Ron and Hermione followed Harry carefully down the crumbling stairs of Dumbledore's old office. They walked silently through the corridors heading toward Gryffindor Tower, for each of them were so exhausted, the thought of moving their legs and mouths at the same time seemed daunting. When they reached the Fat Lady, Harry turned to face his two best friends. "It's been a long day and..." he started.
"I know, mate. Just go to bed. We can talk in the morning, yeah?" Ron interjected. Harry closed his eyes with a smile. He then glanced at Hermione and she nodded reassuringly. "I know that you two," Harry pointed between Hermione and Ron, "probably have some...'private matters' to discuss?" He chuckled quietly, seeing both of their faces turn a bright crimson and turned to continue through the passage into the common room. Without hesitation he headed straight up to the boys' dormitory, calling, "goodnight" to his friends.
Ron, however, moved toward the couch in front of the fireplace, taking Hermione's hand as he passed her. "We should probably talk, don't you think?"
"Well, I don't think there's really much to talk about." Hermione answered him, looking somewhat amused.
"I..well, I guess n-not.." Ron stammered. He was slightly taken aback by Hermione's response. He expected her to want to discuss, in extreme detail, what happened between the two of them outside the room of requirement. The thought that, perhaps, the only reason she kissed him was because she feared impending doom, crossed his mind for a brief second. But really, he knew otherwise. This dance they had done around each other for years was not without reason. Hermione was looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to pursue the issue further, which he had fully intended on doing, when he realized that there really wasn't anything to talk about. Anything that needed to be said between them was said in their first kiss. The longing for each other, the need to be in each other's arms, and the immeasurable amount of love between them passed in that kiss.
With a sheepish grin at this revelation, Ron wrapped his freckly arms around Hermione and pulled her next to him so that they were lying on the couch next to each other. "Why don't we get some sleep? The rest of our lives will be starting tomorrow." Hermione beamed as she nestled herself into Ron's warm body. Despite all the sorrow they felt for those who were lost, and the unbounded wave of emotions they were surely going to be hit with tomorrow, Ron and Hermione fell asleep almost instantly feeling hopeful and happy.