So here it is! This has not been reviewed by a beta because I have no time to e-mail and get it corrected and then update. Life is busy and crazy. Anyway, this chapter is in honor of awesome heronlove who has been incredibly supportive of not just this story, but my crazy life in general. I always love our PM's. :) You rock! Two important things:

You will recognize I used a modified version of a scene from the HBP movie (all credit to moviemakers and JKR).

This was one of the first chapters I wrote for this fic (at about the same time I wrote chapter two about the flower attacks) and I've rewritten it and overanalysed it for way too long, probably because it took longer than I expected for this story to get here. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate the feedback on this one.

"Breaking Tradition – Part 2"

Hermione sat alone right by the entrance to the dungeon-like room with only the light from her bluebell flame illuminating her. She was leaning against the stone wall where the stairs met the large space. Her knees where curled up to her chest with her head on top of them as she cried uncontrollably. "I'm such an idiot! I hate you Ron Weasley! I hate you!" she repeated to herself in between heart wrenching sobs. She didn't know that Ron had followed her and was sitting on the stairwell right to the side of the wall she was leaning on and hearing every word.

He sat there listening to the girl he loved as she ranted about her pain and her anger and continued to cry harder and harder. His own guilt and anger were overcoming him. He could barely contain the tears that threatened him. He couldn't stand it anymore and suddenly without even knowing it. he spoke, "Stop, please, you can't..."

Hermione's head flung up. She stood and faced the stairwell. There he was, looking at her with misty, sad blue eyes. He moved slowly, taking two tentative steps towards her. She backed farther into the dungeon. She was furious and began wiping the tears from her face. She had a few simple thoughts in her head. How dare he come here to witness my pain? How dare he act upset when he… he was kissing her!

"What are you doing here?" she asked in the angriest most accusing tone she could muster.

"I…" he swayed on the spot, unsure how to proceed. "I saw you when… umm… in the basement. I thought I should check on you."

"Why would I need you checking on me, you liar!"

"Hermione, I never lied. And I never wanted to hurt you. I -"

She couldn't take it! None of it! She slapped his face as hard as she could and then screamed with all her force. "You what? What is it that you want from me? Friendship? Companionship? Support? Do you need help with your homework or the YPS? You probably need me to help you pick a ring for your wedding! Even better, why don't you ask me to cover your prefect duties while you go off to celebrate your engagement and snog with your fiancé? Well guess what, I won't do it! I'm done with this! I'm done with everything! I am transferring to Beauxbatons Academy as soon as the term is over! And you will take this amulet off me and stay the hell away!"

Ron's face went pale and the red mark her hand left on his cheek was even more obvious. He was overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. Yet, her words were the last straw for him. He was sick of feeling guilty, of hiding his feelings and pretending not to lover, of scurrying around and acting like a lying git that he didn't even recognize. He was ready to fight. For her sake or for his own; he wasn't even sure. But it didn't matter why or for whom, in a couple of strong strides he was on her face. "No! You can't leave! And I won't take the amulet off and leave you unprotected! Ever! I bloody love you!"

"No you don't! You were supposed to be one of my best friends! You were supposed to be my bloody boyfriend! You kissed me! You touched me! And now you are kissing that cow!" she screamed as she threw punches at his chest.

"I was not bloody kissing her! She kissed me! You know that! You saw that! You must have! And you know that I am not choosing to marry her! Hermione, I wish it was you! I would do anything to have it be you! My parents and the Davies engaged us when we were kids! I don't even remember that day! I didn't know! You know that I didn't know! Ginny told you the truth! Please Hermione, I love you so much. I need you to be there, even if it is just to yell at me and fight me on everything. We are in a war Hermione and I need to know you are okay. Don't leave... I'd do anything. I'll be the one to leave. I'll figure out how. But please, please stay at Hogwarts. I need you to stay here and be safe."

