A/N: This is my second story of the "While I should have been writing an essay" installment. Warning: The two stories are not linked plot wise in any way, I just wrote them at the same time. I hope you like it, and if you do I may continue and make it a multi-chapter!
The Flat: A Ron/Hermione Fanfiction
Ron would always remember the blissful day when he and Hermione bought their flat.
Their real estate agent had already shown them three others that day, none of which held much appeal to the young couple. The first had been to close to the center of town, where the hustle and bustle of London went on right beneath the window. At night in those parts there was never quiet.
The second house had been much too far away for either to consider: on the opposite side of London to the Ministry of Magic, where Ron had worked as an Auror for three years now. He didn't want a long commute, and considering that apparating would be out of the question due to all the muggles out and about, he would have to take the bus until he could pass a driving test (which was proving to be quite difficult for him, as he saw everything with a "magic would be easier" standpoint). He knew from experience just how disgusting the city busses were.
The third and most recently visited flat was nice, with two bedrooms instead of one and a larger than average kitchen. The problem with that flat was that as soon as Ron, Hermione, and their real estate agent, Monica, had stepped through the door, a loud band practice could be heard taking place upstairs. Exchanging a glance, the couple had silently agreed: no way.
After that Monica led the two lovers (hand in hand, of course) to a more expensive part of town. As they walked past they marveled at the higher living standards that these people followed. Curiously, Ron reminded her that they had a tight budget.
"Um, excuse me? Monica? I don't know if you remember, but, we are a bit low on money for the moment. That last one we looked at, well, that's about as high as we can go, price wise."
"Oh, I remember," Monica replied slyly. "Wait until you see this flat."
At that, she began up the walk to one of the apartment buildings. The sign on the front read Hotel de Ville. Trustingly, they followed.
"We are here to look at room 26 on level 5. I believe it is for sale?" she said it like a question, but any sane person could tell that she meant business. Monica was never one for wasted time.
The receptionist immediately handed over the key. "The elevator is down that hall on the right." Ron and Hermione nodded their thanks as the hurriedly followed Monica.
Once they were in the elevator, Hermione was the first to question. "Are we seriously going to be able to afford a flat here? And on the top floor?" In excitement, she squeezed Ron's arm, which she had been clutching. He smiled down at her.
"You will see," she warned, cutting off the conversation as if she was hiding something.
Now eager to see the apartment, hoping that it would be the one, Hermione pulled Ron out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened, practically sprinting down the hallway, laughing the whole way. Once she found the door that said 26, she began bouncing up and down in her excitement.
Once Monica caught up to them with the keys, she unlocked the door. To Hermione it seemed as if she couldn't go any slower. Pushing the door open, Monica stepped in and allowed the couple to take it all in.
"Surprise!" yelled a crowd of people gathered in the living room. Caught off of her guard, Hermione stumbled back with the shock. Ron caught her before she could tumble to the ground.
"What the…? What's the occasion?" Hermione asked in a flourished tone.
Ron turned her around in his arms. "You honestly don't know? Tomorrow is September nineteenth. Does that ring a bell?"
Hermione flushed. "I completely forgot! I've just been so busy lately with work and looking for flats and catching up on sleep-"
She was abruptly cut off by Ron's lips crashing down onto hers, shutting her up completely. Her legs turned to liquid as he sucked on her bottom lip gently. "Happy Birthday," he whispered against her lips, his cool breath making her shiver as they pulled apart.
She turned back to the clot of people, all waiting expectantly. "Thank you all so much!" she yelled excitedly as she ran forward to hug everyone, starting with Ginny, Harry, Neville, all the Weasleys (except Ron of course, who was still standing by the door watching her), Seamus and Dean, and many of their other old school friends and her new friends from her job at the ministry.
After hugs had been issued to all of the guests, but before the party could begin, Kingsley stepped forward.
"Hermione Jean Weasley, this flat will belong to you and Ron"-she squealed-"if you accept this promotion to Head of Care of Magical Creatures. I have the paperwork here-"
"The Head of Care of Magical Creatures? Oh my gosh, yes! I accept!" she exclaimed ecstatically, giving the Minister of Magic a quick hug before turning around to find her husband.
When she spotted him in the crowd, she ran at him and launched herself into his arms so that neither of her feet were on the ground. "You knew, didn't you?" she asked. He heard laughter in her voice and smiled.
"Sure did. How could I not."
"I love you so much. You have no idea, really." He let her down to the ground then, and no sooner had her feet hit the floor when she began to lead him towards the dance floor, where they remained for the rest of the party.
As the friends partied into the night, Hermione and Ron learned that their new apartment was at the corner, which meant twice as many windows, that rent would be payed for by the Ministry but they had to pay water and electricity (which was fair enough, they decided), and that they could move in as soon as later that night if they wanted to, because it came fully furnished.
