Hermione woke up early the next morning. Cold air was blasting in their room from outside. It was strange for it to be so cold when it was only summer. Hermione grabbed a blanket that was sprawled over a chair in the corner of the room. She wrapped it over herself and left the room in search of heat.
Hermione came to the living room area of The Leaky Cauldron. There was a cackling fire inside a small furnace along the wall. A large couch was sitting just in front of it. She walked slowly over to the couch to find Ron sitting on the couch, his eyes glazed over as he stared into the fire. He was still in his short sleeved shirt from the day before and goose bumps could be seen covering his arms from where she was standing.
Hermione sat down beside him and draped her blanket over his shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder and curled her feet up onto the couch. "What are you doing, Ron?"
Ron looked up and gave a small smile. He put his arm around her waist. "I couldn't sleep so I came here to think. It was kind of hard to do over the train and Harry's snoring."
Hermione laughed softly and grabbed his hand. "What were you thinking about?"
"The trial," Ron whispered and stared back into the fire.
"Ron, you don't need to think about it. All that will prove to do is upset you," Hermione said.
"Well it's much too hard not to think of it. I mean this stupid trial will decide if I return to Hogwarts or not. It basically decides my whole future. I can't just throw it out of my mind or anything," Ron explained. Hermione sighed. He was right. It wasn't good for her to not think of it, but not thinking of it kept her from getting sad, which was the last thing Ron needed. He needed someone to be strong for him.
"Hermione, I just want you to know how much you being with me means to me. I couldn't get through this with out you," Ron whispered softly and looking down into her eyes. His eyes were filled so much feeling it almost hurt her to look at him. "I love you."
A small tear pushed its way out of Hermione's eyes. Hermione cursed her woman emotions and looked down so he wouldn't see it. Ron pulled her face up before she could get it and wiped it away with his thumb. "You don't have to hide your tears from me, Hermione."
"I know, I just want to be strong for you. I want you to feel like you can completely lean on me without me getting all emotional. But I just, I…," A few more tears found their way through her eyes and Hermione pressed her face into Ron's shoulder. Ron softly rubbed the back of her head.
"Hermione, you are being strong for me. Crying just shows to me that you're human. I'm surprised that you haven't broken down earlier," Ron picked her head up again and wiped away her tears. "I love you." Ron reinforced his feelings for her.
"I love you too, Ron…so much I…" Hermione made one of those weird gasping sounds and more tears fell from her eyes. Ron hugged her tightly and let her cry on his shoulder as he rocked her back and forth.
"Ron what'd you do know?" Ginny asked wiping her eyes as she walked in the room.
"Nothing Gin, could you just give us a bit of privacy please," Ron said.
"Okay well, Tom came by my room and said the fireplace is fixed. We can leave when we need to," Ginny walked back out.
Hermione sat back up normally and wiped her face. "I'm gonna go get a bath."
"Alright well, are you better?" Ron asked giving a goofy lopsided grin as he stood up.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thank you Ron," She said and hugged him. She rushed down the hall and into her room, hoping no one would see how splotchy her face was. She went straight to the bathroom and filled the tub up with warm water, letting it relax and sooth her as she layed in it.
She got out about thirty minutes later and pulled her pajamas back on. She transfigured them back into her clothes and went back into her room. Ginny was waiting with Harry and Ron on the bed. "You all set Hermione? Ginny asked.
Hermione smiled and nodded. Harry gave her a sympathetic look before leaving the room followed by Ginny. Ron walked over to her and lead her out of the room with his arm around her, not saying a word. Hermione felt so stupid for turning his moment of sympathy into being about her. She grabbed onto his hand tightly and leaned her head on his shoulder as they made their way to the lobby. Ginny and Harry were already waiting inside the fireplace for them.
"The burrow," they all said in unison and were whooshed away straight into the Weasley's living room. Mrs. Weasley was sitting on the couch fiddling with her knitting sticks and jumped up as quickly as she could when she saw them arrive.
"Thank Heavens you four are alright. Your father came home last night and told me all about what that Fletcher did. I swear, he's an old man and you think he would have some sense by now. Well, I washed all of your clothes so you have plenty of things to go change into. I'll be starting on lunch, then," Mrs. Weasley hobbled off to the kitchen quickly. Ginny and Harry headed up stairs, while Hermione went up with Ron, still latched onto his arm.