Epilogue
4:00 AM Saturday

Hermione moaned softly as she shifted beneath the blankets. A muscular arm encircled her protectively, and Ron made a quiet, comforting noise in her ear. She settled down momentarily, before blinking and coming awake slowly. Her voice was long in emerging, as she was reluctant to break the wonderful structure of warmth and safety and love that they had built. When she finally did, she was relieved that it was only the silence that was broken.

'Ron?' she asked quietly. His arm tightened around her, and his breath made a welcome sensation on the back of her neck.

'I'm here,' said Ron, his voice a low murmur.

'I... I had a dream about Draco,' Hermione felt Ron tense slightly at the name, and she stroked his forearm reassuringly. Ron and Hermione were indisputably each others' in every way, yet the savage jealous streak still burned inside Ron as strongly as it always did. It had taken Hermione a long time to not take offense to it. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but more that he didn't consider himself worthy of her, and became threatened easily. She eased back into his chest, and savored the feel of his hard muscles against her bare skin. His insecurities were a lot of the reason she loved him so much.

'Do you often have dreams about Malfoy after we make love?' he asked in burgeoning anger, and she giggled softly. She turned in his arms to look into his face with smiling, liquid eyes. He relaxed suddenly, and gave a crooked grin, making her heart beat slightly faster.

'I was doing it again wasn't I?' he grinned. Hermione nodded slightly, her lips pressed into an impish grin. An image which Ron carefully burned into his memory. He bent forward and kissed her forehead lightly.

'Ron, I feel so sorry for him,' she said, her face assuming a sober expression. His hands move to sift gently through her hair. He felt it tumble over his calloused palms like water over harsh rocks.

'You shouldn't sweetie. He knew the path he was walking on,' Ron's voice made Hermione's heart break with the sympathy it contained, regardless of his own feelings.

'He did a lot for me. I... I don't know. I guess I just want him to be happy.' she struggled with her own barely formed thoughts. Ron stared intently into her eyes. His face was serious, his gaze penetrating; his usually bright red hair was dark with sweat. He nodded.

'He may have been a nasty git,' Ron began, 'but he came through for you when it counted. That must have cost him a lot. For that, he's alright in my book.'

Hermione smiled slowly, 'Wouldn't it have been great if we had all been friends?' and closed her eyes, pressing her head once more into Ron's chest. He placed his head on hers, and after a time he closed his eyes too.

'I love you Hermione,' he said quietly, as if for the first time. She didn't answer him, and her soft breath felt regular on his chest. She was asleep. Ron smiled a smile of complete contentment, and tightened his grip on her. He would protect her. She would protect him. Everything was finally as it should be.