"Hey how are you?" Harry asked Ron sadly.

"'m alright...I'll get there," he sighed.

Harry walked forwards releasing Ginny's hand and hugged Ron tightly, thumping his back as Ron did the same.

"We should really be asking you that, Harry," said Ron as he released Harry.

"I'm fine, I suppose," shrugged Harry, "Okay, fine – I'm really sore and tired and hungry. And I feel like shit," he added after they looked at him sceptically.

"We're going to bed we haven't slept yet; Harry was telling me everything about this year," Ginny told Hermione before stepping over to Ron and slapping him hard across the arm.

"OW! What the bloody hell was that for?" He asked rubbing his arm.

"That was for leaving them while you were on the run!" she exclaimed while pointing to Harry and Hermione.

"But..." he began before Ginny stepped forward and engulfed him in a hug.

"And that was for saving Harry, going back to them and FINALLY kissing Hermione," said Ginny, "even though she technically made the first move."

Harry looked at his friends and smirked. Ron was grinning and Hermione was blushing.

"Well Hermione knows I'm an idiot and she still put up with me for seven years," said Ron smiling, taking her hand and pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

"Git," Hermione giggled as she playfully shoved him.

Harry yawned hard and Ginny said, "Well we're off to bed, tell mum so she doesn't worry."

She walked past Ron and Hermione, giving them a small joint cuddle on the way, and started up the dormitory stairs. Harry made to follow her, but Ron stopped him with a hand in his shoulder,

"If you hurt her ever again, I'll kill you. Friends or not," he said so no one but Harry would hear him.

Harry looked Ron in the eyes and said sincerely,

"I never will, I love her. Oh and same goes for you, mate," he said looking at Hermione.

Ron looked confused for a moment before Harry explained,

"She may not really be my sister, but she's as good as."

Ron looked at Harry's retreating back for a moment before leaning down to give Hermione a soft lingering kiss that he hoped would show her just how much he loved her.

"What was that for?" she asked looking lovingly into his eyes.

"Nothing," he shrugged, "let's go eat," he added leading her through the portrait hole.

***

Harry entered the Seventh year boys' dormitory and found Ginny passed out on his bed. He gently removed her shoes and drew the blankets up to her chin.

Harry sat on the edge of Seamus' bed and toed off his shoes and lay back on the pillows, falling asleep instantly.

***

Ron and Hermione walked hand in hand into the Great Hall; their hearts fell and tears quickly filled their eyes as they watched Andromeda Tonks stand above her daughter and son-in-law's bodies with tears running freely down her cheeks as she tried to shush baby Teddy, who was screaming; just like he knew what had happened to his Mummy and Daddy.

"Oh my God!" Ron exclaimed as he stumbled back to the door, his breathing unsteady. He had just noticed George being forcibly dragged off of Fred's covered body by Bill and Charlie. Hermione rushed over to him and lifted his hand to her cheek as she placed her other on his cheek,

"Look at me; breathe," she ordered softly.

Behind her George was yelling,

"Let me go! Fucking let me go! He can't be dead, he can't be! Fred stop being a fucking arse!"

He continued to yell as Bill and Charlie restrained him, comforting him,

"George he's gone,"

"I'm so sorry,"

"How could he leave me!?" George cried. He stopped fighting his restraints and let Bill and Charlie hold him.

"What am I going to do? What am I going to do..." he sobbed.

Molly stood in a trance but noticed Ron and Hermione in the doorway. She walked over to them; she would be able to fuss over them, keep her hands busy, and take her mind off of Fred... She stopped at a distance listening into their conversation.

"I can't stay in t-there, with all the...bodies...a-and Fred...I c-can't..." Ron struggled through his erratic breaths.

"I know it's hard. You'll get through this; we'll get through this," she searched his eyes, "together."

"I know, it's just...George," he said his breaths becoming steadier; "I mean I know how I feel about Fred. I can't even begin to understand how he must feel. Like a part of him has died; they are – I mean were like one person, but so different at the same time. And mum; they always say that losing a child is the worst thing to have to go through. I need to pull myself together. They're going to need me."

