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Chapter 5

The week following Fred's funeral brought with it a tumultuous wave of emotions that Ron couldn't quite get a handle on. The pain of losing his brother was still raw, unhelped by the tears from his mother, the complete listless mood from George, and the way everyone walked around on eggshells out of fear of upsetting someone. It was the quietest the Burrow had ever been, and it unnerved Ron.

Along with the feelings of hopelessness and sadness was the confusing — yet joyous — feelings of love he felt for Hermione. His feelings for her were growing every day, reaching a point where sometimes it became overwhelming for him and he had to be on his own for an hour or two. He realised this had left Hermione feeling confused, and perhaps slightly hurt, yet he had no idea how he was supposed to explain to her that the reason he couldn't be around her at times was because he loved her so damn much.

After Remus and Tonks' funeral, something resembling relief had overcome him, and Ron found his relationship with Hermione taking on a whole new level of intensity. As the worst parts in the aftermath of the war were now over, and they became more confident with one another, things became more passionate, more physical, the two of them realising they had many years of unresolved tension that had been ignored and left unaddressed.

Ron knew that not every relationship felt like this, for he had not felt even a portion of these feelings for Lavender. But with Hermione, he hoped that these high feelings of intensity were the start of something that could last forever.

And then, along with his growing love for Hermione, was his guilt over Harry. His best friend. Despite showing up for the funerals, and seemingly letting Ginny back into his life, he still hadn't come back to the Burrow. Both Ron and Hermione had been to Grimmauld Place twice to see him, but he'd barely acknowledged their presence. The first time had been calm, but uncomfortable. The second he had been moody, and there had been lots of yelling. They never knew what they were going to get with him, and so — as frustrating as it was — they chose to keep their distance. Harry would come to them when he wanted to, so they would just have to wait.

Summer was very, very close, and to escape the mood of the house, Ron had taken Hermione to the very edge of the Burrow's boundaries to one of his favorite trees. It was near where he and his siblings used to play Quidditch, and it overlooked the Muggle village below.

They sat together under the tree, Hermione with a book in her lap, Ron deciding that watching her was more interesting than anything else. Overcome — like he always was lately — by those big feelings he couldn't quite grasp, he leaned over and kissed her cheek, startling her from her book.

She closed it immediately and looked at him, smiling. He had found the one thing that worked in getting her nose out of a book: himself, apparently, and it had easily become one of Ron's favourite tactics that he used every chance he got.

And then began the deep kisses, the laughing, the smiling, the best moments of their time together. This alone time, this love, was the reason he got up every morning.

They stayed like that for some time, until, most unexpectedly, she broke away and looked at him as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't quite find the words.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Oh… nothing," Hermione said, and she looked very uncomfortable all of a sudden. "I was just wondering… you've been a bit distant from me at times, but then other times — like this — you've been rather… affectionate. I thought… well, I thought you might have been getting sick of always being around me."

"What?" Ron fought back a laugh. "Sick of you? Merlin, no. Absolutely not sick of you…" He watched her for a moment, her face anxious as she awaited a response. "This is going to sound really dumb, so don't laugh, alright... it's just that sometimes I love you so much that I can't be around you in fear of doing something stupid like… I dunno, some crazy dance or something ridiculous like that."

He could tell that this amused her, and that she wanted to laugh, but she did a good job at containing it. "Oh… I see…"

"Don't worry, I won't," Ron assured her. "But that's why I sometimes, um, can't be around you. Quite the opposite of being sick of you."

"So… you like doing this, then?" and she leaned forward to kiss him once more, their interruption moments earlier completely forgotten as they resumed where they'd left off.

"We'll have to come up with some boundaries if we're going to stay friends. When I'm around, it's limited to hand-holding only."

Hermione pulled away from Ron immediately, and before Ron could even register who had spoken, she had flung herself into Harry's arms. He hugged her back. Ron climbed to his feet, noticing the big smile on Harry's face.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione cried, "you came."

"At the wrong time, it seems," Harry said, and Hermione went faintly pink, looking back at Ron with an embarrassed smile.

"It's good to see you, mate," Ron said, also embracing his friend. "We were wondering when you'd —"

"Wake up and stop feeling sorry for myself?" Harry said. "Stop acting like a jerk?"

"No," Hermione said, her voice soft. "When you'd start to feel like you needed your friends again."

Harry gave another smile, and it seemed genuine. He even looked better, like he'd actually slept some. Though, there was still a sadness in his expression, a hollowness that Ron wondered if it would ever completely go away. Harry had been consumed with a lot of guilt, and Ron knew he blamed himself for the deaths that had occurred. Those feelings weren't going to resolve themselves in a matter of weeks.

"It's good to see you," Ron said again.

