Ron was on a dirty, enclosed, almost forgotten corner of the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes magically enlarged storage room, trying to find the remaining Halloween themed firework boxes left. There was still no new production after they'd closed the shop during the war, so they'd have to make do with that was left from previous years.
It was the image of George's face as he told him that even if things were better now, he still wasn't ready to go back and create new inventions that had put the heavy weight on his chest.
Ron pushed on the thought of giving up and just doing it all without magic, knowing the physical work and the solitude of it would help him release some of the renewed pain. He found that the tightness on his heart eased a little if he focused on the way his muscles moved.
It was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year, and he was going to go meet Hermione. Before he did, he knew he had to find a way to deal with the way he was feeling. Otherwise, Hermione would take a look at him and know something was wrong and insist they talked about it... only he knew that once she was back in her room at Hogwarts, when they day was over, she'd worry for him and fight her own sadness. He didn't want to do that to her, to ruin their reunion that way, so he'd have to find a valve to let it out somehow.
The door cringed as it opened, revealing a bushy-haired head. "Ron? Are you there?"
The sadness he had been feeling now mixed with the guilt of knowing it was too late to save her from his grief. He put the fireworks he had been holding on the floor and straightened up, waiting for her to find him.
"George told me you were back here." She walked slowly through the piling boxes, looking for him. "I couldn't wait. I thought I'd surprise you, maybe go and... oh, there you are!"
Seeing her smile dissolved all the resolve he'd had of sparing her from his sorrow. He thought of all the times she'd told him that he had to talk to her, tell her what worried him, for that was what couples did: keep things balanced by learning to lean on each other.
He saw her eyes change as she looked at him, just before he hugged her close to him. He held to her, taking in her smell and comforting presence. Suddenly his heart felt light in the certainty that she was right, sharing the weight with her made things easier to go through.
"I need you," he whispered.
"I'm here," she replied, clinging to him. "Tell me what's on your mind."
Yes, she was there. He would be there for her when she needed him, too. It would all be alright.
thanks to pili, again ;)