A/N: I had every intention of making this a lemon, but in the end, I wasn't up for the task when I was writing this. So, the M rating will come next chapter, more than likely. Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed. I hope you all continue to enjoy this story. Thanks to BlackHawk13 for reading this over for me. :-)

Disclaimer: Don't own HP. Ever.

Hermione sighed as she leaned against the counter of the Granger's new flat, taking a slow bite of pudding. It was chocolaty and delicious, but it did nothing to improve her mood.

She was home alone at the moment. She had very reluctantly moved out of the Burrow the day after her parents moved home from Australia. It was harder to bear than she could have ever imagined. She and Ron had been together, year round, day in and day out for what felt like decades, in reality the better part of seven years. Being without him felt like some sort of special torture, far beyond what Bellatrix could ever have inflicted.

It still made her head swim to think of the last seven years, and what had happened. More than growing up, like any other person her age, she had fought a war. And won. The thought still blew her mind, and she was sure that it would take more than a few months, if ever, to fully comprehend it all.

Her parents had gone away for the weekend, to see her grandparents in London. Hermione needed the time alone. It had been a long time… almost too long… since she'd been alone.

But she missed Ron. Her body, her mind, her heart, ached for him. She missed falling asleep in his arms, kissing him, making love with him. She had left the Burrow several weeks ago, and though Ron visited her, and she him, every spare moment they had, their families had to take priority.

She concentrated on the flavor of the chocolate. The smooth, rich texture of it. The heady aroma. Anything to get her mind off of Ron and how badly she needed him at that moment.

She scraped the last few bites of the pudding out of the bowl, savoring each morsel, and turned to wash the dish and spoon in the sink. She scrubbed the bowl slowly, taking her time. Doing things the Muggle way always helped her relax. She concentrated on calming her body as she rinsed the bowl in the dishwater, watching the water flow slowly out of the tap, soaking in the sunlight, which was barely streaming through the kitchen window.

She watched the clouds. The sky was orange and the thin strands of clouds glowed pink. She sighed. When was the last time she'd appreciated a sunset? When had she had the time to?

The memories that bombarded her were too painful to think about. She shut the curtains with a snap and dried the bowl much more quickly. She didn't want to think anymore. It was too much. Tears were threatening to spill over onto her cheeks.

A rapid knock on the front door made her startle. She wasn't expecting anyone, and few people knew her parents were back in town, let alone moved into a new flat. Hermione missed her old bedroom. It would have comforted her more than she would have expected it to.

Hermione hurried to the door, but not before she slipped her wand out of her sleeve, just in case. There were still too many of Voldemort's followers hiding to truly feel safe yet.

"Psst, Hermione! Let me in!"

"Ron? Is that you?"

"Of course it is! Let me in, I'm freezing my bollocks off out here!"

Hermione flung the door open, and Ron stepped in immediately, rubbing his forearms for warmth. "Bloody hell, I'm effing freezing. Why do you have your wand out?"

"Death Eaters," she said.

"Don't you have wards up?"

"Yes, but… you can't be too careful." Hermione said, hands on her hips. "What are you doing here, Ron?"

"I missed you… and your mum and dad aren't here," he said simply. He gave her a sly, half-grin, and she couldn't help but smile at him.

Hermione found herself in his arms in the next moment, and she sighed as he tightened his arms around her, ensuring their bodies were perfectly curved into each other. She buried her face into his chest, inhaling his musky, masculine scent.

"I've missed you so much, love," he whispered. He took one hand to tilt her face towards his, and rubbed the nape of her neck as he pulled her in for a kiss. She returned it, and settled further into his arms.

A moment later, she pulled back, and placed kisses along his jaw. "Can I get you something to eat? I have some leftover pudding if you'd like."

He nodded eagerly, and she led him to the kitchen. "How is everyone at the Burrow? I miss everyone," she said as she began pulling various things out of the cupboard for Ron to eat, knowing Ron would be hungry for more than just pudding.

"All right. Mum's getting better, and she actually laughed last night. Ginny and Harry are almost disgusting to be around now with all their snogging… They're together now, but I'm sure you knew that... And…" He paused, accepting the bowl from Hermione's hands. "George has asked me to work in the shop with him. Just for awhile."

He looked terribly nervous as he told his girlfriend this, and took a huge bite of the chocolate cake to distract himself. He was worried about her reaction, what she'd say.

"So… you won't be coming back to Hogwarts with me?" Her voice was sad, and she instantly hated herself for her selfish reaction.

"Uh, I guess so. You know me, Hermione… I'm rubbish at school, without you, that is, and George really needs me…"

Hermione put her fingers to his lips, silencing him.

"Ron, it's alright. I understand. You're right, George needs you. I can't be selfish and ask you to come with me. It's only one school year. It'll be over before we know it. And then…"

Her voice drifted off, not wanting to give away too much, to scare Ron about her thoughts on the future. They were still young, still new in their relationship, and it was far too soon to be making plans.

She cleared her throat, and continued. "I think it's wonderful you want to help George."

"Yeah, well…" Ron blushed.

She held out her arms to him, and he stared at her for a moment, confused.

"A hug, Ronald."

"Right," he said, setting down the bowl and gathering her up into his arms. He buried his face in her wild hair, relaxing as he took in her familiar fragrance, the perfume he'd given her for Christmas fifth year. "So it's OK?"

She smiled, though he couldn't see it. "Ron, you don't have to have my permission. I think it's wonderful of you. I'm just going to miss you. I had hoped we'd go back together. But I understand." She smiled again, hoping he wouldn't see the traitorous tears that glinted in her eyes.

"I love you so much, Hermione."

"I love you, too, Ron. Too much," she replied softly.

He tilted her head back to capture her mouth in a kiss. Hermione's heart pounded with the sensations his lips brought her, and the wash of pain she still felt. She clung to him, weak with emotion and need.

Ron sensed her distress and pulled away. "What's the matter, Hermione?"

"Ron, I need you. Just… make me forget things. Before you came here, I couldn't stop thinking about everything… it's too much. I need you, I want you."

"Hermione…"

"Don't say anything, Ron," she said huskily. She pulled him to her, and kissed him deeply until they were both breathless. Her body relaxed as she forgot everything that had plagued her mind previously. Everything was Ron. He was all she could feel, taste.

Before long, they were both lost in each other, and the rest of the world had truly melted away. Need of comfort was replaced by need for skin against skin, and before either one knew it Ron was dragging Hermione upstairs towards her bedroom, desperate for each other.