A/N: I'm so sorry its been a while guys! I started university and I'm up to my neck in coursework! I will try to post chapters more often but I can't promise! Hope y'all understand!

I Don't Wanna Be

Ron's POV

Ron tossed and turned in his bed, enduring the same nightmare he had had for the past few nights.

Hermione lay, almost lifeless, in the middle of Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix LeStrange hung over her, cackling like a mad woman. Hermione looked Ron right in the eyes, her tear stained face pale and ghostly.

"Ron", her voice croaked. "Help me", she begged weakly. Ron searched every pocket on his person to find his wand, but it was nowhere to be found. He then began to run, but no matter how fast and how long he ran, Hermione remained at the same distance, curse after curse being cast upon her by Bellatrix. "RON! RON!", she cried out in agony.

"I'm coming, Hermione! I'm trying! I'm coming!", he called out to her, angry tears rimming his eyes as he continued to run, still getting no further than he had started.

Ron was quickly awoken by Harry shaking him by the shoulders, a worried look plastered across his face.

"Ron, you were shouting again, mate", Harry told him.

"Was I?", Ron faked his confusion as he wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. Harry gave a deep sigh before sitting on the end of his bed.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?", Harry asked. Ron sighed as he grabbed his deluminator and used it to fill his room with light.

"You're gonna think I'm a prat", he said.

"I always think you're a prat", Harry joked. Ron chuckled lightly, feeling a little more confident than he had before.

"You know Hermione stayed here the other night? In my bed? With me?", Ron began.

"I'm not sure I like where this is going", Harry grimaced.

"No! It's nothing like that!", Ron blushed before sighing once more. "She had this really awful nightmare. I was just laying there, asleep, with my arm around her and then the next thing I know she starts shaking like she was laying out in the cold, and then she started screaming and twitching and crying. She was dreaming about what happened back at Malfoy's", he told him sadly.

"That's horrible. Poor Hermione", Harry gave a sad sigh.

"I keep dreaming that we're back there. And I keep running for her but nothing ever happens! I just want to protect her, Harry", Ron admitted.

"You did protect her, Ron", Harry told him, smiling warmly.

"But I want to carry on protecting her. Properly! I want to make her feel safe", Ron told him, sighing angrily as he thought hard. The pair sat in silence, Ron thinking intensely, until something hit him. "Harry!", he suddenly said. Harry acknowledged. "I could be an Auror!", he said.

"What?", Harry replied.

"I've always loved Defence Against The Dark Arts. Lets be honest; it was the one subject I was alright at! And that way, I can protect Hermione, and my family, and everyone!", Ron became excited.

"Are you sure about this?", Harry asked.

"I've never been more sure about anything in my entire life!", he grinned. "Maybe this is who I'm meant to be. I know it's who I'd like to be", he continued.

"What will Hermione think of it though?", Harry asked. Ron's grin suddenly dropped. He knew that this may make Hermione feel safe, but then there was the possibility of her worrying about his safety.

…

"Hello, Ronald. What a lovely surprise", Mrs Granger smiled as she opened the door to Ron.

"Hi, Mrs Granger. Is- is Hermione home?", he asked nervously.

"Yes, she's just upstairs. Come in and make yourself comfortable, I'll let her know you're here", she smiled warmly, stepping aside and allowing Ron to go inside. "Hermione, love! Ronald's here!", she called up the stairs as Ron sat down on the sofa. "She won't be long. Would you like something to drink?", she asked.

"Yes, please", Ron responded shyly.

"Tea? Coffee? Juice? Water?", she offered.

"Teas fine, thank you", Ron smiled. Mrs Granger smiled back at him before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Ron?", he heard Hermione's voice.

"Hey", he smiled brightly at her as she joined him on the sofa, hugging him tight.

"What are you doing here? I had no idea-", she smiled.

"Just wanted to see you", he told her. Hermione blushed as she grinned.

"Here we are", Mrs Granger returned, carrying two cups of tea, handing one to Hermione and one to Ron.

"Thank you, mum", Hermione smiled warmly.

"Thanks, Mrs Granger", Ron followed suit.

