Going back into the summer after the battle once again. The summer is coming to an end and everyone is getting ready to start new adventures. Sorry, its majorly fluffy!
The house was incredibly busy. Ginny and Hermione were busy packing for their return to Hogwarts the next day. George was sorting through boxes in his room. An occasional explosion, hoot or whistle could be heard as he searched for particular items of stock he needed for the shop. And Harry and Ron were packing to begin their four weeks intense aura training. Or so I thought.
As I entered the kitchen, I found Ron sitting with a mug of tea in hand looking, well; there was no other word for it, forlorn.
"Ron?" I asked to attract his attention.
"Oh! Hey Mum" Ron said looking up at me.
"You're looking deep in thought there."
"Mmmm" He said staring down at the mug. Silence. I tilted my head to try and catch his eye.
"So, can I help with whatever it is?"
Ron looked up at me and sighed and then ran his hand through his hair.
"I, er, I dunno. I think I'm being stupid really, but ..." Silence fell again.
"Well, I'm here if you want to talk." I began to bustle around the kitchen, beginning to prepare the evening meal. I turned as I heard Rob give out an even bigger sigh.
"Come on Ron, whatever it is ..." I left the sentence unfinished.
"Promise you won't laugh at me?" he asked.
"I can't promise I won't laugh Ron. But I promise I will try and keep it to a minimum." Ron rolled his eyes and almost cracked a smile. He arched his back slightly and took in a deep breath, preparing to tell me what it was that was bothering him. Then it all came out in one long sentence.
"I am feeling really stupid, cos Hermione's going back to Hogwarts and I'm off to aura training and she seems really happy to be going back and I'm really going to miss her." He looked up at me with such a sad look in his eyes.
"Ah!" I sat myself down next to him, whilst trying to suppress the smile I felt creeping across my lips. I took his hand in mine and again tried to make eye contact, but his mug seemed to be holding his attention. The familiar Weasley glow was sneaking up to his ears. "You know, Ronald, this is completely normal. Hmm?"
Ron continued to look at his mug but gave me an occasional glance.
"What's normal about the fact that I don't seem to be able to function properly with the thought of Hermione off at school and me miles away? I mean, who's to say some good looking, toned Quidditch player doesn't attract her attention? ... See? I really am sounding paranoid!"
This time I did let myself laugh, just a little.
"Sorry!" I said as he looked up and glared at me "Sorry! It's just that ... You sound like any young man starting out in a new relationship. I hate to say it, but paranoia is part of being human." Ron huffed in an exasperated manner "But you know how Hermione feels about you, don't you?" Ron nodded glumly.
"I know, that's why I am feeling so stupid. And I can't go telling Hermione how I am feeling. She's so excited about going back and completing her NEWTs. She's going to be thinking what sort of bloke I am. I doubt she's going to miss me at all!"
"Ron, you have spent nearly every day of seven years together and now that you are a couple you have been pretty inseparable all summer, of course Hermione will miss you."
Ron sighed and pulled at the fraying edges of the table cloth.
"Well" I said, "You're not going to get over it sitting here and dwelling on it are you?" Ron shook his head. "So, there are a few things you can do about it. First you could tell Hermione how you are feeling." Ron looked incredulously at me.
"Mum! I would sound such a prat!"
"Ok then, how about you show her."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I think I have an idea. It's Hermione's birthday coming up, why don't you and I take a quick visit to Diagon Alley?"
"Actually I haven't got a present for her yet. I mean, I'm not sure what you are supposed to buy your girlfriend."
I raised an eyebrow at Ron. "Seriously Ronald? You've known Hermione for nearly eight years and you don't know what she likes?"
"Well..."
"Never mind! Come on. One quick visit to Diagon Alley and I am sure that you will at least have one present..."
HPHPHPHP
Ron and I returned just a little while later with Ron carrying a few parcels neatly wrapped under his arms. He placed them lovingly on the kitchen table before turning to me and hugging me.
