Ron's POV

I blink away tears.

It had been a couple of hours since Dobby had died. Since Bellatrix's small knife too his huge life away from him. Since Harry, Hermione and I had buried him on the beach. But I kept finding myself crying every time I thought of him. Fleur made her way into the kitchen and smiled at me while I looked out of the window of their cottage and across the beach.

"Are you veeling better Ron?" she asked. I had grown used to her accent. I nodded and turned to smile at her. Fleur was as beautiful as ever, wearing a thin, knee-length blue dress with a white cardigan on top which she wrapped around herself, tucking her delicate, small hands into the pockets to keep warm.

"Yeah, thanks."

"Tea?" She asked, I nodded and she put the kettle on to boil. She got out the mugs, the tea-bags and the milk and then we stood on opposite sides of the rooms while we waited. Suddenly she walked forward and pulled me towards her. I didn't think twice about it, I accepted her hug gratefully and wrapped my arms around her. "I am sorry for ze elf, Ron." She mumbled into my collar.

"Yeah, me too,"

Fleur and I had come a long way since I first met het at Hogwarts over three years ago. At first, I had thought I had a chance with her but in the end settled for just being her friend. That was until she met and fell in love with Bill and now she's his wife! She had, over the years, grown on me and had become family. She pulled away and kissed me on the cheek, smiled and went to pour the tea.

Bill walked in there, caressed the back of Fleur's back as he passed and turned to me. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been? Mum's been?" he asked when he pulled back. I nodded.

"Yeah, Yeah I know but I've called her. Let her know I'm safe. She demanded to know where I am of course but it's not safe to say," Bill nodded along with me, understanding that it was safer for everyone involved in no one knew where we were staying. Bill nodded before grabbing me and yanking me into a much more aggressive hug. I leaned into that one much more, enjoying his familiar smell. It sounds crazy but Billy smelt of home. Of Family and it almost brought tears to my eyes.

Over Bill's shoulder I saw Luna walk in drying her hair with a towel. She had just showered for the first time in weeks. She had spent night and day in those cold dungeons, with only dirty water and stale bread for food. She looked happy though. I realized that she wasn't happy at the situation, but just happy she was alive. She wore a blue jumper and white leggings but was barefoot. She smiled at me and my brother.

"Are we hugging?" she asked. "I would like a hug, please." I chuckled before letting go and turning to Luna. She didn't waste time before pulling me towards her. Her head finished just where my chest was and she leaned into me, humming quietly. "I like your hugs, Ron." she told me, "They remind me of fireplaces."

"Fireplaces?" I asked.

"Full of warmth but powerful too." She answered, squeezing tightly.

"Thank you, Luna." I said, not sure what to compare her hugs to. She smiled and a moment later pulled back.

"I feel much better now. Thank you for the clothes, Fleur. I like blue. An unusual colour, don't you think?" I turned away from them and finished off my tea before heading into the living room with Bill, leaving Fleur and Luna to talk about the different shades of blue and their meanings. Harry was stood on the opposite side of the room, moving that stupid shard of mirror between his fingers as he stared out at the hill where we had buried Dobby.

"Tea?" I asked, approaching. "Fleur's put a pot on?"

He shook his head, "No. Thanks. How's Hermione?" He asked, I looked up at the ceiling as if I could see her.

"Quiet. I think what Bellatrix did to her has made her realize just how dangerous all of this is and she got lucky." I said. He nodded along with me. "Fleur applied some herbs and sage smoke to the wound to try and stop it scaring but she isn't the best in Abjuration. It might scar."

"It'll make her stronger." Harry argued, before I could ask him what he meant, he spoke again. "If it scars, she'll always be reminded of what she went through today but it'll make her strong. Hermione won't be sad about it, she'll see it as another reason to rise up against them. To fight. She's strong."

"She is. More than she realizes." I echoed. Looking to the stairs as if expecting to see her come down them, smiling. But Hermione wouldn't smile, truly smile, for a while and that killed me.

FanWriter's Note: Hey guys! New chapter is here. It's short and not a very exciting one but let me know what you think

~FanWriter Asher~