A/N: An extra long chapter to make up for having realised that I'd neglected Ron!
Ron laid on his back, resting his head against his long pale arms that were crossed behind his neck as he stared at the ceiling. He wondered what was taking Harry so long. He was waiting for him to go to bed and fall asleep so that he was free to sneak downstairs and read one of Hermione's muggle books that he had taken a shining to; The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Ron hadn't thought much to it at first, given its girly name, but he was running out of things to do whilst he hung out downstairs in the middle of the night and the book had proved to be quite interesting. It had somehow helped him to forget how tired he was. He was feeling much better as the days went on, especially now that Hermione had returned, but his sleeping pattern was in shatters due to his fear of nightmares. He had only had two since the first one he had had in his Gryffindor dorm room shortly after the battle, but they were both just as horrific. The first one he had had was nothing but a memory; he raced over to his family who were crowded around Fred's lifeless body. The second one, he had found himself back in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor, Hermione's piercing screams of agony from above flooded the entire mansion, his heart sinking into his chest as he attempted to break out. To save her. But there was no Dobby this time. There was no way out. As he hunched over on the floor, pressing his hands tightly against his ears, he was unable to escape Hermione's screams for him, her voice ringing through his mind as if she were stood right next to him. He had never heard her scream his name like that, and his heart felt like it was shattering as he realised he was powerless. There was nothing he could do but sit there and hear her cry. Ron shook the thought as he sat up in his bed, checking the time on the old clock that hung lopsided on his wall. Where was he? He hated that he had to wait for Harry to go to bed. He wanted to be able to turn over and go to sleep like any normal person would at 11:45pm. And that's when he decided that's exactly what he would do. So what if he had another nightmare? He had been through worse things in real life, things his own mind couldn't even compete with. Using the deluminator that had been given to him in Dumbledore's will, Ron cleared the room of all light, feeling rather calm as he watched the small balls of light disappear into his deluminator. He settled down on his old comfy mattress, wrapping himself snugly in his duvet and the patch-work blanket his mother had made for him years ago. But, his comfort was short-lived as he heard the door creak open. He shut his eyes tight, trying to ignore Harry's poor attempt to not disturb him as he snuck into his room. But there was a sudden thud at the end of his bed, and an audible 'ouch' that he could've sworn came from a girl. Ron sat up with his deluminator, clicking it quickly as the two balls of light returned to reveal Hermione stood at the end of his bed, nursing the toe he assumed she had just stubbed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you", she whispered.
"What are you doing in here?", he asked, squinting his eyes as they adjusted to the light once again.
"Harry wanted to stay with Ginny tonight to make sure she's alright so I said I'd sleep in his bed for the night", she explained. Ron smiled warmly at her as she grinned awkwardly, still nursing her toe before scurrying towards Harry's bed. He made sure she was comfortable and ready to settle down before clicking the deluminator once more, plunging the room into darkness.
"Goodnight, Hermione", he spoke softly.
"Goodnight", her sweet voice replied. Ron sighed as he laid on his back once more, staring at the ceiling above as he thought about the conversation he had had with Ginny not so long ago. Being awake every night meant he had heard every single scream Ginny had shrieked from one of her nightmares, but he had noticed she had never slept sounder than when she was next to Harry. "I just feel safe", her words resounded in his head. Ron felt safe, there was no question of that. But, maybe it was those around him he wanted to protect. Maybe those were the people he wanted to feel safe. And the person he wanted to feel safe the most was but a few feet away from him. Maybe Ginny's method of escaping the nightmares would work for him too? But, how would he explain that to Hermione without sounding like the biggest loser in the world? "Ron?", he suddenly heard her voice. His eyes widened as he tried to remain calm.
"Mmm?", he replied nonchalantly.
