Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A New Beginning

The sun was shining brightly and the wind ruffled his hair. Ron Weasley sat by the lake, leaning against a tree, looking at the birds flying in the sky, listening to the wind in the trees. This was a moment that he loved, just sitting here not caring about the rest of the world. It was just him, the birds, the trees and the wind.

Ron looked around, memorizing every inch around him. He couldn't believe that he was to be leaving this. This was home. Sure he called the Burrow home but this was different, he had spent the last seven years of his life here. He loved this place. He had some of his best (and worst) memories. It was on his first train ride here that he had met Harry and Hermione.

Ron smiled to himself at the thought of Hermione. Sure both she and Harry were, but she was so much more. She was... well, she was Hermione. It had taken them a while, six years to be honest, to tell each other how they truly felt. But Ron thought it had been worth the wait, he was happier than ever.

He closed his eyes, listening to the wind; he wished he didn't have to leave. He wanted to stay. Ron liked sneaking out, playing quidditch with Harry, sitting by the lake in the sun, and sitting in the Common room late at night snogging with Hermione and kissing her goodnight before watching her disappear up the girls' staircase.

Ron sighed, but of course there was a life waiting to be discovered, a new life. He only hoped that Hermione would be there to discover it with him. As soon as Harry had recovered from his fight with you-know-who he'd be there with them as usual.

All the exams were finished and he was done packing, there were no more quidditch practices, no more homework and Voldemort was gone, Ron smiled. The sun burned in his face and the wind wasn't blowing as violently as before. And before he knew it he was fast asleep.

When he woke up he found Hermione sitting next to him, her head on his shoulder. He smiled and kissed her forehead. She looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

'He's gone,' she said, tears pouring down her cheeks.

'What?' asked Ron. He knew what she meant but he didn't want to believe it.

'Harry, h-he... he's gone,' said Hermione. 'He's... dead.'

'But... but he was going to be all right. They said so, the healers they... they said so,' said Ron. He could feel his eyes beginning to water.

'I know, but there was nothing they could do,' said Hermione. Ron put an arm around her, pulling her closer. Tears were now pouring down his cheeks too.

'He'll never be gone, you know that,' said Ron. 'As long as we remember him he'll never be gone.'

Hermione nodded.

'I know,' she said. There was a long silence after that, neither one of them knew what to say.

'Does Gin know?' asked Ron. Hermione shook her head.

'I don't have the heart to tell her,' she said. Ron nodded.

'I know. They were so in love,' he said. Hermione laid her head on Ron's chest.

'I loved him so much,' she said.

'Me too,' said Ron. 'He was the best friend I've ever had.'

'Mine too,' said Hermione.

She looked up at her boyfriend. Her eyes were red and puffy and her face was wet from all the tears. Ron stroke away most of them with his free hand.

'And I thought this was going to be one of the best days of my life,' he said. Hermione looked questionly at him.

'What do you mean?' she asked.

'I was going to ask you to marry me,' said Ron. Hermione stared at him.

'You what?' she asked. Ron smiled.

'So... will you?' he asked.

'What?' said Hermione.

'Will you marry me?' asked Ron. Hermione smiled and then she nodded.

'Of course I will,' she said. Ron smiled and kissed her. Somehow he felt that Harry was looking at them, smiling.

'Dad?'

'DAD?'

Ron woke up from his daydream. He found himself standing by the window, looking at the rain pouring down outside. Someone was clutching on to his pants.

'Dad!' Ron looked down.

'Yes?' he asked.

'Mummy's home!'

'Is she?' said Ron. He looked at the two-year-old boy standing right in front of him. He had Ron's bright red hair and freckles and his mother's chocolate brown eyes.

Then someone appeared in the doorway.

'Hello Hermione,' said Ron and walked up to her, giving her a kiss. The boy had loosened his grip on Ron's pants and run towards Hermione.

'Hello Harry,' said Hermione before picking up her son and kissing him.