With every step he took, Ron was cautious. He did not like Grimmauld Place, not since he found those large spiders lurking in one of the dressers two summers ago. He hadn't been real fond of those robes that tried to strangle him, either. He kept his wand at the ready, just in case they had missed anything nasty during their spring cleaning. Or on the possibility something else had moved in during the last two years. Please, no mutant, giant spiders, Ron silently asked whoever might be listening.

As he made his way downstairs, he thought he could faintly hear music. A familiar, haunting melody echoed from the floor below. Reminding himself that Sirius had thrown away that cursed music box, Ron followed the music into the sitting room.

There in the corner of the room was an old piano and sitting at it was Hermione. Ron couldn't help but smile as he watched her hit each note with determined precision. Hermione glanced up to meet Ron's eyes. She didn't say anything, and after a moment, went back to playing the song. After hesitating slightly, Ron took a seat on the bench beside Hermione.

"What is it?" asked Ron, watching her hands inch across the black and white keys.

"It's a piano, Ronald," said Hermione. Ron didn't have to look at her to know she was

smiling.

"Good one." But Ron couldn't help but smile, too. "I meant the song. What's it called?"

"Für Elise."

Deciding not to ask what "Furry Lease" meant, Ron said," It's really—" he struggled for a good enough adjective—"nice," he finished lamely. "I didn't know you could play the

piano."

"Mum… Mum made me take a few years worth of lessons before I started Hogwarts." Hermione's voice broke on the last word. She started the song over, slightly faster than before.

Ron suddenly noticed a tear hit one of the keys. He opened his mouth to say something, but he had never been so completely lost for words. He wanted to do something. Put his hand on hers, put his arm around her. Something. He had had no trouble comforting her when Dumbledore and Mad-Eye died. Or when she showed up at the Burrow after modifying her parents' memories…

But that was different. There had been other people around during those instances. Right now, with Harry's scar hurting him so badly he holed himself up in the bathroom, Ron and Hermione were quite alone.

As Ron watched her continue to play, he found himself asking, "Could you teach me?"

Hermione looked at him, seeming surprised, and nodded. "Okay. Come here."

She scooted closer to him and showed him the first few notes. Ron repeated them as best he could.

For the next several minutes, Hermione continued to break down the song into little pieces and Ron attempted to play them. At one point, Harry walked into the room and sat down by the fire, but neither Ron nor Hermione noticed.

When they reached the end of the song, Ron attempted to play the whole thing himself too see how much he remembered. He did well for a few notes, but when Hermione's leg brushed against his, he began clanking loudly on the keys out of nerves.

Hermione laughed a little. Placing her hand on Ron's, she instructed him to play more gently. Ron tried again and this time started missing notes. She was too close, too close!

Hermione leaned over and started playing the notes again. Ron meant to watch her hands, but his gaze drifted up to her face. She was smiling, her eyes were lit up.

Hermione suddenly turned her face and caught his eye. Cringing, Ron looked down quickly and hastily began to play the song again.

Hermione watched him for just a few more seconds, hoping, praying, that he would look back at her. She was desperate to confirm what she thought she saw in his eyes.

The End