Hello. This is another somewhat uneventful chapter, but it's one that leads to all the excitement of the Horcrux mission. Hope you enjoy!
If you have not yet viewed my newest story The Perfect Man I'd really appreciate you having a look. It's more Romione to satiate your hunger until the next chapter!
The summer had passed quickly. Taking Harry from the Dursley's, receiving the gifts of Dumbledore's will and the attack at Bill and Fleur's wedding had passed in a blinding blur. Ron had not expected to be back at Grimmauld Place that summer, but here they were, hiding and waiting for their opportunity to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic.
Harry would often sit alone in Sirius' old bedroom for hours on end, meaning Ron and Hermione spent a great deal of time alone together; in fact, they had never seen so much of each other. After the first night in Grimmauld Place, which the three had spent camping in the front room, the three had each chosen a room of their own. Ron would often sneak along to Hermione's room and share her bed. Harry seemed oblivious.
One evening in late August when Ron entered Hermione's bedroom, he saw her tucked up in bed, her face hidden in a book. Ron read the title with a smile.
"You're still reading that book?" Ron said in disbelief. "Seven years later you're still reading that book."
Hermione jumped but smiled when she saw Ron in the doorway. She placed Hogwarts, A History on the bedside table and then patted the bed.
Ron sat next to her. He lifted a hand to tuck some stray strands of Hermione's hair behind her ears.
"It feels weird not getting ready for Hogwarts." Hermione said. "If I can't be at Hogwarts, I thought I'd at least read about it."
"You already know it off by heart."
Hermione ignored him. "It was the first book I ever read from the wizarding world. That seems so long ago now."
"What was it like getting your letter in the muggle world?"
"We thought the first letter was a joke. We threw it straight in the fire. The letters kept coming, and before we knew it Professor McGonagall was in our front room, explaining wizard schooling. My mum took me to Diagon Alley. Both of us were sceptical, but we found the Leaky Cauldron, and the barman told us we'd come to the right place. That's when I bought Hogwarts, A History."
"You must miss your parents."
Hermione sighed. "At least I know they won't get hurt."
Ron took both her hands, resting on her stomach, in one of his. "You can restore their memories, can't you, when this is all over?"
"Yeah," Hermione said distantly, her eyes beginning to glaze.
"That was the bravest thing you've ever done. I hope Harry appreciates it."
"Yeah," repeated Hermione.
Ron leant over her. He moved his free hand to her cheek, moving her gently to hold her attention.
"We'll go and find them." he said in whisper. "We'll go together, and they'll get their memories back."
Hermione smiled gratefully.
"Do you think they'll like me when they meet me properly?" Ron asked, standing from the bed and beginning to pace the room.
"Of course they will." Hermione chided.
"But what if they don't?"
While Ron did have a genuine concern for the impression he would give Mr and Mrs Granger, this was only a tiny speck of worry compared to his fear for their mission to destroy the Horcruxes. Ron did not want to face those fears yet, and so he addressed the ones he could deal with.
"They'll love you. Now get into bed."
Ron placed his wand on the bedside table and did as he was told. He paused only briefly when he pulled back the blanket to fully appreciate Hermione in her short pyjama shorts and t-shirt before climbing in next to her.
She nestled closely, resting her head at the crook of Ron's neck.
"Why do I feel so much safer next to you?" Hermione said with a troubled sigh.
"Maybe it's my roguish good looks."
Hermione nudged him in the ribs with an incredulous snort. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"
"I was being serious." Ron said with a playful grin.
Hermione smiled but only snuggled closer, moving one hand over his waist and one leg over his own. In response, Ron moved his own arm around her, holding her tightly.
"You're not afraid of being on that list, are you?" Ron asked.
It had only been a few days since Hermione's name had appeared in the Daily Prophet, stating she should turn herself into the Ministry of Magic for the Muggle-Born Registration Committee. Ron could barely say the name without imagining the humiliation that muggle-borns would no doubt be subject to during the interrogation to discover how they had obtained their magical powers.
"It's hard not to be afraid." Hermione admitted. "This registration is just the beginning. If we don't stop Voldemort, his influence will spread even further, and soon there'll be no safe place for muggle-borns."
"If anyone from the ministry tries to get near you, they'll have to go through me."
Hermione raised her head, moving close to kiss Ron's lips. "That's very sweet." she said.
Ron could not help but notice the hopelessness in her tone.
Suddenly there was a clatter of bins outside. Ron jerked upwards, flying out of bed, grabbing his wand and peering out of a crack in the curtains within seconds.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, propping herself up on one elbow. "It's just a cat or something."
Ron saw that she was right. A tabby cat detangled itself from the rubbish now spilling from the bin and sped away down the road.
Ron lowered his wand feeling rather stupid. "It could have been a death eater." he said defensively. "Or even a snatcher."
"Don't start getting paranoid." Hermione said firmly. "The death eaters have no idea where we are. Even if they do figure out where Harry is, they don't stand a chance of getting in."
Ron dropped his wand back to the table and climbed back into bed, wrapping his arms around Hermione as she nestled against him.
"Worrying won't solve any problems." Hermione continued, speaking in a faint whisper. If Ron had not been so close, it would have been impossible to hear her. "We always knew there'd be risks."
"I didn't think they'd be so hard to deal with."
"Try and forget the risks." Hermione said soothingly, turning to lie facing him. "Just relax. Go to sleep."
Ron wasn't tired. Every noise he heard that night chilled him to the bone. Every desperate attempt to clear his mind was spoilt as he focussed once more on Hermione's form next to him and imagined a life without her.
She was consuming every moment of this thoughts. Ron was soon unable to deny the fact that Hermione Granger meant more to him than anything. He'd give up everything if it meant he didn't have to lose her, even this ridiculous mission to destroy Voldemort. Suddenly and forcefully, Ron had to accept the fact that he was in love with Hermione, but accepting that made everything harder. The paranoia was growing worse by the hour. The nightmares became more terrifying. Every second he spent with Hermione led him to be increasingly certain that something bad would happen to her, and nothing Hermione would say could change his mind.
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