This chapter focuses more on the Ron/Hermione side of this part of DH. Hope you like it!

I feel as though I am in a state of oblivion.

I feel immense physical pain that seems to radiate from every pore of my body, yet I cannot remember what has caused me this pain.

Something seriously unpleasant has happened, but I cannot put my finger on it.

The only pleasant thing I can register at this moment is a rhythmic movement of the slightest pressure, a very warm touch on the back of my hand.

I do not yet have the strength to open my eyes or make any sort of movement, so I let the warm feeling on my hand soothe me as I try to recall what has happened in my recent past.

I inhale slightly and smell Amortentia ever so subtly. That delicious scent of the love potion: of freshly mown grass, of new parchment…of Ron.

I smile slightly at the thought of Ron.

But then I remember everything that happened. I remember the snatchers and the Malfoy Manor and Bellatrix and Griphook and the Cruciatus curse and how I drifted into a quiet death, hoping that I would meet the love of my life in heaven.

I must be in heaven with Ron because I realize now that it is his touch on the back of my hand, rubbing soothing circles into my skin. I smile again.

"Hermione?" Ron must have noticed my smile. I feel a hand brush the bush of hair out of my face. I lean into his hand.

"Hermione are you awake? Are you alright?"

Yes I am, now that we are together.

But his voice sounds distressed so I open my eyes a bit to look at him. His eyes meet mine for one fraction of a second before he pulls me into a lung-crushing hug and kisses my forehead.

Ouch!

My joints hurt so badly and I realize that this cannot possibly be heaven. There is too much pain.

But I let him hold me and kiss my head and bury his face into my hair and I listen to his heart beat.

We are both still alive.

How the hell did we get out of that one?

I would be willing to wager my life that the Malfoys and Bellatrix did not pity us and let us go.

"So what happened?"

The last part actually came out of my mouth. But it was a mumble; a slur. I then registered that I had a large bandage wrapped around my neck and it was difficult for me to talk.

I am so confused.

Ron releases me but keeps hold of my hands as he looks into my eyes. I notice that his striking blue eyes are wet with tears.

"I thought…I thought you were…" he doesn't seem to be able to finish his sentence.

"I'll be fine," I coax him. "But Ron, how the hell did we get away? The last thing I remember before passing out was Wormtail going down to the cellar to check on you."

I sit up and look around the room. "And where are we anyway?"

"Easy," Ron chuckles, gently pushing me down on the bed. "We are safe. Harry and I attacked Wormtail when he came to the cellar and I stole his wand." He pulls out an unfamiliar wand, looking pleased with himself. "And we came upstairs, attacked the Malfoys and Dissapparated."

He looks rather smug. He has every right to be.

"Just like that?" I am astounded. I thought we were all goners.

"Well not exactly—"

Before Ron gets a chance to finish his sentence, Luna opens the door of the room that Ron and I currently occupy.

Wait, Luna?

She had been captured by the Death Eaters, but now apparently she is safe too.

"Luna!" I slur loudly as I try to sit up with my arms out. Luna understands. She walks over to me and gives me a hug.

When she lets go of me I take in her appearance. She doesn't look the way she did the last time I saw her. Her hair is unkempt, her skin is paler, her face is sunken in, and she sports several scratches and bruises.

"Fleur wanted to know how she was doing." Luna tells Ron, gesturing towards me.

Fleur? Why was Fleur here?

"I'll tell her that she woke up finally." Luna beams and skips out of the room.

Gotta love her.

I look at Ron questioningly, wishing for answers but he seems to need to just clam down for a moment. He crawls on the bed next to me and places his arm around my shoulders. He holds me hand with his free hand. I lean into him.

"Hermione," he begins. "When I walked up to the drawing room and I saw you lying there, unconscious, at Bellatrix' feet, I thought you were dead." His voice cracks at that last word. "I wanted to kneel down and die myself, but I had a flicker of hope that you hadn't left me yet and that we could still save you." His voice is shaking with sobs that he is trying to hide.

"I don't know what I would have done if we were too late." He says barely audibly.

"I care about you so much and I can't even imagine…" he didn't seem to be able to finish.

"I—"

"No, let me finish." I get cut off.

"I am so, so sorry that I left you and Harry. I was just jealous that you would defend him because I love you, Hermione. I have been in love with you for years now, and it hurt that you would pick my best friend over me."

"But—" I try once more.

"No." Ron interrupts again. "I just have to let you know that you mean the world to me and I was so depressed when I spent Christmas in this very room. I would have much rather been in that run-down old tent with you and Harry, practically starving."

So that is where we are, Bill and Fleur's house? Where Ron spent Christmas?

"But Harry is like a brother to me and if you love him, he deserves you and I will accept it some day." His voice sounds so sad.

It breaks my heart.

How could he think that I am in love with Harry? I have always loved Ron.

He is so delusional. What a git.

I sit there and marvel over Ron's ignorance for a few moments.

I hear a resigned sigh. Ron seems to have taken my silence for confirmation of that which he dreads most.

"Ron," I begin.

I feel him shift uncomfortably.

"I do love Harry." I hear a tiny sob escape from his lips.

I sit up to face him. His face is streaked with tears.

"He has been my best friend for nearly seven years." Ron does not meet my eyes, though I never look away from his."

"But Harry will never be more to me than a best friend, or a brother." Ron's eyes shift up to mine.

"I feel the same way about Harry as you do!" I say in exasperation.

"Harry was always the one comforting me when you were being an arse! Do you know why I even needed comforting when you were rude to me?"

He stares at me, not speaking.

"Because I am in love with you! That is why it hurts so much when you are mean to me. Harry is my best friend and he is the one that consoles me when you and I fight! It was always you, Ron. It has always been you. Even when I dated Viktor Krum, I wished it was you."

Ron breathes a sigh of relief and pulls me to him again. His hug is more intimate this time, if that is possible. And we sit like that for several minutes, or very possibly longer, until Dean and Luna walk in to the room.

When Dean sees what he has walked in on, he develops a very awkward facial expression. Luna just beams at us.

"I'm glad to see that you are okay, Hermione," Dean says. I smile at him.

"Err…Ron," Dean turns to him. "Harry has insisted on digging the grave the way muggles do, and I think I should go help him. The little guy did save my life after all. Care to come too?"

The grave?

"Of course. Good thinking, mate." Ron kisses my head and whispers "I will be back later," in my ear and then he sets off after Dean.

"The grave?" I whisper. I am afraid to ask.

Ron stops in his tracks, just before departing the room, but Luna puts a hand on his shoulder. "I'll explain," she says kindly. "You go help Harry."

Ron turns to face Luna, about to protest I am sure. But she gives him a meaningful look.

"I'll tell her everything." She repeats. "Don't worry about it. Your best friend needs you."

Ron looks once more at me.

"Go help Harry." I agree. If Harry wasn't truly preoccupied with something important, he would have been at my bedside with Ron.

Ron still looks reluctant but does as he is told.

There will be more shortly. Please tell me what you think!

Thanks again!