Like A Memory It Falls
Chapter Nine: Warming
Soft and warm continuing…
Hermione stood in front of her mirror and appraised her appearance in the barely lit bedroom. It was dusk and raining. Her strapless black dress came down to the top of her knees and the heels she wore lifted her to something that brought her much closer to Ron's gargantuan height. Her hair was up and managed, her makeup flattering her features. She knew Ron was sitting in the living room, waiting for her to emerge so that they could go to Harry and Ginny's housewarming party. But something wasn't right.
Her neck. Her neck was too bare. She turned to her jewelry box and pulled out the necklace Ron had given her a little over four months ago for the second anniversary of their second kiss. The kiss that had changed them.
----
They had been sitting on the couch in their flat, Hermione on the couch on one side of the coffee table and Ron in his chair on the other.
"It's not a lot–" he said, as she opened the box. It was a golden pendant that had been shaped into swirls on a gold chain.
To his eyes, the necklace was just a piece of metal. There were no jewels, no stones of any sort. He was almost ashamed of its simplicity.
To her eyes, it was beautiful. She had looked up at him, smiling, and then back at it. And she saw the engraving on it. "I love you…" in calligraphy.
"You see, no one else can see the words except us. Well, the people whose names are on the back.
She turned it over and saw their entire names on the back. Ronald Bilius Weasley. Hermione Jean Granger.
He cleared his throat. "I was going to have 'Property of Ronald Weasley' put on it, but I didn't think that would go over well," he joked weakly, trying to make the moment less silent. He was clearly nervous.
Then she launched herself over the table and onto him, kissing him wildly, reminiscent of Lavender.
When they came up for air, she asked him, "What happens when my name changes?"
Ron looked at her with confusion. "What do you mean? Why–"
"I mean when we get married." Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hands, realizing what she had said.
"Maybe I should've kept the original inscription," he muttered, smiling. "When your name changes, you'll have a completely different piece of jewelry."
----
She latched it and looked again.
Perfect.
She smoothed the skirt of her dress, and left the room. Ron was looking to the door in his casual pants under dress robes. He immediately stood and crossed the room in a few strides to stand in front of her.
"You're beautiful," he said, smiling in wonder at her.
"You're crazy," she said, shyly. It didn't matter how long she'd been with him. She would always be shy when he said things like that.
"Maybe so. But I don't mind being mad if it gets me you," he said. He offered his arm. "Shall we go?"
"Aren't we being the gentleman?" she replied, taking it.
"I practiced while I was waiting for you to come out of there. You know, you don't have to try so–" he stopped abruptly, his eyes on her necklace. "You're wearing it."
Her hand immediately went up to touch it. "Yes. It's my favorite." It wasn't as if she hadn't worn it before. She wore it often. In fact, Ginny asked her in jest if she had lost it when she wasn't wearing it.
"I'm glad you're wearing it," he said, grinning.
"Good. Because I'm not taking it off."
And they Apparated to Harry and Ginny's new home.
----
When they arrived in Harry and Ginny's living room, the house was quiet, seemingly empty. Hermione saw Ron check his watch.
"We're on time," he said, bewildered. "Where is everyone?"
She thought she heard a noise coming from the kitchen. She pushed the swinging door open and found Ginny giving instructions to a house elf. Then Ginny turned and saw Hermione watching.
"Oh God. Why aren't you outside at the party?"
"It's raining. I assumed the party would be inside. Why are you giving instructions to a house elf?" She replied, her voice rising. "You know how–"
"Hermione," she said, putting both hands palms forward in front of her, a gesture of surrender. "Calm down. He's being paid. I swear."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
"Harry and I were afraid you would–" She paused. "Pitch a fit."
"Ah." Hermione was not unaware of her propensity for argument. "I understand."
"Go on. You're missing a party."
She grinned at her best friend, and hugged her. "Happy Housewarming."
"Thanks. The party's in a marquee in the backyard. I'll be out in a bit."
Hermione came out of the kitchen and found Ron standing exactly as she left him in the living room, watching the door.
"The party's in a marquee outside."
"Oh. Okay." Ron was watching her warily.
