Oops! I only just remembered to post this because I'm sat in bed watching Harry Potter (for a change :p ) Sorry it's a bit late!

This chapter is a bit shorter than my usual, as is the next one...but I promise a pretty good final chapter (well, I think so!) Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: If I was JK Rowling, I'd be living my dream, but as I'm not...I guess i'm not her!

Chapter Twenty-one

"Ron…" I began, whilst marking the page of my book with my finger and closing the pages around it.

"Mmm?" He replied, idly turning the page of the newspaper. I gently nudged him with my foot that had been resting in his lap as we lounged on the sofa together before retiring to bed for the night. That got his attention. "What?" he asked, setting the paper down and turning to look at me.

"How do you feel about coming to Diagon Alley with me this weekend?" I wondered. Since the Quidditch match he'd hardly dared leave the house except to visit family. I thought it was about time that changed.

"Oh, I don't know," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand as he tossed the newspaper onto the coffee table.

"Come on sweetheart, that article has been out more than a couple of weeks now, people have calmed down. They'll be bored of it all by now."

"You sure about that?" he raised one eyebrow and nodded to the small stack of letters that had arrived only this morning. "Seems we still have plenty of fans." he sighed.

I followed his line of vision to the letters scattered on the rug in front of the fire. Rose had had fun opening them all and trying to read them, not very successfully mind you. Molly and I had started to teach her to read between us, but she could only recognise a few simple words yet. Which was lucky when a rather suggestive letter arrived for Ron, along with a photo we thankfully got to first. Both had gone straight onto the fire. Thankfully the majority of the letters were simply best wishes or congratulations or sharing their joy that Ron was back in all of our lives.

"I know, but there's always going to people who recognise us, even if this had never happened. We used to get stopped by strangers even before you disappeared." I pointed out.

"Not like this," he grunted, shifting his feet on the table.

I sighed deeply, he was right – of course he was right. Thanks to Witch Weekly magazine running with their front page headline of Ron's quote about falling in love with his wife all over again, we had become something of the romantic couple of the century in our world. They were still publishing articles about us, sickly sweet articles that made us out to be some kind of magical Romeo and Juliet. Our family found it all hilarious, I was personally horrified. Yes, I loved Ron immensely and in the privacy of our home, we were romantic with one another. But I had never been one of those silly, giggly girly girls and being portrayed as such right now was humiliating. Still, I suppose it was better than all the harassment we were getting before.

"Please Ron," I tried a new tactic. "I could do with your help, we need a lot of things. Hugo has outgrown all of his shoes and trousers. And I promised Rose she could have a new dress for her birthday party in a couple of weeks. Plus we need potion ingredients, groceries, owl treats and a dozen other things. I won't be able to get it all done without help."

"Can't you just put an extension charm on his shoes and things?" he suggested. "And Rose has plenty of pretty dresses," he muttered, thinking that would knock a few items off my list.

"No." I replied firmly. "Because when I was pregnant with Rosie, you vowed that any child of ours would never want for anything and would never have hand-me-downs. They would always have new things when they needed them. Right now Hugo needs them. And I promised Rose, it's been a long time since she had a new dress."

"Okay," he muttered, feeling suitably rebuffed. "Fine, get them new things. But, can't Ginny go with you or something?" he asked, hopeful.

"Ron, please? Can't we just have a nice family day out? We can get our shopping done and then have dinner in the Leaky afterwards? And, I would like your approval of the things for the children, it's been a long time since we bought them things together."

He was quite for a few moments, looking somewhat sullen. "How did you buy them things?" he suddenly asked. "I mean, you haven't been working full time and without my pay, it can't have been easy."

I shifted my position on the sofa, turning snuggle into his side. See, I could be romantic and loving, I thought. "It wasn't easy, no. But money wasn't the issue. We had good savings and I got a widows pension from the Ministry. Mostly I just missed your input on things, your approval or suggestions, not that I always listened to them," I smirked. "But, I missed doing those things together."

"A pension?" he asked, frowning.

