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Warning for adult themes towards the end of this chapter and adult language (even if I have edited more detailed bits out (kept the original though :p)
Usual disclaimers apply.
On with the chapter...it's a long one – be warned (I couldn't find a good place to split it!)
Chapter Six
Ron slept in on the Monday morning. He was taking the day off, since he'd had to go into work on the Saturday, which was something he sometimes did if he'd had to work unexpectedly at the weekend. I can't say I blamed him, though I was sometimes envious of his ease to decide his own hours. Last night, after we got home from his parents, he'd been behaving rather...odd. He'd been more attentive than he had been of late and even apologised to me, unprompted, for the argument the night before. He'd even cuddled up to me in bed, which I had allowed simply because I missed the feeling of a warm body pressed against my back and his nose nuzzling against my neck.
Right now I was sat alone, eating my breakfast in the kitchen when Chicken turned up with the post, which included a letter from Rose. I knew that would make Ron happy to get a letter from one of the children, which I was still reading when he finally wandered in, all sleep dishevelled, still in his pajamas and looking for something to eat. I smiled up at him briefly, I always thought he looked cute half asleep and all crumpled, and turned back to the letter before he caught me gazing at him.
'Dear Mum and Dad,
Professor McGonagall told us today that team members parents are being invited to the Quidditch matches from now on. Please, please, please DO NOT embarrass me in front of my friends. Okay Dad? No kissing and hugging us (or each other!) or being too excitable – please! Other than that, it will be nice to see you. Can't wait for you to see us play, we've been out practising hard at least twice a week. Olivia Wood (wasn't her Dad Uncle Harry's team captain at school?) is a bit of a slave driver though – even James was getting annoyed with her last weekend when she made us get up at the crack of dawn and practice in the pouring rain!
Hugo is doing okay, don't think he's written to you recently, has he? I think he's been struggling with some Potions homework – I've seen him hunched over the same essay the past few nights anyway. I offered him some help with it, but he got all huffy about it – so like Dad! Kidding Dad – love you really!
Things are going well for me, busy with practice and homework obviously, but I have listened to your advice Mum, and made sure to have some free time as well. My friends and I like to go sit out by the lake when the weather is nice and talk, play some Gobstones or look through magazines, but mostly we just have a laugh together.
Oh, Hagrid asked me to send his best. Perhaps you could visit him when you're up for the match? I think he'd like that. He was rather upset over one of his Thestral's being ill last time I saw him. I think a visit would be nice.
I must go, got some homework to finish. And don't worry, I'll keep my eye on Hugo and remind him to write. Hope you're both okay – I miss you.
See you soon.
Lots of Love,
Rose xx
P.S. Remember – DO NOT embarrass me.
I smiled as I set the letter down, proud and amused by our daughter, but a little worried about our son. I knew how easily it was to get overwhelmed by school work in your first year and if he wasn't letting his sister help him, then I hoped he'd let a friend or a cousin have a look.
Ron sat down opposite me, dumping a bowl on the table and making me jump. "Sorry," he mumbled and shoved a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. "What's that?" he waved his spoon towards the parchment I was still glancing at beside my own plate.
"A letter from our daughter," I passed it over.
"Oh, brilliant!" he muttered, milk dribbling down his chin as he spoke through his mouth full and eagerly took it from me. He held it in front of his face, reading and eating at the same time, smiling at some parts and then grunting at others.
I waited until he'd finished. "I hope Hugo is okay," I said when he finally put the letter down. He always had been a much slower reader than I was.
"What's she mean by making a point of telling me not to embarrass her?" he pointed to the letter, looking rather affronted.
"Ron, she's almost 14 now. Imagine if your mum or dad had come to watch a match and had given you a big hug and kiss in front of all your friends afterwards or something?" I eyed him.
"Eurgh!" he grimaced. "Yeah, right, I get that. But still, why make it sound as though I'd be the only one to embarrass her? Not like you wouldn't want to give her a hug her too."
"Well, of course. But, you are very affectionate with our children, Ron. And, well, perhaps your jokes and tricks that you enjoy, are just a bit too...silly for a 14 year old now," I tried to gently suggest.
"Huh!" He looked hurt again. "They're not silly," he huffed. "And why did she say Hugo got all huffy just like dad? I don't get all huffy," he pouted.
"Oh no, of course not." I tried not to laugh at the look on his face right now – a perfect imitation of our son in a bad mood. "Do you think Hugo is all right though? I don't like to think of him struggling. Maybe I should write to him and remind him there is no shame in asking for help. Or write to Neville and ask him to check on him?" I mused.
"Yeah, I'm sure that will go down well!" he rolled his eyes. "Having another professor check up on his homework. He's fine, love. He's only been there seven weeks, he'll figure it out. I had to."
"Oh, you did, did you? All by yourself?" I eyed him, questioningly.
"Well, okay, I did get some help from you. But..."
"Just some help? Really? Because if I hadn't helped either you or Harry, I'm pretty sure you'd both still be there trying to pass your O.W.L's!" I teased him.
"Whatever," he muttered, refolding the letter and slotting it back into the envelope as I got up to put my pots in the sink and checking I was on time for work. "Are you going to be in your office all week?" he asked me then, apropos to nothing.
"Erm..." I tried to think as I nipped into the study to grab my satchel and a file I'd been working on. "I think so. I have no court dates planned this week. Why?" I wondered.
He shrugged. "Just wondered," he replied evasively.
"Okay, well I'd better go. What are you going to do with yourself all day?" I wondered, whilst opening my satchel to put the file in and check I had everything else I needed.
He looked up at me and grinned. "Nothing," he shrugged.
"Sounds lovely," I sighed, closing my bag with a snap. "I'll see you tonight," I quickly bent to kiss his cheek and he surprised me by turning his head and kissing my lips soundly.
