It had been only a few days now, and everything was slowly coming back together again. All the funerals had passed and the rebuilding of the school was coming along slowly but surely.

The sun was setting outside, filling the sky with the colors of twilight. It sent dusty blues and dark shadows through the window and against the hardwood floors. All the humid stickiness of the summer heat had worn off after the refreshing rain that had fallen over the area earlier in the day. There was a silent stillness, the only sounds being from the last cleanup of dinner in the kitchen downstairs.

Ron had never felt sadder and happier in his whole life. His brother, whose name he couldn't even bear to speak yet, left scars that were deep on his heart. But the girl lying down next to him on his bed was healing him more then he ever thought to be possible. She stirred a little bit in his arms before pushing herself up to a sitting position.

"Ron?" Hermione whispered, her voice sleepy, "What time is it?" He kissed the top of her head before checking his watch.

"Almost ten o'clock." He replied.

She slid out from under the blanket and stood up, straightening her clothes in the mirror that stood at the foot of his bed. She walked over to the door and pulled it open.

"Goodnight Ron," she said with a sweet smile.

"Don't I get a goodnight kiss?" he whined to her, his blue eyes opening themselves up in a vain attempt to look innocent. She walked over to him and placed a chaste and short kiss on his lips before turning back to the door. He caught his hand in hers and pulled her back to him.

"Stay." He stated simply. It wasn't a question.

"I… Ron, I-" she started, before closing her mouth uneasily, her hand still encased snugly in his. Her eyes filled instantly with worry.

"Just to sleep," he clarified quickly.

"But your mum-"

"Will never find out. And if she does she won't care. She knows us, and whatever her opinion of me might be, she trusts you as much as anybody on earth." He assured her.

She looked at him, practically begging her to get into bed and sleep next to him, and his smile wore away at her defenses. She lifted the sheets and quilt back and slid in next to him, shivering from her brief encounter with the chilly floor.

She could feel him smiling as his chin rested on her head.

"Thank you," he said softly. She looked up at him questioningly. "For everything."

She kissed him again on the lips, and after a few moments they parted and snuggled back down into the warmth of the covers again.