"Are you alright? You're fidgeting an awful lot", she said. Ron hadn't even realised that he had been tossing and turning in his bed whilst he was untangling himself from his thoughts, causing the springs in his old mattress to creak. He sighed as he failed to come up with a decent enough excuse to tell her. He sat up in his bed, once again clicking the deluminator and flooding the room with light. Hermione propped herself up on one elbow, squinting at him slightly.
"Do – do you think it'd be alright if – well – do you want to? – Would you, stay here – with me? – In my bed, I mean – not in a weird way", he asked awkwardly as he stumbled over his words. Hermione suddenly let out a small giggle as she ran her fingers through her hair. Ron was mortified by her response. Stupid tosser. Of course she wouldn't! He squeezed his eyes shut and he allowed himself to flop back on to his bed, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world. He angrily pinched the skin between his eyebrows when he suddenly felt a warm presence join his side. He opened his eyes to see Hermione sitting beside him, covering herself neatly with his duvet as she smiled down at him lovingly. Ron gave her a goofy grin before sitting up beside her, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Thank you", he said awkwardly.
"There's no need to thank me, Ron", she chuckled softly. "I – I'm your girlfriend. You don't have to have a reason to want me to lay with you", she smiled softly. Ron smiled brightly at her, admiring her deep brown eyes as they stared warmly at him. She suddenly ran her fingers delicately through his tufty red hair, coming to a slow stop as the palm of her hand suddenly met his jaw. And almost in an instant, she had allowed her lips to meet his. But this kiss wasn't anything like their first. There was no fear and no feeling of what if? Their lips moved softly against each other, as if they were designed to be together. As Hermione gently entwined her fingers within his, Ron softly ran his fingers through her larger-than-life brunette locks. Her hair was so soft, and she smelt so good, unlike anything he had ever touched or smelled in his life. They slowly parted lips, their noses mere inches apart as he gazed into her eyes, enjoying the sight of her gazing right back into his own. Hermione suddenly furrowed her brow curiously as she looked down at the pillow she was leaning against. She reached under it and pulled out the book Ron had been reading for the past few nights. "Why do you have my book?", she asked.
"I – I've been reading it", he told her. Hermione smiled warmly at him as she examined her book in her lap.
"Really? What do you think of it?", she asked.
"Think it's really good actually. I was going to read some more but – well - ", his cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. Hermione laid back against his headboard, inviting Ron to join her. Ron laid down beside her, his head nestled comfortably in the crook of her armpit as she began to play with his hair.
"Where did you get to?", she asked.
"The Dream", he said sleepily. Hermione flipped the book open to the correct page as she began to read.
"As a rule, I do not recall my dreams. At the approach of day their plots inevitably fade", she began to read. Her voice was so soothing as Ron listened intently. He couldn't help but give a little yawn as she continued to read to him, her small, delicate fingers still softly dancing through his hair. He had never felt this at peace. Ron felt like the whole moment had been nothing more than the best dream he had ever had when he awoke to find himself in bed alone, looking over at Harry in his own bed on the other side of his room. He sighed wistfully as he laid on his back, propping his head up with his arms as he smiled to himself. He had missed the feeling of a good night's sleep. But, he also couldn't help but wish Hermione could read to him every night. He felt like a child again. Excited to hear his mother telling him stories of Babbity Rabbity and the Cackling Stump and The Wizard and the Hopping Pot at bed time. But he did not get that child-like feeling he had once felt. No. He felt nothing but warmth and pure admiration as he listened to Hermione read for him. Her words sounded like the softest of silks, gently dancing around his head as he took in her scent and the weird yet wonderful little quirks she had whilst she read that he had never really noticed before. Like the way she would give her nose a little wiggle when she reached a new chapter, or the swift lick she gave her thumb before turning a page.
"Ron! Harry! Breakfast!", his thoughts were rudely interrupted by his mother calling from downstairs. As he swung his legs off the edge of his bed, he looked over at Harry, who was still sleeping soundly.
