Hello all! Here is chapter 4. I have been trying to make the time between posts as small as possible, but school is starting soon and I am afraid I won't be able to post much, seeing as the amount of work I have to do will surely increase a lot, but let's hope not too much ;). I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I am not J. (That's quite obvious...^-^) and I don't own any characters from the Harry Potter world (I just wish I did). Please don't sue me.

Fact 3: Ron promised Hermione he would never leave her side again while she was recovering at Shell Cottage.

Ron's P.O.V:

How can I have let this happen? Why Hermione? Why not me? Ron thought as he ran towards Shell Cottage, Hermione in his arms. His legs were trembling and his arms were sore, but he didn't care. All he wanted right now was for Hermione to survive. He looked down at her without stopping. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was half opened, she was very pale and some blood could be spotted in her neck, dripping from the cut she had there. Her chest was rising very slowly, and he wished it would never stop. This is all my fault! If I had just fought harder, if I hadn't been in that bloody cellar all the time, I could have gotten to her sooner. He kept blaming himself, not knowing that it was him who had saved her life.

When he was a few meters from the cottage, Bill came out of the door and hurried towards them, a panicked expression plastered in his face.

"Ron! What happened?! Oh Merlin is she…?" He drifted off, afraid of what he was about to say.

"No, but she is very weak, please Bill you have to help her, please!" Ron begged.

"Of course, lay her down on the bed in the guests' room. But, you will have to tell me what happened"

"I can't, sorry" Ron answered quickly eager to get in the house.

"Ron, you have to! I don't care what Dumbledore told Harry, I have to know!"

"I don't bloody care! Look Bill, Hermione is injured and needs help. Telling you what happened is way far from my top priority! Ron shouted. He couldn't believe his brother of all people would act like that when Hermione's almost lifeless body was in his arms. Not waiting for an answer, he got inside and ran upstairs until he found the room he was looking for. Once there, he put Hermione on the bed and sat on the chair next to it. A few seconds later Fleur entered the room.

"What 'appened?" She asked with concern, looking at Hermione.

"I can't tell you, I'm sorry"

"Ronald, I don't want to know where you were, why zis 'appened or 'ow it 'appened. I just need you to tell me what zey did to 'Ermione so we can 'elp 'er." Fleur explained. She really meant what she had said, and although her healing abilities weren't the same has the ones of a Healer in St. Mungo's, she wasn't the worst at it and she was determined to do her best.

"Well, I wasn't really there but I know they tortured her with the cruciatus curse several times, and she has a cut on her throat made by a cursed knife. I… I don't know what else they did to her, I just… hope there isn't anything else…" Ron couldn't finish his sentence as he felt tears in his eyes. He quickly blinked them away. He hardly ever cried, and when he did, no one would see him and he didn't want this to be the first time in years.

"Don't worry Ronald, she is safe now. I zink I know some potions to 'elp with internal damage that the curse might 'ave made. Oh, and please Ronald, you 'ave to leave.

"What!? No! I won't leave her side!" He answered, scandalized. When had come back he had promised that he would never leave Hermione again, this was no time to break the promise.

"I need to change 'er Ronald, if not it will be more dificult to 'eal 'er."

"Oh, right, sorry. But please let me in when you are done." Ron answered, a bit unsure about his decision. Then, he took Hermione's hand and kissed it softly to say goodbye. She stirred and opened her eyes.

"R-Ron? Where are we?" She asked, her voice was weak and cracking with every word. "Am I dead?"

"No Hermione, we are safe now" He whispered. He couldn't keep control over his tears anymore and they started to fall freely down his face. "Dobby brought us to Bill and Fleur's cottage, it is all over now."

Hermione tried to get up, but winced in pain and stayed still. Ron still couldn't believe it. He had heard her voice again, he had seen her eyes open once more and had seen her move. This made Ron have a feeling of hope he had lost when Harry had said You-Know-Who's name. Then he remembered they were still in Shell Cottage and Hermione needed to be healed, so he sat up and looked at her.

"Hermione, I have to leave for a few minutes so that Fleur can help you get clean. I promise I will be right back when you call me" Ron said with a concerned voice. He really didn't want to leave her, even if it was just for some minutes. But he understood it wouldn't be proper to be there while she changed. He headed towards the door and once he had gone through it, he closed it. He sat on the floor with his back on wall and closed his eyes.

Ten minutes later Fleur came out of the room looking somehow relieved.

"Ronald, I 'ave to get some potions and I will be back in some minutes. You can go in." She informed. Ron got up and entered the room.

Hermione was in a sitting position on the bed, her back against some cushions. She was wearing what Ron guessed was one of Fleur's night gowns and a really thick bandage could be seen on her left forearm. She wasn't as pale as she was before but he could still see the dark bags under her eyes, which were closed.

