Chapter 4-Prankster-

Ron and Hermione had spent the better part of their early morning together, and although it had been a bit awkward when Ginny and Harry had come down to find them in an…erm…interesting position to say the least, Hermione thought that all in all it had been a very excellent morning.

However, when they had gone down to breakfast, reality sank in again. No matter how good it might feel to finally be with Ron, it couldn't remove the empty feeling of loss that she felt.

The memorial service would take place midday, and everyone was quiet at breakfast, no doubt thinking about those who were missing. Hermione had a deep lump in her throat and didn't feel particularly hungry. All she could think about was Tonks…Lupin… …and Fred.

Fred, who was always so full of life, it seemed unthinkable that he was gone. George took it the worst of the family; he was a pale image of his usual lively self. He didn't touch his food, instead he kept staring off in the distance, looking at something that no one else could see. It was worst for him; everyone else was just grieving for a son, brother, or friend. George had lost his other half.

No one knew what to say to make him feel better. There were no words.

Mrs. Weasley made them all go get ready after breakfast.

Hermione felt numb as clambered up with Ginny to the girl's dormitory. The girls changed silently, lost in their own thoughts.

Ginny needed a distraction. She looked over at Hermione, remembering earlier this morning.

"Hermione…" Ginny said slowly, as she started to brush her hair.

Hermione looked up. "Hmm?"

"When did you and Ron finally get together?" Ginny asked; curiosity in her voice. "I mean don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that you two have finally seen sense, but I was beginning to think that it would be impossible, especially after Six Year."

Hermione blushed, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red as she remembered the kiss that had changed everything.

"Well, it was after you left the room of requirement actually…Ron started to talk about saving houselves or something, and it got me to realize how much he's changed over the years. It made me think how much I would regret it if I was never able to tell him how I felt. I knew that a war was going on around us and I didn't think that we would have much time left, so I…well…" Hermione blushed deeper, looking down embarrassed.

"I kind of threw myself at him."

Ginny sighed deeply. "If only I had stayed five minutes longer. After all these years of seeing you two argue and fight, you pick the moment I leave the room to realize your feelings for each other."

Hermione smiled sympathetically at Ginny. "Sorry, Gin. I didn't mean for it to happen then, honest. It was kind of spontaneous. Something just came over me."

Ginny looked at Hermione knowingly. "It's understandable, I guess. I just still can't believe that you like my brother." Ginny wrinkled her nose.

"Enlighten me, Hermione. Why would a smart, beautiful girl like you see anything in my stupid git of a brother?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny. She knew that all of Ginny's talk was just a show. Ginny loved her big brother, even if she wouldn't admit it.

"You already know the reasons. And for your information, Gin, I don't like Ron." Ginny looked at Hermione in disbelieve for a moment, and then narrowed her eyes a little.

"What are you playing at Granger?"

"Ha!" Hermione smirked at Ginny. "See, for all your bluster, you still care about your brother."

Ginny didn't reply to this. She just glared at the other girl. "Explain. Now."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ginny, relax. I don't like Ron because…well…I'm actually in love with him." Hermione looked at the floor, embarrassed.

She was surprised at how good it actually felt to say that word allowed. Love was just a four lettered word; and yet she used it to describe the unbelievingly strong feelings she felt for Ron. It felt amazing to finally say the truth out load, even if it was only to Ginny.

Ginny's eyes went round. "Oh…" She said faintly, lying down on her bed. "Wow…!"

Hermione smiled a little, doing the same. "Yeah, I know." They both looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

"Hermione…does he know?" Ginny asked her after a while.

Hermione frowned and shook her head. "No, I wanted to tell him…but…I was afraid it would be too much to soon. I need to go slow. I have to make sure this works out. What if he doesn't feel the same way?"

Ginny nodded, taking Hermione's words in. "I know what you're saying, but Hermione trust me, I know my brother, and I'm positive that he feels the same way about you. I can tell."

Hermione shook her head. "Even if your right Gin-"

"I know I'm right! Have you seen the way he looks at you?" Ginny cut in.

"Even if you're right Gin," Hermione repeated herself, "now's just not a good time. There's already so much going on. I don't want to put anything more on him."

Ginny sighed. "Fine, its your decision," both girls looked up at the ceiling again, once again getting lost in their own thoughts. After a couple of minutes Hermione spoke up again.

"Ginny?"

"Hmm?" The other girl replied.

"I love him so much…sometimes it almost hurts…"

After awhile the girls headed downstairs. Harry immediately went to Ginny's side, and the two of them left to take a short walk around the grounds before service.

Ron was sitting on the couch, staring at the crackling fire with a vacant look. Hermonie's heart ached for him. She knew how hard this day must be for Ron. Hermione took a deep breath and walked over to him.

"Hey," she said weakly. Ron turned to her and gave her a small, sad smile.

"Hi." He managed to say in a croak.

