Guys, I hate to give spoilers right at the start of a chapter, but I feel I should put a warning here. So if you don't want to know what happens then skip warning and go straight to the story.

[WARNING: This chapter will be filled with angst, bloodshed and a major character death. It actually broke my heart to write– so if you can't handle it, turn back! If you can – well, enjoy. It's going to be tough.]

Ron

Ron surveyed the dark stone-clad room around him in horror – bodies from left to right, slaughtered like lambs and draped across the floor, blood splattered on the walls and right in the centre of it all was Hermione, still as a statue, arms reaching towards Ron and mouth frozen mid-shout, and colour completely drained from her entire being - crystallised.

"No..." Ron whispered, the words scratching the back of his throat.

'I can help' the voice rung out from inside his head.

He had been startled when he had first heard it earlier on, but it came as no surprise now, and Ron was too busy focused on Hermione's fixed state.

'Ronald – let me be clear. Only I can help. This is no normal petrification.'

He knew that. Of course he knew that. But he, too, felt frozen to the spot, his arms mirroring Hermione's, reaching out to her but not quite touching her for fear of shattering her. He considered the voice – the help being offered. She didn't have long left – he had to work fast.

As though from nowhere, a blue wisp circled him in a comforting gesture, making his speeding heard slow ever so slightly, and easing some tension from his shoulders.

"What do I have to do?" Ron choked weakly.

Two Hours Ago...

They had flown to Dirkstone. Either Ron's new magic couldn't apparate them, or he hadn't quite figured out how. He had managed, however, to speed up the wind surrounding them, carrying them faster towards the small town in the dark night sky, glittered with stars covered with darkly ominous clouds.

Hermione gripped onto Ron's side, her eyes squeezed tight. She had never been much of a flier. Ron, on the other hand, revelled in it, gripping tighter onto the handle, leaning forward for acceleration. He heard a feminine whimper from Hermione's direction, but no words of complaint.

As they lowered themselves to the ground, Hermione stepped from the broom shakily, staring up at the church, clutching onto Ron's hand for balance. "I hate flying," Hermione whispered. Ron nodded, squeezing her hand back; hoping his gesture of comfort had been received as such. Hermione's frown settled to an uneasy smile.

"Ready?" Ron asked, furrowing his brow, eyes wrapt on the door ahead of them, moving to step inside.

"Wait," Hermione pulled at Ron's hand, knocking him back towards her, bumping their bodies together ever so slightly. Both their hands were connected now, and Hermione closed the distance between their lips, enveloping Ron in a soft, sensual kiss, her lips sucking ever so slightly at his bottom lip, their tongues dancing with each other. As they parted, Hermione squeezed both his hands with hers again before letting go and smiling softly. "For good luck."

They stood side by side for a moment, taking in the cold night air before they disappeared beyond. Really, they both know this was suicide. He had tried to talk Hermione out of coming - several times, but his attempts were half hearted. He knew that there was no way Hermione was letting him go alone, and truth be told, he knew he wouldn't be able to get through this ordeal without her. Hermione Granger is, and always was, a force to be reckoned with. He heard Hermione suck in a breath at his right, as though preparing herself.

Ron shuddered as the couple trod along the dank passageways of the church, pausing every so often as a scutter or a clatter came from somewhere else in the church, echoing so that it sounded as though it were nearby. Aimlessly, they tore along, left and right, looking for a hidden passage, or a sign of life. It wasn't until they heard a deafening bang ring out throughout the stone passageways that they had any clue of a direction in which to travel.

"It came from below. We need to find stairs." Hermione was telling him as they marched hastily back through the door of the room that they had just entered – another dead end. Just an empty room this time - Ron found himself wondering what it was even doing there.

It was then he had started to hear the voice.

'The passage you seek is below'.

"Wait, what?"

They had both stopped in their tracks, Hermione visually examining Ron as though he had said something mental. "I... Ron, I didn't say anything." Her eyes were large – she looked absolutely terrified.

"I- no, not you. You- you didn't hear that?" Ron spluttered, glancing around frantically.

'She cannot hear you, Ronald. I am inside your head.'

Then it clicked. This voice wasn't unfamiliar – he couldn't believe that he didn't recognise it at first. It was unlike anything he'd ever heard in his life – childish, yet ancient. Mystic.

"Apsara?"