His tone carried a raw veracity she could not deny or ignore. Yet a part of her was still hesitant and angry. Maybe he was lying and she was just a fool. "You don't love me. You were having a wonderful time in your little date with her and you leave with her almost every day."

"I have to!"

"No you don't! Draco barely spends any time with Parkinson! Even Ginny and Neville keep it really slow. And George and his fiancé were rarely around each other. You could do what George did and tell her to wait! Or you could do what Neville and Ginny do and simply spend time when necessary."

"Well… they… they don't…"

"They what? They don't fancy each other?"

"I don't fancy her!"

She narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

"I don't!" he assured.

"Then why? Why do you go with her? Why don't you tell her that you don't fancy her and explain you want to wait and not be around her until it's time? Why Ronald?" Hermione screamed.

He yelled the truth without much thought. "Because of you!"

"What?"

"Nothing. I just… I…"

"Tell me the truth!"

"Hermione... I… no"

"Tell me!"

"I said no!"

"Tell me or I'll leave! I swear Ron!"

"Dammit Hermione! This is already so hard! Why do you make it even more bloody difficult?" Ron asked, feeling like he was losing his mind.

"Me! You are the one who is lying! And I can't stand it! I'm leaving at the end of term!"

"No!"

"Then bloody tell me! Why?"

Ron stayed silent.

"Give me your reason, Ronald! What have you come up with now? Why do you spend so much time with her? Say it!"

Ron had never been the kind of person to hold his emotions in. In fact, he usually ended up in fights and misunderstandings because he didn't control himself. His new power only confirmed that it was in his nature to be uncontainable. So keeping everything bottled up for so long had been among the hardest things he had ever done. Now his ears were red, his eyes stung, and he felt like the French food Anna had given him was ready to come back up. But Hermione was relentless. She kept yelling and demanding the truth. Eventually, he broke and his anger poured out along with the truth.

"Bloody fine! You want the truth!" he screamed and the room suddenly shook a little.

"I deserve that!" Hermione responded, fearless even with his outburst.

"I fucking love you! And I fucking hate not being with you anymore. I want to be with you every day! I want to listen to you telling me about your day and your studying and your ideas! I want to tell you everything that happens to me! I want to argue with you and laugh with you and spend the day together! I want kiss you and hold you and do all the things we did together last year! I want to fucking see you naked and touch every part of you and taste you and see you shiver in pleasure! And I want to bury myself inside you and make you moan my name. And I fucking want to know what it's like to fill you with my cum! And I want to know that someday I could marry you and see you have my kids! I want to be the one for you and have you be the one for me! And not being able to do any of it is driving me crazy!" The more he talked, the more the room shook.

"Ronald! You–"

"Shut up, Hermione! You wanted to know the truth and now you fucking know! That's what I feel every day! But, I go with Anna and spend time with her because I have to. I go because if I dumped her and chose you, you would face a trial for being my accomplice in breaking the marriage contract! I go because don't want to bloody risk having you go to Azkaban!"

The sound of soft cracking on the walls broke Ron from his rage. He took a breath and heard Hermione utter, "I… Ron… I don't understand. I –"

Ron sighed, feeling a nod in his chest and his eyes stinging again. "Hermione, I spend time with Anna because if I don't convince everyone that I have no other attachments then someone may suspect that I have feelings for you. Because if that happens and it leads to you going to Azkaban I would never forgive myself. Because... because…"

He was sobbing horribly at this point, letting out the kind of wretched cries that took his breath away and made his chest heave and his nose sting. Just looking at him was painful. That was the reason she couldn't help it. She believed him. It was all true; his desperate voice, his uncontrollable tears, his frantic expression, all laced with his intense fury. There was simply no way that the Ron she had known for years wasn't telling the truth. She moved close to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and placed her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her without hesitation.

Hermione murmured, "I'm sorry…. I'm sorry… I'm –"

Ron shushed her and then they wept together for what seemed like an eternity. She slowly pulled away and looked into his eyes. Those misty blue orbs were so full of love and pain, anger and guilt. She felt helpless.

