AN: I don´t own Harry Potter and don´t make any profit.
I´m always a bit sad reading about Ron being a prat and being immature and hurting Hermione (sometimes really badly) and I also don´t like how the Weasley family is portrayed in some of the stories. So my story is painting another picture.
Ron might be out of character, but then again war changes everybody, doesn´t it.
Please enjoy!
May 2nd 1998
„Ron?"
„Hmm?"
„Please take me home," Hermione said quietly. They were sitting in a corner of the Great Hall. The battle finished an hour ago or so. Voldemort was defeated. Hermione felt tired and dirty. Her head resting on Ron´s shoulder she was overlooking the Great Hall. There were so many people around and it was really loud. It was a mixture of laughter and grief of happiness and sorrow.
"Where is home?" Ron asked softly.
"Well, I don´t know really, but the Burrow will do for now," she smiled at him sadly.
"Come on, let´s make our way to Hogsmeade to apparate from there."
Hermione chuckled, "So you finally remembered that you can´t apparate and disapparate in Hogwarts?"
Ron laughed, "I guess I did."
"But I think, this one time, we can apparate from here, because all the wards and the protection came down during the battle," she said.
With a ´pop´ Ron and Hermione arrived at the threshold of the Burrow. They went into the house finding it deserted, everybody else was still at Hogwarts.
"I´m so tired, Ron," she whispered and suddenly tears were streaming down her face. Ron hurried over hugged her, burying his face in her curls and started crying as well. They were standing there for minutes, clinging onto each other like they were drowning. Finally their sobs died down and they broke apart.
"So you wanna get some sleep Hermione?"
"Definitely, I just want to shower first. I feel dirty and …" her voice trailed off.
"Sure, you can take the bathroom upstairs, feel free to take some of my clothes. Oh and you should really check if you have any major wounds, because then we would have to get you to St. Mungo´s first," he said with a serious tone in his voice. She gaped at him. When did he become so thoughtful.
"Is something wrong Hermione?"
"No, everything is alright, Ron."
"I´ll go and take a shower downstairs. Do you want me to make you some tea?"
"That would be nice. Thank you!"
The tea was already sitting on Ron´s desk when she came from the shower. Hermione looked through his wardrobe and found a white T-shirt and some of his boxers. She was staring out the window, sipping her tea, when he entered his room. Turning around she instantly blushed at the sight of him just having a towel wrapped around his waist.
"S…Sorry," she turned around, to look out at the window again.
Ron was going through his wardrobe. "Man, I only have brown and orange things," he sighed, making her smile to herself.
"Do you like the tea?" he asked joining her at her place at the window. Hermione nodded. The sun was bright on a clear blue sky, with just a few white clouds.
"I can´t believe it´s so peaceful here. It´s like nothing changed," she sighed.
"But everything changed," Ron said softly. Her hand holding the teacup trembled.
"Oh Hermione, you´re so tired, you should really go to bed." He took the teacup out of her hand and guided her to his bed. She lied down and he gently covered her with his blanket. Ron went back to look out of the window.
"Ron can you please lay next to me? I need you."
"Sure Hermione." He crawled next to her under the blanket, facing her he softly placed a kiss on her nose.
She smiled, "I love you, Ron."
"I love you too, Hermione."
She yawned, mumbling "I really need some …" and fell asleep.
"…sleep," he whispered smiling and closed his eyes and fell asleep instantly aswell.
Hermione heard someone whispering at the door.
"I´m so glad they are here. They should have really told us where they were off to," she heard a familiar voice.
"Molly let it go, they are safe that´s all that counts in that crazy times."
"I know Arthur. But they shouldn´t be sleeping in one bed…." "
Molly, there grown-ups now!" Arthur said smiling to himself.
"I know, I know. But still."
"Is that really the only problem you have got?" Arthur growled.
She sniffled, "No, come on Arthur. Let´s find George!"
"Wise decision Molly. These two don´t need us, they´ve got each other." The door closed softly and Hermione was overpowered by sleep again.
Hermione woke up by a knock on the door. She sat up," Come in!"
Molly entered Ron´s room having a tray floating next to her head. She placed the tray on Ron´s desk moving the teacups form earlier to the side.
"I brought you something to eat. I guess you´re hungry!" she smiled at Hermione.
"How are you doing Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked shyly. Molly was shaking her head and turned to the window, holding her hands in front of her face, her shoulders shaking violently, but no noise was heard. Hermione quickly got up and hurried to hug her tightly. Both of them were sobbing, holding onto each other. The noise woke up Ron, who sat up in bed and looked at his mum and his girlfriend hugging and crying. Molly broke apart, straightened her back and wiped away her tears.
