Harry disappeared up the stairs, leaving Ron and Hermione standing in stunned silence.

"So Snape was sweet on Harry's mum all that time," said Ron finally. "I never would've guessed."

"I don't suppose you would," Hermione answered.

"You knew?"

She hesitated. "No."

Ron grinned at her, but that simple act seemed to remind him of everything that had happened, of how the world had changed drastically overnight, and his face went pale so quickly that Hermione bustled him over to a sofa and made him sit.

"I should be there," he said. "With..."

"You want to go back down?"

A pause, then a shake of the head. "It's too...I'm too..." Suddenly he was crying, muffling his sobs in his hands, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Hermione reached a tentative hand to his arm, and he reached back for her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. They sat there on the sofa, grieving together—grieving, but together.

It was only when Hermione woke up that she realized she had been asleep. Her eyes stung, and the fabric of Ron's shirt against her face was damp with tears. His arm was tight around her shoulders. He was staring into the empty fireplace, his expression blank. She sat up, rubbing at a sore spot on her neck.

"I'm glad you're still here," he said. She squeezed his hand. "It feels horrible to say that. I don't mean I'm glad he's..."

"I know."

"Go on upstairs," he said. "Get some sleep."

"What are you going to do?"

He sighed heavily. "I'm going back down."

"Are you ready?"

"I don't suppose you're ever really ready," he said, an edge of bitterness in his voice. "But they need me to be there. I need to be there."

"Then so do I."

His fingers grazed her cheek as though he was afraid to believe she was still there, after all. Slowly, almost awkwardly now that impending doom wasn't hovering over them, he leaned forward and kissed her.

"I love you," he said.

"Yes," she said, for once without the right words.

"You never know when it'll be your last chance to say that," he said. He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it.

"We'll have lots more chances," she promised. "But I love you, too."

He laughed softly and shook his head. "I always thought you were a bit mental."

Hand in hand, they went to face a changed world.