Chapter 1
It's been three days since the battle ended. It's been three days since Ron died. It's been three days and all I've been doing is sitting in the corner of his room crying. But enough is enough. As I stand up and walk across the room, I stroke his bed and the rest of his belongings. I coat of dust sits on all his furniture now since he hasn't been home for months. It's sad to think that he won't be here ever again. I stroll out of the bedroom and down the stairs, looking at my feet the whole way down. On my way to the kitchen, I bump into Fred, who steadies my dazed self and looks at me, his eyes widening. All he manages to say is "Hermione..."
"Hi Fred," I say, still staring at my feet.
"Hermione, are you okay? I mean we haven't seen you for days. Mum said that she left food for you but you didn't touch it. She's so worried abo-"
"Fred, I'm fine, honestly. I guess I am a little hungry, but I'm going down to get something now. " I say, a smile creeping on my face. It's not like Fred Weasley to be panicky like he just was. I must have really caused a fright in the Weasley household.
"Calm down, Freddo," George says as he walks up behind Fred and pats him on the shoulder. "The girl's going through trauma and the last thing she needs is your ugly face bothering her."
Fred spins around and says in a jokey voice "Did you just say I was ugly, Georgey boy?"
"Well everyone knows that I'm the better looking one out of the two of us. Isn't that right, Granger?" He winks at me and I just laugh. I forgot how comforting it is to laugh and so I carry on.
"We'll see about that once I'm done with you," Fred says as he rugby tackles George into their bedroom.
I carry on down the stairs, a smile painted on my face. But once I get to the kitchen, it vanishes. The look on everyone's face when they see me is scary; every eye wide and staring, every mouth hanging open slightly. The first person who comes up to me is Mrs Weasley. I can see that her eyes a slightly red and puffy and her face looks a lot graver than before. She embraces me in a hug for a long time before letting go and looking into my eyes.
"I know how hard it must be for you, Hermione. All of us are going through the same thing and we have to stick together like a family from now on," She says, her voice quiet and hoarse. "I'll get you something to eat, you must be hungry."
She walks away and I sit down at the table next to Harry. He looks up at me and smiles faintly. I immediately see the guilt in his eyes, the guilt that he should not be feeling.
"Harry," I say "It's not your fault. Ron knew he was in danger while being with you ever since Dumbledore's death. I don't blame you for anything, we just have to stick together now."
Harry pulls me into a hug and says behind my ear "I thought you hated me. I'm so sorry. I just wish that he was here." And with that he starts sobbing into my shoulder.
That's when I notice how Ron's death has changed Harry. Harry has experienced so much loss in the past, but never anyone who was close to him as Ron. Ron was always there for him ever since our first year at Hogwarts. They were like brothers, so he must be feeling like the Weasley kids are now.
And that's when I realised that the Golden Trio would never be together ever again.