"Will you be there?"

"Will you be there?"

"Hey! Ron! You dropped your quill!" cried Neville Longbottom as he quickly bent down to pick up the quill, and hurried after Ron.

"I'm late for Potions!" said Ron anxiously as he hurried down the corridor.

His book bag was starting to rip, but he didn't know it. He began hurrying down the stairs. Suddenly, a ripping sound erupted from the bottom of Ron's bag. All of his books, parchment, inkbottles and extra quills spilled out all over the stairs. His left foot tripped over one of the books that began sliding down the stairs. He fell forward down the stairs. He rolled down about fourteen steps, before Ron cracked the back of his head on the last step.

"RON!" cried Neville as he hurried down the stairs after him.

Ron propped himself up onto his elbows and looked dazedly at Neville.

"Neville? What happened?" he asked.

"You fell down the stairs!" said Neville, looking white and sick as he crouched down beside him.

"Neville? What happened?" asked a voice from the top of the stairs.

Ron and Neville looked up. It was Harry and Hermione. Both had terrified and anxious expressions.

"Ron fell down the stairs," said Neville.

Harry and Hermione hurried down.

"Are you OK?" demanded Harry as he gently helped Ron to his feet.

"Yeah, but what's today's date?" asked Ron frowning.

"The twelfth of November," said Hermione.

"And the day?"

"Thursday," replied Harry, looking worriedly at Hermione.

"Don't you remember?" asked Hermione.

"No. I can't remember anything after I fell. I might've blacked out for a moment," said Ron, pressing the heel of his palms against his temples. His head felt like a firecracker had gone off in it.

"OK. You're going straight to Madam Pomfrey," said Harry firmly as he and Hermione grabbed Ron under the armpits and began helping him to the hospital wing.

"He fell down the stairs, Madam Pomfrey. He says he can't remember anything after he fell," said Harry as Ron sat down on one of the cots.

"Hmm," said Madam Pomfrey as she peered into Ron's blue eyes. "Well, I'm not an expert at muggle medicine, but I do see that his pupils are unequal and there's bruising around the eyes,"

Harry and Hermione peered into Ron's eyes also.

"What does that mean?" asked Hermione worriedly.

"Well, from the bit of muggle medicine I did, it suggests a head trauma. He must've hit his head on one of the steps,"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other.

"Can you help him?" asked Harry, swallowing a lump that had begun to rise in the back of his throat.

"Well, I'm going to have to do some tests. Right now, he needs to be kept an eye on. I want you two to go back to class. You can check on him later," said Madam Pomfrey as she gently ushered Hermione and Harry out of the hospital wing.

As Hermione and Harry sat in Transfiguration, their nerves began wearing down to almost the wire. After their classes, they hurried back to the hospital wing to check on Ron, but he wasn't there.

"Where's Ron?" demanded Harry.

Madam Pomfrey's expression was grave and solemn.

"Mr. Weasley had to be sent to a muggle hospital. His breathing began getting poor and he wasn't responding,"

"Wasn't responding?" asked Hermione in a small voice.

"He slipped into unconsciousness. He wasn't responding to my voice, or touch. The Weasley's were contacted and are at the muggle hospital in London," said Madam Pomfrey quietly. "Their wishes are that I keep you two posted. Right now, he's in what they call 'critical' condition. I promise to let you to know if anything happens,"

Harry and Hermione left the hospital ward quiet. They headed up to the Gryffindor common room. They sat down in front of the fire, which cracked softly. The orange glow reflecting off their faces.

"Harry, what if something happens to him?" asked Hermione quietly staring at her hands.

"He's going to be just fine, 'Mione," said Harry reassuringly, although he felt some fear and didn't believe his own words.

Over the next four days, Madam Pomfrey kept her promise about keeping them posted. Ron's situation had been going up and down. For two days, he was conscious and eating. Then the next two he slipped back into unconsciousness.

