A/N: Sorry this update took so long, I've been reading and examining DH (J.K did a brillant job ending the series). My computer has also been messing up a bit - I'm looking into that. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Hermione did not sleep much last night. The air was thick around her and no matter how much she tossed and turned in bed, she could not get comfortable. The night had been long, and even the beautiful moon and stars offered little solace.
By sunrise, Hermione gave up on sleep and put on her bathrobe. There was no use staying in her room staring up at the same ceiling. Maybe going downstairs would offer her an escape.
She descended the staircase, looking down at the dark living room. It had an eerie yet comforting air to it. Once she reached the bottom, she continued through to the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, Hermione placed some hot water on the stove. She lazily plopped herself into the nearest chair and sat there, elbows propped up on the table and her chin resting on her hands.
She had had a lonely night, and the morning wasn't much better so far. Today was the day of Ron's funeral; the day she would have to finally say her goodbyes.
Suddenly the teakettle full of water began to whistle as steam leaked from its top. Hermione stood up quickly; worried the noise would wake Harry, and took the kettle off the heat. She slowly poured herself some water into a small white teacup. She stared at it, noticing the details of the red and gold shields that were delicately painted on the cup. In all the days she had spent at Harry's she had never noticed the details of his cups. Looking around the kitchen, she realized there were multiple things she had never noticed in Harry's kitchen. These realizations made her wonder what details she had never noticed about Ron…
She lifted the cup to her lips, ready to take a sip.
"Did you sleep?" came the deep, scratchy voice of Harry. Hermione jumped, spilling her tea on her robe.
"For heaven's sake, Harry!" said Hermione, reaching for a napkin to dab herself with.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," said Harry as he walked to the cupboard to take out a cup for himself.
"Well it seems as if this is becoming routine," said Hermione, slightly angered. Harry brushed off Hermione's anger, and poured himself some tea. He sat himself across from Hermione and looked into her face. The bags under her eyes made it clear that she hadn't slept last night. Harry understood that feeling; he didn't sleep much himself until he finally took a sleeping potion.
"You should eat," said Harry, getting up suddenly. He started gathering the ingredients for waffles.
"I'm not hungry," said Hermione sharply.
"You need to eat. You and the baby need the nutrients," replied Harry, putting more emphasis on his words. This was not a question of whether she wanted to eat; she was going to eat.
"Harry, don't you dare go telling me what I need! At least you can go upstairs at night, drinking your fire whiskey - I don't want to eat. I can't eat," said Hermione loudly. Her voice was fierce and angry.
"You need to eat. You better find a way to get this food down your throat, because that baby needs it. That baby needs you! Damn it, Hermione! I told you I would stand by you and help that baby. I won't let you drown in your sorrow – you need to find some strength and give that baby the life it deserves; At least do it for Ron-" said Harry, just as fierce as Hermione had been.
"DON'T YOU DARE, HARRY POTTER! I love Ron! It doesn't change the fact that he is gone. It doesn't change the fact that I am going to be at a church in six hours saying my final goodbyes. I'm doing my best, Harry! I'm not doing it for you, or the Weasley's or even for myself! Everything I do to keep myself surviving – not living – SURVIVING – it's all for this baby," finished Hermione pointing toward her stomach. She was enraged and not afraid to show it. She had let the truth leave her lips for the first time; She was surviving only for this baby. She wanted more than anything to be with Ron, but she knew that was not an option. It was her job to stay behind to raise their child and instill the spirit of Ron into him/her. It was up to her to continue the dream her and Ron had made together; but how could she with Ron gone?
Hermione stood up and stormed out of the kitchen, stomping her way up to her room. She felt like crying, but knew she was too angry for that.
Harry stared at the doorway Hermione had walked out of. He was letting her words ring over and over in his head, letting each one of them sink in. He knew she wasn't holding up well, but he had hoped that the sorrow would pass her sooner than later.
Hermione stayed upstairs for a long while, sitting on her bed and staring at the wall. She tried to desperately leave her mind blank, allowing her to be numb for a while. However, thoughts of her harsh words to Harry, the eulogy she was expected to write for Ron's funeral, and of Ron himself. She pushed the thoughts out of her mind as often as she could, allowing her to just be. It was just she, the wall, and the small rays of sunshine creeping through her window.
Harry continued to make the waffles as originally planned. Hermione needed to eat, but he knew better than to bring the argument up again. Even if the food didn't get eaten, it would give Harry's hands something to do. He stopped for a moment to stare up at the clock – five hours until Ron's funeral.
Hermione descended the stairs wearing an ankle length black dress. Her usual bushy hair flowed just below her shoulders and she kept her head towards the floor as she walked. Despite her somber appearance, she was still beautiful.
