Chapter 2
Ron's hair was completely disheveled, as though he'd been continually running his fingers through it. There were deep, dark circles under his eyes that Hermione guessed were from lack of sleep as she had the same marks.
She reached out tentatively for his hand. Ron jerked his arm away at first, but then visibly relaxed, letting her hand grasp his. He let out a ragged breath.
"I still can't' believe he's gone," he finally said, breaking the thick silence. "I don't know how Harry can stand being down there with everyone right now. It's only been two weeks..." His voice seemed to catch in his throat, and tears glazed over his eyes that were so clearly in pain. Hermione wanted to help hm as he had helped her, but she didn't know what to do.
Ron wiped at his eyes with his free hand, his other still firmly clutched in Hermione's. "We don't have to go downstairs," she said finally, nodding towards the many boxes cluttering Ron's small room. "We can sit right in here for as long as you want."
Ron nodded and Hermione pulled him over to the closest box and he sat down heavily, a cloud of dust billowing out from underneath. Hermione sat on the box next to him, the hand that wasn't in his on his back. She sat completely still now, now more than ever unsure of what to say and do. She didn't want to do anything wrong and have Ron mad at her. That was the scenario that kept playing in her mind, that she would say something insulting unintentionally, have Ron storm out and them never speaking to each other again. A quick shudder passed through Hermione at this thought again. She couldn't have it. She needed to have Ron in her life and if she had to keep quite to keep something she didn't even mean said from her mouth, than that's what she'd do.
Ron looked at her for a moment. "Are you okay?" he asked hoarsely. "I haven't asked that since the funeral. I don't mean to be so...self-centered." He cast his eyes to the dusty floor. "I'm sorry."
Hermione tried not to say anything, but she couldn't help herself. "You don't have to apologize. I think we all deserve to be self-centered right now." Ron gave her a weak smile and squeezed her hand. "Yeah?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. But if you need to talk to me about anything, you know I'm here. Or Harry. I know he's leaving soon, but he's still you're best friend."
"I know. Thanks Hermione."
Impulse pulled her in and she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. That may have instantly been a bad idea when Ron's face turned scarlet, and mumbled something Hermione couldn't here. But she was sure she saw a quick tug of a smile on his lips and that was enough for her.
