Chores
Hermione was down in the kitchen helping Mrs. Weasley with breakfast. She was just finishing setting the table.
"Hermione would you mind gathering everyone for breakfast?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she popped in some toast.
"No problem."
Ginny was playing with her Pygmy Puff, Arnold, in the family room. "Ginny time for breakfast." Hermione said brightly. She was so glad they were no longer fighting.
"Ok." Ginny smiled and rested Arnold on her shoulder.
Hermione went up the stairs and banged on Ron's door, hoping it would be loud enough to wake him and Harry up. "Boys! It's time for breakfast." There was no response. She opened to door. They were both snoring. She sighed, and took out her wand. "Rennervate." They both woke up immediately. "Good morning. Time for breakfast, come on, out of bed."
They both groaned and stumbled out of bed. Harry nearly tripped over the bottoms of his pyjama pants and Hermione laughed. When Ron walked by her, he took her waist and kissed her on the forehead. "Morning, Mione." Hermione loved the way that sounded.
"Good morning." She said sweetly.
"How did you sleep last night?" He asked, searching her eyes.
"Surprisingly well, actually. Ginny and I are good again, too. I think that helped a bit." She smiled. "How about you?" She was worried he'd be mad about last night, but he didn't seem to be.
"I slept alright."
"Just alright?"
"Well, I didn't have my beautiful girlfriend next to me."
Hermione blushed. "Ron…"
"It's true. The other night was the best sleep I've had in a long time."
She wrapped her arms around him, and rested her cheek on his shoulder. "Me too."
He kissed the top of her head and let her go. "I'm going to head downstairs for breakfast. I'm starving."
"Alright see you down there in a second." He left and she went to George's room and knocked on the door. "Time for breakfast, George." She said brightly.
"No thanks." Came a sad reply.
Hermione's face fell. "George, what's the matter?"
There was a pause. "I'm not hungry."
Hermione didn't want to push him or make him upset. "I know you're not feeling like yourself but you really do need to eat." No reply. "Listen. I know you're mourning for Fred, but you can't hole yourself up in your room forever. Remember yesterday? Didn't you have fun? I thought you were starting to feel better." She rested her forehead against the door. "George, I'm very sorry about Fred. I couldn't even begin to understand how close you two were, how much you loved each other. But I know Fred would hate to see you this way."
She hadn't realized how emotional she was getting until she heard a tiny sob on the side of the door, causing a tear to run down her cheek. "I really want you to feel better. Everyone is willing to help you. You just have to let them. If you need some space, I'll leave you alone. I promise. But if what you really need is to be around those who care about you, all you have to do is come out of your room." George didn't come out of his room. She sighed sadly, and left.
The mood at the table was cheery, but it didn't spread to Hermione. She mumbled something about George still sleeping. She sat down and slowly put some breakfast on her plate. She'd put on a false smile when someone spoke to or looked at her, and it seemed to be working. Well, it was working on everyone but Ron. He kept looking at her, his expression full of concern. When breakfast was done Ron pulled Hermione into the family room before she could go upstairs. He sat down on the couch with her.
"Hermione, what's the matter? You look sadder than you did when the end of year exams were cancelled in second year."
"George wasn't sleeping. He said he wasn't hungry and he wouldn't talk to me, even when I said how I wanted to help him not be so depressed about Fred. I told him if he wanted space I'd leave him alone and if he didn't he could come downstairs. But he didn't. He's so sad!" Hermione buried her face into her hands. "I was wrong, I guess."
Ron comfortingly stroked her back. "You're not wrong Hermione. George, I think, has nightmares at night so that's why he's withdrawing today. I think he just wanted to sort out his thoughts. Your plan for all of us to help him by spending time with him is brilliant. Don't give up, Hermione. I know it will work. He'll come around eventually. We just have to give him space, not too much, but just enough for him to figure things out."
Hermione removed her hands and nodded. "You're right. Thanks Ron." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. When she pulled back, she bit her lip, thinking. Then she took his face in her hands and kissed him on the mouth. He seemed surprised but then he put his hands on the small of her back and pulled her closer. She sagged against him. Ron's lips were soft and he kissed her tenderly. They pulled back and Hermione sighed happily. He grinned at her.
Then Mrs. Weasley appeared. "Oh there you are. I know you probably want to have some fun today but there are some chores that need to be done first."
"Oh, ok." Ron said, a bit disappointed.
"What chores?" Hermione asked.
"Well there are more of those dreadful Gnomes out in the garden. I would like you," she looked at Ron, "and Harry to take care of them. And Hermione, you and Ginny can clean up the family and maybe weed the garden?"
"Oh, of course, Mrs. Weasley. Any way I can repay you for letting me stay here for a while."
"You're too kind, Hermione. It's been a treat having you with us." Mrs. Weasley said sweetly.
Hermione smiled at her and went upstairs to tell Ginny about the chores and brush her teeth.
The rest of the morning consisted of housework. Hermione and Ginny finished inside quickly and went outside to weed the garden. They laughed at Harry and Ron trying to get rid of the Gnomes. Hermione screamed when a Gnome scurried out of a hole and jumped at her. Ron had rushed over and grabbed it off of her. He threw it as far as he could. He knelt beside Hermione and checked her over multiple times. "Are you alright? Did it get you? Does it hurt anywhere?"
She waved his hands away. "I'm fine, Ron! Thanks for getting it off me, though."
"I'll kill that thing!" He said. She laughed and patted his hand before getting back to weeding.
When everything was done they were called in by Mrs. Weasley for lunch. George wasn't there, Hermione noted sadly. They ate hungrily and afterwards Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat in the family room. Ginny and Harry sat on the loveseat and Hermione and Ron took the sofa. Harry was reading Quidditch Through the Ages and Ginny was looking through a copy of The Quibbler with an amused expression on her face. Ron was reading the Daily Prophet. And very shockingly, Hermione was not reading anything. She lay down and rested her head in Ron's lap, and fell asleep.
