The soapy water sloshed slightly over the edge of the sink but he continued diligently none the less. The magical way would have of course been quicker but there was something to be said for doing things slowly. He'd lost all track of time, noting it's passing only in the fact that there was a growing pile of precariously balanced sparkling clean dishes beside the sink.

There had been no conscious decision to start cleaning the cups and plates left around the kitchen, they'd simply been there and he'd needed to do something. Platitudes had quickly become meaningless when offered by a multitude of strangers; words just never seemed to be enough. He couldn't watch the tears in his mother's eyes any longer; he couldn't stand feeling helpless. He was aching to do something and yet there was nothing he could possibly do to ease the pain of that empty chair at the table.

The house was mercifully quiet now, everyone had either retired to their own private grieving or had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Ron stood sentry at the sink, bathed in the flickering candlelight with his tears quickly becoming part of the soapy water.

He didn't hear her coming in but didn't need to need to turn around to confirm the identity of the person whose arms slowly wrapped themselves around him.

"Are you okay?" her voice was a soft whisper in the quiet kitchen and he simply nodded his response before trying to change the subject.

"Get everyone settled back home alright?"

They'd parted ways when everything was far too new and raw, her to Australia to retrieve her parents and him to the Burrow.

He felt her nod her response to his query against his back before she added, "They want to come here tomorrow, to pay their respects."

Tomorrow was unknown, uncertain and at this point in time unfathomable. So, he once again simply nodded his response as his hands stilled within the soapy water.

"Can I help?"

He quickly came to the realisation that tomorrow didn't matter right now because he had one job which he could accomplish and someone always at his side.

He passed her the tea towel with a watery grin and a quick kiss on the lips.

"I'll wash, you dry."