If things go to plan, this story will follow Ron and Hermione throughout their lives.

I don't own any of it, of course. As if

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They stood, completely alone, at the foot of the stairs leading to the Headmaster's office, leaning against each other in a fog of exhaustion. It had been over 30 hours since they had last slept. Harry had walked off, muttering something about a sandwich, but they just wanted to sleep.

The journey back to Gryffindor Tower felt like an eternity. They were too tired to even notice the damage and dark stains surrounding them. At the picture, they paused.

'We're sorry, we don't know the password.'

'Oh, you two don't need that.' The fat lady smiled at them, fresh tears running down her face. 'Welcome home dears. The other one's already gone inside.'

The Common Room had hardly changed at all in the past year. It did feel like home to them. At the foot of the dormitory stairs, they paused.

'Ron, I don't want to be on my own.'

'Neither do I.'

They made their way up the boy's staircase, pushing open the door to the First Year dormitory, knowing it would be empty. Lying on the nearest bed, Ron gathered Hermione in to his arms, and they fell instantly asleep. Their exhaustion was so complete they didn't even have the energy to dream.

It was approaching evening when they awoke. Making their way down to the Great Hall, they notice how quiet the castle was. The crowds had gone. Those who were able to had started to go home. Professor McGonagall was still there though, walking around, looking at the school which had been her life. She occasional stopped to touch a statue or a piece of damaged masonry, as if comforting it. She looked deathly tired herself.

'Ah, Weasley, Miss Granger.' Her smile was small and sad. 'I'm afraid it's all a bit of a mess, isn't it? Mr. Weasley, your father could not find you. He asked if I would tell you they have gone home, taking your brother with them. I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to you.'

It was Hermione who spoke first. 'You have to go to them Ron. They need you, and you need to be with them. I'll stay and help the Professor. I've nowhere else to go, and the school will re-open again, won't it? It must do.'

'I want you with me, Hermione' said Ron.

'No, Ron. Not this time. You have to be with your family, your mum will need you, and it's not right that I should be there. Not yet. I'll come down as soon as I can.'

'You know she'd welcome you.'

'I'm not family, not quite yet. Go. I'll see you very soon.'

She put her arms around him and they kissed. There was a small cough in the background. 'Sorry, Professor.'

-o0o-

Hermione made her way to the hospital wing. That was where help was most urgently needed. Healers that could be spared had started to arrive from St. Mungo's, but there were many more casualties than could be dealt with, and any additional hands were gratefully accepted.

Madam Pomfrey had a job for her.

'My dear, I don't know if I should ask this of you, but we have one patient who is unlikely to survive, a pupil here. Would you be willing to sit with her? It would be a comfort.'

Hermione steeled herself and walked through the curtains surrounding the bed. She almost turned and ran, for in front of her lay Lavender Brown.

'Hermione, you came to see me.' Lavender's voice was little more than a whisper.

Hermione forced herself to look at her former rival. Her face had been horrible mauled, and body battered. Blood still caked her hair. That hadn't been a priority. Hermione remembered how proud Lavender had been of her blonde hair.

'Of course I came to see you. We're friends, aren't we?' She had to force herself not to cry.

'Are we, even after what happened? I want you to know I didn't do that to hurt you, I'm so sorry it was you.'

Hermione sat in the chair by the bed, taking Lavender's hand.

'Shh. Shh. You don't have to apologise. I know. Of course I'm your friend. We always have been, haven't we?'

'We had some good times, didn't we Hermione. We used to laugh a lot when we were younger, do you remember?'

'Yes, of course. Do you remember the Yule Ball, and you helped me with my hair? We had fun that day, getting ready.'

'And do you remember how we were all trying to push each other away from the mirror so we could see how we looked?' Lavender's attempt at a smile was cut short as a spasm of pain hit her. 'It's been worth it, hasn't it? Fighting Voldemort?'

'Yes, Lavender, it has. Because of us, our children will never have to go through this.'

'Your children, Hermione. You and Ron. It's too late for me.'

