Part 1: The Honeymoon Period
Chapter 4: A Love That Can't Be Broken
"I can't believe this is finally happening." Ron wasn't sure whether to be excited, nervous or something in between. He stared at the oversized suitcase sitting at the end of his bed, containing a month's worth of belongings.
That was how long Hermione estimated it would take them to locate her parents, restore their memories (if she could, she kept repeating) and bring them home.
Ron suspected it was going to take a lot less time, as he had complete faith in her to do whatever she intended; then again, she also had a greater understanding of how the Muggle travel system worked. A Portkey back to London would have sufficed, but Hermione had refused. She didn't think their travelling back magically was the answer after learning their memories had been altered - magically - by their own daughter.
That then left another concern for Ron. Getting to Australia. If truth be told, he'd not considered any alternate travel methods other than a Portkey. To him, it was the most logical and easiest form. But then Hermione had come to him a few weeks ago, wondering how they'd ever get him a passport.
A passport was something Muggles needed for identification purposes - like wands for the magical population. Every wand was different and was enough to identify anyone. Muggles needed their photos taken.
It had been a long process, and many photos and a lot of gold later, he had a small book with a photo of himself on the first page. It was hardly attractive, but Hermione said that was pretty normal to have a bad passport photo. Ron thought Hermione's looked alright.
He didn't complain, though. He did whatever she asked him to. The war had brought him a new perspective. He knew what it was like to be away from family, from those you cared about most. And Hermione had been away from her only family for far too long.
The fact that she'd asked him to come at all was a miracle, and he wanted to avoid any cause for her changing her mind. He needed her as much as she needed him.
"One more day." Hermione looked at her own suitcase with a faint smile. As they were travelling the Muggle way, she'd not magically shrunk her belongings.
"One more day." Ron nodded. One more day.
His mother had been a right pain these past weeks. Ever since Hermione's outburst, she'd not spoken to Hermione unless Hermione spoke first. It was awkward and unsettling, and every day that passed upset Hermione even more.
She was trying to repair the damage, but it seemed his mother wanted none of it. She busied herself in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning, washing clothes, or knitting. It worried Ron. Hermione was the one he could see himself with for a bloody long time, forever if he was lucky. He didn't want the relationship between his prospective lifetime partner - it was far too early to contemplate the wife idea - and his mother to be rocky already. Molly had always liked Hermione, up until she'd come into the life of one of her children as more than just a friend.
It had been a challenge the last few weeks, avoiding any talk of Australia, or displaying limited affection whenever she was around.
Nonetheless, they'd still managed to spend every night together, falling asleep in the comfort of the other. They'd just not yet managed a night together, still.
Ron collapsed onto his bed, and before any more words could be spoken, Harry pushed the door open. Technically, he was supposed to be sleeping here, but had volunteered to vacate for the sake of his two friends. Ron suspected he wasn't in Ginny's room either, for the two had hardly spoken since his arrival two and a half weeks ago. Perhaps he'd found space in Fred and George's old room.
"So, I'd just thought I'd come in and wish you guys luck…." He glanced uncomfortably at Ron. "Er, without anyone hanging over my shoulder."
Ron smiled. He knew Harry met his mother, and if Harry was irritated by her, then he had no doubt his family were more frustrated than he imagined. Molly had been just as bad whenever she thought Harry and Ginny were prepared to sneak off together; she was just lucky those two were acting very timid around each other.
If Ron didn't know Harry better, he might have thought the pair were putting on a show to deter his mother. But Harry truly wasn't in the right frame of mind for any kind of relationship.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said, sitting next to Ron and resting her hand on his knee. "I can't believe…" She shook her head. "It's just very surreal."
"You'll be fine," Harry said, smiling. "With you, not much can go wrong."
"Don't say that," Hermione said. "Something could go wrong."
Ron patted her hand. "You'll succeed. And I'll be there to help you."
"I'd even offer to come, if I thought it'd make a difference," Harry said with a shrug.
Ron looked up, trying to work out if Harry was contemplating the trip, or simply offering to make Hermione feel better. It wasn't that he didn't want Harry to come, but they'd spent months together in foreign locations, and this was now Ron and Hermione's time.
