Also written for the Harry Potter Chapter Challenge (The Phoenix Lament - write about protection)

Also written for the Acrostic-y Challenge of Chapter Titles II (The Burrow)

Trying

The moment had her sitting on Ron's bed, looking at her hands. He was sitting in an old chair opposite her. Neither of them spoke a word to each other due to the shock they were still experiencing.

Did he really just do that? Hermione glanced up for a brief moment, but he wasn't watching her. He was lost in thought, probably; it playing in his mind over and over again.

Could she blame him? What he had just done was… she had never expected it to happen like that. Of course, she had hoped that it would be the case if it came down to it, but she supposed she had never expected it to come down to it. It was something only seen in movies or on television shows; or read in books. But this time he had done it.

"Ron." His name came from her mouth before she realised what she was doing. He looked at her, but she had nothing else to say apart from, "Ron. Thank you."

He nodded, still in shock from what had happened.

Hermione patted the spot on his bed that was still empty. Reluctantly, he moved to join her. It was almost as if they had reverted back to the days of their sixth year, dancing around each other, too shy to confess their true feelings.

It shouldn't have been the case, though. He had just… well he had just saved her life, essentially. The war had taught her to be constantly on guard, to be watching for danger all of the time. But around him, she seemed to let her guard down. She felt safe with him; she always had.

"Hermione." Like her, he seemed to choke her name out.

"Yes?" She looked at him hopefully, as if they could finally speak to each other.

"I… I love you, Hermione. And I don't just mean as a friend." He was bright red now, and Hermione smiled.

"Oh, Ron. I love you, too." She threw her arms around his neck, which he seemed to appreciate.

"And about earlier –"

"You should feel nothing but pride," Hermione interrupted before he could say anything to counter it. "You saved my life. You risked your own for me."

She wasn't sure how Ron could go any redder, but he did. "I, well, you would have done the same," he answered with uncertainty.

Hermione nodded. "I would have, Ron. You know I would have."

He smiled and Hermione smiled back. If it wasn't for Ron running out of the Burrow's kitchen, his wand drawn and shouting, she wouldn't be here right now. It was hard to imagine that Death Eaters were still on the prowl and after them. If he had not been looking out the window at that time, watching and smiling at how lucky he was to have her, the ending would have been an entirely different story.

His shouting had distracted the masked Death Eater, and instead of the flash of green light being for Hermione, it was turned onto Ron. And with a shocked Hermione watching, he had deflected it with ease and stunned the Death Eater until the authorities came.

A tear leaked down Hermione's cheek as she remembered only a few hours ago, and she threw her arms around Ron again, holding him close. She had never felt safer with anyone before. Despite all of their ups and downs, he had always tried to protect her and keep her safe. And she knew that even in twenty years, he would never stop. He would always keep trying.

Even if it killed him.

I hope you liked it! Thank you for reading :)