Hello again. Yes, I know it has been almost a month (oops), but now that I'm finally settled into my summer schedule I am going to try and write much more often. Without further ado…number 3!
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[3] Crowd
I rubbed my eyes once again as I descended the last flight of stairs of The Burrow. I stopped two steps from the bottom to take in the kitchen scene. Mum was bustling about preparing breakfast as always. She was teary eyed like she had been consistently for the past couple of days, but I tried to ignore that fact. Dad was sitting at the head of the table as usual intently stirring his morning tea. I admire him for being the rock for Mum during this horrid time. Then there were the siblings, only one of them distinctly missing. He had been in his room since we returned which was expected, yet his absense was deafening. I was the last one to arrive in the kitchen still clad in my pajama trousers and vest.
And there she was. God she looked amazing at all hours of the day. She, too, was dressed in her pajamas with her curls tied back from her face.
"Ah, Ron. Glad to see you out of bed before noon," my father said, his eyes not quite shining as they normally do. My mother glanced up to meet my gaze, but that was all she could muster. No one else noticed my entrance save Hermione. I took the spot across from her as Ginny had already claimed the seat to her left. Her eyes met mine immediately, and we both softly smiled.
"Morning," I said softly and her smile grew even more.
"Morning," she smiled back before returning to her plate of steaming breakfast, a blush growing on her cheeks.
I looked to the other end of the table waiting for the food to be passed around, and all sets of mischevious eyes were on me with matching smug grins. I could feel my ears reddening quickly. Mum finally sat down pulling a chair up next to Dad and beside Hermione. For the first time in four days there was a life behind her eyes. She looked right up at me, and I could see a hint of relief in her eyes. I guess with all of the – death – we have experienced, it's nice to see a new beginning.
Something brushed against my toes, and I tried not to jump as I glanced up looking for the culprit. Hermione was looking directly at me with flushed cheeks. I could see it in her eyes…she saw it in my mum too. We were her hope.