Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!

Authors Note: It's my birthday, be nice and leave a review (:

5. Fifth year

Ron stared at the wall in the Hospital wing feeling like he couldn't breathe, Sirius was dead. Sirius Black once believed mass murder was dead. Harry's godfather dead. The man who gave Harry hope was gone.

Ron wished he could have done more, maybe if he hadn't touched those damned brains and was coherent when it happened he could have done more to help Harry, maybe he could have had Harry's back so Sirius wouldn't need to have.

And now a man is dead.

Ron felt a lone tear go down his face, he hadn't seen Harry yet and wasn't sure he could face his best mate when he would be broken.

Harry was the leader, Ron was just the sidekick.

And he couldn't even do that right, he wasn't there, he should have been there with Harry fighting back to back.

Suddenly, Ron heard a rustling from Hermione's bed across from him and he almost sat up but something stopped him, and he just listened.

"Hermione," Harry's voice whispered, lowly but just loud enough for Ron to make it out, "Hermione, you awake?"

He heard the bed creak from where he was and assumed Harry had sat down.

"Harry?" Ron's heartbeat quickened, Hermione had only been awake for ten minutes since coming back to Hogwarts and in that time she learned about Sirius' death, she was quickly sedated by Madam Pompfrey.

"Hello, how're you feeling?" Harry's voice asked quietly.

Ron shivered he'd never Harry so…dead sounding.

"I-I'm doing alright. What about you? They t-told me, when I first woke up." Hermione's voice was shaky.

Harry was quiet for a long time before saying, "I destroyed the headmaster's office."

Ron had to bite his hand from yelling out in surprise as Hermione gasped, Ron could imagine her putting her hand over her mouth, "Harry!"

Harry laughed bitterly, "Yeah, I broke some of his things."

"Oh, Harry." Hermione sighed, "Come here."

He couldn't see them really because he was on his side but from the very corner of his eyes he saw Harry lay down next to Hermione and put his head on her shoulder, Ron felt like his heart was going to burst into flames.

"There was a lot of stuff he didn't tell me." Harry said his voice was slightly muffled. "I feel like everything's been a lie, ya know? He should have told me everything earlier and maybe Sirius would still be here, with me"

Ron could hear Harry make a sound that he's only heard from his friend once before: a sob.

"Oh, Harry, going to the Ministry was not a mistake we made sure V-Voldemort didn't get his hands on the prophecy, and Sirius knew what he was doing, and Harry I think if I know Sirius he felt more alive that night than in ages."

As Harry cried into Hermione's shoulder Ron resisted the urge to go over and comfort Harry but he knew that would just embarrass him.

Finally the sobs turned into sniffles, "You feel better?"

Harry must've nodded for he started to talk quietly again, "Is Ron alright?"

And Ron had to admit is the jealousy in his heart lessened hearing how concerned Harry sounded as he asked about my health.

"Yes, I'm sure he's fine. I think Madam Pompfrey said he would just stay overnight for observation." Hermione's voice sounded fond as Ron knew they were staring at him

"Good, I feel bad I shouldn't have gotten you lot mixed up into this." Harry said sadly.

Hermione in turn sounded annoyed, "Harry, we're part of this whether you like it or not, me and Ron especially, we've been with you since the beginning and we will stay with you till the very end."

It was quiet again, "Thanks, Hermione."

"You're Welcome, Harry."

Ron listened as Harry cleared his throat, "I'm surprised Madam Pompfrey hasn't come in here and chased me away for waking you up and sneaking out of my dorm after hours."

"I think she knows you're here but somebody told her to let you stay." Her voice was quiet, controlled like she was speaking carefully.

"I don't need any favors from him." Harry's voice sounded harsh and that took Ron by surprise, Harry was never harsh.

"Harry," Hermione started quietly, "why won't you say Dumbledore's name? You are even saying Sirius' name even though it's killing you."

Ron was happy she asked that because it occurred to him as well that Harry wouldn't say the professors name, not that Ron blamed Harry the guy had ignored him all year (which was really weird because everybody knows Harry's like his favorite student ever).

Harry's voice was angry when he spoke, "I have never been so angry or upset than I am now with somebody like I am with…Dumbledore."

"Why, though I mean I know he wasn't speaking with you this year even though it's been terrible, but what did he say that made you so angry? Did he tell you why he hasn't spoken with you this year?" Hermione asked quickly.

Harry gave a long sigh, "He said that he couldn't speak or look at me because he was afraid Voldemort would look through me into him if I was alone with him and get information concerning the Order."

Hermione gasped, "That never even occurred to me, I can't believe I didn't think of that! And if Voldemort knows you guys are closer than student and teacher, then that could have been disastrous."

"He said that, too." Harry muttered, "Are we closer than pupil and headmaster?"

Hermione's voice sounded compassionate and soft and Ron wondered if she'd ever speak like that to him, "Of course you are Harry, don't deny that he's like a grandfather to you and your mentor. You and I both know you won't be mad at him for long, you care too much."

He heard Harry snort and he wondered if him and Hermione were missing something.

Hermione yawned and Harry said quietly, "Go to sleep."

"No, we aren't d-done talking." Hermione murmured through a yawn.

"Go to sleep, Hermione. We have all the time in the world." As Hermione murmured something Ron couldn't help but notice how Harry's voice caught while saying his last words.

And as Ron drifted off into a troubled sleep he felt like maybe we really didn't have all the time in the world.

The next morning Ron awoke to voices speaking lowly by the door, and as he sat up and stretched he realized that it was Dumbledore and Madam Pompfrey.

They looked up as He moved a bit and both made their way towards him which made him nervous, Ron never spoke to Dumbledore without Harry around before.

"Good Morning, Mr. Weasley, how are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked quietly as Madam Pompfrey changed the bandages around his wrists.

"G'Morning, sir. I'm fine, thanks." Ron said just as quietly.

Dumbledore clasped his hands behind him, and glanced across the room towards Hermione's bed.

When Ron looked it felt like he had just been kicked in the stomach, there wrapped around each other were Harry and Hermione both sleeping, pushing the jealousy away for later Ron groaned and looked heaven ward, "Idiot!"

Dumbledore turned towards him eyebrow raised, he didn't look angry because his eyes were twinkling, "I'm sorry?"

"Oh, er not you sir, it's just Harry." Ron said lamely, he couldn't believe the prat forgot to leave, Ron hoped he wouldn't get into trouble (even though the chances of him getting in trouble with Dumbledore were slim to none) for staying the night.

Dumbledore turned back to look at the couple fondly, "I am happy to see that he is sleeping, I am afraid though it won't always be this easy, he was simply exhausted."

"Yeah he was." Ron looked at his lap before looking at the sad looking man near his bed, "Sir? Will he be ok? Harry, I mean. Do you reckon' he'll be alright?"

Dumbledore looked at Ron intently like he was reading his mind, Ron wondered how Harry could stand that all the time being x-rayed, and right then he could have sworn Dumbledore's mouth twitched.

"I think with time, Mr. Potter will be alright but he will need you, Ronald. He will need both you and Ms. Granger to fight what is to come. Now I bid you good day, Mr. Weasley, I don't believe it would be wise for Harry to awake and I be here." Dumbledore nodded to Ron and just as reached the doors Ron heard him say to Pompfrey, "They make a lovely couple, don't they Poppy?"

"Yes, indeed they do, Albus indeed they do."

And when Madam Pompfrey asked the red head how he felt Ron responded he was fine but really he was dying inside.