Prologue

Ron awoke suddenly and felt a surge of adrenaline in his body. He grabbed his wand and jumped off the bed he had been laying on. Suddenly, the events of earlier that day came flooding back to him.

Voldemort was gone.

The war was over.

And he was posed like a homicidal maniac in the middle of the Gryffindor seventh years' dormitories. He put down his wand and let his body relax, surveying the room. He was alone. Ron sat back down on his four-poster bed and gave a heavy sigh. There was too much to think about – Voldemort and so many Death Eaters gone – but along with them Professor Lupin, Tonks, and Fred. Fred. His brother. Gone forever. And Harry – Harry had told him and Hermione everything that had happened. Could he ever come back from all of that?

Ron shook his head, trying to gain clarity. If he sat here by himself thinking of the tragedy and magnitude of it all, he would suffocate in it. No, he needed air.

He walked down the familiar steps that led to the Gryffindor common room. He had been walking towards the portrait when Hermione burst through it.

"I was just coming to wake you up," she said briskly. "Dinner's just about to be served in the Great Hall. I thought you might be hungry."

"I am." Ron said. He looked around at the common room. "Weird to be back here, isn't it? Wasn't sure if we would ever see this place again. All that time on the run – sometimes it seemed like it would never end – or if it did – we would –"

He let the thought finish itself.

Hermione came towards him slowly and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her hair.

"I know what you mean," she mumbled into his shoulder. "But it's over. It really is."

"How's Harry?" Ron asked.

"He's okay. A little quiet. He was helping some of the Aurors and teachers clear up the Great Hall earlier. He went off for a walk with Ginny, which is good for him. He should be back for dinner."

Ron nodded as they separated. "Good. He hasn't seen Ginny in a long time. Dinner then?"

They walked through the portrait hole. Ron grabbed her hand as they walked to the Great Hall; Hermione smiled at him.

When they arrived at the Great Hall, Ron was surprised to see that the room looked completely normal. The house tables were lined up. There were many people eating in the Hall – students who had stayed to fight, parents, teachers, and Aurors. There were men and women rushing in and out of the Hall, as they worked to clean up other parts of the castle. Even Kingsley Shacklebolt, the new Minister of Magic, was there.

As he and Hermione joined the Weasleys and several others at the Gryffindor table, he remarked, "Wow. How'd they clean the whole place up so fast?"

"It's called magic, Ron," George said. "Maybe someday you will learn some."

Ron grabbed a roll from the table and threw it at his brother. George flicked his wand and the roll came racing back towards Ron who had to duck to dodge it.

"See." George said. "Magic."

"That's enough boys," His mother called from a little ways down the table. "Just because we're not at home doesn't mean I won't make a scene."

"First day back at Hogwarts and you're already getting into trouble," came a voice from behind him.

Ron turned around. Ginny and Harry had arrived. "It's mum Ginny; it doesn't count. Alright mate?" He asked Harry.

Harry nodded. "I'm starving," he said.

They all dug into shepherd's pie. The table went quiet except for the sounds of people eating. Even though he had been sleeping for almost half a day, Ron still felt tired, maybe weary. And all of their interaction felt forced. Even when George had teased him, Ron had felt Fred's absence. The twins should have been torturing him together. Would it always be like this?

"Harry, dear," his mum said. "I was thinking you could stay at the Burrow with us. We're going home tonight. Just until you decide what you want to do or you get a flat of your own. You really shouldn't be alone right now, dear. You can have Percy's old room."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley," Harry said appreciatively. "That sounds great."

In the morning, after the battle was over, and Harry had told them everything, they had all decided just to sleep at Hogwarts, being too tired to do much else. The students who remained were being sent home that day. Exams were canceled. The castle still had to be repaired and the protective enchantments and spells replaced around its border. The hope was that Hogwarts would be ready for a new class on September 1st, but at the current moment, it was inoperable.

But now they would go home. And do what?

"It's going to be strange to try to be normal," Hermione said quietly.

Ginny nodded. "But it will be good." She put her hand on Harry's and gave it a slight squeeze.

They finished their dinner making light conversation. Finally Ron's father thought it was about time they went home.

"We'll apparate," He said brightly.

"Hey! I thought you couldn't apparate out of Hogwarts?" Ron said. "Have you been lying to me all these years?" He asked, turning towards Hermione.

She rolled her eyes. "I've not been lying to you, Ron. It's in Hogwarts, A History." Ron grinned at this familiar line and Hermione looked torn between exasperation and amusement. "I would assume that we can apparate out of the castle now because many of Hogwarts' protective enchantments have been torn down."

"Right you are Hermione," Mr. Weasley said.

Ron almost expected him to say "Ten points to Gryffindor", so strongly he was reminded of attending classes at Hogwarts by their last exchange.

They said their goodbyes to Bill and Fleur who were going to Shell Cottage and Percy who was going back to his flat. George decided to come with them to the Burrow to stay for a bit. No one said anything, but they all knew that he didn't want to face the apartment that he and Fred had shared quite yet.

That night, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, and George sat in the garden at the Burrow. The rest of the occupants of the house had gone to bed.

"What are you going to do now, Harry?" Ron asked him.

Harry lay on his back with his hands behind his head. Ginny was lying next to him. He looked surprisingly content.

"Don't know," he said. "Just relax for a little bit. Find a place to live."

"I'd move with you. But I have to get some money first," Ron said.

"You know Ron," George began. "I'm going to need some help at the joke shop now—" He stopped talking, took a deep breath, and then continued. "If you wanted to make some money. I probably won't be opening it for a couple weeks. Let everything get back to a normal a little bit. Plus we have to attend all the funerals."

"That sounds good," Ron said quietly. "Yeah, I'll work with you."

"Are any of you lot going back to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.

"I am," Hermione said quickly. "I have to get my NEWTs."

"Do you know what you want to do then?" Ron said.

"I want to work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," she told them.

"Take SPEW to a national level, eh?" Ron teased.

Hermione hit him playfully. "Are you two going back to Hogwarts?" She asked Ron and Harry.

"I'm not," Harry said. "I just – can't. I think I've learned enough. It's strange. I never thought I'd live long enough to have to make a decision about what I was going to do when I was older," He said darkly. But he was smiling.

"I'm not going back either," Ron said suddenly. "Do we really need NEWTs after everything we've been through?"

"Maybe you don't Ron, but-"

Ron interrupted what was sure to be a classic Hermione tirade about the importance of school work. "Hey, we all know you love school. I'm sure you'd go for eight years if McGonagall let you."

The others laughed and even Hermione smiled somewhat sheepishly.

"I'm going to get to bed," Hermione said, standing up and stretching. "I'm exhausted."

"I'll go with you," Ron said.

They said good night to the others and made their way to the Burrow.

"It's going to be strange to go to Hogwarts without you two," Hermione told him.

"Yeah," Ron said. "But we'll visit. Plus we have the whole summer to spend together."

They arrived at Ginny's room, where Hermione was sleeping.

"Well, good night," she said softly.

Ron stepped closer to her and kissed her. This was something good that had come from all of the bad. This was something right and meaningful. This was something he could hold on to, that maybe would get him through all the rest of it. They continued kissing and Ron ran his hands through Hermione's hair. Finally, they separated. Hermione looked up at him. She was smiling and her eyes were shining.

"Not as theatrical as the last time, but I'll take it," He said.

Hermione smacked him and looked indignant. "Ron!"

"What? I'm just saying that I think every time we kiss you should come running into my arms."

"Good night, Ron." She said, smiling.

"Good night, Hermione."

She squeezed his hand and then went into Ginny's room and shut the door.