Hermione dreamt of pleasant things, or, at least, they began pleasantly.

That night, she dreamt of her wedding day, one of the happier days in her life. She was looking at herself in the mirror, pleased with her reflection. She was studying the elbow-length gloves, the double-strand of pearls at her neck. She was smelling the stalks of lavender in her bouquet.

It was the lavender that woke her up. It smelled so heavy that when she opened her eyes from sleep she could have sworn the sheets were pressing down on her.

It was the first time she had woken up at The Burrow in many years. Harry had guided her out to the streets in the cold night air, out of the Ministry, and had brought her to the Weasley home. She had no idea what had happened after that, but, as she sat up on the bed, she realized the last thing she wanted to do was go downstairs and see her family-in-law.

Hermione was in one of the older Weasley's room, likely Charlie's based on the books around the room and photos of dragons. She held her head in her hands. How am I supposed to do this? How do I get through this?

She listened for any noise in the house, but, for once, it seemed at peace. Not even the ghoul was making noise. She heard a door open and close, and the noise was magnified by the quiet. It hurt her head, and she wondered if someone had given her a sleeping pill. There was a soft knock at the door, and long red hair followed by a pale, freckled face appeared. It was Ginny Weasley, the maid-of-honor at her wedding, and Hermione smelled lavender again.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Ginny whispered, and Hermione didn't know if she meant for waking her, or for what had happened just last night.

Hermione tried to find her voice, but it hadn't yet returned. There didn't seem to be anything to say, anyway. Ginny timidly walked over to her and embraced her. If she cried, she did so quietly. She left after a minute and returned with some clothes for Hermione. After she had dressed, she met Ginny at the top of the stairs and made her way down, dreading having to see them all.

All of the Weasleys were there - Arthur, Molly, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy, Penelope, Fred, George, and now Ginny - all but one. Molly sat with her head in her hands, Arthur helplessly rubbing her back. Fred and George sat expressionlessly on a loveseat, Percy, holding Penelope's hand, stood behind them. Charlie stood by the back door, every once and awhile wiped a tear off his cheek.

Hermione thought about how strange a scene it was, she had almost never seen anything like it. The family she had watched bravely march through the darkest time the world had ever seen, they looked so defeated now.

The back door opened and they all looked up to see a miserable looking Harry walk through it inside. Molly seemed shaken from her state with the arrival of Ginny, Hermione, and Harry. She looked at Hermione especially, and tried to wipe the path of tears off.

"Oh, you poor dear," she sniffed, "It is one thing to loose a child-" She stopped again, cut off by a sob. Arthur patted her should reassuringly.

"It is something else entirely to loose a life-partner." With that, she opened her arms to Hermione. With a small hesitation, she strode over and put her face on Molly's shoulder, her tears released for the second time. This seemed to remind everyone else in the room about how they should be feeling, and soon, the whole room was filled with the sound of sobbing, sniffling, and weeping.

No one seemed to pay attention to how much time passed, but eventually, Penelope and Fleur went off to make tea, and Hermione found her voice.

"He wouldn't have wanted this," she said to no one in particular, "All this carrying on."

Molly sat back and leaned on Arthur.

"Ron made it clear how he wanted to be-" Hermione paused, "…laid to rest. I suppose we can do it as soon as the wizards at Criminology are done."

The Weasleys received many visitors that day, most bringing food for the grieving family. Several owls came with letters for Hermione, as the investigating wizards wanted to ask her more questions. She eventually replied that she'd come later that day, to pick up Ron's ashes. Harry asked to accompany her, and she accepted gratefully.

When they arrived at the Ministry of Magic, a man who had apparently been with Hermione last night greeted them. She didn't remember him, but he introduced himself as Leonard Toll. Harry and Hermione sat stoically in front of him in a quiet office. Every once and awhile, and owl would fly in or a quill would rise up and jot down a note. Otherwise, it was very still.

"We believe it was a simple cure that killed your husband, a simple but powerful curse. The wizards in criminology are thinking it's related to the Killing Curse, but it seems to be unknown at this point."