"You're welcome", Mrs Granger smiled as she took a seat in the armchair across from them. "So, Ronald; how are your parents?", she asked.

"They're good, thank you", he replied.

"Good to hear", Mrs Granger smiled warmly. Hermione had noticed that Ron seemed a little nervous about something, he thought.

"Mum, do you mind if Ron and I go upstairs to talk?", she suddenly asked.

"No, not at all, sweetheart", she smiled. Hermione got up, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek before heading upstairs, closely followed by Ron. Ron had never been in Hermione's bedroom, and it was everything he expected it to be and more. The walls were a pale lilac colour and there was a double bed neatly made and cosy-looking in the middle of the room. Two bookcases took up quite a lot of space in the corner of the room, each one containing many books and a desk with a pile of parchment and a few quills sat just by the window.

"What is it, Ron?", Hermione asked.

"What's what?", he asked in return.

"You seem like you have something you need to talk about", she told him. He loved how she could read him like that.

"I wanted your opinion on something actually", he began as he sat down on the bed beside her. Hermione raised her eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. "I think I've figured out what I wanna do- now I'm done with Hogwarts", he told her.

"Oh really? Ron, that's wonderful! What is it?", she asked excitedly. Ron took a deep, nervous breath before taking her hands within his own.

"I want to be an Auror", he admitted, struggling to look her in the eyes.

"Really?", she said. Ron only nodded his head. "Ron. Look at me", she told him. Ron looked up at her. She was smiling warmly at him as she caressed the back of his hand with her thumb. "If you want to be an Auror, then that's brilliant, and I will support you 110%! Don't look so worried", she told him.

"I just didn't want you to worry", he told her shyly. Hermione sighed.

"Of course I'll worry. I always worry", she chuckled. "But, this is what you want and I would never dream of standing in the way of that". Ron sighed in relief, smiling brightly at her as their fingers intertwined.

"Merlin. I love you, Hermione", he said without a second thought. Only a couple of seconds had passed before Ron quickly blushed bright red, realising what he had just said and that this was the first time he had said it.

"Come again?", Hermione's eyes widened. At a time like this, Ron would burrow his head in the sand and try to forget avoid it. But not this time. He could feel it in his heart. He had always loved her, and he wanted her to know it.

"I love you", he said again, rather bravely. "You don't have to say it back or anything. I just want you to know. I- I do love you", he continued, before looking down at his knees.

"Ron", she spoke as she lifted his head up to look back at her. "I love you too", she smiled warmly. Almost in an instant, his lips crashed into hers, with a force neither of them had experienced before. Ron had always thought Lavender Brown's kisses were the stuff passion was made of, but he had no idea how wrong he was. He felt as though he could feel his blood rushing through his veins. He became very aware of his heart beating within his chest as he placed his hand on her thigh. He felt comfortable knowing that she felt the same as she ran her fingers helplessly through his hair. He enjoyed this side of Hermione. Heck, he enjoyed all sides of her, but this one was new and exciting for both of them. He suddenly found his hand moving further up her thigh, not really realising that his hand was so close to her behind when their kissing came to a sudden stop and he realised.

"Oh, Merlin! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to- I didn't realise! I'm such a prat", he stumbled over his words, his face getting redder by the second.

"Ron, it's okay", she told him, blushing slightly herself.

"No, it's not okay. I don't want you to feel like I'm pushing you into anything", he admitted.

"I don't feel that way, Ron. I- I want to", she told him nervously.

"You- you do?", he asked, surprised by her admission. She nodded.

"I just- I don't want my first time to be like this. I always pictured something really romantic. And as much as I was enjoying myself- I don't want it to start with a quick fumble in my bedroom whilst my mum sits downstairs drinking tea!", she explained.

"Then it will be romantic", Ron told her, taking her hand within his. "If you really want to-", he became embarrassed.

"I do", she said, blushing brightly.

"Then- Then we'll plan it", he smiled confidently. "No parents, no quick fumbling. It'll be everything you want and deserve", he told her. She smiled brightly at him before kissing him gently.

"How did I ever get so lucky?", she asked him.

"I should ask you the same thing", he replied.