Ron and Hermione entered something of a golden period. She was still on maternity leave for most of that summer, and spent much of it playing in the garden with Rose who had turned in to the most delightful baby; full of smiles. That autumn, they planted a Rosa mundi "Rose of the World"for her. Of course it was a coincidence, but it flourished from the very start.
Ginny, a few months after Hermione, gave birth to another son – Albus Severus, always called Al, unless he was in trouble, which wasn't very often. Al was his father in miniature, right down to the unruly hair. He was a more serious child than James, who'd grown in to a little monster. He reminded Ginny so much of Fred that sometimes it hurt.
Rose and Al would be in the same year at Hogwarts, which pleased Hermione. At least her daughter wouldn't be completely on her own, like she had been.
Ginny herself had become a media darling. Everything was going for her: attractive, ex-international, good writer – married to The Harry Potter. The image was carefully cultivated, as well. Of course, there were countless temptations placed in her way, but she never stumbled. No hint of scandal would ever follow her around. If that sounds cynical, it shouldn't. Ginny definitely knew which side her "bread was buttered", and she still loved Harry with a fierce passion.
On returning to work, Hermione continued her rise through the Ministry ranks by becoming a Junior Undersecretary to the Wizengamot. Ron was a Section Head in the Auror's department, now having a team working for him. There was a joke going round the Ministry: "Ron'll wheel you in, Mrs. Ron'll send you down".
Ron's team tended to be formed from young, highly regarded aurors who had energy to burn. When they weren't out on a job, they were training hard, particularly in the "Village of the Damned". Ron knew that real crime would always be in urban areas. Sometimes, he dispensed with the dummies, and they hunted each other down. Stunning spells were allowed. The group tended to socialise together as well, and formed a close knit unit. They called themselves "The Achievers", most others knew them as "The Nutters". They got better results, but took more risks (they called it "pushing the envelope"), and ended up in St Mungo's more often than anyone else.
Money was becoming slightly easier in the Weasley household, and Molly wasn't as young as she used to be. As Rose grew, looking after her became more of a challenge. It didn't help, either, that their work often meant mum and dad didn't always get home bang on time. After careful thought, they decided to employ a House Elf to help them. Winky was the obvious choice, so moved down from Hogwarts. She was in a much better state now, and had stopped drinking a couple of years ago. She was thrilled to be back in a proper house after all this time. Of course, the question of pay had to be handled very delicately; Winky was of the old school. Hermione started at 10 Galleons a week, which she knew was far too high, but allowed herself to be beaten down to five, which was what she wanted to pay anyway.
When Rose was eighteen months old, Hermione found herself pregnant again. This time, she was far more comfortable with the thought. They told both sets of parents who were, of course, thrilled. They swore Molly and Arthur to secrecy, they wanted to tell Harry and Ginny themselves when they next saw them on Sunday. They didn't notice Molly's little smile.
Harry and Ginny arrived shortly after midday. James and Rose immediately headed off to play.
Hermione started the conversation. 'Harry, Ginny, we've got some big news for you.'
'So have we. Ok, as it's your house, you go first.'
'I'm pregnant!'
'No! So am I!'
The children, who had never seen Hermione and Ginny doing their whooping and screaming act, came back in to the room to see what all the fuss was about.
The pregnancy and birth were much more straightforward this time. Sharing it with Ginny made things a lot easier as well. They would often arrange appointments at the same time, so they had an excuse to meet up in London and have lunch together. Discussions often centred around the "What do you want, this time". Ginny quite liked the idea of a girl. She loved seeing Rose in her little dresses, comparing her to James in his trousers that normally had the knees out of them within a few days. Hermione pointed out that Rose wasn't always a girly girl, and was just as likely to be found rolling in the mud as any boy.
Hermione didn't mind, but then thought to the years ahead, and the arguments about 'She's wearing my favourite top' and 'Mum – tell her I can use her make-up if I want to'. Maybe a boy would be easier. She thought that Ron would like a son. 'Well, all men do, don't they?'
They gave birth within a week of each other, Hermione going first. Ron got his son, Hugo. Ginny had a daughter, whom they called Lily. She was definitely the apple of her dad's eye. Both women decided enough was enough, their families were now complete. This was something of a disappointment to Harry, who had always wanted his own Quidditch team.
Once or twice a month, the four would get together for the day. They were inseparable friends now. It delighted them to sit and talk, and watch their children play together. It gave them all a great feeling of satisfaction to mature and the long shadows of the past began to fade in to distant memory. Life was in front of them.
-o0o-
Kingsley Shacklebolt was now firmly embedded in his job, and decided it was time to make changes. He wanted to split the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, creating two new Departments. There had been a view for some time that the people responsible for arresting criminals should not have the same boss as the people doing the sentencing. There was too much scope for hiding dirty laundry, and Kingsley's Ministry would not only be clean, it would be seen to be clean.
