aftermath.

you belong with me.

1759 words.

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It's been a month since the battle and three weeks since Fred's funeral. Life around the burrow is slowly starting to resemble something of peace and joy. Fred's absent has been nothing to come to terms easily, but with each passing day, the reminder that though his body lay six feet below the earth, his presence is still very much alive. Sometimes, when someone laughter is sounding off the walls, you can almost hear him with a snarky comeback or joke of some sort.

George spent some time in his grief and wallowing, rightfully so, but he is coming back around because he knows Fred would want there to be joy and laughter when one is reminded of him. He wouldn't want everyone to stay sad forever.

Hermione woke up before Ron and Harry this morning. She made her way downstairs to see Mrs. Weasley working on breakfast and getting the kitchen together. There has been loads of company around the burrow over the last month and it's starting slow down and come back together. Mrs. Weasley looked up right as Hermione stepped off the stair landing and entered the kitchen.

"Oh Hermione, dear. Good morning! I hope you slept well?" She gave Hermione an all knowing smile. Hermione's cheeks turned red. "Yes, Mrs. Weasley.. why thank you" She couldn't bear to tell her how her night was spent shivering against Ron, trying to get through the nightmares. She just gave her an honest smile and began helping set the table. Molly told her the easiest way was to do it magically, but being a muggle, Hermione is used to some chores just being done this way. Molly let it be because it was nice to have some change around the burrow.

"Well, I sure am glad! You know, dear, I wanted to talk to you about, you know, you and Ronald"

Hermione's head shot up and she gave her a nervous smile. "Oh dear.. it's nothing, really.. I just, I just wanted to tell you that I am very happy you two have each other.. Ron, well, I've seen many versions of him, but the boy he... the man he is... today is just someone I am very proud of. I believe you bring that out of him, dear"

Hermione just gave a nervous smile and tried to hide her entire face turning red. Her and Ron hadn't even fully discussed who they were yet it appeared everyone could see what they couldn't. She knows they kissed in the chambers and he's been holding every literally all night every night since that first night in the common room after the war, but how did he feel about her? Is Molly right? Did Hermione bring that out of him? Was she making him into a different person? She really needed to talk to him. It's been a month... they need to establish their relationship. If there was even going to be one.

As on cue, loud footsteps could be heard down the stairs and a mop of red hair appeared around the corner. Ron noticed her immediately, giving her the biggest morning smile. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, bed hair all around and just a red sleep mark on his cheek. Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at his appearance. He was the cutest in the morning.

"Good morning!" Hermione walked around the table and gave him a side hug, leaning into him a second longer than they normally would have with his mother present. Ron just gave her a glance and she just grinned while heading back to the normal.

"Oh Ron! Morning, sweetie! Are you ready for some food?? I've made a good batch this morning" Molly gave Ron a genuine smile and Ron couldn't help, but he filled with joy. His mother has struggled terribly with Fred's absence and her joy had been wavering, but lately she's been steady and confident in moving forward. It moved his heart.

"It's always a good batch, mum! But yes! I am always ready for some food" Ron clapped and rubbed his hands together making his smile laugh and summon the food to the table. Ron's eyes broadened at how much food was made. "Wow mum! You weren't joking. What's the occasion?" "Oh no occasion! Just wanted to make a nice spread. You two enjoy though! Harry usually sleeps later and George is actually out at the joke shop this morning" Ron jerked his head back to his mom. "Really? Wow... that's awesome. He said he wasn't sure what he was going to do. It's good to know his spirits are being lifted" "Yes dear it is!! Well, you two enjoy, okay? Your father and I will be in the living room if you need us!" "Are you two not going to eat with us Mrs. Weasley?" "Oh we will... just you two enjoy" Molly gave Hermione a knowing smile and walked into the sitting room. Ron and Hermione just glanced at one another.