"Oh, Harry - no!" Hermione said. "You've got too much to deal with already." She'd barely gotten the words out of her mouth when a tap at the window startled them.
All three heads turned. Hermione gasped. "Ministry owls!" She hurried to the window and three tawny brown owls flew in through the window and settled before Ron, Hermione and Harry, respectively.
They each took the envelope attached to the birds' legs and tore open the letter. Apart from the first week of the war, neither Ron nor Harry had heard from the Ministry. Hermione's only communication had been regarding her parents.
Ron read the letter.
Mr Ronald Weasley,
This is a formal letter from the Ministry of Magic to thank you for your contribution in the Second Wizarding War. Your effort and dedication to the cause contributed to the outcome of the war, and has therefore put the Ministry in a new position which will now work to restoring what has been lost.
The new Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, would like to formally thank you in person on Tuesday, April 30 at four in the afternoon to discuss your contribution further.
If this is a suitable time, return the owl with your reply, and he will expect to see you.
Sincerely,
Percy Weasley, Assistant to the Minister for Magic
"Kingsley is Minister!" Hermione shrieked.
"Yeah, and Percy his assistant," Ron added, less enthused by that idea.
"Today's the thirtieth," Harry said.
"It's almost four." Ron looked down at his watch and then back up at the others. Hermione was quivering with excitement, though Harry appeared placid. Ron wasn't sure what to make of the news.
A year or so ago, meeting with the Minister for Magic would not have thrilled him, and if he was being honest, it still didn't, but for entirely different reasons.
Kingsley Shacklebolt was like family now. In the even larger, oversized family Ron now felt he had. Kingsley was a member of the Order and had worked tirelessly throughout the war to ensure the safety and protection of the Order, whilst keeping up to date with his Ministry duties.
In a way, it felt less of an honour and more of a family gathering to be invited to the Ministry of Magic to meet with the new Minister. And the fact that the letter had been written by his brother didn't help.
"Mum's not going to like this," Ron then said.
"Actually, I think she will," Hermione answered.
"What won't I like?"
All three spun to Ron's bedroom door where his mother stood with a pile of Ron's clothes in her arms.
Hermione turned pink, while Harry all of a sudden found Ron's Chudley Cannons bedspread interesting.
It was up to Ron to explain to her. "We've all been invited to meet with the new Minister for Magic - Kingsley - in honour of our service and contribution to the war."
As Hermione had predicted, his mother's eyes lit up at the news. "Oh, that's wonderful!" She placed the clothes on his bed and hugged each of them in turn - even Hermione.
"Thank you, Mrs Weasley," Hermione breathed, her face flushed.
"It's very important that the three of you go to see him." She beamed. "Australia can wait."
Ron then understood, and by the look on Hermione's face, so did she. His mother saw this as an alternative to going to another country.
"Actually, Mrs Weasley -"
"Mum, the meeting is at four today."
Her face fell, returning to the stone-cold, emotionless expression that had become her most common feature. "I see."
"We'll be very quick!" Hermione said, apparently determined to be in favour of Molly Weasley again. "He probably just wants to talk."
"No doubt." Molly left the room without another word.
"Well I think it's safe to say it's not you she has a problem with, Hermione." Harry shrugged.
Hermione flopped back onto the bed and sighed.
They waited until the last moment possible before they had to leave. But in the end, it was inevitable that the three of them needed to enter the living room where the fireplace was.
When they got there, Arthur beamed, but Molly stayed fixated on her knitting.
"What lovely news!" Arthur said. "I bet Kingsley will offer all three of you a reward beyond your imagining!"
Ron's mind briefly flicked to piles of gold, before he pushed the thought aside.
"Thank you, Mr Weasley." Ron saw Hermione look over at his mother, but she gave no response.
Ron was the first one to step into the fireplace, and in a moment he landed in the Ministry of Magic. To his surprise, Kingsley was already there waiting for him.
"Ron!" he grinned, shaking Ron's hand. "Good to see you."
Harry, then Hermione, arrived moments later, and after similar greetings for each of them, they were taken to Kingsley's office.