"See you later," he replied, laughing at the stunned look on my face as I made my way to the floo.
Upon arrival in my office, I went over this morning again and realised that was the longest and most amiable conversation we'd had in weeks. Not to mention that little kiss. It was almost reminiscent of the way we used to be. Almost. Had he actually finally listened to me?
One could hope I suppose.
The next day, I was hard at work in my office, trying to concentrate on a new case. It was rather complicated and confusing – I knew someone wasn't telling the truth, but couldn't decide who. The story just didn't add up.
But, it was proving even more difficult because I couldn't keep my mind off Ron. After a promising morning yesterday, last night he'd returned to being quiet and vague about things. I asked him how his day was and he just replied with 'fine'. Asked him what he'd been up to, he looked flustered before answering 'nothing'. And then he'd disappeared upstairs for a bit. I couldn't figure him out at all and it was driving me insane.
I shook my head again, trying to forget about my husband right now, and focus on these case notes before me, trying to decide if I had a viable case at all – not easy when you weren't sure if your client was actually innocent or not.
Suddenly, my office door crashed open and I jumped, almost throwing my teacup I'd been holding across the office in surprise. I looked up to find Harry standing in the doorway, looking rather flustered. "Hermione!" he gasped. "Quick...it's...it's Ron. He needs you!" he told me, beckoning me out of my office.
"What happened?" I was out of my seat in an instant and grabbed my wand.
"I erm..." he paused, "I think something happened at the shop. He just, he needs you. Come on, we have to go!" he told me urgently.
"Okay. I'm coming." I followed him through the department, heading back towards the Aurors domain and over to the room used as their emergency apparition point. "Do you know what happened?" I asked, as we hurried along.
"Erm, no, not really. Just got a message that he needs you,"he replied, rather evasively.
"Why did they contact you and not me?" I asked, puzzled. This wasn't make any sense.
"Erm, er..." Harry stalled and then fiddled with his glasses, looking more than a little suspicious. "How am I supposed to know!" he finally answered.
"Harry..." I began.
"Are you going to stand there arguing with me, or are you going to find your husband who needs you?" he demanded.
"Fine, I'm going," I protested as he shoved me into the room they used for Apparation, since it wasn't exactly a good idea to have people popping in and out all over the Ministry. "Wait, where am I going?" I asked, not knowing if he was in hospital or at home or somewhere else.
"Oh, the shop. Said he's in the store room," he muttered, avoiding my gaze again.
I gave him one last sceptical look as he closed the door and then I pictured the store room at the Wheezes shop in my mind and spun, wondering what the hell was really going on. Something didn't feel right.
Before I'd even got my bearings after Apparating into the shop, someone grabbed me from behind and Disapparated with me again. I screamed, not knowing what was happening or who had hold of me. I had this sudden terrifying notion that Harry might not have really been Harry and I was being kidnapped – again. Had this all been a set up I had walked into simply because I cared about my husband too much?
Finally, we stopped spinning and landed on solid ground. I whirled around to slap my abductor, pointing my wand at them before I realised who it was. "Ron?" I gasped in disbelief. "What the hell is going on? Who are you?" I demanded, not lowering my wand, not trusting it was really him.
"Hey, it's just me - your husband." He took a step towards me, hands held palm up towards me
"Don't you dare come a step closer," I thrust my wand up, pointing right at his crotch. "I will hex you."
"Bloody hell Hermione," he muttered. "It's Ron, the bloke you married?" he cocked one eyebrow.
"Prove it!" I demanded.
"How do you expect me to...all right, all right." he stammered when he noted me jerk the wand. "Erm...that, that stain on your robes," he pointed to a dark spot on my chest. "The jam fell off your toast at breakfast this morning – you tried to get it off using tergeo, but it just finished up rather smudged and you didn't have time to change."
"Hmm…that could just be a good guess," I glanced at the stain myself – I mean it was obvious. "Try again!" I flicked my wand up and down threateningly.
"Okay, okay!" he muttered and rubbed the back of his neck – a familiar Ron gesture, but then anyone could have been watching him and noted that he did that – it was a frequent habit of his after all. His eyes lit up then as something popped into his head that he thought for sure would have me convinced. "Okay, fine..." he began, relaxing his stance a little, "on your left hip, you have two little moles, about an inch apart, that you hate. Whilst I secretly love them," he smiled.
"You do?" I asked, melting slightly and lowering my wand.
He shrugged. "Well, of course. They're part of you," he smiled at me.
I glanced around myself then, confused by my surroundings. "Okay, so maybe you are really my husband. But what the hell is going on and where in Merlin's name are we?" I asked.
"We, erm, we're in France. I, I wanted to surprise you," he added, sheepishly.
"By kidnapping me and scaring me half to death?" I shrieked at him.
"No, at least that wasn't my intention. I just...look, let's go sit down," he took my hand and pulled me from the entrance hall of the house we were standing in, towards a lounge. He took off his cloak, laying it over the back of the sofa, before sitting down and kicking off his shoes, making himself at home. Whilst I gingerly sat down beside him, still completely puzzled as to what exactly was going on.
"Where in France are we exactly? And might I ask why?" I turned to face him.
Ron inhaled deeply and let it out slowly before he began. "Don't you recognise it?" he gave a little smile and raised an eyebrow, curiously.
I glanced around the vaguely familiar room, sensing that I had been there before, but being unable to place it. I tried to recall all the times I'd ever been to France. "Oh!" I gasped as it came to me. "This is Fleur's parents' summer home," I remembered.
"Uh huh," he nodded, "where we spent our honeymoon." He had a rather dreamy smile on his face now
"But...why?" I was still utterly confused as to what the hell was going on, but now understood that Harry must have been in on it, even if he hadn't been very convincing.
