Hermione couldn't believe it. It was all over. She couldn't absorb the fact that Harry, Ron, and herself did not have to constantly run anymore, switching from place to place, camping out in a tent that provided very little warmth or comfort every day. There was no more need to be in constant alert, and she could finally lie down in her bed in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory that has been waiting for her all year. Too tired to even notice the messy state she was in, she hastily washed her face and hands with the pitcher of water on her night side table, pouring it into the basin next to it. As soon as she felt some of the grime and blood clear her face, she plopped down on her four poster bed, relishing the feeling of the soft comforter and the plushy mattress- she hadn't felt this much luxury since she left the Burrow during Bill and Fleur's wedding. She closed her eyes, waiting for the long awaited peaceful slumber to come, but strangely, it did not. Something felt weird and out of place to her, yet she couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. Under her closed lids, the fallen bodies of the ones she cared about began to swim before her eyes, making her come to the realization that they were gone for good with a stab of pain. She felt tears well up under her eyelids and her eyebrows scrunched in the effort she took not to cry. Tonks. Lupin. Lavender. Fred. Fred… it suddenly dawned on Hermione that she knew exactly what was wrong, exactly why slumber wasn't coming to her. She hadn't slept without the presence of Ron and Harry in the longest time- she hadn't gone to bed not knowing that they had her back, that they were both protecting her from whatever harm may be out there. Although she knew that she was perfectly safe, with Voldemort gone and his Death Eaters, now unveiled, gone into hiding, she still felt an uneasiness in her heart and found that she could not go to sleep. Opening her eyes, she decided that she couldn't fall into a peaceful slumber, no matter how hard she tried. Pulling her shoes, worn from all the running and battles that it had been through, she made her way down the girls' dormitory stairs and made her way up the boys' dormitory stairs, in desperation to seek comfort in the presence of Harry and Ron's company.
When she finally made her way to the top of the stairs, she saw that the dormitory was empty except for Ron and Harry, each on a four poster bed that was draped in scarlet hangings next to each other- unmoving, not speaking to each other. At the sound of Hermione's footsteps, the boys simultaneously looked up. She made her way to Ron's bed and sat on the edge of it, uncertain whether she was welcome or not, but feeling relieved and comforted all the same because of the company of both boys. She felt Ron's hand enclose around her own, and even through all her grief she felt her heart quicken in pace. She looked down and met Ron's piercing blue eyes and gave him a small, watery smile that he returned. His eyes were full of the pain of losing Fred, yet he managed to smile for Hermione, knowing that she would need the comfort. She turned around and met Harry's green eyes, giving him a reassuring smile to let him know that it was really, truly over. She took his hand in her own, squeezing it, for she knew that he was silently blaming himself for all the heroic, dead bodies lying in the Great Hall, their eyes glazed over, never to see again.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron sat with their hands entwined for a while, until Harry pulled away from Hermione's grasp and broke the silence by saying quietly, "I'm going to take a walk, see if everyone's okay. Find Ginny and have a talk with her." Hermione saw Harry's eyes flicker over to Ron's, the plea for permission to see his sister in one swift glance. Ron's blue eyes looked back at Harry's green and gave the slightest nod and fell over onto his pillows, stretching himself out on the bed yet careful not to disturb Hermione's area on his mattress. Harry gave Hermione a small smile before leaving the dormitory to cope with his thoughts.
After Harry's footsteps could not be heard anymore, Hermione realized that it was just her and Ron in the dormitory. She felt guilty for thinking of their kiss at such a bad time, when Ron was grieving his brother, but she couldn't help it, remembering the feel of his passionate lips on hers. She noticed that their hands were still intertwined and she gave his hand a hesitant squeeze to see if he was okay, for his eyes were closed and his jaw was tense like it always got when he was upset. Ron opened his eyes and stared into her warm, beautiful brown eyes framed by her thick lashes, and pulled her hand gently so that she was lying down next to him on the bed. She turned to face him and looked up into his deep, endless blue eyes that reminded her so much of the sky on a beautiful day when the birds sang and the sunlight was endless. He wrapped his arm around her, closing his arms around Hermione, and let himself be comforted by her. She caressed his cheek and brushed his soft hair, somehow knowing that this was what he needed. Silence to mourn all the loved ones he lost, yet gentle touches to let him know that she was there for him. Ron sighed and opened his eyes again, staring into Hermione's eyes again, wordlessly thanking her for what she was doing. Although Ron was new to this with Hermione, the way he can be so free with his feelings and let her know the truth about how he felt about her, it felt just right to him when his lips met contact with her soft forehead, taking in her subtle, sweet smell as they were comforted by each other, saving one another from drowning in their sorrows.