Tie Your Heart at Night to Mine, Love

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There was a creaky step somewhere at the bottom of the staircase – this much she remembered though the memory's lack of precision was a bit of a nuisance. How was one supposed to flee from a familiar place when the familiarity of it escaped you?

She had walked down all the way to the fourth step, enough to hear the little sounds coming from the kitchen and adjoining living room – the non-stop clicking of knitting needles, and the scraping of a dish brush against metal, all of which went perfectly along the unlike mix of baked cinnamon and freshly cut grass. Hermione remembered all that, yet the precise step eluded her.

She wasn't family. She had no business coming here the night before, yet she let herself be convinced for at the time she had also been escaping something. The war was over, but the nightmares of it would come to exact their revenge. Hermione gripped the handrail. She could feel it burning, her scar, as it did the day it was carved into her skin. Tears bubbled up in her eyes, the soothing, familiar background fading into darkness and mad, mad laughter.

"Hermione, dear, are you alright?" asked the plump, yet fierce witch, the very one Hermione had been meaning to avoid. She was standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring up at Hermione. Bags marked her small brown eyes, and her fuzzy red curls had lightened to a dulled yellow tone, adding unwarranted years to her face.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. I'm terribly sorry to impose, Ron and Harry—"

"Oh, nonsense! Come, dear, sit down, you look like you could use something to eat. Can't let your parents see you like this, now can we?" said Mrs. Weasley, motioning for her to come down. The second step creaked, yet Hermione never registered it. She fought the new set of tears, rubbing her chest as if could alleviate the tightness inside. She wasn't ready to talk about it. She wasn't ready to even think it. Mrs. Weasley kept talking, oblivious, "Honestly, I don't know how you three survived all this time by yourselves – mushrooms, for Merlin's sake! And all that hospital food, too… You're pale! Here, eat some, dear."

"Thank you." Hermione managed to say, more out of inbred politeness than of consciousness. Whatever hunger she might have felt had left her.

"You're welcome, dear. Now, come, eat, you'll feel better. The boys should wake up soon, Ginny too. Oh, there she is! Ginny, are your brothers—?"

Mrs. Weasley, however, never got to finish her question since Ginny jumped and clung at Hermione with such force she had trouble keeping herself seated. The attack jumpstarted her lungs and she got to breathe despite Ginny's strong hold. The redhead didn't seem to notice Hermione's slow and controlled breaths.

Ginny flopped into the chair beside her, her shoulders pulled low. "I'm sorry I never went to visit you in the Infirmary."

Hermione shook her head and attempted a smile. "I understand," she steeled herself with a breath before continuing, now to both women, "I never got to say it, but I'm truly sorry for your loss."

Mrs. Weasley's fist shot to her mouth, and Hermione instantly regretted her mentioning it. "I—"

The apology died in her lips as Mrs. Weasley raised her other hand to silence her. "I know, dear, thank you… Now eat, you two. I'll go fetch the boys."

Ginny gave her a half-smile. "Mom's a little…all over the place. We know you're the one that kept Ron and Harry alive all this time."

"It's not exactly how it happened—"

"Isn't it?" And the amused smile that crept onto Ginny's face was the only happy one she had seen all morning. "Because those two would never mistake a poison mushroom for and edible one?"

Hermione cringed. "Okay, perhaps it was a bit like that."

"I knew it. Harry?"

Hermione shook her head, and her face twisted at the memory. "Ron."

The girls shared a smile.

"Listen," started Ginny leaning in, her voice dropped to a whisper, "Ron told me—"

But whatever Ginny was about to tell her concerning Ron was interrupted by Ron himself, as he and Harry joined them in the kitchen. "'Morning."

Ron yawned, a very loud, very long one that echoed like a call to his bed. Harry, on the other hand, circled the table, and kissed the top of Hermione's head, before giving Ginny a proper kiss. He sat beside Ginny, whose eyes kept darting between herself and Ron as if waiting for something. His eyes never met Hermione's, yet he had no reserve scowling at his sister.

Ginny just snorted. "And Mom?"

"Upstairs with Charlie, trying to get George out of the room," Ron answered as he cut a slice of his mother Treacle Tart.

