A/N: Generally, I don't like to write fics that aren't extremely canon-compliant (meaning it's possible, it just didn't happen in Rowling's writings), but this little plot bunny won't leave me alone. So... Tonks, Remus, Severus, and Sirius are alive. Yes, I went there. (Please don't hurt me.) This is just a fic I'm going to be working on when I get writer's block for my other ones, so don't expect updates super often. On second thought, at the rate I'm going with my other fics, it'll be through in no time. [eye roll]
Disclaimer: If I were J. K. Rowling, Neville would be badass BEFORE the seventh book. God, he got hot after Goblet of Fire. Up until (and including) that point, he was kind of awkward. Anyways. Is Neville badass before DH? No. So am I JKR? No. So do I own HP? Yes. LOLROFLJKNO.
Hermione POV
Ron took a velvet box out of his coat pocket and held it open, across the table, revealing the princess-cut diamond ring inside. "Hermione, will you marry me? Not yet, of course, but... you know, once I get through Auror training and we're settled and all?"
Before I could even react, Ginny cut in- and I was reminded of where we were. Ron and I were sitting across from each other at the Weasley dinner table for Christmas, surrounded by the rest of the Weasley clan, Harry, and the majority of the Order. "Ronald Weasley, you daft git, that is not a proper proposal! Get down on your knee. Do it again. Hermione deserves at least a half-decent proposal." Molly went to reprimand her daughter, but Arthur patted her arm softly, which seemed to calm her down a bit.
Beaming, Ron complied. I was still in a state of shock as Harry grabbed my arm and rotated me gently so I could see Ron on his knee, as though begging. "Hermione Jean Granger, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?"
I blinked. I'd known that Ron fancied himself in love with me, but I had no idea he was going to just randomly pop the question like that. Especially considering that I had turned down his previous offers for dates after that all-too-disastrous first attempt (which I remembered all two clearly- it ended with me sitting in the corner of Three Broomsticks with Hannah Abbott discussing the idiocy of certain Gryffindor and Hufflepuff men while Ron and Ernie had a drinking contest).
"R- Ron. I-" I was cut off by Ron giving a loud whoop. "No."
His grin slowly faded. "What?"
My voice grew stronger, but I felt like I was shrinking. "I said, no."
And, leaving him with that, I went up to my bedroom and threw myself onto my bed, tears beginning to fall quickly. I could hear them downstairs consoling Ron. After what felt like hours- but was, in reality, likely a matter of minutes- there was a knock at the door. I sniffed. "Who's there?"
"It's Remus. May I come in?"
I considered for a moment. "Okay."
He slipped into the room slowly, and shut the door quietly. "Hermione-"
"If you're going to ask me what possessed me to refuse Ron's hand in marriage, then you might as well leave now, because I don't care to explain my reasons!" I lashed out angrily.
Remus raised his hands in defense. "Not what I was going to ask about." He put his hands down, and sat on the edge of my bed. I sat up. "I just wanted to make sure you're all right. You looked pretty upset."
"Well, you would be, too, if you had to turn down a fucking marriage proposal from one of your best friends," I hissed, not caring what he thought of my profanity. To my surprise, he didn't care.
"You're right," he said, nodding slowly. "I would be rather... upset, if I had to tell Sirius that I wasn't in love with him, and that he needed to stop begging me for a date. Or a wedding."
I couldn't help but let out a sharp bark of laughter at that. "True, true. Not quite the same, but true."
He smiled. "There's the Hermione we all know. Pointing out my logical inconsistencies, and whatnot. I don't know who that crying woman was. I'd never seen her before."
I frowned. "You have seen her, but never in such a state." Remus seemed unsure of what to say to that.
"Would you like some tea?" He finally asked. "Molly is starting some downstairs."
I nodded. "Yes, please."
"Sugar?"
"Just a little."
"Any honey?"
"No, thanks."
"Be right back."
Remus POV
"Oh, Remus, would you like some tea?" Molly asked- ever the mother.
"Yes, please. And a cup for Hermione, as well."
"Oh, so she'll talk to him, but not me!" Ron moaned from the corner. "I'll bet she'd marry him!"
Ah, if only he knew. Once upon a time, she and I had been so close to marriage. But that- that was years ago, and it would hardly be proper now.
"Ron, settle down, you're clearly upset by what's happened," I said gently. Sirius once told me I had a gift for dealing with those under extreme stress. "You can't let it get to you. It's difficult, but not-"
"Easy for you to say," the redhead groaned. "How many times have you had a marriage proposal to the girl you loved rejected?"
"Twice," I said quietly. Now that brought back memories. It also managed to shut Ron up momentarily.
"Tea's ready, Remus. Sugar or honey?"
"A dab of both in mine, just sugar in Hermione's."
"Here you are, dear. Is she all right?" Molly asked worriedly as she handed me the two cups of steaming tea.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out, Molly."
Hermione POV
"Thanks for the tea, Remus," I murmured. Out of everyone there, he had been the most understanding over the last few days. We'd been having morning tea together every day, and I liked that I didn't have to try and censor my thoughts on something when I was talking to him. It was... nice.
