Chapter 4: "Here we go"
Hermione swept her hand across the steam ridden surface of the girl's room mirror, and starred, for an instant, at her reflection before allowing the steam to creep back. She sighed slightly when she caught the gaze of her own swollen eyes. The darkened circles that encompassed her soft brown eyes and the pale dryness that lingered on her skin revealed just how much this year had taken. Her wet hair hung in heavy curls of dark brown all around her head giving the appearance of shadows. She adjusted the towel hugging her chest and admired the sensation of being clean. She smiled contently for a moment, before letting her eyes drift over the scars the past year had cause. She turned her hands over, again and again examining each little mark that chandler had made that night at Malfoy manor. She hesitated staring at small burn mark at the base of her ring finger on her left palm which she had received many months ago, back in the tent, from Ron and a rather hot cup of tea. She grinned, remembering how he had apologized over and over. He had felt so terrible for something which had barely left a mark. Hermione could only imagine how he felt know. Why couldn't he ever just let things go? But that was just it, he was Ron, and Ron couldn't let things go, especially when it came to her. The show he'd made at Bill's wedding had surely proved that point. It was only Victor, the first boy to have ever really shown an interest in her. That night at the ball with Victor Krum had changed a lot of things for Hermione, for once she had finally felt beautiful something she hadn't thought possible. For a moment there was a glimpse of perfection, the dress, the hair, the stares, the boy. And then, as always, Ron swooped in.
Hermione could still remember the hours spent in this very room crying over all the stupid things that boy had done over the years. This restroom was unlike all the others in that its ceiling hung low and its tiling was few. When a sob escaped in this room it did not ascend to the heavens catching and bouncing upon the walls. No, in this room tears and cries would vanish as quickly as they came like the now dispersing vapors lying across Hermione's mirror. She reached for her ever faithful beaded bag, resting on the granite counter, and pulled from it her very last pair of clean clothes. Once she had changed and added just a touch of makeup she walked over the still wet tile floor to one of the massive arched windows overlooking the lake. Pulling back the gossamer draping she peered on to the small congregation below as they prepared for the ceremony. Harry and Ron were just barely visible organizing chairs.
How was she going to get through this? She'd never been very good at funerals. Once, at her Great Uncle Oswald's wake, she'd run out sobbing into her palms, when she'd only ever met the man once, all she could remember about him was he'd smelt of stale tobacco and pinched her cheeks. She had done just fine at Dumbledore's funeral but that was only because Ron had been so strong for her. Now that it was her turn to comfort Ron she just didn't know.
She took one last look at the mid afternoon sun and turned to the door to leave.
When she reached the great hall she found The Weasleys, Harry, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Kingsley, and a rather prestigious looking McGonagall standing in a large group keeping to small null conversations. Noting George's evident but understandable absence, Hermione slipped into the small space between Harry and Ron. Despite her efforts to remain unnoticed, Ron had watched her descend the steps leading to the great hall and was waiting tentatively for her to reach the circle.
"Hey." he half whispered in her ear, though no one was listening.
"Hey." She replied "How are you?"
He didn't answer but instead looked up at her, his eyes full of pain.
Leaning in she whispered "It's gonna be alright", slipping her hand into his as she did so. He gave it a light squeeze and rubbed his thumb in little strokes along its surface.
They both turned their attentions back to the slightly quieter crowd. The conversations had dissipated now, but it seemed others' eyes where now cased on Hermione and Ron. They seem to all share the same smug grins or apple-cheeked smiles, though some donned expressions of sheer confusion, still others hadn't cared to notice at all. Ginny, who had never gotten her answer, seem simply delighted. The couple, red faced and rather phased, smiled and both gave soft awkward laughs.
"well, uh… we should probably get going than." Said Bill, clearing his throat.
"right" they all muttered in agreement.
"Here we go…" whispered Ron, his voice laden with emotion.
AN: Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews and subscriptions, they mean the world! This is my first ever FanFiction so I was extremely nervous but you guys have been wonderful. I know this chapter was short but I felt there needed to be a contrast seeing as in the past they've been so long. Oh, and I've resolved to be better about posting new chapters lives' just been a little crazy around here. Now I've got to go to bed because it's nearly one in the morning here and I've got cheer try outs tomorrow, night! Hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed writing.