Ron had never been in the Minister for Magic's office before, though he suspected it would have looked very different when Fudge or Scrimgeour had been there.
The desk itself was quite small, in favour of five armchairs by a fireplace. It looked more like the Gryffindor common room than an office.
"Sit, sit," Kingsley encouraged with a wide grin. It wasn't until he sat did Ron realise they weren't alone.
"Neville!" Harry cried.
"Hello!" Neville beamed in response. "Kingsley said he needed to bring a few more people here. I thought it might have been you."
"Butterbeer?"
Before they could say no, four Butterbeers hovered in front of them until they accepted.
"Now," Kingsley began, "as your letter informed you, this is a meeting so I can say thank you for your service in the war."
"No more than you, Kingsley," Harry began, but the Minister held up his hand.
"My turn."
"Your efforts, no matter what they were, greatly contributed to the outcome, and for that, the Ministry is grateful. It's been near two months since it ended, and it is my understanding that Ron and Hermione will be leaving for Australia tomorrow, so before you do I must offer the four of you your rewards.
Harry tried to protest, Hermione listened intently, and Neville seemed dumbfounded that he'd even be offered a reward. Ron couldn't help but picture the piles of gold again.
"The Ministry is offering each of you a place in the Auror department."
"What?"
Ron looked around for the source of surprise, only to realise it had been him.
Kingsley smiled. "We feel that all four of you - and many more, most likely - have justified your acceptance into the Auror program without completion of your final year of Hogwarts and believe it is an appropriate reward. We could use witches and wizards such as yourselves in the program."
The room was silent. All four of them stared at Kingsley, awestruck by such an offer. Ron had long given up on his dream of becoming an Auror after his O. W. L results. And by the look on Harry and Neville's faces, they'd not expected it either.
Hermione just watched Kingsley with an unreadable expression.
"Er, when do we need to make a decision by?" Ron asked, breaking the stunned silence.
"Preferably as soon as possible. We would like you all to start in a month from today when the new round of trainees opens."
Ron's heart sank. He knew the offer was too good to be true. He'd still be in Australia then, or just getting back. He turned to Hermione, who watched him as if she'd expected him to change his mind about going with her. "Don't worry," he said, squeezing her hand, "I'm not going abandon you." He shrugged. "I said I'd help George, didn't I?"
Hermione looked set to protest, and Ron didn't meet her eye. He wouldn't abandon her for the sake of a job he wasn't supposed to have anyway.
"So that's a no from you, then, Ron?" Kingsley asked.
"Unless Hermione and I return early, I can't." He tried to sound confident, but even he heard the effort it took to say that.
Kingsley turned to Hermione. "And so I take that you can't either, Hermione?"
Ron frowned. He hadn't even considered that she might accept the offer. He'd just assumed she'd prefer to find her parents. He turned to her, half hoping, half praying she may just…
"Sorry, Kingsley." She shook her head. "Even if I want leaving tomorrow I've already decided to return to Hogwarts and complete my 7th year."
Kingsley nodded. "Harry? Neville?"
There was a silence, and then Harry said, "Yes. Yes I will accept."
Kingsley beamed.
Everyone looked at at Neville. He now wore an expression that told Ron he felt as if he'd landed himself in the wrong Quidditch match.
"Neville?" Kingsley asked.
"I…"
"You deserve it, Neville," Hermione said.
"More than any of us," Harry added.
"Yeah, mate," Ron said. "Go on."
Their encouragement seemed to be enough for Neville, for he, like Harry, accepted the offer.
Kingsley congratulated the two of them, and after another Butterbeer and cake, he walked them back to the fireplaces.
"It's such a shame we can't have the two of you on board," Kingsley said, looking at Ron and Hermione. "Maybe another time?"
"Another time?" Ron asked hopefully.
Kingsley smiled. "The offer will always be there."
That news warmed Ron, and he returned home with a grin on his face. An Auror. He was going to be an Auror. How could anyone argue with such a career like that?
