Chapter 8

The next day passed in an odd blur with preparations for the mass funeral. More repair work was done on the castle, and Hermione and Ron had been able to sneak a few moments together while they were repairing classrooms. By the time it was bedtime they were so exhausted that they walked up to the Room of Requirement, took their showers and crawled into bed. Ron looked scared as though he didn't know what to expect tomorrow.

"It doesn't seem real," he said in a whisper, "it seems like he is going to pop up any minute and tell a joke, I keep waiting to come tease me for it taking so long for us to be together, but its real isn't it, he isn't coming back."

She just nodded gently and he brushed his lips to hers before drawing her close to him and they fell asleep in each other's arms.