A Light of Meaning

“Harry?” Harry looked up from the last letter he had to write – the others had already left by owl. “Look there,” Ginny said, pointing.

Harry turned to see Lavender coming down the stairs from the third floor. “Now what?” He wondered aloud. “First Parvati and Padma run past, and now Lavender…I don’t get it.”

They watched as Lavender walked down the hall, and when she reached the conference room they were surprised to see her stop and knock on the wall, roughly where the door was (since she couldn’t see it from her side). Ginny got up and pulled the door open. “Lavender? Did something happen?”

“Er- can I talk to you – in private?” Lavender asked. “Both of you, I mean.”

“Of course,” Harry said. Lavender sat down at the table, and Ginny shut the door before returning to her seat. “What’s going on?”

“Umm…Harry, I’ve- I’ve changed my mind about leaving,” Lavender said quietly. “That is, if it’s still all right for me to be in the D.A.-”

“Of course it is!’ Harry exclaimed. “What made you decide to stay, though?”

“Hermione…I was just talking to her, and she told me…she made me think that maybe there is a place for me here after all,” Lavender said with a slight smile.

“There is, and I’m glad you changed your mind. Er…you said you were talking to Hermione?”

“That’s right. Oh, she said to tell you that she was going to bed now,” Lavender added with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, good,” Harry said.

“She just really needs the sleep,” Ginny told Lavender.

“Yes, I think you’re right,” Lavender agreed.

“Er- so it didn’t have anything to do with why Parvati and Padma went past in a hurry a bit ago, did it?” Harry asked.

“Oh…” Lavender’s face fell. “Parvati is furious with me. She- she thinks I’m a coward for wanting to leave,” she added in a whisper.

“You’re not a coward,” Ginny said firmly. “This whole situation is scary, for everyone. Just tell Parvati you’ve decided to stay here.”

“Umm, I don’t know if I can,” Lavender admitted. “You see, I’ve already told my mum that I was going to come home – if I didn’t, wouldn’t it look kind of odd?”

Harry frowned. “Yeah, it would. But if you already told your mum…” he glanced at Ginny, who shrugged. “Well, let us think about it for a bit. Maybe we can come up with something.” Lavender nodded. “Lavender, did Hermione- well, did she tell you about Ron?” Harry asked.

Lavender smiled hugely. “Yes, she did! Oh Harry, Ginny – it’s wonderful! I can hardly believe he’s awake!”

“Same here,” said Harry; his cheeks were practically aching from the amount of smiling he’d done that morning.

Ginny started to speak, when the corner of her eye caught movement down the hall. “Bloody hell!” she shouted, leaping to her feet. “Look!”

Harry and Lavender both gasped as well – Ron was carefully making his way up the stairs, supported by George on one side, and Neville on the other; Luna was right behind them. Harry, Ginny and Lavender all reached the door together and flew out into the hall. Before Harry or Ginny could say anything, Lavender shrieked “RON!” and hugged him tightly.

“Merlin, can’t I see at least one person who doesn’t hug me today?” Ron exclaimed, his face glowing red.

Lavender released Ron quickly, also blushing a bit. “I’m sorry…I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Oh- um, thanks,” Ron replied awkwardly.

“Ron, what the hell are you doing back here so soon?” Harry asked.

“George and Luna showed up while mum and dad were out talking to the Healer,” Ron said. “And I begged them to get me the hell out of there – had to get away from mum, she’s gone completely round the twist! She said you all were bad news, and ordered me to stay away from you!” He glared at Harry. “What the bloody hell have you done?”

Harry sighed. “Ron, it’s a long story; there’s a ton to tell you. But look, are you sure it was safe to leave St. Mungo’s? Were the Healers through with you?”

“Harry, the Healers didn’t know what was wrong with Ron in the first place, and they can’t have a clue why he woke up,” Ginny pointed out. “If Ron feels all right then there’s not really any reason for him to stay there.”

“Okay,” Harry agreed. “But Ron, you should go get some more rest, you look done in.”

“I want some answers, Harry!” Ron exclaimed angrily. “Are thing so screwed up that-”

“Ron,” Harry interrupted firmly, “I will tell you everything. But it has to be in private, and Hermione needs to be there. Right now she’s catching up on some sleep she missed while trying to figure out how to wake you up,” he added.

Ron immediately looked guilty. “Oh…right.”

“Come on, Ron,” Ginny said, taking Ron’s arm. “I’ll take you up to your room; you can rest with Hermione.”

“I’ll help too,” Lavender offered.

“Okay,” Ron agreed. “But Harry, when we wake up I want an update.”

