our beginning.

2369 words
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The war is over, turn around
Lay your weapons on the ground
The smoke is fading, before the light

They had been awake for over 32 hours. They had never felt so drained and lifeless before. Everything was moving so quickly yet so slow at the same time.

They were standing in the Gryffindor common room just staring into the fire place. There wasn't a fire going, but they were just staring. It had been 6 hours after Harry had defeated Voldemort. 6 hours after sitting in the Great Hall trying to keep it together and console Ron's family in the death of Fred and helping clean up what they could.

Molly wouldn't let Ron go for anything, but he finally explained to her how he wanted to check on Hermione and just have a moment alone. She hesitated at first, not knowing what he meant by "alone", but he assured her, he just wanted to make sure she was okay. His mom didn't know about all that she had endured in the last 48 hours. Hermione felt the same way about Ron. She was telling Harry and Ginny, who were inseparable at the moment, that she wanted to check on Ron and make sure he really was okay.

She knew he was masking his emotions for the sake of his family. She knew he felt he had a duty to them after being gone for a year and specially since Fred died. She was hurting, too, but all she cared about was checking on him. All Ron cared about was checking on Hermione.

They were standing in front of the couch, just staring ahead. Hermione went to grab Ron's hand and he immediately fell into the couch, sobbing. She jerked her head around and sat down beside him, pulling him closer to her chest. Her body was aching and she wanted to wince in pain, but she needed to take care of Ron. He took such great care of her at Shell Cottage, she just needed to do the same, no matter how much she was hurting in the moment.

Uncontrollable sobs started pouring out of him. She was shaking from trying to hold him.

"Ron.. I am here.. it's okay.. Just.. just let it out. You don't have to hide anything with me"

Hermione, with one arm around his shoulder, holding him to her, took her other hand and pulled his chin up to her so she could look into his eyes. She wanted to make sure he not only heard her, but could see that she was not going anywhere. That he was it for her. Ron felt sparks by the way she caressed his face and felt immediate relief, but it was once again drowned out by the grief.

Ron looked up at her and could see so much unspoken love, admiration and pain in her eyes. He felt his heart explode a million times over at how she was looking at him. Him. Ronald Weasley was being adored and taken care of by Hermione Granger right now. Keeping eye contact, he rested more on her shoulders.

"Ron.. I am here.. you don't always have to be strong.. not for me.. I admire you and your strength. Your love for your family.. but all of this? It's going to catch up and the pain.. Just know you are not alone and I want to take ca- care of.. of you."

Hermione began stuttering and tears began falling uncontrollably. The weight of the world immediately fell on her and everything she was pushing in was getting to be too overwhelming. Her words were ringing in her own ears and she couldn't hold it in anymore. She felt awful. She was trying to comfort Ron. She had her turn. Ron had taken care of. She was supposed to be focusing on him. Ron's eyes widened and he shifted so he was sitting up beside her and leaned her into him.

"Hermione.. hey.. what's wrong? I me-mean.. I know what's wrong, we just went through a war and a year on the run.. Just.. just talk to me. Are you okay?"

"I am supposed to be taking care of you right now.. not crying... not..."

She stopped speaking for a moment because the weight and reality was kicking in. She was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange. She was almost taken by Greyback. She felt sick at her stomach. She saw what he did to Lavender and immediately felt so awful. That could have been her. It was Lavender. Ron was about to speak up when Hermione felt an immediate pain in her arm, almost like it was purposely trying to remind her of her pain. She lost it even more, falling into his chest.