Authors note: Don't own Harry Potter, sadly.
Chapter two – Embracing the future, embracing the memories
I always get those birthday presents; I turn twenty-nine
And I need only look at you and I'll be feeling fine
You've been doing so well, it's cool; you're so grown up for your age
If he could see his poor little princess standing up on the stage
Maybe Ron would come; maybe Ron would come back then.
The September morning was crisp and clear. The fruit trees in the orchard glowed in red and gold, and a cool sun was ascending on the sky. Hermione sat in the kitchen, feeding Rose, or rather trying to feed her. Rose was fussing at the moment and Hermione felt tired and a tiny irritation was creeping upon her. Also, she was nervous. Today she would start her new job as a lecturer at the Ministry. Normally she worked as a barrister for the Ministry, but since Rose's birth she was on maternity leave. A couple of weeks ago, however, her boss had sent an owl, asking her to help with the magical law training. One of the lecturers had fallen ill and was unable to continue teaching. At first she had been sceptical, but Ginny had persuaded her to take it. As the work only lasted a couple of hours, two times a week, she wouldn't be away from Rose too much, and during that time Ginny, Mrs. Weasley or Mrs. Granger were more than happy to look after Rose. Deciding it was time to get on with her life, Hermione accepted the job.
Rose started whining and promptly shut her mouth tight. Hermione sighed. "Fine, have it your way Rosie. I don't have time to fight this fight. Granny will hopefully get you to eat something later. Come on, let's get you cleaned up and dressed". Hermione wiped her daughter's sticky face, and then proceeded to put on her coat and little hat. She knew she shouldn't give in to Rose's whining, but she really had other things to do today besides trying to win over her daughter. She threw on her cloak, grabbed her bag, picked Rose up and stepped over to the fire place. She took some floo –powder and threw it into the fire place. Crackling green flames appeared. She stepped into them, called out "the Burrow!" and she and Rose were off.
When Hermione landed in the Weasley fire place, it took no more than two seconds, and then Mrs. Weasley was there to take Rose out of her arms. Rose was wailing loudly; she didn't care much for travelling by floo. Hermione brushed the soot off her cloak, and then stepped out into the Burrow's kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was rocking Rose back and forth to calm her down, which usually helped, and sure enough; a minute or two later she had ceased her crying. Mrs. Weasley put Rose into a high chair standing at the end of the kitchen table; then she turned to Hermione and hugged her.
"Hermione dear, how are you?"
"I'm fine Molly. A little tired, and a little nervous, but otherwise I'm okay".
"You'll do just fine today, I'm sure you're going to be an excellent teacher".
"I hope so. Well, I'd best be off. Thank you for looking after Rosie".
"No trouble dear. I'm always happy to help you, now that... that you need it. Good luck today".
"Thanks Molly. See you later".
Hermione stepped out into the yard and apparated to the Ministry. When she arrived she walked across the atrium to the lifts, joining the small crowd gathering around them. Soon enough a lift came rattling and the doors opened. She stepped inside along with a few others. When they reached level five, Hermione stepped out and began walking down a long narrow corridor. A bright sunlight shone through the magical windows. All of a sudden Mr. Weasley stepped out from a boot on the left. His face lit up when he saw her.
"Hermione! Just the person I was hoping to meet!"
"Hello Arthur. What are you doing up here?"
"Oh, I was delivering a motion for stricter laws on misuse of muggle artefacts. The recent breeches of the system really have been appalling. But I was also hoping I might catch you before your first lesson. I want to wish you good luck".
"Thank you. I'm sure I'll need it".
"Nervous eh? Don't worry, there's no need for you to be. You're good at explaining things. Teaching will be a piece of cake for you. Anyway, I'm not going to keep you any longer. I'm sure your students are already waiting for you. I'll se you later".
"Yeah, see you Arthur".
