Special Thanks: to Ruffin (blankpage on for being my beta on the first four installments. You're my hero, yet… not. Lol.
Disclaimer: Characters and original scenes belong to JK Rowling, but that doesn't mean I can't play in my free time for free.
A/N: Takes place while the Trio is on the hunt for the Horcruxes, post-Grimmauld Place. This is a ten one-shot series for LJ's 10themes community.
Soothing
It was the sound of his voice that could calm her nerves. The way he'd talk to her when they first started meeting had been loving and sensual. He'd tell her how gorgeous she was, how much he loved her taste. After listening to him talk to his family about nonsense subjects that were really of no matter and finding herself completely relaxed, she knew it was her official favorite sound in the world. What she wasn't prepared for, however, was how much she'd miss that sound when it was no longer there.
Ron had just returned to the group and was telling them of Potterwatch. She and him began to tinker with the wireless in hopes of finding the right station. She glanced to the opposite side of the tent at her other best friend. His look was pensive and a part of her worried for him, as it always did.
"There!" Ron whispered to her. "There's his voice. Bill told me he'd be on tonight and I knew I needed to get back so you could hear."
She jerked her head toward the boy in front of her with a puzzled look. Oh, but he's a man now, isn't he, she contemplates briefly.
"Ronald, you must be more specific. There are at least three different male voic—"
And he was right. She'd recognize that wave of calm washing over her anywhere. It was him and he was speaking. Her eyes began to slightly water as she thought of him and how he was still alive. Slowly, the realization that Ron knew crept to the forefront of her mind, her mouth forming an 'O' shape. She dared a glance at him only to see a smile on his face.
"I've known for a while now. Came to find you the night before we got Harry and when you weren't in your room I checked downstairs. Sure, I was pissed – still am a bit, really – but I'm done fighting you. Besides, I know Fred and I've known about his feelings for you for a while. He's loved you for a while, 'Mione. I suppose I just got in the way because I didn't want him taking my best mate away. In the end, I ended up pushing you further and further on my own. We shouldn't tell Harry for now, but when it's over, I'll leave you to it. I want you to be happy."
That night, she fell asleep holding Ron's hand as he recounted as many pleasant stories about his older brother as he could. When he felt her drifting off into her own dangerous thoughts, he'd bring her back with some of the pranks they'd done that she'd never known of. Having her one of her best friends back, along with his acceptance and consent of her relationship with his older brother made her feel like she had more to fight for than ever.
"Do you think you'll marry 'im after all this?"
"I think I'd like that, but it's still new to us both. No need to push it, I think."
"Think You-Know-Who would try to take that away from you if he knew?"
"I'd like to see him try."