'No it isn't, of course it isn't. When you get better, we'll go to Hogsmeade, or even London. We'll go to London and hit the shops. We'll try on all the dresses, and you can tell me what suits me. Just the two of us.'

Lavender struggled to speak through the pain, never taking her eyes off Hermione's face. 'I'd like that. Just us two.' She paused, fighting the pain. 'Look after him, won't you? Promise me.' Then she gave a great shuddering sigh and fell silent. Lavender Brown, Order of Merlin (posthumous) lay dead.

'I promise, Lavender. I'll look after him.'

She made her way out in to the ward to report to Madam Pomfrey.

'Thank you. I'll have her moved to the mortuary. Can you take this potion to the patient in bed seven? He needs to drink it all.'

'Didn't you hear me? She's dead!! I was with her. You can't move her.' Hermione put her face in her hands and cried. Madam Pomfrey pulled her hands away, forcing her to look up.

'I heard you. We have to put that behind us. We have to be hard. That bed is needed; we have to consider the living.' She gave Hermione a quick hug, and then said, very gently 'Bed seven?' Hermione nodded.

-o0o-

Hermione worked 24 hours non stop, it was a way of avoiding the suffering she knew would come. However, by that evening, things in the hospital were under control. More healers had arrived, and those patients who could be moved, or were not too serious, had been transported to St. Mungos.

She was thanked by the nurse, who told her she was grateful for Hermione's efforts, and went back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry and Neville were sat there. She walked over to Harry, putting her arms out like a small child asking to be picked up. He hugged her and she cried in to his shoulder.

'Oh Harry, I didn't think it would be like this.'

He held her tight. 'Nor did I. I thought we would be celebrating, and things would go back to the way they were. I didn't know the pain would carry on.'

Neville came over, wrapping his arms around both of them. 'It will never be the same, but it will get better. The pain will get less eventually. It will never go away completely, but we'll be able to handle it.' Neville had been sorted in to Gryffindor for a reason.

Hermione went up to her dormitory, back to her old bed, but couldn't stay there. The next bed had been Lavender's and her combs and make-up were still on the side table. She went back down to the common room, and back to Harry's arms.

'Can I stay with you tonight, please?' She slumped against him in sheer exhaustion.

Harry picked her up and carried her upstairs. 'You don't have a problem with that, do you Neville?' Neville shook his head. Harry laid her on Ron's bed, covering her over with blankets that, even after a year, still smelt faintly of him.

Harry stroked her hair back from her face. 'I'll look after you, big sister.'

'But who'll look after you, little brother?'

'I'm OK; I'm the chosen one, so they tell me.'

She slept, but was woken in the small hours by Harry crying and calling out. She went to his bed and took him in her arms. 'Sleep, Harry. I'll look after you. Sleep now.' He did.

-o0o-

Things did seem a little bit better the next morning. The three friends made their way down to breakfast, discussing the future. After all, they were young, and the young are tougher than people give them credit for. They bounce back. Neville was staying on, to help Professor Sprout. Harry was staying to carry on working getting the castle ready for September. He'd spent yesterday helping Filch replace gargoyles that had been knocked down in the battle.

'You know, we're getting on quite well, now I'm not a pupil. Mind you' he suddenly giggled behind his hand 'he hasn't noticed yet I've transfigured them all so they look like him!'

Hermione decided she was going to "The Burrow", and went to find McGonagall to tell her.

'I will come down for the funeral, of course. I shall attend as many as possible. Especially those of former students. And after that, Miss Granger? Will you come back to take your NEWTS?'

This was something Hermione hadn't considered. 'I have to find my parents, first. They're somewhere in Australia. I didn't think I'd be able to come back though.'

'We will make special arrangements for those who wish to. Last year was so disrupted, we must do. Of course, there will be a lot of first years who will be starting late as well. I will be a difficult year. We need an outstanding Head Girl and who better than you?'

Hermione was almost speechless. 'I'll be back. Thank you.'