"It shouldn't be easy," he consoled. "It's not. And if it is I would say there's something quite wrong with a person. I've just been through it a few times now, so I'm better at hiding it is all. Anders too. All of them really, I'm sure."

He continued to pet her hair, his heart aching for her. There wasn't a way to really make this better, but he at least wanted her to know she could talk to him and he wouldn't judge her. That she was not alone in that sour, dread feeling that permeated everything.

"I think it's good that you can't," he said softly. "We need someone like you." He leaned forward and touched his forehead to her curls briefly. "And if you ever need to talk about anything, you can come to me, Hermoine. None of this stalwart act. We're all in this together, so it's okay to lean on each other."