Hermione felt possessed, the blood pounding in her ears. It was as if her vision, all of her focus, had become tunneled to just one point. She knew exactly what she had to do now. And really, it was rather simple. Ron had always had an insecure spot when it came to Viktor. She could use that. It felt cruel for just one second, but she quickly brushed that away after considering the alternative. She could do this and save his life because of it. It would be the last thing she did on this Earth.

Upon uttering Viktor's name, Hermione heard Ginny give a low tsk of disapproval. That was fine. Ginny could not believe her all she wanted. Hermione only had to convince one person.

"Vi-Viktor?" Ron asked, his shoulders lowering a few inches. "But, he's gone, I saw it…"

"I know, that's why I didn't say anything earlier," Hermione replied, her mind working overtime. "But I don't think he's really gone. Georgiana disappeared from us when she was knocked out. She wasn't dead and I don't think they would have hurt her. Maybe the others were transported back to the start of all this."

Ron nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. Hermione could tell he was already trying to figure out what to do next.

"G-Ginny and I think we're close to the rest of the Sylvan Castle," Hermione continued. "If you go back, you can find Viktor and bring him here."

She said the last bit as if it was the most important thing in the world. Which, really, it was. As the truth of her circumstance had slowly made itself known, she realized it was only a matter of time before Ron threatened to come in after her. Once he had, just a few moments earlier, Hermione realized what her only course of action was. She had to do anything, say anything, to convince Ron that going far away was the only way to save her life. It was true in a way. In saving Ron, Hermione was saving herself as well.

Ron nodded, his face set in determination. He moved closer to her, so close Hermione was afraid for a moment he would pass through the invisible barrier. He stopped short, looking straight into her.

"I promise, I'll bring him back," Ron whispered forcefully. "You believe me?"

Hermione smiled thinly at him. It was plain to see, Ron's face never was able to hide his emotions. He would drag Viktor Krum here kicking and screaming if he had to. Hermione closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the transparent wall for a moment, realizing this would be her last look at him. There were still so many things he needed to know, so much she would never tell him. It didn't matter. Screwing her courage to its sticking point, she opened her eyes again and looked back at him.

"I believe you," she said quietly, her voice cracking as she spoke.

Ron's eyes filled with something powerful as he looked at her once more. Then he turned and walked quickly toward the window, ready to climb back down that long ladder of arrows to make the harrowing journey back to the start.

Suddenly, Harry stepped in front of the window, blocking Ron's path.

"No," Harry said quietly. He turned his face to Hermione, his expression determined. "Hermione, no."

Hermione gasped at the interference, ready to shout Harry into oblivion. She needn't have bothered; Ron was already on the case.

"Get out of the way Harry!"

"No," Harry repeated. "I won't."

Ron moved forward, grasping Harry by the shoulders and throwing him out of the way. Harry landed on his back a few feet off but he was back up in an instant, rushing to Ron and tearing him away from the window once more.

"Let go! Get out of the way!"

"No!" Harry screamed, throwing Ron with all his might far across the room. Ron crashed into a wall away from the group, letting out a yell of pain. He looked up at Harry with murder in his eyes.

"What're you aiming at, Potter? I don't have time for this!"

Harry stood in front of the window, his posture lengthening visibly as if trying to block as much of the opening as possible. He breathed heavily but his voice was calm as he spoke.

"I won't stand by and watch this."

Hermione was livid. How dare he? Didn't he realize she was the one who had made the difficult decision? And he was acting like the injured party?

"Harry Potter, you move this instant," she said, seething.

"Or what? " Harry asked, not giving an inch. "I'll admit your threats are usually pretty scary, Hermione, but you don't even have a wand. What're you going to do to me?"

"Try me."

Harry blanched for a moment, as if considering the possibilities. He recovered quickly, standing tall again.

"Ginny?" Harry said quietly, seeking some support. Hermione bore her gaze into Ginny, waiting breathlessly to see if she would have an ally or another foe in this fight.

"I'm sorry Harry," Ginny said, her voice small. "But it's what I would do."

Ginny turned away from them all at that, concealing her tears. Her shoulders shook as she hid her face from them and Hermione could feel the tears about to be pulled from her as well. Of course Ginny understood. Besides, she loved Ron too. Perhaps, together, they could both protect him.