"He's being paid."
"Oh thank Merlin."
She laughed. "Am I really that scary?"
He looked at her with surprise. "Hell yes."
She continued to laugh and said, "Come on. We're missing a party."
She Apparated into the festivities with Ron, who immediately gravitated towards Harry. She, however, saw another face.
"Viktor!" She exclaimed, glimpsing the old acquaintance.
He turned and so did Ron. "Hermi–Herm–" He gave up the fight to pronounce her name. "How are you?"
Hermione heard Ron muttering something–but what, she couldn't make out–under his breath at which Harry laughed loudly. "I'm well. You?"
"I am vell also," he said with a great smile.
"What are you doing here?"
"I coach Ginny on the Harpies. We are friends of sorts."
She vaguely remembered reading somewhere that he coached the team. "Oh! She's never mentioned seeing you," she said, looking at Harry questioningly out of the corner of her eye. He shrugged.
Viktor leaned forward conspiratorially. "I believe that is because of your friend, that Ron."
"Oh. Ron." She smiled at him automatically. "Yes. That's probably why."
"Yes, you see, I do not tink he likes me very much." He briefly looked confused. "Yet, I do not tink I have done anyting to him."
Hermione laughed quietly. "I wouldn't worry about that." She had a wicked thought. "He's probably just jealous."
Ron scoffed from a few feet away. So he was still listening.
Viktor grinned, showing his crooked smile. "Perhaps."
Dinner was announced. Harry sat next to Ginny, Ron next to Harry, Hermione next to Ron, and Viktor next to Hermione. Ron was clearly not pleased. He held her hand tightly, possessively. She spoke mostly to her old friends, but whenever Viktor spoke to her, Ron gripped her hand tighter. She smiled surreptitiously at his protective nature. She was happy to note that he was still the jealous bloke she knew and loved.
When dinner was over, Ron immediately asked her for a dance. She feigned decision.
"Sure. I guess I could."
And she didn't regret it. He gave his entire attention to making sure she enjoyed it, and she certainly did. He spun, twirled, and dipped her during the faster songs until she was gasping to be back in view of his façade. Then there was the first slow song.
Ron held her tantalizingly close, pressing against her tightly, his hands on her lower back, hers wrapped around his neck. She felt the warmth radiating off of him and his breath in her hair and it made her want to come even closer, to hold even tighter.
When he knew no one was watching, he licked the shell of her ear, making her shiver. She could feel him grinning. He thought it was funny. Then she wrapped one leg around his waist and the other around his leg, making them as close as they could be. He didn't like it so much then. He gulped and she felt his arousal and the heat coming off of him intensified. She laughed alluringly and kissed his jaw.
He dipped her close to the floor slowly, kissing her slowly and deeply. The song ended, he brought her up and the second slow song came on directly after the first. Now they were chaste, back in their original positions, his cheek pressing against hers.
After a minute of the pure closeness, she whispered quietly into his ear, "You were holding my hand awfully tightly at dinner."
"Was I? I didn't notice." He acted dismissive and unconcerned, but as she pulled back, she saw the disturbance in his eyes. He was looking everywhere but at her face.
"It was almost…possessive. As if someone was trying to take me away," she prompted.
"Like that Bulgarian git?" His arms tightened around her. "The bastard still has a soft spot for you."
She laughed quietly, putting her head back in his shoulder. "Oh, Ron. You're so paranoid."
"You can't tell me you haven't noticed," Ron replied angrily. "He wants to charm you, Hermione. He wants to take you away."
She pulled back again. "I'm not easily charmed."
He laughed derisively. "Yes, that's clear. 'He's probably just jealous'. That was really nice, love."
"It's true!"
"Yes, but that stealing git doesn't need to know that. He thinks I'm jealous for all the wrong reasons. He wants to take you away," he repeated slowly. He looked away from her again, trying not to make eye contact.
"Hey," she said, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at her. "I love you. Viktor is not a threat to you. You have no need to–" She felt a tap on her shoulder.
She turned to find Viktor holding out his hand. "May I cut in?"
