This is another short chapter, and, though there is smut, you'll see it's a bit more emotional and less kinky than in the last two chapters. The entire chapter is a bit more emotional, in fact, as times become definitely darker.

Enjoy.

Chapter 12

End of Childhood

Ron looked at Dumbledore's white tomb while he absentmindedly caressed Hermione's back with his hand, taking comfort in her familiar body pressed against his; though this time, unlike almost any other, her proximity didn't stir his sexual desire for her. He felt too gloomy to be aroused.

Dumbledore, dead.

Ron briefly relived that horrible night, and he could feel the fear again: fear for Harry, searching for a horcrux with Dumbledore; fear for Ginny, and Neville, and Luna; fear for himself, and, above all, fear for Hermione. He had had a very difficult time with her being at another part of the castle, watching Snape. Snape, who had killed Dumbledore, the murderous, traitor, back-stabbing asshole. He could have killed Hermione and Luna, too …

He felt a shiver run down his body and embraced Hermione more tightly.

"Ron …?" she asked, looking up at him, her beautiful, bright chocolate eyes red and puffy and glimmering with tears. "Are you all right?"

Ron just nodded. "Yeah … just — just remembering."

"I know," she muttered, pressing her face against the front of his robes.

"I'm so glad you're okay, and here, with me."

"Me too," she said, hugging him with more force.

They stayed like that for a while, and then Hermione moved away, wiping out her eyes. She looked around and frowned.

"Where are Harry and Ginny?"

"They left a few minutes ago. They — Harry's there, talking to Scrimgeour," he said, scowling. "What does that wanker want?"

"Ron, he's the Minister for Magic!" Hermione admonished, while also looking at Harry.

"And? He's still a wanker. Let's go and see what he wanted."

He took Hermione's hand and pulled her after him, walking among wizards and witches that were starting to leave. After going around a group of people, he stopped, having caught sight of Percy standing next to Dolores Umbridge, whose fake mourning expression didn't fool anyone. He made a gesture to go to his brother, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists.

"Ron, no," Hermione said, restraining him by his robes.

Ron rounded on her. "Dumbledore is dead, and that fucking traitor is standing next to fucking Dolores Umbridge of all people! Umbridge, Hermione!"

"I know," she said, giving him a look full of love while she caressed his hand with her thumb to soothe him. "I know, Ron, but it's not worth it."

"No, but I would feel loads better if I could stick his glasses to his face with my fist," he growled.

"No, you wouldn't," she argued. "Come on, let's find Harry."

"Yeah, I suppose," he grunted, throwing a last glare at Percy. They resumed walking towards where Harry was, now alone and staring off into the distance. Ron noticed, when they crossed him, that the Minister didn't look happy at all.

"What did that moron want?" Ron asked his friend when they reached him.

Harry turned round, almost surprised. Ron noticed that Harry didn't seem to be completely there, and he doubted it had anything to do with the Minister. What was he thinking about? And where was Ginny?

"The same thing he wanted back in Christmas," Harry said, shrugging, as if it had not importance that, when the only wizard You-Know-Who feared had died, the Ministry only cared about how they were portrayed on the press.

"Fucking wanker."

Hermione admonished him again, but Harry smiled. "Yeah, he is," he agreed. But, almost immediately, he turned serious again, his eyes distant, and looked at the castle.

"They're talking about closing it for the next year," commented Hermione.

Harry shrugged, and Ron frowned. Hogwarts was Harry's home, after all. Or one of his homes, if you included The Burrow.

"I'm not coming back, whether it opens or not."

For a moment, Ron was surprised, but, when Hermione spoke, he realised part of him had expected this.

"I imagined you'd say that," she said. "You're going after the horcruxes, aren't you?"

"Yes. There are still four of them out there. It is my job."

"Our job, you mean," Ron pointed out, dead serious.

Harry turned to look at them. "No, this is really dangerous, and —"

Hermione scoffed, interrupting him. "For Merlin's sake, Harry. Do you really think we're going to come back here, or stay at home, while you are out there, putting your life at risk?"

"You're barking mad if you think that, you git," interjected Ron.

"You need us, Harry," Hermione finished.

Harry didn't say anything for a bit. Ron could almost see his brain functioning, looking for a reply.

