and dropped them his to his sides instead.

"This will go nowhere, Hermione and you know it. There is nothing that this will give you." He managed slowly, painfully.

For whatever reasons, she neither replied nor met his eyes, and he continued in a scratchy voice. "We have to finish this assignment and then, hopefully, life will go back to where it was. You will be back where you truly belong and I, well..."

"And will that make you happy?" she asked, angrily wiping off her eyes with the back of her hand and meeting his pained and surprised eyes with her own.

"Sorry?"

"Will you be happy if life goes back to where it was before all of this, Ron? If we go back to where we were before all of this?" she asked grinding her teeth in annoyance at his stubbornness.

He fumbled for a minute as she held his gaze, and then, breathing slowly through his nose, he seemed to come to some kind of a resolution.

"Yes," he said softly, and Hermione could barely stop the anguish from displaying blandly on her face and in her eyes. Whether it bothered him or not was difficult to say. She wanted to say a lot of things, to argue, to plead but he had hurt her pride and heart with that one word, rendering her speechless.

"That is how it should be, Hermione, each one in their rightful place. I am sorry..." He said as he stood up without breaking her gaze, and without another word, went out of the door, looking every bit as defeated as she herself felt.

A/N: One of you had asked how Hermione has lost that fire she embodies. Well, she hasn't, and this chapter which was sketched out long ago, was an answer to that. However, I always assumed that the realization of truth, both about her parents' death and the challenges that lie in front of her now, would get to her in the beginning. As I have said, she is not a Gryffindor but a Slytherin and everything about the war is new and out of her comfort zone, which I imagined, would affect her to quite an extent.

Thanks to each one of you for reading.