"I just," Ron took a deep breath, "I thought it would be romantic to come back here and...spend some time with you." The tips of his ears were a little pinker than usual as he took my hands in his much larger ones and ran his thumbs across my knuckles.
"Spend time with me?" I asked dumbly, still not following him.
"Yes!" he nodded, looked down at our joined hands and gently twisted the wedding band on my finger. "See, I've been thinking about all you've been saying the last few days, and, well I don't want to lose you Hermione. I really do love you and I realise I've been a bit of a git and..."
"You planned this? To bring me here?" I looked around, slowly remembering the place. Obviously the décor had changed somewhat in the last few years, but certain features were still the same.
He nodded. "I asked Fleur if we could borrow the house again. Well, I begged her really I suppose. Asked if we could have it for a few days, told her it was really import..."
"A few days?" I caught what he'd said and pulled my hands from his, already wringing them with worry. "Ron, I can't be here for a few days! I have work and..."
"All cleared with your boss, don't worry. Used up some days from your holiday allowance."
"Ron, that's sweet," I patted his knee. "But, you know I like to save that time so I can take time off during the school holidays and spend time with the children."
"Don't you think that maybe you and I deserve, no need, to spend a few uninterrupted days together?" he asked.
"Well, yes. That would be nice. But..."
"No more buts," he held a hand up to quieten me. "It's all been cleared, you've still got plenty of days left and it's all settled now," he grinned, looking pretty smug with himself. I didn't know whether to kiss him or slap him right now.
"I haven't packed anything though. I didn't even bring my bag," I realised, glancing down for it. In my panicked haste all I'd grabbed from my office was my wand.
"Got everything we need, right here," he pulled my beaded bag from beneath the cloak he'd dumped on the back of the sofa, the very same bag I had cast the undetectable extension charm on 20 odd years ago, looking a little worse for wear right now, but it still worked.
"And you couldn't have charmed another bag?" I asked, amused.
He shrugged. "Why bother when this one still has a perfect charm on it?" he asked. "So, I have changes of clothes for us both, toothbrushes, deodorant, your shampoo and everything. Nightwear, underwear. Even bought that sexy little number you were wearing the other night," he winked, pulling the bag open slightly and peering inside for it.
"You brought that?" I asked, covering my face in my hands, horrified and rather embarrassed – that hadn't been one of my best moments. "I threw it out!"
"And I rescued it," he nodded his head once. "Honestly, had you not got into a strop with me the other night and if I hadn't been a bit drunk, things might have happened before we started fighting. Because you looked bloody hot in it!"
"Now you tell me," I muttered. "Hold on," I suddenly thought of something else. "Isn't Rosie's match this weekend? I don't want to miss it. I've been looking forward to seeing the children."
"And why would you miss it?" he tilted his head, regarding me quizzically. "We can Disapparate from here just as well as we can from home, love. We can leave here Saturday and then go home after the match."
"Oh. Yes, of course," I nodded, feeling silly for not considering that.
He smirked. "So, are you done with finding excuses to get out of this now?"
"Ron,"I spoke gently, rubbing his knee. "I wasn't. I didn't..."
He laughed, cutting me off from trying to explain myself. "I was teasing. I know you and I know you just want to settle all the practicalities, but, honestly – I got it all covered. So, what do you think?" he asked, holding his hands out, regarding his sneaky secret and all his well thought out plans, as though he expected praise.
I thought about his motives for a moment - getting me alone amidst all this secrecy, then recalling the fact he'd packed my sexy underwear. "If this is just some scheme for you to get some action in bed, then..."
"No!" he interrupted me. "I mean, yeah, I'd like for there to be some bedroom action at some point, because...well it has been awhile. But, that's not the only thing that inspired me do this. Honestly, I've just been listening to everything you've been saying of late - about our marriage being in a rut and you thinking I don't love you anymore or want you and I want to prove to you that I do. So, so much. I wanted to make an effort, some grand gesture to show you how much you still mean to me, always will." He edged closer towards me and took hold of my hands again.
"Really?" I asked, feeling my eyes blur with tears as he totally melted me.
"Of course," he sighed and leant forward to brush his lips gently against mine. "I love you Hermione Granger and it kind of hurts that you'd ever think that I don't. But, I know I've not been myself for a bit and I'm sorry if I took you for granted or I drifted away from you or whatever. I just," he sighed, "I don't know how to explain it."
"Just tell me how you feel Ron, whatever thoughts you've been having, whether you think it makes sense or not, just tell me," I squeezed his hand in mine. "I'll understand, really," I promised him.
He inhaled deeply and let it out slowly before he opened his mouth again. "I feel...lost. Like I don't know what I'm doing anymore. For years I've been the one working less hours to be there for the kids after school and make dinner, clean the house and...I guess I feel sort of lost at home without them now. I miss Rose and Hugo. And...I miss you. You're always working so much and I seem to be home alone a lot now and...it might sound a bit, pathetic, but...I'm lonely."
"Oh Ron, I'm sorry," I pulled him into my arms, hugging him close as I realised for the first time that I was as much to blame for any problems I thought we had. I hadn't realised he felt that way and I hated that he felt lonely in our marriage and perhaps a little neglected.
"Maybe you haven't noticed," he spoke softly against my neck, "but since we put Hugo on the train with Rosie last month, you have been working longer and longer hours. I know your career is important and means a lot to you, I really do understand that and, I hate to sound like…."
I pulled back, so I could see his eyes and shook my head."Nothing means as much to me as you and the children," I assured him. "You three are the most important parts of my life and I'm sorry if it seems I've forgotten that for awhile."
"Maybe I did a bit too," he suggested with a smile as he tenderly brushed my hair from my face. "Why did it take us weeks of fighting and getting upset to tell one another all this?" He gave a small laugh.
