Sorry it took so long to update. I work 10 hour+ shifts in an emergency vet office so when I get home im exausted!

Chapter 4

Anne and Patrick Granger stared without speaking at their daughter and Ron. Hermione slowly walked closer to the door, while Ron walked backwards towards the opposite end of the room. He didn't want to face an angry father right now. That seemed more frightening than the whole bloody war.

The look on the Grangers face was one of shock. They looked at Hermione with mouths hanging slightly ajar. This was not the reunion they had built up in their heads when they imagined seeing their only daughter for the first time in almost a year. This wasn't even close.

"Mum, dad... are you okay?" Hermione asked her voice barely above a whisper.

Her voice seemed to pull Anne out of whatever daze she had succumb to after seeing her daughter wrapped up in the arms of her best friend. She looked at Hermione, and tears welled up in her eyes. The mother rushed forward and pulled Hermione close to her. "Oh love, we thought we might have lost you forever." She sobbed

Hermione's father had yet to take him eyes off a rather sweaty Ron who remained standing in the back corner of his small bedroom. Ron gulped as Patrick raised his hand and gestured for Ron to come forward.

Ron had met the Grangers before briefly on a few occasions. They had enjoyed a little small talk, but Ron had never had a full conversation with either of them. This was not the way he wanted to start this first conversation if he was being honest.

Ron gingerly stepped around Anne and Hermione's embrace and followed Patrick into the hall, the door closing with a snap behind him. The sound was not very encouraging to Ronald. Rons heart rate seemed to tripple, and his palms began to sweat. Patrick simply stared at Ron. The hairs on the back of Rons neck started to stand up, he was terrified of this man.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing with her?" Patrick snapped fiercely. Ron tried to answer but was quickly cut off "you broke her heart, dating some slag from her dorm, and now you have yourself wrapped around her like that?" Ron stared at him, but Mr. Granger plowed on "You destroyed that poor girl for close to a year, and then you go and poison yourself, nearly dying, and she forgives you for some damn reason. I still haven't figured out why she wanted to be your friend again, but you should count your lucky stars she's such a good person. Do you know what she had to listen to in that room of hers? That girl would talk about all your little indiscretions in front of Hermione. It was vile. Hermione was traumatized, and it was all your doing! I don't want some lewd, randy teenager like you anywhere near my little girl. It was bad enough we had to hear she had run away with you and Harry to fight in this war. Now you try to drag her along like she's your play toy? Stay the hell away from her, I'm serious."

Anger ripped through Ron, followed by sadness, and then right back to anger. How dare this man claim he was dragging her along. Ron loved Hermione with every fiber of his being. Ron jolted a bit. He loved Hermione? Well of course he did. He knew he loved her. She was everything to him. Merlin, he had told her that! Love, he loved her, and that was the best feeling in the world.

"Sir, I don't mean any disrespect but I will not stay away from her." Ron said with an air of confidence in his voice. "I know I made a mistake by seeing someone else and I know how much I have hurt Hermione in the past, but it won't happen again. She is the only girl I have ever truly cared about. I've wanted to be with her for years, second year to be exact. I wouldn't dream of hurting her again."

He wasn't going to tell this man he loved Hermione. He had to tell her first. Ron wasn't going to justify why he kissed her either, that was none of his bloody business. They were both 18, legal adults and they had just kissed. It wasn't like he walked in on the two of them shagging. That thought made Ron blush a severe red.

Patrick looked Ron up and down. "You will stay away from her. This isn't a discussion, its final. Do not come near my little girl."

"Im not your little girl dad and you have no say in who I'm seeing." The door had opened and a puffy faced Hermione was standing in the door.

"He'll hurt you again darling, I know he will" Patrick said in a pleading tone.

Hermione was irate. Her father didn't know what they had gone through. He wasn't there when Ron nursed her back to health in shell cottage or when he sat next to her hospital bed back in school. Sure, Ron had royally screwed up countless times, but he had more than made up for it to her.

