The glowing embers in the fireplace were the only thing that prevented the Gryffindor common room from slipping into total darkness. It was nearly four in the morning. But Hermione was still wide awake, waiting. For what, she didn't know. Or rather, she didn't want to admit to herself. She stroked Crookshanks absentmindedly and stared outside the window.
A few short months ago, her entire world had been turned upside down. The war had officially begun and what a war it was. Harry, against just about the entire order's wishes was one of the first to go off and fight. Ron, ever loyal, followed Harry. Hermione pleaded with them to stay in the safety of Hogwarts, but they insisted that they must go. She wished she had followed them. At least she would know where they were and if they were safe. But for some reason, she chose to stay.
Dumbledore was recruiting students who wished to fight, and keeping the ones who chose to stay safe in the castle. This of course brought controversy from those who thought Hogwarts students were too young, but Dumbledore was used to controversy and simply ignored the howlers. Lessons had stopped altogether, and the rising tension and fear in the castle was becoming unbearable. Hermione hadn't really slept since they left. Since he left. She spent her nights staring off into space, wishing they'd return but knowing it was highly unlikely. She blamed her insomnia on the war in general and the suffering it caused.
Before they left, Ron took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. He kissed her forehead and told her he was going to be okay. It was a brief gesture, but it had stuck with her. She wished he was here. But he wasn't. She wondered if she would ever see him again and her heart wrenched. She loved him. That she knew. But it was something she'd never told him, as she had just discovered it herself.
Crookshanks leapt off of the couch and went up the staircase to the girl's dormitory. Hermione sighed and got up to follow him, (why not at least try to sleep?) when she heard a faint noise. She stood stock still for a few seconds, listening. The door to the common room opened and a mass of red hair stepped through.
Ron was pale and a bit thinner than she remembered him. But he was there and that's all that mattered. But…where was Harry?
"Hermione!" He smiled for the first time in weeks at the sight of the girl he loved. The girl he'd missed every single second he was away from her. The girl he wanted to see most right now. He looked at her and then, as if reading her mind, answered her silent question.
"Harry's dead." He said plainly. "But so is Voldemort. It's all over."
Hermione took a moment to register this. She stood speechless. Ron's words ran through her head, but they didn't have meaning yet.
Ron had to hold her. She looked so beautiful, yet so helpless and sad. She was shaking and her mouth hung open. She collapsed into his arms and suddenly it all made sense to her. Waves of emotion swept through her like a hurricane. Tears streamed down both of their faces. They stood crying together like this for what seemed like hours.
Just as the sun was peeking out over the horizon, he put one finger under her chin and raised her head up. He looked into her eyes, as red and puffy as they were, they were still the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen in his entire life. She put her soft hands on his shoulders and whispered her request. "Promise to never leave me again, no matter what." He kissed her deeply. "Never," he replied, "I promise."