Hermione collapsed to the floor, having fallen from her chair thanks to the choked sob that left her throat. The pain in her stomach quickly overtaking the need for tears. It was like she could feel the potion itself, raging through every limb. Her muscles cramped and seized as she braced herself on the floor. Then, after a few agonizing seconds, everything dissolved, her body slowly sinking down into an exhausted heap. Her head felt floaty as the light of early morning taunted her through the window.

Her eyes closed tight as she managed to drag her arms towards her chest enough to push herself from the floor. With all the grace of a drunken sloth, she pulled herself up to her knees and over the edge of her bed. With another heave of trembling limbs, she pushed herself over the surface, her body relaxing down into its plushness. Having virtually stayed up all night, her eyes closed and in an instant, she was out, the soft chirping of warning from her bracelet unable to break through the heavy weight of sleep that overcame her.

oOo

Ginny mewled softly as the morning light caressed her face. Her brow furrowed as she shifted in the arms that held her close. A soft smile curled her lips as she nestled her head under Harry's chin, her lips gently pressing a kiss over the pulse that beat steadily. Her legs slowly stretched out before gently tangling, the man who held her let out a soft grunt from the adjustment, his lips coming down to the top of her head as his arms adjusted.

Ginny hummed when the tips of his fingers teased her lower back, her own running up to trace his shoulder blades. A sleep-heavy whisper slipped past her lips, "Mmm, I could get used to this."

Harry merely smiled and hummed his agreement, his head shifting back just enough to press a kiss to the crown of her brow, "Me too..."

Ginny shifted closer, pressing her toned stomach into his, a wolfish grin curling her lips when his hips jerked ever just so, "It's still early...mmm..." Her words were lost to the kiss that pressed over her still closed lids, "We have, ah...nowhere to be for a while..."

Harry mumbled his agreement, his body shifting to pull her further onto his chest. When he felt her legs settle around his, he managed to open his eyes to the beautiful crimson hallo framing his love's face. His fingers pulled from her back to gently trace the gentle curve of her cheeks before he pulled her down for a proper morning kiss.

A soft hum left Ginny's throat, as she let her body meld down into his, her hands running up into his hair. Another series of kisses left the pair of them heated and when the fog of early morning cleared from their minds the need for food made itself starkly known. Ginny giggled when their stomachs growled as one, actually feeling the vibration of the sound. Reluctantly, she pressed one more kiss to Harry's lips before rolling herself off to the side for a full-body stretch.

Harry smiled as he rolled into his hip to watch, his still heavy eyes taking in every little freckle the morning sun-kissed. His fingers trailed along her side before she was slipping from bed to search for something proper to wear.

"I love you..."

Ginny turned to the soft confession, her lips turning up as she pulled on one of his t-shirts, "I love you, too."

Harry leaned back just enough to accept her kiss before he too managed to pull himself from the bed. His eyes turned towards his dresser where he'd hidden the ring before he moved to put on some boxers and lounge pants. When he turned another t-shirt was tossed into his face and he couldn't help but chuckle as he slipped it on.

"What? You can go around bottomless but I can't go around topless?" He teased pulling her back into his chest.

"Mmmhmm," Ginny grinned as he tried to distract her with kisses to her neck, "You're all mine, I don't want anyone else to see you."

Harry chuckled and squeezed her gently, "You do know that Hermione has seen my chest right? I mean we lived together in a dingy tent for an entire year."

"That was before." Ginny grinned reaching up to hold his head in place where he had taken to nipping at her collar bone, "Now you're mine."

"Mm, all yours." Harry pressed another kiss to her temple before turning to find his glasses. Once found, he turned back to the door, though just as Ginny opened it his smile faded.

Ginny tilted her head slightly, her silencing spell now broken by the opening of the door. She glanced back at Harry for a moment before moving down the hall towards Hermione's room where she pressed her ear to the wood.

"It sounds like her alarm clock." Ginny straightened up as Harry came closer, hearing the chirping more clearly for himself.

"That's...not an alarm clock." Harry's frown deepened before the sound therein seemed to muffle, "That's her bracelet."

