A/N: I want to say thank you to all the loyal readers of this story. It was one I was so very proud of when I started it in 2007, but it got a lot of negative reviews when it was uploaded to another site, so I gave up on it. Lo and behold, this story found me and then you all found me and kept asking for updates. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to finish this. I hope this final chapter makes it worth the wait! XOXOX to all of you who hung in there!

Chapter 8:Through the Looking Glass…and Back Again

As Ron swallowed in gulps of air, his fingers clenched around the blankets on Hermione's bed, it came to him, suddenly, like a firebolt. There was hope in this miracle of a plan he had just come up with. It was risky, and it put the job of the one person he needed most on the line, but he had to try. Right now, in almost the middle of the night. He had little time. It wouldn't work if Hermione passed away.

"I've got to go," Ron told Hermione, who didn't stir or give any indication that she heard him. It didn't matter. "I'm going to make things right. So help me by the gods, I'm going to make everything right or be damned." And he raced back towards the door, shouting Harry Potter's name as loudly as he could.

"Because it's you and Hermione, I'll do it," Harry said quietly. "But dammit, Ron, you've got to be careful as hell. You'll have one hour exactly. It won't go further than a few months for you, seven at the most, without a security charm going off. The security charm going off means my arse on the line. Do what you have to do without disturbing anything else when you go back. If any trace of this gets out, I'm out of a job. And Ginny and I are trying for a baby—"

Ron clutched the Time Turner in his hand. "I know, I know. D'you think I would do anything to mess you and my sister up?"

Harry wiped sweat from him brow. "Hurry. Before it's too late. I can't stand in the Sphere with you. Set the date now and go. When you've fixed things, you'll be back here. I'll keep the door locked until you give me the signal by Wand."

Ron nodded. He twisted the dial at the top of the golden Time Turner, and closed his eyes as the room began to spin….

He set the Turner for January 23. He wished it could've been a year, but as Harry had told him, the Turner wouldn't go beyond a few months, and he wasn't even supposed to be using it. He could afford no mistakes. Hermione had told him that night that she'd needed more time; if five months wouldn't get it, nothing would. He hoped it was enough time to stop her before she made the biggest mistake of her—their- lives. In his haste, he'd forgotten to set the exact time of his travel, so it was eight o'clock in the morning instead of eight o'clock at night, when he knew she'd be at her flat. No matter. He was already entering the Ministry, asking for Hermione Granger.

"I'm sorry, I don't seem to have an appointment for you," the receptionist behind the glass told Ron, peering at him from over her glasses. "She is usually very busy in the mornings. If you'd like, I can take a message and have her contact you after her meetings. She has three—"

Ron thought about Hermione in the present, unconscious. "I'm Ronald Weasley. I was with her and Harry Potter when we defeated Voldemort. It doesn't matter if I'm in the books or not. She'll see me. It's urgent."

She looked at him and sighed. "I'll let her know you're on your way up, since you insist, but I'm warning you, you might be turned away."

"I'll take that chance," he said, and barged through the door once he had been buzzed in, and half ran to Room 374. Her office.

Right outside, he paused, his heart beating rapidly. He knew…he knew so much…what would happen if he didn't make this work…he pressed his ear against the door, and hearing no voices from inside, opened it.

She was just taking her hand from the Floo Fone on her desk. "Nancy told me you were on your way," she said, standing up. She smiled, her cheeks beginning to flush. "It's been awhile, hasn't it? This is unexpected-"

His took a step towards her, his heart pounding. It was now or never. He couldn't tell her everything, but he would try to say the right words this time.

"You're…so lovely," he whispered. Everything was in perfect order in her office. Her hair was tucked neatly into a bun, all her papers stacked precisely on her desk. She ran a hand nervously over her throat.

"Did you come here to tell me I'm lovely?" she said with a laugh. She crossed the room and reached out to hug him quickly. "What's wrong?"

His arms tightened around her, hugging her close, too close for what this meeting was supposed to be about. He could smell the shampoo in her hair, the perfume on her neck. She stood still against him, even after the embrace was over. Her eyes searched his curiously, her hands going back to his shoulders. "Ron? What is it?"

"It…it's me. It's you. It's you and me," he said softly. He was going to lose her if he didn't get this right. He had less than forty minutes before things would go back to the way they were. She was perfect, she was looking at him, watching and waiting. He dropped his face to his hand, fighting the tears that stung his eyes. How could he stay here? With her, here? Happy and whole? What words would make her confess that she did love him?

"Ronald!" she said sharply, and then her arms were back around him. "Talk to me, please! What is it?"

He choked back a sob, taking a deep breath. "You said…you told me once…you didn't have the courage…and now I must have it, or…it's all over," he said into her hair.

She held his face in her hands, and her eyes were gentle, open. "Shhhh…darling…shh, it's alright," she whispered. "Whatever it is…whatever you need, whatever is hurting you, just tell me. You're my best friend in the world!"

"Don't marry him. You can't. I can't live knowing you belong to someone else," he blurted out to her. "You belong with me. With me."

The room went completely still.

