It was no good. Hermione had been lying there for what felt like hours, trying to get to sleep. She was so anxious about what they were going to try to do tomorrow. If they were caught…well, it didn't bear thinking about. She shuffled out of her sleeping bag, and stepped off the cushions Ron had so gallantly demanded she sleep on. She looked down on him for a few moments, peacefully asleep, and a small sigh escaped her, and a smile spread across her face.
Suddenly, remembering why she had got up in the first place, she turned away from his sleeping figure and left the room, creeping down the many flights of stairs to the kitchen, where she began to make a cup of tea.
There was always something soothing about brewing one, Hermione pondered. Perhaps it was because it was so habitual to her, so routine, that it could make any situation feel normal. A noise interrupted her musings: the sound of someone entering the kitchen.
She glanced up, looking briefly into his eyes. Ron looked as worried as she felt, and the knots in her stomach tightened - what would she do if anything happened to him tomorrow?
'Hermione,' he said gruffly. 'What in the name of Merlin's beard are you doing down here?' Despite his angry tone, Ron looked immensely relieved.
'Making tea, Ronald, what does it look like?' She smiled and turned to face him now, clutching her mug, and meeting his gaze.
'Well I can see that, Hermione, I'm not blind, but I thought, maybe, perhaps, well, I was worried that you'd - '
'Gone, Ron? Left?' asked Hermione, seemingly irate. 'You can't really think I would, or could, leave now, do you?' She choked, before continuing: 'I've had to charm my parents into forgetting everything about me. Doesn't that show you anything about my commitment to this?' She began to cry, and Ron's expression changed from bewilderment to pain.
'No, honestly, Hermione, I was only worried you'd been snatched or something. I woke up and you'd just gone - no note or anything. I thought something wasn't right...you weren't there. I didn't mean to upset you, I was just worried. I don't know what I'd - I mean we'd - do without you, Hermione, Harry and I.'
'Oh,' she squeaked softly, looking up at him once more, with an embarrassed expression.
'I know this hasn't been easier for us…especially not you, and I didn't mean to upset you.' He looked so apologetic that Hermione couldn't doubt it.
She shivered suddenly, leading Ron to look even more concerned. 'Are you all right, Hermione? You must be freezing, no slippers, no robe - it's not exactly toasty down here! What are you playing at?' She shivered again. 'Bloody hell, come here.' Ron pulled her towards him, into a tight hug.
'Hermione, you know when this is over you'll be able to find your parents and make them remember. You're a brilliant witch; you know that,' he said softly, speaking mostly into her hair.
'Thank you, Ron,' she whispered back. They stood there for a few moments, enjoying each other's affection. 'Ron?' said Hermione 'I'd like to go back to bed now.'
'Ah, right, sorry' said Ron sheepishly, however, Hermione's smile as he released her relieved him.'
The two made their way back to the room where Harry was still sound asleep, and climbed into their sleeping bags.
'Ron, would you mind coming a bit closer?' Hermione whispered after a few minutes. 'You don't have to, if you don't want to...I just feel lonely over here.' Suddenly she was intensely glad that it was dark so he couldn't see her embarrassment.
'Oh, okay,' Ron shuffled towards her; secretly glad of the invitation to do so.
They lay in silence for a while, until Hermione said, nervously,
'Just so you know, Ron, I don't know what I'd do without you either.'
And it was then that Ron felt her fingers brush against his, and come to rest on his hand.