Chapter Text
When it all started, people were outraged. The wizarding world had just got rid of the darkest wizard in a century. The world should have been given time to breathe, digest, grieve. Grieve so many losses, so many deaths. Only, that was the very reason it was done in such a small amount of time. So many had died. They needed to be replaced. This, however, was hardly the way. A gross misuse of magic. The people, however, were too tired to protest. The ministry, afterall, did promise them a happily ever after. The outrage remained behind closed doors and in casual conversations.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron had all returned to Hogwarts. Everyone was repeating their last year at Hogwarts to make up for the lost year of battle. The first year class was thus double the usual size. They sat around the fireplace silently. Harry running his fingers through Ginny Weasley’s hair and Ron with his face buried in Hermione's neck. Hermione was staring at the fire. Everyone who was coupled was clutching each other tightly, not knowing whether they would still be together the next evening.
It had taken so long for Ronald Weasley to realise his feelings for Hermione and reciprocate her love. She turned around and looked in his eyes. Both of their eyes were moist. She buried her face in his chest. Ron took her hand and brought it to her lips and kissed the palm of her hand. Hermione smiled and looked up in his blue eyes.
Hermione had done her research as always. She had studied the research of the ministry matchmaker. It was a pretty solid piece of arithmantic calculations. There was no doubt that the matches resulting from those calculations would have a hundred percent compatibility. This had been corroborated by every single arithmancy master in Britain. She had not shared her research with her friends but she had secretly tested the calculations for Ron and herself and Harry and Ginny. While Harry and Ginny matched, Ron and Hermione only gave out 70% compatibility scores. There was no way that ministry would have paired them together.
“Come, I want to show you something.” Ron said. He took her hand and helped her get up. He guided her outside the portrait hole and walked ahead with Hermione on his toe. It was well past curfew but there was nothing to fear. Not for them. Not for anyone who fought the battle. The teachers knew of the nightmares and had stopped imposing curfew on them. They needed fresh air. Frequently. Plus, they had proven themselves more than capable of defending themselves. Hermione looked at Ron instead of where he was taking her. She wanted to soak his image as much as she could before it all shattered. Before he started belonging to someone else.
Ron helped her past an alcove and into an open balcony. He looked down at her and said, “We are here.” She smiled and looked around. They were on a wide open balcony. The view from there was breathtaking. The sky was a blanket of stars that was mirrored by the lake. She felt a tear trickle down her cheek. Ron hugged her from behind and kissed the top of her head.
“I wanted to spend our last night together with you here, alone.” Ron said. Startled, Hermione turned around to look up in his eyes. Ron looked down at her in her eyes.
“I know you are trying to hide it from us but you wouldn't be Hermione Granger if you had not done research on such a suffocating law. The fact that you did not say anything only means that we are not going to be together.” Ron said.
“You…. that's…” Hermione stuttered. She looked up in his eyes. Ron had grown so much. When did he become so wise?
“Always the tone of surprise.” He said, running his finger on the side of her cheek and leaning in to kiss her. She kissed him back enthusiastically.
“Why are we not fighting this?” Hermione asked, knowing that for some reason they are not.
“Because we have fought and fought very long. We don't have any fights left in us.” Ron said with resignation. A tear trickled down Hermione's face. Ron shook his head and kissed her on the forehead.
“Come here.” Ron said, inviting her to lie down on the floor with him. She rested her head on his outstretched arm. He rested his other arm under his head. They looked up at the stars.
“Can we remain friends?” Hermione asked quietly.
“I won't have it any other way.” Ron said, holding her tightly. Hermione turned and cuddled against him. Ron sighed and held her tightly against himself. His chest quickly got soaked with her tears. He stroked her back and wiped away his own tears. They stayed like that all night under the blanket of stars.