"No, he won't dad. I think I would know better than you. You never even made an effort to get to know my friends. How would you expect to know Ron better than me?" She asked

That was a low blow and Hermione knew it. She had always asked to leave and come to the burrow over the summer. She knew she could have just as easily asked if everyone could stay with her.

Patrick just stared. Hermione's hand slipped into Rons and he pulled them up to his lips, kissing the top of her hand. Hermione knew Ron was going to stand next to her as she stared down her father. His hands were sweating and shaking slightly, but she held firm.

."Patrick, calm yourself. We can't tell her what to do anymore, she's an adult in both of her worlds." Anne said.

Hermione smiled at her mother. They were so alike, caring, loving, and understanding. She was glad that one of her parents had remained calm and listened to her explanation about Ron. Her mother had said she saw this coming for years. Hermione had apparently not covered up her crush as well as she had hoped she had over the years. Anne knew how much Ron had hurt her daughter, but Hermione was very smart, if she trusted the boy then Anne supposed she should too.

Patrick sputtered a bit "Anne darling you were on my side before."

Anne nodded. "You're right, I didn't much care for the boy either, but Hermione and I just had a wonderful conversation, and I think I've changed my mind" she said smiling down at the couple.

Ron looked a little dejected at that statement. Her parents hadn't liked him for years apparently. great, that's exactly what he wanted to her from them.

Hermione pulled on his hand as she stepped closer to his bedroom door. She didn't like the idea of the whole Weasley house hearing her parents bicker.

"Ron can you come in here with us? I need to talk to my parents about what happened and I think you should be here too" Hermione said

Ron paled. He didn't much like the idea of talking to her parents about kissing her like that, but he followed her dutifully back into his room. He would follow her anywhere she supposed.

Ron perched himself on his desk, while Hermione sat in his chair. The Grangers stood awkwardly next to his bed.

"So, what do you know about the events we have been involved in over the past year?" Hermione began.

She didn't want to have this conversation so quickly, but she rather get off the subject of her and ron for now if possible.

Rons stomach did a summersault. He thought they were going to be talking about the kiss. This conversation was a lot darker, and more sinister. He much rather be talking to the Grangers about kissing their daughter he thought.

"Well we know that you erased our memories and sent us to live in Australia" Patrick spat out. He was obviously still the more upset of the two. Anne gave him a stern look and he looked sheepish, and closed him mouth. Her look was oddly familiar to Ron.

"Well yes. Hermione began slowly. I wanted to keep you safe. It was very dangerous out there and I was the second most wanted person here in the wizarding world for a long time. I knew they would go after you to try to find me. I had to do something to protect you"

"You could have come into hiding with us" Patrick said

Rons anger boiled over at that. He wished Hermione had stayed with her parents of course, but her father wasn't giving her any of the credit she deserved.

"We would all be dead if she had gone with you. Most muggles would have been killed, the rest enslaved. The world would have been in utter chaos. Hermione was the one who kept us alive. Harry may have been the chosen one, but she was the one who got us far enough for Harry to be able to fulfill his destiny." Ron spoke

The Grangers looked at him with wide eyes.

"Ron that's not.." Hermione started

"Bollocks 'Mione. Don't you dare say that isn't true. You know for a fact it is. You having been saving Harry and I for years now. We would have died first year if it hadn't been for you and your brain" Ron said looking down at her from his perch with an admiring smile "You're bloody brilliant"

Anne took in a deep breath "I know you couldn't have come with us, but you didn't have to wipe our memories to do it"

"Would you have gone if I hadn't?" Hermione asked

Anne shook her head sadly after a moment of contemplation.

"What happened after I left?" Hermione asked

"Well, about two months after you left we were working at a dental office in Australia and a gentle man came in to my room for an exam and pulled a wand on me. A girl had done the same to your father. Then a light came from the wand and the next thing I remember was waking up in Muriels house with my memory back. Kingsley had somehow figured out what you had done to us and reversed it. We stayed at the house with Muriel for months, I helped take care of the sick and wounded who had come in. I was one of the only ones who knew anything about modern muggle medicine. Molly and I helped keep the people in the house fed and cleaned up after. We learned a lot about your world. It's incredible what you all can do with those wands of yours. Muriel even gifted us an owl so that I can stay in touch. Lovely women she is." Anne said

"Muriel? Auntie Muriel? A lovely women?" Ron laughed

"Yes she is a lovely women. I wouldn't laugh so much at her Ron, she is a large reason I'm not trying to fight your relationship with our daughter. She is very very proud of you." Anne said

Ron paled considerably at that.