Hermione took a step back, a look of bewilderment evident on her face. She was no longer looking at Ron; her eyes were completely focused on a glowing... something, that Ron could only see from the corner of his eyes.

Now...

I can attempt to bring her back. But... the voice paused, considering. Apsara's light dimmed a little, coming to rest at Ron's side. I am afraid that I cannot guarantee her safety. If it is Nature's will to take her, then that must be carried through. She will be taken to the afterlife.

The lump in Ron's throat was stinging; his damp eyes a dark shade of red. His chest felt as though it was tightening inch by inch, threatening to suffocate him or crush his insides. "And if you don't do the spell?"

Another pause - this one much longer than the last. After a considerable amount of time, Apsara broke the silence.

'She will be like this forever.'

The dim wispy form rose again, floating to the crystal-like form of Hermione, circling her as though she were an exhibit.

'She will not age. She will not die. She will be forever frozen in time, yet forever conscious and aware of time around her. Tell me, do you not wish for what is best for her?'

Ron collapsed against the wall behind him, sinking to the floor and burying his head in his hands. "What are the chances of her not pulling through if we do this?"

'I cannot say. There is no way to determine this. The spell has only been attempted twice before – it requires a very rare ingredient. A sacrifice.'

An Hour Ago...

The wisp was circling them both, growing brightly. It didn't seem to be harmful. Still, it was unsettling none the less. Ron and Hermione edged a little closer, not daring to take their eyes away from it.

"Apsara?" Hermione spoke first, to Ron's surprise. "Is that you?" She whispered.

'She cannot hear me child. But yes, it is I. I do not have long on this realm, so you must listen to me closely Ronald Weasley '

Hermione, seemingly giving up on getting an answer, settled at sending Ron a questioning glance.

'The passage you seek is in this room. You can use the magic that I have passed to you in order to break through the spell of deceit. It is the magic of Akasha – it allows you to channel the five elements – my own element, Water, as well as Earth, Air, Fire and Spirit. Spirit will lead you to where you need to go.'

"What's she saying, Ron?" Hermione burst out uncontrollably, her shoulders drawn in tight, full of tension. She seemed just as surpised as Ron at her outburst. "I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" she sighed. "We don't have a lot of time here, if what we have to go by means anything."

Ron sent an acknowledging nod Hermione's way, and then turned back to the sky blue wisp and asked; "How do I do it, then? How do I... er, channel Spirit?"

"Ronald Weasley! Are you listening to me?!" Hermione was shaking his arm now, looking as though she had lost all patience with the situation. "Will you answer me?"

"I- she said I can channel Spirit. And... and that the entrance to wherever the Death Eaters are."

'Enough! Close your eyes. Will the room away with your thoughts. Allow Spirit to guide you – to allow you to see what is beyond the veil of reality.'

Scrunching his eyes shut tightly, Ron thought about the room around him. How was he meant to get it to go away? Could he really take control of the elements? ~Or was Apsara just expecting far too much of him?

'Draw Spirit in, Ronald. Concentrate.'

He had no idea what she meant. He was concentrating as hard as he could. It wasn't Ron's fault that Spirit was a no show. He thought to tell Apsara so, but he was pretty sure there was no need – she was inside his head after all – surely she could read his thoughts? That should be unsettling, but Ron figured by this point that he was hardly shaken by anything. He just wanted to burst through the veil. He wanted to stop the Death Eaters – stop Voldemort from rising. He wanted to stop people from having to lose their friends and family to the war that comes with him. Most of all, he thought, he wanted to keep Hermione safe, and what was left of his family – in blood and in bond, for Harry was never just Ron's friend – he was his comrade, his brother.

A blinding purple presence emerged from the centre of the bare room, illuminating the dimness and stinging Ron's eyes. He shielded them with his hands and squeezed them together tighter, hoping that Hermione had been quick enough to do the same.

When he opened his eyes, it was completely different. He was no longer standing in an empty room. Instead, he was standing in a larger chamber filled with cloaked figures. Hermione stood beside him, lowering her hands from her eyes. At the centre of the room were the beings pretending to be Hornrock and Barty Crouch Jr. They hadn't noticed Ron and Hermione yet, thankfully.

Ron's attention was drawn to a taller figure – long hair, blue eyes and... extremely pale. Inhumanly pale. She looked as though she was made out of crystal – yet she had a presence. A powerful one.

"Is that-?" Hermione questioned glancing at Ron.