"Harry, everyone will be so pleased you're back," Hermione said. "Why don't we go to the house? George is here now, and Ron's mum and dad will be delighted to see you."

Harry nodded, another smile reflecting in his still-hollow eyes, and without another word, the three of them set off across the field in the direction of the Burrow.

As Hermione had predicted, everyone was thrilled to see Harry. Ginny, who had been drifting between Grimmauld Place and the Burrow over the past week, had given him a huge hug, and much to Ron's disgust, kissed him, while Molly had sat him down and placed food in front of him, claiming he was far too skinny.

For the first time in three weeks, the mood at the Burrow lifted. It felt as if everyone was finally home — well, everyone except Fred.

By the time midday came, Bill and Fleur returned to their own home, Percy disappeared up the stairs to his bedroom, and despite Ginny trying to steal Harry for a few moments, Harry told her that he'd be with her after he caught up with Ron and Hermione.

So after lunch, the three of them set out for the tree again. The moment they reached it, Hermione let out a gasp, turned and headed back towards the Burrow. She shouted something behind her about being back in a moment.

Settled with their backs against the tree, eyes following Hermione's receding figure, Harry gave a wry chuckle. "I didn't mean what I said before," he said. "I like seeing the two of you happy together. We need some kind of happiness in these times."

Ron went slightly red, his eyes still fixed on where Hermione had just been. "Yeah…" He turned back to Harry, who was watching him, as if waiting for him to say more. About Hermione? Talking about feelings wasn't exactly how their friendship functioned, but a lot of things had changed over the past weeks. Ron was one of them.

"You love her, don't you?" Harry said.

"Yeah, I do." Ron hesitated, and then added, "It's not going to be weird, is it?" The last thing he wanted was for their friendship to be affected by this new-found relationship.

"No." Harry shook his head. "I think I'd resigned myself to this happening eventually a long time ago."

Ron smiled. "You want to know what the weirdest thing is?"

"Not really, but go ahead," Harry said, perhaps sensing where the conversation was heading.

"That it isn't weird at all. I thought… well, I was a little worried it was going to be weird — you know, the physical stuff — because we've been friends for so long, but it wasn't. Not at all. It felt right, you know?"

To Ron's surprise, Harry smiled. "I'm glad for the two of you," he said. "Really, I am. But for the record, that's the only time I'm allowing you to share with me the intimate details of your relationship. From here on in, I don't want to know."

Ron flushed, then nodded. "Yeah, alright. I just don't know who else to talk about it to."

"To Hermione, I suppose," Harry said.

"Yeah, I guess…"

The conversation drifted on to other things after that; things that they hadn't been able to talk about since the war. Mundane things.

Diagon Alley would be reopening soon. Shops had already started to open their doors for several hours a few days a week. Harry suggested if they wanted to escape the confinements of the Burrow, they should go one day — the three of them, and Ginny if she wanted to as well.

Ron was just filling Harry in on how the cleanup at Hogwarts was going when Hermione returned, carrying a large book. For a moment, Ron thought she was going to read to them, but then she passed it to Harry.

"Hermione…" Harry said, staring down at its cover. "Where… where did you find it?"

Hermione, her cheeks slightly pink, said, "I packed it with us… in the bag. I thought… I thought you might have needed it at times, but you didn't. I've kept it safe, Harry, I swear. It's in perfect condition."

Ron shuffled closer to Harry to see just what Hermione had brought back. It was a photo album; Harry's photo album, which contained pictures of his parents, Sirius, Remus, everyone.

Harry looked up at Hermione, awed. "Thank you," he said.

"I thought you might need it now," Hermione said, sitting on the grass opposite them. "Just as a reminder that this has all happened for a reason. That they started the fight, and we finished it. All of us."

Harry flipped through the pages of the book, pausing at ones that were of his parents and of others who had since been lost. Looking at the photos gave Ron an idea.

"It would be great if we could get something together like that," he said. "You know, for everyone who died fighting both wars."

Both Hermione and Harry stared at him.

"I know they're getting the monument at Hogwarts, and in the Ministry, which is great. Their names will be remembered, but over time, their faces will be forgotten. I'm thinking portraits, or something. Something the next generation can remember. A book, even, detailing their lives."

"That's a great idea, Ron," Hermione said. "A book would be fantastic. A history book of some kind so new students at Hogwarts can learn about the war, learn about all those who died fighting for what was right." She looked at Harry. "Your parents, too. Anyone who fought Voldemort, anyone who died."

"You'd know how to get that going, wouldn't you?" Ron asked Hermione. "I've got no clue, but I'd really like my brother's face to be remembered, not just his name."

Hermione was thoughtful for a moment. "I… suppose I could look into it, but I think we'd have to go to someone like the Minister to get it going. I can't see Kingsley objecting, though. I bet he'll think it's a great idea!"