"You really are just with her for me… to protect me so I don't have to go to the Wizengamot."

He nodded and put his forehead against hers. "I would never otherwise."

Hermione hugged him tighter and sobbed, "Why is this happening?"

He looked at her and his hands cupped her face as his fingers moved to clean her face from all the tears. "I don't know. I wish I could fix it, but mum and dad signed a magical contract and if I break it they lose the Burrow and I would go to Azkaban and if anyone finds out about us then you might go to."

Her face grew more distraught and she murmured, "I don't want you to go to Azkaban, Ron. I'm sorry."

He held her tighter and spoke again. "Azkaban may not be so bad. This getting married thing is driving me so crazy. At least if I was there, I would have a better reason to feel like a nutter. If it was just me in danger, I wouldn't care. But not you Hermione, not you. "

Her tears kept flowing into his fingers, but she managed to get some control and spoke again. "Ron, I understand. I'll stay here and I'll stand by you and Harry. I'll help you and… and…" She wanted to say that she would always be there for him even if he married another, but she couldn't and her tears returned in full force. Ron couldn't believe it. Hermione, the witch of his dreams was amazing enough to still want to be his friend, his rock after all this.

He looked into her eyes and whispered, "I love you. Only you."

"Ron…" she sighed. "I love you. I love you."

Neither was sure of who moved first or when, but their lips met in the midst of the salty water on their faces. The kiss was very shy, as if they were apologizing because they weren't supposed to be doing this. But, this light brushing of lips felt like a flaming volcano inside them. Their bodies trembled from the contact. After a few seconds they separated and looked into each other's eyes. Then there was only surrender. They needed the other so they gave in and their lips met again. This time their kiss was wild and filled with lust. They'd missed each other so badly. Their tongues moved on their own accord as their arms roughly tightened around the other. She sucked his lower lip and he groaned and slid his tongue inside her mouth mimicking the motions that their hips had instinctually begun to engage in. Ron stopped after a minute and looked at Hermione's face. Then he kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her nose, her chin and moved to her neck, driving her mad by nibbling and sucking at her pulse point.

They began moaning and touching each other everywhere. He cupped her breasts. She grabbed his bottom. There was a frenzy of hands and lips as her fancy robes and his simple t-shirt began to come off in a rush. The skin to skin contact that followed filled them with pleasure, but their hands were shaking from nervousness.

Ron stopped and muttered, "Wait. You are trembling."

"I'm a little nervous."

"I'm sorry. I… I got carried away."

"Ron, you are trembling as much as I am."

"I've… I've missed you so badly. It's overwhelming… to be like this. But, I was being honest before, when we decided to be friends. Hermione, I would take anything you give me. If you want to hate me and never speak to me, I'll take that. Just don't leave Hogwarts. I need to know you are safe. Even if it is from a distance. You don't have to do this or even talk to me. Just promise me you will stay. Please, promise me."

She looked at his wishful expression. His eyes were begging her to just stay and she knew he was being honest. He just needed to see her and know she was safe. And she understood that need. Even through her anger she would never want to see him harmed. She would never be able to stop the need, the love. It was forever. So she simply said, "I'll stay. I promise."

He smiled and held her tightly. Then she added, "Ron, we have a year. Right?"

"A year?"

"This year until March... before you are of age... before you have to make official the –"

He placed a finger in her mouth to quiet her and murmured into her ear, "Don't say it. But it might be two or three. I think she has to be of age too."

"Then I want those years. One or three, I don't care. I want that time to be full of this," she said as she placed his hand on her chest, right where her heart would be. "I want us. If we can't have a future, if we can't have it all, at least I want that."

He opened his mouth to speak, but she quieted him by placing her index finger on his lips, just like he had done before. "Ron when I lost my family, you and the Snapes were what kept me going. Now Severus and many more friends are gone and Voldemort is back and I am scared. I feel so lost. I know I have Harry and Lily and baby Cassi and Ginny and Estella and all our other friends, but it's not enough. I need you. I am going insane avoiding you and pretending we're just friends. Everything you said before, everything you want… I want it too."

