"Ron, wake up. Ron, it's just a dream. It'll all be okay. Shh…Ron, open your eyes," Harry could hear Hermione's soft coaxing voice.
Harry didn't have to open his eyes to realize what was going on. It had been two months since the supposed epic battle at Hogwarts that ended with Voldemort's death. Perhaps it should have been a happy time, with rejoicing and celebration, but for many, it was just mere relief. Too many people lost too many loved ones and Harry and his friends were no exception.
"No, no no, no, no," whispered Ron, still in his sleep induced state.
Harry immediately jumped to his feet.
"Ron, WAKE UP!"
His friend finally jerked awake and looked around in confusion.
"Oh, thank God, thank God…." said the redheaded boy once he realized he was just in his room at the Burrow.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. If Harry had a less clear mind, he might have laughed. How many times had Ron and Hermione exchanged such glances as Harry's scar forced him to have visions about Voldemort's plans and emotions?
"It's okay, Ron," Hermione was rubbing Ron's back, "Everything's okay."
Harry fiddled with his hands awkwardly. He didn't know what to do in this situation. Really, what could he possibly say? When it had been him having nightmares, there was something to discuss because his dreams meant something that had to be figured out for the sake of information and comprehension of Voldemort's plans. But, Ron, he was having just dreams, unreal and inexplicable dreams. Actually, they weren't quite inexplicable because Harry knew exactly why Ron was having those dreams.
It was never expected that the battle against Voldemort would be easy. After all, Tom Marvolo Riddle didn't become Lord Voldemort and gather so many followers for being entirely stupid. No, one cannot deny that he definitely had power and talent. But, Harry never quite foresaw the enormity of the battle. He never thought for an instant that the Death Eaters could control the ministry, and especially Hogwarts. Even if they did have Death Eaters teaching at Hogwarts, he never quite expected that there would be an all out war. But, it was. In a way, Harry cannot deny that there was some kind of beauty in that last battle. There was a sense of unity amongst the students and the teachers as they prepared to sacrifice their very lives for each other and for the school that had become their home. But, for all it's beauty, they paid a price and a heavy one at that.
"…….it'll be nice, won't it Harry?" Hermione was saying to him, catching him off guard.
"Huh? Oh yeah, it'll be great," Harry responded, not bothering to find out what it was that would be so nice. As usual, it'll just be something comforting to say to Ron so as to cheer him up the best they could. Harry was used to this by now. It had been happening almost everyday.
The whole Weasley household came apart at the seams as a result of Fred's death. Out of the entire battle, Fred's death was probably the most surreal. It wasn't that Harry did not grieve for Remus and Tonks and all the others that died, but it just did not seem possible that Fred Weasley could die. After all, he had always been there. Although Harry lived a good eleven years before he ever knew of the existence of a Fred Weasley, ever since the war, he could not remember a time before he met the Weasleys. But, it cannot help if, he too, starts retreating into this mist of grief. George was no where to be seen, Bill and Charlie rarely come around to the Burrow, and when they do, there's nothing but a glazed look on their face as though they see nothing but the ghost of their brother's face everywhere they turn. Percy walks around, seemingly expressionless and emotionless, with the random look of guilt as though he feels that he does not have the right to be at the Burrow when his brother isn't there. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley perhaps have it the worst. They do say that a parent should never have to bury their child, right? And then there's Ginny. Harry had barely seen her since the end of the battle. She seemed to be the glue holding her family together. She's the one that helps Mrs. Weasley daily, sits with her father when no one else seems to be able to do so, talks to George, despite of his mood swings, commissions Bill and Charlie to come over, and smacks Percy and Ron when they need it. But, Harry knows better than to think that she's alright. He still hears her sobbing and Hermione's comforting words at night. Yes, the Weasley household was, in fact, coming apart.
"Can I talk to you outside a minute, Harry?" Hermione's voice once again brought him out from his thoughts.
"Uh yeah," said Harry, as he glanced at Ron, who was already back asleep.
The two friends stepped out and Harry looked Hermione questioningly.
