The next morning Hermione awoke feeling more refreshed and rested than she had in the last two years. After waking up and noticing that Ginny was missing Hermione decided to get up while the house was quiet and take the time to have a cup of tea and take some time on her own.
Hermione made her way downstairs and went about making herself a cup of tea the muggle way before taking her coat of the hooks by the door and wrapping up and taking her cup of tea outside. Hermione stood drinking her tea and listening to the sounds of the burrow coming to life; after seeing Mrs Weasley at the Kitchen sink Hermione placed her empty mug on the window sill and waved, she then gestured to the chicken coop and headed to collect the eggs for breakfast. Hermione took pleasure in the mundaneness of the task. Heading back to the burrow Hermione could see that there were more figures in the kitchen, her stomach dropped, what if one of them was Ron, she couldn't face that conversation just yet. She had decided while standing and watching the garden around the burrow wake up that she needed to sit and decide what she was going to say Ron and sort out her feelings before having that conversation.
Hermione grabbed her mug and pushed open the door to the burrow and entered the kitchen placing the eggs in the collection basket that was by the door and unwrapping her layers before entering the kitchen. Looking around the kitchen she realised that only Mr and Mrs Weasley and Percy were present. Hermione let out a sigh of relief and took the eggs over to the stove to Mrs Weasley placing a kiss on her cheek as she did so earning a lovely smile of the Weasley matriarch. "Good morning sweetie are you feeling better this morning" she asked with a smile in her voice.
"Much better thank you Molly, I'm so sorry for scaring and worrying you all."
"Nonsense, were all going to struggle with things after the war honey, I just want you to know that you can come to me about anything at any time day or night"
Hermione teared up and threw her arms around Molly feeling indebted to the woman for the motherly love that she had always shown the girl. "Molly thank you" Hermione said voice thick with unshed tears. Molly embraced the young girl the thought of as a daughter and poured all the love that she could into the gesture. Hermione let out a deep breathe and when Molly felt this she smiled and let go of the girl. Hearing the rest of the house making there way downstairs moly decided to give the girl an out of the busy kitchen. "Hermione, would you mind taking Fred his morning brew."
Hermione appreciated what Molly was trying to do and nodded taking the cup of steaming tea from her hands and turning to make her way out of the kitchen. As she reached the bottom of the stairs Harry, George, and Ron, made their way to the bottom. She smiled and wished them all a good morning, Ron began to move in for a hug and kiss, Hermione turned her body and presented him her cheek. Ron planted a kiss on a cheek his smile falling from his face "sorry Ron just taking Fred his drink"
Hermione rushed upstairs failing to keep her tears from falling down her face. She made it to Fred and Georges room knocking and trying to place a smile on her face. "Fred I've got you a brew can I come in"
"Mione, of course come on in"
Hermione entered the room and turned with a forced smile to see Fred watching her.
"Mione, come and sit down and talk to me" Fred said attentively. Hearing the care in his voice Hermione could not stop the tears from falling. As she settled herself down next to Fred at the lead of the bed.
"I'm sorry Fred" Hermione said
"it's okay Mione but you are giving me a complex I mean every time I see you; you cry. And here I thought I was the handsome twin" this did exactly what Fred wanted, and Hermione began to laugh.
"it's not you Fred honestly. It is not you, I feel safe with you. It's, it's Ron, I … I… I just don't know what to do. I think he thinks that were together. We kissed once during the battle, but you know I don't know if I feel like that about him anymore. I'm different, he's different, everything is different, and I love him but only as my best friend.
"right well first you need to breathe, please" Hermione nodded and placed her hand on his chest which surprised Fred, but he began to exaggerate his breathing so that she could follow his breathing. When Hermione had slowed her breathing back to normal Fred threw his arm around her shoulders and tucked her head under his chin. "I think you need to be honest with Ron, you've finally been honest with yourself by saying it out loud and the longer you don't tell him the harder it's going to be on the both of you"
Hermione sighed and snuggled into his side she could not remember when they had both got this comfy with each other but these times with Fred were the times when she felt most herself. "yeah Fred your right. Oh, your cup of tea I forgot" Hermione said pointing her wand at the cup of tea and warming it back up handing it to Fred and then snuggling back into his side making his smile.
The bedroom door banged open and George waltzed into the room levitating two plates of breakfast. "Okay breakfast is served mum said you should stay and have breakfast with Fred Hermione, you know it will be a change so he doesn't have to look at my ugly mug" George placed the plates of cooked breakfasts on trays on the knees of the two sat on the bed as they separated away from each other and sat up. George smiled at them both gave a cheeky wink and left the room with a shout "Right Fred I'm going to try and get out empire back up and running." Seeing Fred so comfy with Hermione had made him so happy and seeing the tint of red on both their cheeks when he had winked made him wonder if the bookworm felt more similar to Fred then either of them had realised yet and with a pop he was standing smiling at Angelina beginning to clean the front of the shop.