Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. Nope, I am nothing more than a broke college student who is merely playing in her world.

Everyday From Right Now
Chapter 10
By pacifickay

­The announcement of the funeral had brought an abrupt end to the silliness of the morning. It wasn't as though any of them had forgotten about having something planned for Fred, but the silent agreement to not mention it without any reason had been a nice way to dull the pain. It seemed to crash down with a heavy force on everyone, sending them all into separate modes of coping.

George had retreated to his bedroom and in a curious change of pace, no one seemed more upset about it then Ron. In a brave attempt to take his mind of his brother, Harry had suggested that he and Ron head out to the Weasley's backyard paddock and have a go on their broomsticks, which they hadn't done in so long. After a glance at Hermione, who nodded encouragingly, he gave her a quick kiss and followed Harry out the back door. Ginny, however, took the even braver approach and decided that she would help her mother and Fleur with the arrangements, also noting that in this way, the four of them would not feel any guiltier at not being more involved with the proceedings.

Hermione felt a little out of place. She didn't feel too comfortable assisting in the funeral plans, no matter how much Ginny insisted that it would be fine each time she came to fill her in with some details. She vaguely thought about going to see George, but immediately decided against it. Without Harry or Ron around, she was hard pressed to find something to distract her, and for a few hours settled on going through the contents of her trusted beaded bag. The monotony of sorting her clothes from the boys', restacking books, and repacking her trunk worked as a buffer to the thoughts of the following day.

Once done, she remembered Ginny mentioning that Crookshanks would be somewhere out in the garden. Grateful for something to do and because she had honestly missed her pet, Hermione went back downstairs and out into the yard. Sure enough, a fluffy mass of ginger fur was crouched low by the hedges, its tail twitching.

Hermione began walking over. "Crookshanks," she called softly. "Come here, Crookshanks."

Crookshanks turned to look at the sound of her voice, his ears straight up and listening. He had a gnome in his mouth that was twisting and screaming curse words at the top of his voice.

Hermione laughed. "Put him down, you naughty cat, and come over here."

Crookshanks dropped the gnome and meowing happily, came trotting over to Hermione, who knelt down in the grass and scooped him into her arms.

"Hello, Crookshanks," Hermione crooned, brushing her cheek into his fur. "Did you miss me?" A deep purr was her answer.

"I hope you've been behaving for the Weasley's," she said, petting him. "And you'll need to behave tomorrow as well. A lot of people will be coming for the funeral."

She placed the cat back down and sat cross legged in the grass. Crookshanks, still happy at being reunited with Hermione, lept back into her lap, settling there and looking up at her.

Scratching Crookshanks absentmindedly behind the ears, Hermione continued to speak, more to herself than anyone else, but it was nice to know someone was listening, even if it was a cat with a squashed face.

"A lot has happened, Crookshanks. Lots of things are different now. Harry beat Voldemort. We're all safe now thanks to him. But we lost some of our friends. D'you remember Tonks and Lupin? And Fred? I can't believe they're really gone. Just like that. And I still haven't gotten Mum and Dad back yet." Her eyes watered, but she wiped at them impatiently.

"I know they're still safe, but I want to bring them home. Soon. Perhaps after the funeral tomorrow, I can start planning to set out. I may go alone…but I expect Ron wouldn't let me," she said with a knowing smile. "Maybe Mrs. Weasley will let Ginny and Harry come too, if we all swear to separate beds."

Crookshanks blinked up at her and let out another meow.

"That's different too," Hermione said, stroking his back. "Ginny and Harry are back together. It's really good for both of them. They're so happy, and its best for Harry to have something stable after all he went through. Well, not that going out with Ginny is calm and stable," she laughed softly, "but they're good for each other."

Crookshanks suddenly sat up a bit straighter and looked off into the distance. Hermione looked as well, and shielding her eyes against the glare of the sun, could see two figures heading back towards the house.

"That'll be Harry and Ron," Hermione said, unable to hide her smile. "That's also different. I know you two didn't get off on the best start, Crookshanks, but you know that I've been after that Weasley boy for ages. How many times did I cry into your fur over him?" she shook her head at the memories. Crookshanks had turned to look at her for a moment, before looking back to watch the boys approach.

