Authors note

I originally wrote this piece as a writing exercise and published it on this site under a different username. Still, it sort of fits in with my overall stories even if it is a bit fluffier. I offer it to enjoy as you will.

Chapter 1: We Need to Talk

"You silly girl," shouted Hermione, "haven't you learned anything at all?"

Hermione regretted it the moment she said it, but it was too late. The little Hufflepuff girl burst into tears and Hermione's heart reached out to her. She saw herself in the young girl, was again eleven years old, devastated, brought to tears by the harsh words of someone important to her.

Hermione dashed to the girl and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry Hope, I didn't mean that, you're actually a very talented young witch. I wouldn't have selected you for today's ceremony otherwise."

Hope looked up questioningly into Hermione's eye's.

"Did you know the my friend, Ron Weasley, had trouble with Wingardium Leviosa at first? But when it mattered, though, he used it to save me from a mountain troll."

Hope's wet eyes went wide and her little mouth opened, forming a large circle.

Hermione stood up and looked around the small group of first year students. "And do you know what," she continued, "I just know that this afternoon, when it matters, you are all going to do brilliantly too."

Hermione took them through one more rehearsal for their part in today's celebration of the first anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts and this time it was flawless.

"Now off to lunch, all of you," said Hermione.

Hope lingered a little and, perhaps emboldened by her success in the final rehearsal, turned to Hermione. "Is Ron Weasley really your boyfriend?" she asked.

Hermione felt a stab of fear and didn't answer, she simply pointed to the door and sent Hope on her way.

Ron, thought Hermione angrily. He was one who made her cry in first year and uncountable times since. He was the one who she blamed for her losing her temper with Hope. He had sent her an owl two days ago saying they needed to talk. He insisted on coming this morning to see her before the ceremony. Didn't he know how busy she was going to be today as Head Girl and the Newts were just around the corner. Why did he have to 'have a talk' today ', Ron never wanted to have a talk.

Hermione had known that there was something Ron was not telling her, she had sensed it the last two times they had spoken. But Ron had clammed up and got defensive, even angry, when she pushed him on it.

Had he found someone else, was it that little minx Piper? Piper was the new girl at George's joke shop. She was stunning and she knew it and she had more than eyes for Ron. She wanted her own live war hero and had selected Ron, but could Ron see it. He lapped up her attention and her flattery without understanding how insincere it was.

Ron denied there was anything to it, off course. "You are being paranoid, Hermione," he had said, "your reacting like I did with Victor and I know how silly that was now. You're the one I love and nothing is going to change that."

This didn't reassure her as much as it should have, she had actually been far more attracted to Victor than she had ever let on to Ron. During the Lavender affair, she had almost rekindled the relationship.

What really irked Hermione was the dismissive way Piper had regarded Hermione on the various occasions they had met, as if she didn't regard Hermione as serious competition, just a temporary obstacle. "You might be a clever book worm and a war hero," her eyes seem to say, "but I'm a woman and that is what Ron needs."

Hermione wanted to insist that George sack Piper and she knew that if she stood firm, George would do it, but she held back. She knew that if she did that it would validate every act of jealousy Ron had done in the past and would in the future and that would be too high a price to pay. She had to trust Ron as she insisted he trust her. But she was afraid.

Ron would be here in ten minutes. She hurried back to Gryffindor Tower, where, as Head Girl, she had her own room and where she had agreed to meet Ron. He was already there, outside her room looking out of the tower window to the grounds below where preparations for the ceremony were almost complete.

The sight of him took Hermione's breath away. He was already formally dressed, wearing a rich blue silk cloak that complimented his red hair, now aflame in the sunlight pouring through the window. He looked worried though and Hermione's heart rate accelerated.

"Hi," she said almost inaudibly.

Startled, he turned toward Hermione and gave her a weak smile.

"You OK?," she asked.

"Just dreading this afternoon. We're going to be on display again like prize exhibits in a zoo."

"At least the zookeepers have preened you for the event. Your looking very handsome."

"Ah, er thanks."

Hermione opened the door to her room and entered knowing Ron would follow.

She sat on the end of the bed and gestured to Ron to sit on the single comfortable chair. Ron remained standing.

Hermione took a deep breath. "So what is it that you want to talk about, Ron."

"Actually, it's more something I wanted to give you before this afternoon."

"Give?"

"And then I want you to answer an important question, to tell you the truth I'm a little nervous."

"You're nervous?"

Ron didn't answer. Instead, he reached into his pocket and fished out small square jewellery box.

"This is for you," he said, handing her the box.

Hermione's heart jumped into her mouth, she began to shake, shake with trepidation, with elation and with anger. How could he do it like this? With no lead up? In her bedroom? And now, just when she had to concentrate on her Newts. How could he?

"It from both me and Harry," said Ron.

"Harry?"

"Yeah, he's really annoyed that he can't be here too, but he can't get off till the ceremony. The thing is we both wanted you to have it before."

"Harry?"

"Come on, open it."

Slowly, Hermione opened the box and then drew in a sharp breath. Inside was an exquisite pendant comprising a large ruby cut in triangular form in the centre surrounded by a triangle of brilliant diamonds.

"It's beautiful, truly beautiful, but I don't understand."

Ron took the box from her Hermione and put it on the bed, then took both her hands in his.

"Hermione, if it wasn't for you, both Harry and I would have died last year. There would have been no Battle of Hogwarts, no victory, no celebration this afternoon. On the first anniversary of the battle Harry and I wanted to give you something special to mark the occasion."

"But Ron, what you just said, it is just as true of you and Harry, we all saved each other more than once."

Ron picked up the box again and took out the pendant. "That's why the pendant is triangular. It takes the diamonds on each side of the triangle to add fire to the central ruby. It is a symbol of us, of the bond between us. Harry and I just think it's going to look better on you than on either him or me."

Ron opened the clasp and then fastened the pendant around Hermione's neck. "We were right, you look beautiful," he said, admiring his work.

Hermione hugged him and then broke off to examine herself in the mirror. "Ron, I love it, thank you. But, Ron, it must have cost a fortune."

Ron took off his cloak, then laid back on Hermione's bed. "What's the point of earning money if I can't spend it on the people I care about. Anyway," he snickered, "it cost Harry a lot more. He's had to buy something for Ginny so she doesn't get jealous."

Hermione laughed and then laid down on the bed beside Ron, both lying on their backs.

"You said you had an important question to ask me."

"Well, I know that when you finish Hogwarts, you want to spend some time with your parents. But have you decided what you want to do that after that. Are you going to come live at Grimmauld Place?"

Hermione bit her lower lip. "I haven't decided."

"There are plenty of rooms, you know. You can have your own if you want." Ron turned to face Hermione. "I've missed you so much this year, I just want to be with you again."

Hermione rolled on her side. Her face was only inches from Ron's. "I missed you too." She kissed him tenderly then rolled again onto her back. "And, Ron, if I move into Grimmauld place I don't intend being in a room by myself. I just need time, OK?"

"OK." Ron pulled her in to him and gave her a long lingering kiss.

After a little while Hermione said "I could get ready now and then we'd have time for a quick bite before the ceremony or…"

"Who's hungry?" said Ron, closing his mouth over hers.