Ron was struggling to find words. The woman was bound but she wasn't struggling. She didn't seem to be able to struggle. Her long robe was draped below her knees, moving in rhythm with the breeze running through the room. There was something otherworldly about her. Whatever she was, she definitely wasn't human – Ron could tell all of this at a glance, and judging by the gaping expression on Hermione's face, she had already figured it out.

'Hecate,' echoed Apsara's voice. 'She has been crystalised. Do not touch her.'

"They're using her magic!" Ron heard Hermione shriek from his left.

She was right. Fake-Hornrock and Fake-Barty Crouch Jr had their wands held, pointed towards the goddess, illuminating the entire room with a faint green light unlike Ron had ever seen. His eyes widened at the sight – Hecate was unmoving, but he could see her power swirling around her, all shades of reds, pinks, purples, yellows and more encircling her body.

Hermione's face was set – determined now. She stepped beside Ron, clutching his hand once more, and looking deep into his eyes. "I- I can stop this, Ron."

Ron blanched. Something about the look in her eyes was apologetic – and he really didn't like what that meant.

"I've read all about ancient magic – she's under a Cystalisation curse. Powerfu l magic." Hermione was staring at Hecate in awe. "It shouldn't be possible. But... but with the hat..."

"The Hat of Anara?"

Hermione nodded.

"Yes. It's letting them control her power, and it's letting them trap her. I... i-if I can get the hat, I can decrystalise her."

She was avoiding Ron's eyes now. Ron took a closer look at her. He could see by her expression that she was hiding something. Her lips were tight, and her forehead was creased.

"There's a 'but' here, isn't there?" Ron asked flatly.

Hermione sucked in a breath, then continued quickly as though speaking faster would have lessened the impact of her words. "I need to take on the curse. It's the only way. The only way the curse can be destroyed... well, we don't have the ingredients necessary, and it needs to be done now."

"Hermione, no!" Ron grabbed her arm, locking his gaze on hers. "No, we'll find another way."

Hermione palmed the side of his face, before settling a soft kiss on his lips, savouring it as though it would be their last. Without another word, she moved towards the crowd of death eaters, both the Hornrock and Barty Crouch Jr impostors turning to her now, startled.

Time seemed to slow – Ron made to move towards Hermione, but he was held back by several cloaked figures, who were pulling him back, one with his wand held to Ron's throat. Ron shut his eyes, feeling the elements bubble up inside him, threatening to combust inside his body. He barely even noticed when his body flashed a bright mix of colours – blue, red, green, yellow and purple, blasting his attackers out of the way.

When he opened his eyes, he hadn't been prepared for the horrific sight that lay before him. All the Death Eaters, including Hornrock, or Yerick, and the shape shifter lay still on the floor, covered in their own blood just like the rest of the bodies.

Hecate was staring at Hermione. Her skin was still inhumanly pale, but he noticed that her long hair was black, and her robe a dark navy blue.

"Help her!" Ron screeched at the goddess, making a move to run towards them, but Hecate held up her hands, her blue eyes flashing as she stopped Ron in his tracks – his body locking up and unwilling to move. "W-what?"

The goddess looked apologetic at least. She eyed Ron with careful consideration, her head bowing slightly towards him. "I'm sorry... I- I can't. My power can't help her. "

"She used the hat. Give me the hat! I'll take her place!" Ron roared, attempting his will to get his feet to carry him towards them.

Hecate frowned, moving towards Ron now. "I'm sorry my child. The power has been used up. Miss Granger used the last of it to free me. I will forever be in her debt, but I'm afraid she cannot be healed by any magic that you will be able to obtain. You would need to find a magical spirit willing to give themselves up for your cause."

"She saved you!"

"I will forever remember her. She saved many lives. The Death Eaters were seconds away from reincarnating their master using my magic." Hecate bowed her head once more at him, before fading away before his eyes.

Now...

Apsara was moving towards Hermione, her entire being glowing brighter than Ron had seen it thus far. She illuminated Hermione, a bright light enveloping her, before Ron felt himself sink to the floor, his vision fading to black.

It was dark. He couldn't see a thing but the clear blue figure that was standing before him now. It was a woman. She looked as though she was made out of water, and Ron was sure that if he touched her, she would splash out onto the floor. He felt himself drawn towards her though. He was sure he recognised her, but it wasn't until she spoke that it became clear.

"Thank you Ronald, she is safe now."

"Apsara?" Ron squinted at the woman.

