Ron sat frozen in the moment. Warmth spread across his chest, down his back and up his cheeks. He felt his ears burn and his heart beating faster. His breath stopped short but his eyes didn't break away from Hermione's for one second. Ron had never been as close to Hermione as he would be laying next her. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Ron stood up, knees weak, palms sweating. These moments were becoming more frequent between Hermione and him. He knew his feelings for her were no longer something that he could conceal. They had spent the last 7 years of their lives together, he, Harry and Hermione. They had shared the most life altering experiences together. They were a family and if there was a time that his family should know he loved them, it was now. He wanted Hermione to know he cared about her. He wanted her to know that he wanted her to be safe and he wanted her to care about him, too.
Hermione rolled onto her side as Ron sat down on the edge of the bed. He kicked off his slippers and lifted his legs onto the bed. He laid back onto the flattened old pillow and pulled the bed sheet up to his stomach. Hands under his head, toes to the end of the rod iron bed rails, Ron turned his head to Hermione. Her eyes didn't meet his. They peered across his body and into the darkness on the far side of the room. The two laid in the silence of the musty old room. Waves crashed on the beach and the wind whistled quietly through the cottage. Floorboards creaked every so often and the springs below their mattress would squeak with every move, yet Ron's eyes stayed on Hermione's. Her bent knee grazed his leg and his stomach twisted into a knot. He was very much aware of their bodies whenever they came into contact. Hermione delicately pressed a finger to the side of Ron's body. He felt the little patch of skin below her finger begin to tingle. She pinched a piece of Ron's shirt between her fingers and watched as she fiddled aimlessly with it. Ron watched too. Her fingers softly tugging at his shirt made him feel close to her, so he breathed in the smell of the cabin and held onto the moment.
Finally Hermione looked up to Ron. When their gazes aligned everything sat still. She was waiting for something, he thought. He pulled one hand from behind his head and searched for her fingertips. His fingers brushed the tips of hers, and she entangled her fingers in his. Her heavy eyelids fell and Ron studied her eyes, her nose, her lips, her chin, the way her hair fell around her face. Every single freckle sprinkled across her face was pretty. He liked every one of them and so he locked his fingers in hers to hold her there. Ron looked down to their hands. Hermione's bandaged arm made him nauseous. He looked back to her face and her eyes were studying him, too.
"That will never happen again." Ron whispered to her, motioning to her wrist. Hermione smiled gently and nodded her head. Ron rolled onto his side and the bedsprings creaked and cracked below his weight. Both of their body's facing the other, Ron and Hermione smirked as their faces aligned. Their hands stayed together in place.
As the uncomfortable tension eased, Ron could tell that Hermione's thoughts had stolen her from him.
"Are you upset about the Malfoy's? They're damn bloody cowards, Hermione. You're the bravest witch I've ever met." Ron whispered to the silence. Hermione blinked her eyes slowly and Ron watched her lips curl into a tender smile. She shook her head slowly.
"What is it, then?" he asked. "Is it Dobby?"
Hermione nodded, her eyes filled with sadness, their hearts growing heavy together.
"I feel horrible." She breathed out before tears fell from her eyes again. Ron nodded, holding her hand sympathetically.
"He was so brave. He was a good elf." She cried quietly.
Ron wasn't sure what to say to comfort her. He sat up against the rod iron bed rails and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"He was a really great elf," he said back to her. "He was really great, and really brave. He died a hero."
Hermione nodded and sat up. She wiped the tears from her face. Her eyelids hung low and the circles below her eyes told Ron she needed sleep. He laid back down and pulled the big quilt up to Hermione's lap. She laid down against his body.
Her head tilted to his shoulder, Hermione breathed deeply and slowly. Ron stretched out his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close and held her as she drifted back to sleep. Her breathing steadied and her body fell into his. He felt the warmth that radiated between the two of them. She laid a hand on his shoulder and placed her head to it. Her arms squished against his side and her hair tickled his wrist. Ron reached down and pulled the heavy quilt up and tucked it around Hermione's body. Warm and exhausted with Hermione safely in his arms, Ron closed his eyes. He felt Hermione's heart beat. He listened as their breaths aligned. He listened until a wind chime and the waves were all he noticed. He listened until he didn't know that he was no longer listening. Her breathing softly rocked him to sleep.