Mr. Weasley left and Hermione continued down the hall, to the far end door. She stopped outside it. I can do this, she thought to herself. She took a bracing deep breath, and then opened the door. The whole room was full of students; they all turned their heads and looked at her when she entered the room. She closed the door behind her and walked to the front of the room, stepped up onto the small stage that raised a couple of feet off the floor. She opened her bag, took out her notes and placed them on the podium in front of her. As she looked up and into the faces of her students, she could see anticipation shining in their eyes; an anticipation she knew so well. She could remember the first time she herself had sat in this very room, eager to begin her studies. The butterflies in her stomach flapped their wings elsewhere, and with a smile she began speaking: "Hello, and welcome. My name is Mrs. Hermione Weasley and I will be your teacher for this course..."
As the students filed out of the classroom, Hermione gathered up her papers and put them back into her bag. When she looked up again, she saw one of her students standing next to her; a young woman, who looked like she was a fresh Hogwarts graduate. "Yes? Can I help you with something?" Hermione asked kindly.
"I just wanted to tell you what a great lecture it was. I've been looking forward to start this education for so long; and when I heard you were teaching it made me even more excited, because I admire you very much. You've helped refresh the laws in the magical world, and I think I speak for many others when I say that you are a true inspiration".
"What is your name?" Hermione asked.
"Jessica McKenzie, Mrs. Weasley".
"Well, thank you Jessica. I didn't know that I had been an influence to anyone, but I do hope that my teaching and my work will continue to be an inspiration to you; and not a disappointment".
"Don't worry Mrs. Weasley, if the rest of your lectures are as good as the one today, you'll be an inspiration to all of us".
"That's very kind of you. And please, call me Hermione".
"Oh, all right. See you next time... Hermione".
"See you Jessica".
Jessica left the classroom. Hermione stood looking at the empty doorframe for a moment, smiling to herself, and then she put on her travelling cloak, took her bag and also left. She had done well, she had done more than well; her students had thought she was great. She really had had no idea that her ideas and her ways of practicing magical law had made such an impression, but for the first time in a long time she was happy to be moving on. She was getting on with her life, and she had passed her first day as a teacher in flying colours. If only Ron could have seen her...
Hermione knew she shouldn't be thinking about Ron, she knew she shouldn't do this to herself, but once she got started, she couldn't stop. All the happy thoughts evaporated and Ron was all that was on her mind as she stepped into the lift. He would have been so proud of her, just like on her first day as a barrister. And the time she had won her first case; it had been a matter of the Ministry against a man who had been practising illegal trading with house elves (it had taken her a long time, but she had finally been able to improve house elf rights). "You were great, princess!" he'd said and kissed her on the lips. Then he'd taken her out celebrating. 'Princess'... that's what he'd started calling her; she was his princess; the one person he loved more than anything in the whole world. How could he just walk out on her like that? It wasn't Ron, he wouldn't do that. She still believed with all her heart that something was keeping him from coming home, there was no way he'd stay away from her on purpose.
Ever since Voldemort's death, when they had finally gotten together, Ron had grown so much. He'd finally stepped into his shoes and filled them out. He went from immature boy to a grown up man, a responsible man. After the stunt he pulled when he left them that time, during the Horcrux – hunt, he'd learned to take responsibility for his actions. Instead of running when things got tough he'd started dealing with them. The Ronald Weasley Hermione knew, married and loved would never leave her. But where was he then? Why didn't he come home? Could he really have walked out on her, walked out on Rose, after everything they'd gone through together? No, she refused to believe it.
When she stepped out of the lift she was on the verge of tears again. She knew she couldn't go back to Mrs. Weasley in this state, so she apparated home first. She needed some time to herself.
Once home, she went straight into the bedroom and took down their wedding photo. She sat down on the bed and just looked at his picture; her eyes registered every inch of his handsome face; his lovely long nose, his blue eyes that shone with happiness, the broad grin on his face. That's how she remembered him; happy, at ease with the world and his life, loving her. Did he know how much she missed him? Did he know that she'd give anything to have him back in her arms again? She couldn't stop wondering where he was and if he was thinking of her right now; if he remembered what day it was. No one else had seemed to remember, and Hermione couldn't be bothered to remind them.
