Author Notes: Hello everyone. I'm back with another of my stories. This is one of my older stories. The main characters are Hermione/Ron and Harry/Ginny, but it is not excluded that in future chapters I can not add others. I hope you enjoy it. Here the first chapter.

Chapter 1: Evening with friends

It was the 31st of October, and Hermione and Ron were walking hand in hand down a back street in London on their way to Harry and Ginny's house. They had decided to spend Halloween night with the couple and had opted to go on foot since they lived just twelve minutes away. The street was completely deserted except for a small group of Muggles in Halloween costumes, knocking at all the doors in turn and shouting, "Trick or treat!" It all painted an idyllic picture. And that's just how life seemed, both in the magical world and in the Muggle world. After the downfall of Voldemort, things couldn't have gone any better. Of course, it had taken some time to get over all the losses that they'd incurred during the war, but eight years on, everyone seemed to have found an enduring happiness that touched every part of their lives.

Hermione sighed as she looked at Ron walking along beside her, muttering something about the strange customs that Muggles had; anything but her. After Voldemort was defeated, she and Ron had finally declared their love for each other and she couldn't have been happier. She's been in love with Ron practically forever, and at first, everything was perfect between them. She, Ron, Harry and Ginny would never be apart. They took every opportunity to get together for a laugh and a joke. Afterwards, though, when the two of them decided to move in together, Hermione realised that their life was not so good anymore.

Harry and Ginny had moved in together too, at more or less the same time as themselves, except that three years down the line, they had married with a son of nine months. She still remembered when Ron had suggested they move in together, it seemed like her dream had finally come true. They would soon get married and start a family, or at least, that's what she'd hoped. According to Ron though, it was still too early to be getting married and bringing up a child. So here she was, three years on with no ring on her finger and envious of Ginny, who, unlike her, was living the dream life. Harry had always supported her in everything, even when she was one of the best chasers in the Holyhead Harpies and was inundated with admirers. Hermione recalled what Harry had said when she'd asked him whether it bothered him that Ginny had so many admirers: "I don't see why it should; I have absolutely no doubt about our love." And it was that confidence in their feelings for each other that grated on her.

Harry's words had stuck in her mind, and now that things between her and Ron were getting so dull and repetitive, she wondered whether she could say the same thing about her own relationship. How much longer could she wait for Ron to finally make the proposal that she wanted? On the other hand, he'd always been the same. She had been the one who first realised she was in love with him, and it was she who had instigated their first kiss. At this rate, even Neville and Hannah, who had been together officially for barely two years, would be married before them.

"Let's hope Ginny has cooked something decent this time, at least," Ron said, interrupting her thoughts. Hermione sighed.

"You never think about anything but food!"

"Of course, I think about food! What else would I think about when they invite us to dinner?" Hermione shook her head in exasperation, and before she could stop herself, she snapped,

"Besides, if you stopped comparing everyone's cooking with that of your perfect mother's, you might realise that your sister's food is actually not that bad." Ron greeted her outburst with a puzzled look. "Or that she always does her best, in any case," she added quickly with a weak smile, to nip any fresh argument in the bud. Ron made no comment, and they remained silent for the rest of the way there.

"Here we are then," Ron said when they were standing in front of the house.

Harry and Ginny' house was the traditional little white cottage that newly-weds favoured. It was Ginny who'd wanted them to live somewhere far away from deceased relatives and places where old hags ranted. Being in a fairly central London district, the house didn't have a large garden, just a small yard at the front. On the second floor, though, there was a large veranda that was always covered in flowers. The house was big; it had four bedrooms, one of them was for Teddy Lupin. He lived with his grandmother Andromeda, but sometimes it could happen that he slept with them. At one time she loved going to see her two friends, but just the sight of that immaculate house made her sick now. Ron knocked on the door and it was opened by Harry, his hair dishevelled as usual and wearing the same round-framed glasses.

