Characters: Hermione, Ginny, Ron

Prompt: 746. Looking for Paradise

Word count: 487

Looking for Paradise

The three of them rested their heads against the large tree trunk in the Burrow's yard, sipping on cool lemonades that Molly Weasley had just brought out to them. Three hours of de-gnoming the garden, and they were exhausted. As Ron had so kindly put, the pesky critters made sport of returning, dizzy.

"I miss these days," Hermione sighed, closing her eyes and imagining the picturesque scenery of one of her favourite places.

"Yeah," Ginny responded mildly. "And Fred and George used to play with the gnomes until -" She stopped abruptly at the look Ron gave her. She forgot she was not to mention Fred in front of him.

Hermione opened her eyes, smiling. "Those days sound like fun," she said, despite Ginny not finishing.

Ginny nodded.

It had been a few hard months after the war: funerals, hospital visits and a lot of remembering. September was coming around fast, though, and with the Hogwarts Reparation Team (in which all three were a part of) it was almost time for everybody to return.

It had been hard fought, but finally, the world they had long hoped for was coming to be. Their paradise.

Ginny and Hermione looked at each other, simultaneously taking sips from their lemonade, when a loud shriek distracted them from their silent conversation. Their heads turned to where Ron was on his feet, horror on his expression.

"What is it, Ron?" Hermione asked, worried. She was also on her feet, looking around for… well she wasn't entirely sure.

Ron's eyes followed a multi-coloured butterfly around, and he slowly backed away.

Hermione frowned, looking at Ginny who was also now on her feet.

"Ron, it's fine," she said as if she were bored.

"What's fine?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, you know how he's afraid of spiders? Well, what he failed to mention is it is most insects – butterflies included."

Hermione bit her lip to fight back a laugh and turned to her boyfriend. "Butterflies?" She tried to sound concerned, but failed.

Ron glared at her, but quickly returned his attention to the flying insect.

Ginny rolled her eyes, taking out her wand. "Oh, Ron, come on." She pointed it to the butterfly, but before she could utter her curse, Hermione rested a hand on her arm.

"Ron," she said. "It's not going to hurt you."

Ron huffed, but finally diverted his eyes from it to where his sister and girlfriend stood.

"Okay, laugh away," he grumbled.

"A fear is nothing to laugh at," Hermione said gently.

Ron flushed and Hermione smiled.

"I'll help you get through it," she promised.

Ron appeared ashamed, but seemed to appreciate her offer.

Ginny leaned into Hermione and whispered, "Looks as if not all of us have found that perfect world yet."

Hermione shook her head, looking at Ron. "None of us have," she said. "And that's okay. We probably never will."

Ron shuffled his feet, smiling. "Thanks," he mumbled.

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