Ron recalled the sky being a murky brown-gray color on the day of Hermione's funeral. He lifted his head up to the sky, slightly in awe with it. He'd only seen it this color on the day of the final showdown with Voldemort. It had pour mercilessly that night, bringing down hills and slopes in huge mud baths. Although he was sure this time that it would pour down again, to mourn the loss of his best friend. Bringing his attention back to where he sat next to a semi-sedated Draco Malfoy. He and Harry had managed to get him dressed in his finest black robes that morning only after lowering the magical sedative charms that calmed him. He looked at the blonde and couldn't help but feel his sadness increase. The gray eyes that were usually twinkling with sarcasm and happiness were blank with a dull lead-like color as they stared straight ahead at nothing in particular. Ron wondered if he even knew he was sitting directly in front of Hermione's casket that was waiting to be lowered into the damp earth. Harry sat on the blonde's other side his face and posture rigid. Harry had been the rock during all this mess. Instead of closing in on himself like Ron had done, or going completely insane like Draco, Harry took control and brought everything together.

Ron had to admit that Harry had done a wonderful job of it all. Hermione looked simply beautiful dressed in burgundy robes laid out in the modest mahogany trimmed with gold casket Harry had chose for her. They both had agreed that despite her being dead… her cheeks retained a healthy flush. It brought more tears to Harry's eyes that she looked so very alive, and only made Ron wonder curiously. There was a large crowd outside the cemetery gates that afternoon; it seemed as though the entire British wizarding community had made it to pay homage to her. Ron gazed over the crowds that were holding candles that burned despite the drizzle that was starting. All were dressed in various shades of black, gray and navy blues. All except one, which caused Ron to scrutinize a tall figure with furrowed brows. Whoever the person was they were standing out effortlessly in their startling silver robes that shimmered in spite of the sun-less skies above them. Ron wasn't sure if he was supposed to insulted by his attention grabbing attire, or pleased that whoever it was thought it was necessary to don their best robes. He quickly chose the former and scowled at the figure whose face was hidden by their hood from up the hill from where he sat with the rest of his close friends and family.  There was only one star at this shindig and that was Hermione, who ever it was had a lot of gall to come to a funeral dressed as if this was the celebration of the year. The red head was interrupted from his scowling by a sob that had escaped his mother. Looking behind him he could see his entire family, looking quite pale and red eyed against their black robes. Along with them were Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Professors Snape and McGonagall. And much to everyone's chagrin the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, who was trying his best to look down-trodden by Hermione's death, although Ron was sure that it was simply because the mud was ruining his new dragon-hide boots. He was sure that his best friend would turn twice in her grave if she knew he was at her funeral. Ron's attention to the casket returned as he realized it being lowered was the cause of his mother's sobs. Harry's gaze shifted in grief and his hands began to grip at his robes.  However nothing could prepare Harry or Ron for the sudden outburst that came next.

As if awoken from his near coma-like state Draco jumped from his seat in between them and lunged at the lowering casket throwing his entire body on top of it. Everyone gasped as he wailed for mercy and for someone to kill him as well, for he couldn't go on without her.  It took the strength of Harry plus all the Weasley brothers to pry the hysterical blonde of the casket. As they tried to contain him in his seat as weeping Molly Weasley cast another calming spell over him. Draco's eyes took on the former dead like gaze once more as his body went slack. Harry moved so that Molly could sit in his seat. And in a very mother-like fashion she eased the fair-haired man's head into her lap and stroked his hair in a consoling manner.

" I think it's time we all went to back the borrow." Arthur Weasley's gentle influential voice rang out. Harry nodded to Sirius and Remus who both pulled out several small trinkets that would serve as port keys back to the Weasley home.

"Are you sure can handle Draco by yourself, Molly?" Remus asked concerned as he handed her a port key.  Molly smiled sadly lifting her eyes to him, her hands still stroking Draco's hair softly.

" I'm sure of it Remus, I think Draco needs some rest, with a dose of love and care. I want to speak to one of those medi-wizards about taking some of these sedative spells off of him." She spoke softly to him as if not to disturb the young man in her lap, though Remus was sure he couldn't hear a word anyways. " He's needs to mourn properly… we can't be having him go through sudden outbursts of grief, he might kill himself."  The older man nodded in agreement. " I'll talk to Harry and Arthur about it as soon as we get to The Borrow."

" Ginny, dear." Mrs. Weasley called out to her daughter who was helping Fred and George clear away the chairs.

" Yes Mum?"

" Be a dear and go first with the twins to the borrow, I want the three of you to set up Ron's old room for Draco." The three of them nodded. "Fred, you're good with color charms, tone down that orange and change it to something more soothing, tell the canons that they'll need to clear out for a while."

"Right Mum." Fred answered.

" George, tidy up a bit, see what you can do about the ghoul in the attic, cast a silencing charm around the attic and if that doesn't work cast one around Ron's room… I don't want anything disturbing Draco."

" Right you are Mum." George responded. " Never fear the Weasley twins are here." Molly gave a faint smile, and took pride in the fact that her son could find a wisp of humor in all the tragedy.