"Harry", he said, as he threw a pillow at his best friend. Harry's eyes flickered open as he squinted at Ron, sleepily feeling around for his glasses on the small table beside him. "Food", Ron said simply before swapping his bed shorts for some jogging bottoms and standing up, giving a dramatic stretch before ruffing his hair in an attempt to get rid of his bed head. After brushing his teeth and having a quick shower, Ron made his way downstairs to find his mother alone in the kitchen, making bacon sandwiches for he and Harry. "Where is everyone?", he asked sleepily as he sat down at the table.
"Ginny and Hermione have gone to do a bit of shopping in Diagon Alley", his mother told him as she placed a plate with two sandwiches in front of him.
"And dad?", he asked further. Molly didn't respond as she finished making a sandwich for Harry.
"Did you sleep well?", she asked, her back turned to him as he swallowed a mouth full of food.
"Brilliantly actually", he said honestly as he took another bite out of his sandwich. His mother turned to face him, smiling brightly at his response as she placed another sandwich on the table. As if he had smelt the food that had been made for him, Harry dragged his feet down the stairs, joining Ron at the table.
"Morning, Mrs Weasley", he said.
"Good morning, Harry. Did you sleep alright?", she asked as she joined them at the table.
"Yes, thank you", he smiled warmly at her. Molly smirked at them both as they ate their sandwiches.
"Wonderful. Wouldn't have anything to do with swapping rooms, would it?", she suddenly asked. Ron almost choked on his food at her sudden query, whereas Harry dropped his sandwich completely. The pair of them tried to defend themselves quickly before Molly held up her hand, halting their words altogether. She sighed in resignation as she looked between them both. Ron could feel his heart pounding within his chest. He couldn't help but remember the time Charlie had snuck a girl into his room when he was Ron's age. He didn't think he had ever seen his mother so angry and he could only imagine the rollicking he and Harry were about to receive. "I'm not an idiot. Harry, I know that Ginny has been sneaking into Ron's room every night and I very much doubt she was in there to have a chat with him", she raised her eyebrow at him accusingly. Ron felt a little relieved before his mother's glare suddenly met him. "And I know that Hermione spent the night in your room last night, Ronald", she said more sternly. Ron hated it when she called him 'Ronald'. He knew it meant he was in big trouble. Ron looked down at the table shamefully as he waited anxiously for her to continue. "You've all been through such a difficult time and I understand that more than you know. All I ask is that – you're honest with me", she said. Ron suddenly lifted his head up, looking at Harry completely perplexed by his mother's words. Harry looked just as clueless. "Ron", she said, suddenly putting her hand on top of his. "You're not Charlie. Neither of you are", she said, placing her hand on top of Harry's as well. "I know that neither of you have ulterior motives with the girls", she told them awkwardly. Ron couldn't help but shudder at the thought of what she meant by that sentence. "But do not lie to me", she told them fiercely as she squeezed their hands slightly.
"Sorry, mum", Ron said quietly.
"Sorry, Mrs Weasley", Harry echoed his apology.
"Oh, Harry. You've got to stop with that Mrs Weasley nonsense!", she chuckled as she got up from her seat. "You've practically been a part of our family for 8 years!", she smiled warmly at him. "You'll be pleased to know I had the same chat with the girls before they left this morning", she continued, her back facing them as she pottered around in the kitchen.
"More like bloody horrified!", Ron whispered to Harry before finishing his sandwich. Harry nodded in agreement as, he too, began to eat the rest of his breakfast. Ron and Harry had soon finished their breakfast and had gotten up to put their dirty plates in the sink. "So, where is dad?", Ron asked. His father was usually sat at the table when they woke up in the morning, drinking a milky cup of coffee with the Daily Prophet in his lap. Ron couldn't help but notice Harry's awkward glance as he shuffled into the living room rather quickly. His mother sighed as she began to charm the dirty pots and plates to clean themselves.
"I need to talk with you and Ginny later. Well, I need to talk with all of you", she said rather sadly. Ron couldn't understand what she was getting at.
