Lost and Found

I

A Statement

Hermione Granger rolled over in her bed and squeezed her eyes shut in a vain effort to fall back to sleep. After a few minutes it became apparent she was going to, yet again, lose the battle so she sighed and opened her eyes. Moonlight filtered into the room through the window and cast a shaft of light across the foot of her bed.

Sighing again, Hermione threw back the blankets and got out of bed. She stepped into her slippers while pulling on her dressing gown and then made her way to the door. Hermione was just outside her room when she encountered the bulky form of Angelina Johnson-Weasley. Even in the middle of the night it was difficult to move around the Burrow without running into someone.

"Another midnight jaunt to the bathroom?" Hermione asked, smiling.

Angelina groaned. "The minute I even think about falling asleep this kid starts dancing on my bladder." She put a hand on her swollen belly and continued, "I swear, I can't wait for him to make his appearance!"

Hermione's grin broadened. "You're that sure you're having a boy?"

"Are you kidding me?" Angelina asked, tilting her head bemusedly at Hermione. "You know this family heavily favors boys."

Hermione and Angelina both chuckled quietly. They all knew the surprise would be a Weasley baby that was born a girl. Ginny Weasley had been the first girl in several generations and many were betting she'd be the last for at least a few more.

When Angelina spoke again it was more somberly. "Up to check on Ron?" she asked.

Hermione's smile faded and she nodded. "The nightmares aren't as frequent as they used to be and he probably doesn't need me to check up on him every night anymore but it's just become habit, you know?"

Nodding, Angelina replied, "He still relives it?" Everyone in the family knew what Ron's nightmares were about. After the war he'd wake up every night screaming his brother Percy's name over and over until Hermione arrived and took him in her arms where Ron would sob while Hermione whispered words of comfort to him. Eventually he would calm down enough to fall back to sleep, entwined with Hermione as he wouldn't let her leave.

"Yes," Hermione answered quietly. "I think he always will."

"Of course," said Angelina. "But he does finally seem to be finding some peace with it."

They both grew silent and thoughtful in the dark hallway for a moment. Then Angelina winced and rubbed her belly. "I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there was a blast-ended skrewt in there instead of a baby," she muttered. "It would be just like Fred." Looking at Hermione she added, "Excuse me," and waddled off to the bathroom.

She had just reached the door when she turned briefly and said, "Hermione?" When Hermione looked at her Angelina continued. "I think Ron needs you more than you realize. And I think you need him just as much." With that Angelina disappeared into the bathroom and the door shut with a gentle snick.

Hermione continued on her way down the stairs to the living room where Ron was sprawled out on the lumpy sofa with one foot dangling off the side. His head was thrown back and he was snoring lightly. There wasn't even the hint of a nightmare.

As she stood watching him, Ron twitched in his sleep and rolled onto his side. Hermione was always amazed he never fell off the sofa except for when he had some particularly strong nightmares. Once he'd hit his head on a table next to the sofa and the offending piece of furniture had since been moved.

Ron had been sleeping in the living room of the Burrow for just under a year. When Bill and Fleur's son, Girard, had been old enough to be moved out of his parents' bedroom Ron had volunteered to give up his small attic room for his nephew. Since Hermione had been given Percy's old room the only other that remained vacant was Ginny's room which stood defiantly empty in expectation of her one day returning home from St. Mungo's. Mr. Weasley wouldn't allow an unmarried couple to officially share a room in the house, particularly since Mrs. Weasley would have expressly forbidden it. Instead, Ron had just moved his belongings to Hermione's room and slept downstairs. He often joked that it was better this way anyway as he was much closer to the kitchen.

Instead of curling up in the little space Ron wasn't taking up, as was her habit, Hermione left him sleeping and headed for the kitchen. Getting a glass out of the cupboard she filled it with water and took a few sips. Her thirst sated, she took the glass to the big table where she muttered an incantation and waved her hand over one of the candles that immediately sprang to life.

Hermione sat down at the table where she fell into a deep reverie. While she had always kept to a reliable schedule and preferred routine to chaos she was beginning to feel like she was in a rut. Those around her were moving on with their lives and this point had been brought home earlier in the evening when, over dinner, Bill and Fleur announced they were again expecting. Hermione had been very happy for them, of course, but it was another reminder to her that her own life had become stagnant. She loved Ron very much and couldn't imagine not spending the rest of her life with him but Ron seemed to be content with things as they were while Hermione wanted to get married and start a family like those around her were doing. Her heart knew Ron would ask when he was ready and she would admit they were still quite young but her brain said she was ready now and questioned why Ron wasn't and would that day ever come?

