Title: Nothing Can Help
Summary: Hermione leans on Ron through her grief.
Pairing/Characters:Hermione/Ron
Rating: T
Warnings: N/A
Notes: Written for Debs1990 for the Monthly One-Shot Exchange. I really hope you like it.

Hermione didn't look around herself. The sky was starting to rumble, but she didn't care. There was something soothing about the noise. When she heard pounding feet approaching her, she turned away. She didn't want to see anyone.

"Hermione, come inside."

Hermione didn't move. Her thoughts were far from the upcoming storm, they were still in Australia. She knew that the Burrow was behind her. She knew there was a nice warm fire waiting for her, and possibly a hot mug of butterbeer, but she didn't want to go inside.

"Please, Hermione. You will make yourself sick standing out here."

"No." Her voice was rough. She supposed that was from the tears she'd already shed. She looked up now, right into the eyes of Ron, her recently established boyfriend. He was the only one that had been with her on the disastrous trip. Harry wasn't available. He's been too busy since the end of the war (Ginny's number one complaint at the moment). No, Ron was the only one that was witness to her pain.

"Please, come inside and we can talk."

"No!" Tears welled in her eyes again, but she viciously whipped them away. She didn't want to talk.

"Okay, that's fine. We don't have to talk."

Hermione's shoulders shook as she stared at Ron's earnest expression. He just wanted to help, she knew that, but he couldn't help. No one could help. A drop of water ran down her cheek, and she thought she had started crying without noticing. When another drop landed on her shoulder she realised the storm was starting.

Ron looked up at the sky and bit his lip. "Come on, let's go inside."

Hermione shook her head, but when Ron grabbed her hand she didn't resist.

"Please," he said.

Hermione lowered her head, nodding in the process. She let Ron guide her towards the house, but before they arrived, the sky opened up. Rain poured from the clouds, soaking both her and Ron in an instant. The thunder rumbled through the garden making the ground feel like it was moving, and lightening lit up the sky.

Ron tugged her faster, determined to get out of the rain. When they reached the door, he dropped her hand to open the door. Hermione didn't back away, but when the door was open she didn't step inside.

Inside was evidence of Ron's family, of his parents. She didn't want the reminder of her own parents.

"I can't," she said. She stepped back into the rain.

Ron turned around. His face was so sad, and compassionate. "Hermione, please."

"No!" She had to yell now. The storm was coming in hard and fast, she could barely hear herself think. "My parents are dead! They're dead and it's my fault!"

Ron took two steps forward and clamped his warm hands on her shoulders. He leaned in close, bending down so that their eyes were level. "It is not your fault."

Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, no. If I hadn't sent them—"

"No!" Ron brought his right hand up to cup her cheek. He smoothed his thumb over her cheek until she opened her red-rimmed eyes. "You can't blame yourself for their deaths."

"But if I hadn't—"

"No," he said, interrupting her again. "No. They died in a car accident, something that can happen anywhere. Just because you sent them there for safety, doesn't make their deaths your fault. It's the other driver's fault for driving drunk. Do you understand?"

The storm around them seemed to reach a crescendo. The thunder rumbled almost constantly, and flashes of lightening were coming quicker and closer. Still, Hermione didn't look away from Ron, and Ron didn't look away from Hermione.

Hermione sagged into Ron. She started to sob into his chest, and she let him guide her inside. It wasn't until she was on the couch, wrapped in a warm, pink blanket, and holding a cup of hot butterbeer that she looked at her boyfriend.

She sniffled, and grabbed Ron's hand, clenching it between both of hers like it was a lifeline. "I love you," she whispered.

Ron brought his free hand up to her cheek. He wiped away a tear before leaning forward and kissing her, pulling her close in the process. They stayed like that all night. Hermione cried, wrapped in the pink blanket, and Ron held her close, running a hand up and down her back. When she finally fell into a restless sleep, Ron stayed awake. He continued to run a hand on her back, and through her hair.

"I love you too," he whispered all through the night.

(w.c 775)

WolfWinks-xx-