Ginny tried the handle but found the door to be solidly closed, "Well, there's no way she's going to sleep through that, I'm sure she'll be down shortly. Come on, I'll make us some pancakes."

"I guess..." Harry lingered as Ginny began to pull him towards the stairs, his head turning back for a moment before he had to look where he was going.

Inside the room, Hermione was in fact beginning to stir. Her head turned as she shifted the arms beneath her body, her weight and the blankets having muffled the bracket to somewhat tolerable levels, though now it was beginning to vibrate and that did not feel great against her growling stomach.

With mind full of cobwebs, Hermione's eyes gradually opened though it was with will alone that they managed to take in anything at all. A deep grumbling sigh left her throat, her body stiff and sore from the awkward position she had fallen asleep in. With a head still too heavy to lift she shifted her arm from under her chest and summoned two vials from her potions chest.

A headache relief and a nutrition supplement gently clinked against the blanket as her hand missed them entirely. With all the strength she could muster on only two hours of sleep she rolled herself onto her side and took them in quick succession. The bracelet on her wrist went quiet and her eyes closed. A small shift had her back on her stomach, her shoes toed off to the floor with heavy thumps. A weak army crawl had her centered more on the bed and an arm brought her blanket partially over her shoulder before she could resist rest no longer. A heavy sigh left her chest as she fell tumbling back into the land of nod.

Downstairs, Harry and Ginny were doing their best to attempt food though once again they had found themselves wrapped in each other's arms. Ginny grinned as she was pressed back into the counter, the whisk in her hand being held at length as Harry proceeded to attack her neck with soft open-mouthed kisses.

While Ginny had actually started their little power play she was more than happy to reap the rewards of losing the battle. Her free hand came from the counter to rake her nails down Harry's spine making the man moan against her throat.

Ginny let out a heavy sigh of pleasure as her head fell back further, "Harry... we're not going to manage to eat if you keep...ah..."

Harry grinned as his knee pressed gently between her legs, the woman dropping her weight against his thigh. The heat between sent a shiver up his spine, "I just missed you so much..." He purred into her ear before letting his temple rest against her own.

"I missed you too..." Ginny pressed a series of kisses along his jaw, "The season will be over soon enough. Then mmm..." Her words trailed off when his hands slipped under the t-shirt she wore to take her hips. The whisk dropped to the counter as her arm wrapped around his shoulders a devious grin curled his lips, "I suppose I could eat, you."

Harry's ears flared red but his eyes were dark. He pressed another kiss to her lips before pulling her from the counter and fully into his hold. Without missing a beat Ginny wrapped her arms and legs around his neck and back respectively.

oOOo

Mid-day came faster than Harry and Ginny realized. Having spent their morning reaffirming their love in the most pleasurable way they knew. By the time they actually made it back downstairs, they were absolutely famished. Harry helped where he could in making a very late breakfast, this time keeping his hands to himself. Though when the grandfather clock struck noon his mood was partially shattered. He paused in whisking the eggs and glanced around the kitchen. When they'd returned everything had been as they'd left it and he was sure that when they'd gone downstairs he hadn't heard anything coming through Hermione's door.

"Harry? What's wrong?" Ginny flipped one of the pancakes on the griddle noticing that Harry had gone still.

"Uh, nothing...it's nothing..." He gave her a somewhat forced smile before moving beside her to the skillet and poured the eggs, "Just got lost in thought again."

Ginny chuckled, "You're getting as bad as Hermione." She missed the small wince Harry made to their friend's name, "If you start choosing books over me, I'm going to hex you."

Harry smirked just a little, "I don't doubt it." He pressed a small kiss to her cheek but couldn't help but glance to the ceiling. Before he could fall too deep into his thoughts Ginny spoke again.

"Mum, said we could come anytime afternoon. Did you want to stay here for a bit or go over after we eat?"

"Uh, whenever is fine with me." He scooped the eggs from the skillet onto their plates, "Whatever you want."

"Ron said Malenda would be there at one, so we could leave then." Ginny set down the pancakes next, "Have you heard anything more about her condition?"

"Not much no..." Harry tried not to let his guilt show, "But she's coming home, right? So that's got to be good."

