Thoughts

The wooden floor was cool against Hermione's bare feet as she landed on the bottom floor of the Burrow. She had become extremely familiar with the layout of the Burrow and knew where things like blankets and pillows were, and she knew where everything went in the kitchen. Ron propelled her forwards into the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was fluttering about preparing breakfast.

Hermione dropped Ron's hand, not without effort, and asked Molly if there was anything she could do to help. "Oh Hermione dear, you're too kind. Well it would be lovely if you could set the table for me."

"No problem at all." Hermione said, smiling. She always wanted to help because Mrs. Weasley was the sweetest, most hard working woman Hermione knew.

"Thank you, dear." Mrs. Weasley gave Hermione a pat on the cheek.

Hermione got the plates and jumped slightly when she saw Ron standing behind her. "Want some help?"

"Sure. Can you get the glasses?" Hermione said, walking by him to place the plates.

"You've got it." She looked over her shoulder and peeked at Ron as he grabbed several glasses. He was in a green tank top that had a R on it and Chudley Cannons pyjama pants. His hair was rumpled and Hermione couldn't help but think of how cute he looked. She looked back at the table and finished setting down the plates.

She went to go get the cutlery and laughed at Ron as he attempted to carry all seven glasses at once. "Be careful, Ronald, before you break something."

Ron muttered something under his breath but he was hiding a smile. They finished setting the table and Mrs. Weasley thanked them and asked them if they could gather everyone for breakfast.

"Dad's probably out in the shed. I'll go get him." Ron said.

"Ok, I'll get everyone who's inside." Hermione replied. Ron went outside and Hermione jogged up the stairs and padded down the hall. She knocked on Ron's door, calling Harry and telling him it was almost time for breakfast. She heard his shout of reply and moved to find Ginny.

Ginny was sitting on her bed, holding a newspaper clipping in her hand. As Hermione got closer she could see that the newspaper clipping was from the time when the Weasley's all went to Egypt. Ginny's face was solemn. Hermione sat down beside Ginny and put her arm around the other girl. "Are you alright?"

Ginny nodded and continued staring at the picture. Hermione could tell that Ginny had been crying before because her eyes were slightly red and puffy. Ginny brushed the photo with her fingers and stopped on Fred. "I miss him so much." She whispered.

"I know you do. We all do," Hermione said. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Ginny, because I know how much Fred meant to you. He was your older brother, and I'm sure it's harder because you looked up to him at some point. I'm still here for you if you want to talk."

Ginny let out a shaky breath. "I loved Fred very much. I did look up to him a lot. Him and George were always looking after me and I'm attached to them more than I am with my other brothers." Ginny shook her head. "I can't believe he's gone."

Hermione pulled Ginny into a hug. "Me neither." They embraced for a bit and then Hermione remembered why she had come up. "Oh, breakfast is almost ready." Hermione said, pulling away.

"Oh, all right." Ginny wiped at her eyes and ran her hands through her hair and left with Hermione.

As they left Hermione said, "Oh, umm, I need to tell George. Don't wait up!" Ginny shrugged and headed for the stairs, and then paused. "Oh, Hermione, don't think that I've forgotten about this morning. We've still got to talk about your night last night." She winked and Hermione flushed.

Hermione walked quietly to George's room. She knocked softly on the Quidditch banner covered door. As she waited for a reply, she could see that stickers had been peeled off of the door. They were mostly shaped like the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes Logo. Hermione frowned. George had closed down the joke shop and had stayed at the Burrow, mostly in his room, for the past week.

She knocked again. "George?" No answer. "George, if you're in there, your mum's made some breakfast." There was still no answer. "George did you hear-"

"Hermione?" said a voice behind her. Hermione jumped and turned around. George was standing there. He must have been in the bathroom. "Oh sorry, didn't mean to give you a scare." His tone was stripped of its usual cheeriness, and Hermione could see dark rings under his eyes.

"Oh I'm fine. Breakfast is ready, if you're hungry." Hermione said, smiling encouragingly. George hadn't been eating much and had lost weight. Everyone was starting to worry.

"Ok." George said solemnly. Hermione nodded and went back downstairs, followed by an uncharacteristically silent George.