“Sure, Ron,” Harry said with a nod. “Everything.”

“Right,” Ron said as he was led away up the stairs. “And you can start by telling me what my mum meant when she said ‘Poor Seamus’.”

“It’s just amazing, Harry,” Neville said quietly. “I got your letter, and- I almost couldn’t bring myself to believe it, because if it’d turned out to be wrong it would’ve been too horrible to imagine.”

“It’s wonderful,” Luna agreed with a distant smile. “I’m quite pleased our work has gone so well.”

“Your work?” George stared at Luna incredulously. “That’s what the big secret project was that you’ve been working on – waking Ron?”

“That was a part of it,” Harry confirmed. “But don’t ask about the rest.”

George grabbed Luna around the waist and lifted her off the floor. “You’re bloody incredible!” he whooped.

Harry and Neville laughed at the spectacle. “You and me, Harry,” Neville declared happily, clapping Harry on the shoulder. “All our families are here, and we get to share this with them. This is the best thing that could happen for us.”

“I’ll second that,” Harry agreed.

“All your families?” Luna said questioningly as George finally put her down. “But Neville, what about your parents?” She looked surprised when Harry flinched. “What is it?”

“Luna, that’s really personal,” Harry said quickly. “Remember that conversation we had when you first got here? Well, this is like that – it’s not anyone’s business what…”

Harry’s voice drifted off when Neville laid his hand lightly on Harry’s shoulder. “It’s all right, Harry,” he said softly. “Luna, my parents are both in St. Mungo’s hospital. They were Aurors; after the first war, they were captured by Death Eaters who believed they had information about V-Voldemort’s location. My parents were tortured with the Cruciatus curse until they went insane.” He reached out and took Luna’s hand; she looked terribly stricken. “Luna, it’s all right. It’s thanks to knowing people like you, and Harry and the rest of the D.A. that I’ve come to grips with it. I’m proud of my parents, and I’ve had a long time to get used to talking about what happened to them.”

“That’s very brave of you,” Luna responded. She gazed at Neville thoughtfully for a moment. “Harry, I’d like to do some more work; could I use the conference room?”

“Er- sure,” Harry answered, slightly startled at the sudden change of topic. He was even more surprised when Luna walked into the conference room and shut the door without a backward glance.

“Don’t even bother trying to get what goes on in Lu’s head,” George said. “I’ve got to get back to the shop; Fred’s expecting me to take over, so he can owl Angelina the news. Plus Horace Flourish owled to let us know the local bum’s back to his old tricks.”

“The who?” Neville asked.

“Oh, there’s some wizard down on his luck who hangs around Diagon Alley,” George said vaguely. “He likes to go up and down the street, nicking little things from all the shops. I’m sure he got away with at least one You-Know-Whoopie the last time we tossed him out.”

“Nicking You-Know-Whoopies?” Harry said with a grin; it felt so damn good to be able to laugh and joke again. “At least he has distinguished taste!”

*****

Hermione kicked the door shut behind her and put Ron’s arm over her shoulder, so she could help him to the bed. “Honestly Ron, if you’re this weak you shouldn’t have left St. Mungo’s!” she chided, although truthfully she was overjoyed to have him back in their room; the few times she had tried to sleep since the attack, she’d found Ron’s absence pained her all the more.

“Hah, you didn’t hear mum,” Ron grumbled. “Going on about how you all betrayed her and saying Ginny, Fred and George aren’t family any more…”

“Don’t worry, Ron…we’ll find a way to reconcile with your parents.”

“I guess,” Ron muttered. They reached the bed, and Ron turned so he could sit; Hermione sighed with relief when his weight left her shoulder. Ron looked up at Hermione, and his jaw dropped in surprise when he finally got a good look at her. Hermione was wearing nothing but a t-shirt far too big for her, that just barely covered the tops of her thighs. “Is- is that my shirt?” Ron asked, dumbfounded.

“Oh…yes,” Hermione admitted. “It was rather hard to sleep without your- your smell, so I started…” She trailed off, blushing fiercely. “I hope you don’t mind,” she whispered.

“Mind? Of course not! You look right sexy!” Ron exclaimed.

“You think so?”

“Yeah,” Ron said with an embarrassed grin. “It makes me wish it was about an inch or two shorter.”

Hermione stared at Ron until he started to feel uncomfortable. Then, slowly, she grasped the sides of the t-shirt and pulled it up to her waist. Ron swallowed as he gazed at the neat patch of soft brown curls. “Er…’mione, I’m not sure I can-”

Ron never finished his statement because Hermione tackled him back onto the bed, kissing him fiercely. Their tongues met in Ron’s mouth as Hermione’s hands tugged Ron’s shirt up and slipped underneath, running over his suddenly too-hot skin. When she finally broke away Hermione said breathily “Please Ron…I’ve missed you so much! I know you’re weak, but if I do everything, can we please…?”

