AN: Chapter one of a new story! I'm working with their ages and situations in life to remain in character, so please mention something if you feel like I'm slacking on that. I'd love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and ideas. Please review!
Hermione approached the small cottage with slumped shoulders. Though it was not hers, she did not hesitate to let herself in. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, she inhaled deeply and sighed. "Gin, what is that heavenly smell?"
Ginny Potter, Hermione's sister-in-law and owner of the house, poked her head out from behind a wall. "Hermione! We didn't even hear you come in!"
The "we" she referred to was a whimpering baby girl with a shock of red hair that she bounced on her hip.
"Why aren't you in bed, Lilybee?" Hermione cooed. She stepped closer and pressed her lips to the girl's forehead.
"She was, until Rosie and Al decided to upend an ink pot over her head."
Hermione's jaw dropped, and she felt a pang of guilt.
"Oh Ginny, I'm so sorry. You have the kids so often and –"
Ginny held up a hand to stop her. "Oh, hush. You work harder than anyone. I don't mind taking the kids once in a while. What's two more to the pack?"
"Well, we appreciate it. Speaking of the pack, where are Rosie and Hugo?"
"Both in bed. Same with James and Al. Mischief, apparently, is exhausting."
Hermione laughed, but without much feeling.
"So…" Ginny set the pot she'd been stirring to continue magically, and turned her attention fully to Hermione.
"So?"
"Any word?"
It went unspoken to whom she was referring. As head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Auror office fell under Hermione's umbrella. Harry, as the head of the office, normally kept her up-to-date with any new developments and the progression of their missions. This time, however, the mission was important enough that Harry was personally attending to the matter, along with a large portion of his crew – including Ron.
Hermione shook her head sadly, and slid into the nearest chair. "No. It's getting so difficult to assist the offices under me when all I can think about is this stupid mission."
Ginny groaned. "Can't he just floo? Or send a bloody patronus? I don't understand their aversion to communication."
"Anonymity? Security?"
"Oh, stop making valid points when I'm trying to be cross with my husband."
If only she knew.
Hermione knew that Ginny's anger towards Harry was all facetious. They rarely ever fought, and one would be hard pressed to find a married couple more in love than the two of them. Hermione would never admit it, but resentment for her own husband was beginning to fester. Ron spent more and more time in the field. Hermione, after a while, demanded of Harry that he stop sending Ron out so often. Harry, bemused, told Hermione that Ron asked to be sent out as often as possible under the ruse that they were tight on money.
Hermione bristled. First of all, things were more than satisfactory financially. As the head of the largest department at the Ministry, she made enough for their whole family to live quite comfortably. With Ron's added salary, she might go as far as to call them wealthy.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't realize."
"No, no, I'm sure it was only a misunderstanding."
Since then, even when Ron was home, things were off. She could barely stand to acknowledge him, let alone bring up the lie he'd told Harry. She was furious with him for leaving more than he had to and, she hated to admit it, deeply hurt. What was so horrible about his life with her that he had to escape it?
Ginny set a piping hot bowl of stew on the table in front of her, distracting her from her reverie. "Bless you."
Ginny laughed. "It's only stew. Besides, I was starving."
She took a seat next to Hermione and set Lily on the ground to play.
Between eager mouthfuls, Hermione said, "I really owe you, Gin."
"Don't be stupid. It's off season with the Harpies, you know that. I'm up to my ears in free time."
Hermione laughed, knowing full well that with five kids under the age of six in the house, Ginny had next to no free time.
"Eating chocolates and tarts all day, I suppose?"
Ginny grinned. "Exactly. What else would I do with myself?"
"Seeing as how the children basically take care of themselves."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Wouldn't that be nice."
Suddenly, there was a loud crack from outside. Both women stared at each other with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Do you think …?"
"Come on!"
They rushed out the door, just in time to meet a bedraggled Harry.
Ginny threw her arms around his neck and he dropped what he was holding to twirl her around. "Do I smell stew?"
He put her down, and she scowled. "Not before you kiss me, you shameless tosser."
"Harry, where's Ron?"
Hermione interrupted quickly because she knew that in a moment they would be too occupied to pay her any mind.
Harry, reluctantly, turned away from Ginny. "He went to your place."
"I'll be right back!" she replied and, making a split second decision to leave the kids with Harry and Ginny for a little bit more, she disapparated immediately.
It was wonderful to be home. She swung open the door. "Ron? Ron!"
He appeared at the top of the first landing and, despite her previous annoyance with him, his real, solid presence in their home made everything all right for a moment.
She bolted up the stairs, and he rushed down them, and they met in a tight embrace in the middle.
"Weeks, Ron, it's been weeks!" she growled into his neck.
He lifted her just enough that he could walk down the rest of the stairs with her in his arms. "I'm sorry," he said, and kissed her until her eyes were unfocused and her lips pleasantly swollen.
"Welcome home," she murmured, and he kissed her again. This time, his hands busied themselves with her robes – that is, removing them.
"Ron!" she gasped, and stepped, with difficulty, away.
He looked chagrined for a moment. "Right, sorry. I must have forgotten how irresistible my wife is."
She blushed, and he smirked.
"Where are the kids?"
"They're still at Harry and Ginny's."
He looked confused. "Weren't you just there?"
"Yes."
"You didn't bring them home with you?"
"Afraid not."
"And why might that be?"
She smiled. "I must have forgotten how irresistible my husband was. I couldn't wait another moment."
He returned her smile and advanced slowly. "And if we go get them now, how long do you reckon it'll be until we can get them to fall back asleep?"
She slid her hands around his neck and, against his lips, whispered, "Too long."
"So we leave them?" Her robes crumpled in a heap on the floor.
"Just for awhile."
She pushed him towards the bedroom, and he went without protest.
Much later that night, after the kids had been retrieved and were, finally, asleep in their own beds, Hermione lay contentedly in the circle of Ron's arms.
"You haven't even told me about the mission yet."
He stiffened, and she felt a sense of unease. "What is it? Did something happen?"
"No. Nothing did." His words were cold.
She was hurt and taken aback, but she didn't want him to withdraw into himself. "Well … as long as you're safe."
Ron shifted until they lay facing each other. "I'm sorry, love. It was just a long trip. I'm glad to be home."
He pressed a kiss to her lips, and she didn't break it. Instead, feeling acutely the long time they'd spent apart, she grabbed his arms and pulled him on top of her, until his hands were on either side of her face.
His eyes took on the quality that, even now, eleven years after their first kiss, made her heart thrum erratically.
Her worries evaporated with her exhaustion – for now, none of the troubles plaguing her thoughts mattered. Besides, as he left a trail of passionate kisses down her neck, she thought that Ron seemed perfectly fine.
Everything was fine.