"Yes, a kind of widows support fund." I replied. "Oh, I assume that will all stop now though, I mean, you're alive," I hugged him and then froze as something else occurred to me. "I hope I don't have to pay it all back," I sat up and stared at him. "I mean, you were never really dead and now you're back with me. It was supposed to support widows and families of Aurors lost in action. We can't afford to pay it back, it's pretty much all gone on the children and the house, apart from some I was setting aside for when they started school." I looked at him frantically.

"Shh." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm sure Harry can sort it all out, or we could talk to Kingsley?" he suggested. "Don't worry about it." He pulled me into his arms.

I nodded. "Yes, we'll talk to Harry tomorrow and sort it all out. I suppose something would have happened already if that was the case. Though, maybe they're not aware and…"

"Hermione," Ron eyed me warningly. "You're doing it again." He smiled at me and tapped the tip of my nose.

"Sorry," I muttered and lay my head on his shoulder. He was right, again – I'd let my mind wander and worry about things we didn't need to worry about. "So," I asked after a few minutes sat in comfortable silence, cuddled up together. "How about this weekend?"

Ron groaned and rubbed his eyes. I think he'd thought I'd given up on that idea with my worry about the money. He wasn't amused I hadn't.

"Come on, you know how George has been at you to visit the shop. He wants to show you the changes and new products."

"Not that I can remember much from before anyway," Ron muttered.

It was my turn to eye Ron, giving him a silent stare as I waited for him to make his decision. This usually worked to my benefit, knowing he found it hard to say no to me.

"Oh, fine," he groaned and lay his head back on the cushion behind him as he gave in. "I'll go with you and help with the shopping. But, any trouble and we're out of there, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed too eagerly and kissed his cheek. "It will be fun, you'll see."

"Huh," he scoffed, unconvinced and behaving sulky about it. Yet he turned his head as I kissed his cheek again and caught my lips in a proper kiss, lips and tongue mingling together as our bodies shifted closer. "Come on," Ron murmured as we parted. "Let's go to bed." He stood and tugged on my hand.

"But, it's barely nine o'clock," I pointed out, glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was rather early for us.

"I never said I was tired," he smirked at me, still holding onto my hand.

"Oh," I grinned, realising what he was getting at. "Then yes, let's go to bed," I scrambled off the sofa quickly and readily followed him up the stairs.

"People are staring," Ron grumbled, clutching onto Rosie's hand as we exited the brick archway from the Leaky Cauldron. I suspected his firm grip on our daughter's hand was more for his benefit than for hers.

"Then, don't look at them," I suggested, grabbing Hugo's hand before he ran off. If allowed, he'd stand and stare at the latest broom in the Quidditch shop window for hours.

"Huh, what am I supposed to do, stare at the ground?" He continued to grumble as we moved into the throng of people out shopping. Perhaps coming on a weekend wasn't such a good idea, I thought in hindsight.

"We'll head to Madam Malkin's first. You can sort Hugo out with shoes and trousers, whilst Rosie and I choose a dress," I smiled down at our daughter as her face lit up.

Outside Flourish and Blotts were a small cluster of teenage girls, casting us sneaky glances whilst giggling and whispering. I smiled at them, suspecting it was Ron they were interested in more than me, especially as when he looked up at them, they giggled loudly and all ran into the shop amongst girly squeals. Just the kind of girl I never was, well apart from that irrational and short lived schoolgirl crush I'd had on Professor Lockhart. I had only been about 12 years old at the time though.

I shook my head at the girls, glad that Ron had so far failed to notice them and ushered my family towards the robes shop. Though before we had taken more than two steps, an elderly man blocked our way, staring up at Ron.

"Merlin's beard," he gasped. "It's you, it really is you." He shook his own head of silver streaked hair in disbelief and reached out a wizened hand to touch Ron.

"Erm, yeah," Ron replied, whilst looking to me for help. I just shrugged, I hadn't a clue who he was either.

"It's good to have you back Mr Weasley, very good." He held out his hand. Ron took it reluctantly and briefly shook the man's hand.

"Erm, yeah, thanks." He mumbled in reply, whilst the tips of his ears turned pink.