"But I don't want you to be in danger! I've already put you in danger countless times these past years! And if Hogwarts does reopen, you'd be Head Girl, Hermione," he added as an afterthought.

"You didn't put us in danger," Ron retorted. "I don't remember you forcing us to do something, Harry. Ever. We stood by your side willingly, and we'll do it again. And before you say another stupid thing, let me say that it's not just for you, but because it's the right thing to do. You-Know-Who wants to enslave or kill us all, not just do you in."

"Yes," nodded Hermione eagerly, giving his hand a squeeze. "And about being Head Girl … you really think I care more about that than about you?" she challenged him.

Harry let out a chuckle. "No, no — of course not," he said, and Ron noticed that, though he still looked down, there was a new warmth in him, because he knew he and Hermione were by his side, still.

"Harry … where is Ginny?" Hermione asked after a while, with a slight hesitation in her voice.

At the mention of his girlfriend, Harry looked away guiltily.

"Harry?" insisted Ron when he didn't answer.

Harry sighed deeply and shrugged. "I suppose she's in the castle."

"You don't know?" Ron asked, frowning.

"I broke up with her."

"You — WHAT!?" Ron exclaimed, shocked and outraged, barely noticing that Hermione didn't seem surprised by this news.

"I had to," Harry said quickly, before Ron could say anything else. He looked at him, his expression apologetic but determined. "If he knows … well, there is a high change he will go after her, to get to me. He already did that, taking her to the chamber of secrets when she was just your sister to me, Ron. I can't allow that. I — I couldn't live with myself if something happened to her because of me."

Seeing how hard it had been for Harry to say those things, to do that, Ron calmed down a bit.

"Oh, Harry …" Hermione whined sympathetically, walking towards him and giving him a strong hug. "I'm so sorry. I know — I know that —"

"Yeah," he said awkwardly, caressing her back. "Thank you, Hermione."

Hermione moved away, still looking at Harry with pity. "You didn't have to do that, you know …"

"Yes, I did," argued Harry, and looked at Ron for support, but the truth was that Ron didn't know what to say or think. On one had he agreed with Harry. On the other, he didn't want to see his sister heartbroken. So he just stood there, not saying anything.

After a few moments of tense silence, Hermione spoke again, putting them in motion. "Well, we should — we should go and pack our things. The Hogwarts Express will leave tomorrow." She looked at Ron. "And Ron, I'm sure the castle is a chaos right now; professors might need help and we're prefects."

Ron groaned.

"Don't whine," Harry said, smirking at him. "I'm sure you'll miss all that patrolling alone with Hermione," he joked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, scowling.

"Surely not."

"Harry, shut up," warned Hermione. Watching his girlfriend admonishing his best friend, Ron grinned smugly at him, and Harry laughed, though there was some reservation there. Hermione smiled, shaking her head, and Ron could almost hear her thinking 'boys!' which only made his grin broader. She moved so she was between them, looped her arms around theirs, and, together, the three walked back to the castle, wondering if this was the last time they saw it, but happy that, at least, they were still together.

— o —

Many hours later, after having a rather gloomy and solitary dinner in the Great Hall — most of the students had already gone home after the funeral, including Ginny, who had left with the Weasleys — Harry, Ron and Hermione returned to the common room, almost completely silent as there were only another four students there, and they sat on the couch. Ron exchanged a look with Hermione, and then glanced at Harry, who was staring off pensively. Was he thinking about Ginny, or about the impending mission? Maybe about Snape?

He looked at Hermione once more, and found her staring at him, a sad, serious expression on her beautiful face. She didn't say anything when she caught his hand in hers, but it wasn't necessary. He knew she was remembering those days at her house, when death and war and sadness seemed far away and unreal.

But now they were back in the real world, and, though nothing had really happened since Dumbledore's demise, Ron knew that that would soon change. How long would it take for You-Know-Who to take over, now that his greatest enemy was dead?

"Ron …" he heard Hermione mutter, a bit awkwardly.

"Yeah?"

"Eh, well … Lavender and Parvati have left, and so have Dean, Seamus and Neville." She made a pause and swallowed rather audibly, glancing at Harry. "I was wondering … would you mind if I slept in your room tonight?" she added in an even lower voice, clearly not wanting the other students to hear her.