"What's that about?" Ron said has he began shoveling food into his mouth and Hermione scoffed and chuckled at the same time. "Manners, Ron..." and she handed him a napkin to wipe bacon grease off his face. "I'm not sure... I mean..." Hermione stopped talking and had her thinking face on. Ron, getting nervous, dropped his forked. "What, Hermione? Did she say something to you? Did she have that uncomfortable conversation with you I heard her have with Gin about Harry?" Hermione's head jerked back to him with frowned eyebrows and a giggle. She was curious about that convo with Ginny. "Ha, no Ron.. she just... she told me this morning that she was happy we had each other. That's all." Ron's eyes widened and Hermione couldn't help, but laugh at him. "Oh Ron, seriously. It was rather sweet. She said she's proud of you and who you've become. I think it was her way of giving us her blessing is all" "Her blessing??" Hermione felt a bit flustered and confused. Was Ron not on the same page as her with all of this? Was he still so oblivious? I mean, for Godric sake, WE KISSED! It could almost be classified as a snog. She was just going to get to the point because if she didn't, they'd get no where.

"She's happy we have each other." She put the emphasis on "have". "She thinks we're good together" Hermione couldn't help the smirk that came across her face as she watched Ron sit there almost baffled.

"Um, yeah.. I mean... we do.. have each other, don't we?" Ron began scratching his neck nervously, giving Hermione a grin. Ron wanted desperately to have Hermione in every way imaginable, but he wasn't sure what she wanted.

"If you want.. I mean, I'd like to... I don't know.. maybe establish what our relationship is and means" Now Hermione felt the nerves heighten. She took a second to glance at Ron to see him smirking at her and reach his hand across the table to grab and hold hers. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. I mean, he doubted that because the limit for how much he wanted her was borderline mental, but he was actually hearing her say it. She wanted him.

"Hermione.. I want nothing more than.." He wanted to say. Godric, he's known it since 6th year. He just needed to say it. "I want nothing more than to love you for the rest of my life" It came out more loaded than he intended, but taking it back would be awful and he didn't want to take it back. He'd might just want to be more subtle about it. He felt embarrassed until he noticed tears falling down Hermione's face. Now he just felt awful. What did he say? What did he do? He got up and rushed to the bench she was sitting on and placed his arm around her shoulder. She went with instinct and just rested her head on his shoulder. She was crying happy tears, but Ron didn't know that.

"Hermione, what's wrong?!"

"I didn't... I was worried you wouldn't feel the same way about me as I do you.. I... I want to love you for the rest of my life, too.. I.. I just feel more me when I'm with you. Godric, that sounded cheesy" Hermione let out a breathy laugh and noticed Ron just staring at her with a smile small. "Say somethi-" but she was cut off by Ron's lips against hers. This time he made the move. She turned in his embrace and he instinctively brought his hands up to cup her face. His finger tips played with the hair at her neck and she couldn't help but shiver at the feeling. She brought her hands up to hold his placed on her face and reluctantly backed away. She watched him slowly open his eyes. She could tell he was examine her reaction to make sure he didn't bugger anything up. "I love you" she said before he could start freaking out. He let out a breathe and she couldn't help, but laugh. "I love you, too, Hermione... so much" "GOD!! Why did it take us so long just to say that?" They just stared at each other, laughing.

"We have no idea, dear" Ron and Hermione jerked their heads around to find Molly, Arthur, Harry and Ginny standing at the door way, just smirking. They both immediately turned red and looked at one another, smiling and trying hard not to hide in their hands. "I mean it's about time. You belong with one another" Ginny says, barging into the kitchen now that their presence is known and beginning to fill her plate up with food, stealing a piece of bacon from Ron's plate "Oi! There's a whole plate right there! Why do you have to take mine?" "Cause it taste better when I take it from you" Ginny winked and Ron couldn't help, but laugh, bringing a smiling to Hermione's lips. He snatched his plate, bringing it to the side of the bench with Hermione. Ginny and Hermione laughed in sync.

Everyone seated at the table, Ron now felt no hesitation to rest his arm around Hermione's back while they enjoyed everyone's conversation. He glanced down at her, giving her a smirk. She did the same.

They were Ron and Hermione now. They always were, let's be honest, but now? They were official.