Hermione's mind drifted to the other Weasleys. While Fred and Angelina lived at the Burrow, George was currently living in a flat over Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and simultaneously dating Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet. He claimed he couldn't make up his mind as to which one he might like to settle down with while his family felt that if he didn't make it up soon he would probably wind up with neither.

Charlie Weasley had gone back to Romania after the war and was again working with his beloved dragons. However, he'd recently discovered another love and her name was Anya. The family had been nagging him for some months now to bring her home for a visit. Hermione smiled wryly as she wondered where they'd put them but then her smile faded as she figured they'd stay in her room since she'd probably be gone by then. She didn't' know how she had suddenly come to the decision but she realized that while she'd been sitting there that it had become apparent to her that she had to leave soon. With, or without, Ron.

From Ron her mind made the natural progression to the boy who had once been her other best friend. Harry had willfully disappeared after the battle with Voldemort. Hermione had been the only one to see him that night at St. Mungo's as she'd glanced down a hallway to see him stalking away from where she stood with the Weasleys. His hair had been even more messy than usual and his dirty and ripped robes were billowing out behind him. The next anyone had heard of him, Harry had secluded himself at Grimmauld Place and refused to see anyone. Hermione still wrote Harry once a week even though she never received any kind of reply. Still it was better than in the beginning when the letters had been returned, unopened, by an apologetic Hedwig.

Hermione was still ruminating on the paths everyone's lives had taken and wondering what her plan should be--for she vowed to have one by morning--when she heard a floorboard creak behind her.

~*~

Sighing in his sleep Ron Weasley groped out to his side with one arm and grasped--nothing. Now in a semi-awake state he reached again and still--nothing. The fact that Hermione should be at his side but wasn't jolted him awake and he abruptly sat up. Ron's eyes were wild as he scanned the room looking for signs that something was amiss but he found nothing. He tried to keep his heart from pounding--sure the noise it must be making was going to wake the entire household--as he quickly pondered the possibilities. Hermione was always there when Ron woke up. For two years she had been there whether he woke up screaming as he had so often done in the beginning or, later, when he awoke more quietly.

Swinging his feet to the floor, Ron rubbed his eyes and looked around the room again. It was then he saw the candlelight in the kitchen and knew it must be Hermione. Ron threw his blanket back on the sofa as he got up and padded to the doorway. He carefully peered around and saw Hermione sitting quietly at the table with her head down. While his heart rate returned to normal Ron silently watched as her fingers carefully traced the shadows the lone candle was throwing on the old tabletop. Ron had long since acknowledged that Hermione was the thinker of the group but right now she looked more pensive than usual. In fact, Ron thought as he ran a hand over the rough stubble on his chin, she'd been very quiet and thoughtful since dinner. He should have realized that earlier but he himself had been doing a lot of thinking since Bill and Fleur's announcement.

Ron was really happy for his brother and sister-in-law but his first thought had been that there was no place to move to from the sofa. He'd also wished for someplace quiet to go to where he could think in private. The problem with bedding down in the living room was that he couldn't go to bed--where he usually did some of his best thinking--until after everyone else had retired for the night.

He had thought about how crowded the Burrow was becoming. He had, of course, grown up in this house with a whole crowd of siblings but, somehow, this was different. He couldn't quite put his finger on why, though. Perhaps it was because before they'd been one big happy family where now they were not only smaller families sprouting up but there were glaring holes with regards to people who should still have been there. Ron instantly thought of his mother and sister. Quickly pushing them aside because it was a painful subject, he again looked at Hermione.

Ron was constantly in awe that Hermione loved him. With everything she had done for him--and continued to do--he was reminded of just how much he loved her and how very little he deserved her. Every night when he woke up, nightmare or not, she was there at his side. He often wondered what it had cost her to live at the Burrow just to be there for him. He knew that was the only reason she stayed. Now he wondered just how long she would continue to stay. Ron had suspected for a while now that she was feeling restless but he hadn't said anything for fear she would be motivated to leave. He had a feeling that conversation could not be put off for much longer.

Swallowing and taking a deep breath he stepped into the kitchen, deliberately treading on the creaky floorboard that had always given him away when he was a child trying to sneak sweets.

As he'd anticipated Hermione's chin lifted at the sound. She didn't turn to look at him but simply asked, "Another nightmare?"

"No," Ron answered quietly. "No, I didn't have a nightmare.' Walking to the table he pulled out the chair next to Hermione and continued as he sat. "I woke up because you weren't there."

There was a pause before Hermione replied, "I'm sorry. I've just got a lot on my mind."

