I wrote this because I had read a HP Fact (no idea whether or not it's true) saying that in the Chamber of Secrets, Ron and Hermione made a pact that they would survive the war together, or not at all. Being the huge romione shipper that I am, this screamed FANFIC! FANFIC! at me, so I had to write it. Enjoy!

The remains of the Horcrux littered the floor of the Chamber of Secrets. Ron stared at Hermione as she gazed at the Basilisk fang in her hand, looking as though she were not entirely sure what she had just done.

'You did it.'

She looked up, a sheepish smile on her face.

'Yeah, I – I did.'

He took a step towards her, and covered her hand with his own. She tensed for a second, and then gave his a squeeze. As he felt the pressure on his hand increase, his mind was suddenly flooded with images of a world where he wouldn't be able to take Hermione's hand. A world where she would never know how he felt about her. He knew he wouldn't be able to survive in that world, and there was a very real possibility that before this war was over that would be exactly the world he lived in. The chances of both of them living were so slim that it was very unlikely she would ever know, either because he wasn't around to tell her or – he swallowed hard – because she wasn't there to hear it.

'Hermione.'

She tore her eyes away from the scattered pieces of the cup, looked into his eyes, and replied,

'Yes, Ron?'

'I – I need to say something.'

She nodded.

'There's this – this thing, right? I don't know how to explain it, but – but I'm not going to pretend it isn't there any more. This thing between… well, it's that thing… the thing with you and m-me.'

Her breath hitched, but she did not speak.

'I know that - that this is nowhere near the proper time to discuss this, and stuff, but I have to tell you in case something happens and there isn't' – he took a deep breath – 'Isn't time to tell you. You are… so, so important, and I can't carry on in this war unless you know that if you g-get – you get k-killed, there will be nothing left for me. Do you understand? Nothing. And I think you should know that-'

He couldn't seem to continue. Tears were trickling down his face, and he wiped them hastily.

'Ron, I know,' she was saying, brushing his tears away herself. 'I know! You – are my life, you must know that by now! And I understand-'

'No!' he cut her off. 'No! Hermione, you don't! I wanted to say – you need to know that – if you aren't there at the end… I won't be either.'

He watched as his words sunk in, and she blinked away a tear of her own.

'Then if you aren't there at the end, I won't be either.'

He pulled her into a hug, and held her tight. He had a desperate urge to kiss her, to seal what they had practically just confessed. But at that moment, the walls of the Chamber shuddered, and they could see their time out from the war was over. Without another word, they gathered up the rest of the fangs and began to run the Chamber exit.

It didn't matter, now, if they never came out of this war alive.

They had said what had needed to be said, and that was what was important.

Thanks for reading! Hope you liked it and please review :)

I love you all,

Iliketotastetherainbow x