"Hermione," he said wistfully. "I don't want you to be with me out of desperation. I don't want to hurt you. I wish—"

"Don't. Please Ron… I know what you wish. I know. But, could we just give each other what is possible. We can love each other for now until it is time to stop. George and Estella did that. She was willing to do that for him and I can too. I love you that much. And maybe something will happen. But if it doesn't, I still want us, even if it's only for a minute. I love you and I want you, Ron. Can I… can I have you?"

"I'm yours. I've only ever been yours."

She smiled through her puffy face and then grabbed her wand and muttered a few incantations. The room suddenly became clean and candles hung from every wall. Hermione imperturbed the place and then turned to face Ron and gave him a smile. Their next kiss was passionate but unhurried. They lingered and enjoyed every torturous second of their tongues meeting and their hands touching each other. Then they separated and helped each other take the remaining of their clothes off. They stood still in front of the other, holding hands, with their eyes fixed on their bare bodies.

Hermione drank in every detail of his scarred skin, his freckles, his strong chest, his still somewhat lanky arms and legs, and his prominent erection. Ron worked to stamp his brain with the memory of her unruly hair, her perky breasts and brown nipples, her shapely hips, every beautiful curve of her body and that perfect patch of dark hair that marked her womanhood. Then a small bed covered in blue silk sheets appeared in the centre of the room.

"You did that, didn't you, brilliant witch?" he asked in a low husky voice.

She smiled and even through her puffy eyes, he could see the passion that she so naturally emanated. They moved towards the bed grinning and laid facing each other. Her hands began touching the side of his body while his fingers brushed her cheek and continued their trip down, touching her neck and collar bone.

"I feel like I'm dreaming," he whispered.

"Me too."

"Hermione…"

"Don't stop, Ron. Wherever this goes, just… don't stop."

"I love you… more than anything."

Hermione kissed him slowly and lovingly, trying to express everything she felt. His hands moved to her breast and she let out a satisfied squeal. He broke their kiss and moved his lips to her neck, then her chest, and eventually darted his tongue out to lick one of her hardened nipples. As his tongue moved back and forth and played, she whimpered in approval, feeling heated and liquid.

Her sounds made Ron let go of all inhibitions. He loved her. He wanted her. He needed her. He would give himself to her completely and show her how much he adored her. He moved them so he was on top of her and then deepened his kiss on her breast, taking the entire areola in his mouth and sucking eagerly. Hermione arched and moved one of her hands to his hair, keeping him in place, while the other clung to one of his shoulders. She felt like she was aflame and filled with butterflies, dripping with need and aching for him. By Merlin, a part of her couldn't believe how she had gone from hating him with the power of a thousand suns to being in bed completely overtaken by their love. But, it felt completely right. This was them. They fought each other, tried to stay apart and pretend their arguments were out of dislike until they could no longer fake it. But now they had to stop fighting their repressed feelings. They were meant for each other. They had felt it since they were eleven and confirmed it last year. Even if the Wizarding world disagreed, even if Azkaban was the risk, even if the war paralyzed their world with fear, their love was inevitable. It was genuine, unquestionable and all-consuming.

Ron moved his mouth to her other tit and Hermione couldn't stop her body from grinding against him. He moaned as he felt her and they kissed again. He was so dangerously close, he knew how this would end if they continued.

"Is this really alright, Hermione?"

"Ron, I'm sure." Their eyes locked and found only reverence in each other. His hand moved down between her thighs and rubbed her before inserting a finger, just like he had learned to do last year. She was wonderfully wet and her moans of pleasure were music to his ears. He felt her clench against his fingers and in one quick move he was down her body and had his mouth her her. He licked and sucked and greedily drank from her, taking turns penetrating her with his fingers then his tongue. Her orgasm hit her fast and strong and she was in heaven. It had been so long and he felt so good. She moaned and writhed until she was spent.

