Okay i know I'm writing another fic at the same time, but this just came to mind. Hopefully you guys like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

This Time Around

Chapter One

"Why must I wear this?" Ron Weasley whined, sliding his finger back and forth on the inner lip of his collar impatiently to loosen it. He was studying himself in the mirror. He had shaggy, flaming, red hair, deep blue eyes, and the tall, muscular build of a quidditch player (the 6 months of auror training had enhanced his physique quite nicely). The dress robes he was currently adorning were a flattering deep blue.

"Because you're best man." Harry Potter answered, slightly pushing Ron over to get a better look at himself in the three-way mirror. Harry had a deep emerald green robe, quite like his older set. The two friends were spending their Saturday afternoon in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions getting fitted for new dress robes. Harry was to wed Ron's sister, Ginny, in a months time.

"Don't you think this is all happening so fast?" Ron asked, stepping down off the mirrored platform, taking a seat in a squashy armchair. A month after the war, Harry and Ginny had rekindled their relationship, and now a mere 8 months later they were engaged.

"'Course not," Harry answered without any thought, turning his body to get a sideways view of his robes. He smiled at himself, picturing his wedding day. The strain and worry of the war was over, his once foggy future was clearer than ever. He was going to marry Ginny Weasley once and for all.

"Who's going to be made of honor? Fleur?" Ron asked conversationally.

"Hermione."

"Hermione?" A knot had formed in the pit of Ron's stomach. He had not seen Hermione since the funerals. She had gone off to find her parents to modify their memories and bring them back to England. The last time they had been alone together since their first, awkward, kiss in the midst of the war was back at the burrow before she had left. She had hugged him and given him a kiss on the cheek. Not what he had expected.

"Yes. I thought you knew." Harry replied nonchalantly.

"I thought she was in Australia still," Ron admitted, trying his best to hide the anxiety which was slowly building up. Hermione was back and he didn't know about it. She hadn't even owled him.

"She's been back for 2 weeks now." Harry said matter-of-factly. "Are these ruffles a bit too much?"

The two looked back over their shoulders as hurried footsteps approached them, "oh you two look dashing," a squat, smiley witch in mauve robes exclaimed, enchanted tape measure dangling in hand. Her once flustered and jittery appearance Harry had experienced the last time he saw her was gone. Of course, that was during Voldemort's comeback.

"Are you two going with these robes then?" she asked beaming.

Ten minutes later, pockets significantly lighter and dress robes in hand, Harry and Ron walked down Diagon Alley to Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlor, which had re-opened two months after the war ended.

Ron and Harry sat at a small, white, round, table outside of the ice cream parlor talking animatedly about the previous nights quidditch match. "Luxemburg had no chance," said Harry, peering over his ice cream cone at Ron.

Ron, who had other things on his mind, just merely nodded, swirling his ice cream around in its bowl with a silver spoon. The knot in his stomach was growing as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He decided he should confide in Harry, after all he was his best mate. "I wonder why Hermione didn't owl to let me know she was back?" he thought out loud.

"I guess she figured either me or Ginny would let you know," Harry shrugged.

When Ron continued to look glum Harry said, "She's probably been really busy getting her parents and everything situated. From what I hear they weren't too happy to have their memories modified."

Ron decided Harry must be right. They finished their ice creams and continued shopping for odds and ends for the wedding while they were in Diagon Alley. Harry had bought Ginny a few knickers to Ron's distaste.

"Feed me, that's what it's saying," Ron joked as his stomach growled again.

"It's nearly 5 o' clock," said Harry, checking his wrist watch. "Better get back to the burrow for dinner or your mum's going to have a fit." and with that, the two apparated.

"Mum, we're home!" yelled Ron, opening the front door to the burrow and stepping inside, Harry close behind. The two made their way into the kitchen, settling their purchases onto a chair in the corner of the room. The aroma of a perfectly cooked meal was permeating the room. Ron noticed the table was set for six.