The elderly man just grinned at him and then turned, wandering away muttering to himself.

"Who was that Daddy?" Hugo asked.

"I haven't a clue," Ron shrugged. "Come on, let's get this shopping done," he added, grumpy again as he stalked off towards the shop, eager to get inside before he had any more run ins. I was glad he hadn't noticed those girls eyeing him up, otherwise I think he'd have made a run for it.

A bell tinkled over the door as we entered and Madam Malkin herself, sat at a stool beside her work desk, looked up from her sewing. A small smile gradually grew across her face as she tossed aside her work and came to greet us.

"Now, there's a sight for sore eyes. Ronald Weasley," she beamed. "Didn't think I'd see you again. Welcome back." She smiled and reached for his hand.

"Thanks," Ron mumbled, shaking her hand briefly.

She slowly shook her head as she continued to smile at us. "Oh, I remember fitting you for various robes over the years." She told Ron and the children excitedly, as though it had been her proudest moment. "I never did get to work on your school robes. But I remember the day you came in for me to adjust your Auror robes, you were so proud. And then when you came to be fitted for your dress robes for your wedding. He was so excited about marrying you," she smiled at me. "He could barely stand still. So obviously very in love and a case of giddy nervousness."

"Erm, yeah," Ron mumbled and began rubbing the back of his neck in anxiety.

"Yes. Well, we actually came in to…" I started, but was cut off again by her ramble.

"Of course, that's how I knew all those stories were such nonsense. As if you'd ever leave your wife," she rolled her eyes. "You were far too much in love. And I'm so glad you found one another again, your story is quite remarkable and very romantic. Though, inevitable given the bond your souls share, and…"

"Mummy! Dresses!" Rose interrupted and began pulling me towards a display of a pretty pink party dress.

"Oh, I'm sorry, listen to me ramble on," Madam Malkin apologised. "Of course you came in to shop, not just chat," she smiled. "How can I help you?" She returned to her professional demeanour.

"Our daughter would like a new party dress for her birthday please. And our son is in need of new shoes and trousers.

"They grow so fast," she sighed. "Come along then, us girls will have a look at dresses. Ronald, why don't you take your son upstairs to find Zacharias and he can help you out." She smiled, hurrying anxiously after Rose who was gleefully skipping through the bolts of fabrics and lace, stroking her fingers across them all.

"Well, hello there Ronald Weasley. Long time no see." I heard a voice greet Ron upstairs.

"Erm, hi…" Ron mumbled in reply. I could practically see him rubbing the back of his neck and shuffling his feet in awkwardness.

"You don't remember me, do you?" The voice asked him.

"No. I'm sorry, I erm, you see…"

"I guess all that stuff about your memory loss is true then?" he asked. "You really don't remember, do you?"

Silence, I guess Ron was shaking his head.

"Zac Smith," the voice answered for him. "We were in the same year at school, though I was in Hufflepuff."

"Oh, right." Ron replied, none the wiser as to who he was. I was actually glad of the fact – Ronald and Zacharias had never really gotten along at school. "Erm, hello." Ron added politely.

"Yes. It's been awhile, I only started working here about a year ago. But…"

"Shoes!" Hugo suddenly blurted out.

"Huh?" Zac asked, sounding somewhat confused.

"I need shoes for my son." Ron explained. "and Trousers."

"Yes, trousers!" Hugo exclaimed loudly. Obviously he was totally bored with all this walk down memory lane and hanging around boring clothes shops. He just wanted to go see the brooms or perhaps get a treat from his Uncles shop. Not be in a shop filled with girly lace and pink things.

"Right, then we'll see what we can do," Zac replied. After that I became lost in our discussion of Rose's dress and in choosing fabrics and designs, so I didn't hear any more of their conversation.

Half an hour later, with shoes and trousers purchased, and a dress measured for and ordered for delivery in a few days, we were heading out of the shop. Hugo pulled eagerly on his Dad's hand, almost making Ron trip over his own feet in his exuberance.

"Bwooms daddy!" he huffed, heaving his Dad along.

