Chapter 8

Severus walked into the Transfiguration classroom at lunch time to inquire if Hermione wanted to walk with him to the great hall for food, or have house elves bring it up to them. He found her crying in her office with her head on the desk.

He gently picked her head up and asked said, "What's going on?"

Hermione looked up at his concerned face and began to cry even more. Severus pulled her up and sat in her chair sitting her on his lap. He held her while she cried and waited patiently until she wanted to talk.

"Sev…Seve…Severus she said between sobs. Ron killed himself in Azkaban."

Severus was shocked, but was glad that he could never hurt her again. He understood how she felt and his heart ached for her, knowing himself how hard it is to lose a best friend. Even one who you were fighting with. He said soothing things to her while he held her there for almost an hour. She finally stopped crying just as Harry Potter walked into her office. He looked them over once and simply nodded in acknowledgement. Hermione had already sent him an owl telling him they'd started to see each other out of their friendship. While Harry found it a little strange, he had more respect for Severus than he did for any other living person. He walked over and Hermione stood and threw herself at him. They cried together then. The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon talking about the good times when they were younger and crying.

At around 5, Harry said, "The family is meeting at the burrow and they want you to come Hermione."

Hermione hadn't seen the entire Weasley family since Ron had put her in the hospital. She'd received owls from all of them saying that Ron deserved his time in Azkaban, but she still felt awful about it.

"Okay Harry, let's go then. Severus, I'll be back later tonight, would you mind meeting me in my quarters at around 8? The password is Polyjuiced Pomfry."

He agreed and Harry and Hermione made their way to the apparation point to go to the burrow. They arrived at just before 5:30 and were met at the door by a weeping Ginny. Harry reached out to hold his wife when George came through the door to see a silently crying Hermione. He held her and ran his hand over her hair like any brother would do.

He told them all, "Come on you lot, let's get on inside."

They walked into the house crammed full of all the Weasleys and half the order members.

Molly walked over to Hermione and engulfed her in a tight hug saying, "Hermione, where have you been, it's been ages. Oh dear you look peaky, come have some tea with us. Ron always loved you, you know? Even in the end, I know he loved you."

At this she started to sob. Arthur Weasley came over and led her to the couch to sit down. He came back then and hugged Harry and Hermione both saying, "You know I love you both and you are always welcome at this house. Ron always loved you two, I know it."

They all sat around the living room telling stories and trying their best to make each other think of better times with Ron. Hermione arrived back to her rooms drained and dejected. She opened the door to find Severus sleeping with a book over his chest. She walked over and smiled down at him. She lifted the book and he awoke and sat up quickly. He was breathing heavily and looked confused.

He started to apologize but Hermione cut him off saying, "I understand I have the nightmares still too. Can I lie with you?"

He enlarged the couch in answer and she lay beside him. He stroked her hair and said, "How did it go?"

As soon as the words left his mouth he felt stupid. It wasn't like she'd just gone to tea with the minister; she'd gone to a gathering for the dead.

She just said back, "It was nice to talk about old times with the whole family."

She started crying again then, but softly this time. He held her and continued to stroke her hair until she fell asleep. He stayed that night, just holding her.