Disclaimer: All Characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is purely for entertainment only.

Summary: Harry died in the Forbidden Forest and Ron and Hermione must find a way to finish his mission in a world where Hermione and her blood status leaves them both in incredible danger.

Preface

Hermione and Ron rushed out of the Castle along with crowds of students to find Voldemort and his followers lining up in the Hogwarts's Courtyard as Hagrid held the lifeless body of Harry in his arms.

"Who is Hagrid holding?" Hermione whispered as she felt Ron's hand grab hers tightly. In the back of her mind she already knew the answer to her question, but she wanted desperately to be wrong.

"Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort's voice echoed through the courtyard like a volcano erupting.

"No!" Ginny's voice came through the crowd as well and the youngest Weasley rushed forward only to be thrown back by a curse shot off by one of the Death Eaters.

Hermione went to move to Ginny, on reflex, just as Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and George all did as well but she was yanked back by Ron who surprisingly didn't move toward his sister. If anything he pulled Hermione back toward the castle more.

"Ron? What are you doing?" Hermione asked in shock that he wouldn't move to be with his family.

"Shh..." Ron silenced her, never looking at her but rather keeping his eyes locked on Voldemort.

"The boy who lived is dead. This is over now, and you all shall bow to me!" Voldemort screamed as the Death Eaters cheered him on.

"All Purebloods, step forward to be spared! Half-bloods alike, if we find your bloodline worthy!!" Voldemort ordered.

Hermione was in shock, watching Harry's body carefully, waiting for the moment he would surprise them all and save them. Though that moment never came. Slowly, the Death Eaters began moving toward the crowd, and some of the students began to file into ranks, screaming if they were Purebloods so the Death Eaters wouldn't grab them.

And that was when Hermione felt Ron pull her swiftly back into the Castle, away from the crowd being swarmed on.

"We have to go. We have to get you out of here, Hermione," Ron said, desperation in his voice.

Hermione was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"You're Muggleborn. You can't stay here...you're as good as dead," Ron explained, pulling her toward the secret passage way that would lead them to Hogsmeade.

"But what about your family, Ron? We can't leave them..." Hermione said, turning back and looking toward the courtyard as Ron only pulled on her hand harder, moving them quicker than before.

Truthfully Hermione was barely comprehending anything Ron was saying or doing. She was still in shock that Harry was gone. Nothing else seemed to matter at the moment.

"They are Purebloods. Sure...technically Blood-Traitors, but Purebloods none the less...they will be fine. They won't kill them," Ron explained as he continued to pull her down the hall.

Hermione forced him to stop and face her now. She could see the desperation in his eyes but she would not be the reason he left right now. "Ron, you have to go be with your family..."

"No, Hermione, I have to be with you. You are my family now. You're all I've got. Don't you get it? I'm never leaving you, not ever again..." Ron said, his eyes burning into hers with an intensity Hermione had never seen before.

"Ron..." Hermione shook her head but she did not know what to say. She could tell from his facial expression; he was not going to listen to a word she said.

A loud boom from outside the courtyard caused them both to flinch and then Ron snap his eyes back to her. "We have to go...now..."

And so Hermione did not say another word as she let him drag her quickly to the secret passage way, his grip only tightening on her hand as they could hear more explosions and feel the castle shake. Her eyes, filled with tears for what they had just lost and for the unknown ahead.