Chapter 4

The Fight

Hermione was sitting in the middle of the Great Hall surrounded by a great group of red-headed people. She was use to being surround by certain members of the group but, many of Ron's other relatives had arrived that morning for Fred's funeral. She recognized some from Bill and Fleur's wedding. Ron was sitting next to her pushing his food around his plate. Hermione could not help but look up at him every few moments. Maybe the funeral would allow Ron to get some closure. She was so sure that he had the closure he needed a few days ago. He said that he loved her; he seemed to be dealing with the deaths. She should have noticed he wasn't okay.

"Hermione, it's time." Ron said standing as the rest of the family did.

She snapped back to the reality. Hermione grabbed Ron's out-stretched and got up.

"Colin's is first, then…" Harry started to say with an arm around a red-eyed Ginny.

Hermione was not incredibly close to Colin but, she knew and liked him. He was under-aged and shouldn't have fought in the battle. Hermione saw a blond-haired woman and a man that looked very much like Colin. Colin's parents were crying in the front row. His father gave a beautiful speech while his wife sobbed next to him. He said that Colin was so brave and he didn't regret Colin battling.

Ron was sitting there with a blank face. Harry was sitting on the other side of Hermione with Ginny's head on his shoulder. Hermione was holding Ron's hand; she laid her head on Ron's shoulder. He rested his head on her head softly.

After Colin's funeral, some people got up but most people were staying for Fred's funeral. Many people joined, Hermione realized how loved he was. There were two very different speeches given. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talked about how brave he was but, the speech was difficult at times to hear because of Mrs. Weasley's heavy sobs. And, George's speech was fulfilled with jokes about how many people thought that he was the smart and better-looking twin, how their own mother couldn't tell them apart, and many more. The funeral was filled with laughter. Even Mrs. Weasley gave a couple of watery giggles. Hermione's eyes were filled with tears however; they were both from sadness and laughter. She kept looking at Ron hoping for chuckle or something but, his face remained blank as silent tears streamed down his face. What if he would never get over the death? Would he ever be the same?

At the end of the funeral, Fred was placed in to a wooden coffin. His body was to be moved to the Burrow when the family left Hogwarts. Everyone had gone to the Great Hall for lunch. Before going to the Great Hall themselves, the Weasley family, Harry, and Hermione spent a few moments silent in front of Fred's coffin. As the family decided it was time to go to lunch there was much hugging and tears. As they after, Ron stayed rooted in his spot. Everyone stopped noticing that Ron wasn't walking besides them.

"I am not very hungry, I want to stay here for a little…you lot go on without me." Ron said as the many faces turned to him.

Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and pulled Ron into a deep hug. When they broke apart, she and the rest of the family left to the Great Hall. Hermione stayed behind with Ron and Harry did the same.

"Ron, I will stay with you." Hermione said linking arms with Ron.

"No, go ahead." Ron said sort of pushing her arm away.

"No, I want to stay with you" Hermione said getting frustrated.

"NO! I need to do this on my own!" Ron yelled.

Harry was feeling that he shouldn't be there and backed up slightly. Hermione was crying, she looked devastated. She ran away toward the Black Lake, wiping her tears as she ran. She hated herself for loving stupid Ronald Weasley. He was so distant now, he didn't love her and she knew it. Reaching the Black Lake, she hugged herself and looked at the horizon. She sat under a tree at the edge of the lake. Part of her regretted seeing the stupid face boy with dirt at the side of his nose on the train in first year. The other part, was telling her that she was being stupid and he had just lost a close family member…how was he suppose to act. She wiped away the tears but, it was no use they were replaced by fresh ones. She rested her head on her knees and stared at the lake trying not to think.

"Hermione?" someone said anxiously behind her.