The Final Battle was over. Harry, Ron & Hermione had just left Dumbledore's office and were heading towards the Gryffindor dormitory. Ron couldn't remember the last time he had been in a bed. Shell Cottage, and the few blissful hours he had spend their holding Hermione before they set off to Gringotts seemed like a lifetime ago.
What a difference a day could make, Ron was thinking. In 24 hours they had found and destroyed the remaining Horcruxes, with the help of Neville Longbottom, lost Tonks, Lupin, hundreds of people, and Fr... No I can't think about that... think about something else. Hermione. Hermione had kissed me.
"Blimey" he muttered out loud, a small smile escaping his soot and blood ridden face.
"What is it Ron?" Hermione asked tenderly as they manoeuvred up what was left of the Grand Staircase to the Fat Ladies portrait. Ron looked at Harry, almost about to collapse. He just shook his head and continued walking.
The common room looked so pretty much the same as it had always done, apart from being deserted. Automatically the three headed towards the boys staircase. They had been sleeping in the tent so long that Ron couldn't imagine them not being together. Harry started to sway halfway up the stairs, exhaustion finally overcoming him. Not surprisingly, Ron said to himself, the bloke only died and came back to life again today. Wordlessly Hermione and Ron took Harry's arms and supported him up the stairs and into what would have been their dormitory had they returned for 7th Year. Harry was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Hermione conjured a wash cloth and bowl and silently removed his glasses and started to wash his face. Ron stood there in awe of her. Surprising himself that he didn't feel the slightest bit jealous of her attentiveness to his best friend. He had seen the images of himself and lavender come out of Hufflepuff's Cup, so similar to the visions of Harry & Hermione that had come out of the locket. He had felt the passion in her kiss, 7 years of pent up feelings finally reciprocated. So no he didn't feel jealous. Suddenly a vision of Hermione putting their child to bed crossed his mind. Whoah.. bit too soon for that. Hermione finished cleaning him up, Ron took off Harry's shoes. And they silently walked out and back down to the dormitory.
"You better get back to your family Ron" Hermione said quietly, nervously, like she wasn't quite sure of herself. "You are my family Mione" He replied simply. The confidence in his voice surprised himself, but it was a revelation.
Hermione looked happy, and then her chin started to tremble and the tears started to flow. She cried for tonks, and for lupin. She cried for Fred and for the Weasleys. She cried for Harry and she cried for the years she and Ron & had lost.
Ron, proving for once in his 17 years that he had more than an emotional range of a teaspoon put his arms around her. Kissed the top of her head and whispered "I Love you Mione". Hermione raised her head and he wiped a tear of her muddy cheek. "I love you Ron" Their lips touched, the delicate kiss gradually growing more heated, their hands everywhere, years of sexual tension trying to be released. They both knew that it was right, and yet Ron pulled away.. Hermione whimpered in protest "Why'd do you stop?"
"I didn't really want to love, but If I hadn't I don't think these clothes would have stayed on much longer.. and I really would rather the first time you saw me naked to be after I showered a whole days battle off" kissing her forehead when she giggled. She took his hand and she set off in the direction of the Gryffindor bathroom. Ron raised his eyebrows and she just shrugged "Well you are starting to smell Ronald" Ron burst out laughing and he knew then that thought it would be tough, that life would never be the same without Fred, this woman was going to wash away his pain.