"Why would I? I'd love for you to sleep with me," Ron nodded, eager. She gave him a little smile, but turned serious again when she looked at Harry.

"Harry?"

"What?" he asked her.

"Do you mind?"

"Mind what?" he asked, confused.

"If I — if I sleep in your room tonight?" she asked, embarrassed.

Harry blinked a few times and then blushed, obviously more than a bit uncomfortable. "Umh, no, not at all," he said. "Just — just use a strong Silencing Charm."

"Harry!" she protested, blushing fiercely. "We're not — I just didn't want to be alone, it's not as if —" she stammered.

"Yes, yes," Harry said dismissively. "But you cast it, just in case."

"Thanks," she muttered, still pink in the face. Ron couldn't help but smile at her awkwardness.

And so, an hour later, when the common room finally emptied, the three of them climbed up the stairs towards the boys' dormitory. Upon entering, Harry put a spell on the door so nobody could disturb them. Then he got in his bed, and, after saying 'good night' and reminding them again of a Silence Charm, closed his curtains, leaving Ron and Hermione alone standing next to his bed. Ron shook his head and opened his trunk to get his pyjamas out. Next he sat on the bed, and was about to take his shoes off when he noticed Hermione still standing, fidgeting a bit.

"I didn't bring any nightclothes," she explained. "Maybe I should go and fetch my own pyjamas."

"Nah, don't worry," he told her. "I'll lend you something of mine. Or you can sleep naked," he added, smirking.

"Absolutely not!" she exclaimed, trying not to raise her voice. "Not with Harry here."

"Okay, okay," he nodded. "What about one of my shirts? It'll cover at least half your thighs.

"Yes, that'll do," she agreed, and Ron gave her one of his shirts. It was rather worn out, but was very comfortable, and he thought that was what mattered. Thanking him, she got on the bed and Ron closed the curtains, dressed just in his pyjama bottoms. Hermione cast a Silencing and Imperturbable Charms on them, and afterwards proceeded to take off her robes and clothes, until she was kneeling on the bed just in her simple white bra and panties. Ron just watched her, and, though he knew they wouldn't do anything today (which would make the fourth day in a row, starting the day of the battle, an absolute record for them) he couldn't help but feel turned on by how alluring and innocent she looked. Glancing at him, she took off her bra, too, and then put the shirt over her head. As he had anticipated, it covered half her thighs. He just stared at her, enthralled by her image. She looked so pretty, and so small, in his shirt, that he felt an almost unrestrainable desire to embrace her tightly against his chest.

Ron parted the covers and sheets and slid under them, and, a moment later, Hermione did the same and snuggled against him, putting her head on his chest.

For a while, they just lie there, not saying anything, taking comfort in the other's presence and the sound of their breathing. It was Hermione who finally broke the silence, though without moving her head to look at him.

"Do you feel as if everything is changing?" she asked.

It took Ron a few seconds to answer. "Yeah, I do. As if — as if — I don't know, as if my childhood was over, or something like that."

"Yes," she said, nodding against his chest. "I feel exactly like that, too."

"But I don't know exactly why," he continued. "I mean, it's not as if we hadn't fought Death Eaters before …"

"But we had Dumbledore, Ron. And the Order."

"We still have the Order," he argued.

"Yes, but — it's more that now, we are the Order. We're the only ones who know what needs to be done to win. Last year we fought, yes, but in the end, Dumbledore appeared and saved the day. We could always count on him, but not anymore. We're on our own, Ron. When we leave with Harry, we'll be completely and utterly alone."

Ron stared the ceiling, pondering her words. "Yeah, I suppose," he said after a while.

"And I think we're not ready for this. We're too young, too unprepared. If we hadn't had that potion the other night, who knows what could have happened? When I saw Bill, I couldn't help but see you in his position, or — or w-worse and — and —" she trailed off, and then let out a sob.

Immediately, Ron scooted up the bed, so he was resting against the headboard, and put his hands around her to move her up as well, clutching her against his torso. Then he put his hand under her chin and, gently, made her face him. Her eyes were full of tears.

"Sorry," she muttered, wiping out her eyes, embarrassed.

"I was terrified for you, too. I am terrified," he corrected himself. "And for Harry. And my family. But you know what?" he asked.