"Well, anyway, that's perhaps the biggest difference. I don't really like putting a label on it, because he means so much more to me than just a 'boyfriend,' but we are certainly together now."

She liked how simple it sounded, even when she knew that when it came to her and Ron, they were anything but simple.

"You know what, Crookshanks?" She whispered, because she could now make out the murmur of Harry and Ron's voices and didn't want them to hear her. "We haven't really said it yet, what we both know. Maybe it just goes without saying," she said thoughtfully. "But I've known it forever and I know it now. It's more than liking him. I want him for the rest of his life."

The thought made Hermione laugh with happiness, the sound carrying the short distance to where Ron and Harry were walking back. Ron looked up at the sound of it and saw her in the grass with Crookshanks in her lap.

"That mental thing is still here?" he called over to her.

"I could say the same thing about you," Hermione retorted.

"Hey!" he said indignantly. She laughed again, picking up Crookshanks and getting to her feet.

"Yes, he is still here," she said, striding over and meeting Ron and Harry. "And you had better play nice."

Ron raised an eyebrow at the cat, who gazed calmly back. "We have our truce, don't we Crookshanks?" he asked, reaching out and petting his head. Crookshanks purred louder still.

"See?" Ron told Hermione, with a smug smile. "I let him stay around and if I'm mean to him, he eats my pets. Same as usual."

"Poor Pig," Harry commented. He then glanced around. "Is Ginny still helping Mrs. Weasley and Fleur?"

Hermione nodded, setting Crookshanks down and then standing up again. "Most people they've told say they're coming. The Longbottoms, the Lovegoods, lots of people from Gryffindor, even Kingsley is going to make it."

Ron shifted nervously. "Have they-" he began, before pausing and trying again, "-have they decided where he's going to – to be?"

"Yes," Hermione said gently. "Out by your Quidditch paddock, they're going to set something up. Fleur suggested the, um, cemetery down in the village, but Ginny resisted."

"Oh," Ron said, watching Crookshanks chase more gnomes. "That's good, I guess."

The awkward silence finally came and consumed them. Not knowing whether it was best to break it, Hermione bit her lip. Harry decided to change the subject.

"I was telling Ron," he said, a little louder than usual, but Ron and Hermione both pretended there was no difference, "that I was thinking that I should get another broomstick. I lost the Firebolt a long time ago and I was thinking of replacing it. Maybe a different make though," he added. "I don't really see myself needing a world class racing broom anymore."

"Harry's retiring from the game," Ron told Hermione. "Even before he went professional."

"Quidditch just seems like a lifetime ago," Harry said shrugging.

"A lot of things do," Hermione agreed.

"Hey! You guys ready for lunch?" Ginny called out from the backdoor to the house. "Mum's made sandwiches."

"We're coming," Harry called back to her, motioning for the other two to follow. Hermione however, grabbed hold of Ron's arm and held him back.

"Ron, are you okay?" she asked without pretense, peering up into his face.

He shrugged. "As alright as I'm going to be. It's just…hard to think about," he admitted.

"I know," Hermione sighed.

"Well, no need to get worked up today," he said, trying to sound disinterested, but not meeting her eyes. "Save that for tomorrow. C'mon lets go eat."

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. After a subdued lunch that was marked by the continued absence of George and a teary Mrs. Weasley, the others sat around in the living room, trying to find other methods of distraction. Ron played a few games of Wizards Chess apiece with both Hermione and Harry, naturally destroying them both. At one point, Hermione immersed herself again in Hogwarts, A History, while the boys talked vaguely about whether or not they would accept Professor McGonagall's offer if she said they could take their N.E.W.T's. There was one uncomfortable moment when Ginny, who had been peaking in on the others from time to time, came in to have a strangled and whispered conversation with Ron, leaving them both looking pale in the face.

"What is, Ron?" Hermione asked once Ginny had left.

"They don't know who's going to do the speaking," he said, unconsciously rubbing his hands up and down his arms, as if he was cold. "Ginny recalled Fred saying that he didn't like that old bloke who talked at Dumbledore's funeral. Said he was too up tight."

"But then who would do it?" Harry asked.