"Thanks Mum"
"Not a problem Ron."
"I may ask for your help at Christmas too."
"I am sure you will!" I laughed.
At that moment Hermione came down the stairs, Hogwarts letter in hand. She smiled as she saw Ron. Ron walked over and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Are you nearly packed?" He asked. "I really want to spend some time with you, you know."
"I know" Hermione said." Almost done. I just have to collect some books I left down here and then I am all yours."
Ron hugged her closer and rocked her slightly side to side. "Really? All mine? Hmmm, wonder what I could do with you"
I coughed loudly to remind them I was here as Hermione blushed and slapped Ron on the arm. "Ron!"
Ron smiled mischievously at her. "Sorry, but I am a man who has just been told his girlfriend is all his. I can't help it if my imagination goes wild" he said winking at her. Hermione rolled her eyes at him before pushing out of his arms and heading for a stack of books piled on the side, ready to be taken upstairs and placed in her trunk.
"Oh yeah, before I forget..." Ron reached over to his pile of parcels on the kitchen table." I've got you your birthday presents "Hermione made to protest but Ron held his hand up "I'm not sure what I am going to be doing in the next few weeks with Aura training and I still need to speak to McGonagall to find out when Hogsmeade trips are. So I wanted you to have these, just in case I can't see you on your birthday."
Hermione smiled as she took the gifts from him before placing a kiss gently on his cheek.
"Thank you" she said.
"But this one" he said holding a slightly larger parcel "is for you to open now."
Hermione looked quizzically at him
"Open it" he said eagerly. Hermione placed the smaller parcels that I know contained a book, sugar quills and a beautiful locket and chain back onto the kitchen before taking the larger parcel from Ron.
She balanced it on the edge of the table as she ripped the paper off, revealing a walnut box with the initials H.J.G written on the lid in gold script.
"Oh Ron!" she said. He smiled at her before reaching over and opening the box and showing her the inside.
Placed inside the box were small rolls of parchment, a cut glass bottle of ink nestled in its own hole and quills lying in their own velvet lined sleeve. On the lid there was a collage of photos of Hermione her parents, friends and our family, all waving back at the Hermione staring into the box. Pride of place was a photo of her and Ron stood underneath the bows of the tree by the pond holding each other close and laughing. Underneath the picture gold lettering appeared as she looked on.
Forget me not, my Hermione. Forever yours, Ron."
"Oh Ron!" Hermione exclaimed again "It's beautiful!"
"Glad you like it" he smiled, "But it wasn't all my idea. I thought of the photos and all that. But Mum helped me with the idea of the stationery box."
Hermione looked at me "Thank-you!" She said.
"You're welcome" I said.
"I was worried, you see" Ron blurted out.
Hermione looked back at Ron.
"About what?" She asked. Ron walked over and pulled her into a hug. I began to busy myself removing discarded wrapping paper, the conversation was beginning to turn into something more intimate and the young couple had become oblivious to me stood in the room with them.
"Well, because Harry and I won't be there with you, I didn't want you to forget me and go and find yourself some good looking Quidditch player. I wanted you to know that I will miss you even if I am rubbish at writing letters or saying the right words. Now when you are working or writing to me to ask me why I haven't written again, you'll see that I am thinking of you. All the time."
"You needn't have worried." Hermione replied "You've got me, hook, line and sinker"
"What?"
"Sorry, muggle term" Hermione smiled "I mean I am forever yours Ron Weasley." She reached up and kissed him.
"Glad to hear it." Ron smiled down at her, then grabbed her books and presents before heading for the stairs. "Come on then, lets finish this packing and then I can make sure that you definitely know that you're mine." Then with his free hand he pulled a blushing, smiling Hermione up the stairs. I had a feeling that the packing may lay forgotten for a while.
Thank-you to the lovely Valkyriexx for BETAing for me again.