"Why can't you just talk to me now?", Ron pondered.
"Because you all need to hear what I have to say", she said simply before picking up a basket of laundry and heading outside.
"Do you know what that was all about?", Ron asked as he joined Harry in the living room. Harry sighed as he ran his fingers through his messy hair.
"It's really not my place to say. I might not even be right!", Harry told him. Ron couldn't help but feel completely bewildered by the whole occurrence as he sat down on the sofa. What were they hiding from him?
"Right about what? Come on, Harry!", he urged him to tell him more. Harry sighed once more as he sat forward resting his elbows on his knees.
"Hermione thought she heard your parents arguing last night", he told him.
"Arguing? Arguing about what?", Ron quizzed further. Harry shrugged his shoulders awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"She could've misheard it though", he suggested. Ron didn't understand what the big problem was. His parents had fought many times before, but never over anything serious. It was usually over his father and he leaving the toilet seat up or a new muggle device Arthur had gotten to work on. Whatever it was, it played on Ron's mind all afternoon. He wondered what on earth they must have argued about for it to result in a family chat. He read a few more chapters of Hermione's book and even deknomed the garden alone in an attempt to clear his thoughts but it was no use. He just had to know what was going on. As he got rid of a final knome, he noticed Hermione and Ginny had returned and quickly ran to the house to ask Hermione what she thought she had heard.
"Hermione!", he called after her before she could make her way inside after Ginny.
"Hello, Ron", she smiled sweetly. How he loved that smile. She had almost made him forget what he was about to say.
"Can we ta-", but before Ron could finish his sentence, his mother had appeared in the door and was smiling solemnly at them.
"Will you two join us in the living room please?", she asked as she disappeared back inside. Hermione gave Ron a confused look before he shrugged at her in response, the pair of them following his mother inside. Hermione and Ginny shared the sofa, looking rather uncomfortable as they waited for Molly to take a seat. Ron could only imagine the embarrassment his mother must have put them through that morning, just as she had done with he and Harry. He sat uncomfortably himself, Harry had taken the old rocking chair to sit on which had left Ron with the small wooden stool which was older than him! Molly got herself comfortable in the old armchair that sat in the corner of the room as she looked between Ginny and Ron. "You've probably noticed that your father wasn't here this morning", she said, as if Ron hadn't repeatedly asked where his father was.
"Sorry, Mrs Weasley – maybe Harry and I should go for a walk?", Hermione suggested politely.
"There's no need, sweetheart. This is just as much yours and Harry's home as it is ours and this affects you too", Molly explained. Hermione nodded as she waited for Molly to continue. She gave a defeated sigh as she ran her fingers through her wispy thinning hair, struggling to find the words to speak. "Your father and I have been having some difficulties lately and he'll be going to stay with William and Fleur for a while", she told them.
"But, aren't Bill and Fleur in France until next week?", Ginny asked.
"Yes. They left your father and I a spare key and we agreed that it'd be best for us to spend some time apart for a little while", she sighed sadly.
"Are you breaking up?", Ron suddenly asked. He couldn't shake the sinking feeling he had begun to feel in his chest. The only time he had spent away from his father is when he was at Hogwarts, he had never spent a single night in the Burrow without both of his parents under the same roof and the thought truly terrified him.
"No. No we're not breaking up, love", she gave her son a watery smile. "Recent events are just – they're taking their toll, that's all", she continued.
"So – when will he be back?", Ginny quizzed further.
"I'm not sure yet, Ginny. He did say you're all welcome to go and visit him whenever you like", Molly replied. Ron suddenly felt a hand press gently against his knee as he looked down to see that it was Hermione as she listened to his mother speak, nodding along with every word she spoke. But Ron couldn't quite handle what was happening. His mother had said it herself; they had already been through so much, and now it had become too much. He suddenly stood up from his seat and headed for the front door. He wasn't sure where he was going or why but with a quick pop, he disapparated as soon as he was out of sight.