"They're going to try to ask Kingsley," Ron said. "If he can't though, I guess one of us would have to do it." He looked terrified at the thought. Harry and Hermione exchanged somber looks and the strained afternoon hours resumed.

Finally, the sun outside began to dim and shadows began to creep into the room. Hermione was stretched out on the couch, her head and arms resting on her book while she dozed. Harry was lying flat on his back on the floor, twirling his wand out in front of him, occasionally sending out a strand of light, smiling at how good it felt to have it back. And Ron had sat on the floor in front of the couch, leaning back into its cushions, gazing up at the ceiling.

Just after six o'clock, the sound of a crackling fire and accompanying voices alerted the three of them, and they all sat up. The others had returned from the Ministry.

"Hello?" Mr. Weasley called. "Where is everyone?"

"Right here, Dad," Ron responded, as they all came fully into the room.

"Where's Ginny and Fleur?" Bill asked.

"Upstairs with Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "Planning."

The knowing winces passed everyone's face. Mr. Weasley dropped his cloak and dashed over up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

"And George?" Charlie asked, after his eyes had swept around the room.

"He's been in his room," Hermione said. Bill and Charlie looked at Percy, who nodded and strode up the stairs as well.

"And how are you three?" Charlie asked. They shrugged and gave similar answers of being alright, though it wasn't exactly the truth.

"How're things at the Ministry?" Harry asked.

"Well, they're clearing up," Bill said, moving over to sit on the couch next to Hermione as she scooted over to make room. "They're beginning to contact all the families that went into hiding. Kingsley has made sure that the Dementors are being gathered up and taken care of. Not that you can really kill a Dementor, but you can reduce their numbers, and they're not guarding Azkaban anymore. Which is good, that's where they're still sending the remaining Death Eaters."

"There's still some out there?" Harry asked, unable to mask his obvious disbelief and twinge of anger.

"They're trying to claim they were Imperioused," Charlie said, "Of course some of them were, but there are a lot of stories to try to verify. Not to mention tracking down the ones who are still out there on the run."

A slightly stunned pause met this news.

"There's still some Death Eaters on the run?" Hermione repeated in a small voice. Bill and Charlie nodded gravely.

"Most of the ones who didn't die at Hogwarts were captured, but the ones that weren't there or who ran away early are still at large," Bill said.

"I mean, they're not really going to try anything stupid," Charlie reassured the others, "because of course the Ministry will snuff them out quick. But they need to get going tracking them down, once they can get the Auror Department back up and running."

"Who's still out there?" Harry asked at once.

"Kingsley won't say who they all are," Charlie said. "Not yet. Doesn't want them to know that they're already onto them. The rest of the Order has started looking though. We're pretty sure that Rockwood is out there and so are the Lestrange bothers. And apparently, no one can account for Greyback."

"I stunned Greyback, though!" Ron said fervently. "Me and Neville were able to bring him down. You mean they didn't get him?"

"Doesn't seem like it, no," Bill said shaking his head. Ron looked angry; he glared down at the floor and didn't even react when Hermione reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Footsteps on the stairs caused the others to look up. Fleur and Ginny came down first, looking exhausted, followed by Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley, who was hastily stowing away a handkerchief when she saw the others.

"Good," she said in a slightly higher voice than usual, but she still put on a small smile. "Now that we're all home, I'll whip up a quick dinner for us."

"I'll come and 'elp you," Fleur said kindly as they went into the kitchen.

"Do you boys mind helping me set up a table outside?" Mr. Weasley said to Bill and Charlie. "It'll be less cramped and hot out back than in the kitchen."

"Sure, Dad," Charlie said, and he and Bill got to their feet and followed their father outside.

Ginny came over to the other three and sat heavily in an armchair.

"You alright?" Harry asked her, edging closer to her.

"It's the worst," she said in a flat voice. "Possibly one of the worst things I've ever been through, including being possessed by You-Know-Who."

Ron looked up at the sound of her voice, coming out of his mutinous attitude at the news of Greyback and his expression clearing from angry to wary. "So is it all done then?"