"Why don't you take him to look at the brooms," I suggested. "Rose and I will…."

"Mr Weasley!"

"Ronald!"

"Mr Weasley, please sir…"

"Can you sign this for me," a girly voice sighed.

Quite suddenly we were surrounded by the gaggle of girls I'd seen hanging around the book shop earlier, all now clutching copies of the latest Witch Weekly publication, Ron's face featuring on the front cover, and all pushing to get closer to Ron and shoving the magazine under his nose.

"I love you." Another sighed close by, hugging the magazine to her chest.

Ron looked up at me wide eyed. Hugo stopped pulling on his Dad's arm and now hid behind his legs, a little frightened and yet curious by the shrieking girls as he peered around them. Rose huffed, annoyed with the whole thing whilst I rolled my eyes.

"Please Mr Weasley, Ronald." One of the girls giggled. "Will you sign our magazines? We just, we think…" She broke off as she giggled again and flushed red, unable to finish her sentence.

"We love you. You're just so romantic." Her friend sighed dramatically and thrust her magazine at him.

Ron began to back up. "But, I don't want…"

"Oh please sir? We just think you're amazing and," she paused to sigh dreamily. "You're so lucky," another of the girls gushed at me.

"But, why? I don't…" Ron was frowning and looking around for the nearest escape route

"Ron, just sign them." I told him, knowing it would clear the girls off quicker. They were somewhat annoying and I could tell Ron hated the attention, but they were young and they weren't asking for much.

"This is embarrassing," he muttered, turning red as he snatched one of the magazines from the closest girl along with the quill she held. Hurriedly, he signed for all five girls, all the time shooting looks at me and trying to hide from the attention this was causing on the street. Other people were looking over, Ron gave them furtive glances and tried to hide again.

"There, all done." He handed the last one back and grasping Hugo's hand again, he tried to move away, gently pushing me along in front of him.

"Oh, please Mr…Ron. Can we just…"

"No, I have to go," he snapped and reached down to pick Hugo up, balancing him on his hip as our son stared at them. "I'm sorry," he added, realising he might have sounded rather rude, and yet he pushed my back again, urging me to get going and get him out of here, away from the throng that now surrounded us.

We'd barely taken five paces, when we were stopped again. A couple thrust their hand out to him, welcoming him back to the Wizarding World. Someone else wanted to stay and chat, mentioning he'd known Ron at school. A little girl came running up, watched closely by her smiling Mother, holding out a flower for him, and a magazine for him to sign.

"I've had about enough of this!" he muttered to me, angrily, but still managed to give the little girl a smile as he accepted her flower and scribbled on her magazine – he wasn't going to be mean to a small child after all. "It's bloody ridiculous!" he added under his breath as she skipped happily back to her Mother and Ron handed the flower to an intrigued Rose.

"Hey Ron! Remember me?" Someone else called out, finding his question funny when it was public knowledge he had memory problems.

"I have to agree," I replied with a sigh. This had been such a bad idea. It was evident we weren't going to get any further shopping done today. "We could always…" I started, but my voice was drowned out by those clamouring for his attention

"I knew you at school Ron!" Someone else yelled above the cacophony of voices. "Welcome back."

"I mourned for you when you died." Another person, a middle aged witch added, a little creepily. "I built a shrine for you." She added, trying to sidle up to him when I noticed the huge badge she was wearing with Ron's face on and that she'd added her own image alongside his. The witch was even giving me the creeps.

"Out of the way, out of the way. Coming through." The owner of the loudest voice pushed his way through everyone. "Trust you Ronniekins, causing a stir are we?" George asked, that daft smirk on his face.

"Don't just laugh. Get me out of here!" Ron demanded, looking relieved to see his brother.

"Exactly why I was coming to your rescue. Now off you go people. Oi! Back up will you! Let them through." George managed the crowd we'd caused, moving people aside and leading us away, towards his own shop. "No, back off!" He yelled at someone. "Can't you see you're scaring the kids?" He asked. Although Rose showed signs of being uneasy about it all whilst I held her close, Hugo was now enjoying the fuss, waving at people and laughing as they all crowded around us. He found the people tripping over one another and falling the most hilarious.

