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After the war, Hermione had been drained. She, for the first time in her life, found peace in a lack of responsibility. Sure, she read the occasional book but she found no peace better than that she found at the burrow.
Harry drew comfort from Ginny spending many hours off in fields savouring her company.
Ron had broken up with Lavender and worked hard to achieve an internship in the ministry working and living with Percy. He wrote to her occasionally to vent about Percy's bossy peculiarities and ask for advise on the odd work assignment. He told her in each letter that he never expected to love his job so much, despite the inability to afford his own apartment.
After a pleasant breakfast with Fred and Ginny (who joined them having smelt the pancakes), Hermione helped Mr Weasley to water the plants. Hermione walked between the slightly wonky line of vegetables like a tight rope walker. With the large fan of water and a persistent breeze, Hermione soon found her feet to be covered in mud. Mr Weasley stood at the side, pointing to the various vegetables for her to water and giving her his opinion about each.
"That's the leeks... Molly's going to love having those... Ah, and the green beans... very tough but quite nutritious..." Herione wasn't quite sure if he was talking to her or himself but either way she didn't mind. Mr Weasley was gentle, if a little distant, company.
She picked enough tomatoes to satisfy even the Weasley's appetite, leaving he fingers oddly sticky. Once she had handed the bowl over to Mr Weasley, she walked down to the end of the garden to the shed and round the back to the shower.
She washed her hands first, using the soap she stowed away in the shed under an old sink. Then she washed the dried mud from her bare feet, balancing awkwardly on one leg.
"Might be easier to just take a shower." Suggested Fred, leaning round the side of the shower door. Hermione blushed as if she had in deed been caught in the shower.
"Maybe you're right." Said Hermione a little lamely. "How often do you come down here by the way?" She tried to make it sound casual. She didn't.
"Worried I'll see you in the shower?" He winked.
"No! Yes! I was only wondering." The tables had turned from this morning. She was the one trying to navigate the correct response now. She turned off the shower and made to leave. Fred moved just enough to let her past, forcing closeness and Hermione blushed again.
After a delicious tomato soup and some home-made bread for dinner along with a dessert of rhubarb crumble and custard, everyone was sleepy. Hermione loved the burrow. She loved the long, hot summer days and lukewarm, clear, shimmering nights. The company of family and friends. Harry was happier than Hermione had every seen him with him and Ginny seeming virtually inseparable. No one failed to notice how they always turned in for bed at the same time, except perhaps the innocent Mrs Weasley.
Hermione sat on the stone steps outside the back door on the narrow stone steps, admiring the copious amounts of wellington boots lined up along the wall. She was pleased to see her own pair neatly lined up there also.
She heard the door open and close and Fred squeezed in to sit next to her on the steps. His long legs reached down to a further step or two than Hermione's own.
"Am I disturbing you?"
"Not at all."
There was a short silence during which Hermione realised Fred was trying to tell her something but seemed to feel he did not sufficiently have her attention. Hermione turned to face him.
"What is it Fred?"
"Hermione, why are you here? I mean at the Burrow?" He looked thoughtful but untroubled. "Not that you're not wanted, far from it but I just wondered." He winked at her again. "Dangerous, I know."
"I like being here." She said simply. "And after everything we all went through, I think we all deserve to do a bit of what we want before normality resumes... Does that sound really pathetic?"
"Not at all..." There was another short sentence. "I almost died." He looked away, at something Hermione couldn't see. "And it made me think that... what you were saying I mean. I want to be happy. I want to do what I want." He grinned again and Hermione was glad to see he looked more like himself. "I've always done that really but, it made me realise what's important too... you know?" He gave her a surprisingly sharp look.
"I never thought it would be Ron doing the internship. I always thought that would be me but after it all happened... I couldn't take it. I needed this." She gestured around her. Fred nodded.
Hermione felt a warm arm slide over her shoulder and squeeze her gently. Hermione lent slowly on his shoulder and breathed the fresh, cooling air mixing with Fred's own soapy-aftershave smell. Fred tucked a strand of her long hair behind an ear and rested his own cheek on her head.
When they silently went back into the living room there was only Mr Weasley left, dozing off himself. Fred woke him gently and guided his father upstairs to bed, whispering to Hermione to wait for him to come back down.
Hermione slid onto the sofa, the worn cushions enveloping her. The house was almost completely silent, save for Fred's footsteps as he returned to her.
"I'm tired Fred." She said, yawning. He looked at her, the slightest glint of disappointment in his eyes.
"Okay." He then helped her up the many steps to her room.
"I can do this myself you know." Hermione said sleepily.
"Yeah, I know." Said Fred, one hand resting on her shoulder. Then, to Hermione's surprise he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, giving her a gentle smile before retreating downstairs to his own room.
Hermione changed out of her clothes and climbed into bed. She was unsure what to think of Fred's gesture but was too tired to come to a conclusion.