“Yeah,” Ron agreed, a bit lightheaded. “Sure.”

Hermione kissed her way down Ron’s chest, all the while undoing the button and zipper of his jeans. She pulled them off along with his boxers, and smiled almost tearily at his half-erect cock. She grasped him with one hand, and stroked him lightly until he was fully hard; then she leaned forward and tentatively licked the tip. Ron sat bolt upright and stared in shock. “Oh Merlin! Do you- are you sure you want to-? I mean, you never…”

“One thing I deeply regretted was not trying new things with you, Ron,” Hermione told him with a slightly naughty grin. “But I might be a bit clumsy, so be patient with me.”

“Uh…I’ll do my best,” was all Ron was prepared to promise. It was a good thing too, because when the prim and proper Hermione ran her tongue from the base of his cock all the way to the head, Ron almost came right then. And when she took him in her mouth for the first time, he had to bite his lip until it bled. Her lips sliding up and down his shaft were just awkward and unpracticed enough that he could control himself, but after a few minutes Ron had to squeak out “Hermione, if you d-don’t stop I-I’m gonna-!”

Hermione’s mouth came off Ron with a pop. “Don’t you dare,” she ordered, standing and pushing him back onto the bed. “I’ve been longing to have you inside me for weeks, fearing I never would again!” She snatched her wand from the nightstand and cast the anti-pregnancy Charm, watching Ron’s cock twitch as the sparkle settled over it. Then she crawled up over him until they were face to face. Locking her eyes with his, Hermione reached between them and guided Ron’s cock to her entrance. She was already so wet with the thought of Ron filling her that he slid inside with ease. Ron groaned, squeezing his eyes shut to better concentrate on not coming too soon; it didn’t help that Hermione sat up, causing Ron’s cock to enter her all the way to the base, and when she began rolling her hips, he almost blacked out.

Ron clutched at Hermione’s thighs as she rocked gently. “Merlin, ‘mione, that feels bloody incredible,” he gasped; he felt a drop on his stomach, and nearly swallowed his tongue when he opened his eyes. Hermione was crying, her chest heaving and tears pouring down her cheeks, although she never stopped moving along Ron’s cock. “Don’t- don’t cry, Hermione,” Ron whispered, feeling a bit helpless. “I’m okay. It’s okay.”

“I know, Ron,” Hermione blubbered out. ‘These are tears of joy! I’m just so h-happy you’re h-here…” She leaned forward and kissed him again, tenderly; “I love you,” she murmured into his lips. “Now that I can say it…I want to tell you over and over. I want to make love to you every day, and whisper it like I’m doing now.” She began sliding her slick wetness up and down Ron’s cock, moving faster and faster. “I want you to get strong again, so you can…so you can take me, claim me, because I’m yours; so you can fuck me, as hard as you can, so I can scream that I love you.” Ron’s cock was slamming up into her as she bore down, pounding into him. “I-” slam “llllove-” slam “you-!”

Ron couldn’t take any more. He rose up to meet Hermione and drove home inside her, howling as he came; a new wave of tears struck Hermione as she felt him pulse and came with him, clutching at his shoulders and sobbing into his neck.

They lay panting for a long while. Finally Hermione slipped Ron out of her, making them both groan, and curled up against his side. “I love you,” she whispered. “I do, Ron.”

“‘mione, I know you mean it – you don’t have to convince me. And, um…since it didn’t go over so well last time, I’d like to try again; I love you.”

“Oh, Ron…”Hermione’s tears came back in earnest. “I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you…”

“Hermione, don’t,” Ron begged softly. “You know I don’t know what the hell to do when you cry.” Hermione laughed a bit wetly. “I made a mistake; it was the wrong time. Now I know you believe me, so I don’t care about what happened before.” He kissed the top of her head softly. “I think maybe we should sleep now.”

Hermione was about to protest that they should talk more, when she yawned hugely. “Oh, I suppose so,” she agreed, suddenly exhausted. She snuggled closer. “I meant what I said,” she said sleepily. “About doing this every day…”

“You won’t get a complaint from me,” Ron said, trying to sound innocent.

Hermione chuckled softly. “I didn’t-” she yawned- “didn’t think I would,” she mumbled as her world faded away; but as she drifted off, she thought she heard Ron murmur “Someday, we can do this without the Charm…”