"What?" she inquired, staring into his eyes.

"Then I remember we've got the most brilliant witch on our side, with us. There's no way we could be more prepared than that."

Hermione gave him a teary smile. "Thank you, Ron, for saying that. Although I don't feel prepared at all."

"Love, you never feel prepared. You could study for a million years and still would fear you've overlooked something. It's completely maddening, though is one of the things I love from you."

Hermione stretched her body and kissed him in the mouth.

"Thank you," she said a moment later, her face a few inches away from his.

"What for?"

"For being you. For making me feel good."

Ron laughed. "That's nothing," he said dismissively. "After all, I've fantasised about making you feel good in my bed hundreds of times," he added, in a joking tone. "A shame that, when I manage to get you here, it is because of all this shit."

Hermione stared at him, intensely, for a while, not saying nothing. Ron felt more and more nervous under her stare, and was about to say something, when she smiled at him.

"You don't want to make me feel good, then?" she asked, somewhat coyly.

That caught Ron by surprise. "Well, I — of course, if you want. I just didn't expect — with the funeral and all that, and Harry being depressed —" Hermione stopped his ramblings with a new kiss. Ron responded after a bit, and they slid down the bed as their mouths moved against each other until they were laying on their side facing one another. Ron cradled her head with one arm and put the other hand on her cheek, but Hermione kept them under the covers. Ron felt her shift a bit, moving her legs and almost scratching his left leg with one of her toenails, as if she couldn't find a comfortable position.

"What are you doing?" he asked, breaking the kiss, his brow furrowed.

Instead of answering, Hermione bit her bottom lip, her eyes fixed on his, and then, slowly, extracted her left arm from under the covers and dropped her panties between them.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed, shocked.

"Make me feel really good, Ron."

"Are — are you sure?"

Hermione nodded. "As you said, we went to a funeral today. We've seen war and death these days, Ron, and I'm tired of it. Show me love. Show me how much you love me."

Ron stared at her for a few moments, and then kissed her, hard, rolling her onto her back and putting her upper body upon hers, the hand that had been cradling her head caressing her hair while he moved the other down her arm and towards her hip, sliding his shirt up and down her leg.

Hermione wrapped her own arms around his neck and pressed him against her, desperate for contact. They snogged for a while, neither of them in a hurry, even despite how long it had been since the last time there had been something sexual between them.

That day had been a fast, impetuous shag in the Prefects Bathroom, but Ron sensed that, right now, Hermione needed something different: passionate, yes, but more lovemaking than pure, raw fucking.

So he took his time caressing her, kissing her, getting away from her mouth just to kiss her jaw and neck and hear her little moans and the soft whispers of his name, before claiming those luscious lips again. Meanwhile, he kept caressing her hip and side, until he moved to her covered breasts, kneading them in a very gentle way.

"Touch me, Ron, please," she begged after a while, when he had taken one of his detours to her neck.

"I'm going to touch you everywhere, Hermione," he muttered against her soft skin. "Make your body tingle."

"Yes, yes, please," she moaned, encouraging him, her hands moving much faster up and down his naked back.

Ron gave her tits a few more squeezes as he kissed her on the mouth again, and, as he thrust his tongue into her, he pinched one of her stiff nipples, making her suck on his tongue.

Ron groaned, and slid his hand down her body and towards her crotch. Taking the fabric of his shirt in his fist, he drew it upwards, slowly, bunching it around her waist, and then moved his hand to her groin. Her legs opened almost instantly, giving him unrestrained access to her already dripping, soft pussy. She moaned even louder, bucking her hips upwards as he started sliding his fingers along her slit, making sure to touch her clit every time, but without lingering on it.

"Ron …"

"Fuck, I love touching you," he whispered against her ear, before biting softly on her earlobe. "I love how soft and wet your pussy is …"

"Then caress it, Ron," she whimpered. "Prepare me for you, so I can take you entirely."

"You already can, Love," he said, biting her earlobe again before playfully licking her ear. "You always can take me fully, you're so wet …"

Hermione purred, and turned her head so she could kiss again. He responded eagerly, but, as the kiss intensified, she stopped it and stared into his eyes. "I know," she told him, "but it won't hurt to make sure, will it?" she asked. "Put your fingers in me, Ron."

