For Longer Than Forever Ch. 10
Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter more than anyone else writing on this site does.
"Mum?!" Ron called angrily. He was not happy that his mother was distressing his fiancée and making her sick.
"Ronald?"
"Yes, Mother. It's Ron," He called. "I need to talk to you."
"Did you get my letter?" Molly asked him, walking into the room.
"Yes, Mother and--"
"RONALD WEASLEY, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!" Molly yelled.
"That's just it, Mother! I DIDN'T! Hermione is not pregnant! I wouldn't even think of doing that to Hermione!" Ron shouted back. "And why are you suddenly yelling now?"
"I didn't want to worry Hermione and hurt the baby. What do you mean she's not pregnant? If she isn't then why would you propose to her so quickly?"
"Because I didn't see the point in waiting. I had told her that there was no one else I loved more or would want to spend the rest of my life with. She said she felt the same and I believed her, because I love her and trust her," Ron told her, truthfully. "There was nothing else to say, I already knew her values and her personality from being her friend for six years. That was why I loved her. I would never try to do that to her."
"I didn't know you felt so strongly for her. I'm sorry I accused her of that. If there was no reason, other than you wanted to, then I have to say, YOU IDIOT! Marriage is not something you just jump into! You have to build a relationship!"
"Mother, there's no more of a relationship to build. We love each other and that's all that matters. If you can't accept that, there's nothing more to say."
He turned around and Flooed back to Hogwarts. Hermione was laying on the couch, looking anxious.
"How did it go?" She asked him.
"She believes me that you're not pregnant," Ron said, omitting certain details.
"Oh, good. Do you think we should go talk to my parents?"
"Depends. Are we sticking with the easing them into the idea or just right out telling them?"
"The easing. Why?"
"I'm thinking we should just tell them. If they don't accept it, they don't understand how deep our love really is."
Hermione gave him a Look. "I guess you're right," She finally said resignedly. "Let's get it over with."
Ron pulled out the Floo powder and they Flooed to Hermione's home.
"Hermione!" her mother shouted and jumped at her, giving her a hug.
"Hi, Mum!" Hermione said, giving her mum a hug back.
"Who's this handsome young man?" she asked her, pulling away.
"Mum, you may remember me talking about him. This is Ron Weasley," Hermione said. "Where's Dad?"
"Right here." Hermione's father called as he walked down the stairs.
"Hey, Dad!" Hermione said, giving him a hug. "This is Ron Weasley, you may remember me talking about him." Hermione said, waving her hand in his direction, as if she were showcasing him.
"Hello, Ron. I'm Stephen Granger," her father said, shaking his hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ron. I'm Catherine Granger," Hermione's mother introduced herself.
"Hello," Ron said lamely. Hermione hadn't introduced their status... for obvious reasons.
"Are you my daughter's boyfriend?" Stephen asked.
"Daddy! You certainly like to get to the point, don't you?"
"I just want to know," her father countered.
"Well, sir," Ron started, trying to butter him up. "We're not just boyfriend and girlfriend."
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked, incredulous.
"Well...we're engaged!" Hermione exclaimed, trying to make the fact sound like a wonderful thing.
"Oh my god. You're pregnant aren't you?!" Stephen shouted, eyeing Ron murderously.
"NO! Daddy, you know me better than that!"
"Well, then why would you get engaged so quickly?" Catherine asked.
"We love each other, Mum! We've loved each other for six and a half years and there was no reason to wait any longer. There's no other person I'd rather spend the rest of my life with, and Ron has told me he feels the same way. I trust him. It's a war, and we could die any day now."
Hermione's parents just sat in silence.
"Well, aren't you going to say anything?" Hermione asked them.
"Well, sweetheart. If you're happy and you know what you're doing then I'm happy for you." Catherine finally said.
"Oh, Mum!" Hermione said, hugging her mother tightly.
"Ron, come here," Stephen told him. "I wanna tell you something." When Ron walked over, Stephen leaned over and said into Ron's ear, "If you ever hurt my little girl, ever, I will personally come and cut out your entrails and burn them. You will be castrated. You got that?"
"Yes, sir. I wouldn't even think about it," Ron said.
"Good. You seem like a nice guy. I wouldn't want to have to kill you."
"You wouldn't have any reason to," Ron assured him, smiling.
"Fantastic! We're on good terms then... for now," Stephen joked.
Ron laughed and looked at Hermione. She looked beautiful as she smiled and laughed at her conversation with her mother.
"You really love her, don't you?" Stephen said. It was really more of a statement.
"Yeah, I really do. That fact that she's alive makes me feel like I've done something right, you know?" Ron asked, looking into Stephen's eyes, knowing he had strived for the same thing before Hermione had left for Hogwarts. He probably didn't even want her to go in the first place.
"Yeah. I think I know what you mean," Stephen said looking over at Hermione and Catherine. "You'll know the full extent when you have your own little girl. If later more than sooner, with my daughter. I really hope you and she will be happy together.
"She really does love you. I can tell. Not just because she came home every summer talking about you, but because I've seen her before. The glow is back. She hasn't glowed like this since she was young, maybe 5 or 6. She's never really been accepted like she was with you and Harry. I thought the glow was there when she came back her first summer, but it's different now: brighter, more radiant."
"I've noticed that before," Ron admitted. "She's always had a glow for me, but now she seems as if she's weightless. It is brighter."
"I know you will take good care of her," Stephen said.
"She's my life now. I couldn't think of any other person I would rather protect."
"Ron?" Hermione called.
"Yes, love?"
"I think we should probably go back to school before they realize we're not there."
"You're probably right," Ron said, standing up and shaking Mr. Granger's hand.
"I guess I'll be seeing a lot more of you," Stephen concluded.
"I guess so. Sir, what should I call you? Sir? Dad? Stephen? Mr. Granger?"
"Stephen is fine, sir when I'm angry. Dad when you're feeling gutsy."
Ron laughed and taking Hermione's hand looked back and said, "Thank you, for understanding. It's the best thing you could've ever done for us." Then he threw the powder and walked through the fire.
A/N: Yet ANOTHER chapter written while I am sick. Thanks to my parents for supporting me in everything I do, including writing this story. Thanks to my father for pushing me to do the best I can while making me laugh, and my mother for standing up for me when I mess up and when my dad disagrees with me. I appreciate her more than she knows.
R and R!