AN:Prompt was: She only realised they were holding hands the entire time, the moment they had to let go.
The war was finally over, but Ron, Harry and Hermione couldn't find relief yet.
Bodies still covered the floor, strewn amongst the remains of the castle and half-hidden under the layers of dust and debris. But they couldn't deal with those yet.
Instead, they moved around the castle — visiting the injured and catching up with their loved ones. Ron and Hermione couldn't let Harry out of their sight, especially not after seeing Hagrid carry his body out of the Forbidden Forest.
Eventually, their long day started to draw to a close, and they finally sat down in the Great Hall for a proper meal. Sitting amongst the solemn Weasleys, it was easy to forget it had been almost 24 hours since their meagre meal at the Hog's Head and even longer since they'd last slept.
Once they finished their meal, weariness started to creep upon them.
"Where shall we go?" Hermione asked the question, and all three of them realised that they didn't have a plan for once or did they need to put together a plan. It felt strange to live a day without purpose, even if it would be shortlived.
Harry shrugged, leaving Ron to respond. "Mum and Dad reckon the Burrow won't be safe for a few days yet, and we'll have a lot of work to do to make it liveable. Grimmauld Place is probably out too."
"I guess so," she sighed. "Gryffindor tower, then?"
With the decision agreed and supported by Molly, they trudged off. At some point, Ginny joined them, which Hermione supposed was inevitable. They made their way through the castle, stopping every time someone wanted to congratulate them or give the trio their thanks. They endured it, knowing that if it only brought comfort to one person, it would be worth it.
The group stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and Hermione peered up at the point where they split into two, leading to the tower's male and female side. Harry and Ginny soon stowed themselves away to a quiet corner, leaving Hermione and Ron alone in relative peace.
"Do you reckon the charm still works?" Ron glanced back up at the stairs before returning his gaze to Hermione.
She shrugged, too exhausted to try and work it out. "I guess I could come up with you to the boy's dorms?" She felt conflicted. The thought of leaving Ron, or Harry, alone tonight caused anxiety to bubble low in her stomach. But at the same time, she just wanted to sleep, and she knew that soon, the rest of the Weasley boys would be climbing the stairs to the dormitory. Minus one, the morbid thought had crept into her mind before she'd even had a chance to register it, and she suppressed a sob.
Hermione knew it was selfish, but she wanted to have time to cry alone, to explore her grief and relief safely within the confines of her old four-poster bed — the one she had been craving since they departed The Burrow suddenly almost a year ago. She needed to be strong for Ron and his family, but to do that, she would need to deal with her own feelings first.
Of course, she'd be open to talking to him about it, but later, once Fred was buried.
Ron rubbed the back of his neck in the way that showed Hermione he was feeling nervous or scared about something. A small smile crept on to her face, and she decided to rescue him from feeling guilty about what he wanted to say. It delighted her in how well she knew him and how in tune they were with each other.
"Your brothers will be up to bed soon. I think it's crucial you all spend the night together as a family, and there'll be no space for me there too. I'll send Ginny to you, and I'll look after Harry tonight."
"Is that okay?" Ron's relief at Hermione deciding for them was soon replaced with concern, and she felt another pang of guilt.
"I don't know. But we'll survive one night without you, I promise." Hermione leaned in, pressing her lips against his gently. Their second kiss was less passionate than the first, but that didn't mean there were any fewer feelings between the two of them.
They eventually pulled away when they needed breath. There would be time later for the couple's 3rd, 10th, or 100th kiss as their post-war days progressed. Hermione was looking forward to them and getting a chance to discuss their flourishing relationship, but they needed to sleep and time to heal for now.
"Good night then," Ron had a smile on his face, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. That was okay; it would again in time.
"Night, Ron." She turned and made her way wearily up the stairs, hoping that nobody else had claimed her bed in the 7th year dormitory. As she got to the room, a little thought brought her a wave of comfort that would see her through until breakfast when she would be back with him: She only realised they were holding hands the entire time, the moment they had to let go.