Finally George managed to get us into the shop, closing the doors on the public vying to follow us in. "Right, in here," he opened another door and pushed us inside. "I'll get rid of them and then you can sneak out again." He muttered, before closing the door. "Oh, and no funny business! Not like last time!" He added, chuckling to himself.

"Well," I breathed a sigh of relief, turning to my family to make sure everyone was okay as the door closed safely behind us. "That was…"

"Humiliating." Ron murmured.

"Scary." Rose's bottom lip trembled as she clung to me.

"Funny." Hugo giggled.

"Chaotic." I finished, picking up Rose and cuddling her. Obviously, we all had entirely different views on the situation.

"Did you know all those people daddy?" Hugo asked, wide eyed.

"No son," he answered, perching his backside on a box in the store room. "They were just…"

"Why did those girls say they love you? You love Mummy!" Rose demanded indignantly.

"I do sweetheart. I love your Mummy very much." he smiled at me. "Those girls, they erm...I don't know any of them and they just think…" he looked to me for help.

"They were just fans sweetheart." I told her.

"Fans?" She screwed her nose up, not understanding what that was.

"Yeah. Like how I'm a fan of the Cannons because they're my favourite team. And you're a fan of the fairy princess in that magazine you like? Well, those girls have seen me in magazines, they like my story and think they love me."

"Oh," she replied, though was still confused.

"Hugo! Don't touch anything in here!" I shrieked, noticing he was curiously about to pull a box open. Knowing George, anything stored in here wasn't ready for the public and bound to blow up, jinx you or cause some kind of disaster.

Perching beside my husband and pulling our son onto my lap, I kissed his cheek lightly. "I'm sorry Ron. This was a ridiculous idea coming to the alley. It's far too soon and especially idiotic to come on a Saturday of all days. That chaos was all my fault."

Ron shrugged. "I can't stay locked up in the house forever, can I?" He mumbled, gazing around the store room, frowning slightly as though he was trying to remember the names of Jupiter's Moons for his Astronomy homework. I recognised the look now – a memory was surfacing that he couldn't quite grasp.

"Well, anyway, it was too soon. And, I'm sorry you had to deal with all...that."

He sighed, shrugged again and returned my kiss. "Don't worry abut it. At least George was around to save us."

"How long do you think it will take him to get rid of that mob out there?"

"Heck knows," Ron inhaled deeply and rubbed his eyes. "I mean, they were rather…"

"Hey, coast is clear. Well, for now," George poked his head around the door. "They're erm…probably all going to be rather confused for awhile." He grinned to himself and you just knew he'd done something not completely legal.

"George, what did you…."

"RON!" I was cut off by the shriek of a female and for a moment I thought someone had slipped by George. A woman threw her arms around my husband and hugged him, before backing off quickly and clasping her hands behind her back. "Oh, I'm so sorry, you're probably sick of all that," she apologised and I relaxed when I realised who it was. "It's just, I've missed you," she shrugged awkwardly.

"Oh, erm, that's okay," he replied, blushing. He then looked closer at her and his eyed widened in recognition. "It's…you're Verity, right?" He seemed a little unsure as he asked.

"Yes!" she nodded. "You remember me?" she grinned.

"Vaguely. George may have mentioned you a bit." Ron smiled at her and then looked thoughtful as he glanced around at all the piled boxes. "I worked here, didn't I?" He then asked his brother.

"That you did little brother. Helped me get this place up and running again when my head was in a bad place." He looked sad at the memory for a moment. "Actually," his expression quickly changed. "There might be an opening for you coming up soon if you're interested? Verity, my trusty assistant, as you can see, will be leaving me to pop out a little Verity soon, and…"

"I wish you wouldn't refer to my giving birth like that. Besides, I've already told you it's a boy." She rolled her eyes at him before smiling down at her swollen belly and rubbing a hand over it.