Once she relaxed some, a beaming Ron looked up at her. She smiled and gently pushed him until he was flat on his back. "I missed you. You're amazing," she said before snogging him thoroughly. After a while, she slowly kissed his body just like he had done her - his chin, his neck, his chest, his stomach, the side of his hip, and then… his protruding cock. Merlin he was perfect, all velvety soft skin surrounding pure male hardness. She wanted him. She needed him. And she would show him that no one could ever love him as much. She sucked and bobbed her head taking as much of him in as possible. He swelled inside her mouth and let out the most delicious sounds and screams.

"Bloody hell! Hermione! Arhhh! Shit!"

Hermione sucked harder and moved quicker and felt him fill her all the way to the back of her throat.

"I'm so close! Hermione! Fuck! I can't… Fucking Merlin!" The string of curses that followed was nothing short of music to her ears. He was so beautifully aroused, open, and vulnerable. She caressed his balls with her hands, cupping him and that was his undoing.

"I'm coming!"

This time she didn't hesitate or gag. His seed hit the back of her throat and she swallowed in perfect sync with his release and lapped him thoroughly. It was perfect and seeing him led to a pulse between her legs as she dripped with readiness. She needed more. She wanted everything.

Ron felt like his body was floating and had made it to heaven. He was breathing hard. His ears were crimson, his cheeks ruddy and his skin sweaty. He opened his eyes and found Hermione's eyes sparkling as she bit her lip with a half-smile. Merlin, she looked flawless and Ron couldn't help himself. He had to kiss her, even if his body was still barely out of the haze she had created. He sat up quickly and practically attacked her. Hermione returned the kiss eagerly. They kept snogging and touching and whispering loving things and making promises of adoration even if someday they would have to separate. Somewhere in between their sweet words and his fingers making her come a second time and him getting hard again they managed to cast a contraception charm. They were both so ready, but Ron held his hips back. "I don't want to hurt you."

"The first time is supposed to hurt a bit, but I want this."

His eyes looked conflicted. "You won't regret this? Later when—"

"Shush. I won't regret it. I want us to make love."

With this reassurance he moved forward slowly barely getting the tip in. His arms trembled and he saw Hermione wince as he got deeper in. He couldn't take it. He needed her to take charge of this because he was ready to lose it and plunge into her and take her in a frenzy. But he wanted to be tender and kind. She deserved that. She deserved everything. He pulled out and flipped them over.

"You do it. I… I need you to take over this."

"Okay."

She moved on top of him and aligned herself. Ron laid back and focused on feeling her opening up to him in the most intimate of ways. She went so torturously slow that it was driving him insane. That crazy need for her returned full force. He wanted to grab her hips, slam her down and then thrust wildly. But he held back. He needed her to be okay with this. She would set the pace for anything they did. So he took deep breaths and kept his body controlled.

It happened so slowly, so gradually, so gently and magnificently that their bodies ached and thrived all at once; engrossed in a mix of elation and despair. Their love bloomed like springtime, shone brighter than a lumos maxima charm, and felt better than anything they had ever experienced. Yet, the thought of ever having to stop this was heart-breaking.

Once she had enveloped him fully, Ron couldn't believe the sensation. She was soft, moist, tight, warm, just… perfect. It was like he had found where he belonged. He heard her whimper and noticed her biting her lip and trying to hide her discomfort. He pulled her to him slowly, kissed her cheek and whispered into her ear, "I love you."

She gave him a smile, pulled away a bit and began to rock her hips inexpertly. Ron looked at her face, her breasts, and then down to where they were joined. It was amazing to watch his cock sheathed inside her as her flushed body swayed on top of his and her gorgeous tits bounced in the slow rhythm of their lovemaking. She was doing fantastic but she moved off him, laid flat on the bed, and with a sweet grin beckoned him to take over. He kissed her deeply, entered her, and began to gently thrust. In. Out. In. Out. In. It was the most amazing experience of their lives. They trembled with excitement and moaned their pleasure into each other's mouths as she wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.

