Thier 19 Years: Chapter 11

All rights are JK's.

"Come to Australia with me."

"What?" Ron said breaking the kiss and pulling away to look at her.

"Come to Australia with me," she smiled, repeating herself.

"To find your parents?" he asked still confused.

"No to promote S.P.E.W," she responded sarcastically, raising an eyebrow. "Of course to find my parents!"

"Well, yeah then, of course. Reckon I wouldn't let you go alone anyway," he said brushing some hair out of her face.

"Ron you know I am perfectly capable-"

"Yes I know, you can take care of yourself." He rolled his eyes and leaned down to kiss her sweetly.

"RON I TOLD YOU TO GET HERMIONE UP AND BRING HER DOWN FOR DINNER! WE ARE ALL WAITING!" shouted Mrs. Weasley from the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione practically threw Ron off her when she heard the yell. Hermione had always been one for never being rude when at someones house, and the thought of everyone waiting for her to have dinner, just so she could have a snog, was just mortifying.

"Thanks a lot Mione," Ron said rubbing his back and getting up off the floor, where he had fallen.

"Sorry, we better go," she muttered rushing out the door, Ron chuckling in her wake.

"I am so sorry everyone to keep you waiting, but someone," she shot a look at Ron, "failed to mention that people were waiting." Everyone was sat at the table almost ready to eat, but no one seemed irritated at their tardiness.

"What? You are the one that wouldn't wake up," Ron laughed taking his seat and pulling out the chair beside him for his over reactive girlfriend.

"It's alright dear. just take a seat," offered Mrs. Weasley patting her gently on the back.

Hermione sat beside Ron, and everyone tucked into the meal. It was equally as extravagant as it had been all week. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had not realized how much they had missed Mrs. Weasley's cooking until they got a taste of her chicken pot pie.

After dinner, Hermione offered to do the dishes as an apology for her and Ron's late arrival to dinner, but Mrs. Weasley shooed her off. Hermione didn't relent though, and ended up drying the dishes.

"Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked picking up a soapy bowl.

"Yes dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley, not taking her eyes off the bubbly water.

"I was talking to Mr. Weasley earlier, about portkeys to Australia," she said eyeing the older women, waiting for her reaction.

"Australia?" she burst turning to look at Hermione. "Why on earth would you need to go there dear?" she said putting the plate she was washing down, and drying her hands on her apron.

"Well I sent my parents there when I obliviated their memory's," Hermione told her.

Understanding flooded Mrs. Weasley's eyes as she remembered the day that Hermione had apparated to the burrow in hysterics. She had called for Ron when she spotted Hermione across the yard, and the two of them had rushed out to meet her. Hermione immediately collapsed into Ron's outstretched arms, and cried the most painful sobs she had ever heard. Ron had ended up carrying her into the house and setting her down on the couch for a nap while Mrs. Weasley made tea. After that, no one really talked about the incident, in fear of upsetting Hermione again.

"And you want to go retrieve them? You surely won't be going alone, you shouldn't be traveling the globe unprotected so soon after the war," Mrs. Weasley told her motioning for her to sit down. Mrs. Weasley pulled out a chair across from her and watched as the young girl in front of her, began to turn a shade of red.

"Well actually," she said becoming very interested in her hands, "I asked Ron to come with me, and he said yes," she said, hesitantly looking up to meet the older womans shocked eyes.

"Hermione-"

"Trust me we can take care of ourselves, we proved that during the last eight months," Hermione interjected quickly.

"I know that you and Ron are able to take care of yourselves, but you won't be traveling in some tent, you will be out in public. And you can't be sure who is wandering around," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I am going into the Ministry tomorrow with Mr. Weasley, and we were going to talk to Kingsley about the specifications, and details. I will be sure to ask him about staying concealed while performing the task of finding my parents," Hermione said convincingly.

Mrs. Weasley sighed loudly and shook her head. "Alright dear, I just want you to be safe."

"I know, and we will be," Hermione said getting up to hug who she thought of as a second mother.

"Oh and would you mind sending Ron in here? I need to speak to him," Mrs. Weasley said as Hermione was leaving the room. Hermione nodded and went in search of Ron.

She found him in the living room having what looked like a serious conversation with George. They stopped talking when they spotted Hermione in the doorway.

"Hey love," Ron greeted moving over on the couch to make room for her.

"Hey what were you guys talking about?" she asked.

"Oh nothing just stuff," Ron brushed off leaning in to kiss her.

"And I'm outta here," announced George standing up and leaving the room.

"You really shouldn't make him uncomfortable like that," reprised Hermione.

"Like I bloody care, he is the one who made us kiss the other night in front of everyone after the funeral," said Ron with a smirk.

"Still you shouldn't." Ron just rolled his eyes in response. "Anyways, I was just talking to your mum about Australia. And she is worried that it could be dangerous, and I don't blame her," Hermione said seriously.

