a/n Thanks for the story and author alerts. I definitely don't
own Harry Potter or any of the characters depicted

Returning to her office after her morning with Gareth Scabior, Hermione was a little wobbly and light-headed. The guilt that she thought she would feel was overwhelmed by the endorphins coursing through her. So she hummed, tapped her foot, nearly danced at her desk.

During her lunch break she went to the women's bathroom at the Ministry to shower so she'd be clean when she saw Ron that evening. Thinking of him triggered her feeling of disloyalty. She cried, with the sound of the running water covering her sobs. Her tears weren't simply from the guilt, but because she realized that that feeling wouldn't keep her from seeing Scabior again.

She'd enjoyed the time with him too much and felt he still had things to teach her. She wanted to learn from him.

Back in her office she had a message from Ron that he was on the trail of an elusive dark wizard and wouldn't be home that night. She was relieved that she wouldn't have to face him without first reflecting on what she'd done.

What have you done? she asked herself. I've discovered passion with someone I thought that I abhorred. I learned about satisfaction…not only receiving it but giving it too.

She continued her ruminations as she entered the apartment that evening, to be greeted by Crookshanks, her pet cat and familiar.

She sat down and the feline jumped into her lap and locked his green eyes onto hers.

"You know what I did, don't you?"

The cat meowed in answer then affectionately bumped the bottom of Hermione's chin with his head.

"You're not angry?" Hermione was surprised at Crookshanks' reaction. He purred to assure her that he wasn't.

"I'm not mad at myself. Why?"

The cat jumped from her lap and pranced to the wedding photograph of Hermione and Ron, excitedly waving and laughing, as sparks from their guests' wands rained down on them.

"I see," said Hermione, "it's because we both know I still love Ron."

She picked up the cat and rubbed her face against its scratchy tawny coat. "What's he doing now? Can you show me?"

She suddenly had a clear picture of Ron, with his work done and his prey in jail, lying in a hotel bed and snoring loudly. Hermione grinned lovingly at the image then whispered, "and, what about…him? What's he doing?"

Crookshanks let out an angry hiss and jumped far from Hermione, looking back at her with disgust.

"Alright, you don't have to make such a fuss about it!" she yelled to the affronted cat. "I was just curious."

Swimming in her expanded bathtub again, Hermione had an epiphany, That must be what makes it something I can live with…making sure I keep Ron first in my heart and mind.

She anxiously awaited his return the next evening. When he opened the door of their apartment, she ran to greet him. A surprised Ron responded to her soft, deep kisses enthusiastically.

"Can you send a message to Harry that we want to be alone tonight?" she asked him.

He nodded, as he kissed her again and began fondling her through the light gown she was wearing.

"I'll wait for you," she said, leaving him to his task.

He grabbed her and pulled her back next to him. "No, stay with me. I'm not losing you or that look," he added, gazing at her and her dreamy brown eyes.

He carried her into the bedroom and continued kissing and touching her, his desire mounting. Ron had always taken his cues from Hermione's reactions but now seemed to be engrossed in what he was doing and his own pleasure.

Hermione realized she liked his being a little less attentive and more focused, not sacrificing what he wanted to her whims.

She didn't scream the way she had with Scabior, but it was still the most satisfying experience she and Ron had ever had together.

"Ah, Hermione," he sighed deeply, still lying on top of her, "you've made me a very happy man. You did miss me, didn't you?"

She giggled. "Could you tell?"

He grinned and rolled to lie next to her, cuddling her against him. "Did you find a book?"

"What?"

"My girl always looks to a book when there's a problem. You found a book for us, my fantastic, clever girl," he said happily.

Hermione hesitated then, with forced brightness said, "Well, I've always done the homework for the both of us."

"Mmmm, I like this a lot better than trying to copy your potions notes," he said in a slow, raspy voice. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him, staring up at her delicate face.

"What?" she asked, as his expression went from intense to playful.

"I'm trying to decide if I'm going to let you sleep at all tonight," he explained, "definitely not right now though" he said, as he pulled her head down so he could nuzzle her neck and help her clear her mind of latent thoughts for anyone else.

Over the next few days they were as happy as they'd ever been. If Hermione wasn't quite as sated physically as she'd been with Scabior, her slight itch was offset by her happiness in Ron's obvious delight and renewed sense of manhood.

On Friday night he suddenly jumped out of bed and exclaimed, "Let's go!"

"Where?"

"Anywhere," he said, "that I can show you off…have people thinking 'lucky bloke…what must he be able to do to keep her happy'."

She grinned at him, as she inched over on her knees to the edge of the bed.

Ron's face lit up with an idea. "We'll go to Muggle-land, London…find an outdoor café, eat their vile food, then walk around doing sneaky magic. Does that sound like fun?"

She loved his mischievous expression. She ran her fingers through his red hair, as he lifted her off of the bed and walked her over to the closet. "That does sound fun," she said.

"Damn right it does," he said confidently. "You put on a little dress that shows everyone just how lucky I am, and I'll dress to make you proud of me too."

"Oh, Ronald," she said breathily, "I am proud of you; I love you."

He looked down on her so happily and lovingly that his blue eyes glistened.

He left her to get ready. She hummed as she dressed and put on some makeup. Crookshanks crept along after her, purring approvingly.

She found Ron in the living room, wearing slacks and a light sport coat. He stepped into the unlit fireplace and held out his hand for her. "We'll go to the Leaky Cauldron first and exchange some gold for Muggle money, then through the portal to London."

She nodded and stood in his arms, as he threw down a pinch of floo powder, called their destination, and lowered his head to kiss her.

"Break it up, you two. We don't need a fire in there," Neville chided good-naturedly, as the couple suddenly appeared at the inn, still lip-locked.

The place had been transformed under the management of Neville's fiancée, Hannah Abbott, into something more like a cool coffee house, with small tables scattered around, light wood floors and a subdued yellow on the walls. Plants flourished everywhere, receiving expert care from Neville. The ceiling was a large square of light, which the wizards could adjust individually to suit themselves. The aroma was no longer musty, but exotic from all of the coffee and tea blends Hannah created.

"Can you blame me?" Ron asked the room at large. Hermione marveled in his new confidence and swagger.

They stepped out of the hearth and walked over to the cash register, with Ron detailing their plans to Neville. "I got the best the Muggles had to offer and I want to show them she's in good hands," he said, putting his arm around Hermione, who stood to his left.

"Nice, Weasley," said Scabior under his breath, sitting on the far right and a good distance behind them. "She does look beautiful tonight, with that dress showing her back, except it looks like there's tension in that shoulder again."

He darkened the ceiling over him so that he was sitting in shadow, then curled his fingers and whispered, "Masseo."

Hermione rolled her shoulder and looked around her. Gareth? she thought to herself excitedly.

He watched her neck stretch and head turn, entranced by the elegance of her profile. He stayed out of her vision and enjoyed her reaction to his vicarious touch. She still wants me, he said to himself, she still needs me.

He decided to put into effect the plan he'd been mulling over as soon as he returned to Hogwarts. Good thing she likes me.

(Hint: He's not talking about Hermione)