Hermione walked in a daze, could it really all be over? How could 7 years of dangerous life-threatening adventures come to a close in on one night? As she approached the Great Hall she was taken back to her first year, the enchanted night sky shining above them, the glowing plates and goblets on top of the long tables, and the feeling of homecoming all around. Now as she walked through the spectacular doorway, everything had changed. The tables were stacked against the wall to make room for hundreds of cots that held the injured or dead. She hurried over to a cot in which a small crowd of people had congregated around. Fred Weasley lay on the cot, looking pale and cold while George sat shaking at his feet with his head in his hands. She walked cautiously up to Ron who looked pale and dazed. She put a tentative hand onto his damp cheek, afraid he might push her away, but she hadn't anticipated his actual reaction. As soon as her hand touched his face, Ron whipped around and pulled her to him until they were as close as was possible. They stood there for what could have been hours, their tears streaking down their face and sinking into each other's shirts. When she finally pulled away Ron continued to look at the ground, his eyes red and puffy as hers undoubtedly was as well. She slowly rubbed his tears away with her thumbs only somewhat aware of the knowing looks that came from the Weasly family. She gently took his hand and led him through the corridors and into the Gryffindor common room. "Ron you should wash up and change clothes" she said softly searching through her bag and handing him some clothes to wear. He nodded mutely and climbed the steps to the boy's dormitory. She decided to do the same and once she returned, feeling considerable better, she saw Ron laying on one of the couches that still occupied the common room. She gazed at his tear streaked face that made him look more peaceful than she had seen him in a long time. She stood there, unsure of what to do until Ron slowly opened his eyes and stretched out a hand. Almost automatically she took it and before she could even gasp he had pulled her so that he was sitting upright with her next to him. Her mind reeled, looking for something to say.
"It's okay" Ron's quiet voice broke her search "what?" She said, her head snapping up. "I can…live with it you know, his death." He didn't meet her eyes when he said this, she decided to keep her mouth shut and let him finish. "I knew that people were going to get hurt-killed even. I guess I just wasn't prepared for it to happen to someone so close…." He trailed off leaving the room filled with silence. Hermione put her hand on his and they sat there for a long while and Ron knew, as he crushed his lips with hers, that she was all she needed to get through this. Even though it would take time, he would always spend that time with her.