Dumbledore's office was lit by the moon streaming through the window; casting eerie shadows in the corners.

"I am really sorry," Harry began in barely a whisper, "About everything; breaking up with you last year, for not telling you everything that was happening, for underestimating your ability to cope with hearing what I had to do, for not saying goodbye, for letting you think I was dead, for Fred-,"

"That wasn't your fault," Ginny cut in, "Fred knew what he was getting himself into, we all did. We all knew what war meant; we could die," she said, the last word barely audible has her throat constricted and tears began rolling down her cheeks.

Harry started forwards and tried to rest his hand reassuringly on her arm, causing Ginny to turn away abruptly and hastily wipe her eyes on her sleeve.

"Don't" she said firmly, "I'm confused, I don't know how I feel right now," she explained.

"I-," Harry started only to be cut off again by Ginny.

"Part of me wants to hate you, but every time I look at you everything disappears and there's only you; and that's the part of me that loves you even though I don't want to because I want to hate you for leaving me. And Fred's dead and I'm exhausted and I can't think straight. I can't...I just...I don't know what to think!" she cried.

Harry had stood quietly during Ginny's rant watching her gradually lose steam. He didn't know what to say his own exhaustion clouding his brain. He turned Ginny to face him and she looked forcefully at her shoes refusing to meet his gaze. He lifted his hand to her chin and made Ginny look him in the eyes; the sadness there was almost unbearable to him.

"Don't think..." he told her gently, "Just feel."

Ginny looked into Harry's startlingly emerald eyes and lost herself. She reached up and pulled his face towards hers and kissed him tenderly. She pushed her body against his; Harry reacting keenly by running his fingers through her fiery mane his other hand wandering up and down her side coming to rest on her hip. Ginny groaned as Harry's tongue pushed at her lips demanding entrance to meet hers. She tangled her fingers in his unruly jet black hair as he pushed her against the wall as the kiss deepened further into oblivion. Ginny reached her hand under his T-shirt and ran her hand across his toned stomach; she reached for his belt buckle...

"Stop," Harry panted resting his forehead on Ginny's, "We can't; not now. Merlin I want to but not now."

"I know," Ginny breathed, "I couldn't help myself; I lost control."

"I know...Come on," he said taking her hand and leading her to the door of the office, "We should sleep, I haven't slept in almost two days" he said checking his watch and noticing how tired he was.

As soon as Harry mentioned the word 'sleep' Ginny let her body droop from emotional and physical exhaustion,

"Okayyy..." she yawned.

Harry led the way through the castle to the portrait of the fat lady who didn't ask for a password but simply swung open as she saw who was approaching. Harry gave a small smile in thanks and entered the common room with Ginny at his heels; just as Ron and Hermione descended the boys' staircase hand in hand.

***

Ron's sobs subsided,

"Sorry..." he muttered wiping his nose on his sleeve and sitting back from Hermione.

"It's okay...You have a right to mourn...We all do," she said reassuringly looking into his bright blue eyes with concern.

Ron nodded and got up from the bed,

"I'm going for a shower," he said, "But I don't have any clean clothes or anything," he sighed in afterthought.

"I can fix up the ones you're wearing while you're in the shower; I can clean them up and fix the holes and stuff." said Hermione thankful that she would have something to do to keep her mind occupied.

"Thanks Hermione; you really are amazing," Ron said as he leaned down and gave Hermione a small kiss on the forehead.

Ron walked over to the bathroom door grabbing a towel from the cupboard on the way. He shut the door over and began to undress; peeling his ruined clothing from his sore muscles. He turned on the shower and opened the bathroom door just enough to drop his clothes outside the door. He stepped into the shower letting the scalding spray soothe his aching body.

***

Hermione looked up as she heard a small thud; Ron's belt buckle had just hit the floor along with the rest of his clothes. Hermione stood and gathered them up and set them on the bed. She started with his underwear first; she help them up in front of her eyes; there was no holes in them.

"Scourgify," she muttered pointing her wand at them.

Hermione continued to examine Ron's clothing muttering as she went,

"Scourgify," she removed the dirt and dust that had accumulated from the battle;

"Reparo," she watched the holes knit themselves closed;

"Terego," she siphoned off the blood.