Hermione felt like this was perfect, a bit painful and awkward, but new and unique and amazing. It was Ron, her Ron. He was not a liar and he all hers, at least for now. He broke the kiss and began to move faster keeping his eyes on hers. She started to feel the discomfort dissipate and be replaced with a thrilling fullness and a throbbing warmth that she knew would lead to something amazing. But, within a few seconds Ron tensed and shivered as he released inside her. He fell to her side and looked at her beautiful face.

"You didn't?" he questioned and simply looked into her eyes and knew. "I'm sorry," he added morosely.

"Don't be. It was great."

"But, you didn't..." he said filled with shame.

"Ron, it was the first time. It was wonderful," she answered looking right into his blue eyes and smiling sincerely.

"But, it... it barely lasted a few minutes" he uttered trying to avoid her gaze. She held his face with her hand so he would look at her.

"Honestly Ron! I love you and this was better than I had ever imagined. Plus you made me come before we did it, twice actually. We'll get better with practice."

"Really? How do you know so much about it?"

"I read."

"Is that so?" he said finally letting go of the embarrassment he had felt before and smiling.

"Yes Ron and… well I sort of know more than I would like about Estella and your brother from a night we were drinking. She shared too many things she's learned with him."

"Oi! Never, ever, mention any of my brothers in bed again."

She laughed, an honest and carefree laugh, and he joined her. Then after a few more chuckles, Ron gave Hermione his best lop-sided grin and said, "So, about practice..."

"Yeah?"

"What exactly do you have in mind?"

"Well, you wouldn't mind reading a bit and working on it?"

"Anything you want Professor Granger," he said watching Hermione get her wand and clean herself with a charm. Ron had to admit that knowing that she had to do that because she was leaking the cum that he had pumped inside her was one of the bloody hottest things ever. And after she finished and also cleaned him, he just had to kiss her. She smiled against his lips and they laid together contently kissing and chatting and teasing. Then something crossed Ron's mind and though he really didn't want to ask, he had to.

"Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"If I ask you something… you promise not to get sad… or angry?"

She looked at him with some confusion, but she noticed the worry in his face and hesitantly said, "Alright."

"Umm… when you saw… when… why were you in the basement earlier tonight?"

"Oh. I wasn't following you... I mean –"

"I didn't think. I —"

"It's okay. It's kind of a long story actually."

"Really?"

"Well… you know George came to meet Estella right?" Ron nodded. "And have you noticed the way Harry looks at Estella lately?"

"I noticed tonight. He looked at her like she was chocolate frogs and treacle tarts and quaffles all wrapped into one."

"Honestly! Leave it you to put everything in terms of food and Quidditch," Hermione stated with an amused chuckle.

"What can I say? The basics of life."

They laughed together for a bit and then Ron remembered what they had been originally talking about. "So, Harry fancies her, doesn't he?"

"Yeah."

"And how does that lead to you being in the basement?"

"Well, when Estella and George met at the masquerade it was… intense." He gave Hermione a puzzled look. "He ran to her and practically attacked her with a snog. McGonagall looked like she was going to have heart attack and Estella got two weeks of detention."

Ron wanted to laugh like mad and cheer for his brother and his shenanigans, but he thought of Harry and couldn't. He gave Hermione a concerned look as she continued. "Then the masquerade started and George and Estella entered the hall with the rest of the seventh years. They looked so happy and perfect together, all smiles and wild dancing and embraces. Which was great for them, but it was awful for the rest of us that were not with who we wanted." Ron tried to speak, but Hermione simply continued. "Harry looked so sad, but he hid it quickly. I tried to talk to him, but he brushed me of and somehow he made it through. He even said hi to George. But later, McDavol –"

"What! McDavol was there?"

"Not for too long. He arrived, greeted some people and headed straight to our table to talk to Estella. Half of our table was about ready to lose it then. Harry was the worst. You know how much he hates McDavol."

