The day after the war ends is full of noise. Celebration, and laughter, but to Ron, it's just noise. You'd think he'd be the one to rejoice the loudest, but all he wants to do is sleep. He's just so tired. After having nightmares under the moon, and living out new ones under the sun, he just wants to sink into a deep, dreamless rest. He smiles at Harry, who's looking at him concernedly, and goes off to wander the halls of Hogwarts. Of course the celebration is held there, in the Great Hall, where the most heroic, most important event of the wizarding world happened. But still, Ron can't remember anything but the bodies laid out there. Some, like Remus and Tonks, looked like they were sleeping, but others...Well. Others couldn't be mistaken for sleeping even if you were blind. Ron envies both kinds, for the restful nothingness they will have now. No more nightmares, no more killings, no more shouts of "Avada Kedavra!"

Hermione laughs, smiling as if she's on top of the world, when really she's just trying to hide her fear. She's so glad the war is over, but it isn't. Not really. The horrible, terror-filled events will constantly play out in her head when she sleeps, not getting any sleep actually. She just wants to actually rest when she sleeps, but she knows that won't happen, not for a long time. She has a sudden urge to leave, to explore the familiar halls of Hogwarts. She gently eases out of a conversation with Lavender and Parvati, a conversation filled only with joy, and no real friendliness. They never really talked to her during her school days, anyway, and that was fine with her. It's now, though, when she has time to be friendly, that she feels a sudden, inexplicable loneliness. She looks around for Ron, in time to see him slip out the door. She has nothing better to do, and Ron's one of the few that understands. That understands everything. Harry does too, but he seems too intent on making himself forget that any of the gory events of the war ever actually happened to do anything. So she follows Ron.

He seems to be walking slowly, as if subconsciously wanting someone to follow, to even care enough to follow. She knows she would have done the same, if she weren't trying to catch up to him. He hears her heavy breathing when she does catch him, catches her around the waist when she almost falls. She straightens up with unspoken thanks, when she can breathe and stand on her own. She takes one look at him, at the shuttered look on his face and holds out her hand. He stares at it, puzzled, until she nudges his wrist with hers. Then he looks up, a look of such gratitude, such relief, that she can't help but smile back.

They head to Gryffindor Tower, and the Fat Lady lets them in without them even offering a password. Ron supposes that there is no password now, at least none that really matters. So they step in and wordlessly curl up together in one of the oversized armchairs and sleep. They can finally sleep.