Growing up

Three years have passed since the final battle, and Hermoine and Ron remembered their years at Hogwarts, their endless afternoons by the lake, their life risking anecdotes and their multiple Defenses against the dark arts teachers. They were sitting across the fireplace of George's flat, trying to warm up because it was Christmas Eve and Ron had to take care of the shop while George and Angelina were traveling around the world on their honeymoon. Ron loved spending every minute with Hermoine, snogging and caressing.

"Ron, there is something I have always wanted to know, you know about you and Lavender." -asked Hermoine with a scared look in her face not wanting to know the answer deep inside.

"Who..?" - asked Ron distracted

"Lavender…. Lavender Brown…..! The girl who kept snogging you every 5 minutes"- asked Hermoine now with a firm voice.

"Oh yeah what about her?"-

"Well did you like her? Did you care about her?

"I … I don't know, It was nice to know I was being liked by someone… you know I always felt like everybody always preferred Harry. I was always second"

"That's not true… I love both of you, but is you the one I was always in love with,,,, "- said Hermoine sweetly

"I did too… I wished I would have shown my feelings earlier, and you probably didn't have to go the Yule Ball with that git."

"You mean Viktor?" asked Hermoine with a smile in her face.

"Yeah Viktor Krum… that git… I wonder how he is doing, last time I heard about him was 8 months ago in the news, and he was on a tour with the quidditch team."

"Yeah, He is in France right now…"

"In France? Wait how do you know" said Ron while jumping out of the couch starting at Hermoine

"Well he wrote me a letter 1 month ago and told me he was going on a tour for 2 months to France and he was really excited and…."

"He wrote you a letter?" interrupted Ron

"Yeah a letter by owl post" – explained Hermoine not understanding Ron's attitude.

"You didn't tell me he keeps writing you letters … "

"You are not Jealous aren't you Ron?" -

"No of course not! I just don't see the point of staying in touch with … him"- Ron s face was matching his hair and could not resist remembering that once Ginny told him that Hermoine snog Viktor at the Yule Ball.

"'"Why? What's wrong? Asked Hermoine now more intrigued than ever.

Ron's face was turning scarlet red.

"How could you keep in touch with you ex boyfriend and not tell me?" – screamed Ron as if he needed to burst.

"He was not my boyfriend Ron"- said Hermoine in her scolded voice

"I know you snogged him at the ball, did he touch you? Did you…..? – Ron's words sounded as if he was begging for an answer

"No! We didn't! Ron … Viktor and I are friends…. We always had been…. I tell him about you in my letters…"

"Why? Do you wish you were with him right now in France … DO YOU WISH HE WAS ME RIGHT NOW? DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIM WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER? IS THAT WHY YOU WONT LET ME … TOUCH YOU?-screamed Ron now scarlet red.

RONALD WESLEY! YOU ARE BEING RIDICOULUS! I DON'T THINK ABOUT HIM AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE WITH HIM ANYWHERE AND I ALREADY TOLD YOU … I AM NOT READY TO GO FURTHER THAN SNOGGING...NOT YET…"said Hermoine now infuriated.

Ron felt helpless and didn't know what to think. Jealousy was getting the best of him

"I need to go for a walk"- said Ron grabbing his coat.

"RON! Don't you walk out on me! Not again…!- said Hermoine half infuriated and half begging he'll listen to her.

Ron walked slowly to the door and closed it behind him.

Hermoine was left in the flat alone and sobbing. She walks to the fireplace and said "The Burrow" while throwing floo powder.

"Oh Dear good to see you"- said Mrs. Wesley

"Oh Mrs. Wesley I am sorry to drop in without any previous notice, but….."- Hermoine started sobbing heavily unable to say another word.

"What happened? Is Ron ok? - ask Mrs. Wesley starting look worry.

"Ron is ok… is just that He is done it again. I can't do it anymore, His jealousy and insecurity is breaking us apart. He walked out on me and left me in the flat alone."- said Hermoine calmly this time.

What's going on? - Asked Harry as he walked into the kitchen

"Oh Harry,"- said Hermoine throwing herself around his neck

"It seemed they had another discussion"- answer Mrs. Wesley.

"What did he do this time"- asked Harry

"Is this jealousy issue again, this time it was a blast from the past…. Viktor Krum"- said Hermoine sadly

"Viktor Krum!... "- asked Harry frowning

"Yes, He remembered the Yule ball and … also found out I am in still keeping in touch with him. "But, Harry so good to see you! I didn't know you were here I thought you were still in Italy with the auror training" said Hermoine to deviate the subject.

"Yeah I was, they let us go home for the holidays and I decided to come here and spent it with Ginny"- answer Harry

"That is wonderful Harry… Where is Ginny anyway"- said Hermoine forcing a smile and wiping her tears.

"She is still in the orchard flying. She'll be here in a bit "-promised Harry.

It was a cold night, and it felt colder for Ron who was still walking silently and pensive around Diagon Alley. How could she have lied to me? Why is she still talking to that git? She said many times she never liked him…. Maybe that's a lie… maybe they are seeing each other behind my back" Ron's mind was full of unanswered questions and infuriated answers. He has loved her since second year, and he thought it was mutual. It only took a war to bring them together, but the true is that he was fighting his own war inside his head. He had walked out on her before, but never on Christmas Eve. What if nothing is going on? What if she is telling the true?" Ron mind's was racing at 1000 KM per hour." I have to go back I can't do this to her"

When Ron opened the door, He found the fireplace still fired and there was no Hermoine around… He called the Burrow through the fireplace and confirmed she was there.

Immediately he threw floo powder and traveled to the Burrow.

"Hermoine….We need to talk"- were his first words as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace.

Hermoine was sitting in the living room looking out the window, the rest of the Wesleys were in the back yard getting diner ready.

"I think we do …" – asked Hermoine sadly

"I… am sorry"- said Ron embarrassed and looking as a child that just got scolded.

"I know you are Ron…. – said tiredly- "But you can't keep having these jealousy tantrums and then walk out without talking about it. ... Ron I think we need to be apart for a while..." Hermoine spoke quietly unable to look into his blue eyes.

"Hermoine I really love you…"- said Ron trying to justify for what he did.

"And I love you too….but I think you need some growing up to do"

"Don't do this…Hermoine don't …"

"We need to Ron we need to be apart and value our relationship before it gets fully damaged, and then we will not be able to repair it."- said Hermoine still not looking into his eyes.

"Hermoine…"

"Happy Christmas Ron"- she said pointing at the clock already showing it was 12:00 o' clock.

"Happy Christmas Hermoine"- said Ron still not processing what just happened.

All the Wesleys walked into the room cheering and announcing the diner is ready and wishing each other Happy Christmas. The Wesleys decided to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve because Charlie was going back to Romania the next day.

Ron was not in the mood for a celebration, so he wished his family a happy Christmas and returned to George's flat to spend a lonely and very miserable Christmas day.

Hermoine was not looking forward to the remaining of the year and decided to keep her mind occupied doing some volunteer job at St. Mungos hospital. She would not have to return to work until January 15 of next year, since she asked for vacation to spend it with Ron.

However, her plans obviously didn't go as planned, so she thought some volunteer work will definitely keep her mind occupied.