"Yes," Ginny said sighing. "It all starts at three o'clock, guests starting to arrive an hour earlier by Portkeys and Apparation. That little wizard from the school's memorial service and Dumbledore's funeral is handling the actual gra- place where they're putting him, but he's not going to be speaking."

"Who is?" Hermione asked.

Ginny shrugged. "Kingsley said he'd be alright doing a bit, but Fleur said that it should be left to the family. I suppose that means which ever one of us is even capable of speech tomorrow."

An even stiller silence than the one that had appeared at the news of unaccounted for Death Eaters reared its head over the four of them.

"Well," Ron said tonelessly. "That rules out Mum."

"Can you four come 'elp set zee table and take out zee food?" Fleur asked, coming in from the kitchen.

"Sure thing," Ginny said and the four of them got to their feet.

"I'm going to go get Percy and George," Ron said. "That alright?" The others nodded, Hermione throwing a final and anxious glance at him over her shoulder as he climbed the stairs.

The sweltering air from the day and started to dissipate as night began to settle over the Burrow. The family sat at the long table, eating heartily after such a long day. Charlie and Bill, now joined by Mr. Weasley, began to fill in the others what they had already told Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Rather than hear the mixture of good and bad news a second time, the three of them sat quietly in thought over their pork chops.

Without knowing it, each was dwelling over something similar; Harry kept frowning slightly at the thought of Death Eaters still out there, though the idea of less Dementors was very pleasing. Hermione had started thinking again of her parents and whether or not she wanted to bring them back into the country while anyone with the name Lestrange was still out there. And Ron gave his dinner a particularly violent stab with his fork whenever the thought of Greyback came into his mind; he had fought that vile werewolf for a reason, and now it was like it didn't make a difference…

"Can I ask you something, Ron?" George asked suddenly from beside him, watching him closely. "Or will you use your utensil to hack off my other ear?"

"Sorry," Ron grunted, setting the fork down. "What's up?" Harry and Hermione glanced over as well.

George took a steadying breath. "Who's speaking at the funeral tomorrow? Not that little bloke again?"

Ron looked intently at him before responding. George had emerged from his room earlier, pale faced and with tousled hair and Percy had told Ron in a whisper that he had been listening to him, but wasn't talking much. This had continued into the dinner, where he would speak only when addressed and even then only with enough to respond. The others knew that their amount of grief over Fred paled in comparison to his twin's, so they were resigned to let him be.

However, George initiating any conversation, and especially the conversation that would be most difficult for him, could not be taken lightly. Ron decided that it was best to not sugar coat anything for him, because he knew that George wanted the straight answers.

"Ginny said that Kingsley is going to say a few words," he said, not looking away from George's face. "But then Kingsley reckons that it ought to be done by one of us."

"Not Mum then," George said frowning. Harry and Hermione exchanged small miles; it had been exactly what Ron had said. "Who do you think will?"

Ron shrugged. "I thought maybe Dad, but if he's with Mum…maybe Charlie."

George cocked his head at Ron slightly, as if surprised at his answer.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Well, what about you or Percy?" George asked simply.

They stared at each other in silence, each with unreadable expressions. Harry and Hermione, however, both had their mouth slightly open in surprise. That was certainly something to think about.

"You were there," George continued in a steady voice. "You and Percy. You three and Percy, actually," he added nodding at Hermione and Harry. "I don't see why one of you couldn't do it."

"George," Harry said at once. "It's nothing personal, mate, honestly, but I could barely do the Hogwarts memorial. I don't know if I could handle this."

George nodded. "No, that's fine Harry, I understand. I mean, you were never the Boy Who Lived to Fred. You were just Harry. No point in giving you a reason to show off."

The humor sent a look of relief over Harry face and he smiled thankfully at George.

"I couldn't do it either," Hermione whispered. "It should be one of you." George nodded again, raising a corner of his mouth in a fraction of a smile, but again it was enough for Hermione to smile back at him as the unsaid understanding was reached.

"Then me or Percy," Ron said slowly.

"Or me," George added as an afterthought. "That would probably be fitting as well."

"Could you do it?" Ron asked him straight out. For a moment, George was silent, a faint frown appearing on his features before he answered.

"I'm not saying it would be the happiest moment of my life," he said, looking seriously at Ron, "but the thought of not doing it is even worse. So I would…I will."

