The only excuse I have is it's hard to edit and post when you have a baby permanently attached to you. Baby has found independence again, I have found time to post another update.

Hermione moved around the cottage trying to pick the place up a bit. Summer was coming to an end, and she had to prepare to go back to work. She had spent most of the summer after coming back from Bobby's working on her mail order potions business, and helping Bobby and the boys with any research they needed. They were determined to find the yellow-eyed demon, and she was trying her best to help them in any way she could.

After confessing their love to each other, Dean was calling her multiple times a day, rather than just the one. He kept saying it was to make up for the time they wouldn't be able to talk once she was back at school, but Hermione knew it was because he really missed her, more than usual.

Last year it was easy to be separated. She thought it was a great thing. To have this boyfriend that respected her boundaries, who didn't push her to give up her career. But now, it was as if it was the complete opposite. Ever since the crash and his coma, Hermione couldn't help but worry about Dean's safety constantly. She was actually glad that Dean was having separation issues and was calling constantly. That meant that he was still alive and not injured or dead in any way.

She sighed as she waved her wand, casting a cleaning spell in the kitchen. Between making potions and researching for the boys, she had really let the place go, and Harry was finally able to come over for lunch after being busy all summer on a case. She was over by her computer organizing the books she had borrowed from Bobby on demon lore when she heard the floo activate.

"Harry! You made it!" she exclaimed turning around toward the floo. "It's so great to see-" Hermione stopped short when she noticed it wasn't Harry standing in her living room, but Ron.

"Ronald?" Hermione said, surprised.

"Hey, 'Mione," Ron said, not moving from in front of the fire place. He stood there awkwardly, moving his hands behind his back, and shifting his weight foot to foot.

He looked different, Hermione noticed, from the last time she saw him. He wasn't wearing auror robes, like he had for the entire time they were dating. He was so proud to be an auror, he never took them off. He was wearing the magenta robes of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. His hair, which had been cut short and neat, was now longer and a mess. He had lost some weight, and it made him look fit.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione managed to ask.

He shrugged. "It's been a while, like a year, and I wanted to see you."

"You wanted to see me? So you came here? To America? You've never come to America to visit me, not even when we were dating."

Ron looked at his feet. "I know. I'm really sorry about that."

Hermione glared at him. "You're sorry that you're here, or you're sorry you never made the effort while we were dating?"

Ron sighed and looked up, "Look, I'm trying to make an effort here."

Hermione sighed. "Fine. Hullo, Ron, how have you been?"

Ron smiled. "I've been well. How have you been?"

Hermione had to smile at his use of 'well' instead of 'good.' After years of correcting him he finally got it right. "I've been amazing actually."

"Yeah?" Ron said, still standing next to the fireplace.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, it's been a great year."

"Oh," Ron said, disappointment lacing his voice.

"I'm sorry, I'm being rude, would you like to come in and take a seat?" Hermione asked, gesturing to her sofa.

Ron nodded, and moved to take a seat in her living room. "It's been a great year for me as well. As you can probably tell, I work with George now at the joke shop."

"I did notice a change in uniform," Hermione said, gesturing at his magenta robes. "What happened to being an auror?"

Ron shrugged. "I guess I just decided that it wasn't what I wanted to do. I wasn't really happy. It was more of Harry's dream rather than mine. So I quit, and George offered me a position in his shop until I could really decide what I wanted to do, and turns out, working at the joke shop is what I want to do."

Hermione took a seat next to Ron on the sofa. "Ron, that's amazing. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you. So, how are you enjoying teaching?"

"It's amazing. I'm teaching essentially the muggle equivilant to potions, and being able to help these kids understand such a difficult subject is really quite rewarding."

"Of course, leave it to you to become the muggle version of Snape. Well, a kinder, more attractive version of Snape that is."

Hermione laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment, I guess."

Ron laughed with her. "I really don't know what I'm saying. Seriously, though, you're looking really good. Probably the best I've seen you in a while."

"Thanks, like I said, it's been a really good year for me, and I feel the best I have in a long time."

They didn't say anything for a while, sitting on the sofa in awkward silence, avoiding looking at each other.

"So," Hermione spoke up. "Is Harry coming at all, or was that just a cover for you to come through?"

"Something came up for Harry and he was feeling bad, I was over having lunch with Ginny, so I volunteered to come through. I've noticed you'd been avoiding me ever since...well, I decided we might as well get the first awkward visit over with, that way you can feel more comfortable coming to The Burrow. Mum misses you, you know."

Hermione hung her head, her chest filling with guilt. She hadn't been to The Burrow since the break-up. She hadn't really been to England much in the last year, just to help her parents settle into their new home there, but she avoided seeing anyone else. She didn't even really see Harry. She just used his floo to come and go. She would have to make up for that at Christmas. If Dean didn't think he was going to make it back to her at Christmas that is.