On the fifth day, Harry and Hermione would be getting some devastating news.

They were sitting in Potions, working on a new potion, when Professor McGonagall entered the classroom. Harry and Hermione looked up. Her expression was less than cheerful. Immediately, Harry's heart stopped. He looked at Hermione. Her face had gone pale and she looked sick.

"Excuse me, Professor Snape, may I speak with Mr. Potter and Miss. Granger?" asked Professor McGonagall solemnly and quietly.

Professor Snape nodded and Harry and Hermione got up and walked toward the front of the classroom. Professor McGonagall led them outside and then faced them.

"I'm afraid I have some rather grave news. Mr. Weasley...."

Harry had cut her off.

"Don't say it. Please, let it not be true," said Harry swallowing a large lump of tears.

"I'm afraid so, Mr. Potter. From what the Weasley's told me, the doctors said that there was fluid in Mr. Weasley's brain. They put him on a respirator as well because his breathing was poor. He wasn't responding to anything. He passed away twenty minutes ago,"

Hermione grabbed Harry's arm above the elbow. Harry felt her trembling.

"I'll have Mr. Longbottom retrieve your things. You are exempt from classes," said Professor McGonagall as she entered the classroom.

Hermione began sinking to her knees. She sat back on the heels of her feet, hugged herself and began rocking back and forth.

Hold me, like a river Jordan, and I will then say to thee, you were my friend. Carry me, like you were my brother, love me like a mother, will you be there?

Vary, tell me will you hold me, when wrong will you scold me, when lost will you find me. But they told me, I meant to be faithful, and walk but not able, and fight till the end but I'm only human.

Hermione burst into tears and began sobbing. Harry stood, in shock and disbelief.

His best friend was gone. His best friend for four years. Gone.

Harry slowly sank to his knees in front of Hermione. He put his hands on her shoulders.

"Ron wouldn't want us to cry, 'Mione," said Harry as his fight to keep the tears from rising began going down hill.

Hermione only sobbed in response. Then, it all came out like a dam bursting. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione and pulled her against him. She pressed her face into his shoulder and sobbed. He pressed his face into her hair and began sobbing also.

Free me, love me and free me, kiss me and free me, I will feel glad. Carry, carry me and hold me, lift me up slowly, carry me there. Sway me, feel me and weigh me, softly you'll sway me, I will be there. Lift me, lift me up slowly, carry me and hold me, show me you care.

After what seemed like hours, Harry and Hermione felt like they couldn't cry any more. Professor Dumbledore had allowed them to return home to attend the funeral. Harry and Hermione hugged Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Fred, George, Charlie and Bill. Ginny was crying. George hugged her.

While the service began, it felt strange to Harry, sitting there at his best friend's funeral. It felt like a dream, like it wasn't really happening. He'd wake up and there would be Ron tomorrow, grinning and joking as usual. But in his heart, he knew that it wasn't true. This was really happening. Harry glanced next to him at Hermione. Her eyes were red and puffy and she was staring at the carpet as if in a daze. He gently pressed the side of his head against hers. She just looked at him and continued to stare at the carpet.

After the service, Harry pulled Hermione aside.

"Are you holding up OK?"

"I don't know. I don't know anymore," said Hermione as she began shaking.

"Hey," said Harry, kindly and quietly. "I miss Ron too. We'll get through this. Trust me."

He gently took Hermione's face in his hands.

She stared into his eyes. Harry stared back into hers before wrapping his arms around her again and pulling her tightly against him. Hermione rested her chin on his shoulder and felt the tears forming all over again. Harry pressed his face into her hair.

"I'm here if you need me," whispered Harry softly and quietly.

He pulled back from the embrace and gently took her chin. The tears were shining in her dark brown eyes. Harry hesitated for a moment, before he moved his face closer to hers until their lips met. He gently kissed Hermione. When he pulled back, she was smiling weakly.

He smiled back and they headed after the Weasley's.