The Battle of Hogwarts had been won and she had been given the all-clear that it was safe enough to collect her parents from Australia. She paced around the living room of The Burrow, wrapped in a patchwork quilt, her eyes itchy and sore from watching the clock.
She huffed and threw herself once more onto the sofa, beat a throw pillow into submission and closed her eyes, willing sleep to come. She took deep breaths and tried to clear her mind.
It was no use. She could not relax; her body was too tightly wound and jittery. The ticking of the clock did not soothe her, and she soon found her eyes opening once more and following the second hand as it shuffled its way around and around.
She grabbed the pillow from under her head and pressed it hard against her face, screaming her frustration into it.
Hermione froze, then peeked out from behind the pillow to see Ron, adorably disheveled and blinking sleepily at her from the bottom of the stairs.
"You all right?" he asked as he ambled over to lean on the back of sofa.
She sat up, folding her legs up under the quilt and wrapping her arms around her knees. "Can't sleep. Tomorrow's taking too long to get here. You?"
Ron shrugged, "Bad dream." He waved away the concern he saw in her eyes, "Can't remember it now, but I can't settle enough to get back to sleep."
The clock made a low gong to announce the passing hour and Hermione dropped her head, groaning into her knees. She heard Ron hum and felt his hand sweep softly over her hair. "I'll make us some of my mum's Special Sleepy-Time Hot Chocolate."
Several minutes later, Ron returned with two big steaming mugsĀ and Hermione quickly scooted herself around so he could sit next to her. The ceramic mug was magicked to stay cool on the outside, but she blew across the top to keep from burning her lips as she took a sip. the chocolate was rich and sweet, but also included a rather potent ingredient that made her eyes water and explained the "sleepy-time" part of its name.
"Your mother spiked your chocolate to put you to sleep?" Hermione rasped through the burn of the whiskey in her throat.
Ron chuckled low and gave a small cough to combat the sudden burn in his lungs. "It was only a sip or two and it did the trick. Come on, another mouthful will put us right out."
Hermione figured another swallow wouldn't hurt as the first was already sitting warm in her belly. She lifted the mug and drank deep. The sweetness of the chocolate barely covered the fire as it warmed its way through her chest and down her arms. Her eyes blinked slowly and she turned toward Ron with a lazy grin.
"Oh, that's lovely," she hummed and carefully placed the half-full mug on the nearby table.
Ron did the same and Hermione laughed at the chocolate mustache on his face and took his face in her hands to gently wipe it off with her thumbs. Ron smiled widely and pointed out she had one too and leaned in to kiss it off.
The feel of his lips on hers and his arms sliding around her waist to hold her close did more to soothe and relax her than any shot of liquor could. Ron pulled away and peppered sweet kisses on her cheeks then rested his forehead on hers.
"Think you can sleep now?" he asked softly, nuzzling his nose down along hers.
"Only if you stay." She pulled him with her as she lay back down. They shuffled about until he lay curled around her like a big spoon and wrapped the patchwork quilt around them. They both sighed with deep contentment and fell fast asleep.
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