She turned back to Ron with a pleading expression, her concern clear. He looked at Viktor crossly for a moment and then nodded tersely. She nodded in response. She knew the song. There was no more than two minutes left, if that. "I suppose I could."
"Thank you."
She took his hand and he led her away from Ron, who went to sit at his place at the table.
He was not quite as languid, smooth as Ron. His dancing was mechanical, predictable. She knew his move before he made it. After half a minute, he asked, "Who gave you zat necklace?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I didn't buy it myself?"
He shrugged. "I have seen you…toying vith it. Like it is…important to you."
She smiled. "It is. Ron gave it to me. Our second anniversary."
"I heard you fighting vith him."
She laughed quietly. "Yes, but we'll get over it. We quarrel constantly, but we always forget we've done it. Our anger never lasts long."
"You do? But vy? If you constantly fight, vere is ze feeling, ze passion?"
Hermione's smile faded. "Our passion is in the fighting." She paused and, to make sure he understood, she added, "I love him, Viktor. And he loves me."
Viktor frowned, his forehead lined with thought. "I do not understand. Vat do you see in that…Ron?"
She frowned also. "I see many things you do not. I see many things most do not." She was again, she realized, "toying" with her necklace. The song ended, and so, she also realized, did their relations. "Good night, Viktor."
"Good night, Herm–Her–"
"Hermione," she said slowly. "Her-my-oh-knee." She gestured to her knee, but received no comprehension.
"Good night, my friend," he said. She smiled; glad she had not made an enemy of him, though she did not want much to do with him. He kissed her hand politely and walked away, disappearing into the small crowd.
Ron was at her side before she knew it. She grinned widely at him. "As I was saying, you do not need to fear Viktor. I will not leave you for Viktor."
He shook his head. "Why wouldn't I? He is rich, famous, athletic, polite. How do I compare?"
She took his hands and said, "I don't need rich and famous. And I certainly don't need polite. I need you."
Ron smiled. "Are you so sure you don't want to leave me and run after him before he gets away?"
"Ron, he can't even say my name," she said, laughing. "He doesn't understand what I like. He isn't–" She paused and looked at Ron, making sure he saw her solemnity. "He isn't you, Ron. I can't be Hermione without you."
He grinned, wrapping his arms around her, and dipped her with the music. "I was hoping you'd say something like that."
She grinned as well, happy as could be.
----
She and Ron danced through the night. In the early hours of the morning, Hermione shivered, realizing she was freezing. It was cold out tonight. The rain was still softly falling outside.
"You alright?" he asked, pulling back to look into her eyes.
"I'm cold," she replied simply.
He opened his dress robes and invited her wordlessly into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his body, warming herself with his heat. He held his robes around her on her back, holding her to him, and kissed the top of her head with affection. They swayed silently with the music, despite the tempo.
Hermione's favorite song came on. The song that always reminded her of Ron. It was Moonlight Serenade, a Glenn Miller classic. Her grandmother had played it for her many times in her childhood, but when she got older, she always associated the song with her love.
She hummed along quietly and felt Ron lean down to position his mouth close to her ear. "I have a favor to ask of you."
She held him tighter. "Which is?" She wouldn't offer commitment unless she knew the request.
"I was wondering if you would be my wife."
There was a silence in her head, though she knew the song was still playing. "What?"
"Will you marry me?"
She pulling back and stared at him with wonder. "Yes. Yes!"
His laugh pealed joyously over the music, and he punched the air with triumph. He turned his head wildly, looking for someone. "Harry!" he shouted towards their place near the middle of the small crowd. "She said yes!"
Ginny laughed with delight and Harry yelled, "It's about bloody time!"
Hermione giggled and Ron opened a box, revealing a simple ruby set. He lifted it out of the box, showing her the blank inside. He smiled. "Can you read that?" She shook her head. "That's because it has Ronald Bilius Weasley and Hermione Jean Weasley on the inside. When you marry me, you'll be able to read the engraving."
She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. "What does it say?"
"Property of Ronald Bilius Weasley." And he kissed her with a passion resembling that of a life of love.
And she was so glad to receive it.