Chapter 7 – The Giant Squid
The rest of the year went by, surprisingly, without any major events, catastrophes or magical disasters – unless you count some of Ron's potions concoctions. They'd sat their N.E.W.T exams without any interruptions and even Hermione came out of them okay, for once not fretting that she hadn't mixed Wolfsbane correctly with her crushed dragon's fang.
The students had some free time while they waited for their results to arrive and they had taken to spending it enjoying the sun down by the lake. The rest of the Gryffindor house members were either strewn out across the lawn, like Ron and Hermione, or taking part in a huge game of Frisbee with the Giant Squid. Hermione had started laughing as the Squid had picked up Neville, who had been in possession of the Frisbee and was holding him upside down and shaking him gently to try and get him to release the disc.
Hermione turned back to face Ron, who was absent mindedly playing with Hermione's hair.
"It's nice the school gives us this time to relax before results come out..." she said, smiling up at him. When Ron didn't answer, she leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. He looked up at her and smiled.
"Knut for your thoughts?" Hermione sat up more, watching Ron carefully. She didn't like it when he looked like he was thinking – it usually meant he was either in trouble or was coming up with some sort of plan that would get them into trouble.
"You love me, right?" Ron sighed as he watched Hermione. "And you promised me forever..."
Hermione nodded slowly, concern spreading across her face. His moments of self-doubt had been getting more rare as the year had progressed; he had finally realised he was worth something and was allowed his own little piece of glory and happiness without living under one of his brother's or best friend's shadows. She prepared herself with 'her list'; the reasons why he shouldn't doubt himself which over the years she had stored in her head should the occasion for it ever rise.
"It's okay..." Ron took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "This isn't bad... at least not for you!" Dropping her hand he dug out a folded piece of parchment. He unfolded it with a sigh and passed it to her.
"What is this?" Hermione frowned, the scrawls of writing were easily recognisable as Ron's and Harry's but most of it didn't make too much sense – a load of place names and dates mixed with names she didn't recognise.
"Your parents..." Ron muttered, looking sullen and downright depressed. "Me and Harry know you didn't go looking for them after... well after everything because you were too busy looking after us. So we wanted to do something for you..." He let out a heavy sigh and leant over to her, pointing out a pair of circled names and what looked like a town's name.
"Wendell and Monica Wilkins... last seen in Patchewollock, North-West Victoria..." Hermione let out a loud gasp and dropped the parchment as if it had parseltongue written all over it, it wasn't that she had forgotten about her parents or finding them but she had been putting it off, not wanting to be disappointed if the counter-charm didn't work.
"You found them?" She gazed up at Ron with tears shining in her eyes.
Ron blushed and looked down at his hands. "Well it was Harry's idea and Ginny knew how to use Googley and the muggle library... but yeah, I guess I did some bit!" He smiled despite himself as Hermione threw herself at him.
"You're amazing, you know that? I'd been putting it off – I don't even know the right spell to restore their memories..."
"Well yeah..." Ron took a long breath. "We got some books out of the Restricted Section on that too... McGonagall gave us permission to go and look." He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. "I want you to go 'mione. Harry said he'll lend you the money if you need it for flights and there's maps and everything. Australia looks like an amazing place..." He smiled at her before adding silently in his head. "You'll probably want to stay..."
"I love you!" Hermione smiled happily before pressing a hard kiss against his lips. "I'll always love you..."