"By the way, please call me Molly," she smiled at Hermione," You two should really eat something, I made some chicken soup and some sandwiches."
"Thanks Molly," and with that Hermione started to tug in.
"I´m not hungry!" Ron said, making Hermione nearly choke on her soup. Molly and Hermione looked at Ron and then at each other and shook their heads.
Molly softly said "Sweetheart you need to eat. You´re so thin and I´m not saying this because I´m always saying it. This time I really mean it. I guess you didn´t get much to eat, searching for those Horcruxes. You need to get your strength back."
"I´m really not hungry, Mum."
"Oh nonsense, " and she snatched a spoon and the bowl of soup from the tray and started feeding her son, like he was a baby. Hermione smiled, it looked really sweet.
"Molly can you come downstairs, I really need your help," they heard Arthur shouting from the living room. "I´m coming Arthur!" She got up and handed Hermione, who already had finished her soup, the spoon and bowl "I think this is now your responsibility dear," she kissed Hermione´s forehead and left the room.
Hermione was overpowered by her emotions and had to blink away a tear.
After they had finished their meal, they headed downstairs. Molly and Arthur were sitting on the settee snuggled close to each other, listening to some music.
"Where is everybody?" Ron asked.
"Well, we had to put George to bed, taking a sleeping draught first. Ginny is in the shower and going to bed afterwards. At least that´s what she said. Percy and Charlie are still at Hogwarts. Bill and Fleur are back home at Shell Cottage."
"Where is Harry?" Hermione was curious.
"He left an hour ago for Grimmauld Place. I think he needed some time for himself," Arthur replied.
"Mum, Dad, Hermione would you like some tea?"
"Yes dear, that would be lovely. Do you want some help?" Molly asked.
"Muum! I´m very well capable putting on the kettle and making some tea" Ron turned around and made his way to the kitchen.
"So Hermione dear, what are your plans?" Molly turned to her with a wondering look on her face.
"I´m not quite sure yet. At some point I want to go to Australia and try to find my parents. I really want to do my NEWTs. But I don´t really want to go back to school, maybe I could skip one year and do my NEWTs this year. It would be a bit hasty, but I think I could do it, my grades might not be as good as they were when I did my OWLs but I just wanna get it over with. Oh and, Molly and Arthur is it alright with you if I stay with you a couple of more days until I´ve figured out what to do?" she smiled shyly at them.
"You stay as long as you need to. There will always be a place for you at the Burrow," Arthur got up and pulled her into a hug.
"Thanks," Hermione beamed.
May 6th 1998
"Thanks for letting me stay, Harry," she gave him a hug.
"No problem. You can take one of the guestrooms. I´m staying in Sirius´ room and I gave Regulus´ room to Kreacher."
Hermione beamed at him," That´s sweet of you."
"Well, I made a deal with him, he took off all the horrid stuff, the beheaded house-elves, the painting of Sirius´ Mum and all that stuff and I allowed him to take it all to Regulus´ bedroom. So it´s really a win-win situation," Harry grinned cheekily.
Hermione laughed, "So house-elf magic could get the painting off the wall."
"Apparently. So make yourself at home. Choose one of the guest rooms and turn in to whatever you like. By the way what did Molly say, when you left. I guess she wasn´t too happy?" he asked carefully.
"She was quite sad that I left so soon, but I really need to do some studying for my NEWTs at the end of June and it´s always so noisy at the Burrow. I never realised before, I guess because I was always there during summer time, when I didn´t have to concentrate …" her voice trailed off, "But I promised her to come around at least every Sunday for lunch and she wants you to come too, just so you know."
Harry smiled, "By the way, Ron just owled me and asked if he could come over tonight, he has some big news he wants to tell us. Do you know what´s he on about?" he asked warily.
"No, there haven´t been any big news since I left there this morning," she said wondering what the news could be.
Hermione just redecorated her new room. She chose the smallest bedroom, but as it had quite a big window, it was really light and it had a spectacular view over the city.
"Hermione! Ron is here, " came Harry´s voice form downstairs.
"I´m down in minute," she hollered back. Hermione gave herself a look in the rather cloudy mirror, liked what she saw, except her cheeks being a bit to hollow and then flew down the stairs right into Ron´s arms.
"Hi, sweetie," she gasped a bit out of breath.
"Hi, Hermione," he gently kissed her, sending chills through her body.
"I brought some stew, butterbeers and some pudding, Mum sent, so we´d have a nice evening," Ron smiled.
