"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 through."

No. No, she wouldn't entertain the thought. It was too risky, they didn't know what might happen. Besides, Ginny's theory relied on Ron feeling the same for her and she had never been able to believe that before. Now would be a fine time to put stock in it, the thing she had dreamed of for so long. Her wishes were much simpler now. Keep. Ron. Alive.

"Ginny, you're right. Hermione, didn't you say Leopold was married to Amelia? That they were in love even before this whole trial business started?"

Hermione shook her head violently and placed her hands over her ears, willing them all to stop talking.

"Stop it, stop!"

"Hermione, what are they talking about?" Ron asked urgently. "Do you know what's going on?"

"It's time to put faith in this Hermione," Harry said, his voice scratchy. "Put your faith in him, he deserves it."

"What would you do, Harry?" Hermione demanded, hot tears in her eyes. "If it was Ginny on the line?"

Harry was quiet for a brief second, considering the question. He shook his head finally.

"I would have to hope you were there to talk some sense into me," he replied evenly. With that, he turned forcefully to Ron. Hermione could tell he was about to take matters into his own hands and she was suddenly more frightened than she had been all evening.

"Ron, do you love Hermione? Do you love her more than anything else in the whole world?"

"I-I," Ron stammered, surprised by the question and struggling with a response.

"Look at me! This is life or death on the line," Harry snapped. "I already know the answer, we all do. You just need to say it out loud. Do you love her?"

Hermione watched Ron look about for an answer, his eyes settling on her. She could tell the moment when he gave in, when he decided it wasn't important anymore, didn't matter to fight it in light of the dire circumstances.

"Yes," he said softly. "I do."

A sob escaped Hermione then, a cry for the honest way he had said it, the quiet vehemence behind it. This wouldn't do. She couldn't stand there and listen to Ron admit his love for her. She couldn't take it. This had to end now.

"That's p-pathetic," she whispered.

"What?" Ron asked, his head jerking up at her words.

"I suspected in s-school you might have some crush on me, b-but honestly, you've got to be kidding me." Hermione spat the words out, putting as much venom behind the hateful speech as she could. Ron paled, his mouth slacking a bit and his eyes wide.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione said with a chuckle. "We are completely different. How could you ever think we could be together?"

Ron stepped back as if physically wounded by the words.

"I-I didn't, I'm sorry…"

"Hermione," Harry said. "Stop."

"I won't stop, Harry," Hermione continued. "That's insulting. Do you know what people say about you Ron? The way they mock you?"

Ron shook his head no, as if responding to her. Ginny stood at the sides, watching with a pained expression. Hermione took a deep breath, trying to help herself carry on.

"You're j-just Harry Potter's sidekick," she said shakily, her voice wavering. "And you've always been second best to your brothers. If I w-was going to pick a Weasley, I would have at least gone for one of the clever ones."

Ron staggered back again, looking as if he was taking on actual blows to the chest. Harry stepped forward, however, the anger rolling off of him. Hermione didn't mind. Harry could go mad with fury for all she cared.

"Cut this out, Hermione!"

It was too late. This was her last chance and she wouldn't waste it, no matter the pain each syllable caused her. It would be worth it, in the end.

"What would you offer a girl, huh?" she asked loudly, her eyes staring Ron down. "What are you going to do with yourself, work at George's shop stocking shelves for the rest of your life? Bring a girl home to live at the burrow, a falling down hovel?"

Ron's face was crumbling and he looked near tears. At her final words, though, something passed over his face. He blinked several times, his whole body stilling. Suddenly, Ron glanced up, ready to look Hermione in the eyes again. He appeared on the verge of figuring something out and Hermione stepped back, afraid she had gone too far.

"That's…that's not true," Ron said slowly, as if the words were coming to him as he spoke. "You love the burrow. You said…you said there was no place on Earth that was better."

Ron paused a beat then said, "You're lying."

He declared the last part as if it was an accusation and a relief at once. His gaze was intense now as he stared Hermione down, daring her to deny it.

"I…" Hermione started. She didn't know what to say. She had run out of avenues and she was beginning to feel lightheaded. It wouldn't be long now, she just needed a bit more time.

"You're p-poor! And your family is the laughing stock of the wizarding world!"

Ron tilted his head slightly, studying her with his brow furrowed. He looked down at his feet then looked up again, a curious expression on his face.

"You don't care about money, Hermione," he said quietly. "And you're mad about the Weasleys."

A soft smile graced his face.

"You're lying to me, aren't you?"

Hermione backed up, moving so far her body hit the magical wall behind her. Tears were falling steadily now, whether because of the words she had just been forced to say or the fact that Ron didn't seem to be buying it, she didn't know. She felt trapped, literally caged with no help of rescue. What was she going to do?

