Sunday lunch at the Burrow was just what Hermione needed to help her adjust to life back in the UK; and she was looking forward to it becoming a regular thing. She knew how lucky she was that the Weasleys were still inviting her in, despite being broken up with Ron for over 9 months. It was fun watching Victoire and Teddy Lupin toddle around the place, the Weasley brothers and Harry trying their hardest to keep tabs on them and control the damage magical toddlers are keen to create. She'd even managed to have a decent conversation with Lavender, although Ron had seemed tired and distant. Hermione had tried to corner him to check in with him after the early morning call, but a warning look from Harry told her she'd be better off keeping her distance this time.
Her first week at work had gone well, assisted by the potion from Molly that had helped to cure her jet lag. She had spent most of the week in a series of seemingly never-ending meetings and inductions. Her new team had taken her out for drinks that evening. They had gotten on so well that Hannah had actually had to throw them out at closing. She'd arrived home to a very hungry Crookshanks.
Hermione was just getting settled in bed with a book after checking the doors were locked and wards set across the cottage when she heard the phone clatter across her bedside table. She sighed and for a brief moment considered not answering it, but she knew he'd only call her if it was important. She marked her page in her book and reached for the phone.
"Hi Ron..." She rubbed at her eyes, willing herself to be more awake.
"Hey! How was your first week at work?"
"It was okay..." Hermione stifled a yawn, wriggling further under the bed sheet. "Really busy. There's a whole load of new things I need to learn about and it's going to be a challenge. But you know how much I like a challenge..." She laughed softly. "I got your memo, I'm sorry I couldn't meet you and Harry for a coffee..."
Ron shrugged, then remembered Hermione couldn't see him. "That's okay. I remember my first month at the Ministry was mental..."
"Great, I look forward to finally meeting you for coffee in a month then..." Hermione laughed again.
"Oh, sorry, I'm off work in a month... Got the wedding of the century to attend, or something..."
Hermione smiled down the phone, her eyes flitting to the deep emerald bridesmaid dress hanging on the front of her wardrobe. Ginny had dropped it off just last night for her to try on and they were planning on spending most of their weekend at the Burrow, getting dresses fitted among other Bridesmaid duties.
"Oh yeah, that old thing. I'm still trying to decide whether to go. I'll have to find a date..."
Ron attempted a laugh, but Hermione noticed he sounded distant again.
"Ron, you can tell me to leave you alone but are you okay? You don't sound yourself..."
He let out a heavy sigh down the phone. "Seems a bit silly, given I'm a grown up and two years into an intense Auror training programme where I'm learning to be all tough; but I've been having nightmares the last week or so and I'm so tired..."
"Oh Ron..." Hermione matched his sigh. "Do you want to tell me about them?"
Ron looked at Lavender, who was lying fast asleep in the bed next to him. The girl could sleep through a dragon attack. He was pretty sure he'd woken up screaming the night before and she hadn't even stirred.
"Lav's asleep; is it okay if I pop over? Don't worry if it's too late and you want to get to bed, maybe we can catch up tomorrow - though mum has banned us Weasley men from the Burrow all weekend..."
"Ron, of course you can come over. The house is still a bit of a mess though. The Floo was connected the other day; you can use Granger House or Primrose Cottage..."
"Alright, see you in a bit..." Ron hung up again without another word. He pressed a soft kiss to the back of Lavender's head, feeling slightly guilty about leaving her, especially to go to Hermione's but he knew the likelihood of her waking up was slim and she probably wouldn't even notice him gone. He slipped out of bed and swapped his pyjama bottoms for a pair of joggers and a t-shirt. He grabbed his wand before heading to the living room and flooing to Hermione's cottage.
As soon as Ron had hung up, Hermione forced herself out of bed to the sound of more complaints from Crookshanks. She had been really looking forward to finishing her book and sleeping; she had even promised herself a rare lie in but she recognised this was a good chance for her to show Ron that she could be a good friend. Her thoughts slipped to what else she could show him, given the chance; there was still a hungry ache deep inside her body that she know only he could fill but she repressed it, putting it down to the fact it had been a really long time since she'd last been with someone.
Hermione soon heard the rush of the fireplace and she carried the two mugs of tea she'd been making through to the living room just in time to see Ron's lanky body unfolding itself onto the hearth. He dusted himself down, then used his wand to clean up after himself. She passed him his mug of tea wordlessly before settling herself into an armchair.