"So, what now?" Hermione said

"Well, Rons brothers returned from our house and said that it had been destroyed. Neighbors talked to them and said it was a house fire, but they said it felt like dark magic was seeping from the ruble." Patrick said "So we have to file an insurance claim and rebuild I suppose. For now, I believe we will be continuing our stay at Muriels, she had insisted."

"You could always stay here. Mum already made room" Ron spoke.

"Thank you dear, but Molly has a lot to tend to right now. I will be here during the day to help her as best I can with anything she needs help with, but I need to help Muriel get her life back in order now as well. Her home turned into a hospital and hotel for months on end." Anne said

"You're not staying here with me?" Hermione asked bewildered

Hermione had never let herself think that far ahead. She never thought about where she would stay after her parents had been found. For some reason she had just assumed when she found out they were with Muriel that they would all just stay at the burrow.

"No. You're staying there with us" Patrick said his voice on edge

Hermione's stomach dropped at the thought of being that far from Ron.

"No, I'm sorry but I have to stay here at the burrow. I haven't been away from Harry or Ron in a year. You can't expect me to make such a change in a day. " Hermione said

Mr. Grangers eyes narrowed in on Ron. Ron looked back just as coldly raising himself up taller.

"It is a bit inappropriate for you to stay here with your boyfriend and his family when you have a family of your own" Patrick spat

Ron glared at the man. He wasn't going to let him force Hermione into anything she didn't want to do.

"Hermione is family, and I think it's a bit inappropriate for you to think otherwise" Mrs. Weasleys voice ranging out from the door

Hermione looked over to Mrs. Weasley who smiled fondly at her. "You are just as much a part of this family as anyone else in this house dear, and don't ever forget that" Molly said.

Hermione ran into her arms. She truly loved this woman. "It's alright dear, no need to get yourself worked up. You've known that we love you like a daughter for years"

"I know" Hermione said squeezing the plump women "it's just nice to hear"

Ron watched his mother holding Hermione, a wave of admiration for his mother flowed over him. His mum cared for everyone so much it was remarkable she had time to do anything else but comfort and wipe away tears. He smiled at the two of them and the trust, and mutual adoration the two women felt for each other.

Hermione pulled herself away from Molly and looked at her father. "I'm staying here dad. This is where I feel I need to be."

Patrick stood up his eyes flicking from Ron, to Hermione, to Molly, and Finally landing on his wife.

"So, you're just going to sit here and let our daughter stay with them?" He bellowed at his wife

"No. We are going to let our adult daughter make her own decisions because she has proven she can take care of herself. She is an adult Patrick, for god sake stop treating her like a child. Open your eyes, she saved the world! How can we tell her what to do at this point?" Anne's normally calm demeanor was cracking slightly.

"She just wants to stay here so she can continue to fool around with that boy" Patrick bit out now enraged that his wife wasn't taking his side.

"Is that what you think of me dad? You think I'm just staying here so I can fool around with Ron? Is that really how little you think of me?" Hermione asked in a whisper. Hot tears leaked down her face, and she wiped them away quickly. She was so tired of crying, of being upset, she was emotionally exhausted.

Patrick stopped and stared at her. The words that had come out of him slowly sank in. "Oh Hermione no. I was mad, no please don't cry, I didn't mean that. I spoke before thinking. I let my emotions get the best of me. Hermione please believe me! I didn't mean to say that I swear." Patrick desperately pleaded. He made a move to hug his daughter but Ron stepped in between them.

"I think it would be best if you left Mr. Granger." Ron said stretching himself to his full height, which was about a head and a half above Mr. Granger.

"Get out of my way boy" Patrick said trying to move around the large brick wall that was Ronald Weasley.