Ron's cock twitched, and, unable to deny her when she asked with that voice and looking with those eyes, he slide his fingers to her hole, and, after circling it for a bit, pushed one of them inside, revelling in the tightness. Hermione meowed and bucked her hips against his hand, shoving more of his finger into her body. Kissing her again, Ron pushed his finger to the hilt, then took it out to the first knuckle and thrust it back again. She countered his thrusts with her hips, and Ron smiled against her mouth. Once he had a nice rhythm going with his finger, he used his thumb to caress her swollen, needy clit. In need of air, Hermione pushed him off her mouth and moaned, tilting her head backwards, offering her neck to him. He looked at it, but, at once, she used the same had she had used to push him back to pull her towards her neck, silently asking him to kiss her there. And Ron did, kissing, licking and even sucking on it, drawing those delicious sounds only she could do and that sent pleasure shivers down his body.

After a bit, Ron added a second finger to her pussy, and moved them faster, making her squirm. He knew that she wasn't far from cumming, and intensified the rubbing of her clit, intent on bringing her over the edge.

However, she seemed to have different ideas, because, no long after, she grabbed his hand with hers, stilling him.

"Inside me, Ron. Now."

Ron didn't hesitate. He took his fingers off her cunt and, looking at her, sucked on his coated fingers, relishing in the lustful way she was staring at him. Next he shed his trousers and pants off his body and knelt on the bed, between her thighs. She opened herself further to him.

Ron caressed her thighs, his hands reaching higher each time. When he touched the hem of her shirt, he pushed it upwards, baring her stomach to him. Understanding what he wanted, Hermione lifted her upper body and let him take the shirt off, baring her completely to him.

"You're so beautiful, so sexy," he mumbled, entranced, when she dropped back onto the bed, her breasts jiggling.

"Prove it to me," she said, extending one arm to graze the tip of his cock with her fingers. "Put in me, Ron. Make love to me."

"Fuck, yes …" he moaned, positioning himself at her entrance. Her pussy seemed to open to him, and Ron thrust forward, sliding into her scorching heat. Fuck, she felt too fucking good. How many times had he been inside her? Fifty? Sixty? And he couldn't have enough of her.

Lying on top of her, he lapped at her nipples, and she cupped his cheeks, staring at him adoringly.

"Slowly, Ron. Start slow, please. Love me."

"Always," he told her, conveying everything he felt for her in his look. He started to move, slowly, as she had requested, sliding in and out of her with deliberate strokes, making sure to rub against her clit every time.

She started moaning almost immediately, her hands moving all over his back.

"Like that, like that, Ron. Aah, like that, you feel so good inside me. So big, so hard. Oh, God, I love you …"

"Fuck, me too, Love. You're so hot, wet and tight …"

"Kiss me. Kiss me, Ron."

Her lowered his head to her and snogged her. She moaned into his mouth and he groaned in response. He kept kissing her, relishing in the feel of her soft, perfect lips against his as their bodies slid against each other, sending waves of pleasure through them both. She crossed her legs just below his bum and pushed against her, speeding the lovemaking up a bit.

When Ron sensed he needed space, he stopped kissing her and delved into her neck once more, allowing her to moan freely. She had been pretty worked up when she had asked him to shag her, and so he knew she was already on the brink of release.

"Ron, oh, Ron … it's so good … I love you so much, so much. Please, keep going like that, I'm about to come. God, I'm about to come, Ron!"

"Yes, Hermione, come for me. Come around me, let me feel it on my cock," he muttered against her neck, moving one of his hand to grasp one of her tits and knead it.

"Yes, yes, Ron, yes," she moaned louder, her hips bucking hard against his, their crotches slamming into each other's. "I'm almost there, Ron. Almost there. Almost — oh, ooh, Roon!" she exclaimed loudly, her body convulsing all around him. Noticing her orgasm, Ron thrust a bit harder, wanting to make it even better for her.

"Merlin …" she muttered, her voice husky. "That was so — so lovely, Ron. Thank you."

"It is my pleasure, Love," he said, kissing her softly and giving her another hard thrust. He had slowed down after her orgasm, but now was dying to achieve a much-needed release.

