Disclaimer: The Harry Potter franchise is not mine. The characters aren't, the places aren't, and unfortunately, the money isn't mine either.

This is my first Harry Potter fanfic so please be nice. Constructive criticism is welcome, but please don't criticise for fun. Thank you for reading!

The smoke was looming heavily over and throughout Hogwarts as Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped out of Dumbledore's former office. The loud cheers of joy had subsided long before and an eerie silence had taken its place with a unique combination of sporadic sobs and laughter. It seemed that no one knew exactly what to do or feel. There were many dead at the hands of Voldemort and his followers and that caused so much pain that it was almost too much to bear. However, Voldemort had been defeated and this was definitely something to rejoice in.

Harry turned to his two best friends who had been through the worst with him. "Are you ready to go back down?" Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Why don't you go lie down, mate, we'll take care of everything. You look like you've been through the wash a few times." Ron joked. Breaking the tension, Harry smiled softly and put his hands on Ron's and Hermione's shoulders. "Seriously, I just want to thank you guys for being there this year. I don't know what I would have done without you. You have defeated Voldemort as much as I have." Letting his arms drop heavily by his side, Harry trudged off to get a few moments of rest in his old four poster bed in Gryffindor Tower.

The second Harry was gone Ron and Hermione looked at each other. They both had dirt, smoke and dust smeared on their faces with tear tracks running down them in uneven lines. Their clothes were dirty, torn and bloody in some places but they were both alive. After what happened tonight, they were lucky that they looked this good. Ron wrapped his arm around her and started walking down to the Great Hall.

Passing by rubble, blood and wounded that were being treated along the way made them grip each other tighter. They were stopped by people along the way with amazed looks and heartfelt thanks for all that they had done to defeat Voldemort. Although the complete story of their year on the run was unknown, it was common knowledge that they were searching for a way to defeat Voldemort. This gained them great respect throughout the Wizarding community.

When Ron and Hermione finally made it back to the Great Hall they were faced with the dreaded reality of facing his family. Hermione tried to back away to give the family some space but Ron held his grip firmly around her waist.

"I need you for this."

Hermione gave him a small smile and walked up to the table that the Weasley family was surrounding. Each member of the family had a different dumbfounded look on their face. Mrs. Weasley was sobbing uncontrollably onto her husband's shoulder while Mr. Weasley had tears freely flowing down his cheeks. Bill and Charlie were sitting close together and whispering with devastated looks on their faces. Percy's face stood out the most to Hermione. He had a look of shame, guilt, sadness, and anger all rolled into one. Ginny had her head in her hands, shaking.

Looking around, Hermione spotted George sitting on the bench with a deadpan look on his face. He didn't even blink an eyelash when Ron and Hermione stopped near him. Releasing Hermione, but silently pleading for her to stay close by, Ron knelt down by his brother.

"George…I love you mate."

George's face broke its stony exterior and he flung his arms around Ron sobbing into his shoulder. Ron, surprised but pleased, brought his arms around George and hugged him tightly. Only then would Ron release the tears that he'd been holding since his initial response to his brother's murder.

Hermione looked on at this display with tears rolling down her cheeks as well. She had loved Fred like a brother and so she grieved for him along with every member of the family that she loved so much. Seeing Ron, in particular, grieve for his brother broke her heart the most. He had the biggest place in her heart and it wounded her to see him hurting.

Turning her attention away from Ron and George (who were now sitting together with their arms flung around each other's shoulders with their heads bowed), Hermione started towards Ginny. They had been friends for many years…but they had definitely gotten closer starting in fourth year. Now they were like sisters. Sitting down by Ginny she placed a hand on her shoulder to let her know that she was there for her. Ginny looked up at her with red, puffy eyes and put her head in her hands once more. Hermione knew that she just had to be there for her. There was nothing that could be said to bring her brother back. Nothing she could do that would ease the pain of losing Fred.

Once other people came up to George to express their condolences for the loss, Ron decided to check on the rest of his family. He knew exactly where Hermione was and decided to go check on Ginny first. Walking up behind the two girls, he placed one hand on Ginny's shoulder and the other on Hermione's. The girls looked up in surprise—they had not heard him coming because they had been whispering softly to each other.

Ron leaned down and gave Ginny a half hug.

"He'll be okay Ginny."

Hermione looked at Ron with confusion. Fred would not be okay. He was dead.

Ginny, however, gave Ron a small nod. He knew that seeing Hagrid carrying Harry's "body" had torn her heart out. "Fred won't be though." She whispered.

"No, but he's watching us right now and probably having a good laugh about us carrying on like this."

"Besides", he said, "we need to celebrate what we didn't lose." With this he glanced at Hermione and took her hand. "Ginny, why don't you go find Harry…he's up in Gryffindor tower trying to sleep. Knowing him though, I doubt he will be able to until he sees you." Ron reasoned. Giving Ron an appreciative smile, Ginny got up and gave him a real hug.

"Thank you big brother, I love you." Ron nodded and squeezed her tight before releasing her. As she walked away, Ron pulled Hermione up out of her seat and into his arms. He placed his forehead against hers and whispered "I love you. Thanks for being here for me." She looked into his blue eyes and said, "I love you too. Thanks for wanting me to be here with you." He smiled and leaned in and kissed her softly. When they pulled apart they were startled to see his entire family staring at them with big eyes.

Suddenly, the sweet sound of laughter rang through the air and big smiles erupted along the table. Embarrassed, Ron and Hermione turned bright red and looked down at their feet.

"It's about time, mate." Bill shouted.

"I owe Ginny 5 sickles. I thought it would happen during 6th year." Charlie announced.

Even George took part in the mini-celebration by saying "Really, I thought it would happen in their fourth year." With this, the entire Weasley side of the table started chuckling.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other with red faces and started laughing along with his family. This was just what they needed to be able to mourn the loss of Fred but be able to start living again. Mrs. Weasley, her eyes red from crying, made her way to the couple and placed her hand on their entwined ones.

"Hermione, you've always been a part of this family. I've always waited for the day that you and Ron would come to your senses."

Hermione smiled at Mrs. Weasley while Ron, embarrassed, looked away again. Mrs. Weasley broke away from the couple and addressed her entire family, "We all know that this is the hardest thing we've had to do as a family, but we will get through it. We are strong. Fred (her voice broke) will always be with us. We have to keep living." With this she swung her arm to Ron and Hermione to use them as an example. "Right now though, I think that we all need a little sleep." The family mumbled in agreement and hugged each other while walking to the visitor's area of the castle that had been set up for the fighters and families. Ron and Hermione, however, decided to return to Gryffindor tower, where they belonged.

Ron and Hermione made the long walk to the seventh floor carefully, dodging pieces of rubble along the way. By the time they made it to their dormitories, they were so tired that they were ready to collapse. Without a question asked, Hermione followed Ron up to the boy's dormitory. They had been together so long, that they found it unfathomable to sleep without the other nearby. Reaching the room, Ron noted Harry and Ginny sound asleep in each other's arms. Once Ron got to his bed, he stretched himself out and pulled Hermione to him.

"I'm sorry I left." Ron whispered.

Hermione gave him a small smile and touched his face softly. "I know."

"I'll never do it again. I promise." He leaned in and kissed her softly.

"I know."