"The bloody git killed his father!"

"I know! I never said the hatred was unfounded!"

"Sorry… I just can't bloody believe that bastard was there!"

"I know. I get it. Anyway, McDavol asked Estella to talk with him in private and she refused, but he insisted. Then George got between them and drew his wand. Then Harry and I and half the YPS drew them too along with McDavol and his friends who were right behind him. Dumbledore then angrily approached and broke it off before any spells were cast. I think even McDavol was shaken by the powerful tone. Then Estella seemed to recover from fearing Dumbledore and put McDavol in his place."

"Really?" Ron asked with excitement. He was hoping Estella had thoroughly cursed that arsehole!

"Yeah. She told him that he was selfish and cruel and that he had to stop reaching out to her. That she would never join him or trust him because she would never risk having him hurt the people she loved. That she had already lost too much and if he or anyone tried to hurt George or to separate them, she would fight to the death because she knows she couldn't survive that loss. She basically chose George and the Blacks that are now her family over McDavol and told him not to get in her way unless he wanted to get hurt."

"I knew she loved George, but dammed; did she really say that in front of everyone?"

"Yeah."

"And Harry?"

"He held it together while McDavol and his mates were still around. I think the anger he felt got him to ignore the meaning of Estella's words. But after it was over, George and Estella practically sprinted out of the place together. It was pretty clear that they needed alone time to probably shag all night. That's when I knew Harry couldn't take it anymore. He tried to be discreet and told me he had to go. But I couldn't leave him suffering alone. So, I followed him out of the great hall and noticed him sprinting downstairs. I caught up to him as he entered the potions classroom and then he totally fell apart."

"I should have there! Shit!"

"I know Ron. Anyway… we talked and… he thinks he's in love."

"Oh bloody –"

Hermione interrupted, "And he knows—"

"That it can't work! That she is George's girlfriend and she is mad about him. It's pretty obvious!"

"I wasn't talking about just that."

"What then?"

"Ron, Harry knows about us."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- Flashback -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

As Hermione entered the potions classroom she saw Harry facing the teacher's desk. The one that just a couple of years ago was used by his own father. He fiddled with a couple of ingredients that had probably been left out for Slughorn's weekend brewing.

"Are you alright?" asked Hermione.

Harry tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. He picked up one of the ingredients and spoke. "Bezoar. It can act as an antidote to most poisons, you know. It's a good base for any potions that help heal exposure to toxins and even a few infections."

"That's really good knowledge, Harry. Severus would be proud."

"Yeah," Harry answered with a faraway look. He kept studying the ingredients. As he continued, he asked, "How does it feel, Hermione? When you see Ron with Anna?

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to keep her composure.

"I know, Hermione. You are my best friends. I see how you look at each other. I've seen it for years. But I didn't really understand what it meant… until now." As Harry uttered those last two words, a single tear fell down his cheek.

Hermione felt like her heart was being crushed inside her. Harry loss a parent and tonight his heart was broken. She knew the feeling. It had happened to her too. It was all so unfair. She approached him and gave him a gentle hug. Then he broke down and started to sob. She held onto him, like she was cradling a child.

"It feels like this," she said with sadness.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- End flashback -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Well, after that, he told me that he loved her. That it started when Severus was cursed and Estella was the only person that could take away the pain. She didn't do it often until Severus died. Then she was like a savior. He figured he only felt close to her because of her power so he didn't think more of it. But then Lily got her to stop using her power to help him and that didn't seem to matter. He said he looked forward to any time they spent together just talking or practicing spells or remembering Severus. He still thought it was just friendship and him getting better about his dad. Then we came back to school and everything was fine until either Estella or other people mentioned her relationship with George. He said whenever that happened he felt like he had a monster inside him. Slowly it downed on him that he fancied Estella and once he realized that, he has found so many more wonderful things about her. He told me about her strength and powers and the books she reads and how she can be funny and witty and how she's trying to manage the incredible legacy left by the Swansons. He even described the mixed up feelings he gets when she tells him about the pranks and products she helps George with. I never thought I would hear Harry talk about a girl like that. He was so vulnerable that when he asked me about us, I couldn't lie. I told how we got together and how things ended when… well you know."