"Ginny!" Hermione wailed helplessly. The redhead stepped forward at Hermione's call, Ginny wanting so badly to offer some aid, but at a loss as to how to provide it.

"I know but, Hermione, maybe it's him," Ginny said with a sniff. "I think, if anyone can save you, it's him!"

"Oh God!" Hermione wailed, heaving in great breaths as her panic overtook her.

"I think it's starting!" Harry shouted anxiously. Hermione couldn't see them anymore; her eyes were screwed tightly shut. "She doesn't have long!"

"Hermione, please, talk to me!"

Hermione opened her eyes to look at Ron. She let her body lean against one of the walls as she took him in, the lack of oxygen making her head fuzzy. Her vision swam before her.

"Were you lying about all of it?" Ron asked urgently. "When you said…you don't feel that way about me?"

Hermione jerked back, her head lolling against the wall.

"Get away from me, Ron," she whimpered.

"Do you…" Ron trailed off for a moment, summoning his courage. "Hermione, do you love me?"

Hermione shook her head violently no.

"You don't love me?" he asked again.

"No," she protested, her breath hitching as she tried to get more air in her lungs. "I don't. I…I can't stand you."

"Hermione, look at me!"

Hermione snapped her eyes open. Ron needed her to look at him. Why? She couldn't remember. He was close to her now, his body hunched down to try and get a better look at her as she leaned over in pain.

"Are you…just trying to protect me?" Ron looked at Harry as if seeking confirmation. Harry didn't move a muscle, but something in his stance told Ron he was on the right path, he had unlocked some secret thing that had been there all along. "Do you love me, Hermione?"

"No!" she shouted, with all the energy she had left. Her body sagged at that and Ron darted forward. Suddenly Hermione remembered; she had to keep Ron away. Her arms flew forward, a powerful flow of energy overtaking her and pulsing out through her hands. She felt the magic leave her and strike Ron, propelling him backward several feet. His body slid across the floor and his face was a shocked expression of surprise.

"How…how?' Ron gaped at her from the floor.

"Wandless magic," she heard Harry mutter. "Hermione, how long have you been able to do that?"

Hermione couldn't respond. She was drowning. She had to focus, had to keep trying. Ron was on his feet again, moving slowly forward as if to dodge another attack. Hermione didn't give him a chance. She threw her arms out again, the magic throbbing out of her and knocking him even further away than the last time.

"Leave me alone." The statement was meant to be a forceful shout, but it came out a ragged whisper. She braced herself against the wall with her arms, finding it difficult to stand to her full height. Hermione didn't have much left in her and her breaths were coming in shuddering gasps. Ron stood as well, never taking his eyes from her. He reached out as he rose up and Hermione saw the shining glint of the sword in his hand once more.

"Hermione," he whispered. "Do you love me?"

"No," she said earnestly, throwing the magic at him again. This time, he was ready, holding the blade up in front of him and blocking the spell as if knocking away a bludger in a game of Quidditch. The magic ricocheted and hit Hermione hard, knocking her backward so she hit the back of the invisible box with a thud.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked shakily, taking a step forward. "Please don't do that again, I don't want to hurt you!"

"Get away from me!" Hermione shrieked. She felt herself losing hold of something, something important. She fell forward, her arms in front of her, and her hands landed smack against something solid in front of her. Was it a wall? She didn't see a wall, but she could feel it. She leaned against the phantom wall, gasping for air. Why couldn't she breathe?

"HERMIONE!"

"Don't give up!" someone shouted. Was that Harry? What was Harry doing here? Where was she?

She felt magic explode from her, making her stagger against the transparent wall. Where was the magic coming from? Why couldn't she breathe? A force hit her then, as if someone had thrown a powerful burst of magic back at her.

"Damn it, stop that!"

Was that Ron? He sounded so close. Wasn't Ron supposed to stay away from her? That didn't make sense, but she felt it to be true. She was dizzy. She couldn't breathe.

"HERMIONE!"

Her eyes snapped open. Her head was propped up by the invisible wall but she could still see him, his eyes bright and flashing. He was moving toward her at an alarming speed. She held one shaking arm up, praying it would be enough. She felt the wandless magic leave her, billowing toward Ron. He didn't blink as it roared at him, the sword up in a flash as he continued rushing to her. She saw the blade glint with the light of the blue magic, then it propelled back at her.

As the force of it hit her, she took one last shuddering gasp, a whispered plea of "Save him, I love him" ripped out of her. Her knees gave out as the throbbing magic hit her and she felt herself falling, grasping. The last thing she saw, before her eyes went closed at the world went black, was Ron's eyes, fierce with determination, just as he slipped past the invisible barrier.