"I know you've been through a lot, Harry," Hermione began, "and I know you're grieving too. I know you loved Fred like a brother and that you miss Remus and Sirius and Dumbledore, and I know that you have been through emotional hell."
"Hermi…" Harry started to interrupt her, before the witch cut him off.
"Listen, I know all of this, but you have got to be strong," Hermione's tear filled eyes looked straight into his, "because Voldemort dying isn't the end of this story. Not when there are lives that are in disarray. Ron needs you. He needs us. And so do the rest of the Weasleys. This might be harsh, Harry, but…."
She didn't need to finish the sentence. She knew he understood.
"I know," whispered Harry, "I just never expected that……"
And so, the friends sat in silence for a long time, thinking back to a time when death was incomprehensible and their deepest concern was their marks on their final exams.
"Harry, wake up. It's time for breakfast," he heard Ginny's voice, the next morning. He forgot that he even came back to bed the night before.
He instantly jerked awake and looked at her.
"Ginny, how are you?"
She gave him a half smile, but he was glad to see that it reached her eyes, albeit for just a fraction of a second.
"I'm fine Harry, but get up, will you? And get him out of bed," she waved her hand toward Ron, who was sleeping and muttering for five more minutes.
She looked back at him.
"He's been saying that for the past half hour and you," she looked at him appraisingly, "you've been completely zonked out.
"Yeah, you know beauty sleep and all," Harry joked.
Ginny raised an eyebrow. She really was beautiful.
"That's really funny, Harry, great joke," she said sarcastically.
Harry stood up and mock bowed before moving on to get ready to go down to breakfast.
"See you in a few minutes," Ginny said, before yanking off Ron's blankets to wake him up.
And as he began to brush his teeth, he could hear Ron's, "Bloody hell, Ginny…."
'Things have got to get normal, eventually,' he thought to himself, 'they just have to.'
When he finally got himself down for breakfast, he found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Hermione and Ron already there. Everyone looked somewhat tired, but no one mentioned anything. It was their unsaid policy—that no one ever says anything. He wasn't surprised at all to see that Percy and George once again did not present themselves for what had once been a routine activity.
"Hello, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley gave him a kiss on the cheek as she recently started to do every morning when he went to sit down, "do you want an omelet?"
Harry smiled at her. He couldn't help but admire her and had no doubt that it was from her that Ginny got her strength.
"I'm good with the toast, thanks Mrs. Weasley," he said.
"Well, then," Mrs. Weasley rubbed her hands on her apron, and looked at Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny, "you kids are going to have to do some work today."
They looked her.
"Kingsley, I mean, the Minister of Magic will be staying with us for the next two days. Apparently he has some work to do around here and we've invited him to stay with us instead of a hotel. Also, Fleur's family will be coming down again and I'm sure they'll visit sometime at the Burrow too, so we need a bit of cleaning…" Mrs. Weasley almost looked pleased at the prospect of cleaning, as though this would somehow make everything in her house normal.
"Sure, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione replied in an unusually high voice, as though this was her attempt to be strong for everyone else as they discussed last night.
"Ugh, has my room always been this messy," groaned Ron as they stood at the entrance to his bedroom to clean it up.
"Take the blame, mate," he pleaded, looking at Harry, "I don't reckon mum will be too happy if she thinks that I've done all this."
Harry laughed.
"No can do, Ron—I'm too good to be this messy," Harry made doe eyes and pouted.
"You're such a prat," said Ron, shooting him an evil look, throwing a box at Harry.
There was a puff of smoke, a ringing sensation, and Harry Potter disappeared.
Author's note: Apart from the two one-shots I've written here, I've never written anything in my life that wasn't for school, so please bare with me. I'm writing this more out of love for the amazing series that was Harry Potter than anything else, and I hope to make it somewhat decent. I welcome any suggestions that you may have because I know I need it. Also, I need help with how this website works. I tried to put space between the changing scenes of this story, but when I click enter, there's space as I edit, but when I save changes and look at the story, the space disappears. Does anyone even understand what I'm saying? Haha. Thank you!