Spring had come to Hogwarts. Blooming wildflowers surrounded the edge of the black lake within which its many magical critters resided. The sky was a calm azure. It had never been so beautiful before. There must be something poetic about this, for this was the day when the funerals were to end for those who died in the Battle of Hogwarts.
It had been a week since the day that would mark the beginning of a new age. Or at least that was what was the survivors hoped. There had been so much death, so much destruction. The faces of those who departed, still fresh as an open wound. Harry, Ron and Hermione walked together towards the calm of the Black Lake after the memorial service. The calm blue waters reflected the colour of the sky perfectly. Ron took a stone from the pebbled littoral, and tossed it with all his strength, the stone skipping and creating an angry sequence of waves.
Hermione and Harry glanced at each other before Harry asked, 'Ron, mate. How're you holding up?'
Fred's death had come as a shock to the Weasley Family. The laughter and life that surrounded the members of Harry's favourite family had disappeared. Percy, was driven mad with guilt after witnessing his death. He believed Rookwood to be responsible for it, and cursed himself for not being the one to put him in Azkaban or worse. Molly was beside herself with grief and George...well, he had yet to speak a word to anyone since that day. Ginny and Arthur were holding the family together while Ron was always angry.
'I'll kill them.' He whispered.
Hermione shared another look with Harry before saying, 'Ron, Rookwood is already in Azkaban. Kingsley has promised swift justice to all Death Eaters who were caught, including him. The trial won't take long and we can be assured there is enough evidence to put him in there for the test of his life. Please, Ron. Don't do this to yourself', she added the last bit softly.
'We can't even be sure the blast was his fault,' Ron grumbled, 'Till all of those Death Eaters are rounded up, I know I won't be at peace.' He turned and looked Harry straight in the eye. 'I reckon Kingsley talked to you about joining the Aurors too. I'm going to do it Harry. I'll take every single one of those bastards out. Are you in or not?'
'Erm, I suppose, yes.' Harry replied, while taking his glasses off and cleaning them with the edge of his shirt- a nervous habit. He had long discarded his jacket elsewhere. It had been a long day. His face was clean shaven and there was a light in his eyes that had been missing all of that year. It looked as if he suddenly knew all the secrets of life. Hermione supposed dying and coming back to life did that to a person. She couldn't help but feel awed when she looked at her best friend, knowing what he went through. Out of instinct, she gave him an encouraging smile and saw him relax his shoulders while pushing his glasses back on. 'Yes, I will Ron. I'll join the Aurors.' He replied with surety this time. 'But I won't be doing it out of a misplaced sense of vengeance', he thought, but didn't say. He knew Ron needed closure.
Ron grinned at him. A picture of contrast, he had a 5 o'clock shadow and his red hair had grown long and shaggy. He gave off a roguish look, which oddly, Hermione found to be very attractive. 'Let's head back. Andromeda expects us to drop in for tea and to meet Teddy. We have to make it in time for dinner at the Burrow, if we are to not worry Mrs Weasley.'
Dinner was a quiet affair. Everyone sat around the table and spoke sparingly about the memorial. Fleur and Ginny were getting on surprisingly well while handling Molly's duties for the day. Bill and Charlie were clearing up the table, when Hermione announced, 'I've spoken to McGonagall and she assures me I can come back to Hogwarts to finish my N.E.W.T.s. I'll be on the Hogwarts Express on September the 1st.'
Harry and Ron looked unsurprised, having already been informed of her decision. Ginny's face however, lit up with the news. 'Oh, good! I can't imagine how ghastly the year would be without your company. I bet you'll be head girl.'
Hermione grinned and replied, 'No, Gin. I can't take that honour away from the actual Seventh Years.'
A chair scraped loudly and ended the brief moment of respite from the pall that had taken residence at the Burrow. George got up and walked out of the room. Ron continued staring at the wall opposite to him before following. Hermione swallowed a lump that had started forming in her throat. 'Hermione, could I speak to you outside for a bit?' Harry asked after a moment. Surprised, she cleared her throat and said,'Sure'.
The air outside was fresh and cool. Hermione took a deep breath and turned to her best friend, questioningly. 'The Malfoys have their trial tomorrow. I'm going to testify. For them. Well, for two of them. I told you she lied to Him about my death. I wouldn't have survived if not for her lie. I have to do this. And Malfoy- well, Draco- is going to be charged for Dumbledore's murder besides being put on trial for being a Death Eater. We both know he was a lousy one and we both know he's not a murderer. He didn't positively identify us at the Manor, Hermione. He is the reason we got enough time to make our escape-' Harry suddenly realised Hermione was giving him a warm smile and had her hand on his chest. He ceased his rambling.
'I know Harry. I agree.'
'Ron won't like it. He may just hate me for it, actually. I can't ask him to back me up tomorrow so I'm asking you. Will you help me with the testimony? Give them your side of the story, but mainly back mine up.' He smiled.
'Of course I will,' she confirmed, 'and you're right, Ron won't like it, so it's best if you tell him after you testify.'
