Ok people, this will be the final chapter of my story, but I'll insert more chapters if I can think of any more questions or if they're sent to me, because I realise the short conversations I've written in previous chapters would not have taken an entire day. So shoot me a review if you have feedback, good or bad, and particularly if you have question ideas for me, or else we will find ourselves at an impasse!
Hermione was very aware that she and Ron had been together here for quite some time. She ducked outside to check the sky, and was surprised to find the sun was beginning to set, automatically worried that Molly would have the entire Weasley family out looking for them some hours ago.
"Ron," she called, "We should go. It's almost sunset."
Hermione heard a scuffle from inside, accompanied by a faint, "Bugger Merlin's saggy left –" before Ron evidently remembered being in the presence of a lady and shut his mouth.
Shortly, he was beside her, hamper neatly packed and the rug thrown over his arm. Hermione made to set off in the direction of the Burrow before Ron stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm.
"'Mione," he started, "I had a really great time today. Thank you."
"So did I, Ron," responded Hermione, standing on tiptoe to place a kiss on his lips, "Do you think we can make this a regular thing? I like having some private time with you."
"Sounds like a bloody brilliant idea to me," Ron said with a smile before taking her hand.
The pair hurried up the hill, the hamper swinging wildly from Ron's left hand, until they reached the door leading into the Burrow's kitchen. It was a rare occasion when Hermione got to stay two nights in a row at the Weasley house, but tonight she was doing just that. As they burst into the kitchen, their breath coming in short gasps, they were surprised to find Molly seated calmly at the table, reading a heavy leather bound cookbook.
"Did you have a lovely day, dears?" she inquired, hurrying over to relieve Ron of the basket and bestowing a kiss on both her son and his girlfriend.
"We did, thank you, Mrs Weasley," Hermione began, "But we're so sorry we're late home. We should have left a note or something, we feel terr–"
"Oh, nonsense," Molly interrupted, "I had the clock. And I knew you'd be responsible enough to bring Ron home for dinner – you know how terribly grumpy he gets when he's hungry."
Ron and Hermione, laughing, turned to look at the family clock, where Arthur had added two extra hands, one for Hermione, and one for Harry. Ron and Hermione's hands had, by now, gone back to pointing at 'Home', and could only assume that they had previously been indicating that the two were 'Completely Fine'.
Hermione glanced over at Molly before saying, "Thank you, Mrs Weasley. But I promise that next time, we'll leave a note."
Molly smiled warmly at her, embracing her in a motherly hug and saying, "Thank you, Hermione."
Somehow Hermione thought Molly was thanking her for more than just offering to write a note.
Turning back to them, Molly said, "Now dinner will be ready in an hour. So you two run along until then. And, just to warn you, Harry and Ginny are in her room." She shook her head with a peculiar look on her face, a mixture of happiness and disapproval, torn between supporting the match and the notion that her daughter was still, very young.
Deciding not to comment on that particular statement, Ron grabbed Hermione's hand again, leading her to the stairs. She stopped on the first landing so that Ron could wrap his arms around her from behind.
"What the plan now, hmm?" Hermione questioned, melting into his embrace.
"Well. We've got an hour. I'm thinking we sit on my window sill and watch the sun go down while we engage in some serious canoodling."
Hermione laughed and nodded her agreement, wondering when the boy that had once by gawky, shy and rude had suddenly become this romantic, gentle and loving man. Oh no, she wasn't complaining. Not one little bit.
There you go. Sorry, I took some artistic license with the family clock, I know. But I needed some reason for Molly to be comfortable with them coming home so late, which she obviously wouldn't have been unless told otherwise. I also like to think Arthur did a little persuading in there too. Please review, let me know what you think and send me questions so I can add in some chapters before this one!