Well, it seemed that his mother could. When she heard the three of them stumble through the fireplace, she hurried from upstairs to find out what Kingsley had wanted. When they'd told her, and that Harry had accepted, she burst into tears and cried something about how the Ministry just wanted to put them in even more danger. Arthur came in to comfort her.
They trudged upstairs, Ron not speaking. By the time they reached Ron's bedroom, he realised that Harry had disappeared, leaving he and Hermione alone.
"I didn't see that coming," Hermione confessed.
"Neither," Ron replied. "It's a shame, though. You know, the timing of it all." He shrugged, trying to look cheerful. "But there are other times." He shrugged again.
"Ron…"
"It's okay, Hermione," Ron said, sensing what she was going to say.
"Ron." Hermione took his hands and looked up at him. "I'm not going to be the person that stops you from doing what you want to do."
"You're not -" Ron tried to protest.
Hermione shook her head. "You want to do it, I know you do."
Again, Ron tried to protest, but Hermione could see straight through it. "Accept, Ron."
"No. I've already promised to go with you -"
"I'll be fine by myself."
"No -"
"Ron!"
Ron said no more. He looked at her. He did want to accept the offer. He'd love being an Auror. But Merlin, he loved her so much more.
"I'll come back, Ron. As soon as I can." She kissed him lightly on the lips. "Accept, and you can start your dream job."
Ron didn't know what to say.
"I'll be fine."
"I'll miss you," Ron said weakly.
"And I, you."
For a moment, they stood staring at each other. And then Ron pulled Hermione toward him, kissing her passionately.
She was stunned to begin with, but another moment later she was responding. They stood there, in each other's arms, and as they didRon realised with a jolt of excitement:
Tonight was the night.
This time, there was nothing to stop them. No mothers, no Harrys, no uncertainty; it was just the two of them.
Hermione seemed to realise this too. She pulled at him, forcing him onto his bed. He didn't argue. If this was the last night he would see her for who knew how long he wanted to make it special.
They didn't speak. Not a word. There was a lot of kissing, a lot of heavy breathing, a lot of touching. There were no words.
Ron didn't feel worried this time, he felt excited - ecstatic. This was the moment they'd been talking about - the right moment. The night before they'd not see each other for ages.
This time, he didn't care if he made a fool of himself, if he messed up. She wouldn't know, and it didn't matter anyway. Since deciding to take this step, he'd cared little about the act, and much about who it would be with.
That was what mattered.
He took her hands in his, but didn't break the kiss. He laid her beneath him, briefly wondering if she was okay with that. She said nothing.
Neither of them knew what they were doing. He sensed Hermione's uncertainty as much as his own. But they still didn't speak.
And then… it happened. It was messy, awkward and definitely not as easy as characters in stories made it seem.
But at the same time, it was even better. Those people in stories weren't holding the most amazing person he'd ever met in their arms. They weren't kissing her, seeing her at her most vulnerable.
They weren't real, but this very much was.
As they pulled away, flushed and beaming, it was Ron who spoke first.
At first he contemplated talking of what had just happened. But all he ended up saying was, "I love you."
It was well and truly dark now, and he could barely see her, but he felt her. He felt every part of her, lying beside him, her heart beating rapidly.
She put her head on his chest. "I love you too. I'm going to miss you so much."
Ron held her, wishing he would never have to let her go. He never wanted this moment to end - as short as it had been.
It had been almost 2 years since they'd been apart for longer than a week. They'd spent almost a year of their lives camped in a tent, and then in Ron's bedroom. The thought of being separated was almost unbearable.
"You'll be back before you know it," Ron said, smiling.
"And you'll be training in one of the most skilled professions to exist in the Wizarding World."
Ron ran his hand up and down her back. He felt her shiver. "When you put it like that…"
"You'll be great, Ron. I know you will."
"I think I will be," Ron agreed. He'd faced You-Know-Who - what could be worse?
Hermione nestled into him, and once more, they fell into silence. One more day, and they'd be separated.
They better make the most of it, Ron decided.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and are looking forward to more. I am in the process of writing chapter 6, which is the first chapter of part 2! See you all soon, and thank you to everyone who has left some wonderful, encouraging reviews so far. You are all gems!