Voices and laughter echoed from the living room. "We're in here!" they heard Mrs. Weasley's distinct voice. The two of them made their way out of the kitchen and into the living room where they saw three females sitting on the floor in what looked like the aftermath of a tornado; wrappers, rice, ribbons, and other sorts of commodities were sprawled haphazardly over the area rug.

"Looks like a tornado came through," grinned Harry, stepping over the threshold, making his way towards his fiancé and planting a kiss on her forehead.

Ron stood speechless in the door frame.

"Hello, Ron" greeted Hermione Granger, "How are you?" she smiled.

"G-g-good" Ron stuttered, clumsily walking into the coffee table on his way towards Hermione. She was sitting Indian style at the furthest corner of the table filling white sacks with rice. He took a seat on her side, mimicking her sitting position. "You?"

"I'm great," answered Hermione, handing him some empty bags. "We're making weights for the balloons," she explained.

"Oh," He answered quietly, beginning to fill the bags.

Ginny and Harry were settled on the opposite corner making what looked like invitations, deep in conversation, with adoring smiles.

"Your father should be home soon," Molly Weasley said, picking herself up off the floor. She had magicked 5 x 8 photographs of Harry and Ginny into picture frames with "thank yous" engraved into them. She walked into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner.

"How was Australia?" Ron's voice cracked slightly. He tried his best to keep his emotions hidden.

"Dreadful," She began, "Mum and Dad were furious with me for modifying their memories. It took about five months to properly restore them and another three to sell their house and office. We also had to find them an office in London. Of course everything had to be done the muggle way." She added. "I didn't dare do any magic while I was with them…which is why I didn't owl." Her last sentence made him feel much better.

"But everything is good now?" He asked, tying the knot of a rice sack.

"So far."

"Can I have a hand?" Mrs. Weasley shouted from the kitchen.

"I'll go." Ginny piped up, picking herself off the floor.

"Me too." Hermione offered, following in Ginny's wake.

Harry and Ron stayed behind.

"What's going on between you and Hermione?" Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Nothing." Ron grunted, shifting his sitting position, his buttocks was getting numb.

"Oh, come off it!"

"Honestly, Harry," Ron started, but by the look on Harry's face, Ron knew he didn't believe him and finally gave in. "I really don't know. One minute we're snogging during the war, the next she kisses me on the cheek. I don't know what to think" he admitted.

Harry grinned, "You love her."

"Piss off." Ron snarled, throwing a sack of rice at Harry from across the table.

Dinner was a pleasant affair. Mr. Weasley and Charlie had joined the group around six. An hour later, stomach's pleasantly filled; the foursome was congregated in the living room relaxing on the couches. Harry was sitting on the love seat with Ginny who had fallen asleep with her head on his lap. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the couch a couple feet apart watching the fire crackle.

"I'm exhausted," said Hermione, picking up her legs and sliding them onto the couch so that her feet were against Ron's leg. He winced at the contact. "What time is your game tomorrow?" She asked to no one in particular.

Both Harry and Ron had signed up to play in a local quidditch league and they had somehow managed to be on the same team.

"Noon," Ron answered.

"Ginny asked me if I wanted to go with her."

"You should, we're not too bad." Harry replied, picking himself off the couch, Ginny in his arms. "I'm going to bring her up to bed. Good night."

"Night."

"Good night."

"I better get going too." Hermione decided, getting off the couch and heading towards the coat rack. She turned around and smiled at Ron. "Sleep tight."

But Ron couldn't sleep that night. He lay awake for hours thinking about the day's events. Hermione was back, and to his dismay, she was giving him no signs that she wanted to be more than friends. 'But why would she?' a small voice in the back of his mind asked. 'I'm just plain old Ron and she's the wonderful Hermione.' He was crushed at the thought of not being good enough for her. He decided the kiss they shared in the Room of Requirement was due to the heat of the moment, they were in a war after all. Kissing was just something you did in war. 'But she didn't kiss anyone else like that.' He thought, rolling over on his side. About an hour later his drowsiness took over and sleep had washed through him.

So what did you guys think?! Any comments, suggestions, criticisms? I love reviews!

-- I heart Ron x0