The first new Department would be known simply as Law Enforcement and was responsible for upholding the law, so took the Auror's Office and the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. The second would be Law Enactment, responsible for making and applying the law, in other words, the Wizengamot and Improper Use of Magic Office. Each needed its own Senior Undersecretary, and there were only two obvious candidates. Harry became Senior Undersecretary Enforcement. Hermione, Senior Undersecretary Enactment. Both were under thirty years old. The wise money said that, one day, one of them would be Minister for Magic.
Harry immediately set about bringing in the re-organisation he'd dreamed of for years. There were to be just three sections; Operations, Intelligence and Training, each having its own Junior Undersecretary. Ron was called to a meeting with Harry and Kingsley Shacklebolt one Friday afternoon, to be offered the position of Junior Undersecretary (Operations). It was a major promotion, to an important position, and carried a salary to match. It was pointed out that operations was the key area. He would be Harry's deputy in all but name.
His reaction wasn't quite what they had expected. 'Can I think about it?'
'Errm…yes, of course. Aah..well…phew!...can you let us know on Monday?'
'Yeah, I should be able to.'
Ron couldn't settle to anything that afternoon, so left early and spent some time walking around London on his own before apparating home. He knew he had to discuss this with Hermione, and wasn't sure how she would take it. He waited until the children were tucked up in bed for the night.
'Have…you…umm, heard any rumours today? About our reorganisation?'
'Not particularly. Why? Anything interesting happened?'
'Sort of. I've been offered Junior Undersecretary of Operations.'
'Oh Ron! Oh, that's fantastic!' She threw her arms around him, and gave him a big kiss. 'Oh, I'm so proud of you! Wait 'til your mum hears, she'll be thrilled to bits! When do you start?... Ron?... What is it?... Answer me!………….. You haven't turned it down? ...You have.'
'No, I haven't. I said I needed to think about it, and I wanted to talk to you.'
'What is there to think about, Ron? It's a fantastic job, a promotion, more money…'
'Do we need the money?'
'Well, no … But that's not the point. Why wouldn't you want it?'
'It's a robe and tie job. I'd be flying a desk; meetings, reports, committees. I'm not sure that's me. I belong out there, at the sharp end. Doing the work.'
A phrase came to Hermione's mind from her childhood. 'A "good old-fashioned copper", you mean. Pounding the beat. Dragging in some low-life who's been selling dodgy cauldrons that fell off the back of a broomstick.'
He looked away from her. 'That's not fair, Hermione. My team are the best. We get the jobs no-one else can do.'
'No-one else wants, you mean. They like living.'
'Everybody wants to be in it, though, don't they? You can't deny that.'
'What about Philpott, and that Burkes? They turned you down.'
'That's different. They're married; they've got ki…..' Not his best argument.
'What about you, Ron? What have you got upstairs? Or here? What am I to you?'
He ran his hand across his face. 'I love my job. It's what I do best. There's still plenty of scum out there, and I want them off the streets.'
She laughed humourlessly. 'And you can't do that unless you're kicking in a door and saying "Make my day, punk"? Is that it? You've done your bit at the "sharp end", Ron. Let someone else put themselves in the firing line for a change.'
They sat in silence for a while before Hermione spoke. 'I'm going up to bed. I'm tired.'
When Ron went up several hours later, it was obvious she was only pretending to be asleep. They had a very similar conversation on the Saturday, resolving nothing.
On Sunday evening, he tried again.
'I said I'd give them my answer tomorrow.'
'So, what are you going to say?'
'I don't know. What do you think I should do?'
'It's up to you, Ron. It's your choice.'
'Would you back me, whatever I decided?'
She looked at him, her face a mask. 'What if I wouldn't, Ron? What if I said it was the job, or me? What then?'
He sat stunned for a moment. 'You mean…..you'll divorce me unless I take this job?'
She slumped back in to the sofa. 'No, Ron, I wouldn't. And you bloody well know it, don't you?' The tears were running silently down her cheeks. 'That's what I get for being married to the man I love, I suppose.'
First thing Monday morning, Ron went in to see Harry. 'Sorry, boss, not my cup of tea. You'll have to find somebody else.'
Harry saw Hermione in the corridor later that day and smiled at her. She didn't smile back.
'I wouldn't bother for a few days if I were you, Harry. Not until I've calmed down. I'm blaming you for this.'
'Oh, come on Hermione. What could I do about it?'
'You could have told him to take it, not asked.' she said bitterly. 'You gave him the chance to think. That's always a mistake.'
The job wents to Annets. He was older than Ron, and a safe pairs of hands, with no charisma what-so-ever. He was very good to have on committees, and wrote detailed reports which nobody read.