Ginny hummed her agreement moving to the table. Harry joined her not long after both of them filling their mouths. The pipes rattled slightly and they both looked up.

"Hermione's up." Ginny chuckled around her bite.

Upstairs, Hermione had indeed risen but she certainly wasn't shining. Her head hung heavily as she stood in the bathroom. The water in the shower running without her yet inside. Her body felt disjointed and weak, oddly heavy. Her face was numb even as she rubbed her hands over it to wake herself up more.

The bracelet had taken her from her rest once again, only silenced by her morning dose of potions. Her stomach still quietly rumbled but she felt much too grimey to seek food just yet. She had hoped a shower would make her feel more human but the more layers of clothes she divested the less human she felt. Her fingers grazed over the end of her ribs which were now very prominent every time she breathed. While she couldn't see all of them just seeing them at all was extremely upsetting. Her hips were no better, the tips of the bone now creating a small hollow where her underwear no long sat against her skin. Her thighs had an unhealthy gap to them and her knees reminded her of Snape's when he was a little boy.

A silent spell cut along the poultice, the smell of iron filling the thick air. She hissed as she pulled it away, the dried blood pulling at the scabs that would never heal causing a few small beads to taint the brown. A heavy sigh left her gritted teeth as she dropped the soaked cotton into the bin. Her eyes rolled towards the mirror that she'd dutifully been avoiding.

Her fingers rose to the dark bags that had settled under her eyes, not helped in the slightest from her lack of sleep the night before. She looked old...older than someone her age should have. The luster of youth was completely void on her near ashen skin. She tried to give her reflection a smile but it came out more like a pained grimace causing her eyes to drop away and towards the shower.

She was very careful as she stepped in, her eyes watching the water turn murky as it swirled down the drain. Thankfully, the warmth of it soothed her prickling nerves and she found a sort of solace in its heat.

She washed with robotic efficiency keeping her eyes closed as she worked the lather over her frame. Her hair was a quick endeavor but she did note how much of it came free to tangle into her fingers. While it was not uncommon for her to lose more than a few strands she still felt as though she had lost more than her fair share.

Her mind dutifully shut down by the time she'd rinsed and conditioned. Her skin felt soft and smooth by the time she finished. Carefully stepping out of the shower she sat herself down, wrapped in her towel, and rested her head against the sink. She was just so tired...

"Hermione?" Harry's knock and following voice caused a startled squeak to leave her lips.

"Y-Yeah?"

"There's some breakfast downstairs if you want some. Ginny and I are going to go ahead and head out. Are you going to come?" Harry kept his ear close to the door.

"Uh, yeah just a slow start this morning..." Hermione pushed a lock of wet hair from her face, "I'll be there."

"Great, see you soon okay?" Harry waited for her affirmation before moving away, his footsteps easily tracked as he thumped down the stairs.

Hermione's shoulders sagged as she heard him leave. With the small burst of energy from being startled, she pushed herself to her feet and opened the cabinet behind the mirror. She grabbed three Pepper-up potions taking one and setting the others aside for later. As the potion got to work she started on sorting out her hair and getting dressed for the day no longer feeling like a bag of sand with limbs.

"Is she coming?" Ginny chirped as she settled her bag on her shoulder.

"Yep, later she said she got a late start for the morning." Harry tried to keep his face passive.

"Oh, good. I know Mum and Dad will be happy to see her." Ginny pulled Harry into the floo with her and took a handful of powder.

"Harry! Ginny! Just in time come on, come on we're helping to get the house ready for Malenda and Ron." Mrs. Weasley was moving through the kitchen when she saw them come through her wand out and moving as she cast small extension charms over the floor to make a larger pathway to get around the chairs, "Ginny dear, Dad's outside could you give him a hand with the stairs?"

"Yes, Mum." Ginny chuckled as she set her bag in a random chair before giving Harry a fleeting look.

Harry gave her a small wave when he turned to help Mrs. Weasley, "So what can I do?"

"I'd like to make a small path through into the garden so the poor dear can go out and get some fresh air whenever she needs to, here-here help me with this."

Harry leaned down as he pulled his wand helping to resettle the old floorboards into something much easier to traverse before following Mrs. Weasley out the back to help her continue to turn the random stones into something smooth and flat. A goofy smile curled his lips by just how much he realized he loved magic.