She smiled gently. Her full form was quite beautiful, if rather untouchable.

"I suppose this is what humans call goodbye."

Just like that, the blackness was lifted, and Ron felt his body being shook vigorously. "Ron! Ron! Wake up!" Hermione was crying hysterically, gripping onto his robe.

"Hermione... w-what... I-"

"You're okay!" The relief in her voice could not be mistaken for anything else. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight.

"I'm okay," Ron echoed, gripping back just as tight. "We're both okay."

"Apsara... I saw her come towards me. I could see everything. What happened?"

"She... she's gone." Ron murmured into Hermione's hair, tears stinging his eyes. "She gave her life to save you."

"No!" Hermione whispered, horror etched in her words. She sunk to her knees, Ron mirroring her, still gripping her tight.

"She was dying, Hermione. She said it herself. She was not long for this world. She had used up her powers transferring them to me already, and she was fading away." Ron wrapped his arms tighter around her, attempting to comfort her as she sobbed uncontrollably on his shoulder. "She used the last of her energy to bring you back. She said- oh god, she said there was a chance you wouldn't m-make it. That you w-would be taken to the afterlife!"

The couple broke apart, staring at each other for what seemed like forever, mourning their dead ally who had given her life from the cause. They were safe because of her. They were going to be able to live out the rest of their lives together, and it was all because of Apsara.

"We need to get out of here," Ron said to her, breaking the silence. "I- I think I might be an uncle by now." It seemed like a lifetime ago that they had been in the hospital with Ginny, but it was crashing back on him now. His family needed him. His sister needed him.

The couple rose to their feet just as a shout rung out from somewhere nearby – it was hard to determine where. Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and someone was spluttering. Carefully, Ron clutched onto Hermione's hand, passing through the only door in the room. Dark corridors, similar to the others, awaited them as they exited. It was only then that Ron had considered he had used the magic that Apsara had given him to get into the room. The magic that had left him when she did. His chest tightened with anxiety.

There was only one direction to follow, so Ron led Hermione, peering round the corners as he turned. He was taken aback at his second turn, when he almost tripped over a body – a pale, long haired figure, sprawled out before them. Lucius Malfoy. They could hear another splutter, and the couple turned in its direction, and Ron could almost feel the blood drain from his face. There, holding himself together against the wall of the passageway, was Draco Malfoy – choking on his own blood.

"Malfoy!" Ron roared, running to his side. "Malfoy... fuck, what happened?"

Hermione hesitated, then ran to Ron's side, her palm resting on the small of his back, rubbing soft circles in it.

"I... my father, he knew... he knew we were working together all along. He tried to use me. Tried... tried to get me t-to... kill you. T-to prove my loyalty," Draco huffed, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "I told him to go fuck himself – I'm not his puppet anymore."

"We... we need to get you to St Mungos. Quick, Hermione, help me move him!"

But Hermione didn't move to help him. Instead, her expression fell into a look of regret.

"Weasley, I- I'm dying. Just g-get yourselves out of here. I-" Malfoy choked, patting his ally on the shoulder. "You d-did well." He grinned at Ron, spluttering as Ron gripped onto him as though he could drag the life back into him with his bare hands. It couldn't end like this. Not after everything that Malfoy had done for him – for them.

His body gave a jerk, as he met Ron's eyes once more, his breath growing ever shorter by the second. Ron gave a silent nod, bowing his head. It was evident that he could no longer speak. Instead, they seemed to communicate silently through their eyes. It wasn't the same as being able to communicate with Draco inside his head like he could before he was captured, but he had hoped Draco could at least read the apologetic look Ron was sending his way, his lips curved into a frown and his forehead wrinkled, eyebrows drawn in.

Draco met his eyes back, no blame to be found in them. Then, as though he had always been that way, Draco Malfoy's body stilled after one last shudder, now suddenly void of life.

"NO!" Ron roared, raising from the ground and punching his fist into the hard, cold stone wall with a crunch.

Hermione was whimpering, still perched beside Draco, her right hand reaching over to close the man's eyes as though he were sleeping. "I... I'm sorry, Draco." She whispered.

Hermione

It was all a blur after that. One moment, they were gripping onto Draco's dead body, and before they knew it they were flying away on Ron's broomstick, rising from Dirkshire into the dark night sky. They had moved through the church basement for two hours or so before they found the exit, a set of steep stairs that had led them to trap door just beyond the town walls.

