The reunion didn't last long. Soon, they ran out of things to say, and began to plan an escape.

"What we really need," Harry said, "is a rope."

"A rope? What good would that do?" Ron asked, grumpy. He was hungry and tired.

"A rope would get us out Ronald." Hermione said, exasperated. What did she ever see in him? "But how?"

"D'you have your wand?" Harry asked.

"Yes. But-oh!" Hermione's eyes filled with realization. She pulled out her wand. "Serprenda!"

A long cord flew out of her wand. Suddenly there was an electric charge in the air, and Hermione was zapped. She cried out and dropped her wand.

"No no, pretties. No magic in there. Otherwise, electricity will course through your entire body." A voice rang out. Harry got up, enraged.

"Who are you! What right do you have to keep us here?" He helped Hermione up.

"Our Master's rights." The voice said. "He gives us the pleasure of hurting people. At least...a few more minutes longer. Until he arrives."

"And when would that be?" Ron asked sarcastically.

"Right now." Lord Voldemort fell through the top of the ceiling and in their mist.

*****

Hermione screamed and ran to Harry. He held her and stared in horror. He had no idea what the loss of his Horcruxes were doing to him.

His face was a mess. It was fat in some places, and thin in others. His body was a thin, wrecked mass. His robes hung off him. His eyes were a pale red, and the slits seemed...smaller, somehow. His skin was dark, a horrific contrast to what his skin used to look like.

"Yes Harry...this is what you made me become. A shadow of my former self, is that what you people call it? Well, never mind. I'm still 'alive and kicking', another one of your sayings. I'm getting to enjoy them. How about you?"

"You b*st*rd. Get over here and face me like a man." Harry passed Hermione over to Ron. Voldemort smiled.

"Well Miss Granger, it looks like you won't have to choose after all. This one's going to get himself killed."

"Choose what?" Harry asked Hermione, caught off guard. Ron was also looking at Hermione curiously. She hung her head.

"Ah, she didn't tell you? Don't worry,I will. You see, Hermione has to decided who is saved...and who is dead. Only one of you gets to go home. See, it makes my life so much easier. Instead of chasing three nuisiences, I only have to worry about two! I win!"

"Hermione..." Harry gave her a look of regret. Hermione whispered. "What?"

"I....love...you..." Ron thought hard.

"Prepare to die, Harry." Voldemort raised his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

"Nooo!" Ron flung himself in front of Harry, taking the full force of the Unforgivable Curse. He fell to the floor, eagle-spread, his eyes blank and lifeless.

Katie

OH MY GOSH

RON! You lovely boy!! How could you!!! HERMIONE WAS SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE YOU!!

Great post, and I CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!

NOW!

lol
Love
.:Adrienne:.

Welcome back Anna!

Ew, why would she choose Ron? Honestly, I don't like writing about Ron, he's such a git...but he's a brave, concerned, lovable git!

OKOKOK!!

Katie

"NOOO!" Hermione shrieked, and collapsed next to Ron's dead body. She covered it with her own, crying uncontrollably. Harry looked on in shock. Ron? He was his best friend. Best friends didn't just die. They lived...they were your best man at you wedding...you ran to their house when your wife was being unbearable...you grew old together, living down the block from each other...Ron...dead?

"Ooops! Sorry Harry, I aimed at you. Oh well, never mind that now. He's dead. Nothing to worry about now, hm?" Voldemort hid a chuckle unsucessfully.

"You miserable piece of garbage." Harry spat through gritted teeth. "Hermione, please...."

He got down on the floor next to Hermione. He put his arm around her. She pressed against his body. Her body still racked with tears, and she was shaking uncontrollably.

"Miserable piece of garbage, you say? I don't like the tone of your voice Harry....perhaps I should just do away with you as well?" Voldemort raised his wand again, but Hermione's voice stopped him.

"STOP IT!" She got up and snatched the wand away from Voldemort. Stunned, he didn't react. Hermione snapped his wand in a rage, and flung the pieces across the floor. Reaching up, she slapped his face.

"What-"

"NO MORE! NO MORE KILLING! I'M SICK OF IT! EVERYTHING HAS A TIME AND PLACE TO DIE, AND DAMMIT,THIS WASN'T RON'S TIME!! He had....so much more to live for..." Hermione dropped to her knees, her strength gone.

Voldemort and Harry looked at each other, then at Hermione, then at each other. Harry, not moving his eyes off Voldemort, went over to Hermione. She was shaking, but not with tears. With frustration and without hope.

"Hermione....come one. Let's go home."

"Not without Ron." Hermione said, her face hidden by her hands.

"Hermione, we can't-"

"Not...without...RON." Hermione said adamently, almost to the point of rage again. Harry nodded.

"With Ron."

He levitated Ron and helped Hermione up. He turned to Voldemort.

"Now listen, because I'm only going to say this once. We're leaving. We're going to bury our friend. Then we're going to get married, if she'll still have me. Then we're going to live happily ever after, just like the storybooks say. I don't give a flying rat's *ss what you do. That's not my problem. I just want you to...no, I demand you leave us alone. You already ruined our lives. Don't end them as well. If you continue to pursue us, I swear, I'll find you. And I won't destroy your Horcruxes. I'll just rip...every...bone...out....of...your...body. Is that clear?"

