Hermione bolted upright in her bed. It'd been a couple months since the battle and she'd been having the same dream since two days after the battle. She laid down and tried to fall back to asleep, but for some reason she couldn't this time.
"No-no-no!" someone was shouting. "No! Ron! No!"
The words replayed over and over again in Hermione's mind until she couldn't stand it anymore. She quietly got out of her bed and crept across the room trying not to wake Ginny. As she walked downstairs the stairs creaked and she could hear the thunder booming outside the burrow. Lightening lit up the living room as Hermione descended the last step and she saw a figure sitting on the couch. She approached the person cautiously. Once she'd gotten closer she realized that it was Ron.
She stared at him for a couple minutes before going to sit in the chair across from the couch. She sat there for a good twenty minutes just staring at him. His presence was all it took to calm her. She jumped slightly as his eyes began to flutter open. He quickly grabbed his wand at the sight of her without looking to see who was sitting across from him. Once he realized it was Hermione he lowered his wand.
"Sorry." He mumbled.
" 's okay." They stared at each other for a couple minutes before anyone said anything.
"What are you doing down here anyway?"
"Couldn't sleep." They stared at each other again before Ron patted the spot next to him.
"Come sit next to me."
Hermione got up and padded her way over to the couch. She sat down a couple feet away from him. They hadn't really discussed where they stood as far as a relationship or anything else. All they had were tiny moments of somewhat more than friendly affection and stolen glances. Ron reached over and pulled Hermione closer to him. So close that she was practically in his lap. He put an arm around her shoulder and she laid her head on his shoulder. Hermione's eyes began to well up with tears. She tried to hide them, but it didn't work. Ron removed his arm and turned her to face him.
"Why are you crying?" he asked worriedly. Just the look of concern in his eyes sent her into full blown sobs. She buried her head into his chest to hide her face. "Come one, Hermione. Why are you crying? Is it something I did?"
"No. you didn't do anything." Hermione said, her voice muffled by his shirt. Ron put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away so he could look at her.
"What's wrong? Tell me." He demanded.
"Nothing's wrong. Everything is fine. You're here and alive and safe."
"Of course I'm alive. What are you on about?" he demanded. He was getting worried. She sounded like she was going crazy. "Hermione, come one. What are you talking about? What's wrong?"
"I had a dream… and-and-and-you-you were dead and…Fred was alive instead. You must think I'm horrible! Here I am crying because I want you alive instead of Fred." She said and started to cry even harder.
"Hermione. Hermione!" Ron held her arms tightly with one hand and her face with the other, forcing her to look at him. "I don't think you're a horrible person. I understand. I'm a little ashamed to say this, but I'd rather have Harry dead instead of you."
They stared at each other for a couple seconds before they both started to lean towards each other. Their eyes slowly closed as their lips met for the first time since the battle. Excitement coursed through their veins as they got wrapped up in each other's arms. They kissed as if they'd never be able to enjoy each other's taste again. They pulled away, their breathing uneven. They gasped for breath as they remained in each other's arms. When their breath steadied they looked at each other with a silent understanding between them. They both knew how the other felt. There were no questions to be asked. There was nothing left, but to sit on the couch in silence, wrapped in each other's arms and listen to the thunder.