Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter universe. Ron and Hermione were never a love interest in this story.
Warning: Drug abuse, mild sexual content, murder, and rape are mentioned in this story
After
Prologue
The war had ended, many were lost. So much had happened and so many needed to grieve. The Wizarding world was unsure of what their safety would look like from here on out. So many of Voldemorts supporters were still out there, though the ministry was already working hard to hunt them down many were already hiding under the radar. Countless witches had been raped by roaming death eater causing an argument about whether abortion laws should be changed in the wizarding community.
The first two weeks after the war had been the most saddening, people had to schedule funerals and death arrangements in order to fit other people's schedules. Within those 2 weeks, Harry had attended 23 different funerals. The saddest of the bunch was, of course, Fred Weasleys, it brought Harry so much pain to see all the Weasleys in sorrow.
Ginny had decided to break things off with Harry, she said she needed time to heal. Harry wasn't too upset about this, he thought it was the appropriate thing to do for the time.
Ron had been pretty incognito, he was very depressed after the loss of his brother and girlfriend Lavender. Right before the war broke out he had proposed to her, he couldn't wait to marry her. But that happiness ended quickly when Greyback killed her in one quick motion. Ron wasn't able to save her, and it seemed like he would never forgive himself for it.
Hermione tried to be around Harry as much as she could, she could tell he was bottling in all his emotions. About a month after the war she had decided to go to Australia to find her parents, Harry had begged her to let him go with her but she just said; "I need to do this on my own Har".
Harry and Hermione had been staying in the Gryffindor common room together ever since the war had ended. They felt safe there, they also wanted to help professor McGonagall restore the damaged bits of Hogwarts. The nights were often filled with talking and reminiscing, a few tears shed but overall they found comfort in each other.
One night Hermione woke up to Harry screaming in his sleep. She had spent the rest of that night whispering in Harry's ears calming things like "It's over now Harry." and "Everythings okay now". She would pet his hair as he squeezed his arms around her thin torso as a form of comfort. This had brought her back to a memory of something that had happened between them in the tent a few months back when Ron had left them on their Horcrux hunt.
The Tent
Hermione was so tired of flipping through the same 10 books she had. She let out a loud sigh and tossed the book she was holding aside.
"Incendio." She said, casting a flame on her wand to light a candle for attempted warmth, it was nearly freezing in that tent.
The Horcrux locket around her neck was causing her a lot of sadness and as she slowly got lost in her thoughts tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice when Harry quietly entered the tent.
While out hunting Harry had noticed some wild lavender growing from the snow, as a nice gesture for Hermione he had decided to pick it for her. When he had returned to the tent with a small meal and the flowers he had noticed Hermione sitting in her normal spot.
"Hermione I picked-" Hermione quickly shot from her seat reaching for her wand startled.
Harry noticed the tears running down her face and looked alarmed at her reaction.
"Harry you scared me." She spoke softly while putting down her wand and quickly wiping the salty tears from her face.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked as he approached her. Even Harry knew that was a stupid question. What wasn't wrong really.
Hermione collapsed into Harry's arms letting out silent sobs, Harry hadn't hugged anyone like this in months, he also hadn't noticed how skinny Hermione had gotten. Harry moved so he was sitting on the ground with Hermione in his lap, he was probably 5 inches taller than her and definitely had more muscle mass at this point, she felt so small in his arms. He rocked her in his arms as she held on to him as tight as she could. As she began to calm down she pulled away from Harry. Harry gave her a small smile then went in to kiss her cheek. Hermione was turning to look at him just as he went in to kiss her cheek so insured of kissing her cheek he laid a soft kiss on her lips.
Harry pulled away quickly in surprise but as he did he made eye contact with Hermione's beautiful chocolate eyes, her lips were slightly parted and her eyebrows were furrowed in a serious but also calm way. Seconds after pulling away Harry's lips met Hermione's again. Hermione pulled Harry's neck towards her deepening the kiss, his tongue quickly began to explore her mouth passionately. Just as Harry was leaning Hermione to lay on the floor to further their kiss they both heard the loud sound of an apparition.
The two practically threw themselves away from each other then went to frantically search for their wands, leaving their passion-filled moment untouched.
At the time Hermione just assumed it was something they both needed, they were both lacking human connection and overall comfort. So she wasn't surprised that something like that didn't happen again in their time in the tent. It went untalked about for months even.
But this night in the common room did not have that passionate flare to it, it was just a friend helping a friend.
While Hermione was gone looking for her parent Harry made many attempts to see Ron. Each time he got to the burrow Ron refused to leave his room.
"He's been in there for days." Ginny explained to Harry, this was Harry's third attempt to see Ron in a week.
"Mum has to leave his food outside his door, and he only comes out to use the loo at night." Ginny was mixing something in a bowl as she explained this to Harry.
"Hey, George." Harry said as George entered the kitchen. George was easily the most heartbroken about Fred, he lost his best friend and his twin brother. George was only able to cope with it because he had a business to run, he needed to continue Fred's legacy in some way.
George mumbled a short "Lo Harry" as he walked through the kitchen
The next time Harry went to the burrow he was surprised to find out Ron wasn't there.
"He's gone to the pub, son." Mr. Weasley told Harry when he answered the door.
Harry hadn't been all that shocked to find Ron passed out on the bar when he had gotten to the pub. However, buy the time it was the 6th time Harry had to drag a drunken Ron Weasley home from the pub he was pretty fed up.
"This is how you're remembering Lavender and Fred?!" Yelled Harry as he threw Ron into his bed.
Ron drunkenly stood up. "You- Yo got no Right...to Talk to me Like ThaT Mr...Mr goLden boy…" Ron heavily slurred his speech.
"You are such a daft human Ron!" Harry yelled angrily.
"Oh fuck...fuck off Harry...You...you don't get it." Ron mumbled before falling backward and passing out in his bed.
Harry had decided he was about done with Ron's shit and did not go to the pub to pick him up anymore, and if he went to the burrow he made it a point not to check up on him, he couldn't believe Ron was being so selfish at this moment.
Harry hated being in the eye of the media, so many wizarding posts have released so many different articles about the "Chosen One" and the "Golden Trio" the most recent featured was a photo of Harry dragging Ronald out of a pub, the amounts of rumors spread based off of that phot were honestly amazing, Harry was almost sure most the articles and rumors weren't all that far from the truth either. Ronald was definitely on the brink of alcohol addiction.
It seemed as if the wizarding world was falling into a depression after the war. When Harry went to Diagon Alley for the first time it looked like a run-down ghost town, multiple shops were closed and in the middle of reconstruction due to a group of death eaters destroying the happy little shopping area as a last resort.
He also made it a point to wear charms to disguise his identity while traveling in public places, there were still people out to get him and he was so tired of fighting for his life.
Everyone in the wizarding world were more than anxious to see what the world had in store for them. Peace was craved by everyone at this time.
End Prologue
A/N Hi guys, I just wanted to say that the only reason this was a prologue is because there is gonna be a little bit of a time jump after this chapter. I am so excited for this story and I hope you all enjoy it!