"Hi Ron, Hermione, come in! Ginny will be here soon; she's just putting James down," he said. Since Ginny had become pregnant and given up playing Quidditch, she had amused herself by redecorating the house to keep herself busy, and they could tell the place had a woman's touch as soon as they entered.

"Is little James making you crazy?" Ron asked, with a look that Hermione interpreted as being gratitude for having no children of his own.

"He's a little nuisance; he must get it from his father!" Ginny said, coming down the stairs. The redhead looked tired but decidedly happy.

"He gets it from both of us. You were no angel yourself, Miss Bat Bogey Hex. Where is he now?" asked Harry, putting his arm around his wife's waist.

"In his cot. I managed to get him to sleep. Why don't you men make yourselves comfortable in the living room, while we finish getting supper ready in the kitchen," Ginny said.

"Sure you don't need a hand?" Harry asked his wife.

"No, Hermione will help me, won't you?" She asked her friend. Hermione wasn't listening though she was wondering when was the last time Ron had offered to help in the kitchen; months, years even! There was to emphasise, however, that Harry was not all bad in the kitchen - he often had to cook for his uncles - and Ginny had started to have this desire to cook only after she had stopped working.

"Sorry?"

"Can you help me in the kitchen?"

"Yes, of course," she said, following Ginny to the other room. As they crossed the living room, Hermione noticed a few toys: a rattle, a fake wand from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and a few stuffed toy dragons scattered around the floor, and she almost rejoiced. At last - something normal.

"So how's it going?" Ginny asked her friend when they were in the kitchen.

"It's ok; I'm still doing the same thing; work, home, work... Let's talk about you; what's it like being a full-time mum?"

"Well… It's hard at first, but I think it's the same for everyone. We don't get much sleep at night because of James, but Harry is a big help. You should see how he dotes on his son."

"Yes, I can imagine. I'm happy for you both," Hermione said, trying to sound convincing. But Ginny seemed to notice something.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" She asked as she checked the oven.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know; you seem a little strange as if you're preoccupied. You know I'm your friend, you can trust me." Hermione hesitated, she would have loved to confide in someone, but what could she say? That it seemed like her life was falling apart? That she was no longer sure of anything? That if that obtuse brother of hers didn't ask her to marry him, she'd have to dump him? Ginny, who at the age of 24 already had everything she'd been dreaming of, would certainly not understand.

"No, everything's fine. What have you made for supper?" Hermione asked, peering into the oven.

"Roast pork in beer with roast potatoes, some salad and after an apple pie," the redhead said.

"Let's hope it's to Ron's liking, or we'll never hear the last of it." He'd already said enough on that subject.

"Well, I can always add some more beer to his plate," Ginny suggested, and they both laughed at the sudden image of an inebriated Ron.

"I agree," said Hermione, deciding that she would put her little melodrama aside and just enjoy the evening for once.

"Hey, I hope you're not laughing at us?" The boys shouted from the living room.

"No, don't worry," Ginny yelled back, winking at Hermione. All in all the rest of the evening went well. James interrupted them twice with his crying, but supper was very pleasant, and everyone had a great time larking about. Ginny had to confess that she had bought the apple pie, even Hermione thought it was too good to have been made by her.

"I heard from Neville yesterday, and he told me that Professor Sprout is about to retire. Since he's already her assistant she's asked him to replace her," Ginny said.

"It's about time she retired. She's good and everything, but she's getting on a bit now," Ron commented.

"Well, even McGonagall is still there, and I think she's older than Sprout, but I'm happy for Neville. He deserves it," Harry said.

"How are Hannah and Neville? You hear from them a lot more often than we do," Hermione asked the redhead. Ginny had a much closer bond with Neville than the other three did, especially after the year when the two of them had fought together against Carrow's regime.

"They're both fine. They've decided to move into Hannah's apartment together, above the Three Broomsticks." The talk went on until Ron feigned a yawn.