Leonard paused, and then said kindly, "He likely suffered no pain at all…"

Harry looked up sharply as if to remind him that their friend had died, and what did he know? But he looked sideways at Hermione and then decided against it.

Leonard changed topics. "Can I ask you to tell me what you remember about the curse?"

Hermione cleared her throat. "Just a bright, white light, being thrown back. Disorientation."

"Is…that all?"

She tried harder, reached back further to all the curses she had encountered in her life. There were a lot. "The light was, well, it didn't surround me as you expect it would. It seemed to form a wall in front of me. The force that pushed me back with was stronger than Expelliarmus, but not so strong as to break bones…"

She hesitated and Harry reached to take her hand.

"What I don't understand is how this curse killed Ron, and yet it didn't really hurt me?"

"We don't know that quite yet ourselves, Mrs. Weasley. But the Mediwizards have everything they need, so you are free to take your husbands ashes back home with you."

Leonard left the office for a moment and returned with a smallish blue urn. He held it out in the direction of Hermione, but she looked away. Harry stepped forward and received it. They turned to leave the office, but Leonard stopped them.

"One last thing I forgot – do you mind if I see your burns again, Mrs. Weasley?"

Hermione blushed, but pulled on the corner of her blouse slightly to reveal her shoulder and collorbone. Leonard studied them for a moment, made a note on a piece of paper, and thanked her.

"Anything significant?" Harry asked.

"Just the position of the burns," Leonard replied, "But it could be nothing."

Padma and Parvati Patil were at the Burrow when Harry and Hermione got back. He sat down with them, but Hermione immediately took the urn upstairs with her. She viewed the rest of the day from the window, watching the breeze ruffle the tree branches and the sun set. Harry came to get her when it was time for Ron's funeral. Despite the short notice, there were dozens of people gathered in the Weasley's backyard. Hermione somehow wished it could be a little more private, but she was still pleased that so many had come to remember Ron. It was pitch black, but someone had levitated a few candles around the backyard.

The Weasley family gathered in a circle around the urn. Arthur, first, stepped inside the circle, whispered a few words, then kissed the top of the urn. Molly stepped in and did the same, followed by Bill, Charley, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy, and finally Harry and Hermione. Then the ten pointed their wands at the urn, and slowly raised it above the ground, then higher up and over their heads.

Hermione watched what was left of her husband, her partner, float away from her into the night sky. With her free hand, she wiped tears from her face.

Just when it seemed the urn had disappeared, it exploded into a single firework, a solitary burst of light that spread into a million sparkles and then faded away.

Her wand arm still raised, Hermione looked across the circle at Harry and found he was looking at her. For a moment, the firework illuminated his face; it made the line of tears stand out on his face. He slowly lowered his arm, still watching her, and then walked across the circle to embrace her.

The ceremony having ended, people ate and talked in small groups. Hermione wanted to go back inside, but Harry convinced her to stay. A few people stood to say a few words about Ron. Neville. Arthur. Molly. Headmistress McGonagall. Seamus. Percy. Fred and George. Finally, Harry. Hermione only listened to them halfway, still not quite believing where she was. The weight of everything didn't hit her until Ginny took the stage to sing a song.

She wore black dress robes, like everyone else. Hermione vaguely remembered hearing the song before, she was pretty sure it had Muggle origins.

"I was standing by my window
One cold and cloudy day
When I saw that
Hearse come rolling
To carry my brother away.

Will the circle by unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky."

Everyone who had come to say goodbye to Ron gradually rose and left, leaving just the Weasleys and Harry.

Harry and Hermione sat away from the others, Hermione still reeling from Ginny's song. As it got later, the wind began to pick up, and Harry suggested they move inside. She stood and looked to the sky.

"Do you know what my last words were to him, Harry?"

He shook his head.

"It doesn't matter." She hung her head. "Those were the last words Ron ever heard me say. It doesn't matter."

Harry put his hands on her shoulders and said firmly, "He knew it mattered, Hermione, he knew how much you loved him. Love him. Ron could never doubt that."

All she could do in reply was shake her head.