She sat there, looking at the photo for another ten minutes or so, revelling in memories and crying silent tears. When all the tears had gone, she composed herself, put the photo back on the shelf and went into the bathroom to freshen up. Then she went back into the bedroom to change her clothes. Now she felt presentable enough to go back to the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was probably worried. So she went downstairs, out into the yard and apparated.
When Hermione arrived in the yard outside the Burrow, she could hear Rose shrieking with laughter from inside the house. With a smile on her lips, she pushed open the kitchen door and the first thing she saw was George playing aeroplane with her daughter. Rose giggled and laughed and couldn't be enjoying herself more, and by the looks of it, neither could George. He'd been really upset when Ron had disappeared; Hermione had realised that it must have been like losing Fred all over again. Ron and George had become very close since Fred's death, and losing Ron must have been a hard blow on George. Hermione had been too upset to notice at first though. It wasn't until after Rose was born, and George took it upon himself to make sure that Hermione and Rose were ok, that she truly appreciated how much he cared about her and Rose, and about Ron. He wanted to keep them safe, until Ron got back, because just like Hermione, he believed that Ron would come back.
"Hi George" said Hermione with a smile.
George stopped playing aeroplane, which caused annoyed whining from Rose, but he ignored it. "Hi Hermione. I was just entertaining Rosie. She's an excellent flyer, though her co-pilot, a.k.a. me, ought to remember not to take a plane flying right after lunch".
Hermione let out a soft laugh. "Threw up on you, did she?"
"Yep. So I let it rest for a while, but now we're back in the air".
"Looks to me like you're on the ground right now".
"Yeah, well, I was actually only trying to make her tired. Mum says it's naptime".
"And she's quite right. Where is Molly?"
"She's out back, picking apples. If you want to go talk to her, I can put Rosie down for her nap".
"Thanks George, but I think I'd like to do it myself. I've missed her, and I'd like some time alone with her".
"Oh, ok. I'll just... go help mum with the apples".
Hermione picked Rose up and headed for the sitting room. Before she left the kitchen, she turned around and said: "George..."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for looking after Rose while Molly did her house work. And thank you for making her laugh. I really think you're her favourite uncle".
"I'm happy to do it. You know I adore Rosie".
"Still, thanks". And she left to put Rose to sleep. It didn't take her too long; George had completely worn her out. Hermione just sat and watched her sleep for a while. She was so beautiful. Hermione felt so blessed to have Rose in her life. And she always reminded her of Ron; not in any bad ways; it was seldom she cried because Rose reminded her of Ron. It actually only made her happy, made her remember all the good times and think of how much she resembled him. She had the same flashing red hair, and his mouth, but she had Hermione's eyes. She was a perfect mixture of the two of them, and Hermione was sure that she would grow up to be a beautiful little girl.
When Hermione came back downstairs, she could hear muffled voices coming from the kitchen. Just as she was about to go investigate, George came into the sitting room from the kitchen. "So, Hermione; how was your first day as a teacher? Come on, sit down here and tell me all about it". He sat down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him to indicate her to sit down. Hermione was too tired to realise that he had been sent out to stop her from coming into the kitchen. She just complied, happy to get to tell someone about her success.
"It was really great, George. I think I did well, at least one of my students told me so afterwards. She said that I was an inspiration to many of them; she said she admired me. I had no idea I was that popular".
"Of course you're popular, Hermione. Of course, me being in the joke shop business, I don't always approve of your strictness, but I still admire you for your determination and all the hard work you put in. And I know you're not always strict, you have been known to let your hair down now and then".
"No one can stay around you too long without your mischievousness rubbing off, not even Percy".
"Yeah, and you're a hell lot more easy going than he is" George laughed.
Hermione laughed to, but then her face turned sad.
"I just wish Ron could have been here..."