"There's a good lad, oh! Bill got me this wonderful tent, it's in the shed, can you get it?" Mrs. Weasley had now become distracted by a bit of gardening making sure the riotous plants would keep clear of the new path.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley." Harry chuckled as he moved further through the garden to a shed that looked as though it may collapse at any moment. Mindfully, he opened the door and saw a small set of wooden poles and a green and white striped bit of canvas.

He pulled the lot of it out and moved back to the muttering woman with a smile, "Where would you like it?"

"Ah, over here, yes." Molly moved to the end of the stonework path and made a small clearing with an effortless flick of her wand before turning back to give Harry a hand.

At the front of the house, Ginny was doing her best not to laugh at George who was 'Testing' the ramp with a rolling chair he'd knicked from some random room in their house. The young man had done an impressive spin before he'd landed in a tangled heap at the end where he burst out into laughter.

"Got a bit of a catch there yeah!" He said through his laughter as he tried to roll over and untangle himself from the chair.

"You sure about that?" Ginny laughed as she moved to help him up, "Or is it that your dunderheaded idea was just bad?"

"What it's a chair with wheels! It's that same thing!" George laughed as he pulled the chair upright ready to go again, though before he could he spotted a carriage floating through the air towards them, "I guess we'll find out won't we!" He waved to the driver her brought the thestrals around on the lawn before very gently coming to a landing.

When the side door came open Ron's red head popped out with a soft smile, though only long enough for him to put down the steps for the carriage. There was a small giggle from inside before he reappeared with Malenda held bridal style in his arms. She smiled sheepishly as he made it down the steps, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. The driver came around with a very nice-looking wheelchair settling it down in the grass before Mr. Weasley ushered him further towards the house where the ramp they'd just made ended.

Ron proudly walked towards it, before very gently settling Malenda down. He helped her adjust her legs before pressing a loving kiss to her brow, "Does it feel alright?"

"Yes, Ron it's perfect." Malenda reached up pulling him back down for another kiss before she reached over the sides to the wheels.

"Here let me-"

"I've got it!" Malenda chided as she pushed herself effortlessly up the ramp with Ron directly behind, "See? No problem." She turned herself at the top and smiled at all those present, "I'll be fine." She soothed, running her hand down his arm before taking his hand.

Ginny chuckled as she tucked her wand away looking at George, "See? No catch."

"Well, she cheated," he teased back, "Bigger wheels."

Ginny chuckled as she followed her brother and Malenda into the house. The sound of her mother's excited greeting filling the house with love.

oOo

Hermione grumbled softly to herself as she straightened her bed. Her head still felt extremely heavy but the potions in her system were giving her the strength she needed for the day. She'd dressed nicely, more for a want of feeling better than to impress but when a heavy yawn left her lips she found herself agitated. She slapped her own cheeks to help stave off her lack of sleep and huffed her way downstairs with her letters.

She went to the small room that they had converted into a small place for the owls to stay. One for each of them, she gently pet each bird before opening the door to the outside and sent them out. As she watched them fly away a feeling of finality settled in her chest. A reality she was dutifully ignoring.

A small shake of her head cleared her thoughts and she returned to the hallway. The clock in the living room struck four and she knew she could piddle about no longer. She had taken a small nap between showering and dressing, the quick sleep helped relieve her headache but she hadn't woken any happier. If she was perfectly honest with herself she was nervous to receive her replies to her letters. Luna's most of all.

With an idle wave of her hand, she summoned her bag and checked that she had her evening doses of potions before moving towards the fireplace. With a deep breath to push all her thoughts aside, she forced a calm smile onto her face and took hold of the floo powder.

Raucous laughter filled her ears as she stepped through. The lovely smell of the home easing the ache in her soul.

"Who's that then?" Called Molly, her chair pushing from the table just as Hermione turned into the doorway that led to the kitchen filled with people who paused in their meals to greet her.

"Ah, Hermione love! So good to see you!" Molly pulled the young woman into a hug as the entire room chorused their agreement, "Come, come eat!"