Ron took the tea gratefully, sipping from the mug as he moved around the room. In the week since she'd been home, Hermione had already filled every available space with bookcases and books, with a grand looking desk sitting in a wide window. There was also a cosy looking three-piece suite set around the fireplace. It had a familiar feel to it, like Hermione but also a bit like his parent's living room at the Burrow, just newer.
"I thought you said this place was a mess?" He carried on nosing around.
"Well it's getting there..." Hermione curled her legs up under her body. "My parents allowed me to take what I needed from their house in Surrey, so I've been spending my evenings going back and forth, taking what I need. I just need to finish unpacking the last of the boxes; but the big wedding seems to be taking over..."
Ron laughed and finally settled on the sofa. "And it will be a big wedding; Dad made us get the marquee out the other weekend and practice resizing it. We might have to move down to the field, I think the back garden might be too small..."
The pair sipped their tea in the comfortable silence only afforded to old friends.
"So come on," Hermione finally broke the silence. "Tell me about these dreams..."
Ron sighed and put his empty mug on the coffee table. He started to tell Hermione about the session with the Unspeakables and how it had led to the nightmares. He described the suffocating feeling he woke with and how long it took him to realise he was okay and awake and alive. As he spoke, he noticed Hermione wrap her arms around herself and he was surprised when he felt a few tears come to his eyes once he'd finished. Ashamed, he stared at his lap, waiting for Hermione's reaction.
Hermione sighed, wanting so much to reach over and wipe away his tears but she resisted, knowing how much he hated showing his vulnerable side. Instead, she placed a hand on his shoulder briefly as she got up and headed into the kitchen to refill their mugs; giving him a couple of minutes to compose himself. When she returned, she settled next to him on the sofa.
"Wasn't it Madam Pomfrey who said to us that thoughts leave deep scars?" Hermione smiled slightly as she put their mugs on the table. "Guess we didn't realise then just how much that meant..." Her eyes travelled over the scars that wove their way up his arm, interlocking with the ones she gave him when she splinched him.
"Yeah..." Ron rubbed his arms, feeling a tingle up them as Hermione surveyed him. "I guess we didn't talk much about what happened; we were too busy avoiding bringing up Sirius' death around Harry. Plus you had your own injuries to recover from..."
"We're talking about it now..." Hermione nodded reassuringly. "I used to have nightmares all the time about Bellatrix and Malfoy Manor; remember? I barely have them now." Her fingers moved to trace the faint Mudblood scar. "Although you helped me to get through that..." She gave Ron a more genuine smile.
"I think that's why I came to you instead of any of the others. I know you weren't even conscious when we were in the thought room..." He trailed off for a moment. "Lavender wasn't there and I don't really talk to Neville or Harry about any of this stuff. I guess I could have tried Ginny, but then Harry would have been there..." He trailed off again.
"Oh well, I'm glad to see that I was your final option..." Hermione raised her eyebrows at him, nudging him with her shoulder at the same time. She kept a smile on her face to show him she was joking. "I guess I'm just lucky Luna is off travelling the world with her new fella…"
"You know that's not the case..." Ron smiled back, before letting out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding in. Hermione's brief contact with him had made him suddenly painfully aware of how close they were sitting and he could smell the strawberry shampoo she always used and he loved. It took him back to that summer after the war, and he shook his head to chase away the intrusive and confusing thoughts.
"You know, I think I'll be okay to go back to bed now..." He stood up, suddenly keen to move away from her intoxicating scent.
"As long as you're sure you're okay?" Hermione frowned, but stood up too.
"Yeah... Lav will go nuts if she wakes up and finds I'm not there..." Ron stepped forward, giving Hermione a brief hug; trying to keep his body as far away from hers as possible.
"Well, now you know where I am you can apparate here. I'll change the wards so you can get in. Just, give me a warning, yeah?"
"Thanks 'Mione... I'll probably be fine now I've spoken to someone about it..." He dug his wand out of his pocket. "Maybe see you this weekend..." With a loud crack, he was gone.
Hermione stared at the spot where he had been stood, frowning. Although he sounded less distant, he had really been acting strange. She shrugged to herself, putting it down to the stress about his nightmares. She collected their empty mugs with a small smile before finally getting to bed.