"Well...It seems to be getting quite late. Perhaps it's time we were on our way," Ron said to Hermione. It was half past midnight, and the four of them had been lounging on the sofa chatting away, but for the last few minutes Harry and Ginny had started to cast lingering glances at each other, and Ron had probably realised it was time to go.

"You're probably right, thanks for a lovely evening," said Hermione, as she and Ron got up.

"Don't mention it. Next time we're coming to your house in any case," said Ginny, as she saw them out.

"Yes, perhaps when the baby's bit older. Sure," she replied, and after saying goodnight, the two of them walked home.

That night in bed, Harry and Ginny lay in each other's arms, discussing the evening. Ginny's head was resting on her husband's shoulder as she trailed her fingertips across his chest.

"Do you think Ron and Hermione are happy?" She asked Harry.

"Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, I get the feeling there's something amiss between them, and they've been living together for three years now. Isn't it a bit strange they're not even thinking about getting married?"

"Come on; you know what they're like. It took them an age just to get together, imagine how long it'll take before they start thinking about marriage."

"You're right, but I thought Hermione seemed a bit awkward tonight." Harry gave her a dubious look.

"Did she say something when you were in the kitchen?"

"No, it's just a feeling I've got. Hermione says everything's fine."

"Well it'll be nothing then, you'll see."

"Perhaps you're right," said Ginny, kissing him gently.

"Wait, wait! Did you hear that?" Her husband said, listening at the closed door.

"I don't hear anything."

"Me neither, apparently James is finally calling a truce," he said with a mischievous grin before giving her another kiss much less gentle and more intense than the last.

"It's about time. We haven't slept for days!" She replied when they parted, plumping the pillow and turning over.

"Actually, I had something else in mind. I think James needs a little brother or sister to play with," said Harry, moving her long, red hair aside and caressing her back, left uncovered by the sheet. Ginny smiled and turned off the lamp. They wouldn't be getting much sleep that night, either.

Meanwhile, in another bed, in another house, Ron was talking animatedly to Hermione.

"I'm just saying I think they were wrong to have a baby so soon, she's only 24," he complained.

"I don't see what the problem is; if they're happy, good for them." Actually, the fact that Ginny had given up work worried Hermione slightly, but she had nothing against the two of them starting a family; in fact... she wished Ron would suggest it to her.

"She's ruined her life."

"Is that what you think? That having a baby ruins your life?" Hermione asked.

"No, I... I don't know; maybe it's just the idea that my sister might regret it one day that worries me."

"Sure, because having a baby is just something you might regret, isn't it?"

"What? No, I didn't mean that. I just meant that...look, let's drop it for once. It was a lovely evening, let's not spoil it, okay?"

"Sure," she replied, gladly accepting the truce. Ron smiled and started kissing her, but after a while Hermione pulled away, realising what he wanted.

"Ron, stop. I don't feel like it tonight." At these words, Ron broke away with a grunt.

"Are you angry?" she asked, knowing it was a pointless question.

"No, why should I be angry. It's been months since we did it, and we don't even have a baby keeping us awake at night!" he said dryly and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" She asked worriedly.

"Downstairs, to get a drink." But Hermione stopped him.

"Ron, wait, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to reject you; it's just that I'm really tired, but please don't go."

"Let's just go to sleep," he said, getting back in bed and turning off the light. Hermione tried to get to sleep but without success, wondering if this was perhaps part of the problem between them; after all, it was months since they'd shared a moment of intimacy. Sensing that Ron was still awake, she gave him a gentle squeeze.

"Ron, I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean it."

"No, I'm sorry. You were right to push me away, I always get too worked up about things. I'm not much of a partner," he admitted. From his tone, he seemed really concerned about it, so Hermione tried to reassure him.

"That's true, but I'm not much better myself. Basically, it takes two to have an argument."

"That's true too. But when you think about it, it was our constant bickering that brought us together in the first place," Ron said, taking her face in his hands. Hermione smiled, knowing he was right. Ron kissed her again and this time, Hermione didn't resist. That night, they made love for the first time in ages.