"Because we're idiots and it's what we do," I snorted. "I mean, telling each other how we feel has never exactly been our shining moment, has it?"
"You'd think after more than 20 years, we might have got a bit better at it," he joked. "I do love you Hermione. I love being married to you and I don't want anything to ever change that."
"I know, darling. And I love you too. I could never imagine my life without you."
We shared a smile as our eyes held one another's gaze and then he reached for me, unaware until then that our bodies had subconsciously moved closer together, and took my face between his hands. He kissed me softly, his lips tender and warm on mine as I responded to his touch. As my arms wound around his neck, tugging him even closer, he deepened the kiss, tongues tentatively making a request and I sighed against him. I'd missed this - it had been too long without sharing these kisses, holding one another like this and I resolved to never let it go so long again.
Slowly, we pulled apart, he kissed my lips one last time before giving me a little smirk and I knew he felt exactly the same way about it. Why had we wasted so much time?
Giving him a shy little smile, I settled beside him, closing any gap between us. "I suppose," I sighed, "now that the children are away for most of the year, things are just..."
"Different," he finished for me, sliding his arm around my shoulders and holding me close.
"Yes," I nodded. "Our lives have changed once again and I guess it's just going to take some time to adjust to this new stage of our lives together. And I'm sorry it took us arguing and my getting distressed about our marriage for us to even realise that."
"I'm kind of glad that you got upset about it," he surprised me as I gave him a rather wounded look, wondering where he was going with this. "I mean, not glad that you got upset," he quickly explained himself before I took offence. "Just, the fact you got so worried and stuff tells me that our marriage really does matter to you."
"Well, of course it does," I looked at him dumbfounded. "The single best decision I ever made was agreeing to marry you." I kissed his cheek and lay my head on his shoulder. "And, I'm starting to think that we never really had an actual problem so to speak, just a lack of communication."
"As usual!" he rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry I got grumpy and quiet rather than just telling you how I felt. I guess, I didn't know how to express what I was thinking or really understand what we were doing to each other."
"Like I did any better!" I shook my head at myself, knowing we'd both been so foolish. "But, I'm glad it's all out there now, because I know we can work it out. I realise how very lucky I am to have you and your love. You are a good husband and I think we have a pretty strong, well rounded marriage. I still believe the two of us make sense together," I smiled at him.
"I believe that too. You...you make me a better man. I know this is a really dumb thing to say, but, I really do think you complete me."
"I prefer to think we complement each other," I changed his wording slightly.
He smirked and shook his head wryly. "Still my adorable walking dictionary, needing to correct me," he laughed lightly.
"Sorry," I laughed realising what I'd done.
"Nah, it's part of who you are. Just one of the mad things I love about you," he admitted.
I poked my tongue out at him playfully, he returned the gesture before we giggled at one another. He tugged me into his embrace then, a hand gently clasping my shoulder as I lay my head on his chest, resting my hand on his hip. For awhile, we just sat quietly together, content to be in one another's arms again, to feel relaxed with one another.
"Maybe," Ron suddenly spoke and I opened my eyes. I didn't realise I had been dozing, so comfortable in his arms. He chuckled once and stroked my shoulder, seemingly noticing he had startled me. "Sorry, I was just thinking that maybe we're going about this all wrong. Instead of being upset that the house is too quiet and we're alone now, maybe we should be making the most of it?" he suggested.
I twisted my head to peer up at him, catching the flash of an eyebrow. "What?" I asked, wondering exactly what his intentions were, though I could probably guess. I mean, I enjoyed sex and Ron had always been a satisfying and generous lover, and I knew we'd had rather a dry spell, but, I wasn't sure going at it again like we were still 20 years olds was the answer either.
He laughed at the expression on my face. "Don't worry, I'm not going to start acting like my nut of a sister, but," he sighed as he tried to choose his words. "For the last 14 years or so, we've been busy as parents and focused on raising the kids. So, maybe now that we have more time for ourselves, we can focus on us a bit more? Stop all the sniping and stressing about imaginary problems and just make a bit of time for each other."
"You're right," I nodded. "Of course you're right."
"Don't sound too surprised!" he grunted.
"Oh, Ron...you know I didn't mean it like that. You should know by now that I think you're wonderful and smart and intuitive and..."
"Yeah, you have to say that because you're married to me and therefore stuck with me," he nudged me with his shoulder.
"No," I lifted my head from his shoulder and turned to face him, "I have to say that because I'm just stating facts...and because I love you." I leant forward to tenderly kiss his lips. "So, do you have any suggestions how exactly we go about making time for each other? Though, this trip is certainly a damn good start," I kissed him again, sliding my arms around his waist.
"Well, you were the one who suggested we get away for a couple of days." He put his chin on the top of my head as I burrowed my face into his neck, inhaling in his scent. Merlin I'd missed that, how did he still smell the same after all these years? All musk and chocolate and warmth and...Ron.
"Ron," I let my lips places kisses on his jaw, enjoying the delicious scratch of his stubble, and down his throat as I chuckled against his skin before rising my head, "I only suggested staying overnight in Hogsmeade, which is hardly as romantic as this. You came up with this one all by yourself." I felt proud of him and even more lucky to realise he was mine, for always.
He shrugged one shoulder and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed by my praise. "Just thought it would be nice," he muttered.
"This is more than nice," I sighed and fell against his chest as his long arms enveloped me. "It's exactly what the pair of us needed to force us to really talk. But, I don't want us to have a few wonderful days here, only for things to go back to how they were once we get home."
"I know," he nodded in agreement. "Something needs to change. We really do need to make time for each other a priority. I mean, I know our jobs are important, but..."
"Not as important as each other and our family," I finished for him.