George put an arm around her. "I know he would have been proud of you, and where ever he is, I'm sure he's thinking of you".
"Harry's beginning to lose faith. He says I should get on with my life and stop hoping, start forgetting, but I can't. I know a lot of other people feel the same way, but I refuse to believe that he'd just leave me without even telling me why and where he's gone".
"I'm not saying getting on with your life isn't a good idea, but I don't think you should stop hoping. I don't think Harry has really lost faith; he's just become more of a realist the past few years. Ron will come back Hermione, he will. You'll see".
"Thank you George, for being here for me and for believing in Ron".
"He's my brother, and I know him. I don't believe he'd walk out on you. He loves you too much. Back at Hogwarts, there was not a day that went by, when you didn't notice how much he cared about you, and how scared he was of telling you. We used to taunt him quite a lot about it, me and Fred, but we didn't really mean anything by it. At least he had you; we could see that it meant something to him, that it was the real thing. You still have the real thing, and that's what makes me think that he'll come back to you when he can."
Hermione wiped her eyes, too touched to say anything at all.
"Hey, let's get back into the kitchen. I think mum's got tea ready".
They rose from the sofa and started walking back towards the kitchen. Just as Hermione was about to push open the door, George stopped her. "Hey, Hermione?"
"Yes, George?"
"Happy birthday".
He grinned at her and pushed open the door. When Hermione stepped inside, a whole crowd of people shouted "Surprise!" and "Happy birthday!" Hermione just stood there, gaping at them for a moment, and then she smiled and walked forwards to receive the hugs offered to her; from Harry, from Ginny, from Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. Bill and Fleur were there to, and their children. A big cake stood on the table and a pile of presents was at the end of it.
"Happy birthday, dear" Mrs. Weasley said as she hugged her.
"Thank you Molly. I... I hardly know what to say. I..."
"Thought we had forgotten your birthday, did you?" Harry asked, as he moved forward to hug her.
"We'd never forget your birthday" Ginny said, waiting to give hug her to.
"Come on dear, sit down, have some cake" Mrs. Weasley said and offered her a chair. Hermione sat and looked at the cake. It had three layers and was shaped like a book. On top of it were twenty - nine candles, she calculated after a quick count. Suddenly she felt old... old and lonely despite being surrounded with family members.
"Go on, blow out the candles. Make a wish" George said and gave her a knowing little smile. Both he and Hermione knew what she'd wish for. Hermione took a deep breath, closed her eyes and blew – and she wished with all her heart that Ron would come back home.
Author's note: A few things I thought I should comment on; In Deathly Hallows Scrimgeour asks Hermione if she's planning to follow a career in Magical Law and Hermione answers "No I'm not. I'm hoping to do some good in the world!" I still chose to make Hermione a barrister, because as we all know she has very strong beliefs and I thought she could use those beliefs and her will to do some good in the world, by becoming a barrister and try to change the current system of Magical Law.
Second, I know it might seem a bit strange that Harry is losing faith in Ron ever returning, while George is the one who holds on to hope. I know Harry is Ron's best friend, but, heartless as it might sound, Harry has Ginny and his children and his career; in short, he's got things in his life to distract him and to fill up the gap. George on the other hand (and obviously this is my personal interpretation) never did marry. In my opinion, Fred and George had the deepest of twin – connection, and when Fred died, so did a part of George. He never did manage to fill that gap, he always felt like a piece of him was missing. Growing closer to Ron did of course help to ease the pain, and it gave him a new perspective on life. The fact that George believes in Ron's return more than Harry, is because George lost Fred; Fred is dead and will never come back and George knows this. But he has no idea where Ron is, he could be dead, but he could also be alive. If Ron is dead, it would, like Hermione says, be like losing Fred all over again. So instead, George holds on to hope. Add to that an admiration for Ron and Hermione's love for each other.
Finally, please bear with me on the interpretation of the lyrics. Yes, I might be stretching it a bit far to fit it into my story, but the end result will be good, I promise. Oh, and please review.