Disclaimer: How many ways can I say I don't own Harry Potter?

Draco Malfoy did not go to prison. He was put on house arrest with his Aunt Andromeda for a multitude of reasons that seemed to satisfy all parties that were interested in his outcome. Personally, Hermione was relieved that he hadn't been sent to Azkaban and thought that getting to know his Aunt and cousin would be good for him.

She chewed on the corner of her quill absent-mindedly. She was sitting on a picnic table in the Weasleys' backyard with papers strewn all over both it and the ground around her. There were multi-coloured schedules and recordings of all the spells she had learned over the years plus the ones she would have learned had she actually taken N.E.W.T. classes.

There was a slight breeze to make the warm day bearable and it ruffled her hair gently as she worked. She was wearing white shorts and a purple t-shirt which bunched as she bent over herself to reach for another piece of paper. No, she had read that one already. She discarded it for a textbook outlining the nonverbal spells required for N.E.W.T. level charms.

She would be taking exams in 9 of her O.W.L. subjects: Arithmancy, Astronomy, Charms, DADA, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration. Ron and Harry thought she was insane. The more she studied, the more she conceded their point. To be honest, she wasn't seriously worried about any of them; even with the need to teach herself the seventh-year practicals for all nine of them. History of Magic was easiest; it was a dramatic re-telling of the most famous historical duels. Hermione was fabulous at straight memorization. To her surprise and Harry's extreme embarrassment, this also included his and Voldemort's final duel. The core subjects would be much the same as their O.W.L requirements and she would have to decipher a runic tablet for Ancient Runes.

Professor McGonagall had sent her booklets for each of the subjects detailing what to expect as soon as Hermione had owled her acceptance. She set down the book and aimed her wand at the blue plastic watering can across from her. She pursed her lips in concentration and thought Duro as hard as she could in her mind. She watched, satisfied, as the watering can turned to pure stone. She muttered Finite Incantatem nonverbally as well and watched it turn back to normal.

"Need a duelling partner?" Hermione's head shot up as she aimed her wand at the intruder. "Just me." Ginny soothed. "I figured you'd need to practice for DADA and I could use the practice myself for next year. Y'know, getting ahead in my studies and all." She winked at Hermione who grinned.

"Sure. They all have to be nonverbal though." She warned the redhead. Ginny grinned devilishly, reminding Hermione of Fred and George.

"Not a problem." She retorted.

They came to stand in front of each other as they performed the proper duelling ritual. Ginny grinned excitedly as she sliced her wand down through the air. Hermione returned the grin as she spun on one foot and walked three paces away. They whirled around, each holding a position.

"On three." Hermione said. "One, two, three!" Everyone who was home had come out to watch.

Hermione hadn't realized just how skilled of a duelist Ginny was. Nor how easy it seemed for the two of them to send nonverbal jinxes at one another. It was difficult to block against spells you didn't know were coming, and Hermione found herself admiring Snape the ability to read minds in anticipation of the incantations someone would cast. The spells streaked around them in a multitude of colours, looking much like the battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore had, but with much less panache.

Hermione got in a few spells from other classes as well in order to practice, and she got hit with Ginny's famous bat-bogey hex when she wasn't paying attention. Eventually there was a collision of spells and a blast so forceful that it knocked both witches to the ground.

Ginny groaned, pushing herself up to half lay on her elbows. "Truce?" She offered.

"Truce." Hermione agreed, panting.

Charlie frowned. "A truce?! What nonsense is this? I had ten galleons riding on you little sister!"

Ginny grinned delightedly at him. "Sorry Char." Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and he grinned.

"No offence Hermione."

"If it helps, I bet twenty galleons on you." Ron informed her as he crossed his arms and leaned against the side of the house. She couldn't help but notice how this outlined the contour of his side and shoulders as well as his arms. Hermione simply smiled at him and shook her head.

Behind her, Harry was asking Ginny if she could pick Teddy up from Andromeda's today. He had officially moved out into Grimmauld Place yesterday and this would be his first week raising Teddy by himself. Ginny was unofficially moving in with him, unbeknownst to her parents.