"Oh splendid! Everyone's here now. Good morning, George." Mrs. Weasley said, hovering around the table as they sat down. "Morning, Mum." He said, a bit sadly. She gave him a smile, her face, though, full of concern.

"Ok, Molly dear, please sit down. You've done enough, darling," said Mr. Weasley, smiling lovingly at his wife. Mrs. Weasley smiled back and finally sat down.

"Well everyone, dig in!" Mrs. Weasley had prepared a large pan of scrambled eggs, a plate of sausages and bacon, and there was a loaf of bread with an assortment of jams. Ron, sitting on Hermione's right, didn't wait to be told twice. He grabbed several sausages and strips of bacon and gave himself a hefty serving of eggs. Hermione shook her head; she never understood how Ron could eat so much.

Ginny, sitting across from her took some bacon and eggs, and waggled her eyebrows at Hermione before biting into her breakfast. Hermione looked away, at George. He had a piece of toast with jam on it, sitting on his plate. He had taken a bite or two, but he was staring at the empty spot, Fred's spot, in front of him. Hermione looked away quickly and took some eggs and toast for herself.

Harry was sitting on the other side of Ginny. He was eating some sausage and looking back and forth between Ron and Hermione. "So. How did everyone sleep last night?" He said, he gave Hermione a smug smile and she shot him a look. Ron stopped stuffing his face. "What do you mean?" He asked with his mouth full, giving Harry a hard look. They must have already spoken to each other about Hermione sleeping in Ron's bed after she had left.

"How was your night? Sleep ok, Ron?" Harry asked, his face showed concern but his eyes were laughing.

"What, yeah." Ron said, continuing to eat.

Harry looked at Hermione. "How about you, Hermione?"

"Yeah, Hermione, did you sleep ok last night?" Ginny chimed in.

Hermione shot Ginny a look. Then she looked back at her plate and forked her eggs. "I slept all right."

"Yeah? Nice and warm?" Harry asked.

"Not too uncomfortable?" Ginny asked.

Ron and Hermione both felt very awkward and had stopped eating their food. Harry and Ginny shared a mischievous look.

"No disturbances?" asked Harry.

"Didn't fall off the bed?" asked Ginny.

"You guys are mental." Everyone's heads turned to George. He was almost smiling, looking back and forth between Harry and Ginny. "You're perfect for each other." This was the first humorous thing George had said since the battle.

Ginny and Harry both shut up and looked very embarrassed. Hermione laughed and Ron chuckled. George smiled a bit and started eating more of his toast.

"Is everything all right, kids?" asked Mr. Weasley with a raised eyebrow.

They all nodded and Hermione held back more laughter. The rest of breakfast was finished in silence. George vanished and Hermione offered to help with the dishes. Mrs. Weasley waved her off. "No, no. I'll just use magic. Ronald can you come here, please?"

"Yeah, Mum?" Ron asked, appearing around the corner.

"Did you bother Hermione last night when she was sleeping?" Mrs. Weasley asked with her hands on her hips.

"What?" Ron asked incredulously. "Mum! NO!"

"I'm sorry, dear, I had to ask. Well something happened last night. I can tell by how you four acted at the table. Are you sure everything's ok?"

"YES!" Ron said. He made a frustrated noise and went upstairs to change.

Hermione stood awkwardly with Mrs. Weasley. "He's not bothering you, is he? That boy just adores you." Hermione blushed and shook her head. Mrs. Weasley smiled and patted her cheek. "Well you just let me know if he ever gets out of line."

Hermione, still blushing, nodded and slipped upstairs to change. She put on a pair of jeans and a peach coloured shirt that hugged her small frame. She brushed her hair, and as she did so, her eyes fell upon a picture of her, Ginny, Ron, Harry, George, and Fred. They were all smiling and laughing and had their arms around each other.

They were always happiest when they were together. She dropped the brush. They were always happiest when they were together. Hermione wanted to smack herself in the face for being so stupid. George had lost himself inside a shell because everyone had given him too much space. He was trapped in a void of loneliness when he should have been surrounded by comfort from loved ones.

Hermione knew that they could all do something to pull George out of his depression. And she knew that it was the right thing to do. Hermione then set her mind on helping George get better and hopefully reopen the joke shop.