DISCLAIMER: none of the characters are mine... though I long for J K Rowling like genius

The Burrow seemed strangely cold and empty as one by one they came in through the front door.

Mrs Weasley collapsed on the sofa, exhausted and no longer able to support her weight, and Mr Weasley sat next to her, putting his arm around her, seeking to comfort and be comforted. George followed them in and sat down quietly at the kitchen table, staring at his hand that twisted and fidgeted in front of him, not making eye contact with anyone. Percy hovered behind him for a minute, unsure how to help but wanting to console him, finally settling opposite him, saying nothing, just trying to be there.

Ron felt the tension as he came in, and felt like he aged so much since he was last in his family home. He couldn't process all the things that had happened in the last year, so shook his head to clear all the thoughts and settled on action as the best remedy for grief. He slipped his wand out of his pocket and started lighting the lamps. Ginny joined in, so he let her finish off while he wordlessly went over to the hob and started putting a large pot on to warm.

Harry and Hermione stood just inside the door, feeling like intruders. Harry looked over and caught Hermione's eye, her look conveying her discomfort. Both of loved the Weasleys like their own family, more so than his own family in Harry's case, the Dursleys took up no room in his affection whatsoever. Yet, however much they had been welcomed by the family they were outsiders in this. Their grief at Fred's death was a fraction of the pain they could see in the faces of the family members around them, and they knew nothing they could say or do could help.

Ginny had finished lighting the lamps, and beckoned them over to sit with her on the second sofa. She sat at the end so she could reach across to her mother, with Harry next to her and Hermione squashed at the far end, trying to look inconspicuous. She watched Ron bustling around the kitchen. Unsure what he was doing, never having seen him do anything vaguely domestic before without some serious nagging. The pot he was fussing over was steaming gently, and she watched as he summoned mugs that bobbed lines in the air next to him as he filled them one by one.

Ron took two mugs and gave the first to his Dad, then one to his Mum, kissing her awkwardly on the forehead. 'Here you go' he said gently, with a tenderness in his voice that surprised Hermione, and made her fall in love with him a little bit more.

'Thanks, love' said his Mother, breaking the tense silence and smiling sadly up at her son. Ron distributed the rest of the mugs, giving Hermione hers last and perching on the arm of the sofa next to her. The all blew silently on the hot liquid, which smelled deliciously of hot chocolate, until it was cool enough to drink. George was the first to take a sip, which he promptly spat out, mostly in Percy's face.

'Urgghhh! Bloody hell, Ron, what is this filth?' he coughed, as Percy spluttered wiping spit and hot chocolate out of his eyes.

Ron swung between outrage at the criticism and relief at hearing his older brother speak with the first hint of his former self, since his twin had died hours earlier. He never thought he'd be so happy to hear George mock him.

'It smells ok' said Harry, sniffing his drink.

'But it tastes like frog spawn' said Ginny, her face contorted having taken a mouthful.

'Oi' said Ron, mock indignantly. 'Its fine' and to prove it he took a huge swig, which he had trouble swallowing as it was, in fact, foul.

Mr Weasley stood up and emptied his mug into the sink, mumbling something about it being the best soup he'd had in ages.

'It's not soup, it's hot chocolate' whined Ron, eliciting smiles all round. The heavy mood was lightening, and Mr Weasley went back to his wife, gently holding her arm and saying 'Molly, dear, I think we all could do with some sleep.'

Mrs Weasley nodded tiredly, and went round kissing everyone good night, starting with Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Ron. She ruffled Percy's hair and last of all gave George a big hug, whispering something in his hear that nobody heard, though they all saw him nod, wipe his eyes and squeeze his mother back. With that the Weasley parents made their way upstairs, Mrs Weasley still clenching the mug of filth in her hands.

George stood up hesitantly, at Percy opposite him. 'Stay in my room tonight?' He paused searching for the right words 'I've never been on my own before'.

'Of course' said Percy, leaping up and putting his arm around his younger but taller brother and they left the room too.

Ginny got up and retraced her fathers footsteps to the sink. 'Thanks for trying, Ron' she said as she tipped the now slightly green remnants of the brew down the plughole.

'Shame it sucked', grumbled Ron.

Ginny walked over and gave her brother a squeeze. 'No, it helped' she said firmly. 'Somebody needed to break the tension and your crappy drink did the job nicely'.

'Thanks' said Ron. 'I just… well, you know' and he hugged his sister tighter, a few tears running down into her hair.

Ginny felt Ron's gentle sobs and held him closer, knowing exactly what he was feeling, a few hears of her own soaking into his T-shirt.

Harry looked shiftily at Hermione, his discomfort at intruding on a private grief returning.

She nodded and they stood up. 'We should go to bed' Harry muttered uncertainly.

Ginny broke free of her brothers arms and nodded, wiping her eyes. 'Yeah, me too' she said grabbing Harry's arm and guiding him up the stairs before he could object. Harry caught Ron's eyes over his shoulder and sent him a look that he hoped expressed his sorrow for the loss of Fred and his pride in his friends strength. Ron nodded back so he hoped he'd understood.

Hermione whispered a good night too and turned to go but Ron put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. 'No, please, don't go yet.'

'Ok' she replied uncertainly. Their first kiss had been a long time coming, but, though only a few hours ago the world had changed in the mean time, and she didn't know what would happen next. 'I need you to help me tidy up' Ron said, looking down at her with a twinkle in his eye, characteristically evading any serious discussion with a joke.

They both smiled and went round the room collecting the remaining mugs and laughing at the purple congealed grunge that remained in the pot on the stove. It took three different charms from Hermione to clean it, and when she was finished she turned to see Ron collapsed on the sofa.

He patted the seat next to him and put his arms around her as she sat down and snuggled up next to him. 'Thanks' he whispered into her ear, bowing down to kiss her neck gently. 'For what' she asked, leaning her head back to expose more of her neck to his gentle attentions. 'For being here for me' he murmured, tangling his hands in her hair. 'I will always be here' she whispered as their lips met, and they shared their second kiss, soft and expressive compared to their first hungry kiss Hermione had initiated during the battle.

Ron felt himself relax against her, the stress and tensions of the day melting away. The loss of his brother, the, albeit temporary, loss of his best friend. The fear, the joy the pain, all of it seemed more distant as he felt Hermione's tongue exploring the inside of his mouth.

'I could stay like this forever' Ron mumbled into her hair, as they gently parted for air. 'mmmm' Hermione replied, eloquently, as she rested he head against his chest, feeling safe for the first time in a long while.