"Sure I can." Ginny agreed easily. "Want to come along?" This was directed at Ron and Hermione.

"I have to do some paperwork at the Ministry to start training next month, so I can't." Ron told her. Privately, Hermione was impressed. Ron was willingly doing paperwork? In a sense she guessed the world had ended with the defeat of Voldemort.

"I'll come." Hermione decided quickly. Studying was going well, and she needed out of the house for a bit. The Weasleys were doing their best to put on a brave face, but there was a cloud of grief always present in the Burrow. Ron's concerned eyes met hers and she gave him a quick smile conveying that she would be fine. He frowned, but nodded his assent anyways as he walked off to join Harry in flooing to the ministry.

Hermione went up to Ron's room to clean the dirt off of her clothes and freshen up. She found herself daydreaming of a flat of her own to share with Ron. She wondered if he would be messy and spared a glance at his side of the room. Living on the run had changed them all and while it wasn't ridiculously clean, it wasn't disorderly enough to be called messy either. She wondered if that was for her sake, because he and Harry had always left the room in a cyclone of clothes and various possessions. She made her way down the stairs and waited for Ginny.

Finally, the younger witch emerged from her bedroom in clean clothes and a beautiful blue necklace Tonks had left her in her will. Hermione hoped Andromeda wouldn't notice this.

Mrs. Tonks was currently in the kitchen making tea and had yet to greet them. Draco had met them at the door with a guarded expression and a half smile, and he was now reading a thick book next to the fireplace.

Hermione had never seen him interact with his aunt before and she had to say she was looking forward to it. Andromeda was a very entertaining individual of the kind she assumed Draco was unaccustomed to. Regardless, Hermione kept her distance from him. He made her wary, his eyes still disturbed her dreams some nights. She couldn't be his friend no matter how much she believed his innocence. She mused to herself how Ron would be quite pleased to know that and almost snorted aloud at the thought.

"Tea is served." Andromeda called, pushing through the swinging doors that adjoined the living room and kitchen. Draco straightened in his chair and Ginny abruptly stopped bouncing Teddy, who began to wail. Andromeda sighed. "Better give him here, dear."

She plucked the baby from Ginny's arms and as she did so her eyes fell on the necklace. Her features changed abruptly. What had previously been a kind smile morphed into harsh lines and dark eyes. "Where did you get this?" She demanded, half hysterical. Hermione began to shiver uncontrollably. She ran a hand up her arm unconsciously to try and stop it as she desperately reminded herself that she was in Mrs. Tonks' living room and therefore quite safe.

Ginny tried to stammer out an apology but she was also thrown by the transformation that had wrought Andromeda's kind features into an almost carbon copy of her older sister's. "Tell me the truth." Andromeda ordered.

Hermione couldn't breathe. Hazily, she realized she had slipped off of the couch and was now lying on the ground. She took in deep breaths. She saw no change in Andromeda or Ginny as she fell, they were talking fervidly as if the rest of the world no longer existed. Abruptly, she realized she couldn't breathe. The resemblance and the words had her incapable of any reasoning. She was back in that drawing room on the cold hardwood floor, surrounded by Death Eaters. She couldn't control her body and her mind wanted out, out, out and

"Granger!" Malfoy insisted sharply, interrupting her panic. He had launched himself off of the couch and now knelt beside her. "You're safe, you're not there, it's alright. Andromeda, not Bellatrix." He came into focus as he gripped her shoulder tightly, trying to return her to reality. But all Hermione saw was silver. She shook harder as the memories overwhelmed her and she gasped for breath. "Damnit Granger, it's not real. You're out, you're safe." His eyes were angry and tortured and she reached out for his arm.

"Your eyes are so pretty." She informed him deliriously. His lips parted in astonishment as he struggled to find words.

"What do you need to get through this?" He asked her quietly but firmly. Somehow the words got through to her.

"Ron." She whispered as tears clouded her vision. And then Draco was arguing with Ginny and he was sending a silver dragon to talk to Ron. She was going insane. The torture had driven her insane, the effects had just taken months to manifest, she was sure of it. But then Ron was there and his arms were around her and he was murmuring into her ear and all she knew was that his eyes were blue and not silver, and then everything went black.

