It had been three days since the Weasley family had laid Fred to rest. The family had slowly begun to piece themselves back together after the great battle of Hogwarts, although Molly and Arthur still felt an ache in their hearts that they were sure would never fade. The couple knew that no loss was easy, especially the loss of a child. But, they had six other children that needed them, and they would be there for them at all costs. George had thrown himself back into working at the joke shop, knowing in his heart that that's what his twin brother would have wished for. Charlie and Bill had come together at their parents' house to help in any way that they could. Percy had begun helping the Ministry prosecute those responsible for the death and destruction caused at Hogwarts on that fateful night. Ginny spent most of her time with Harry, allowing him to fix her as well as fixing him in return. Ron, however, was struggling to cope at all. For almost a fortnight, he had stayed up in his room, alone, with the exception of Fred's funeral of course. He didn't want to pretend that he was okay, and he certainly didn't want to 'put on a brave face' as Percy had put it. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to sulk and cry and be furious at the whole world. And somewhere deep within his heart, he knew there was only one person who could fix him. Hermione. But, three days after the battle had ended, Hermione had set off to Australia with Kingsley Shacklebolt in order to bring her parents' home. He understood that this was something she needed to do. He understood more than anyone. But he missed her with every fibre of his being. He replayed the same memory over and over again in his mind, the only memory that made him feel whole at the moment...
It was the morning after the battle. Harry, Ron and Hermione were still at Hogwarts as everyone pulled together to begin fixing what once was. The three of them had been ordered to get some rest whilst they still could, and as Harry followed Ginny to the girl's dormitory, Hermione and Ron were left alone in the Gryffindor common room, a deafening silence surrounding them.
"You should get some rest. You look so tired", Hermione suddenly told him.
"Is that code for 'I look like shit'?", he attempted to joke. Hermione gave a breathy laugh as she shook her head, blushing slightly at his use of language. She suddenly reached into her beaded bag as she pulled out some muggle face wipes and got up out of her seat, making her way towards him. "What's that?", he asked nervously as she knelt down in front of him, pulling a small cloth from the packet.
"They're just cleaning wipes", she told him as she began gently caressing his face with the cloth. Ron looked deep into her beautiful brown eyes as he watched her scanning every inch of his face as she cleaned him up. "There we are", she smiled softly. "Now, get yourself to bed", she told him. Ron did as he was told as he got up out of his seat and began to head towards the stairs before stopping in his tracks.
"Where are you going to sleep?", he asked her. Hermione gave him a confused look. "I can't imagine you'd want to stay in the same room as Harry and Ginny", he grimaced at the thought of his younger sister sharing a bed with his best friend. Hermione chuckled softly as she began cleaning her own face.
"Oh, I'll be fine in here. I have a blanket in my bag", she told him. Ron shook his head as he held out his hand.
"Come with me", he offered nervously. "You won't be comfortable on that bloody old thing", he referred to the common room sofa. Hermione remained still for a moment, as if she was replaying what he had said in her mind. Ron was convinced she was going to turn down his offer when she suddenly took a hold of his hand. The feel of her hand within his own was enough make him feel a little faint. Through all the disaster and heartbreak, he still couldn't quite believe that they had finally worked things out. He began to slowly lead her up the stairs towards the boy's dormitory. Unlike the rest of the school, the dormitory looked completely untouched, as if the elves had just finished tidying up. Parting hands, Hermione made her way towards Harry's bed, placing her bag down on it and turning to face Ron,
"I'm just going to get changed", she said quietly before closing the drapes. Ron gave her a small nod before making his way towards his own bed. He stripped down to his boxer shorts before swapping his dirty striped jumper for a clean Chudley Cannons tee-shirt and getting into bed. Hermione reopened the drapes a short moment later to reveal herself in some flannelled, red-tartan pyjama bottoms and a black vest top. He watched her slowly get into Harry's bed as the pair of them laid on their backs in unison, staring up at the ceiling. But as Ron continued to stare, he could feel his heart beginning to ache as his mind began to take control of his emotions. He heard the screams and the cries of his family, his professors and his classmates. He watched Hermione tremble with fear. He saw his brother's motionless body, laying against the cold, hard floor as he stared at the ghost of his last laugh etched upon his face. Everything that had happened in the last 24 hours had suddenly dawned on him like a nightmare he couldn't escape from. His heart weighed him down like an anchor within his chest and could feel his eyes beginning to well up with tears as his breathing became rapid and sweat began to drip from his forehead when suddenly, Hermione sat on the edge of the bed beside him, hesitantly running her fingers through his hair as she looked at him sadly. "It's alright, Ron", she spoke softly.
