As I watch Hermione disappear into the Floo network, I raise a hand to the cheek she kissed. It feels all warm, if my body is reacting this way to a simple kiss I'll surely combust if we ever get to the bedroom.
I step into the hearth, sprinkle the floo powder and pronounce "the burrow". A few minutes later I am stepping out into the Weasley kitchen. Without thought I remove the soot from myself, Hermione and the children and turn to face Molly.
"Molly, lovely to see you, I hope you don't mind me popping in? Hermione mentioned that you were meeting to discuss Ronald's funeral arrangements and I offered my support." I say as I lean in for a hug.
"Of course not Minerva, you're welcome here any time you know that, although it has been some time since you last graced this house with your presence" she admonishes me.
"Hogwarts business, you know" I disassembled. "So sorry to hear of Ron's passing, anything I can do to help, let me know" I say as I pull away from the hug. I look around at Hermione and can see she is rather uncomfortable. So I call on the children to do what children all over the world have been doing for centuries. Provide a distraction. "Rose, Hugo, why don't you tell Grandma Molly what you've been doing at Grandma Jeans''
It works like a charm. They both come over and before long Molly is deep in conversation with both her grandchildren. I can see the lightning of her shoulders, and realise that she needed this probably as much as Hermione needs the Weasleys.
I edge around the table to go and sit next to Hermione, and place my hand on her knee under the table, just as an anchor and silent support for the upcoming conversation. Hermione brings her hand to mine and squeezes it gratefully.
"It's going to be fine, love" I whisper. "You all want the same thing"
Hermione and I join in on the conversation with Molly and the children, making small talk until Arthur gets home. When he does arrive he's not alone, he brought Harry, Ginerva and their kids with him. Hermione's eyes light up when she sees Harry and she immediately rises to go and greet him. They hug for the longest time, tears running down both their cheeks. Consoling each other in their shared time of grief. There are a few murmured words between them, and Harry looks at me over Hermione's shoulder and he gives a faint smile and a nod, so I know whatever she's said hasn't caused him to suddenly hate me.
"Harry, Ginerva." I greet as Hermione pulls away. "Good to see you and your children again" the children have already made their way into the den which leaves the six of us in the kitchen.
"Minerva, it's been far too long" Harry allows and pulls the nearest chair out for his wife.
"Arthur" I nod. He looks over at Molly and I can see they are having a silent conversation between themselves. When you've been married as long as they have you get to know the other pretty well that words are no longer necessary. They come to some sort of conclusion as Arthur comes over and gives me a hug too. He then moves to Hermione and kisses her on the cheek and hugs her. This causes Hermione to start crying again. I summon the tissues from nearby and hand them out to all present.
Arthur takes his seat at the head of the table, whilst Molly makes sure we all have a drink, and ensures the kids are also taken care of in the den with a glass of juice. She closes the door behind her and sits to Arthur's right, holding his hand on the table, whilst a tissue is in the other dabbing at her eyes. Ginerva is sat to Arthur's left, with Harry in between her and Hermione. I'm sitting at the opposite end of the table to Arthur, to Hermione's right.
Molly starts, "Hermione, I am sorry for how I spoke to you when you told us you were heading to your parents. It was unfair. I do understand I just wanted to help" she says quietly, looking over at Hermione. I see Arthur tighten his grip ever so slightly on Mollys fingers and can tell that they have discussed this prior to tonight, no doubt Arthur calming Molly down as he has become so accustomed to doing during their long marriage. Arthur has always been the most level headed of the two of them. Able to calm or fire up Molly with just a look.
"It's ok, Molly, I know you meant well, but there are just so many memories of Ron here, I just wanted to get away for a while. It was so overwhelming having them all cloud my memory, I felt suffocated." Hermione confesses. I grab her hand under the table again, as a show of support. "I'm not trying to forget him, I never could, I just need time to, to, process it all. Being a single parent had never been a part of my plans. My grief has consumed me the last few days, and I didn't want you to see that. I know that sounds silly" she tapers off.
"We all grieve in our own way" I say to break the silence. I can see Molly knows how I grieve, by drinking myself into a stupor, and she squints her eyes at me. She thinks I am a bad influence on Hermione, that much I can tell. "Time heals all wounds, and although we may have bad days in the future, as long as we remember that there are others who love us and need us we will make it through until the dark days are few and far between and the light can once again brighten our days'' I pronounce.
There are nods of agreement from around the table to my declaration.