HGRW

Hermione woke up with a start. She was wearing her clothes from earlier, but she was lying on the Burrow's couch. Ron was sitting across from her looking incredibly worried. He jumped to her aid as she sat up. She let herself fall into his embrace.

"I was so scared." He said hoarsely. "Malfoy sent me a patronus about you so I knew it had to be bad. And then to see you there like that, with him near you and Andromeda…" His voice caught and he shuddered. No doubt seeing such a familiar scene had shaken him as well. She hugged him tighter.

"I'm sorry." She told him lowly. She knew the events of Malfoy Manor affected him nearly as much as it did her.

"Not your fault." He informed her softly and firmly. "Bellatrix's. And a bit Andromeda's. A bit Ginny's as well. I…" His face fell as if ashamed. "I yelled quite a bit at Andromeda and Ginny once Malfoy explained what had happened. Both of them were beside themselves but I couldn't help it. Not when it comes to you." He said roughly. She smiled valiantly at him. It still filled her with wonder and joy when she saw proof of his feelings for her.

"Thank you for bringing me here, to the couch." Her eyes met his and his smile was filled with incredible sadness.

"I didn't want you to wake up the same way you did that night too." He admitted. She kissed him quickly.

"Well you no longer have the emotional range of a teaspoon, I'll give you that." He let out a shocked laugh as Mrs. Weasley entered the room.

She put a hand against Hermione's temple and fussed around her. "You gave us all quite a fright." She said, laying a hand comfortingly on Hermione's cheek.

"I'm alright, I think. Flashback." Mrs. Weasley grimaced in understanding.

Ron pulled her into his lap as Mrs. Weasley handed her a cup of tea. "Andromeda's at the door." Mr. Weasley announced as he entered the room. His eyes fell on Hermione. "Do you want to see her?"

"Not today, if that's alright." She whispered. "But tell her I don't blame her. I just want time to…pull myself together."

"Of course." He nodded, sending Andromeda from the house and then pulling Molly out of the room.

"I hate her so fucking much." Hermione seethed suddenly, launching herself off of the couch. "Bellatrix." She added at Ron's raised eyebrow. "I hate how weak she made me, how afraid. I hate how I can't control myself, how my body betrays me at anything that reminds me of her. She's dead, but she's alive in my mind and I hate it more than anything. I hate how much it hurts you, too. It affects you almost as badly but I can't stop my mind from torturing me about it." She laughed harshly and uncontrollably. "I am so sorry." She had no idea if she was apologizing to him or herself. "I'm sorry." She whispered, utterly defeated as he hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry too." His eyes were a storm of rage. "But don't you ever worry about how your suffering is affecting me. We're a team. We take on some of each other's grief to help us through. Don't ever try to hide that from me. Besides, I understand." He said painfully, and Hermione let out a sob.

"When does this end?" She asked, voice breaking.

"I don't know." He answered quietly. "But we can be not great together." She let out a choked laugh at the reference and gripped him tighter. She had no idea what she had done to deserve him.

"I love you so much, Ronald Weasley."

"I love you too." His mouth found hers, achingly soft and tender. Eventually they pulled apart.

"So how did you acquire so many emotions?" She asked curiously, and, to her amazement, Ron blushed furiously. He mumbled something unintelligible. "What was that?"

"I learned them from a book." He admitted, refusing to meet her eyes. Hermione's mouth fell open as she gaped at him like an idiot. Whatever she had been expecting, it had not been that.

"A…a book?" She asked faintly. He nodded, ears scarlet.

"It's called 12 fail-safe ways to charm witches. Fred and George gave it to me, if you can believe it. I learned a lot from it."

"You learned how to charm witches…mostly me…from a book?" She had no idea why but the idea of it was incredibly endearing, and also exceedingly attractive. He had used a book to figure out how to be more considerate towards her. Books were entirely her thing and she knew she would never be able to put into words the strength of the love she felt for him in that moment.

"How to treat them right would be a better title." He amended, still not meeting her eyes.