"No," he agreed. "So...how about, say at least once a week, we make plans together?" He was making this up as he went along I realised, but so far it was all sounding perfect and so easy that I was surprised I hadn't thought of it myself before. "Like, one night we both make the effort to get home from work early and be together?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly when I lifted my face, my chin on his chest, to look at him.
"Like a date night?" I smiled.
He shrugged a shoulder. "Something like that, yeah. We can do that one night a week and maybe at the weekend too – spend more time together rather than taking care of household chores that can wait."
I nodded, eagerly. "That sounds like a good start. We can go out to dinner together, take a trip to the beach or to the cinema or…"
"Shut down the floo, put up some wards and just stay in to snuggle, make love," he whispered softly against my ear and I shivered.
"Yes," I agreed breathlessly – just the smell of him and his warm body was already stirring longings within me. "We just need to remember to be a couple again, spend some quality time together. And I don't just mean sexually!" I poked his ribs when I caught the huge smirk on his face.
He laughed, loudly, and it was so good to hear him really laugh again as I smiled at him before he claimed my lips in a gentle kiss. "Though, speaking of sex," he kissed my jaw as his lips left mine, "it has been awhile and," he nipped at my earlobe, making me hiss, "well, I'm sort of in the mood for making up for lost time," he winked, before claiming my lips again in a rather searing kiss.
I smiled at him, feeling ridiculously shy after all these years together. "I think that might be nice. I don't think I told you before, but I've missed you too." I brushed his fringe out of his eyes and kissed the tip of his nose.
"Then what are we waiting for?" He stood and held his hand out to me. "I mean, we have that nice little outfit of yours to have fun with too," he chuckled, grabbing the bag from where he'd left it on the table and eagerly pulled me upstairs.
"Don't you dare!" I shrieked with laughter whilst chasing after him.
Ron opened the second door along the landing, walking into the room behind me with his hands on my hips. "Remember this room?" he asked.
"Yes," I breathed, feeling his chin on my shoulder as his arms encircled my waist. We'd spent many happy, fulfilling nights in this room on our honeymoon. Not exactly getting much sleep, but certainly attempting to get enough of one another and raising the rooms temperature.
Nothing much seemed to have changed in here, the ornate four poster bed still looked the same - almost drowning in soft, billowy white drapes and bedding. The door to the balcony was as I remembered it, though currently covered in heavy curtains blocking out the late afternoon sun. Even the wallpaper and carpet looked the same. There was however, a few definite differences and it was obvious that Ron had been here, preparing for this before kidnapping me.
Red flower petals had been scattered across the bed. Candles had been placed upon every available flat surface in the room, casting our surroundings in an ethereal glow. I vaguely wondered whether it was safe to have lit them all and then left them unattended, but realised he must have used one of his new Wheezes product – the Everlasting Flame Candles that came in a variety of scents. Apparently my obsession with Muggle scented candles and the expense he said I wasted on them when they only lasted mere hours, had inspired him to invent them. Beside the bed there even sat a bottle of champagne, damp with condensation from the charm that was probably on it to keep it cold, along with two crystal flutes waiting on the table beside it.
"You did all this?" I asked, turning in his arms.
He nodded, before tossing the little bag onto the dressing table and gave me a smile. "Like I said, I wanted it to be a surprise. This is how I spent my day off yesterday. Well, after I'd spent an hour or so begging Fleur to let me borrow the house again. By the way, we're probably going to be seeing a lot more of our nephew, Louis, over the next few weeks, when I pay her back with babysitting." He rolled his eyes. "Once I secured use of the house and my plan began falling into place, I spent awhile getting everything together and even more time explaining to George how I was going to be away for a few days – he wasn't very happy by the way, but screw him. Also wasn't easy sneaking unseen into your department to talk to someone about getting you some time off," he grumbled. "Then you actually came home earlier last night before I had finished, which is why I was missing most of last night," he confessed and leant in to kiss my lips softly. "I popped over this morning for the last few finishing touches."
"I love you," I told him, holding him tight.
"That's good," he grinned widely, "you know, since I feel the same way about you." He pecked my lips before engaging me in a deep, passionate kiss, his tongue intertwining with mine.
His hands slid up my body, towards my neck where he unfastened and freed me of the Ministry robes I was still wearing. They pooled at my feet, quickly followed by my sensible black pencil skirt. He freed my hair from the tight bun I wore it in for work, letting it fall in a soft cloud of curls around my shoulders as he dragged the blouse over my head and soon he had me stood before him in my simple white, cotton bra, knickers, stockings and shoes.
"You are so beautiful," he murmured, leaning in to take my lips again.
"Thank you," I whispered softly as his lips tumbled from mine to explore down my neck and beyond.
"I mean it," he lifted his head to meet my eyes with a sincere gaze. "You're as beautiful to me now as the day I married you. Just as beautiful as I found you in all those years I lusted after you and was too much of an idiot to do anything about it."
I smiled at him, curling my arms around his neck to pull his head back down kiss him, long and deep. "We've wasted so much time," I sighed, "let's not waste anymore."
"I don't intend to," he smirked and scooped me up in his arms, perhaps not quite as effortlessly as he'd done 20 years ago, but the grand gesture was there.
Gently, he deposited me on the edge of the luxurious bed and then knelt before me. Gazing into my eyes, the candlelight reflecting in them. He slipped off my practical flat black pumps and tossed them aside, then ran his hands up my legs to remove my stockings. "So soft," he murmured, pulling them down and stroking my skin all the way to my toes, causing me to giggle when it tickled.
He laughed and kissed his way back up my legs, eyes never straying from mine. I expected him to zone in on the obvious, to aim between my legs, but he kissed his way past there and upwards until he reached my lips again, kissing me deeply, passionately, making up for lost kisses as he drank his fill of me. As we kissed I began to unfasten the buttons on his shirt, desperate to touch his skin again, to feel his warmth beneath my fingers and hold him as I hadn't done in far too long.