"I know." Ron watched Hermione's fingers continue to move over the shadows on the table. He wasn't sure where to go from there and an unusually awkward silence fell.

Finally, for lack of a better starting point, Ron blurted, "Good about Bill and Fleur, isn't it?"

A ghost of a smile crossed Hermione's face. "Yes. Absolutely."

There was another silence. Ron closed his eyes briefly. He wasn't really accustomed to quiet Hermione. An angry, annoyed Hermione never failed to let Ron know what was on her mind but a quiet Hermione was a mystery he didn't know how to solve.

Taking a deep breath and opening his eyes he plunged in. "Hermione," he started. "I've got a lot on my mind, too." When she didn't respond he continued, "Do you want to know what it is?"

Hermione answered by tilting her head questioningly.

"I've been thinking," said Ron, suddenly deciding to just tell her what was in his heart, "about how you're always here. You're here not only for me but my whole family. And how you never complain about anything and I really think we've come to rely on you too much and take advantage of you."

Hermione's brow furrowed and she turned to look at Ron for the first time since he entered the kitchen.

Thinking, I really hope I can make some sense of this, Ron went on. "I've also been thinking how much more crowded it's about to get around here and I know there's been talk of adding on to the Burrow and there's always what seems like a good reason not to," Ron realized he was rambling but since he was now on a roll he decided it would be better not to stop. He didn't know if he'd ever be able to start again.

"Anyway, I was thinking that, well, er, maybe..." Breathe, Weasley, he silently told himself. "Maybe it's time for us to move on." This last was said in a rush.

Hermione didn't answer right away and Ron was afraid to look at her. When he finally did it was to see an expression of shock on her now pale face.

"You," she whispered, "you think I should leave?"

Leave? Ron thought, confused. Why would I want her to leave? Wasn't she listening? Ron thought back over what he'd said and realized how it must have sounded. He mentally kicked himself as he reached out to take Hermione's now motionless hand from the table.

"I think we should both leave," Ron said.

"What?" Hermione asked, now looking even more confused.

"I--" Ron ran his other hand through his vibrant ginger hair causing it to stand more on end than it already was. "Blimey, Hermione, I'm not very good at this."

"At what? Ron, just tell me what you're trying to say."

" I was thinking, maybe, if you wanted to, well, maybe..." his voice had dropped so low he didn't know if Hermione could hear him. "Maybe we could get married."

Ron winced at the silence. Now he was the one who couldn't look up and his gaze rested on the table where he was still clasping Hermione's hand. He didn't really know where the question had come from but the moment he'd heard it, he knew it was what he wanted more than anything.

"Ron," Hermione finally whispered and he chanced the slightest look up in her direction. "You want to marry me?"

Now Ron looked her full in the face and said strongly, "Hermione, I've wanted to marry you since fifth year when I woke up in the hospital wing and saw you sleeping in the bed next to mine."

Hermione let out her breath and laughed shortly as she glanced around the room. When she looked back at Ron her eyes were watering. "That long?" she asked and Ron nodded. "But you've never said anything," she accused.

"Well, there was never a right time," Ron defended himself. "I mean I know this isn't exactly the most romantic moment or how I thought I might ask you but I couldn't ask you before. There was the war and after that and all that happened I just--well, I didn't want to tie you down when I didn't even really know if I'd ever be all right again. But you stayed with me." Ron looked at her in wonder, "you stayed anyway and I loved you even more."

Ron paused and reached out to caress Hermione's cheek. She leaned into his hand, tears freely spilling from her eyes. "I knew," he continued, "we couldn't stay this way when Fred and Angelina moved in but I didn't know how to say anything so I didn't."

"And now?" Hermione asked.

"And now," he repeated, "I woke up not because of a nightmare but because I was looking for you. You've always been there but tonight you weren't and I got scared."

"Of what?"

He shook his head. "I guess I got scared that I might lose you because I suddenly realized what it was to wake up without you. I want you always beside me, Hermione. Nothing feels right when you aren't there."

Hermione closed her eyes only to open them when Ron spoke again.

"Hermione." He looked at her intently. "You haven't answered my question."

She smirked at him. "You didn't ask me a question, Ronald."

Looking puzzled, Ron said, "I didn't?"

"No. You made a statement."

Ron thought back and realized she was right. I am such a git, he thought. He looked at Hermione and saw the smile on her face and, more importantly, the love in her eyes. Grinning back at her he asked, "Well, do you agree with my statement?"

Hermione laughed and said, "Yes, Ron. Yes, I do."

Still grinning Ron leaned forward and whispered, "I love you," just as their lips met.