47. Dusk

Safe.

His family is safe. Ron watches in half agony, half relief, Harry rush to the bathroom his body still shaking despite his attempts to hide it.

Ron frowns. "You think he's alright in there?" he asks Hermione who is busying herself taking their sleeping bags out of her beaded handbag. She looks so pretty in the dimmed light, the pending dusk shining through dust particles around the room. His heart begins to race.

She sighs. "Probably not. But considering the situation I'd say we are all doing our best. We should try to have a good night of sleep tonight. We'll need to start planning tomorrow."

Right. The reality of their situation is slowly and unpleasantly sinking in. Ron feels sick.

"Let me help you," he offers, smiling at her as he picks up her sleeping bag, laying it on the couch cushions.

"What are you doing?"

"I am helping you setting up our beds for tonight," he replies.

"I can sleep on the floor," she says, sounding slightly indignant.

He shrugs. "Yeah I know. Doesn't mean you have to," and without leaving her time to retort, he sets his sleeping bag on the ground next to hers.

She huffs, blushing, and Ron isn't sure if he really just heard her thank him or if it is just his wishful thinking. He doesn't have too much time to think about it. She murmurs toothbrush and Harry, and then she is gone.

He wants more.

More of her, more of them. Just the two of them. It is nothing against Harry, it's just that he wishes he could have Hermione to himself for a little longer. Maybe hold her hand, and tell her that he loves it when she frowns over a book, looking for an answer. That he fell in love with her when she began knitting hats, always ending up falling asleep on the common room couch. Or maybe it was after she tuts at his homework before helping him. He isn't sure exactly when or how it happened, he just knows that now she's more than just a friend to him.

So, now, in the middle of a grim house, surrounded by dusk, he wants more.

Maybe tonight, before they fall asleep, he'll try to hold her hand.