I had most of them undone and my hands sliding over his shoulders when he pulled back, smiling at me and reached around to unfasten my bra. Thank goodness this was something he was good at these days, because I didn't think I had the patience for the fumbling from his youth. The bra was cast carelessly aside as he sat back on his heals, taking in the view of my near naked body. I felt my skin flush a little at his scrutiny, knowing I wasn't as flawless as I had been as a 20 year old. Not that I had been perfect back then, I had numerous scars from all our battles and escapades.
But, now I also graced a slightly rounder body and stretch marks from carrying our children. Things weren't exactly as perky as they had once been either and I felt a bit self conscious of his gaze, even though I knew he would never find fault with the way I looked, or at least never mention it if he did.
"So beautiful," he murmured in awe, restoring some confidence I was lacking, before lowering his head to flick a nipple with his tongue, causing me to hiss and arch my body towards him. He did the same to the other, his arms encircling my back, rough skin of his hands from work and age rubbing against my skin – strangely I found it arousing. And then his mouth was back on my breasts, his stubble scratchy and enticing against sensitive skin, it wasn't long before he had my grinding my body against him.
His arms let me go and I melted back onto the bed sheets, sprawled out before him as petals stuck to my increasingly perspiring skin whilst he worshipped me. He placed one knee on the bed, hovering above me and I ran my hands down his back, frustrated to find him still clothed, I wanted to feel his skin against mine. I began to tug at his clothing, pulling his shirt from his trousers. He felt what I was trying to do and pulled back momentarily to sling the offending items across the room. My hands slid down his back and I sighed. I had always loved his skin, it's silky smoothness and often sun kissed with freckles against his pale white skin. As someone who tanned easily, his skin had always been something of a novelty to me and something I never tired of seeing. He was almost like one of those famous Muggle marble statues and just as priceless to me.
His tongue licked a trail down my body, until he was back on his knees, on the floor between my legs. My hands finished up in his glorious, handsome ginger locks, still graced with brightness and thickness – thankfully not cursed with his dad's hair genes. I sunk my fingers into his hair when I felt his hands slid between my legs. "So sexy," he murmured before hooking a thumb into each side of my knickers and sliding them down my leg. They went the same way as the rest of our clothing and I had visions of us hunting for articles of our clothing later, only to find them hanging from a lamp or a mirror or something.
I propped myself up on my elbows to be able to see what he was doing, just as his eyes rolled back up to meet mine. His fingers edged closer to where I needed them. Holding my gaze, his blue eyes burning with heat, he smirked, flicked his tongue out to wet his lips and then delved between my thighs. Damn, it had been too long, much, much too long.
As well as the obvious relief of sexual pleasure, it was the connection with him that I had missed most, this intimacy shared between two people who loved and trusted one another. I'd never been with anyone I didn't love, since Ron was my one and only, which was something I had never once regretted, but even I knew that sex with love was something more. Something special and sacred to be shared between just two people.
It wasn't simply the physical sensations, it was about feeling close to him body and soul. Feeling his love pour into my body through every touch, every whisper, every caress. It was about us making one another feel as though they were the most precious thing in the world and that we valued, appreciated and loved each another. And the fact that we hadn't shared this in so long, hadn't connected with one another on this primal level, it had me close to tears. Tears of relief that is, that we hadn't lost this, that we were still able to connect in this way, to feel, to trust. And I simply loved him so much. Love wasn't a powerful enough word when it came to the way I felt about him, but it was all I had.
It wasn't long until he had me screaming his name as he worked my body like a fine instrument he knew well. After all these years we both knew exactly what the other liked and how far we could push it. As the climax hit, I gasped his name, grabbing handfuls of his hair. It really was surprising he hadn't gone bald after all these years with me doing that to him I mused and then giggled to myself.
He looked up, a cocky, yet puzzled look on his face. "That was funny?" he asked, nipping and nuzzling his way back up my body.
I shook my head, a long, lazy smile on my lips as my body slowly came down, little tremors still coursing through me that were requesting more. "It...it wasn't you or that," I panted. "I'm sorry I pulled your hair," I added, smiling when I noticed how it stuck up at all angles from where my fingers had been tugging at it.
He shrugged one shoulder from where he was now hovering over me on outstretched arms and licked his lips – the sight was enough to cause after tremors deep inside. "You always do. And you know I think it's bloody sexy!" he grinned dipping his head and claiming my mouth with his own.
I could taste myself on him, but I didn't care as I kissed him eagerly, wrapping my arms around him until I rolled us over, situating ourselves further onto the bed, until his head rested on a pillow. Staying on top, I sat up to straddle his thighs, trailing my hands down his body, over his naked chest, towards his belly and up again through a soft, scattering of light ginger hairs and raking my nails over nipples that caused him to bite his bottom lip.
"You are so fuckin' sexy," he cursed, his eyes roaming every inch of my body. I smiled at him, pleased to hear that.
"And you're still just as bloody gorgeous," I told him, thumbing a nipple. True, he wasn't as ripped as he'd been whilst Auror training constantly and he'd had to keep in shape more. These days, his mother's tasty cooking, as well as his own, was perhaps adding a few pounds here and there, I noticed he was growing a cute little man belly. But, he was still my Ron. He was still tall and almost as lean as he'd been back when I had married him. He wasn't lazy – his work and the children had always kept him busy and he still liked to get out on his broom for a family game of Quidditch whenever the opportunity arose.
But, it didn't really matter what his body looked like now or how it changed, because I loved him - not just the way he looked. It was as simple as that. We both might have a few more pounds, have found the odd grey hair or wrinkle, but, to one another we'd always be at our peak and love as though we were. I realised that now. He would always be beautiful and handsome and sexy to me because I loved him, his heart, his soul, his mind, his humour and fierce loyalty. His deep blue eyes and fiery ginger hair – all of the things I had fallen in love with so many years ago.
