Chapter Five

Hermione was first to wake. She rolled over to get up, only to bump into something large and solid. Before she could figure out what it was, an "Ah!" came from the form, and she was suddenly yanked to the floor.

After saying, "Ow." A couple of times and getting her hair out of her face, Hermione rolled over—with caution this time—and faced Ron, who was rubbing his shoulder.

"Ron?"

"Ouch. Yeah

"Did you fall asleep up here? On my bed?"

Ron's face became really red, "Erm. I guess. But how did my blanket get up here?" He held up a green blanket.

Hermione marveled at how the blanket made his hair stand out. "I don't recall you having it with you."

There was a knock on the door and Luna popped her head in, "Are you two all right? I heard a bang."

They both sat up, but it was Ron who answered, "Yeah. Luna, where did you sleep last night? Why didn't you wake me up?"

Luna took a step inside, "I was waiting downstairs, figuring I wouldn't miss you when you came back, but after a while, I decided to check on you and you were both fast asleep. I didn't want to wake either of you, so I just left you. I slept in my bed, I just woke up before you two did. As for the blanket you're holding Ron, you looked quite cold just lying there in your pajamas, so I went back downstairs and brought it up for you."

"Riiight." Ron said, acting as if it all made perfect sense to him, and he wasn't creeped out at all.

"Luna, who else is up?" Hermione asked.

"Everyone except Mr. Ollivander and Griphook, though I think he's just refusing to get up yet." Luna happily answered.

"What!" Ron detangled himself from the mass of sheets and jumped up, "Everyone!" He pulled Hermione up and then started smoothing down his hair.

Hermione ignored Ron's strange reaction, "Okay, thanks Luna, we'll be down in a second."

"Okay." Luna said, and then closed the door behind her.

"What should we say?" Ron asked in a panicked voice.

"What do you mean?"

"Hermione, I never came back down! They'll think we were…you know…up to something."

"Oh. Yes, I see." Hermione's cheeks turned pink, "Um, you can just say that you came up to check on me while everyone else was waking up, and you simply haven't come down till now."

"Me? Waking up early? I doubt any of them would believe that part."

"Just add that you couldn't sleep. Besides, I don't see you coming up with anything else!"

"Fine, fine. Let's go, I'm starving."

Ron looked out one of the windows in the living room and saw Harry sitting by Dobby's grave. Hermione had gone to take a nap, and everyone was basically sitting around, recuperating from the time spent at Malfoy Manor, so Ron decided to go and join his friend.

"Hey mate, how you holding up?" Ron sat down next to Harry.

Harry stared at the headstone, which now read, Here Lies Dobby, a Free Elf. "I told him. I told him five years ago to never try and save my life again."

"Yeah, but he was a free elf," Ron motioned to the headstone, "it says it right there. He could do whatever he wanted and what he wanted to do was save you, even if it meant putting himself in danger. It's like chess. The other pieces are constantly putting themselves in danger for the king."

"I don't really like chess; I can never beat you. And aren't you the one they chant 'Weasley Is Our King' for?"

Ron shrugged, "You just need to develop your strategies. Okay, how about, we all put ourselves in danger for 'The Chosen One'?"

"Whatever, I still don't like people putting themselves in danger for me."

"Don't look at it that way then. Look at it that people are doing it to bring down You-Know-Who; to make a better world for their friends and families. You're just the one with the best chance."

"I also don't like being the one with the best chance, but I can't just quit, not with so many depending on me. I don't think you and Hermione would ever speak to me again either. But you don't have to worry about that, I will not give up."

Ron put a hand on Harry's shoulder, "I definitely wouldn't want to be in your position, but Hermione and me do our best to help you, and we won't give up either."

"Yeah, thanks for all your help. Really. I wouldn't have gotten this far without you two." Harry paused, "How is Hermione doing?"

"She's feeling much better I think."

"Do you reckon she'll want to continue after what I caused her to go through?"

"You know her, she can be quite stubborn when she wants to be, and she doesn't like to leave things unfinished." Ron chuckled to himself, "She probably sees this whole thing as a big homework assignment and, as much as I don't like it, she'll do whatever it takes to get a good grade."

Harry gave a small smile, "Do you really believe she sees it like that?"

"I dunno, but I wouldn't be surprised."

Back at the house, Bill took a few steps outside, "Ron! Harry! Dinner is ready!"

Ron immediately stood up and then looked down at Harry, who was still sitting, "Aren't you coming in?"

Harry was quiet for a second and then got up, "Yeah."

As he walked with Harry back to Shell Cottage, there was a pleasant sea breeze that ruffled his hair and refreshed his mood. They were together again and maybe even stronger than before. They got this far; maybe they could make it all the way.

When Ron got inside the kitchen and saw that everyone, including Hermione, was already sitting, he looked at Hermione and said, "What you are doing down here? I would have brought you some food."

Her eyebrows knitted together in skepticism, "If I had let you do that, the plate would have been half empty by the time you reached me. And you are not my servant."

"I would only have a spoonful." Ron admitted as he sat down across from her, "And I'm not a servant, I'm a house-elf—we will be getting many more rights." He grinned.

Hermione gave him a look he had never seen before. Her mouth was half-open and her eyes were wide as she looked at him. Ron was a little scared of it, since he didn't know what it meant, so he busied himself with his utensils.

Then, Luna, who was sitting next to Hermione, asked, "Hermione can you pass the potatoes?"

Hermione continued to stare at Ron.

"Hermione?" Harry said a little louder, and she was brought back to reality.

Hermione turned sharply to Harry, "What?"

Luna asked if you could pass the potatoes."

"Oh, sorry Luna, I just…" She grabbed the plate, turned a deep shade of pink, and muttered to herself, "realized something."