"Fine," Harry said at last. "I'll do it, I'll be the bad guy. I'll say what no one else will!"

Hermione stomped her foot, her fists bunched up tight. At that moment she could have killed him, could have physically assaulted the young man who had stared death in the face twice and lived to tell the tale.

"Harry, if you utter one more word," Hermione said, her voice filled with menace, "I swear, you will live to regret it."

Ron moved to stand between them then, anxious for answers and feeling as if he was coming closer and closer to running out of time.

"Listen, I don't know what's going on," he said, his arms stretched out between them both. "That isn't a rare occurrence, I know, but if someone will just tell me what to do, I'll do it. Please? Just tell me how to fix this and I will!"

"I told you, Ron. I need Viktor here!"

Harry let out an exasperated grunt.

"Ron, bringing Viktor Krum back here isn't going to solve anything. You may as well go try to raise Voldemort from the grave while you're at it."

"That's not true. Ron, look at me, Ron!" Hermione yelled desperately, banging her hands against the invisible wall. "There are so many things I haven't told you. R-remember the summer after fourth year, when Viktor invited me to Bulgaria? Well I never answered your question when you asked, but I went. I went to his house and we had a lovely summer there."

"You did?"

Hermione nodded frantically.

"A-and we've written one another all these years. He was waiting until I finished school, he wanted to do what was best for me. So we w-waited. That's why he came here, Ron, so we could finally start our life together!"

"Oh sod off, Hermione!" Harry shouted. Hermione was taken aback, her mouth falling open in surprise. "She's lying through her teeth! Are you honestly buying this Ron?"

Ron looked desperately between them both, clearly unsure of whose word to take; not knowing, when faced with the two people he loved most, which one was lying to him.

"Why are you doing this?" Hermione wailed pitifully.

"Because I know what'll happen when he learns the truth! Do you know how he's going to feel, when he realizes you died and he could have stopped it? Do you know how long he'll carry that guilt around? Forever, that's how long!"

"How? Harry, tell me how to stop it!"

"And what are you going to do, Hermione, when he comes back here carrying Krum over one shoulder? Because you know he will. And then what? Are you honestly going to let Krum walk through that wall for you, sacrifice himself for you, are you going to…"

Harry stopped, the end of his sentence dying suddenly in his throat. He was onto her. Harry knew.

"Oh my God," he said blankly. "You know that won't happen. You know there won't be time, he'll get back here too late. You…you're just trying to get rid of him, to get him out of this room…Because you know what will happen once it starts. You know what he'll do once he sees you on the floor, gasping for breath."

"What? What's going to happen, Harry?" Ginny asked, sounding like a small child again.

"He'll chuck the rules. He won't care who's supposed to go in there. He'll go in himself, whatever it takes to get her out."

"Yes!" Ron shouted passionately. "I will, I'll do anything!"

"NO!" Hermione wailed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Hermione, don't worry," Ron said encouragingly. "I won't let you get hurt, I promise, just tell me what to do!"

Hermione covered her face with both her hands, crying in earnest. Her shoulders trembled as she sobbed and the others looked on helplessly. Almost as soon as the crying started, however, it stopped, and Hermione lowered her hands once more. Her face was red and tear stained but there was fire in her eyes.

"Now you listen to me, all of you. I am in love with Viktor Krum. I have been for four years. And I am scared and alone and I need him here. Please!"

No one spoke for a moment and Hermione grasped at hope. Maybe Harry had said all he would, maybe she had convinced him. Maybe it would all be okay and she could close her eyes in peace. She let out a shuddering breath at the thought.

"Hermione," Ginny said softly, interrupting the silence. "Leopold."

"What about him?" Hermione snapped in frustration.

"He survived. Whatever he went through with Princess Amelia, they both came t."

Hermione stared evenly at Ginny, urging her silently to get to a point.

"They both loved each other, it wasn't one way. Perhaps, it really is like Lavender said. That's the thing that matters in the end."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Hermione shouted, throwing her arms out at her sides.

"You're scared to let the person you love most take your place," Ginny said gently, her face showing its own pattern of tear tracks. "But maybe, if each of you care equally about the other, you both can make it out of here alive."