Hermione took her hand from his cheek and laced her fingers with his,

"Ron you need to grieve too, you can't push your feelings aside. It won't be good for you or them. We're going to need each other. We'll find a way to do this."

"I know 'Mione. I need you; I love you," he said leaning down to kiss her tenderly.

As he pulled away she said,

"I love you too. It'll get better we can do this – it'll take time,"

Hermione turned around after a few more words of encouragement and came nose to nose with Molly Weasley.

"Hey, Mum," said Ron sadly. Before he could do anything else Molly pulled him and Hermione into a bone crushing hug,

"I'm so happy that you two have finally told each other how you feel."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other as she released them. They were both thinking the same thing – how had she known that they'd liked each other.

"Oh don't look at each other like that. We all knew that you two liked each other for years, it was so obvious! Honestly Ron if it took you any longer to notice I would have had Ginny hex you," Molly said simply.

"Goodness, look at the two of you; skin and bone," she said looking them up and down; not giving them anytime to speak, "come on let's get you fed," she said, shoving them across the entrance hall to the chamber that faced the Great Hall.

Inside the room was like a miniature Great Hall with a few smaller tables laden with breakfast food.

Arthur was already sitting at the table with Percy. Arthur was simply moving his food around his plate as Percy stared into his mug of coffee. Hermione and Ron took seats across from them as Molly started piling their plates high with bacon and eggs. She filled their cups for them. When there was nothing left or her to do she asked,

"Where's Harry and Ginny?"

"Oh they've not long gone to bed. They stayed up through the night talking about what happened to us this year and why we had to do it. And no we're not going to tell you that's up to Harry," Ron said noticing that his mother was about to ask.

They sat in silence for a few moments; save the noises of Ron and Hermione's cutlery scraping across their plates.

"Well I'm going to see if there's anything needing done," Molly said standing and leaving the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her Arthur let out a sad sigh,

"She's going to wear herself down. I don't think she slept at all last night."

"There's nothing we can do just now. She's in denial Mr Weasley. We need to leave her be just now and be willing to help her when she's ready," said Hermione wisely.

"I wish I was in denial," said Arthur tears filling his eyes, "then maybe I wouldn't feel like this. One of my babies died," he said his tears now falling thick and fast.

Percy continued to examine his coffee his tears dripping off the end of his nose splashing into his mug.

Ron dropped his fork and let out a strangled cough as the lump in his throat formed and his eyes burned.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Hermione said tears evident in her voice. She reached across the table and squeezed Arthur's hand comfortingly and Ron gripped tightly to her other.

"He was great. He and George were always driving me crazy though; remember the time they were testing out the skiving snackboxes on the first years? They only stopped when I threatened to tell Mrs Weasley," Hermione said as they all smiled sadly.

"They were so brilliant together, they were so incredibly smart. I have all of their products. I owl ordered them all under a different name so they didn't send them to me cursed; which they probably would have considering how much of a prat I've been. I'm so sorry that I left. I missed everyone so much," Percy said speaking for the first time,

"I mean I've always been one to follow authority and rules to the letter; that's why I sided with the Ministry at first. By the time I knew my mistake I was in too deep and had alienated myself from you all. I didn't know what to do, I felt trapped."

"It's okay Perce, we forgive you. Everyone makes mistakes," said Ron.

"Thank you," he said thickly as Arthur slung his arm around his shoulder and gave him a squeeze.

"We're all going to need each other," said Arthur as Bill Charlie and Percy entered the room. They seated themselves next to Arthur,

"Mum's with George in Gryffindor tower," Bill said.

"Dad can I move back in for a while? I don't want to go back to Romania," Charlie asked.

"Of course you can. You're always welcome. Your mum will be pleased," Arthur replied with a small smile.

"I didn't realise how much I'd missed. I missed everyone growing up, especially Ron and Ginny. Family's the most important. I don't want to miss anything ever again," he said.

Everyone sat in a mournful silence, appreciating that they still had each other.

A/N: Hey hope you're enjoying the story so far I will try to keep it updated as quick as possible. Thanks please review!!