"Yes, your pleasure …" she stared lovingly at him. "Get your pleasure, Ron. Come in me. Deep in me. God, I love having you come in me …"

"Fuck, Hermione," Ron said, starting to speed up his thrusts, now desperate for release. "Fuck, I'm going to cum inside you so hard!"

"Yes, Ron, yes," she encouraged, putting her hands on his bum to help him to move into her. Ron kneaded her tits harder with one hand, using the other for support, and began to move even faster.

"Fuck, so good, so good, Hermione … Oh, Merlin, I'm — oh, I'm cumming! Fuck, fuck, I'm cumming! Oh, oh, fuuuck, yes!" he shouted, giving her a series of hard, prolonged thrusts, blowing his load as deep inside her pussy as he could.

The orgasm was so intense than Ron almost fell onto her. He rested his head on her shoulder and, turning her head to face him, he gave her a soft, lingering kiss, still feeling his cock throb inside her. Suddenly, he felt Hermione clench her vaginal muscles around him, and he hissed. She smiled smugly at him.

"You like that, don't you?"

"Fuck, yeah!"

"You're still half hard," she commented, and squeezed him again.

"I know. It's been too long."

"Yes," she agreed. "Too long. I missed this."

"Well, I'm here now," he muttered, smirking at her.

"Yes, you are," she nodded, and then kissed him again. It started slowly, but soon it turned into a full snog, with Hermione clenching her pussy around him every now and then, making Ron's cock swell again. And when she noticed it, she rolled them over and, biting her lower lip as she watched him, she sat up on him, his cock still buried inside her.

"Hermione …" he groaned.

"I want you again," she stated. "I want you again, Ron."

Ron stared at her, and sliding his hands up her sides, cupped her tits gently. "Then have me."

Hermione gave him a peck on his lips which turned into a long kiss. When their mouths parted, she began to rock her hips atop him, providing them with much desired and needed friction.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful and sexy," Ron commented, enthralled, as he squeezed her tits.

"No, you're sexy, Ron," she moaned, moving a bit faster. "I can't get enough of you. Oh, this feels so good …"

"Yeah, it does," he nodded, letting out a moan. His eyes followed his hands as he slid them down his body and to her hips. Reaching around her, he cupped her ass, encouraging her to move faster. "Ride me, Hermione."

"Mmh, Ron … ooh …" she moaned closing her eyes in pleasure. She slid her hands down her own body before setting them on his chest, using them to help her move a bit harder, though they were still going slowly for their usual standards.

"Move, Love, move," he demanded, gripping her hips to help her ride him. "Fuck, you feel so good, so tight around me!"

Turned on by him, Hermione went at it harder, lifting her body and then pushing down forcefully to impale herself on his cock and rotating her hips a bit at the same time, increasing their mutual pleasure.

As the minutes passed, their moans turned louder, their movements more frantic, both trying to maintain an equilibrium between the bliss of their lovemaking and the need for release.

"Oh, fuck, Ron … Ron, I love this … ah, God, yes … I love you, I love your cock, it's so hard, so big, ooh, I'm so close again!" she yelled, and, in an impulse, lowered her head to kiss him hard. This made it more difficult for her to move at the same pace, so Ron took charge and began to thrust upwards hard and fast, putting his hands on her ass to push her against him.

She moaned into his mouth, and then plunged her tongue in, which he immediately sucked on, hard.

"Oh, Ron, Ron," she chanted, her breathing ragged and uneven. "Keep going, keep going, don't stop! Don't ever stop!"

"Never!" he groaned, and moved even harder, overcome with the pleasure of being surrounded by Hermione's body. She was so delicious, her tits felt heavenly against his chest, and her cunt … Fuck, her cunt was the fucking paradise!

After a little bit, Hermione, about to come, sat up again and started moving once more, as fast and hard as she could, her sensuous body undulating upon his. Ron could only watch, mesmerised, how her face contorted in pleasure and, with a loud scream, she came, yelling his name.

Ron helped her along, thrusting upwards hard when she became too weak to go on, making her orgasm better and causing her to moan even more.

"Yes, yes, Ron, yes! God, don't stop, don't stop, don't stop!"

"Fuck, Hermione, you're so hot when you cum, you turn me on so much! I'm gonna cum too!"