"Well, in any case, she's going to leave me here short handed. Angelina would help out, but someone has to watch the kids and she has her own work. So, if you fancied it Ron?" he asked.

"Oh, erm. I'm not, I don't know…" he stammered out his words.

"Just think about it, okay little brother?" George patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, all right." He nodded. "Hey, by the way, what did you mean by warning us against any funny business in here?" Ron asked, confused.

George laughed whilst both Verity and myself blushed.

"You might want to ask your wife about that one." He chuckled. "Come on kids, I'll show you some new stock and we'll leave your parents to talk." He led the his niece and nephew from the store room, Hugo eagerly skipping ahead, most likely hoping he'd be able to persuade his Uncle to let him choose something. Before he closed the door, George winked at me. "Locks on the outside, remember?" he laughed. Verity followed slowly after them and smacked him for me.

Ron's face was almost pink when I looked back at him, "Did he mean…did we, you know, fool around in here?" He asked once we were alone.

"Erm, maybe. Once." I mumbled in reply, pretending I needed to find something in my bag.

"In here? Around my brother?" His voice went high pitched.

"You weren't so bothered at the time." I shrugged, the memory coming back to me as clear as day and eliciting remembered feelings from that excitement. "It was the Easter holidays, and I was home for the first time since Christmas. We hadn't seen each other since a brief Hogsmeade visit on Valentine's Day."

"Hold on," he held up his hand as he closed his eyes. I noticed he did that then when he was remembering something. "You were coming to meet me, but I was late, still working?" He looked up to check if he on the right track.

I nodded. "We were meant to have lunch together. But, you were still working back here and…"

"And…things got a little hot and heavy?" He asked again, his ears turning a shade of red. "You…you didn't?" he gasped, staring at me wide eyed as that blush spread.

I blushed too, looking sheepish as I nodded again.

"Merlin's arse Hermione! I can't believe you did that! To me…in here!" He gazed around the room, red faced and breathing heavily again.

"Like I said, you didn't complain at the time." I mumbled quietly. It was weird, I was torn between excitement that he'd remembered something significant about us, and yet totally humiliated that he had to remember that moment. I couldn't believe I'd done it either, not then and not here anyway. We'd only slept together a handful of times, so it was rather a bold move on my part. Sex was still new to us though, and hormones were running rampant – the distance and long separations playing havoc with our sexual urges. I'd wanted to surprise him, so I tried, not very expertly I'm sure, to please him.

"Wow," he whispered. "You are a naughty little imp aren't you Hermione Weasley?" he grinned, stepping towards me. "Toss…erm, giving me a hand job in my brother's shop." He shook his head slowly, but the grin and blush was still evident on his face. As was that naughty glint in his eye.

I buried my face in his chest as he pulled me to him. "Only, we knocked over a few boxes in our, erm…enthusiasm and George heard. He came to see what was going on, you just barely got your trousers pulled up in time." I flushed furiously at that humiliating memory.

"Bloody hell!" Ron laughed, though he was still blushing himself. "Did we do stuff like that often?"

I shrugged. "You'll have to try and remember, won't you?" I teased him, hoping it would give him the incentive to keep trying.

"Why you devious…." Ron tugged my body flush against his and tilted my face up to meet his, his lips quickly approaching, when…

"Just thought I'd check on you!" George popped his head around the door and broke into hysterics when he saw the pair of us jerk apart. "Knew I couldn't trust you!" he guffawed. "Come upstairs, I've put the kettle on." He nodded his head towards the private sign and headed up the stairs to the flat. Reluctantly, we both followed him.

"I'm sorry we made you close up shop for a bit. You're busiest day of the week as well." I apologised as we entered the small flat, the children were already sat on the floor with glasses of Pumpkin Juice and playing with a newly hatched litter of purple Pygmy Puffs.

George shrugged. "I was going to close up for lunch soon anyway," he said, making tea for us all.

After sitting down to enjoy lunch with George and Verity, I suggested that Ron stayed here with the children whilst I finished up our shopping as quickly as possible. George had already said we could use his floo in the flat to return home.

"But…bwooms mummy!" Hugo pouted, looking all forlorn.