"We will be fine. Remember what I said to you a week ago at the shell cottage?" he asked taking her hand. Hermione gave him a curious look, and he elaborated. "I will always protect you."

"I know, but what if something happens to both of us?" she said subconsciously moving closer to him on the couch.

"It won't," he said defiantly. Hermione didn't say anything, and just laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. He let go of her hand and wrapped his arms around her.

"Umm Hermione?" he said after a few moments of comfortable silence.

"Yes?" she asked lifting her head up off of his chest, sensing his uneasiness. She also taken note of how red his face had become in a matter of seconds.

"Will we be... ummm... staying in like a (cough) hotel," he said barely meeting her eyes.

"Yes Ron, would you like to use the tent instead?" she joked.

"Like with...two... or...one bed?" He had turned even redder now, and Hermione now understood why.

"I'm umm not sure really, it kind of depends on the hotel. We can ask for two beds, or a cot if you like. I could even charm the bed to be larger if you are worried about space, she offered, playing dumb to what Ron was really referring too.

"Uh no I don't mind sharing a bed - if that is all we can get," he added trying not to sound too eager.

It was like there was an elephant in the room (as only Hermione would understand), Ron and Hermione had never shared a bed, or been alone in an enclosed area before when sleeping. Sure they wanted to sleep together in the same bed - only sleep, but neither wanted to admit it.

"Umm yeah," Ron said awkwardly.

"Oh your mum wanted to speak to you in the kitchen," she said changing the topic quickly when remembering Mrs. Weasley's request.

"Okay," he said getting to his feet awkwardly. "See you later," he said leaning down and kissing her on the top of the head.

When Ron left the room, Hermione let out a loud groan and put her head in her hands.

"Hey mum you wanted to talk to me?" Ron said walking into the kitchen to find his mum finishing up the last of the dishes.

"Oh yes! Take a seat," she said flicking the rest of the dishes clean with her wand, and sitting down in the exact same spot she had when talking to Hermione.

"Hermione told me you were interested in accompanying her to find her parents in Australia," she said.

"Oh yeah, I'm going mum," he told her expecting her to jump all over him and demand that he stay home.

"I know I couldn't stop you even if I tried," she said slightly dejected. "But I would definitely prefer if you stayed home," she said with hopeful eyes, hoping to sway her son from his decision.

"Mum I am going," he enunciating each word.

"I know, that's why I wanted to talk to you. Because I know you and Hermione are now together and I believe this trip will involve room sharing. So I just wanted to make sure you don't pressure her into anything she isn't ready for." She gave him an awkward stern look, and Ron groaned loudly.

"MUM! I do not plan to pressure her into anything, or partake in any of those activities while we are away. She is going to be upset about her parents, and meanwhile trying to put the moves on her, isn't my idea of being supportive," he told her, a little bit angry that she would think he would pressure Hermione into anything she didn't want. Hell he would wait until they were fifty before doing anything if that was what she wanted.

Mrs. Weasley looked taken aback by his outburst, and proud of the man he had become.

"Well I am happy to hear that, but if you have any questions you should ask your father-"

"MUM! STOP!" he said face beet red and his hands fisted in his hair. "I get it okay. Just please stop," he pleaded rubbing his face.

"Alright, alright, but I trust that you treat her with respect when the time does come," she finished getting up and patting his burning cheek.

"I will," he mumbled. When his mum left the kitchen, he sat in silence for about three seconds before letting his head fall to the table with a bang.

First the awkward conversation with Hermione, and now his mum. Today was just not a good day for Ronald Weasley. He can't say that he wasn't thinking about what his mother had tried to talk to him about, but he knew that was a conversation that just he and Hermione would have to have some time down the road.

The sharing a bed aspect wasn't the only thing that was on his mind as well though. It was money. The trip to Australia - portkey or not, would be expensive. He knew that Hermione would try to pay for it all, or Harry would attempt to shove money in his pocket for him, and this made him feel pretty bad about his financial state.

He had recently come up with an idea earlier today though when talking to George. Since... Fred, had died, the employment at the Weasley Wizard Wheezes had been low, as George had told him. Right before Hermione had walked into the living room, George had been offering Ron a spot on the staff. Ron hadn't accepted yet, but he knew he would, because he wanted to help pay his and Hermione's way to Australia.

Ron knew now was the time he had to step up and start getting his life in check. And this was all going to start with a job, and some income, so someday he and Hermione could move in together and start a family. Hmm a family with Hermione,

He liked the sound of that.

Alrighty people there is another chapter. I apologize for the agonizingly long time between this update and the last, but this one is longer so I hope that makes up for it. There was a lot of Ron awkwardness in this chapter - which I loved (who doesn't love awkwardness). Anyways, thanks for reading. Oh and I am loving all of the reviews, follows, and favourites, thanks for the support!

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