Hermione didn't think about what she did next. She instinctively curled into his lap and pulled him into a deep hug. Ron froze for a moment, but then seemed to relax. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. Holding her close.

"I'm so sorry, Ron." She mumbled into his chest.

"I just can't believe he's really gone…" Ron said desolately. "It's my fault. I could have saved him, I-"

"Ron!" Hermione pulled back and made sure he was looking straight at her. "None of this is your fault. You did all that you could do. Some things…just happen…no matter how hard you try to stop them." Tears welded up in her eyes, but she kept looking at Ron defiantly.

"Fred wouldn't have wanted you to blame yourself." Hermione chocked back a sob as she said this. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then, with a shaky hand, Ron wiped away the tears that were falling down her cheeks.

Hermione trembled slightly at his touch as he murmured softly, "Don't cry, Hermione."

She gave a shaky laugh and promptly threw her arms around him. Hermione nestled into his chest and breathed in the scent that was one hundred percent Ron.

"Stay with me today, okay? I'm not sure I could handle this without you." Ron whispered into her ear.

Hermione nodded. "Of course." She kissed Ron's forehead lightly. Hermione had no intention of ever being separated from Ron.

The funeral was long and mournful. The burial spot was decided to be by the lake, beside Dumbledore's grave. The memorial sight would be surely spotted by the generations of Hogwarts students to come. Ironically enough, the old wizard who had preached at Bill and Fleur's wedding also resided over the funeral.

Through the ceremony, Hermione kept her promise, never leaving Ron's side. Her hand always holding on tightly to his. Hermione kept thinking of Tonks, Lupin, and Fred. She tried to keep her composer though. Ron needed her.

At night fall the Weasleys along with Hermione and Harry silently started back towards the Gryffindor tower. Everyone was so deep in their own thoughts that they didn't even notice when the staircase moved, making them take the long way back.

Hermione just followed the others, holding Ron's hand and looking around at the hall ways.

Hogwarts was barely recognizable now; the usually spotless corridors and chambers had large holes in the walls. Paintings and statues were askew, pieces of cobblestones littered the hallways, and deep red stains would sometimes carpet the floors and ceilings. No one tired to dwell too much on the stains.

However, after walking through a number of corridors, she noticed a small patch of mess that had been here before the Battle of Hogwarts. No one else seemed to have seen it. She realized that the patch was the last remaining part of the portable swamp that Fred and George had created way back in 5th year.

As the memory of Umbridge's face when she had first seem Fred and George's portable swamp engulfed her, Hermione couldn't help it; she started to snort out loud.

Once she started to laugh, Hermione found that she couldn't stop. She kept thinking about all the pranks that the twins had managed to pull off over the years. Memories of pranks that she used to disprove of seemed hilarious and completely wonderful now.

She thought of the time when they had turned Neville into a yellow canary with their Canary Creams, the memory of how George and Fred looked with those ridiculous beards when they had tried to go through Dumbledore's age line, how Dursley most have looked like with his tong rolling out of his mouth after eating those Ton-Tongue Toffees, and the time were they had enchanted snowballs to hit the back of Professor Quarrel' turban.

Now that she thought about it, although the twins hadn't known, they were probably aiming the snowballs directly at Voldemort's face.

A couple tears trailed down her face as she laughed if possible even more at this thought. There would be no more famous Weasley twin pranks now, but as Hermione thought this she was still able to keep a smile on her face.

"Hermione…are you alright?" Ron asked, tentatively, his thumb stroking her hand.

Hermione looked up at him, tears were still trailing down her cheeks, but a slight smile could be seen in the corners of her mouth. Hermione couldn't speak, so she nodded. Everyone looked at her warily, all collectively worrying about her sanity.

Everyone…but George…he turned to Hermione with a look of understanding. He knew what Hermione was thinking about and incredulity…impossibly…a grin appeared on his face. For the first time since Fred had died, George was smiling his famous mischievous grin.

In many ways it was a crime to loose someone so young and lovable as Fred Weasley. Yet, Fred had lived more in his few years then most people did in a lifetime.

And besides, Fred could never truly be gone; the legacy of the twin's pranks will live on. The twins would forever reverenced by generations of pranksters.

He would be remembered.

Author's note-I want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews!

I'm really glad you guys like the story so far. Sorry it took me so long to post again, it's been a long week. Good news is that I didn't fail my math test. Bad news is that I was only 1 point away from an A. Oh well…

This chapter was also hard for me to write. I'm personally a fluffy fan, so it was difficult for me to write a dark chapter like this. At first I tried to center it entirely on the funeral, but it just got so depressing that I had to add in the little dabs with Hermione and Ron. Then the chapter got to be too long so I had to cut some of it out.

Anyway, expect the next chapter to be much fluffier and centered more on Hermione and Ron.

Please review and tell me what you think. All types of criticism are welcome!

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