Natch: of course; naturally.
June 7, 1997
It was very late when Ron and Hermione finally stumbled into the common room, but to neither of their surprise, it was crowded with people. A few groups around the portrait hole fell silent, staring at them as if they were Martians. Hermione ignored them as she marched purposefully across the room toward the spiral staircases, and Ron attempted to do the same as he bustled in her wake.
By the time they made it to the other side, Ron wondered why he had ever envied the stares Harry often attracted. Half the room was watching them now. Ron thought about going up to his dormitory for half a second before dismissing the idea. It would be empty, and despite it being early summer, the night had turned cold. Without even needing to glance at each other, the two of them found a vacant window and sat down side by side on the ledge, eyes still following them.
Across the room, Dean broke the hushed silence. "Oi! Quit gaping like fish. They're not about to start doing back flips or anything."
A few people turned to scowl at him, but most looked away and struck up low, murmured conversation. For nearly the entirety of Gryffindor house there, it was eerily quiet, but the murmurs at least allowed enough cover for a whispered exchange.
At first they talked about Lupin's prediction that the school would be closed. But in that moment, this topic did not seem so earth-shattering as it might have a few hours before.
"I suppose this means it's all down to Harry, now," Hermione breathed, sagging back against the window as if the thought blew her over.
Ron nodded. Of course it was. It always had been, he figured.
"But we'll be there," he said, and it was not a question or a fierce declaration, but a statement as natural and assured if he were stating his name or reciting his birthdate. And without so much as a twitch, Hermione nodded solemnly in agreement.
It was not long after that that they went their separate ways, not another word needing to pass between them. It had been decided upon long before now, after all. What more needed to be said?
A/N: not a whole very much longer, but there you have it. Another update today. I do wonder about what Ron and Hermione talked about when they were on their own. I suppose some of the time it had to be Harry. It wasn't really his fault, but it must have really taken the two of them to handle his problems sometimes. Anyway, review?