Hermione waved a little shyly to all present as Molly moved her closer to the table. There was a pause however when the chair she normally sat in was no longer there, its place taken by Malenda in her wheelchair. The chair that was once in its place in the back corner of the kitchen. Hermione's eyes swept the full table and for a moment she as sure as Molly realized there wasn't an actual place to sit. Well...there was one chair, Fred's.

Molly had started to push a few things aside at the corner when George stood up, "Here, you can sit here." He pulled his brother's chair from the table.

"No...I..." Hermione made to protest but the look on George's face stilled her tongue. Bashfully, in a room that had suddenly gone weightily quiet, she moved to George's side, "Thank you..." She whispered ducking her head as she made to sit, George, helping to push the chair in.

"Right," Molly snapped the mood as she took the empty plate that had been sat and started to fill it, "You like greens don't you?"

"Yes, ma'am..." Hermione swallowed thickly as she kept her head down when a bubbly bit of laughter from her left caused her to turn her head down to little Teddy who was happily mashing his hands in his potatoes.

The room gradually came back to life after a few moments and when Molly set her plate down with a small rub to her shoulder the air seemed to clear completely. Hermione turned her head to look at George looking for any sign that her sitting there was actually okay. When he gave her a soft smile and a hug to her shoulders the tension in them released and she raised her hand to take her fork.

"So Hermione, how've you been?" George took a bite of his roast, his bright eyes running down her frame critically. He instantly noticed the make-up hiding the bags beneath her eyes and the way she seemed to have trouble keeping her head up. His eyes ran down to the hand that held her fork, a small twitch every so often causing her to have to reclaim the bite she was making on her plate.

"Well...well, my job's been going and I'm even thinking of taking a vacation." Hermione smiled, happy for the normalcy of it all, "How about you, how's the shop been going?"

"Bout to be a hell of a lot busier with Hogwarts starting." He chuckled, "Even made a back to school box for the little tricksters of the place. It's got everything. Bit of sweets, a few dung bombs..." He trailed off at the look of mock horror on her face. A genuine laugh left his throat, "It'll be the best!"

"Only you! Think of the poor teachers!" Hermione laughed, hiding her unfinished bite behind her hand, "Even left school, you're a menace!"

"Have to keep the reputation up somehow!" George chuckled and shook his head letting his father interject into their conversation.

"So a vacation? Are you planning someplace muggle or magical?" Arthur too had noticed a small change but after not seeing her for so long he couldn't be sure if it was new or ongoing.

"Magical. Um, actually Professor McGonagall offered me a place up north." Hermione furrowed her brows, "I don't think I actually got a name. But it's by the seaside."

"Oh, I love the sea. The air, the waves a perfect place!" Arthur chuckled.

Hermione smiled more, the tension she'd unknowingly carried with her beginning to dissolve. She listened in to the various conversations when a small hand had crept onto her plate, her brow rose as the little fist curled around a bit of her potatoes before it was gone into the mouth of its owner.

"Teddy! You have your own dear!" Andromeda, a woman whom Hermione had barely met scolded with an apologetic look as she wiped at the boy's hand, the boy looking nonpulsed at his theft.

"It's alright." Hermione chuckled, taking a bit of roast potato and offering it out for the boy to take. "I don't mind."

Andromeda smiled kindly, "He's such a rascal."

"He's a baby." Hermione cooed but the boy huffed, his hair turning bright red.

"Big boy, I big! Big!" He puffed out his cheeks making all those around chuckle endearingly.

"Oh, so sorry." Hermione put on a mock seriousness to her face, "Big boy."

The toddler calmed instantly, his hair returning to a muddy brown before he deftly swiped another handful of potato from her plate. Hermione merely shook her head and chuckled turning her plate so that he'd have easier access before making to reach for a bread roll.

"Oh, what a beautiful bracelet!" Malenda, who was sat across reached towards the basket as well, her finger slightly brushing the soft silver, "Where ever did you get it?"

Hermione blushed softly as she set the roll onto her plate before extending her arm back across the table so she could look at it closer, "Actually... Madame Pomfrey gave it to me it's-"

"A health monitor?" Malenda's statement gathered a bit of attention from their side of the table, most notably Arthur, who looked down the way at Molly who hadn't heard a thing being as far away as she was.