I stay silent for the rest of the conversation between Molly, Arthur and Hermione. Harry pipes up with a few suggestions here and there, but I am content to listen and offer support silently to Hermione. They've discussed when and where Ron will be laid to rest. What hymns will be sung at the service, whether the children should be allowed to attend. Hermione was very adamant that her children would be attending the funeral, if Harry and Ginerva chose differently she would respect that, but she believed that all the children had the right to say goodbye to their father and uncle. Molly offered to host the wake, of course, at the burrow and as no other venue could be thought of Hermione reluctantly agreed. Their flat was barely big enough for the four of them when Ron was alive, never mind the hundred or so mourners that no doubt would want to pay their respects. They would set up a gazebo out the back, which would allow for everyone to attend.
The majority of the decisions were agreed upon within half an hour, and Molly was getting ready to start putting food out for supper and called the children to the table. Hermione had left the table a while ago to "get some air" and I was itching to get up and go after her, but I didn't want to seem like I was interfering.
"Go, Minerva." Harry uttered to me. "You haven't taken your eyes from the door since she left, I'm sure you can talk her back in" he gives me a little smile and manages to get the whole room's attention so I can slip out, unnoticed, to find Hermione.
I don't have to look very far. She's leaning against the fence, looking out over the meadow the Weasleys use for their quidditch games.
I walk up behind her, and stand next to her. I don't want to encroach, but she leans her head on my shoulder and my arm naturally goes around her waist and squeezes lightly.
"You OK love?" I question, also looking out over the meadow. I can see the odd gnome in the distance as the sun is setting behind us.
I hear a long sigh "glad the planning is over. Now I just need to get through the next few days until the funeral and then try and decide my next move I guess. Rose will be starting at Hogwarts September, and Hugo will go back to muggle Primary School a few days later. I'll be expected to go back to work at some point, Kingsley has been very understanding and has told me to take as long as I need, but I don't know how much longer I can put it off for, with only my wage coming in" she trails off unsure if she should continue. "What Molly and Arthur, or anyone for that matter, don't know is that Ron had a spending problem and he's left me in quite a mess, as he never had money when he was a child, whenever he had any it had to spent immediately, he couldn't save any, so I've been trying to keep some of my money aside for the bills, and clothes for the children, but the little I had managed to squirrel away won't last long." She sighs again and her head falls forward to rest on her chest. She looks so broken at this moment. Like she has the weight of the world to carry.
"Hey, shh now. You aren't alone in this." I pull her tighter to my side and rub my hand up and down her arm "anything you need, you just need to ask. I have more than enough money to last me several lifetimes, I'll help you clear the debts."
"No, Min. I can't ask you to do that, that wasn't why I told you" she says vehemently "this is my problem to deal with, I'll just have to pull back on a few things is all"
"I want to help" I say sincerely, lifting her chin so she can see the conviction in my eyes. "I don't want you struggling with this on top of your grief. Honestly, however much it is, it's yours" I cup her cheek in the palm of my hand, and rub my thumb along the bottom of her eye that has started to tear up again.
"Oh, Min, thank you, so much" she gushes and flings her arms around my neck. "I'll pay you back every knut, I swear it, on my children's happiness" I hug her close but don't say anything. Seeing the stress lift from her eyes was payment enough.
We stand there for another few minutes, enjoying our closeness. I feel Hermione begin to shiver as a slight wind has picked up, "come on, let's go have supper with your family" I urge and direct her back to the house.
The chatter in the kitchen is boisterous as we enter and retake our seats. The children are already half way through Mollys shepherd's pie and assorted vegetables.
Harry's eyes find mine as I resume my seat and I give him a slight nod to indicate it's all under control. Hermione voluntarily grabs herself a portion of the pie and begins to talk to the children at the table. I'm glad she seems to have overcome her aversion to food. Now just to make sure that she's getting enough sleep. I'll write a letter when I get back to Hogwarts to Kingsley expressing my gratitude for the way he's handled this situation, but to strongly suggest that he not push Hermione back to work until she's ready. I'll also write to Griphook at Gringotts, and ask him to take any funds that Ron may owe from my personal vault and to not bother Hermione with any such things in the future.
I get pulled from my planning by a tug on my sleeve from Hugo,
"Yes, me wee laddie, what can I do for ye?" I say in my strongest Scottish accent. He giggles and crooks his finger to indicate he would like to whisper something to me. I obligingly lean forward until his mouth is by my ear and he says "Rosie and I were wondering if we were coming back with you to Hogwarts tonight?"
I lean back in my chair, in truth Hermione hadn't discussed what her plans are for the rest of the evening. Staying here, going back to her parents or coming back to Hogwarts with me. I know where I would prefer them to be, somewhere I can keep an eye on them, however what comes out of my mouth is "I'm not sure Hugo, your mother and I haven't discussed it, maybe you should ask her, you would be more than welcome, whilst I'm there, to stay and visit." Hugo takes in my words, and turns on the spot to go back to Rose. I look up and can see Hermione looking at me, it seems she saw and may have overheard our conversation. I smile at her and look back over at the children. What are they planning?