"I´m so glad you´re both here," Harry said and pulled Ron and Hermione into a bear hug. Suddenly they could feel him tremble and a strangled sob escaping his lips.
"Sorry," he mumbled, wiping away a tear.
"Don´t be mate, we´ve all been there," Ron said quietly and pulled the others back into the hug. They were standing there holding each other tight, every now and then one of them would start crying.
After what seemed like ages Hermione broke apart," Should we start eating, before it gets cold? Warming it up is such a hassle," she said. Ron just looked at Harry and they burst into laughter.
"You know you´re a witch, Hermione," Ron giggled.
"I tend to forget," she replied dryly. That set them off again, now wiping away tears of laughter.
"You just were in the biggest wizarding battle of the century," Harry chuckled.
"I know," Hermione growled. "Come on let´s eat, boys!"
The stew was delicious, Hermione didn´t expect anything else since Molly made it, but Ron was just pushing it around on his plate. Hermione was worried about Ron, that wasn´t really the Ron she knew.
"Ron sweetie, you have to eat something," she placed her hand on his arm.
"I´m not hungry Hermione." Even Harry looked up now, astonishment written across his face.
"Please," Hermione begged, "Do it for me, just a couple of spoons."
Ron sighed and managed to eat a few bites, before he pushed his plate aside. At least he is drinking the butterbeer, Hermione thought to herself.
Harry just remembered about Ron´s big news, "So what´s your big news than, Ron?" he asked eagerly to find out.
Ron´s face lit up, "Well I got a letter from Kingsley today. They made him Minister of Magic, did you know?" Harry and Hermione shook their heads.
"Well and he asked me if I would be interested to start to be trained as an Auror next week. But I don´t know. You are both so … and I´m so …", he didn´t finish the sentence, but jumped up, pushing his chair over and quickly hurried out the room.
"What was that about?" Harry wondered, running his hand through his hair leaving it messier than it was before.
"I´ll go and check with him," Hermione said getting up.
Ron was staring out of the hallway window.
"Ron, sweetie, what´s wrong?" Hermione laid her hand on his shoulder and placed a kiss on there too.
"I don´t know, I really want to do it. I think it would help me? I hate that I couldn´t do anything that day at the manor. I heard you scream … I thought they would kill you and … " his voice trailed off and there was a single tear running down his cheek. He wiped it away angrily.
"Please Ron, don´t do that to yourself. There was nothing you could´ve done. She was so much more experienced and skilled than we were and I don´t mean that in a good way. And I´m fine, I survived and she died in the end."
"Hermione I feel that if I would become an auror I could protect you the next time. I don´t want to feel that helpless anymore, just because I don´t know what to do or didn´t pay attention…"
"You know you won´t be around or won´t be able to protect me all the time" Hermione interrupted him.
"Don´t say that, I don´t want to hear that," he barked.
"But it is the truth," she replied quietly.
"I guess I know that," he whispered.
"I think it would help my self-confidence if I would become an auror, then I would know that I might stand a chance in protecting you and that I would know what I would be doing and not be that clueless, stumbling through a war, just surviving, because I was lucky. But …," his voice died away.
"But, what?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"I don´t think I´m good enough, I mean look at you, look at Harry, he is so talented and you´re so clever and you know everything and me … I´m just nothing, " his voice was barely above a whisper.
"Ronald Weasley, how dare you talk about yourself like that, I won´t allow it. First of all you are Gryffindor, secondly you destroyed a Horcrux and thirdly you opened the Chamber of Secrets and then there are so many other things you did. You intruded the Ministry twice and you broke into Gringott´s…"
"But I had you two …"he replied.
"And we had you and we couldn´t have done it without you. You give yourself far too little credit…"
"You know Ron, she is right," Harry was leaning against the doorframe, "And if Kingsley asked you, he has a reason for that. He knows you´re brave and loyal and you fought in the battle. And now come to the living room and let´s have your Mum´s pudding."
The two followed him to the living room. Harry set a fire going in the fire-place and the three of them plopped onto the settee. Hermione was sitting in the middle leaning her head to Ron´s chest and having her legs in Harry´s lap. They were eating their pudding in silence watching the fire. Even Ron managed to finish his whole plate.
"You know what´s nice guys? That it´s just the three of us tonight, but without the cloud of Voldemort hanging over us," Hermione smiled.
"We should toast to that," Harry grinned conjuring three glasses and with an "Accio firewiskhy!" a bottle flew right in to his hands. He poured them drinks.
"To our friendship!"
"To Voldemort´s defeat!"