"Ginny, I want you to start preparing dinner, get some tea and crumpets going…I'll be there shortly to help you with it."  All three nodded once more, grabbed hold of the gold trinket that served as a port key, and then were gone.

Molly shook her head slowly at the plot of ground that now held Hermione and glanced down again at the now softly sobbing man in her lap. He was starting to soak through her robes, but she didn't mind… she couldn't imagine the grief that he was in.

Never in her entire life had Molly ever believed that she would hold a sobbing Malfoy in her lap. Not even after she found out that Draco was serving the Order of the Phoenix as a spy, much like his fellow Slytherin Professor Snape. The animosity between the Weaselys and Malfoys remained at an all time high. But with the love that was shared between Hermione and Draco that the Weasleys sans a very hurt Ron began to welcome him into their family. Who would've thought that it would've come to this?

It had taken nearly 2 weeks before Draco was stable enough to leave the Weasley household. He had regained some color in his naturally pale skin and Mrs. Weasley had done an outstanding job in getting him to gain a few pounds.

'Not that it matters now.' Ron thought guiltily. He had been wrong in treating Draco so contemptuously. He had no idea why all these recollections decided to attack him at this moment, while he lied alone in his bed. He glanced at his old Chuddley Canons poster peeling slightly at the corners with its players sleeping mid-air on their broomsticks. He hastily removed the poster from his former room at the news of Draco residing in it.

*Flashback*

"Honestly Ronald." Snapped Fred as he changed the vivid orange color of the room to a more soothing sea-foam green. Ron could tell he was annoyed at him by the simple fact that he used his full name. " You're acting like a little brat, snatching posters off the wall, and with that sulky look on your face."

" It's my poster isn't it?" Ron snapped back rolling up the poster rapidly.

"Yes it's your poster, and it has been for years, and it's been here for years." The older man said pointedly. " Though I find it highly questionable that you want to take it home with you now that a certain childhood enemy is coming to stay in this room." Ron glowered at his older brother's discernment. 

"Your silence proves my theory, doesn't it?" Fred smirked sourly.

" Shut up Fred."

" And if you want my opinion little brother-"

" I don't." Ron snapped cutting in heatedly.

" Too bad, you're going to hear it anyways!" Fred near shouted which surprised Ron and made him jolt slightly. Neither of the twins were known for their temper. " I think it's time you started to grow up, you're not the only one suffering. We all loved Hermione we're all hurting. However Draco has no family, whatsoever. His father tried to kill him, his mother is probably dead, and then to top it off the only person who managed to give him a reason to live is dead." Ron winced as Fred stared him the face with his voice hard. " You may think that no one knows that you were in love with Hermione, but I do."  Fred's eyes lowered to slits and Ron paled considerably. " And I bet that it eats you up inside to know that she not only did she not love you the same, but fell for Draco instead. Quite scandalous isn't it little brother?" Ron felt like an ant under his brother's gaze. Fred stepped back and snorted abhorrently.

" And to think what Hermione would feel like if she knew her best friend was behaving this way."  Ron remained speechless and Fred turned from him and continued to work on the room. Ron looked up again as Fred started to speak again though not looking at him.

" You're lucky you have a family that loves you like we do Ron, through thick and thin we've been here for each other. And that's a rare and special gift. Maybe you should share it with someone who needs it." Ron let his head drop, feeling like he had just been scolded by his mother, which he was sure would've been ten times worse than the scolding that Fred had just given him. The shame that burned in him was just too great for him to handle, and with his poster in his grasp, he apparated back to his flat.

*End Flashback*

Ron's lips twitched at the memory that stood out clearly in his mind. He had to admit that Fred was right to scold him like he did that evening. Later that night Molly had owled Ron some chicken soup. Turns out Fred was kind enough to tell her a fib about him feeling ill from the days events. As surreal as the day had been for Ron, one thing stood out clearly. The silver clad wizard behind the gates of the cemetery. The red head found that he could usually repress this memory without any real effort, but tonight it was if the memory was leaping out and hitting him in the face. Silver robes. Silver robes. Silver robes over and over again.  As he began to analyze the recollection he was sure of a few things about the wizard. Whoever it was quite rich, he could tell even from high up on the hill that the robes were of high quality and expensive. And they were male… tall, solidly built, broad shoulders, definitely male. Ron scratched behind his right ear and concentrated more.

" Had a powerful aura." He mumbled to himself staring up at his ceiling. " People around him stood a few feet away… almost out of respect…or maybe fear." Ron wondered why he never stopped to think about this before; it was kind of useless months after the funeral, now that he thought about it. Glancing at his clock on his nightstand he sighed.

" 2:14 in the bloody morning, and I haven't slept a bleeding wink." He huffed rubbing his burning eyes and cursed his thoughts that refused to let him sleep.

He hoped Harry wasn't cross with him still after the performance he had given in Draco's home earlier that day. Old habits die hard he supposed. That didn't stop Harry from throwing a narrowly missed silencio spell in his direction.  Looking at the clock that now read 2:17am he groaned and rolled out of bed. He had a sinking feeling that he wasn't going to get any sleep and hoped that Harry was up and in the mood for some company.  Throwing on his bathrobe and slipping into his house slippers he made his way to fireplace and prepared to floo over to Harry's flat.