"I guess? She said it'll help me remember to eat. Bloody nuisance if you ask me." Hermione tried to laugh it off but she could feel the tension returning, "The thing is dreadfully loud."

Malenda chuckled softly still gently turning it on the other woman's wrist, "I've always wanted to see one of these. Do you mind if I look at it later?"

Hermione pulled her hand back, finding Malenda's curiosity akin to her own, "Of course." She pulled her arm back but when she went to pull it from her wrist it gave a small spark making her squeak.

Malenda's brows rose a little and she couldn't help but giggle a little dryly, "Wotcher, Madam Pomfrey has a bit of a mean streak."

Hermione blushed and nodded dutifully hiding her arm beneath the table with a shake to her head, "I guess I won't be throwing it into the ocean then."

"Nope." Malenda turned when Molly called her name, asking her something about where she'd like to sleep, effectively pulling her attention.

Hermione absently rubbed at her wrist beneath the table before reclaiming her fork. Thankfully, those next to her hadn't seemed to notice but when she glanced down the table she noticed Harry's frown. She tried to give him an encouraging smile but she didn't know that it actually made her look guilty. Ginny pulled his eyes from her not a moment later and she took a small breath to focus back on her dinner.

When Hermione finally managed to raise her eyes again, she found the enchanted clock that Molly had in the kitchen. Her name and picture had been added to the hands during the time that she and Ron had dated, along with Harry's of course though what made her pale considerably was the fact that her hand was not settled in the home position like all the others but rather sat on the edge of the words that read, Mortal Peril.

The food in her mouth suddenly turned to salt and a small cough left her throat when it caught. George was right there to pat her on the back and she gave him a very weak smile as she finally managed to swallow down her food. She took a few gulps of her drink before she was able to finally settle back down.

Dinner carried on in a jovial fashion. Though Hermione dutifully kept her eyes away from the clock, she engaged and socialized as if nothing had changed. It felt normal, it felt nice. The perfect distraction she needed to lift the weight that had settled onto her shoulders.

Little by little the table cleared, Bill and Charlie had taken their leave with their respective loved ones and Andromeda was very keenly getting a sleepy Teddy ready to leave as well. The boy happily rested against her arm with eyes that were becoming too heavy to lift. Hermione took her plate to the sink with a soft gratitude towards Molly before she'd made her way to the back garden needing just a moment to let the love of the room settle into her wary heart.

Ron followed Malenda in the living room, her head turned down as she searched through her bag looking for something. He smiled as he came from behind gently pressing a kiss to her temple before coming around to sit on the armchair she was beside, "Whatcha looking for?"

Malenda hummed softly, "I thought I'd put my mum's book in here. The one about pensives that I wanted to let Hermione borrow." She shifted her bag again, the sound of books tumbling from inside, "I just...put too many in here."

Ron chuckled as he pulled the bag gingerly from her lap, "Well, she's not going anywhere for a bit so why don't we just enjoy the night?"

"Mm," Malenda raised her arms, knowing exactly what he wanted. Ron was careful when he pulled her from the chair and into his lap. A warm hand adjusted her legs so that they were comfortable over the armrest while her body rested against his chest. Malenda sighed happily as she settled into his lap. While she'd regained feeling in her legs she still hadn't been able to do much more than flex her toes.

"Comfortable?" Ron whispered into her hair, his lips pressing a small endearment to her temple.

"Wonderfully." Malenda contently wrapped his arm around her waist as she settled back against his chest.

Harry had helped Ginny and her mother gather the dishes and get them set to wash, "It was a wonderful dinner Mrs. Weasley."

"Thank you," Molly passed Ginny a plate and with only two flicks it was dried and sent off to be put away, "Hermione okay?"

"Yeah...she probably just needed some air." Harry glanced out the back window to where Hermione was resting on one of the chairs they'd put beneath the tent, "She's been busy lately."

"Always busy that one." Molly chuckled softly, "She's got to learn to slow down and enjoy life!"

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat but agreed nonetheless.