"I'll talk to Percy," Ron said, glancing up the table at him. "Maybe we'll flip a Galleon or something."

"You ought to tell Fleur or Ginny, too," Harry spoke up, "so they know."

"Right," George said. "And then they can break the news to Mum."

"Everyone done down there?" Mrs. Weasley called, waving her wand so that the dirty plates whizzed away from them and then stacked themselves in a tower and floated towards the house, where a clean stack was coming ahead of Mr. Weasley as he brought out the dessert.

Over dessert, Ginny joined in the conversation going on between the others. She looked momentarily stunned as George and Ron filled her in with their plans for tomorrow, but agreed to let Fleur know, though she noted that "The later Mum finds out, the less chance she has to try telling you that you don't have to." They also talked again about what plans Harry, Ron, and Hermione had for replacing their final year of school, but it was apparent that as the minutes ticked by, they were more likely to fall into silence again.

Finally, the family began to clear the table and troop back into the house. Ron, George and Percy stood aside for the first few minutes, talking in low voices that Harry, Hermione, and Ginny exchanged knowing looks over. Bill and Fleur said their goodbyes and walked out beyond the gate to the Burrow before Disapparating. And Mrs. Weasley's command of them going to bed early was not questioned at all, so they began biding each other good night and head back inside to get to their beds.

For the second time that day, however, Hermione held Ron back.

"Yeah, Hermione, what's up?" he asked her curiously, for she was staring deftly up at him, clutching some dessert plates in her hands

"Will you be okay, tomorrow?" she asked him seriously.

He sighed heavily, his grip on his own stack of remaining plates tightening. "I'll have to ask Harry how much Firewhiskey he had before the memorial, but yeah, I'll be fine."

"I just-" she paused slightly, wondering if this was her place to say anything.

"What?"

"I just- just wish that this wasn't so hard on everyone," she admitted. "Obviously it's going to be, but I just wish that it didn't have to hurt you or George or anyone so much."

"Hermione," he assured her gently, "I'll be alright."

"You're sure, Ron?"

He looked down into her face, truly marveling over how concerned she was over him. Granted, she always had been, but she was sounding as if she really wanted him to be more than okay tomorrow. Not looking away from her, he reached out and took her plates from her hands, stacking them on top of his and then placing all of them on the ground beside him. Hermione opened her mouth to ask him what he doing, but she got her answer immediately as he wrapped his long arms around her and pulled her into a gentle hug.

She reached her own arms up around his back, wishing that she could take all this pain away from him. It was like being back on the very night when Fred was killed; how she had to hold him back from following Percy and destroying every Death Eater in sight. She had seen the immense pain on his face then and it almost hurt her just as much to stop him, but knew that was what she had to do. He had let her then, just as he had let her comfort him when he had been upset every time afterward.

It was all she could do for him, and yet, it seemed to be all he needed.

"I'm sure," Ron said, affirming this thought as he slid his hands gently up and down her back. "I'll have Harry and Ginny and George and everyone else there tomorrow, right?"

"Yes."

"And you're not going anywhere?"

"You know I wouldn't," she whispered.

"Then I'll survive the worst," he said, pulling back and looking at her again. "Just like always. Just like we keep saying; we do this together, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, we'll survive together."

Ron leaned down and kissed her. Hermione raised her hand to his cheek and gently held him there, making herself promise that she would not leave his side even for a second tomorrow.

They broke away and Ron leaned down to grab the stack of plates in one hand to take in and taking Hermione's hand in his other as they went back into the house. After saying goodnight to those still downstairs, they headed upstairs together. They shared another quick kiss on the landing outside Ginny's bedroom, before saying goodnight and going to their separate rooms.

Neither of them could deny that the upcoming day was going to be hard. But as each settled into bed, Ron and Hermione were both comforted by the fact that going through it together was going to be enough.

Author's Note: Believe it or not, I have just laid the basis for quite a few different plot points in this chapter. Aren't I sneaky? Lol. ...But there's a double-dose of Ron/Hermione to go through first before those new plot points come into play. …And that funeral…so I recommend you enjoy the fluff while its here…