Voldemort nodded, still not focused.

"Good. Hermione, let's get out of here."

Harry held onto Hermione and Ron, and Apparated.

*****

Harry and Hermione landed in Godric's Hollow. Harry led Hermione into the house. Hermione helped put Ron on the table, so he could lay down. They both left him in the kitchen, and walked into the living room.

"Harry?"

"Yes Hermione?"

"Do you...do you still want to marry me?"

Harry faced her. She began to look away, but Harry caught her chin. He kissed her softly.

"Yes...yes I do."

Only one or two more chappies left people!

Katie

WHOA.

I didn't expect Voldie to respond like that...

I loved Hermione's line about "everyone having a time to die."

That was amazing!

MORE!
.:Adrienne:.

Wow...that earned a WHOA from Adrienne....it must have been good....WEEE!

Psh, YEAH!

It was amazing!!

So good! =)

Love
.:Adrienne:.

Not understanding...in shock most likely....if someone slapped you in the face and started yelling at you, would you do the same thing? Especially if this person didn't do anything like that?

Whoot whoot! Go 'Mione!

Yea, I just realized...two fanfics of mine are ending...you know what that means? I need...2 more fics to write!

Katie

awww that was SO sweet, and sad at the same time. Awww poor ron!! and hermione. i absolutely love this story though, you have to hurry and post more!! *looks at screen expectingly*
-Anna<3

What should have been a joyous occasion for a married-couple-to-be was instead a day of morning. After the wedding ceremony, there was a funeral. For a well-loved, best friend of both parties. Both ceremonies were brief, and both were filled with tears:

It was a small church wedding. Harry in a black tuxedo, Hermione in a periwinkle blue dress. The pastor was a young man, with an engagement ring on his finger as well. And so they were married.

"Harry James Potter."

"Yes Sir."

"Do you take this woman, Hermione Granger, to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, honor her, care for her in sickness and in health, to enjoy all your days together on earth, as long as you both shall live?"

Harry looked into Hermione's eyes. "I do."

"And do you, Hermione Granger, take this man, Harry Potter, to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, honor him, obey him, care for him in sickness and in health, to enjoy all your days together here on earth, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Hermione's eyes were shining brightly.

"Then, by the power handed down from God to me, I now pronouce you Man and Wife. You may kiss the bride."

Harry lifted Hermione's veil, and kissed her softly and tenderly.

*****

The wedding guests met up at the cemetary later on that day. As if by an act of God, the morning of Harry and Hermione's marriage was sunny and bright. Now, it was stormy, and rain threatened.

"....we are here to mourn the loss of Ronald Weasly, beloved friend and brother of...."

The minister droned on, talking about Ron's life, his accomplishments. Hermione had changed to a black dress, which made her seem smaller than she actually was. Harry watched on, impervious to the rain that had began to fall. Rain dropped onto the polished woodwork of Ron's coffin.

"...and now, to speak, Harry Potter." The minister stepped down, and Harry got up.

"Good evening. You all know who I am. I just got married this morning. But enough about me.

Ron was....a good man. And a good friend. I remember the first time I saw him. He was with his family at Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He had a smudge of dirt on his nose." Harry chuckled. "I remember sharing my compartment with him. Buying him and I snacks to eat on the train. Our first confrontation with my wife, Hermione.

Ron was always there for me. He taught me how to play Wizards Chess. He taught me that not verything had to be done at once. He taught me friendship. Ron was the meaning of loyalty. He was a loyal, kind, loving friend..." Harry's voice faultered, then steadied. "I just can't believ he's gone. But he will be missed, and will not have died in vain.

For Hermione and I are leaving. As soon as possible. We are going into hiding. So Voldemort will never find us. This will mean starting a new life, forgetting old habits and developing new ones. But there's one thing we'll never forget, and that's Ronald Weasly."

Harry stepped off the podium, shaking. Hermione helped him back to his seat, tears on her face.

They gently lowered the coffin. Raindrops covered the surface. The minister spoke the prayer of release, and Hermione stepped foward. Slowly, she tossed a fistfull of dirt onto the coffin. Harry and the mourning guests followed suite. Then, Ron's coffin was buried.

"Are you ready, love?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Yes...I believe I am." Harry put an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "Let's go home, even if for only a little while.


And that's the end of this fanfic! I want to thank everyone for their support and interest. I am now going to start writing my new fic. Hopefully, it will be up by tomorrow!

Katie

Cool beans. Really nice job! See ya in school tomorrow.

thanks Anthony!

BUT...BUT...NO!!!!!

I DON'T WANT IT TO END!!!!!!

Great job, thoa!! I loved it SO VERY much!

Love
.:Adrienne:.

PS *points* You, missy, need to PM me when you get a new fic out...kapish?

Thank you.

*huggles*

Adrienne, I promise...you shall be the first person listed when I PM everybody..capisci?

Katie

No sequel...but my new fic's up!

Katie