At around eleven, Hermione and Ron exchanged a meaningful silent glance, and both knew that it was time to end their party. Standing up straighter and stepping up on top of a dining room chair, Ron began to address the crowd.
"Excuse me," he called. Not one person in the whole room noticed. "Excuse me?" he tried louder. "Hey!" he finally yelled, and reluctantly the crowd turned towards him. "This whole party has been great and all, but, it's getting late so…"
George finished his sentence for him. "Get all your butts out that door. Ron needs some time with the birthday girl, if you know what I mean," he said suggestively.
"Thank you, George," Ron said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes at his brother, blushing a bit. "And thank you all for coming," he added hastily as the crowd began to move about, preparing to leave.
At this, Hermione saw that it was her turn to talk, because, after all, it was her party, not Ron's. "I really appreciate everything. Thank you all for coming and for this wonderful surprise," she told them as she began to tear up. She was overcome with love for all her friends, but one in particular stood out. She made her way through the crowd, back to her husband where he still stood.
"Hey," she greeted in a tired voice.
He smiled and hugged her gently. "Hey."
Their remaining guest saw that the couple wanted to be left alone, so, reluctantly, they left, until only Harry and Ginny were left.
"Thanks again," Hermione told them as she gave them each a hug. "See you tomorrow," she added to Ginny, with whom she had agreed to meet with for lunch the following day.
As soon as they were alone, Ron spun Hermione around and crashed his lips onto hers. They stood there kissing, in the living room of their house, for a few minutes, until Ron pulled away.
Shyly, he looked down at his wife. "So, do you want to try out that new bed of ours?" He waggled his eyebrows and she laughed before pulling him back down to her, kissing more fiercely, until a thought hit her like a to of bricks, and she remembered something that she should have a while ago.
She pulled away from him abruptly and looked him in the eyes. A fire raged in her stomach and she looked down at her hands, suddenly scared.
Gently, Ron put a finger underneath he chin and raised it so she was looking at him again. "What is it, Love?" he asked as concern took over him.
She just shook her head, as if in a trance, and went to sit in their couch. Following her, he took a seat beside her small figure, careful all the while not to upset her. He knew her well enough and he knew that whatever she had to say would come out eventually.
Hermione sat there, staring at her hands in her lap for the longest time, until Ron reached over and took hold of one, squeezing gently. She looked up at him, and the love and worry in his face gave her a strong hope. With this new energy and confidence, she burst out louder than she would have liked,
"I'm pregnant," and broke eye contact with Ron.
They just sat there for a seemingly long second, as the weight of her words sunk in. She was pregnant. She was pregnant with their baby. He was going to be a father. A father!
In yet another radiance of bliss and energy, a small yelp escaped Ron's lips and he flew at her and enveloped her frame in his strong arms. As he ran a hand through her hair, he felt warm, wet tears on his shoulder.
"Don't cry love! We're going to be parents!" he said half-heartedly. His high was brought down by her tears. It tore him in half to see her cry.
She looked at her supportive husband and the ghost of a smile graced her lips. "Happy tears," she choked out, before they started to flow more freely.
Ron lifted her face up to his and pressed his lips against his. Not in the hungry way, as he had before, but a gentle, loving kiss that lingered. "I love you so much right now," he smiled. He was not far from tears himself at this point. "Our baby too," he added. They both loved they way that sounded.
"Our baby," Hermione whispered, biting her lip as she looked up at him. He laughed and kissed her again.
When they broke apart, Ron brought his hands out from behind her back and they lingered over her stomach, which was no different than ever at this point. She nodded, seeing his intentions and he gently pressed his hands to the spot where their baby was growing. Their baby.
"Say hi to daddy," he told Hermione's belly. She laughed.
Suddenly Ron got up from the couch and made his way to the balcony that adjoined their dining room, dragging her by the hand. "Guess what London?" he screamed to the sleeping city. Hermione giggled again and he put his arms around her waist, placing his hands on her stomach again. She rested her head on his shoulder and her eyes slipped closed. "We're having a baby! We are having a baby!" He laughed heartily, and she joined in. Soon they were laughing out of control, practically rolling on the floor.
There eyes locked, and both knew what happened now. Ron scooped her up and carried his pregnant wife bridal style to their new room.
And that is why Ron knew he would always remember the day when he bought the flat.
A/N: Ok so this was originally supposed to be a one shot, but I got an idea while I was writing, so there may be more to the story, although it will be a separate fic. Tell me if you would like that, and I will do my best to come up with the rest of the story. But only if you, my readers, think I should.
Thanks for reading! Please review and check out my other Ron/Hermione stories if you liked this.