The rest of the dishes went by quickly and with the kitchen cleaned up, Molly began passing out a bit heavier drinks to those present before setting up small dessert plates to be sent to the living area. Ginny had left her mum to her devices while Harry had made to follow, though when he still didn't see Hermione inside, he politely excused himself to go and check on her.

The air was cool but not comfortable as he walked down the new path towards the tent. His eyes taking in Hermione's still frame. When she still hadn't moved to his presence he loudly cleared his throat startling her out of her light nap.

"Alright there?" He asked softly taking to a small chair beside her.

"Mmm...just tired, didn't sleep much last night." She let out a soft sigh with a weak smile blinking Harry into focus, "Have I been out here long?"

"Not too long, no." Harry shifted his feet frowning a bit when she pulled a potion from her pocket, "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Just tired, promise." Hermione drank down the pepper-up potion and idly wiped the corner of her lips that had begun to worry, "Hey Harry...?"

"Yeah?"

"You haven't...said anything to anyone have you?" Her eyes turned towards the kitchen where Molly had paused to watch them, it was only a moment but Hermione's meaning was clear.

"No....not even Ginny..." Harry looked down at his hands, "I honestly don't know what I would say..."

"Please...if you could...their family has been through a lot and I don't want any fuss...being made over something that could very well turn out false..." Hermione looked at her arm, rubbing the chill out of it.

"I..." Harry lifted his head, the pleading look in his best friend's eyes making his heart twist painfully, "I won't..."

"Thank you..." Hermione reached over the small gap squeezing his hand. After a moment she let her hand drop and slowly came to her feet, "I suppose we should get back in..."

"Yeah." Harry pushed himself up and followed her inside.

Molly was still bustling about and when they returned she smiled offering them each a drink in turn. Harry took a wine but Hermione politely declined. Instead, she took a cup of tea in exchange and made her way into the living space. When she passed through the door frame she once more found herself the odd man out but did her best not to let it show. Wanting to stay in the shadows, her plan was thwarted when Malenda caught sight of her.

"Oh! Hermione, I have a book for you!" Malenda shifted on Ron's lap, her upper body turning as he kept her from sliding off, she reached onto her wheelchair where she'd finally found the book she'd been searching for, "It was my grandmother's, the one I told you about?"

Hermione made her way over and settled her tea onto the coffee table before gently accepting the book, "The one about pensives?"

"The very same! Here look, ah Ron can you?" Ron instantly helped Malenda turn so that she was sitting forward, her legs limply falling onto either side of his as she settled on him like a chair. The young redhead behind didn't balk at it and even wrapped his arms around her waist with a gentle caress to her side, "Thank you." Malenda gave him a soft kiss as best she could over her shoulder before pulling open the book in Hermione's hand, "Here, there's the potion I was talking about, notes and all!"

"Wow, this is amazing." Hermione moved a little closer so that she could let Malenda turn the pages.

"Ouch...Ron what is in your pocket?" Malenda shifted slightly, slipping off of his thighs onto the small bit of cushion left over. Her hands instantly went to his slacks where he panicked.

"Nothing it's nothing!" He squeaked trying to get the box before her. Unfortunately, her small hands were much quicker and when she pulled the box free he froze.

"It's uh...ah uh... box?" Ron sputtered, causing George to snicker.

Malenda raised her brow and started to open it.

"Wait! Please!" Ron pleaded as he shifted so that Malenda was fully off of his frame. Hermione smirked as she pulled the wheelchair out of his way, as he continued to slip down off the chair. Malenda had paused but her eyes narrowed suspiciously when he moved down to his knee, his hands coming over hers.

"I uh..." Ron looked around, everyone now suddenly giving him their attention, "Well...I was wondering if..."

His fingers gently moved over hers, opening the box for her to see, "If you would marry me?"

Hermione's eyes raised to Malenda, having taken a few steps back to give Ron his moment. While it certainly wasn't the fairy tale proposal he was going for it was most definitely a Ron sort of proposal.

Malenda felt tears welling into her eyes, her voice suddenly caught in her throat as her fingers went lax to let him pull it away. She was shocked mostly, but when he pulled the ring from the box and offered it, a beautiful smile curled over her lips, "Yes. yes, I will."