It was raining the day Ron and Hermione met with their Magical Moving realtor exactly two weeks after their wedding. "Ron" Hermione groaned "let's just reschedule- it's practically pouring!" "No Herms" he replied, not noticing her expression tighten at the nickname, "we're married now, we'll need a house for all our children. We can't very well live with Harry at Grimmauld, now can we?" This was another shock for Hermione, the first came after the binding ceremony when he joked at the wedding reception about her accounts now being his. Only, it was no joke, magical marriages were old fashioned in the wizarding world and Hermione has unknowingly given every dime to her new 'Master of the House'- as Gringotts officially dubbed him. Now, on this miserably wet day, her newest shock was his thirst for children. Immediately.
"If you'll follow me please…" the realtor called over his shoulder as they dashed for the front door. The house was huge. A regal front hall showcased a massive staircase with large gold-trimmed rooms mirroring off the gleaming marble floor. "Sixteen bedrooms, nineteen bathrooms, four studies, expansive kitchens, a generous backyard…" he trailed off as Hermione sidled up beside an awestruck Ron. "This isn't it, Ron" she whispered. "But look at all the room! We could easily fit my whole family in here and there's plenty of room to expand our family!" Ron argued. "Ronald, please. I don't like it and it's so expensive..." "I have plenty of money" he clipped "I'm not poor anymore, I can afford the best." Both were cut short by a discreet cough. "I have plenty more properties to show you, and you can make up your minds at your leisure?" he offered.
Six hours later, Ron and Hermione were barely speaking. His remarks about money, children, and ability to settle on any showy property he felt would elevate his status infuriated her. Her refusal of every property, her lack of enthusiasm in general, and the way she tensed when he mentioned children had him clenching his jaw in anger. Finally! "Here we are" the realtor exclaimed "the last property I can show you today." His eyes shone with exasperation at the bickering couple. They had apparated directly in front of an old house with broken shutters and a creaky black wrought iron gate. "What the bloody hell are you showing us this dilapidated shack for?" Ron hissed. But Hermione went to take a closer look, her hand pushing against the gate…
… "Love, we could live anywhere you liked. In my estate or we could move to the south of France, maybe" he whispered. "As long as I'm with you" he added as he kissed her lips softly. "If we both make it through this war, I promise- we'll live together. Happily ever after, just like in the fairy tales" she whispered back….
"HERMIONE!" She whipped around to see Ron and the realtor watching her with perplexed looks on their faces. "I don't want to see this place, there's not a chance in Hades I'd live here" Ron said. "It makes the Shrieking Shack look like Buckingham Palace." But Hermione wasn't listening. She was gazing at the house, its dark windows daring her to look closer, its walkway beckoning her to step just a liiiiitttle closer, its towering height cocooning her with uncertainty.
"We'll take it" she declared.