"I know. If I come home for Christmas, I'll make sure I stop by and see your family."

Ron's mouth dropped open in shock. "What do you mean, if? Aren't you coming for Christmas? You didn't come last year because you were getting your parents from Australia, but now your parents are in England, and so I just thought-"

"Yeah, my plans are still up in the air. It really depends on if," Hermione swallowed. It was now or never. It was like ripping off a band-aid, she told herself. "Dean will be in town or not."

"Who's Dean?"

Hermione took a deep breath and looked at her hands. "He's my boyfriend."

Ron didn't say anything, so Hermione chanced to look up at him. His face was turning red, and his eyes had narrowed.

"Ron? Are you okay?" she asked.

"Your boyfriend?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, my boyfriend."

Ron clenched and unclenched his fists. "How long?" he said quietly.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"How long," he asked forcefully.

Hermione worried her lip. "Officially, or unofficially?"

"Let's start with unofficially, shall we?"

"Unofficially a year ago this past May."

"We broke up a year ago this past May," Ron stated, trying to reign in his temper.

"Yes, we did. He was here when I got your owl post."

Ron stood up from the couch and began pacing the room. "What the hell, Hermione?" he shouted. "So, what, were you cheating on me? Or did my letter come at the most opportune time to make it so that you technically weren't cheating on me?"

"I was not cheating on you, Ronald. Dean and I had just met, and he helped take care of me after I had one of my episodes. He was walking me home when I collapsed, and he stayed to watch over me. He was still here when your owl came. Nothing even happened between us until several months later."

"You had an episode?" Ron said, his anger melting away. "'Mione, how many of those have you had since being here?"

"That's the only one. I hadn't heard from you yet about my proposition to move here, and then a demon tried to abduct me, and it was all too much. So-"

"Wait, wait, hold on. A demon tried to abduct you? What the hell has been going on this last year, Hermione? Maybe I should have moved here."

Hermione shook her head. "It's fine. Nothing ever came of it. I think it was to get Dean's attention, and it did."

Ron shook his head. "I really don't understand anything that's going on right now. But I do have to say that this visit is not going how I had hoped it would."

Hermione quirked and eyebrow. "How were you hoping it would go?"

Ron took a deep breath. "I came today to see if we could possibly get back together."

Hermione's jaw dropped, and she just stared at Ron. She honestly had no idea how to respond to that sentiment. She was about to answer when she heard a key in the lock of the front door, and heard the door open. Her heart soared.

Right before he left for his first job of the summer, she gave him her spare key to the house. She wanted him to be able to let himself in no matter what time he rolled into town.

"Honey, I'm home!" Dean said as he walked into the room, shutting the door behind him. He turned around from the door, and stopped, catching sight of Ron.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Sam and Dean had just gotten done with a job in Baltimore, so they decided that since it had been a couple months since they had seen Hermione, they would drive the couple hours up to Salem and spend a few days with her. For once they made it into town in the middle of the afternoon, instead of the middle of the night, so Dean dropped Sam off at a motel and made his way to Hermione's, promising Sam they would reconvene at dinner time. He wanted to surprise Hermione, and he was very thankful she gave him a key. He parked the Impala in her driveway, and walked up to her door. He could hear voices inside, and remembered that her friend Harry was supposed to be coming for lunch, so she was definitely home. He opened the door, and was shocked when he saw a man with red hair standing in her living room. This wasn't Harry.

"Who are you?" the red head asked. "And why do you have a key to 'Mione's house?"

Hermione stepped toward Dean. "Ron, this is Dean. Dean, this is Ron."

The two men stood in her living room sizing each other up. So this was the ex. The one who Hermione was with for seven years. The one who broke up with her in a letter.

"You gave him a bloody key?" Ron exclaimed gesturing at him. "We were together for seven years and you never gave me a key?"

"I connected your floo with mine!" Hermione yelled. "And not once in seven years did you even step foot in this house!"

Dean smirked. The asshole never visited in seven years? And here he was starting year two and he had a key and was already utilizing it. Score one Winchester.

Ron sputtered. "Statute of secrecy!"

"Hey, buddy, I already know she's a witch. That's old news," Dean said, stoking the fire a bit. It was fun watching Ron's face start to match his hair.

"You told him you're a witch?" Ron yelled at Hermione.

Hermione nodded. "Of course I did. Why wouldn't I? We're dating."

Ron scoffed. "Right. Dating. He's just your rebound, 'Mione. You were heart broken when I broke up with you, he was here. He comforted you, and you latched on. How long after you received my owl did you wait to open your legs and let him fuck you?"

Dean had heard enough. He stalked over to Ron and punched him square in the jaw.

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed rubbing his chin.

"Dean! Stop!" Hermione yelled.

Dean got up in Ron's face, grabbing him by the collar of his robes. "I don't like the way you're talking to Hermione right now, and you're going to stop, you understand? You're going to apologize for being a dick, or I will kick your ass until you do. Do we have an agreement?"