"It's not alright", he almost choked on his own sobs. "I'm not the only one who went through it! Why should I be allowed to lay here and feel sorry for myself?", he asked her as he sat up, angry for allowing himself to cry in front of her. Hermione looked at him at a loss for words, her eyes shifting between his as she searched for an answer.
"We've all been through a lot, Ron. It's alright to be angry and it's alright to be sad. And -", she stopped as she placed a caring hand on his knee. "And I'm here for you. No matter what", she forced a weak smile. Before he knew it, Ron had leaned into her, their lips meeting in such a gentle embrace that he could feel every sad or angry emotion leaving his body as he relaxed under her touch. This had been the first time they had kissed since their very first kiss back in the chamber of secrets, and he had decided that he liked this kiss much better. Everything seemed to go in a beautiful slow motion as he moved his mouth softly against hers. His hand getting lost in her larger-than-life locks, whilst the touch of her fingertips on the back of his neck made his heart flutter. They slowly parted lips as their foreheads remained touching, Ron daring to look her in the eyes. He was delighted to find her looking back into his. Without a word, Hermione crawled under his duvet, sitting up at the head of his bed as she got herself comfortable. "Come here", she said. Ron shuffled back a little before allowing himself lean back, placing his head nervously against her chest before she wrapped her arm around him, inviting him into her embrace. The small thudding of her heart sounding in his ear, he relaxed into her as she began to run her fingers softly through his messy red hair. He didn't know the exact moment he had fallen asleep, but it was the best sleep he had ever had. He continued to recall his new favourite memory as he sat staring out of his bedroom window, not even noticing that his mother had given herself permission to enter his room.
"Ron?", she said cautiously, pulling him from his thoughts. He slowly turned to face her as she stood in the doorway gingerly. "I know you want to be left alone, love, but a letter came for you this morning", she said as she placed an envelope on his chest of drawers in the corner. Ron made no attempt at communication as he watched her hand lingering on top of his letter, a painful look on her face as she stared at it. "I know you miss her", she suddenly said. "But we need to heal together", she sighed sadly, looking up at him as her eyes swam with fresh tears. Ron thought it was impossible for his mother to be able to produce anymore tears but she continued to prove him wrong. She suddenly made her way towards him, running her fingers through his hair before kissing him on the top of his head. "We're all going to be here for you when you're ready", she almost whispered before turning and leaving Ron to his thoughts. He stared at the envelope on top of his chest of drawers before warily getting up and retrieving it. As he sat back down on his bed, the envelope in his hands, he instantly recognised the hand writing. It was Hermione's. And even though he couldn't physically see her or hear her voice, her penmanship before his eyes was enough to settle the ache in his heart. He began to open the letter, gently sliding his finger across the paper before taking out the smooth parchment that was inside and unfolding it on his lap.
Ronald,
I hope you're alright. Kingsley and I made it to Australia and we've found my parents. We're still trying to reverse the memory charm at the moment but Kingsley reckons we'll work something out soon. He's honestly a brilliant wizard so there isn't a doubt in my mind that he won't be able to help them. I do miss them terribly though. I've been watching them in their little dental practice for the past two days. I even booked an appointment yesterday just so I could see my dad. It was so strange to be around him and be nothing but a stranger to him. He told me that he and his wife had always wanted to have a daughter and that if they did, they would name her Hermione.