"How is he?" Hermione asked.

"Mad."

"Ron!" she chided. Harry said nothing, but Hermione didn't miss the way his hand snapping to Ginny's arm. The younger Weasley's face began to match her hair, her eyes narrowed at Ron. If she could use wandless magic, Hermione doubted he'd still be enjoying his breakfast.

"What?" Ron asked, swallowing a bite of the tart. "He is a bit. Don't get me wrong, I miss Fred, too. He was a jerk, a brilliant one. But George…he came straight here after the funeral and has been staying in their old bedroom ever since. I thought he was depressed at first, wouldn't talk to anyone, wouldn't do anything but sleep. Now he's locked inside the room, doing Merlin knows what. I think he's messing with explosives, massive ones by the sound of it."

"Maybe he's working on something for the shop?" Harry suggested, in a feeble attempt of breaking the tension. His hand slid down his girlfriend's arm and covered her hand.

"Yeah, right, if he plans on killing every kid in sight," muttered Ron.

Harry was quick to change the subject. "I'm opening Grimmauld Place again."

"As headquarters?" Hermione asked her eyes set on Ginny.

"And refuge. I think Sirius would've liked to have the place brimming with rebels, so I'm inviting the D.A. as well. We can't fit all of them inside, but we'll make do." He looked at Hermione and Ron before adding, "Your rooms are yours should you want to stay permanently."

"Thanks, mate."

"That's very considerate, Harry." said Hermione.

He looked a bit…uncomfortable. "I'm keeping rooms for Luna, Neville and Lupin, too."

Hermione would've indulged his attempt of deflecting attention regardless, yet she found herself genuinely curious. About one person, specifically, "Have you told them yet?"

"Just Lupin. I mailed him last night, but he declined."

"Declined? Why?"

Harry shrugged. "Lupin's a good man, but he doesn't exactly volunteers information about himself."

No, he didn't. Come to think of it, Hermione never knew where he had stayed after they abandoned Grimmauld Place, or what he had done after quitting his job at Hogwarts.

The realization sat as a rock at the bottom of her empty stomach. Had she not cared? Had she not cared at all, before?

A/N: Another chapter! This one was extremely difficult to write… it refused to come out and play, I guess my muse is missing Remus – I know I am. But our beloved future couple will see each other soon, I promise. ;)

I hope you enjoy and please review!

Oh, I have a huuuuge favor to ask: Guests, if you can, please leave me some clue of who you are when you review. It can be a name, a code, a hint, anything really lol. It's just so I'll know whether it's the same person who liked/hated/gave-a-suggestion before or if it's another person altogether, and so I can properly answer you when two or more guests review. I promise I'm not a stalker – cross my heart and hope to get eaten by Fluffly. :)

Cauldron cakes to…

My reviewers: katriellejs, Argella Storm, NinjaGirl0917, CassieRenee333, Jesseknocks, Kaleigh Windelynn, IrishIris, SereniteRose, Guest, and Calindy.

To Slytherin Buttercat, Silver Winged Maiden, NinjaGirl0917, Jade Hazel Kurtson, lauriedahl, Liath0524, IrishIris, xMusicGurlx, LyraNightingale, darkest passion of love, ThePhantomPixie, and Andersonashlie89 for adding the story to their favorites.

And to Slytherin Buttercat, Silver Winged Maiden, NinjaGirl0917, Jade Hazel Kurtson, , lauriedahl, Kaleigh Windelynn, Darkhairfurrytail, MissAltoSaxy, alyssa300, .annoying, KGSoprano, xMusicGurlx, nikkistaria, Nobody North, brighteyes2889, Sita515, LyraNightingale, wisteria713, ThePhantomPixie, SKiraNova, MadnessManiac, in transit, and HarryPotterIsLife1221, for following the story.

To Guest: It makes total sense! Hermione's lack of self-awareness is probably the only real thing keeping Remus' secret from being discovered. And who would know her analytical mind would be a downside in this case? She came up with a perfectly logical explanation for their bond, and since all the existing ones sounded absurd to her she'll probably keep believing hers until proven wrong. I can already imagine her frustration when she finds out Harry sort of figured it out straight away. ;) Thank you so much for reviewing!