Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor do make money.

67. Bright

Ron was finally making it back to his room. He had stayed with Theo in the infirmary until he had fallen asleep in the bed next to Hermione. But now it was time for Ron, to find his own comfort after watching his friends and classmates own innocence disappear.

Being after midnight, he didn't expect Pansy to be up. He only hoped that she hadn't decided to stay with Ginny tonight. That she was now sleeping in their bed in their room off the eighth year common room. Because all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her, pull her into his body, breath her natural scent of lavender and chamomille and fall asleep before the news of today's incident hit emThe Daily Prophet/em. He was not looking forward to the next few days full of trips to the Ministry, interviews with Aurors, letters and quite possibly visits from family members.

Walking into the common room, his day finally became a bit brighter. There on the sofa in front of the dimming light of the fire was Pansy sound asleep in the Cannon's jersey he had realized days ago, was never going to be his again, and a pair of his pants. She looked so peaceful curled up on the sofa.

Sitting down on the floor by her, he gently brushed her hair out of face. Taking the moment just to appreciate the spite of the girl that had sent his life first into a tailspin before proving to be the salvation he had spent a lifetime looking for.

"You're back," he heard her mumble, half-awake, half-asleep.

"Yes," he whispered back as he kept gently touching and caressing her silken locks.

"How's Hermione?"

"Theo says it looked alot worse than it turned out to be. It will be a few days before she wakes but they anticipate a full recovery."

"And Theo?"

"Doing his best to hold himself together. Madame Pomfrey is letting him stay by her so I think that's helping him out."

"That's good," she mumbled. Ron smiled at how she was fighting to stay awake but the stress of the day was winning out.

"Why don't we go to bed?" he gently asked, but ended up with no response. Chuckling lightly, he moved to stand.

Once on his feet, he slid his arms around her and as slowly and gently as possible lifted her up into his arms as she mumbled, "Luna stayed with Ginny tonight. And Neville's with Harry. And I get you."

Kissing her on the forehead, he murmured, "And I get you."

"That's good. Because you are stuck with me."

Letting out a laughing sigh, Ron whispered, "And you are stuck with me," before carrying her into their bedroom.