"He really wanted to see the brooms," Ron pointed out.

"I know, but is it worth dealing with all that chaos again? We have brooms at home you can look at. And Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny have some pretty good ones, might even let you fly on one with them?" I tried to placate our son.

He shook his head, sticking out his bottom lip even further.

"Hardly the same as seeing the very latest broom in all it's finery, is it kid?" George asked him. Hugo shook his head and smiled at his Uncle, pleased someone understood. "Hang on," George held up one finger, before running off downstairs. He returned a moment later with a very orange, crooked witches hat, complete with tassels, and rammed it down on Ron's head.

Immediately his appearance began to change. His hair turned brown and grew longer. He sprouted a beard and his long nose retreated into his face. A pair of glasses sprung up on his face, completing the new look. I looked at Ron in surprise, whilst the children laughed at him. Ron frowned, not quite understanding what had happened as he fiddled with the glasses on his face. "What the bloody…." he began.

"A recent invention," George beamed. "Well, a slight variation of our Headless Hats. Works pretty well, don't you think?" He asked, handing Ron a mirror.

"Bloody hell!" Ron gasped, when he saw his reflection. He tugged at the beard and fingered his hair. Removing the hat briefly, his appearance returned to normal, and then tugging it back on, it changed again.

"So, now you can take Hugo to see the brooms and stuff without all that fuss, whilst Hermione finishes up your shopping in peace." He added, pleased with himself.

"That's amazing," he muttered, still admiring himself in the mirror. "Thanks mate," he smiled at his brother.

"Yay! Bwooms!" Hugo thrust a fist into the air.

"I want to come and see the owls daddy!" Rose got up and joined in the fun.

And for the next hour or so, that's what we did. Ron took the children to the Quidditch supplies store and the magical menagerie, whilst I tackled the boring task of gathering grocery and potion supplies before we all returned home. In the end, it hadn't been such a bad day, but we both agreed that we wouldn't return to Diagon Alley as a family until this whole thing calmed down. At least not without a complete set of George's hats.

"So," I began, noxing the bathroom light behind me and climbing into bed beside Ron later that night. "Have you given any thought to George's offer?" I wondered, picking up my book from the bedside table.

Ron looked up from studying this seasons British and Irish Quidditch League table. "About what?" He wondered.

"The job? Helping him out in the shop whilst Verity is on maternity leave."

"Oh," he shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, be kind of difficult to work in there right now with all that madness going on, don't you think?" He set the pamphlet aside. "At least without the use of one of those damn hats!"

"Yes, but she's got a few more weeks to go yet. Things will calm down soon, I'm sure. Besides, I'm not sure he'd mind you bringing in extra customers so much." I laughed, finding the right chapter of my book.

"I suppose not. And, I guess it would give me something to do." he mused. "I suppose I need to start thinking about what I'm going to do. I can't exactly go back to the Aurors when I barely remember it, and…we could use a second income." he realised.

We had managed to sort out the matter of the Auror widow fund. Kinglsey had ruled that during his disappearance, I was still a single parent for that time, my husband assumed dead, so I was entitled to the pay. But, although I would not have to pay it back, now he was found, that payments would stop. So, we were living on only my wages now.

"We're okay Ron. But, it might be nice for you to have a job and get out of the house again. Maybe just a few days a week or something?" I suggested, not wanting to push him into anything, but I think he needed something to do it for himself.

"Yeah, maybe. I'll think about it." He muttered, snuggling down under the covers on his side.

I gave up on my book, dropping it onto the bedside table as I noxed the lights in our room. "And of course, if you took a job at the shop again, maybe we could relive some old memories?" I suggested and flashed my eyebrows at him.

Ron smirked, one another visible by the light of the moon illuminating our room. And then he made me squeal as he gave a little growl before pouncing on me, covering my neck and chest in kisses. "That's a pretty big incentive," he mumbled against my throat.

"Mmm, hmm," I moaned in agreement as our hands discovered secret treasures and we spent the next hour or so making love to one another.

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Until next week...the penultimate chapter.