'You're the best.' He nudged her shoulder affectionately. 'When are you going to see your parents?'
'I've spoken to Kingsley about arranging a portkey. He said he'll have one ready by the end of the week. So I leave next Sunday.'
'Good. Do you want me to come along? You know I'd love to. The trial should get over before then. The Wizengamot, well whatever remains of it, is pulling all stops and they aim to complete the trials at the earliest possible date.'
She paused a moment to consider his offer before shaking her head and replying, 'Don't worry about it. Ginny needs you here. They all need you here. I won't be long I promise.'
'Good. Well, I'm going to help Ginny clean up. Let's go back inside. We are to leave tomorrow early, by six.' Harry held the door open for Hermione as they both slipped inside. She climbed the stairs to the room she was sharing with Ginny and got ready for bed. She slipped under the warm duvet and left the lamp on, knowing the other girl could take a while.
The door creaked open and she looked up in surprise. It was Ron. 'What's wrong?' she whispered.
'Harry and Gin are going to sleep in my room.'
'Oh.' she gulped, her throat had dried up.
'Mind if I stayed the night?' He tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace. His eyes looked even more haunted in the dull light of the bedside lamp. She wanted so much to provide him the comfort he needed, but she hadn't known how to until tonight.
'Yes, of course. Come in.' Hermione said, shifting a bit further than necessary on the bed.
Ron walked to the other side of the bed and took his shirt off before getting in. He was still as lanky as ever, but she was glad to see that the sinewy muscles on his chest and biceps remained even after spending the better part of the year on the run. He really did have the perfect body for a Keeper. She looked up in his eyes and he held her gaze. His pupils were blown wide, but she was half convinced it was due to the darkness of the room. She reached her hand out to softly push a few strands away from his eyes, when he caught her wrist. She startled in surprise. Ron pulled her in, closing the distance and putting her flush against his own body. He inhaled deeply against her neck and simply held her for the longest time. She was drawing circles on his back, waiting for his breathing to calm down, hoping he would get to finally sleep after a week of insomnia when she felt his lips on her neck. She took a sharp breath and went still. His lips trailed her collar and dipped lower to the valley of her chest. His fingers moved along her shoulder and she could feel them leave goosebumps behind on her skin. He pulled the strap of her night dress down to reveal one full breast, tipped with a pink rosy nipple.
'Ron,' she whispered. This was the first time they had progressed beyond kissing and light petting. She felt unsure of herself and gulped.
His hand stilled, and so did his lips, but his eyes remained hooded. She remained quiet and after some time, he resumed the movement of his lips. They trailed along her clavicle, alternating between nips and kisses to reach her breasts. She gasped as his warm mouth covered her nipple. His tongue lavished attention to it as his hands trailed down the small of her back to grip her arse.
'Ron,' she whispered again, but this time there was no warning in it.
His lips covered hers, as if to silence her and his fingers found the heat between her legs. He slipped his fingers within her folds and started to move them rhythmically against her clit. He continued the movement till she started becoming wet. Cheeks burning with heat and embarrassment, she said his name again. The satin of her dress had been pulled up to her waist, her legs bare and her breasts were now completely free of their confines. A hand gripped her hair and the other went from her folds to spread her legs. He kissed her soundly on her lips and he moved above her, freeing his cock from his pyjamas and settling it near her entrance. It was then that he finally looked at her again. His blue eyes peered deeply into hers, leaving her feeling oddly exposed. He pushed inside her slowly and her lips opened to gasp at the intrusion, her eyes wide. When he pushed past her barrier, she broke contact, closing her eyes and turning her head away due to the pain. Ron stilled inside her, completely sheathed and peppered kisses all over her face as if to kiss her pain away. She had never felt so full before. They held each other for a few more moments, before he started to slowly move his hips. They were chest to chest, lips to lips. He held her close as he continued to snap his hips, now moving his cock inside of her. She let out another gasp as he thrust particularly deep. Her pussy felt raw and her hands clawed at his back to distract her from her pain, but it didn't help. He continued to pound her and she felt tears sting her eyes. She let out involuntary moans every time he thrust in, but Ron continued to fuck her into the bed for what seemed like an eternity, when he finally gave a guttural moan and emptied himself inside her, his hips buckling at the effort of maintaining a rhythm through his orgasm. He stilled and let his weight fall on her body.
He licked the tears on her cheeks as he softened inside her. Finally, he pushed himself off of her and rolled to the side, covering her modesty with the duvet before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep.
She knew it was supposed to pain the first time for a lot of women. She supposed no one really orgasmed during their first experience. She looked to her left and saw Ron's silhouette. She felt no regrets. She had felt his love in the way he kissed her and held her. Emotionally she had never felt closer to him. Still glad that the experience was over, she knew it would only improve from here out. She got off the bed to clean herself up and cast a contraceptive charm before getting back under the covers. Ron pulled her close again, and she finally fell asleep in his arms.