"To the fallen"
"To the fallen and the new future they fought to reach." Everyone raised their glasses and their voices rang.
"To the fallen." Throat burning, they turned to each other and embraced, smiled or just nodded. Everyone found someone to look to and confirm their existence, precious. The whole house had been cleaned and tidied by a hyperactive Mrs Weasley; but the decorations were black. Drapes and candles and photographs on tables, shelves, walls, even the air. Everywhere reminders of the darkness that still hadn't quite left them.
Looking around at the Weasley home, Harry remembered the last time he had been here; Bill and Fleur's wedding. It seemed a life time ago, and indeed, looking around at everyone, it appeared as if several years had spent themselves in their expressions. Even as he caught her eye, cheeky and playful, from across the room, he knew that her spark was struggling against a smothering mist. Coughing and straightening up, he reminded himself not to be dragged down either. Life was here and it was his. She smiled from the distance.
It was theirs.
Ron looked over and saw his parents were together on the sofa. He hadn't seen them apart since… Tonk's mother was approaching with a bundle in her arms; how small he was, how ignorant and peaceful. Finding himself drawn in, he exchanged greetings with the broken woman and looked down on newly opened eyes. They asked him a question, to which he could not answer. Through the quiet murmurs he heard her voice, strong and firm and comforting, even from a distance. Without looking he could see her expression, soft yet unmoving; no matter what she was feeling, Hermione had this ability to control her emotions and smile through them, well, he half-grinned, except when it came to him. But his lips fell back into neutral as he began to wonder about that passionate, desperate kiss, had she been moved by the same feelings as he had been? Shaking his head minutely, suddenly conscious of the room full of people, he decided that he would have to talk to her about it. Soon. He looked back at his parents sitting quietly together, glad that they were there.
Slipping out of the backdoor, Harry left the loud warbling of the radio and mumblings of the guests behind him. Turning back briefly he smiled gratefully when he saw that she'd followed him. He led her wordlessly away from the house. Their fingers entwined, he kept on looking back, taking in her auburn locks. Breathing in the night air, he winced slightly as it was raw in his lungs; but it sharpened his mind and he stopped. They were surrounded by rushes which tickled their backs.
Noticing the drink still in his hand he raised it.
"To the fallen." Crying, she raised hers too.
"To the fallen and the future." Harry smiled gently and both dropped their cups suddenly. The liquid spilling together warmly in the cold grass.
Where was Ginny when you needed her? She knew that she was being ridiculous. She knew that one day she would look back and laugh. She caught Ron looking and both hurriedly turned away.
Then again, one day she may look back and cry.
"Hermione." How had he moved so fast? She was trapped. She turned slowly, nervous. Looking nervous himself, Ron gulped. "I think…I think we should. We should talk." He nodded to the door and she put down her drink and followed him.
The cool air seemed to sharpen his senses and his purpose.
"Hermione." She looked up expectantly, heart fluttering. Her throat was too dry to allow her to speak but it didn't matter as Ron seemed to have gathered his strength. "About before, about…you know." She moved her face a little closer, gaze trembling from his eyes to his lips and back up again as he went on.
"I love-" She never heard the end of his sentence.
At least not that night.