"To the one´s we´ve lost!"
The three of them said at the same time raising their glasses, not knowing who actually said what.
"And to Auror Weasley!" Hermione said with a smile.
"Thanks, " Ron mumbled into his glass.
They had an evening full of laughter sharing old stories, from time to time a few tears would sneak into the corner of their eyes, by the mentioning of their lost friends. Around midnight Hermione, who had been yawning non-stop for the last ten minutes, got up kissed Ron and pecked Harry on the cheek.
"See ya, boys."
"Good night, Hermione," they said in unison.
She made her way up to her attic room, quickly got undressed and snuggled under her duvet, sleeping as soon as her head touched the pillow.
"NOOOO NOT HERMIONE NOOO, DON`T HURT HER!"
Hermione jumped out of bed, wand at the ready she stormed downstairs. On the landing of the second floor she tripped over Kreacher.
"Sorry, Kreacher!"
"Not a problem, Miss!" And with a quiet `pop´ he apparated them to the living room.
"Thank you Kreacher!" She looked at him in astonishment.
"Miss shouldn´t break her neck running down the stairs, " he grimaced.
"NOOO, TAKE ME INSTEAD PLEASE," Ron was writhing on the settee. Harry was on the floor holding his head, looking confused. Hermione rushed over to Ron´s side.
"Ron, wake up! Come on! It´s only a dream. Wake up! Wake up, Ron!" She shook him. Ron slowly opened his eyes, looking frightened and horrified. His t-shirt was soaked in sweat, sticking to his chest.
"Hermione," he croaked.
"Shh, sweetheart, it´s all good. I´m here." She leaned her forehead against his forehead.
"Would Mister Weasley like some water, Sir?"
"Yes, please, Kreacher," Ron answered shakily.
"What just happened?" Harry asked, feeling the bump that rose on his forehead.
"I guess you two fell asleep on the couch and Ron had a nightmare, pushing you to the floor and you hit your head on the coffee table."
"Well it wasn´t me waking up screaming for a change," Harry said dryly.
"Ha ha," Ron replied just as dryly and a tear escaped his eye, running a long his nose, gathering in the corner of his mouth. Hermione gently wiped away the tear,
"Come on Ron, let´s get some sleep, " she pulled him up and they made their way to her room.
"Night Harry, sorry for the bump," Ron mumbled.
"No problem, mate."
July 16th 1998
"Hermione would you fancy a walk?" Ron asked. They had just finished their lunch at the Burrow. Harry and Ginny were sitting on the settee holding hands and talking quietly to each other. Molly and Arthur disappeared for a little nap.
Hermione smiled, "Yes that would be nice."
They were walking along a line of hills, were they had a nice view of Ottery St. Catchpole and in the far distance they could see the Lovegood´s house.
"So how are you Hermione?" Ron asked. Hermione looked over the little village beneath them. How was she? She passed her N.E.W.T.s a couple of days ago, with mostly O´s and a few E´s. She had already gotten her results back, since only a handful of students sat through their tests after the battle. Considering that she not had that much time, she was happy about it. Ron was staying at Grimmauld Place as well, given it was easier for him to get to his training from there. So they were able to spend some time together. But her relationship to Ron was difficult. She loved him dearly, but he wasn´t the boy she fell in love with anymore. He was very serious, working hard all the time. It turned out when he put effort in his work he was really good, at what he did. But it came to a price, he wasn´t funny anymore. He had always been the one to make her laugh, the one to take her mind of her work. Ron was always able to loosen her, make her relax. But all that was gone. The things why she fell in love with him in the first place were gone. He still wasn´t eating properly and still had the same nightmare, about Malfoy manor. Ron wouldn´t tell her, but she knew he was bothered by them a great deal. Apparently he only had them when she was around. When they didn´t spend the day together and he was sleeping at the Burrow or she was staying at Hogwarts overnight, he was fine.
She sighed, "I don´t know!" She tried to hold back her tears, but she didn´t quite manage, a single tear ran down her cheek and she hastily brushed it away.
Ron took her hands in his and quietly said "I think our relationship isn´t working, what do you think?"
"No it´s not," she said leaning her head to his chest crying.
"But I love you, " she sobbed clinging onto him.
"I know and I love you too. But I think this relationship wouldn´t do us any good. I know you´re unhappy, I can see it in your eyes. And the constant nightmares are killing me. I´m so tired all the time." Ron was crying now as well.
"I´ll move my stuff back to my parents place, so we won´t run into each other all the time." She nodded.
They made their way back to the Burrow, each lost in their own thoughts.