This chapter takes place at Grimmauld Place, right after the Trio is forced to choose it as the best place to stay. It's after Harry ran to the bathroom in the urge of his scar. Enjoy it!

(Today Lyrics: Things I'll never say ─ Avril Lavigne)

Shared Moments Four: A grip of feelings

I'm staring at my feet
My checks are turning red
I'm searching for the words inside my head

'Ehem … maybe I should … take out the sleeping bags, may I?'

'Yeah, sure.'

'So … eh … please, do you reckon you could ─?'

'Oh, yeah, sorry!'

Harry wasn't there anymore, but Ron was still gripping Hermione. He blushed at the realisation of this, and released her hurriedly, almost with guilt. She notice it. It was clear by their faces that even within all they had passed that night, within the happiness at first, the confusion, the resentment, they needed it; the mixture of feelings was nothing because they were together … with Harry, of course, the three of them.
Hermione began pulling three new-brand sleeping bags from her beaded bag, and Ron stood up and walked to look out the window. It was dark and deserted, but there was no need of check this again.

'Oh … eh, do you need help? Sorry ─' said Ron, remembering he was doing nothing and she was the only one working. After all she had done for them … she even spent her money on those sleeping bags, which surely weren't so comfortable like a bed at all, but ─ And then his eyes caught sight of the old, cosy sofa, and thought, 'Why not?'

'Eh … Hermione, why you don't sleep on the sofa? We'll take the sleeping bags and ─'
But the end of his sentence was muffled for her gasping; she dropped her beaded bag and gripped his arm.

'Are you serious?'

From the doorway, Harry watching them and a sad grin cross his tired face.

I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you're worth it
You're worth it, yeah

The only things left from the wedding were the Hermione's still straight, soft hair and the clothes which lay on the sofa; but the happiness was already gone, the tiredness was present now.

'Good night, Harry, Ron.'

'Night,' came Ron's voice through the darkness.

'Harry?'

She heard a rustle next to her.

'He is asleep,' whispered Ron.

Silence.

'Are you all right?' asked Ron.

'Yeah … You?'

'Better, now. You know, since I had news from my family.'

There was a tone of apology and embarrassment in his voice, and Hermione had to restrain herself of ask him about it. 'Don't be silly. Not again. That's all, you danced as friends, like you'd dance with Harry … it's just I'd never dance with Harry.'

'Are you … comfortable there?' Ron was just trying to be kind. He noticed the awkward silence and thought it was because of something he had done. It had always been like that. Ron made something wrong, Hermione got upset. Did he dislike her so? At least, he knew he had done his best this year for something he had admitted to himself only not long ago. Despite he was aware of she might only see him like a friend, it has passed so much time and now he couldn't restrain himself anymore. Despite it could be such a failure.

'Yes, I'm fine … sorry about sleeping here, it's just I'm still so scared to sleep on my own.'

'It's ok. We should sleep now, don't you think?'

Hermione stretched out a hand and tapped Ron's.

'Thanks, Ron. You have been … so nice with me, this summer, you know … It's been hard.'

'Yeah, it was nothing.'

Her fingers came apart, but didn't moved much away from him. His presence was still reassuring.

If I could say you what I want to say
I'd say I wanna blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight
Yes, I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say

Their hands closed for mere instinct. They woke up startled and looked around. Light has barely visible through the heavy curtains, but it did not matter at all: Hermione gasped and sat up, releasing Ron's hand with an embarrassed speed.

'Sorry! I'm ─ I'm very sorry, Ron! I thought I was ─ um, holding ─ a ─ a … my wand, you know …'

'Yeah, I was dreaming I played Quidditch again, so … I ─ I was trying to catch the Quaffle but ─ I miss Quidditch and ─'

'Aha … Where is Harry?' she said, noticing the empty sleeping bag.

'Maybe he went to the bathroom …'

They finally parted company to go bathrooms in different floors and get dressed. Then Ron and Hermione met again on the first landing.

'He's not upstairs … I'm getting worried. What if he changed his mind and decided to return?' she told him with fear in her eyes.

'I don't think so, but we should check.' He threw a last glance at her, and he felt again, as he felt every time he fully looked at her, he had to tell out …
'Hermione … I'm gonna look downstairs.'

What's wrong with my tongue
These words keep slipping away
I stutter, I stumble
Like I've got nothing to say