She folded them neatly and sat back down and sighed. She could still hear the water running in the bathroom. Ron was certainly taking his time.

She stood once more and gathered the tidy bundle and stepped into the bathroom. She set them on the counter next to the sink. She wiped her hand over the misted mirror and took in her appearance sighing as she preened herself with a furrowed brow; she didn't notice the water shut off. 'I really hope the cut along my jaw doesn't scar' she thought tracing her finger along it.

"Hey gorgeous," Ron's voice startled Hermione and she jumped facing him.

Ron was leaning on one shoulder against the tiled wall, his arms folded across his chest, and a fluffy 'Gryfinndor red' towel wrapped around his waist. Hermione gaped at him for a moment; her knees going weak. His red hair was dripping into his eyes; 'Oh Fuck, I want him!,' she thought.

"Sorry, I was just leaving your clothes in here for you-,"

"No, it's fine, don't worry about it," he shrugged while walking towards her.

"I'll just let you get ready and go for my shower," she squealed wobbling from the room.

She closed the door behind and quickly grabbed a towel from the cupboard and descended the stairs to another bathroom.

***

When Hermione returned to the seventh year boys' dormitory Ron was sitting in front of the window staring out at the destruction.

"Hi," Hermione said softly as she walked up behind him.

"Hey," he replied turning to face her.

Hermione looked at the floor, shifting nervously from foot to foot and biting her lip. Ron loved it that she done that when she was nervous or shy; it startled him a little that he knew that about her. When he actually thought about it he knew so much about her; she always blushed modestly when teachers praised her – which constantly gave her flushed cheeks as she was always getting praise because, quite frankly, she's a genius; The way her eyes flashed when she was angry – bloody hell what a turn on!

Ron pulled himself out of his thoughts to cuddle her,

"Thank you Hermione, thanks for being here with me through all of this shit."

"Don't be daft, I like spending time just us," Hermione replied a small smile playing on her lips.

"Willyoubemygirlfriend?" Ron asked uncertainly rubbing the back of his neck.

"What, sorry?" she asked.

"Hermione, will you be my g-girlfriend," he asked quietly

She smiled fully ready to answer, but before she could respond Ron started rambling,

"You don't have to say yes, I mean I won't hate you if you say no – you don't have to spare my feelings 'cause I could never hate you-,"

"Ron-,"

"Even though I was a royal prat in fourth year with the Yule ball thing and in third year with the whole 'you're cat killed my rat thing' – oh yeah and the whole Lavender thing; I didn't even like her-,"

"Ron-,"

"I mean I got mad when Ginny said you kissed Krum in fourth year and how I hadn't kissed anyone – anyway long story. I shouldn't have done anything like that to you, but hell you're gorgeous when you're angry – you're eyes get darker and all intense-,"

"Ron-,"

"I've wasted so much time. I've liked you for years. I didn't realise it till like fifth year, even with the Krum thing; but still. I've been a right prick to you at times. So it's cool; I get it that you don't love me back-,"

"RON!"

He stopped mid-monologue and looked at her startled.

"Yes," she said smiling.

"Yes, what?" he asked stupidly.

Hermione rolled her eyes,

"Yes, Ron I WILL be your girlfriend. I could never hate you either; I don't care about any of our stupid arguments; I never kissed Viktor. And I do love you back,"

Ron gaped at her,

"I love you Ron; always have, always will," she said looking deep into his eyes.

Ron grinned and scooped her into his arms and swung her around and she squealed.

Ron kissed her passionately as he set her down and they swayed on the spot for several minutes.

"I love you," Ron said breathlessly as he pulled away,

"I love you too," she said

Ron's stomach grumbling loudly caused him to smile sheepishly and Hermione to giggle,

"Come on; let's get some food; preferably not mushrooms," she said

Ron screwed up his face, "I don't think I'll ever be able to eat one ever again and I eat anything."

Hermione laughed,

"Come on," she said as she led him down the dormitory stairs and into the common room.

On the last step they saw Harry and Ginny stepping through the portrait hole.