I really do hope you're alright, Ron. I haven't stopped thinking about you since I left. It's bizarre to think that merely a year ago I couldn't tell you how I felt, now all I want to do is tell you how much I miss you and how much I think about you. I can't stop thinking about that morning back at Hogwarts when we just laid together. It was the most peaceful I've felt in years. It also keeps me sane whilst I'm out here, knowing that once this is all over, my parents will have their memories back and I'll get to be with you, properly. (Please don't use this against me. I will hex you!). I know you've probably been sat in your room avoiding everyone since I left, and if you have? Stop it! You have wonderful family and friends that want to help you, all you have to do is let them.
I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there for Fred's funeral. I hope everything went alright. Well, as alright as it could've gone. Kingsley and I had some wildfire whiz-bangs and set them off in his memory. Please send my love to your family for me, and Harry of course.
I should be home soon, and when I am you'll be the first to know. I honestly can't wait.
Hermione.
Ron sighed as he scanned through the letter once more, being particularly drawn to her wishes of him not being locked away in his room. He knew she was right. And a little part of him hated that she knew him so well. But, Hermione's letter had changed something within him. His heart felt a little lighter as he stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. His fiery red hair was shaggy and stuck up in all directions, just like Harry's on any normal day, and stubble had begun to form on his chin, something he had never been a big fan of. He licked the palm of his hand before running it across the top of his hair, flattening down the stray strands that stood on end and attempting to make himself look presentable before taking a deep breath and looking himself in the eye. "Stop being a prat!", he told himself angrily. He took a moment to ready himself before heading towards the door and opening it, his eyes adjusting to the landing outside of his room for the first time in a fortnight. He slowly began to make his way downstairs, surprised to find his mother's, normally fussy, kitchen unusually empty and quiet. He scanned the room, hoping to find a friendly face when he spotted Harry sitting on his own in the living room. "Where is everyone?", he asked. A little startled by his sudden presence, Harry jumped in his seat, turning to face Ron.
"Um - hi. Your mum and dad took Ginny to visit George and Bill and Charlie are running the joke shop for a while", Harry told him nervously. Ron gave a small nod of acknowledgment before taking a seat opposite him and sighing as he stared at the floor. "How are you?", Harry asked. Ron sighed once more as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I've been better", he said honestly. "You?", he asked in return.
"I'm alright. It's good to see you though", he told him. Ron forced a weak smile at his best friend as he searched for something, anything, to say.
"Hermione sends her love", he told him.
"That's nice. Did she say when she'll be back?", Harry asked. Ron shook his head.
"They found her parents but they're still figuring out how to reverse the charm", Ron explained. The pair returned to an awkward silence as they both avoided all eye contact.
"I'm sorry, Ron", Harry suddenly said. Ron shot him a confused look as he waited for him to explain further. "None of this would be happening right now if it weren't for me. Hermione wouldn't have to travel across the world to find her parents. Ginny wouldn't be having constant nightmares. Fred would -", he stopped, unable to finish his sentence as he sighed. "I'm sorry".
"Whether you were the Chosen One or not, this still would've happened, Harry. We have to fight for the greater good and for a greater life", Ron told him simply. Harry couldn't help but smirk at his friend's response. "What?", Ron quizzed as he watched Harry looking smugly at him.
"When did you grow up?", he asked.
"Around the same time that I almost got myself killed in a bloody chess game!", Ron joked. The pair of them laughed for a moment before the room returned to its earlier silence. "Hermione's helped me grow up a lot", he admitted shyly. "Funny, isn't it? I went from complaining about what a complete nightmare she is to praising her for being brilliant", he gave a breathy chuckle. Harry smiled brightly at him, an expression Ron felt like he hadn't witnessed for years.
"You two are going to be just fine", he told him. Ron smiled genuinely at Harry as he allowed his words to resound in his head. They would be fine. He believed that more than anything. But the journey would be a long and draining one and he only wished he could use the time turner to send him into the future rather than having to face the difficult times ahead. And although he was scared and confused, the thought of having Hermione by his side suddenly eased his dread.