Ron shuddered behind her, as Hermione gripped on tightly to the broom, too focused to even remember her fear of flying. Ron was holding onto her with one arm, the other gripping onto the still form of Draco Malfoy, barely even managing to hold himself together. She was still in shock. They hadn't said a word to one another after Draco. It wasn't uncomfortable. The silence was companionable. The fact that they were both safe, drifting through the night air across the country side, a fallen ally held between them had long settled in, and there wasn't much to be said. There was nothing that could make this right.

All she knew was that they would get through it. They would heal with time.

One Year Later...

Ron

It had been a long night. Hermione curled around Ron, circling her finger on his chest absently, her eyes unfocused.

Ron knew he had been uncharacteristically silent. He knew that Hermione knew why.

It had been a year. One whole year since that bittersweet night. He could still remember the panic he felt when he had almost lost Hermione. He could still remember the releif as Apsara healed her, at the cost of her own life. The sadness he felt when she left him. He could remember, too, the worst part of the night – the fall of Draco Malfoy, and how he had been so overcome with raw emotion that he was barely functioning by the time he and Hermione had reached St Mungos.

The memory of his mother holding him as he recounted the events of the night after she had brashly demanded where they had been – why her patronus couldn't reach them, and why he was absent from the birth of his nephew.

James Sirius had been born in the early hours of the morning. Ron hadn't even realised they had been gone for almost 24 hours. It had gone by in a flash, and even at the time it had seemed as though the memories were distant. He remembered the blankness he felt as he sat in the waiting room, awaiting a nurse to tell him it was okay to go into the ward.

Most of all, though, Ron could remember how he felt the first time he held his nephew in his arms, Hermione holding onto his arm gently at the side, smiling down at the baby despite the horrors of the night. He felt lighter somehow. He felt like they could do this. And maybe one day, it would be their child he held in his arms.

It was what prompted him to ask Hermione to elope with him the very next day, after all. He couldn't find it in him to regret the decision. They had waited far too long. They already belonged to one another completely – there was no point in holding it off any longer, was there?

A few weeks later, they had given Draco a hero's funeral. It was a small affair – the Weasley family circled around the small gravestone, engraved with the words "Friend, ally and protector of humankind. A brave man." alongside his name and date of birth, followed by his date of passing.

Returning to work at the Ministry had been easier than expected. With Hornrock gone, and the story widespread by that point, Ron had earned a promotion, and Hermione transferred to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, where she has already set a few laws in motion regarding the treatment of magical creatures, House Elves included. Fond memories of S.P.E.W and the dedication Ron had always admired in his wife often manifested themselves as she met him after work, detailing the events of her day as Ron recounted cases that he was working on, and complained about having constant questions thrown at him throughout the day. They both knew, though, that he secretly enjoyed being in charge.

The healing had been the difficult part, but they were finally getting there. Hermione shuffled beside her husband, tracing light kisses on his bare shoulder. Ron ran his right hand up her bare back gently, placing a soft kiss into her hair. Tracing his fingers back down her hipbone and smoothing over her stomach with his palm, Ron grinned. She was getting bigger by the day. Not long to go now before their already rather monumental family valued by one more member. He really ought to finish painting the nursery.

End.

Urghhh, sorry about taking so long, guys. This chapter nearly killed me. I had to actually take a few days from writing it towards the end because I got myself so upset. I wrote and re-wrote Draco's last scene so many times, and each time I was tempted to just erase it and forget about ever killing him off, but it just seemed... right. I'M SORRY DRACO, I LOVE YOU!

So I just want to take this time to acknowledge some of my regular reviewers (god, I hope you guys are actually still reading this after all the time it's taken for me to finally finish this fic).

heronlove
nirdoodle
rhmac12
finchelromionelover

You guys are incredibly sweet – and your words of encouragement really have kept me going. You've pretty much stuck with the fic from the start, and reviewed constantly. Thank you so much. And thank you to everyone else who reviewed, too. You guys are awesome, and I'm grateful to every single one of you. I hope that the ending wraps everything up properly, and that it lived up to the rest of the story. Thank you so much for reading. I would love to hear your comments regarding this chapter, or even the entire story if you're reading for the first time.

I don't have any plans for another HP fic in the near future. Sorry, guys. Once I finish my SPN fic, though, I'll probably write another one. Perhaps an AU? I don't know yet. One fic at a time.

Love you guys!