"Were there any…bedroom tips in there, perchance?" She asked him suddenly, attempting to be casual. He lit up, grinning devilishly.

"Does that mean you find my talents…satisfactory?" He stepped closer to her and she hoped beyond hope that he had thrown up a silencing charm at some point during her rant.

"Mmm." She answered noncommittally. "They're alright I guess." She teased. His eyes glinted at the challenge.

"Well. We'll have to change that then, won't we?" His voice deepened and went a bit huskier unintentionally and she felt her knees go to jelly. She didn't quite know how it happened, but sometime between sixth- and seventh-year Ron Weasley had become downright sexy.

"I guess we will." She taunted back, and he was all but dragging her up the staircase, unholy promises falling from his lips.

RWHG

Hermione was once again practicing jinxes for her exams in the backyard and was once again caught off-guard by the approach of a Weasley.

"Nice." A voice commented and she jumped out of her skin as her spell ricocheted off of a tree and nearly hit her in the face. She cursed and he grinned.

"Speaking of filthy mouths, please remember silencing charms wherever you are in the house." George implored. Hermione felt heat rise to her face swiftly at this innuendo. "I'd rather not hear my little brother's dirty talk." He continued, and Hermione covered her face with her hands.

"The stairwell?" She asked, voice muffled slightly by her hands. She had never been so mortified in her entire life.

"Yup." He informed her cheerily. "But I'm glad to see you and Ron dealing with the trauma in such productive ways."

"Georrrrge." She pleaded.

"Alright." He agreed. "Anyways, I came to ask you about a product." He said and Hermione's interest was immediately piqued. She found Fred and George's work to be downright brilliant, though she would seldom admit it.

"Oh?"

"It allows the user to enter a sort of dream world. I got the idea from dreamless sleep but instead of promising no dreams, it promises good ones. Dreamless sleep can be harmful and addicting, so I modified this one to not be. I wanted to know if you think it's something I should sell or if it's…I dunno unethical in some way." His light blue eyes met hers with an unfathomable intensity.

"Hmmm." She considered, twirling a lock of hair around her index finger. "You're positive there are no ill effects?"

He nodded. "Yes. But, well…I don't know. Something about it seems too much of a good thing." He said softly.

"I think it's a good idea. It's actually a great idea. I think you're hesitant because it lets people push away their fears, repress the things that are hurting them instead of dealing with them. But I think if you were to put a ban on them say, allowing only one per household in an eight-week period, they wouldn't be able to abuse that function." She felt the temptation to ask him for an unlimited supply and forced it down.

He nodded, eyes bright, thinking through the stipulations. "Would you be interested? Free of charge, of course."

Hermione considered it. "I think I'll stick to your daydream charms." She gave him a small, tired smile.

"Keep molesting my brother in the middle of the day and you won't even need those." He said with a wink.

Hermione shook her head but found her face betraying her in a smile as he walked away. She quite understood his hesitation. A tool like that could be dangerous indeed. But she needn't fear, the products would never hit the shelf. Of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, that is. George sold them only to hospitals who could direct their usage safely, and for this Hermione was grateful.

She wanted to be able to sleep peacefully again, but not because a product was enabling her to do it. She wanted to beat her demons and face her problems. Maybe that was the Gryffindor in her. Besides, they were starting to face more and more as time went on and Ron slept next to her. She couldn't wait to find her parents with him. It wasn't going to be a relaxing vacation, but it would be a vacation with him nonetheless. She sat in silence for a while, wondering how her life had turned into something she never could have imagined in her wildest dreams as a child who had wished she was part of one of the epic stories she read in her books. She had lived the adventure, and it had been much less glamorous than the books led her to believe. Then again, those books had been naught but fairy tales written for children. She hoped her books hadn't been destroyed, she planned on reading them to her future children, if she ever had any. She made a mental note to finally make the trip to her childhood home soon as she packed up her notes and went inside to have dinner with her surrogate family. Mrs. Weasley was cooking for the first time in weeks and Hermione's mouth was watering just thinking about it. She grinned easily around at them as she slid into her spot between Ron and Harry and hoped they would always be this close.