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A/N – I am actually on fire with updates here. I'm doing myself proud! Enjoy!

Four.

Just because things with Ron weren't as they usually were, that was no reason to behave any differently towards his mother, Hermione thought, as she led the crying woman downstairs. After all, she had lost a son, and even though Hermione was not a parent (and hoped she wouldn't become one for a long time yet) she could guess at what that must feel like.

Plus she knew Ron was terrible at anything serious. So when she'd heard Mrs Weasley crying, she knew she had to intervene before something Ron did or said made the situation any worse. She could just see him accidentally saying something like "At least you have lots of other sons" or "George looks the same as Fred except for the ear, maybe you could pretend he's Fred" or something equally tactless.

Maybe that was why their relationship had never really progressed, she thought. Every time they'd got close to anything like it, his inability to voice his feelings and her fear of doing anything that could wreck what they already had got in the way and they were back to being friends.

Not that there was anything wrong with that, she thought, as she settled Mrs Weasley on the battered yet comfy settee and went to fix her a cup of tea. She added a shot of brandy (which she was surprised to find in a wizarding house) and stirred, trying not to think about anything that could cause her to burst into tears again.

Hermione hated feeling out of control. Everyone knew her as the clever one, and that was because she disciplined herself, she planned things months before they happened, she was always prepared. So when things happened that she couldn't prevent or be ready for, she tended to lose it a bit.

And right now, there were so many issues that were completely out of her control, and she could hardly bear it. For one thing, there were so many deaths… The memorial service for those who had died fighting at Hogwarts would take place tomorrow, she realised sadly. No-one really felt in the mood for it, but as Mr Weasley had said to everyone when it was officially confirmed, it would maybe help people to celebrate their lives instead of mourn too heavily.

She took the tea into Mrs Weasley, who had retrieved a huge leather-bound photograph album and was gazing at the first picture, fresh tears sparkling deceptively like diamonds in her blue eyes.

"That was our first proper family photograph we had taken." she sniffed.

Hermione looked at the picture. She couldn't help smiling. The figures in the photograph were all talking at once. She could see a young Ron and Ginny teasing each other, while Percy posed formally behind them. Bill stood out among them, taller than Charlie by a head, his Prefects badge shining on his chest. Mrs and Mrs Weasley were stood holding hands in the centre, each with an arm around a twin. Hermione could feel tears forming in her eyes as she looked upon the happiest family she'd ever encountered in her life. It wasn't fair that they'd had one of them so cruelly taken away.

"That was the year before the twins went to Hogwarts. They were right little… they were always so naughty."

She pointed at Ron, who began waving to no-one in particular.

"See that black eye there? They said they didn't do it, but I never believed them. I knew one or both of them were responsible, but they kept saying it couldn't have been them, and didn't I trust my own sons?"

Hermione giggled, for once feeling it was okay to laugh.

"That sounds like them all right."

Mrs Weasley clutched her chest.

"What if Fr- he never knew I loved him? What if he died without knowing that even though he was so naughty, and even though he didn't finish Hogwarts, I was so proud of him?"

Hermione looked away. That had been her exact motivation for kissing Ron. She didn't want him to die without knowing that she really did love him. She didn't want to die without finally doing the thing she had been wanting to do for years.

"I'm sure he knew. He was fighting to make you proud, I'm sure."

Mrs Weasley smiled.

"What would I do without you Hermione? This whole family would be lost without you!"

"The whole family?"

"Of course! You must know by now how must you mean to us all! Ron in particular…"

She didn't want to, and every part of her tried to stop it happening, but she couldn't help it. Hermione blushed, and promptly tried to hide her face.

"See love, your eyes even sparkle when someone mentions his name."

"They do?"

"They do, and you look prettier than ever."

"Really?"

Mrs Weasley patted Hermione affectionately on the shoulder.

"I think you should be asking Ron that."

"Do you really think so?"

"Hermione dear, there's a reason why he looks at you as if he thinks you're an angel when he thinks people aren't looking."

"I should really go talk to him?"

"Yes."

At this, Hermione stood up, and then sat down again.

"I can't…"

"I know you can."

And that was how Hermione Granger found herself knocking on the door of Ron Weasley's room, her palms sweating and her heart beating more wildly than she'd ever felt it before.