AN: So not exactly what's going on in the book at this point but i had to change it to work. JKR owns all, i just write a bit. Please Review, criticize and all that jazz.

The castle had been breached. Voldemort's army was swarming into the brick building that had once been a sanctuary for young minds. Spells flew left and right. Killing spells from the Death Eater side, countered by stunning or disarming spells by the members of the Order, Dumbledore's Army and the rest of Hogwarts students that had started to fight. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley sprinted, hands clasped together tightly holding onto one another for dear life, through the mess of the students still trying to flee before the fighting became overwhelming. Suddenly Ron slammed to a stop causing a terrified looking first year to slam into his back and Hermione's arm to be wretched back painfully.

"Ronald! What are you doing? We have to find Harry and destroy this!" Hermione exclaimed a frantic, borderline panicked look in her eye as she waved the Hufflepuff horcrux in her hand.

"Harry doesn't have anything that will destroy it, but a basilisk fang would!" Ron shouted excitedly, starting to tug her back the way they came.

"We don't have a basili...oh my god, Ron, that's brilliant!" She shouted, understanding of where he was trying to drag her to suddenly washing over her.

"Always the tone of surprise." Ron called over his shoulder, with a playful smirk. Ron had been just a part of the trio for so long it felt good to finally be able to feel like he had helped. Harry was always the Chosen one and Hermione had always been the brains. He had always been Just Ron, not so bright or athletic sidekick to the boy who lived.

"Shouldn't we find Harry and tell him?" Hermione asked as they ran down the flights of stairs, dodging students trying to make it to the relative safety of their common rooms.

"It'll waste time if we find Harry. We have the horcrux and we're getting closer and closer to one of the few things that will destroy it with every step we take. Let's just get rid of it and then try to find Harry. He's busy searching for the diadem, finding him would only waste our time and his."

"How will we get into the Chamber? You said Harry had to talk parseltongue to it for it to open, neither of us are parselmouths, Ron." Hermione argued, slowing. If they had to find Harry she didn't want to wait until they were all the way at the entrance to the Chamber, that would waste more time than going to find him now.

Ron felt the pull on his arm, stopped and turned to face Hermione. He could tell her rapid breathing wasn't just from running. She was scared. Hell, he was scared. They were in the middle of a war zone, racing past terrified classmates, trying to find reach the one thing that could kill a sadistic dark wizard. Who wouldn't be terrified. Ron stared into her eyes, seeing the panic start to creep slowly into the light brown that he had come to dream about almost every night and wanted nothing more than to wrap her in her arms, hold her close and protect her from all the evils of the world. He wished he could save her from this nightmare of a world they lived and in that moment he knew he would risk anything to keep her safe, even if it meant he lost his own life. In that moment he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved Hermione Granger and wanted nothing more than to live a peacefully, simple life with her forever. He wanted to tell her how that he loved her but the only words that escaped his lips were, "Harry talks in parseltongue in his sleep sometimes. I think I can remember how it goes."

Hermione nodded and with a deep breath took off running towards the second floor girl's lavatory, pulling Ron along with. Within a few strides they were running even. After two more flights of stairs and a long sprint down a deserted corridor they arrived at the door the lavatory. Ron stopped and grabbed both of Hermione's hands in his.

"Ron, we have to hurry!" Hermione protested, trying to free her hands and continue into the bathroom.

"I have to say something, before we get to caught up in the battle. With all that's going on, I might never have a chance again." Ron explained, keeping her hands in an iron grip as she fought him. Her attempts to escape stopped and she looked up at him expectantly. "Hermione Granger, we've known each other our whole time at Hogwarts and I know I've been a total ass for the majority of it but I...I want...no...I think...I.."

"Spit it out, Ronald! Voldemort's getting closer and closer with every second we waste." Hermione exclaimed, annoyed with his stammering.

Ron's eyes narrowed in frustration and he snapped, "Fine! I think I love you! Happy?" He released her hands and crossed his arms over his chest.

Hermione ducked her head shyly and pushed a strand of her bush hair behind her ear. When she looked up her face was lit up with the biggest grin Ron had ever seen. "I think I love you too, Ronald Weasley, and I would love more than anything to spend as much time as I can with you after this bloody war is over, if Harry defeats Voldemort."

"When Harry defeats Voldemort, you mean." Ron said with a grin, his clear blue eyes lit up in with happiness for the first time in months. He had told Hermione he loved her and she hadn't walked away from him or slapped him. In fact, she'd confessed that she loved him to. They had to win this war, so he could be with the girl he loved. Ron held out a freckled hand and grinned even wider as Hermione took it and interlocked her fingers with his and pushed open the door to the bathroom.

Hermione and Ron stood in front of the circular podium of sinks. "Which one is it?" Hermione asked, all the of the sinks looked exactly the same.

Ron pointed to the two directly in front of them. "It's one of those ones. I'm not sure exactly which one, I haven't been here since second year." Ron replied taking a step towards the sinks.

"Maybe you know, hmm?" A voice called from behind the sinks and Draco Malfoy was pushed out into the open. Ron whipped out his wand, his body facing Draco but was disarmed quickly as a Death Eater that jumped out from one the stalls, judging by the small surprised squeak that came from his right, he assumed Hermione had been disarmed as well. Two more Death Eater's stepped out from behind the sinks. Ron felt his stomach drop in dread, how could they have been so stupid as to run into a trap? Obviously, the Death Eater's had been waiting for them. He should have known that Voldemort would protect the Chamber. He felt so stupid, the one time he felt like he could actually help his friends he only managed to lead Hermione into a trap.

"When I say 'go', run. Do you understand?" Ron whispered, his lips barely moving. Hermione made a small noise to indicate she heard.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Didn't your mommy ever teach you not to keep secrets? You're not even all that good at it." One of the masked Death Eaters that had come from behind the sinks, mocked before he snarled, "You're not going anywhere. Grab them!"

One of the Death Eaters that had snuck up behind them suddenly grabbed Ron and pressed his wand to the boy's neck. Ron turned his head slightly to see that the other Death Eater had grabbed Hermione and his eyes narrowed in anger as he watched the man's hands slowly creep up to Hermione's chest. "Let her go! You can have me!" Ron snarled struggling in vain against his captor.

"Ron, stop. Fighting won't help us at all." Hermione said from where she was being held off to his right. He could hear the fear and the tinge of disgust in her voice.

How could he not fight? How could he just remain calm as some unknown Death Eater groped his...girlfriend? He still wasn't even sure what they were and he had already led her into danger that caused her to be violated. He snarled and struggled against his captor's hold once again but the Death Eater held strong.

"They weren't exaggerating about you being the brains of this operation were they?" The Death Eater that was obviously in charge said his tone dripping sarcasm. The Death Eater's head turned in Ron's direction. "I really don't want you, gingy. You wouldn't be as much fun as her." He drawled, before reaching up to take off his mask. Dolohov.