A/N: A very close friend of mine who I love very much recently read this and gave some incredibly heart-warming feedback for which I cannot thank him enough, if he sees this of course.
THE LEAVES – CHAPTER TWELVE
A group consisting of Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, George and Fred made their way down to the Prefect Baths straight after they had had a very satisfying meal of an English fry-up. Weighed down with towels and bags, the six passed the One0Eyed Witch, tickled what was left of the pear in the painting and entered the Baths.
A multitude of taps, bubbles and scents filled the marbled room as all six striped down to their bathing suits and slid into the bath, relishing in the warmth. Many sighs of relief and happiness were heard as muscle were finally eased and dirt was finally removed from their bodies.
The silence that filled the room was a comfortable one of nothing short of pure bliss at the current state that they were all in. The six placed themselves around the edges of the large-enough-to-be-an-Olympic-pool bath.
"So, go on then. We're all waiting. Tell us about your many misadventures," Ginny prodded.
"I'd hardly call them adventures, Gin. It was pure torture most of the time," Ron protested recalling many cold nights and especially the few he spent in that pub after abandoning Harry and Hermione. The guilt was spreading across his face like wild fire.
"So tell us from start to finish everything then," George encouraged.
"Please leave out the bit I had to visit for though. I'm sure no one really wants to relive that one," Fred begged, remembering Hermione's lifeless body. Harry and Ron shuddered at the memory.
"Give us the abridged version," Ginny pushed further. "Because we all know that it'll need to be shortened further for Mum anyway,"
Harry, Ron and Hermione all shared glances and agreed to spill the stories but not all of the stories. some were too dangerous: No one needed Fred to rip Ron's head off for leaving or for Ginny to set out to find all of the Malfoys and bring Bellatrix from the dead to kill her again. And so, the beans were spilled.
By the end of the stories, Hermione had made her way into Fred's lap again and Ginny into Harry's. No one had been killed thankfully and the retelling wasn't too emotionally scarring. Although, by the time they had finished, light was fading and the bath had gone cold. Still talking and being fired at with questions, the six got out, dried and redressed.
Back in Gryffindor Tower for the night, Fred confessed to Hermione.
"I was really worried that night at Shell Cottage, you know? I didn't think you were going to make it through the night."
Hermione leaned into him and reached up to kiss his cheek tenderly.
"But, I did and I'm here now, aren't I? no harm done." She put on a false grin in hope that he wouldn't suss her bluff.
"There was harm done and we both know that but you also know, I hope, that I'll be here throughout all the nightmares and bad episodes. We're too far along the line for me to not be now, honestly, Hermione. The leaves are here and I know we've just made it out of a war alive but, I love you," Fred spilled.
"I love you too,"
And in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room, they kissed once again.