He had asked her to dance, and she had accepted. It seemed like everything was falling into place for him at his brother's wedding, unlike the Yule Ball.

She gave him her hand, and he led her out to the dance floor. She put her arms around his neck right away. Evidently, standing in the middle of the dance floor awkwardly was not how she wanted to spend time with him. Ron was glad she had made the first move.

They were able to catch the feel of the music and began to sway like the rest of the couples. Finally, Hermione spoke up. "There are better ways to get me away from Viktor, by the way."

Ron heard the smile in her voice, even though she didn't show it. He felt his ears burning. She knew.

"Really? Name one then."

Hermione pretended to be thinking hard. "Mmm…no, I think you'll have to find out one for yourself."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "Really? I won't push the subject then."

"You won't, will you? That's a surprise." Hermione gave him that smile that told him it was only for him. She looked distracted however, like she was talking to him, but her mind was completely somewhere else.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" he asked, tightening his grip on her waist so she looked him in the eyes.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

Ron gave her a knowing look. "Hermione, you can't possibly tell me there's nothing wrong when I've known you for six years and I know exactly when you're lying. Now what's really wrong?"

Hermione looked down at their feet. "I can't believe what we're getting into. It didn't hit me until a few days ago when we ran into all those Death Eaters, but… we could all be killed."

Ron was silent for a few moments. He swallowed and pulled her closer, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Hermione, we've been risking our lives since we were eleven. I would think you would be used to it by now."

Hermione's eyes shot up to meet his and it was as if lightning flashed through them. Wrong way to go. "Ron, that's not funny! I can't believe you're not worried about what could happen! I'm terrified of what we're getting into, because Voldemort could actually win! Despite all the people we have on our side, he has just as many Death Eaters, and…and…"

Tears were swimming in her eyes, and she had dropped her arms from his neck. They stood in the middle of the dance floor, Ron's mouth gaping at her sudden outburst, and Hermione staring him down like an angry enemy. Finally, Hermione turned to leave but before she could, Ron caught her hand and refused to let go.

"Please don't go, Hermione," he said. "I'm sorry, alright? I just was trying to make you feel better. I know what were getting into and I'm…I'm scared too. But we have to do it for Harry, don't we?"

Hermione spun her head back around to face him, angry tears threatening to fall. After staring at him for enough amount of time to make him uncomfortable, she finally sighed, and Ron felt her whole body go limp as she fell into him. She wrapped her arms around him as he hugged her tightly to his chest. "Everything's going to turn out fine, Hermione." Ron whispered into her hair. "I made you a promise."

This seemed to stir a realization in Hermione's mind; she lifted her head off his chest and looked into his eyes, her face slightly tearstained. "I know you did. But it's not about me anymore. I need you to promise me something else now." She grabbed one of his hands and put her other hand on his shoulder so they were in a dancing position again. "I need you to promise that you won't let yourself get killed, even if that means that my own life is at risk."

Ron shook his head right away. "Hermione, I can't promise you that –"

"Why?" she interrupted. She looked angry again, but her eyes were locked on his, and she made no move to run away again.

Ron looked down. "Because…your life will always come before mine in my head."

Hermione looked as if she was trying to act angry, but she was clearly touched. She licked her lips and squeezed his hand. "You're definitely a Gryffindor, Ron. And you may not know it or even believe it, but you're just as brave as Harry." She looked seriously into his eyes. "I know you get judged by others because you're Harry's best friend, and I know you don't always feel self-confident because of Harry, but I want you to know that I see so much more in you than other people."

Hermione swallowed, and Ron was stunned. He never thought than he would ever meet someone who could see through to him so easily. Hermione went on, ignoring his amazed look. "You drive me mad and half the time I'd like nothing more than to throw something heavy at you, but the other half, you're brave and sweet and in my eyes, you're just as much of a hero as Harry. And that's one of the reasons you're my best friend. Because you're willing to put your life before anyone else's."

Hermione smiled at him, and Ron couldn't help but to grin back. He had never met anyone quite like Hermione Granger. He had always been so overshadowed by his brothers and Harry, and even Hermione, but he had never heard anyone basically say that he was more special than Harry Potter.

"You're amazing, Hermione," he told her. "Anyway, you think Harry would like hearing what you just said?"

Hermione blushed. "I think he would agree. You're not a failure Ron, and I know sometimes you think you are."

They were silent for a few moments, Ron momentarily stunned.

"Well," Ron said. "I still can't make that promise to you, Hermione."

Hermione looked exasperated. "Please, Ron –"

"I can't – just let me say something, alright? I can't put myself first, it's just who I am – and you're -" Ron gave a frustrated sigh, angry that he couldn't get out what he wanted to say to her. "I'm not strong enough, and I'm not anything you just said – and I can't lose you!" Ron sighed and looked at Hermione, who looked confused. "I'm not strong enough to be able to lose you."

Hermione looked like she understood a little better. She took a hand off his shoulder and cupped his face into it to make him face her. "Ron, if you know me enough, you know that I could never handle it if I lost you."

Ron swallowed, knowing that in some part of his brain, he knew this was true. He put a hand on her wrist, which was still on his face.

"But I can take care of myself. I just want you to have the longest life you can."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "I'm not making the promise," he said stubbornly. "But I can make you another one."

"What?"

Ron took a breath. "I'll promise you that I'll try as hard as possible to avoid dying or getting hurt."

Hermione squeezed his hand. She didn't look very happy, but she agreed. "Alright. I know you'll just being yourself. I know that if you weren't trying to protect me, you wouldn't be Ron."

Ron grinned and squeezed her hand back. "Thanks for sparing me more argument."

Hermione smiled back just as a new song started, a much more upbeat song than the last three songs. "C'mon," Ron said. "Let's have some fun. It'll probably be the last time we do for a while."

Hermione agreed, and they both started dancing faster than before. Ron took her hand and twirled her a few times, just as he had watched at the Yule Ball a few years ago. Hermione started laughing, which made him grin.

After five more songs, Ron told Hermione to find Harry and he would find some butterbeers. As they parted, Ron decided he had had more fun in that half hour with Hermione than he had had in six years.