He was still the same. He would always just be Ron. My husband.
"Whatch'a thinking about?" he asked, sliding a hand up and down my thighs where I knelt with a knee on either side of him.
I laughed at myself. "Just…how handsome you are and how much I love you."
"You're adorable," he took my hand and kissed my knuckles.
"And...that I can't sit like this for long anymore," I groaned, climbing off him and moving to his side.
He laughed at that, rolling towards me and smothering me in kisses. "Guess we are getting old, huh?"
"Speak for yourself!" I slapped his backside. "And why on earth do you still have any clothes on?" I realised he was only topless. Trousers, socks and underwear still intact.
He flashed his eyes at me. "Someone distracted me with hidden treasures," he teased and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Soon fix that," I muttered, sitting beside him to undo his trousers. I struggled with them for a minute or two, Ron propped up on his elbows, watching me in obvious amusement. "Erm, I could use some help here," I raised an eyebrow at him and waved a hand towards his still half clad body.
"Right, yeah," he muttered through a snigger. "I just thought you were having fun!" he poked his tongue out as he lifted his backside and between us we managed to divest him of his clothing. I pulled each sock off and threw them towards the growing pile of clothes scattering the room.
And I then I looked back, he was laying there now completely naked, rather proudly. Oh yes, he was certainly still a fine specimen of a man. I slithered over him, and, as I kissed him, reached down with my hand to grasp between his legs. He moaned as I stroked him firmly, up and down in a steady rhythm and then groaned when he saw me crawl back down his body, trailing my hair along his skin, and took him between my lips.
"Shit H'mione!" he yelped, his hips bucking upwards. "So good..." he let out a long sigh and dropped his head back into the pillow. "Wait...wait!" he panicked, "that's...too good," he groaned. "H'mione, it's...well it's been awhile and...ohh...I don't know if I can...bollocks!" he cursed when I flicked my tongue against him. "H'mione...you have to...stop!" he hissed.
"It's okay, we have time to, well...this won't be the only chance we have to make love. You said we're staying for a few days, right?" I checked, lifting my head and trailing my fingers along his hard shaft.
"Yeah, but...I just." He blew out a breath of air and then grabbed my hand, stilling my actions. "I... I want to feel you and share this with you. Please love, it's been too long!"
"Very considerate," I whispered, leaning down to kiss him once before rolling to my back, my arms reaching out for him.
He slid between my thighs, kissed me once, twice and then a third time before reaching between us to line himself up and pushed against me. The pair of us moaned in complete satisfaction as our bodies were joined once more, welcoming the familiar sensations we'd grown accustomed to.
"Yes!" I hissed against his ear. "Oh Ron..." I sighed, grasping his shoulders, feeling full in a way I hadn't for too long, loving the weight of his body moving against me.
"You feel incredible..." he muttered. "So fuckin' incredible!" he gasped again when he moved and plunged back inside me.
"Don't hold back, okay? I need you," I murmured against his ear where his head was buried against my neck as he held himself up on his forearms and moved his hips against me. My hands were on his back, running up and down his warm skin, relishing in the feel of him.
Ron curled a hand under my thigh and lifted it over his hip. I wrapped it around his waist, raising the other to join it, the adjustment increasing friction between us. I locked my ankles against his backside as the thrusts became faster, fierce and deep – just the way I liked it when we were this aroused and hungry for one another.
Ron grunted and groaned against me, lifting his head every so often to place soppy wet kisses on my lips, my neck, my breasts, telling me he loved me, that I was beautiful and amazing. I returned his kisses, pulled at his shoulders, raked my nails up and down his back or ran my fingers through his hair as we moved together in perfect synchronism.
There was something to be said for making love to the same man for your whole adult life – we knew one another perfectly, how we moved, what worked, what we liked and we weren't holding back.
"Ron...I love you…" I squealed as my first climax hit me. "Holy mother of Merlin!" I gasped when I realised his pace had never slowed down, leaving me open to a second within seconds. "Ron!" I yelled his name, the second more powerful than the last.
"I...I'm gonna…oh fuck H'mione!" he shouted before he gasped and groaned his way through his orgasm. I brushed back his damp hair and watched his face. I loved to see the expressions he made when he came.
Finally, he stopped moving, panting as he collapsed in my arms and I lowered my legs, feeling deliciously used. Tingles and tremors still passed throughout my body as I held him against me, planting kisses against his head and stroking his soft, damp skin.
After a few moments, mindful of his weight resting on me, he rolled off, gasping for air as he lay on his back, arms and legs outstretched, his body covered in a sheen of sweat. I guess someone had forgotten it was always hotter in the south of France, even in late October. I'd have to find my wand and put a cooling charm on the room before we slept, I considered, before he reached his hand out towards me.
Sighing contently, I nuzzled into his side, laying my head on his chest as his arm encircled my shoulders, hugging me against him. I could still hear his heart pounding against my ear as I drew circles on his skin with my fingertips.
"That was...wow!" he muttered, pressing his lips against the top of my head.
"Uh huh," I had to agree. How had we gone so long without making love like that? "Amazing," I sighed softly, feeling suddenly sleepy and lethargic, not wanting to move from this position. Not wanting to move away from Ron ever again.
These were some of my favourite moments. Just the two of us laying in bed after making love, whispering softly together and snuggling up close as our bodies calmed down from the exertion was something I hadn't realised I'd missed until now.
We lay in serene silence awhile longer, basking in the afterglow and recovering, at least until his stomach growled and I stifled a little chuckle. "Sorry," he muttered, rubbing his belly, "I skipped any lunch to get over here and sort the place out." he added.