"Yes, Ron, yes! Cum inside me! Now!"

She kissed him, hard, and Ron squeezed her ass really roughly, keeping her in places while his hips jumped on the bed, burying his aching cock into her pussy every time. He could feel his entire groin wet with her juices, and, when she bit on his bottom lip, he simply exploded again, filling her completely for the second time.

"Fuck, Hermione!" he groaned once she freed his mouth. "Holy fucking fuck!"

She smiled tiredly and kissed the tip of her nose before resting her head on his shoulder, her entire body sagging on top of his. "It was wonderful, Ron."

"Yes, it was."

They just stayed like that for a good five minutes, recovering, just listening to each other's breathing. And then, suddenly, Hermione put her arms around his neck, almost possessively, and pressed her face harder against his body, as if to make sure he was real and there, with her. "I don't want to be away from you. Ever," she declared, her voice weepy.

"Hermione …" he muttered, a bit concerned. He put his arms around her, lovingly, and kissed the top of her head. Since they had started going out, she had become ever more affectionate, but she was not clingy, even after making love. Never this way, at least.

"I don't want to be away from you, Ron."

"I know," he said, caressing her head. Then he forced her to look up at him. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

She just shrugged. "It's just — I'm so worried …"

"I know," he said, sighing. So was he. After what had happened to Bill …

There was, no longer, a safe place. He hugged her even tighter, basking on her scent that he so loved.

"We'll visit each other, won't we?" she asked, raising her head to look at his face. "We can Apparate now."

"Of course," he assured. "There's no way I can stay away from you, Love."

She rolled off him and, scooting up on the bed, leaned against the headboard. Ron watched her biting her lower lip, though not in the seductive way, but like she did when she was thinking about something, or worried. She was fidgeting with her hands, too, and Ron was tempted to ask her, but decided to wait until she was ready.

Finally, after a while, she looked at him. "I need to think what to do with my parents, Ron."

Ron frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Once we leave, they won't be safe anymore. Even with the protection charms, if the Ministry falls … They c-can't defend themselves, Ron," she sobbed.

Ron sat up and grabbed one on her hands in his, squeezing it reassuringly. "What are you thinking about?"

"They — they can't stay at home. If they're attacked —" she shivered, and Ron moved closer to her.

"Maybe — maybe we could move them to The Burrow?" he suggested.

Hermione looked at him, smiling gratefully at him, and caressed his cheek with her right hand. "Thank you, but they wouldn't want to impose and —"

"Impose?" Ron repeated, interrupting her. "Hermione, they're your parents! They're — they're family!"

Hermione cupped his cheeks and kissed him, gently and lovingly, catching Ron off guard. But, before he could respond, she had retreated. "You don't know how much that means to me, Ron. But your parents are in the Order, they have already so much on their plate."

"So? What's your idea?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I've been thinking about that since the fight but haven't reached any conclusion yet."

Ron considered asking about the different plans she had, but decided against it. She would tell him when the time came.

"Whatever you decide, I'll help you," he stated.

"I know," she said, nodding. "Thank you, Ron. Thank you so much. You — you make everything easier. Better."

"I didn't do anything."

"You do more than you think. Just being with you … I feel safer."

"I feel the same, you know. Knowing you're with me and Harry —"

"Harry and me."

"Whatever. Just knowing that you're with us gives me hope, brilliant and caring as you are. I just hope we don't end up driving you insane," he added, smiling a bit.

Hermione laughed, brushing her eyes. She looked at him, a smile on her face. "I'm used to that."

"Hey, we're not that bad, are we?" he asked, joking.

"I wouldn't change it for anything," she answered with absolute sincerity.

Their expressions turned serious once more, and Ron took her into his arms.

"Let's sleep, Love."

She nodded against him, and he slid down a bit, grasping the sheet and blankets to cover them. He kissed her forehead, and just lay there, with her in his arms, as he stared at the ceiling, thoughtful.

He didn't know when he fell asleep.

I didn't write the battle, of course, but you can imagine it happening roughly the same way as in the book. Not exactly the same, of course, as lots of things are different, but similar enough.

This is the end of Sixth Year, and in next chapter we'll be already in the Summer. It'll be another emotional and a bit more plot-driven chapter, for those who want that .