"I said, I think it would be best if you go sir." Ron was trying very hard now to be polite to the man.

Patrick looked Ron in the eyes. The usually liquid blue had turned to a hard-gray tone. Ron would do anything to protect Hermione, and Mr. Granger could tell Ron saw him as a threat to her.

"Come on Anne, I can see we aren't welcome." Patrick spat the words at Ron

"No. Just you. Mrs. Granger is in fact a lovely guest" Molly said from the door way "I will escort you to the fire place."

Patrick looked around again. "Hermione please."

"I forgive you dad, but I just can't handle this right now" Hermione said from behind Ron

"Anne?"

"I think its best if you go Patrick." She responded not looking at him

Mr. Granger instantly deflated. He knew he had screwed up. He knew he had let his anger get the best of him.

"I love you both" he said.

Hermione looked away and Anne simply nodded.

Patrick Granger walked out of the room shoulders heaving from the silent sobs that were escaping his body and made him way down the stairs followed by Molly.

"Im sorry" Anne said to Hermione and Ron after the door had closed. "He was so scared for the three of you when you were gone, we had heard rumors about torture and you three dying when someone new came to the house. He did nothing but listen to potter watch day in and day out. I just don't think he expected to find his little girl had grown up. Hes upset that he couldn't protect you and someone else did. Its not an excuse, but it is a reason behind his behavior."

Anne looked at Ron "I want to thank you for taking care of her though. I know something terrible happened on your trip" she looked down at Hermione's arm where mudblood was still red and angry against her pale skin " so thank you for taking care of her"

"Of course, but you never have to thank me for that." Ron replied. To Hermione's surprise Ron stepped up to Anne and wrapped her in a hug. After letting go Anne smiled at the two of them and excused herself from the room.

"I need to go apologize to Molly" She smiled one more time before closing the door and decending the stairs.

Ron shut his bedroom door behind her and slowly turned to Hermione. "Your father said something to me in the hall that really got under my skin" Ron said slowly

"Ron don't listen to him, he was being overly emotional" Hermione said picking up her beaded bag and beginning to sort through the clothes for the wash.

"Did Lavender brag about me in the rooms sixth year?" He asked

Hermione dropped the shirt she was holding and stood frozen to her spot.

"Hermione tell me the truth. What did she say" Ron asked

"Nothing important" Hermione replied

"It was obviously upsetting enough for you to tell your dad about it"

"I didn't tell him, I wrote my mum about it and he must have found out somehow. It doesn't matter what she said we closed that chapter in our lives didn't we?" She asked

"Hermione please"

Hermione did not want to relive those conversations she had overheard. She knew Lavender had only talked about it so much to upset her, and it had worked. She never wanted to talk to Ron about it though.

"fine Ron, if you want to know so badly, she said you were a great shag. She said you were the best she had ever had and she wasn't ever letting you go. She said you were sweet and caring and told her you loved her all the time" Hermione tossed another shirt into the pile with a great deal of force.

Ron was taken aback. That wasn't what he thought he was going to hear. Why would Lav embellish like that? had she known he loved Hermione? Probably.

"Not a single part of that was true." He took Hermione's hand in his and willed her to look into his eyes. He needed her to see that he was telling the truth. "I never shagged her, ever, I didn't even like kissing her much. I was honestly really rude to her, she had to have known I didn't care for her at all. I never told her I loved her. Not once. she tried to say it to me and I walked away from her. Got poisoned shortly after now that I think of it, but I never said it to her. I would never say that unless I truly meant it."

Hermione's heart felt lighter with each word that flowed from him. She leaned forward and captured his lips in hers. Her knees were weak and her head felt light enough to float into the clouds. When he drew back his eyes were dark and foggy.

"Hermione... I want to tell you something. Its okay if you don't feel the same way. I just really need totell you. You know that you mean the world to me right? Everyday that I get to spend with you is happier. I was more terrified to see you get hurt than anything else. You're perfect 'Mione..." He paused pulling himself together "Hermione Granger I..."

The door bust open, and the two of them jumped.

"Buggering fuck Harry"

"Language Ron" Ginny grinned cheekily