"Fred! Why couldn't it be me? Why him? Fred!" sobbed Ron.
Hermione pulled him closer to her, comforting him. It was odd seeing Ron like this, he'd always seemed so tough to her, so funny, making her laugh during the darkest of days. Yet, here he was, crying onto her shoulder as if the world had just ended.
In a way it had ended, his brother was dead. Fred would never come back to their world. She gently rubbed his back as his tears slid down her front; she didn't mind.
"Ron, it's alright. You'll be fine. Fred's okay," she choked on Fred's name. "It's alright. Ron, it's going to be alright. Listen to me, I'm here for you," she said soothingly.
He raised his head until he was face to face with her. The sight she saw made her burst into tears too. Ron's red eyes and blotchy face contorted into a painful look.
"H-Hermione, p-please don't cry. Hermione, please?" said Ron, wiping her tears. She hiccuped and managed a tiny smile. "Oh, look who's talking," she said thickly.
He grinned, "Ha ha, funny, Hermione. Listen I really wanted to thank you for..." his voice trailed off.
"I understand completely, Ron. I would've felt the same way if my brother-" Hermione cut off and fresh tears leaked onto her already wet cheeks. He brushed them away gently, and pulled her into his arms.
"Hermione, I really like you and I know this is definitely the wrong time to tell you. But-please don't cry- I have to. You're amazing person and since I was thirteen you've been the only girl that's caught my eye. And it's okay that you don't feel that way about me but I thought I'd better tell you to, you know, get it off my chest."
Hermione didn't speak but instead started crying harder. Ron feared it was because the thought of liking him was completely absurd.
"Hermione, I'm sorry. I was being stupid. I shouldn't have said that. You could never like me, what was I thinking?" said Ron, his ears turning crimson as she straightened to look up at him.
"Do you t-think I'm crying because I think it's stupid that you like me? Do you think I'm crying because I think you're stupid enough to believe I could ever love you?" she asked shrilly, "No! I am crying because I, apparently, haven't made it obvious enough that I love you back. I haven't made it obvious that you mean a lot to me. The fact that you doubt that I could ever love you makes me cry!"
His jaw dropped. "You-you like me back? As more than a friend?" Ron said hoarsely.
"Oh no, I snogged you because I go around kissing everyone that talks nicely about house-elves," she said sarcastically, "Of course I like you back! And yes as more than a friend. I'm in love with you. It's just that I thought you didn't like me but Ginny told me you did so I was waiting for you to make a move, but you never did. I mean I didn't exactly believe her, I thought she just made it up to-"
Ron interrupted her by kissing her full on the lips. She responded back with much enthusiasm and pulled him close to her. Finally, at last, they felt they had peace, and each other.