"Well, I just hope you remembered to pack some food in that old bag?" I asked hopefully. We'd forgotten that little matter on our honeymoon, with all the excitement of the wedding, and had had to nip out to the local shops early the next day to stock up so we could feed our ravenous appetites from all the excessive exercise.
"What do you think?" he smirked, sliding down in the bed so we were face to face.
"What I think, is that I am lucky to be married to the most amazing husband. And, I also think I've been rather a fool," I sighed, rolling to my back.
"What? Why?" Ron asked, concerned as he leant up on one elbow so he was peering down at me. He smiled when he saw I wasn't in the least covered up and began to run his fingers over my dampened, perspiring skin.
"Because I was thinking our marriage was in trouble. I thought...well I thought you might leave me or something..."
"Never!" he interrupted me with a distressed snarl.
I placed a hand on his cheek to calm him. "I realise now how stupid I've been, all we had to do is talk to one another to sort everything out. Ron, promise me something?" I asked him emphatically, leaning up on my own elbow so I could meet his gaze.
"I'll try," he promised, a quick kiss to the lips.
"If anything is ever bothering you, and I mean anything. If you're upset for any reason...even if I'm the reason, please talk to me. Tell me how you feel, okay? Because, we can't work things out if we keep things bottled up."
"Okay," he agreed. "But you need to remember to do the same. I reckon we're too old and have been through too much together to lose what we have now."
"Yes," I agreed with him, snuggling up to him again as he took me in his arms. "Though, less of the old Mr Weasley!" I giggled as I tapped his naked backside. "You and I, I think we'd just gone a little...crooked, a little off track for awhile there. But, we weren't broken at all."
"Of course not. I'll always love you, Hermione," he sighed contently, squeezing me in his arms.
"As I'll always love you." I raised my head and kissed his lips. "We're still going to be together when we're old and grey, driving each other crazy, surrounded by grand babies and great-grand babies, just like your parents. You have reminded me that we can make it through anything life throws at us. We'll make this work, right? For always?"
"Right, always," he nodded in agreement with me, kissing my head again. "And without any bloody marriage counsellors, yeah?"
I chuckled. "No marriage counsellors, I promise," I held up my hand solemnly, knowing how much he'd hated that idea. "I'd say we we're doing fine just by ourselves anyway," I smiled at him, before moving my body over his and kissing him again.
Ron threaded his fingers through my hair, cradling my head in his hands as he pulled me down against him, body against body, skin against skin, our lips locked together in a heated kiss. He gathered me up in his big arms and rolled us across the bed as the sweetness turned hotter, his hands sliding down to grasp my backside, making me jerk against him. My body ridiculously ached for him again, aroused by the taste and scent of my husband.
Taking my lips in another sizzling kiss, he rolled us again. My hands were all over him – caressing his arse, his back, grasping his biceps and running fingers through his hair. A knee slipped between his thighs, rubbing my leg against his crotch, making him grunt and hiss against my mouth.
"I'm sorry you ever doubted my feelings for you," he suddenly spoke when his lips tumbled from mine and marked pathways down my neck – nipping and sucking the delicate skin. "I'm sorry if I don't tell you I love you often enough," his voice came out muffled until he finally raised his head. "I just...I thought you knew. I thought it was obvious," he shrugged rather sheepishly.
"Oh Ron," I sighed his name and kissed him again. "You do and it is. I should know you love me, let's just agree that these last few weeks I've been...a bit mental!" I laughed.
Ron laughed loudly as he rolled onto his back again. "My mental wife!" he laughed, finding the idea ludicrous. "As if!" he scoffed. He squirmed on the bed then, a frown marring his gorgeous face. "You know what else though?" he asked me.
"What?" I smiled down at him.
"I reckon these bloody rose petals were a bad idea," he grimaced again.
"Why? I think they're romantic." I picked up a couple and scattered them onto his chest.
"Yeah, maybe so. But, I'm pretty sure I got some of them lodged up my arse," he squirmed again, reaching a hand around to sort out the problem.
"Ron!" I spluttered with laughter and shook my head. "I love that you still make me laugh. Don't ever change!" I giggled, watching his face contort as he shuffled his backside around on the bed.
Chuckling to myself still, I climbed from the bed and wandered over to our things. "Where you going?" he almost whined.
"Just looking for my wand," I told him, moving some clothes aside in my search,
"Why?" he sat up against the headboard, brushing more rose petals from the bed.
"Because," I tossed my robes aside and successfully located my wand, picking it up and holding it up in the air triumphantly. "Because," I began again, "if we're heading for round two here, then we need a damn good cooling charm cast on this room," I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Ron grinned from the bed. "Bloody brilliant you are! I knew I married you for more than your amazing tits!" he teased me as I quickly cast the charm, the relief from the heat was instant. "Whilst you're up," he started before I climbed back into bed, "grab the bag," he pointed to where he'd tossed it onto the dressing table just inside the room.
I grabbed it as asked and returned to the bed, placing my wand for easy reach on the bedside table as I handed the bag to him. He took it and began to dig around in it.
"If we are going for another round, then I need to refuel," his stomach growled again as if on cue, agreeing with him. "And," he grinned when he found what he was looking for, "I packed some lunch in here, intending to eat it later. Not had chance yet." He pulled out the package victoriously.
I laughed as he began to unwrap sandwiches. I leant over to kiss his cheek. "I knew I married you for more than your fine arse," I grinned as he passed me a sandwich and we sat there, naked in bed together, enjoying our impromptu picnic.
The pair of us seemingly back on the same track.
The next and final chapter will be a bit late, because I am off to Watford (London) on Sunday for a couple of days for my annual trip to the Harry Potter studio tour – shall try to get the chapter up on Wednesday or Thursday!
And then I have a special little Christmas fanfic to post the week after...if you're all nice to me with lots of reviews :p