Her fingers there against his face, his arms around her, their faces inches apart. Tears fell from his eyes. "I love you. I don't want to lose you. Not to him. Not to anyone, ever."

"I don't understand. Where is this coming from?" Hermione whispered back. "Why are you telling me this now, with my wedding coming up in May?"

"Hermione, don't you see? Don't you know I've always wanted you? Since we were at Hogwarts, I've wanted you? D'you mean to tell me you didn't know it?"

Hermione blinked, shaking her head. "I…I…never thought…you never asked me on a date…you never asked me anything, except to borrow my notes or use a quill! You never-"

"I was scared! I didn't want you to say no. I was a coward! But the love was always there. It always was. And now, I'm here to tell you before you make a mistake. I love you, and I want you to call it off and be with me. I own Wheezes, I can get you anything you want—"

"Ron, I don't care in the least about that," Hermione interrupted. She swallowed, and looked into his eyes. The Time Turner was growing hot in his pocket.

"Hermione, who do you love? If it's him, then, I'll go-"

"No," she whispered.

He was running out of time. How had it passed so quickly? She had to say it. She had to say it and he had to hear it.

"This has been one of the craziest mornings of my life," she said softly, and gave a half laugh, half sob.

"I need to hear it. The truth, Hermione," Ron said.

"Yes! I do love you! Of course I love you, I've always loved you, and I feel the exact same way, that I'm making a mistake! But, Ron—"

He laughed, interrupting her, hugging her again. She'd confessed it, but they weren't out of the woods just yet. "Run away with me. Give him back his bloody fucking ring and we'll disappear together. We'll go to Ireland, you always loved it there. We'll come back married and they can all kiss our arses!"

"Ron, I couldn't do that. I have to...oh, I can't think right now!"

"I need to know you won't walk down that aisle. I have to know it."

"It's so sudden! You just came in here, and…and now we've discovered that we're in love, and I'm engaged—"

"Break it off. You've got time. Meet me at Wheezes tonight, after closing. We'll talk about it all. I've got to go now. But promise me you'll come tonight. We'll talk it all out. I love you. Promise me, Hermione."

She blushed, nodding. "Yes. I promise. I'll come. I'll be there."

He kissed her. The Time Turner was hot, he would disappear any moment now. He grabbed the doorknob, and raced towards the nearest stairwell, just in the nick of time.

Ron was back in the dark holding room of the Time Turner. Harry had kept the door locked, as promised. When he fully gathered his wits, he sent a quick wand to wand message to Harry.

"Hey, mate," Harry quipped as he opened the door. "I know we agreed to do a signal of sorts today, but for the life of me, I can't remember why I had to unlock you from this room."

"I've got to get to St. Mungo's. Right away. Hermione—"

"Whoa, Hermione's at St. Mungo's? What for?" Harry asked, alarmed.

Ron stopped. "Where else would she be?"

Harry now gave Ron a quizzical look. "Sorry, did you just ask me where else would she be? I thought you two moved in together a few weeks ago? After she ended her engagement with that twat? Is she in the hospital or what? What the hell is going on?"

Ron let out a yelp, and burst into laughter. "Harry, y'know what, I just realized everything's fine. I'll fill you in, er, later. Much later. I've got to get home, home to Hermione! I'll owl you."

He ran all the way to his flat, flinging open the door and dashing inside...where he found Hermione at the desk in his study-their study- amidst a stack of newspapers. She looked up when she saw him, beautiful as ever, her hair in a messy knot on top of her head. "I think I've found it, Ron! It isn't law, but it does involve ethical treatment of animals! I called just to inquire, and they want me to come in for an interview in the morning!"

Ron dropped everything and went to her. "Let's make a baby."

"What?!" Hermione screeched as he scooped her up. "Are you out of your…of your bloody mind?"

She was giggling when he dumped her harmlessly to the bed that they clearly had been sharing. He paused, looking around the room. Her things- her perfume, her scarves, the neat row of her shoes, they were all here. It was true. He had fixed it. She was here. They were here, together.

Ron looked down at her, grinning as he tugged his shirt off over his head.

"You're not serious," Hermione said. "Are you? I couldn't possibly turn up 'expecting'…and we're not even married!"

Their clothing had already started to come off. "…I told you…Ireland…tomorrow…we'll elope…" Ron said in between kisses.

"But my interview!" she squeaked as she wiggled out of her underwear.

"After that, then. We'll take the afternoon train. We'll make a holiday of it," he whispered, laying over her warm body.

"Are you sure?" she whispered, gazing up from underneath him.

"I don't want to waste any more time," he said, kissing her, loving her. "I can't lose you. Ever again."

"Ever again?" she asked, arching her body to meet his. "What do you mean?"

He entered her, body, mind and soul. "Nothing," he breathed. "Except I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied, and then they were done talking for the next half hour.

Which became another half hour after that.

EPILOGUE

Dearest Family & Friends,

It is with tremendous pleasure that we wish to announce the happy news of our marriage this past Wednesday, December 17. Please join us in celebrating our nuptials next Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at our residence, 2544 Parkland Place. Dinner, drinks and entertainment are on the Mr. and Mrs.! See you there!

Love from Ronald and Hermione Weasley.