Harry stood up from the couch in his black suit as Hermione arrived to the bottom step. She didn't look up and Harry decided that it was not needed to push her into doing it. He lifted her left hand and placed it in his own two hands. His thumb gently rubbed Hermione's hand. He stared at her fingers and carefully examined each of them, stopping when he noticed her wedding ring. It was a simple and elegant gold band with a single small round cut diamond placed in the middle of gold heart. It was a beautiful ring, and the sight of it brought back the many memories leading up to their engagement and eventually their wedding.
"You're a strong witch, Hermione," said Harry quietly. Hermione didn't let her eyes meet Harry's; instead she gave a weak smile to herself. Harry began to release her hand from his but Hermione gripped his hand. When Harry looked up at her she laced her fingers with his and stood silently for a moment. Harry obliged to her silent request for companionship and together, the two left the house for the car.
Harry opened the car door for Hermione and Hermione sat down. Harry walked around the car and got settled in the drivers seat. He started the car and began the hour-long drive to the Burrow. The car was silent most of the way, except for the small talk Harry tried to create. He couldn't bear the silence; it was like torture.
Upon the last winding road, Harry couldn't help but bring up what had seemed to be unspoken territory.
"Are you ready for this?" asked Harry.
"I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be," said Hermione. It was the first full sentence she had said the entire ride.
"Do you have a eulogy prepared?" asked Harry. He knew he was on thin ice talking about all this.
"No. I am just going to say whatever comes to mind," said Hermione. She really wasn't sure what she was going to say.
After half an hour of people walking up to Hermione to give their condolences it was time for the ceremony to start. Hermione followed the Weasley family into the tent that had been set up for the event and sat down on the front row between Bill Weasley and Harry. She didn't say anything as an old man with a long gray-white beard spoke at a podium; she simply reached for Harry's hand and grasped it in her own.
The old man talked of death and the importance of celebrating life. He talked of the natural processes of the world and how good of a man Ron was. Hermione sat their numb the entire time, listening to the old cracking voice.
Finally it was her turn to speak. She stood up slowly and walked somberly to the podium. She stared at the podium wood instead of out at the audience as if she was unsure of what to say. Mrs. Weasley's sobs could be heard and they echoed around the room as Mr. Weasley tried to calm her; Hermione waited until the room was silent before she began speaking.
"Bickering. I met Ronald Weasley on the Hogwarts Express as we headed towards our first year of magical training. I have to admit, I thought he was a bit of a pig as he stuffed yet another chocolate frog into his already filled mouth. He was sitting in the same compartment as Harry. I took a seat next to Harry and talked with him for the rest of the way to Hogwarts. All during our first year, all Ron and I did was bicker. It's amazing Harry didn't strangle the two of us. I had no idea at the time that this small encounter would lead to the best and truest friendship, many summer days in this very house, and a love that was beyond my imagination.
"It was Ron and Harry who rescued me from that troll our first year, and at the time, I don't think any of us had any idea that it would lead to marriage. We bickered constantly in our school years. He could be a rather thick prat desperate for a bit of the line light; he could be the most stubborn wizard on the planet. And yet – I always saw past that to see the sweet and kind boy he truly was.
"Ron didn't come to his sense until our sixth year. I had been rather jealous when he dated Lavender Brown and made it very clear. However, he finally got his act together and asked me out. It was one of the happiest days in my life. We continued to bicker, but we always knew we loved each other.
"During our seventh year, we went off to stop the dark lord. It was the scariest year of my life. I was so worried that something would happen to Ron. I had no clue what I would've done without that sweet silly smile of his. When we all made it out alive, I was so relieved. I knew that it was finally time to start our lives.
"We spent many afternoons at Harry's house with Harry and Ginny. We would stay up all night, talking, laughing. More nights than I care to admit to we get too inebriated by the fresh strawberry wine. It was our favorite; our signature drink.
"It became even more our signature drink when he asked me to marry him. He was dressed in his nicest robes and took me to a spot on the hill, where he got down on one knee and offered me his hand in marriage. I have never ceased to stop beaming since the day I took his name.
"Our wedding, as many of you may remember was a beautiful day. Mrs. Weasley's food was terrific, the music was just right, and we danced the night away in celebration of the mending of our lives.
"We became pregnant after one very particular night, once again with much more strawberry wine than we had intended, and we were both more excited that we could have imagined. He bought books on parenting and pregnancy and did his best to make me feel comfortable. We talked about baby names late at night and about what we wanted the nursery to be like…" Hermione let the last words trail from her lips.
"Today we are here to say goodbye to the man who stole my heart. He was always Ron, the loveable sweet man who was deathly afraid of spiders. He was brave, courageous, and uncommonly skilled in wizarding chest. He is the best friend who I could always count on, the love that made me smile more times than I ever believed possible, and the proud father of my child," Hermione finished. She looked down beside her at the coffin with red and gold silk draped over it. She stepped down from the podium, slowly walked over to the coffin, and gently placed a kiss on the coffin.
"Goodbye, Ron. I'll always love you," she finished quietly, more to herself than anyone else.