They spent another hour discussing more details of this supposed history book. Who was going to write it — they decided the families of the lost — and how they'd go about producing such a thing. How could they make it accurate and educational (Hermione said she could help with that). By late afternoon, they left the tree and made their way slowly back to the Burrow, where the others were already preparing dinner.

"Oh, how kind of the three of you to join us," Ginny said, her voice harsh. It seemed that she was unhappy over having been left out of their catch-up.

"Come off it, Ginny," Ron said. "You've practically spent the last week with Harry."

Ginny opened her mouth to say something insulting, but Bill, apparently sensing a potential argument, said, "Hermione, a letter arrived for you not so long ago."

"A letter?" Hermione said, looking confused. "From who?"

"The Ministry," Bill told her.

Hermione's face paled, and she asked where it was. Bill passed her the official Ministry envelope that had been sitting on the table, and Hermione left the room.

When she didn't return thirty minutes later, Ron went in search of her, finding her sitting on his bed, the open letter in her hand and tears running down her cheeks.

Worried, he sat down beside her, an arm around her shoulders, as she turned to cry into him. He held her, not speaking, mimicking the way she'd held him a week ago at Fred's funeral.

Running his hand up and down her back, feeling her tears wet his shirt, he took the letter from her hand and read it.

Dear Miss Granger,

Thank you for your inquiry into locating your parents. Due to the state of current affairs, we were unable to get back to you any sooner. However, because of your active involvement in the war, we hurried through your request and sent a team to Australia with the information you provided in the hope of locating your parents.

This letter is to inform you that we have located them, and they are now under the watch of the Ministry of Magic until you are able to travel there yourself. As per your request, no one has made an attempt to restore their memories, but we will have you know that they seem to be safe, well and happy.

Enclosed are the details of their location. Once you are ready to travel, please reply via owl, and we will arrange your travel and expenses for you immediately.

Your support in the war is much appreciated, and we will endeavour to ensure you have as much support as needed throughout this journey.

Sincerely,

Magda Finch, Newly Appointed Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad, Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Ron flipped to the second page of the letter, reading over the details the Ministry had provided of Hermione's parents' whereabouts. It seemed that they'd made quite a life for themselves in the year they'd been there.

Hermione continued to cry into his shoulder, and Ron held her. After a moment, he said, "I bet you're relieved."

Wiping her puffy red eyes, Hermione pulled away and looked at him. "I thought it was bad news when Bill told me," she sniffed. "I thought… they were going to tell me the worst."

"I didn't even know you asked them to help," Ron said.

"I did it the day after we got here," Hermione told him. "I didn't know whether to say something. You were dealing with everything, and I didn't want to worry about it until I knew one way or another what was going to happen. I also thought it would take them longer to locate them."

Ron brushed away a stray hair sticking to her face and smiled. "I'm guessing you'll be going as soon as possible?" A pang of guilt suddenly hit him, and he looked down at the letter in his hand. He'd not even thought to ask how she might have been feeling about her parents; in fact, he'd all but forgotten that she'd sent them away with no memories of her. He'd been so caught up in his own grief and being with her, that he'd failed to think of her pain. He gave her hand a squeeze.

Hermione was silent for a moment, thoughtful. Then she said, "Please come with me."

"What?"

"Come with me, Ron. Please. I… I don't think I can go alone. What if I can't… can't..." Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, and Ron once again drew her towards him. Her whole body shook against his.

"If anyone can reverse such a spell, it's you," he said quietly. He thought about her request for but a second before answering. "But of course I'll go with you if that's what you want."

"It is," Hermione whispered, pulling away once again. "Please."

Ron dropped the letter onto his bed and grabbed her face with both hands. He kissed her gently, unlike the rough, passionate kisses he'd become so accustomed to over the last week.

"I'll go wherever you want me to go," he promised.

She smiled. "Thank you. It means a lot. It's just so hard to think about them so far away..."

"You'll have them back soon," Ron assured her. "Exactly as you remember them."

"I hope so," Hermione said. "I did it because it was the only way to keep them safe, but now that it's all over, I keep thinking, what if it was the wrong thing to do? What if —"

Ron silenced her by another kiss. "You," he said, "are amazing. You can do anything. I have complete faith in you to fix it. And I'll be with you the whole time, for every step of the way. I promise."

She smiled again. "Thank you."

"I love you," Ron said. "I don't actually think I could let you go without me, even if you wanted to. I'd miss you too much."

Hermione wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. Her chin rested on his shoulder as she whispered, "I love you, too."

Ron hugged her even tighter. Even though it wasn't the right moment, he couldn't help but laugh. "So, is this our first holiday together?"

He felt Hermione shake against him, telling him she was laughing too. "I guess it is," she said. "Some adventure it'll be."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you all for your comments and favourites and follows etc. It is much appreciated. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one too!