He sat on the chair next to her bed and took her hand in his. At his touch, Hermione opened her eyes and looked at him, smiling weakly.

"Hey" She whispered.

"Hey" Ron said softly "How are you feeling?"

"Better than before, but it is still pretty awful" She answered. Her voice wasn't as weak as when she had talked to him a few minutes earlier which made Ron a little more relieved. But still, there was an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Guilt, that's what it is he thought after all, I could have spared her that, and I didn't try hard enough…

"Look Hermione, I…" He took a deep breath "I am so sorry about what happened, if I had just fought harder I would have been able to… I don't know… maybe you wouldn't be like this I just…" And then Ron sighted as the truth hit him. "I wish I could have done something for you because all I have done this last year is disappoint you, I even left you and Harry!. Hearing you and not being able to do anything about it was agonizing and I just wish I could have been there for you, but I wasn't…" Tears were falling down his face once again. Ron looked at her in the eye for the first time since he had started talking and was surprised to see that Hermione had silent tears rushing down her cheeks as well, but her expression was far from disappointment or anger. It was caring and full of love.

"Ron… you were with me, through all of it. Hearing you calling for me was what kept me sane. You kept me fighting, you are the reason why I am here. So don't ever pity yourself because you are one of the bravest man I have ever met. And I don't care if you left us because I understand that the locket affected you most. I have forgiven you Ron, even if I don't really show it, I have." She closed her eyes when she finished, exhausted. Ron was overwhelmed. Hearing Hermione say that had warmed his heart and doubled the number of tears his eyes were letting go. He wanted to tell her that he loved her, but decided against it as now was not the time or the place.

"I will never let something like that happen to you again, ever. I will never leave you again, I promise." Ron said instead. He kissed her hand again and noticed how she squeezed his.

"Is everyone okay?" Hermione asked, fear present in her voice and eyes still closed.

"I…I don't know…" Ron answered, he was beginning to worry, realising he hadn't made sure that no one was injured. "When we arrived I immediately brought you here."

Suddenly, as if he had been hearing the conversation, Bill entered the room. Ron got scared at his expression, one that he had only seen in his older brother's face at the end of the Tri Wizarding tournament when Harry and Cedric had appeared with the cup, the Hufflepuff student, dead.

"What happened?"

"Ron, Hermione… the elf, Dobby, is dead. Harry said he was stabbed in the chest with a dagger." Bill informed.

"Oh no!" Hermione gasped. Her hold on Ron's hand tightened as tears started falling once again from her eyes. Ron kneeled next to the bed and hugged her carefully, afraid of hurting her. Soon he felt a wet spot on his shoulder, but he didn't withdraw from the hug, Hermione needed him. He looked at Bill over Hermione's shoulder and Bill nodded and turned to leave. Just as he was about to leave Ron's sight though, he turned around.

"Harry is digging a grave on a little hill a few meters away from here." He said and then left.

A minute later, Hermione withdrew herself from the hug and looked at Ron. "Ron" She said "Could you help me stand? I would like to go to that hill Bill mentioned"

"Wait Hermione, I know you want to go and I understand. But you have to realize that you are still too weak to go. I will stay here if you want and help you when you are able to walk but now it's too early. Besides, Fleur said she needed to get some potions and she will be back here soon. How about we stay here until the potions have done effect and then go help Harry?"

"Okay" She agreed. Ron was a little taken aback, she had never agreed so easily to something he suggested. "But" Ha! I wouldn't have gotten away with this that easy he thought as she continued "you have to go help Harry. He shouldn't do this alone."

"Are you sure? Hermione I don't want to leave you alone again. I promised you I wouldn't and I won't."

"Ron, I will be alright. You yourself said it, Fleur will be here any minute. Once the potions have taken effect I will come" She said. Ron frowned at her last statement, he didn't want her to make any effort after what she had been through. "And you won't be able to stop me" She added when she noticed his reaction.

"Alright, but don't make any excessive effort please" Ron said. He kissed her head and went away.

He headed towards the hill, finally realizing that no one was safe. People had already died, but he didn't really know them. Now, Dobby was gone and Hermione had almost followed him, and it all had hit him. Not only bad guys died in wars, hell maybe he would die! But it would all be worth it. For a better future.

This is it! I am sorry if I didn't get the French accent quite right, I just tried to do it like J. and I may have missed something. If you liked it please review, favourite or follow. Please if you have noticed some mistakes (Harry Potter related or others…) tell me and if you want me to write about one fact in particular don't hesitate and ask me. Thanks a lot for reading and to those who reviewed, followed or favorited. Au revoir!