Ron looked right in Dean's eyes. "You don't scare me. I can take out my wand and transfigure you into a rat."

"You and your stupid stick don't scare me. I have seen some things, pal, and believe me, you're harmless compared to everything I have seen in my life."

Hermione touched his shoulder. "Dean, please let Ron down. He didn't mean anything by it. He's a little hot headed and speaks before he thinks sometimes."

Dean glared once more at Ron and then let him go, backing up so he was standing next to Hermione, his arm slung around her shoulder.

"Why don't you piss on her and really mark your territory?" Ron spat out, adjusting his robes, still rubbing his chin.

"Ron, please. You're better than this. I really don't understand why you're being so rude. You broke up with me, remember?" Hermione said.

"Well, I didn't think it was permanent. I thought maybe you would eventually come home and we would get back together. I thought for sure when Harry told me you had restored your parents memories, and they were moving back to England, you would decide you wanted to move back home. I waited and waited for you to write to us, or tell Harry that you were coming home, and then I would make my move. But then Harry said you were staying here, and I just couldn't wait any longer. I came here hoping I could convince you to take me back and come home with me," Ron explained, addressing Hermione directly, and ignoring Dean completely.

Dean raised his eyebrows, his eyes widening. The balls on this guy. He turned and looked at Hermione who didn't look very pleased at what she had just heard. In fact, she looked down right pissed. He removed his arm, and took a step away. He knew when to give someone space, and as much fun as it was pushing Ron's buttons, and as much as it pissed him off that Ron assumed Hermione would take him back and move back to England with him, he knew it was Hermione's fight, and that she would be able to take care of herself.

"You thought that I would want to move back? When have I ever indicated that I want to move back?" Hermione asked.

"It's your home, Hermione. Don't you want to come home?" Ron asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I am home, Ronald. Why can't you understand that? I'm happier here. I'm healthier here."

"You can be happy and healthy back home with us," Ron said. "Why won't you even give it a try?"

"Because whenever I'm over there, as soon as I step foot out of the floo at Grimmauld Place, I can feel the anxiety creeping back up. The last time I was there, I ran into Malfoy, and almost had a panic attack. I can't live like that. And now, I have even more of a reason to stay here. I have Dean." Hermione looked over at Dean and gave him a smile.

Ron scoffed. "You've only been with him a year. It's a fling. You'll realize when he breaks your heart, that you're better off coming home and being with me. Aren't you ready to settle down and start a family? You aren't getting any younger."

Dean clenched his fist, and took a step forward before he was stopped by Hermione's hand on his arm. He glanced over at her and she just shook her head. He unclenched his fists and tried to relax.

"I'm not ready to settle down and start a family, Ron. And even if I were ready to start a family, I'm not going to give up my career to do so. That's the one thing we could never agree on, in all our years together," Hermione said, gently. "And also? This," she said gesturing between her and Dean. "Is not a fling. I love him."

"You what?" Ron said.

"I love him. And he loves me. And as you can see by the fact that he has a key to my home, we're quite serious. So I'm sorry, Ron, but there's really nothing you can say that will convince me to get back together with you. You broke up with me, and I've moved on. I'm sorry."

Ron's bravado came crashing down, and he just looked like someone kicked his puppy. He walked over to the couch and sat down putting his head in his hands. Dean actually felt a little sorry for the guy. Hermione was a great woman, and if he had just been told she was in love with someone else, he would be crushed too. At least Hermione tried to tell him in the nicest way possible.

Ron picked up his head, tears rimming his eyes, threatening to fall. "Does Harry know?"

Hermione nodded sadly. "He was here a year ago when Dean found out I was a witch."

Ron sniffed. "He's known this whole time? And he just let me go on and on about how I was going to come here and win you back? Why wouldn't he tell me something important like this?"

"Probably because he was concerned you would get angry and come through the floo ready to confront me, and he didn't want to be the one to set you off."

Ron smiled. "You're probably right. I'm sorry, Hermione. About everything. About all the mean things I said, and being rude. I was just surprised, is all."

Hermione smiled back at him. "I know, Ron. We have known each other for fifteen years, I can pretty much predict your tempers at this point."

Ron laughed and wiped at his eyes. "I think I'm going to head back. I need to be alone right now, but rain check on tea, yeah?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course. Please don't be a stranger."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He stood from the couch, and walked in front of Dean. "Take care of her, and if you hurt her, I'll hex your bollocks off."

Dean smiled, and extended his hand. "Deal."

The two men shook before the red head turned and walked over to the fire place and a minute later disappeared in a flash of green light.

Once he was gone, Hermione turned toward Dean. "How long are you in town for?" she asked.

"A few days. We just got off a job in Baltimore and decided we need a little r and r."

They smiled at each other, before Dean scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom.

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