"What did he say?"

"He said we shouldn't have kept it from him. But he understood our reasons. He actually apologized for the way he acted and shutting us out. He said he wished we could be together. Then he asked me to leave him alone to think. I was going pass the basement on my way back to Gryffindor and that's when I saw you."

Ron looked at Hermione pensively for a few seconds and then spoke. "I hate this. I hate that Harry as stuck as us. It's like the three of us are bound to get shit."

"Ron."

"It's bloody true! Our best mate is in love with the one bird in this school that is unattainable to him. You and I love each other but can't be together. We are all bloody miserable and I don't get why! Why did McDavol cast those horrible curses and killed Professor Snape? Why is the Black Hand causing this war? Why did Estella have to be the one Harry fell for? Why did my family get me engaged? Why does all these shit even exist?" Ron asked angrily.

Hermione knew he wasn't really asking her. Ron was asking these question to himself, to the world, to these safe walls, he didn't even know. He was just letting out his frustration.

"Does the why really matter? Because… I think that even with all those horrible things happening we still have so much. If Severus hadn't jumped in front of that curse we wouldn't have Harry, but we do. And if the war hadn't started with the flower incident we may have never spoken to each other and we wouldn't have the YPS and all our new friends. We also have baby Cassi to help care for like we promised. And… we have this time, Ron. You and me, together."

"What about when we leave Hogwart's? Hermione… I don't know how I'm supposed to let you go now."

"Me either. Maybe we won't have to. Maybe we can find a solution. Maybe we can make a difference in the war and wizarding world and change everything. But even if we can't… Ron this time with you, what we just did… it's everything."

They let a few tears fall and discussed the now that they had. They agreed that it would be better for them to pretend nothing was different. He wasn't engaged and they were simply keeping the secret relationship they started last year. It was a secret just like before even if it wasn't for Harry's sake. They would have the time they had left together be perfect and full of joy and love even if they knew their bliss would sooner or later have to end. Ron would not get with Anna Davie until they were ready to marry, even if it meant getting his mum and Anna and whoever else cared on his case.

Once their agreement was set they looked into each other's eyes, kissed and then made love again. They avoided thinking about endings and marriages and futures. They simply felt and got drunk in each other. Hermione figured out that she could feel him deeper if she raised her knees. Ron realized that putting his hand between their juncture as he thrust into her make her squirm and squeal. And by the third time, with her on top, they both climaxed and experienced the ecstasy and bliss of love together. Their bodies exploded and quivered as they loss their innocence in exchange for passion, pure carnal bliss and instinctual adoration. They were sweaty and completely satisfied and wanted to stay in the dungeon room forever. Forever together, forever loving, kissing, fucking, licking, sucking, sleeping, talking – they wanted everything. But they realized that they really needed to return to Gryffindor before the sun came up.

Finally after dressing and sharing tender kisses, they reached Gryffindor tower. They were not ready to separate, but knew they had to.

"I love you Hermione," he said in the empty common room.

"I love you too Ron, so much," she answered. He kissed her, but she moved away quickly.

"I want to stay with you, but I don't want you going to Azkaban. We have to keep it a secret. Good night," she said as she moved away towards the staircase to the girls' dormitories.

"Good night," he said watching her climb the stairs and disappear into the girls dormitories.

Well again tell me what you think with review – pretty please!

In terms of future updates, I'm not sure how long those would take. This was the last chapter that I had pre-written rough drafts for. So any new one will start from scratch and I'm starting the busy season in my job and then school. I will try my best to keep updates within a month, but I can't make promises. I do have the outline for the rest of 6th year for the story and some cool ideas, so hopefully updates will come sooner rather than later. Reviews always also motivate me :)