1 September 2017—Eight

"Ron, stop!" Hermione cried, grabbing her husband's wrist. Ron slammed the brakes on the car.

"Merlin, Hermione, don't do that!" he said exasperatedly. "I wasn't going to hit him."

"Sorry," Hermione answered shortly, watching the Muggle walk away in the rear-view mirror. Ron backed out of their space and pulled onto the road, trundling off in the direction of the highway. Predictably, there was a horrible traffic jam.

Hermione exhaled and crossed her legs, looking out the window. "I knew we should have taken the car back after we left the station."

"Ah, you know Hugo likes riding in the back seat. He'll be happy we're picking him up in it," Ron said with a smile. "Besides, we only got the morning off. We'd never have had time."

"You should send your mother a message or something then, because we're not going to get there for at least an hour," snapped Hermione. She rolled her eyes. "This is ridiculous!" she cried, waving her arms at the cars inching along all around them.

"Hey, come on," Ron said, frowning. "What's the matter? You've been in a mood all week."

"I'm not in a mood," Hermione told him sharply. Ron bit his lip so he wouldn't laugh and reached for her hand. She wouldn't open her fists, so he placed his hand on top of them.

"She's going to be fine," he said. "This is Rosie we're talking about. If she doesn't have half her year charmed by the time she gets off the train, I'm—er, one of Luna's pets—what were they? Crinkle-Horned Snickers?"

Hermione laughed reluctantly. "Crumple-Horned Snorkacks," she said. She allowed Ron to interlock his fingers with hers and turned to look at him. "I didn't think I could ever feel as anxious as I did when I first got to Hogwarts. I was completely wound up, I couldn't stop talking."

"Really? I don't remember any of that," Ron said delicately, keeping his eyes on the road. Hermione hit his shoulder, laughing. Then she looked down.

"What if she's unhappy?" asked Hermione. "What if she doesn't fit in, like—like me?" she finished quietly.

"Well, we'll have to disown her," Ron said, shrugging. "I mean, sure, it's been fun these last few years—"

"Ron, seriously," Hermione interrupted. "My mother never knew what to tell me when I wrote her. What do I say to Rosie if she's the same way?"

"Hermione," Ron said. "One of my very favorite things about our beautiful daughter is that she is just like you in so many ways. And one of my very favorite things about you, my beautiful wife, is that you have a rather persistent way of never giving up on what you want. Rosie's going to be great."

Hermione sighed and looked out the window.

"Besides, my other favorite thing about her is that she's just like me, too," Ron added. "And do you remember how popular I was? I mean, really, it was just—whew."

Hermione snorted. "Oh, please," she said.

"Just trust me, Hermione," Ron told her, quickly changing lanes. "She's with her godmother, and Neville, and two of her favorite cousins. She's going to be beyond happy." Hermione nodded.

"I miss her already," she said. "I was thinking about her all day. I swear I was just pregnant last week…wasn't I?"

Ron laughed. "I tell you what, why don't we see if Mum and Dad'll let us stay for dinner? Mum can talk you down from being a first-time Hogwarts parent."

"I just need to see Hugo," Hermione said as Ron turned off the main road and onto the little dirt lane to the Burrow. Ron patted her hand. In a few minutes they pulled up alongside the leaning house and climbed out of the car.

"Mum!"

Nine-year-old Hugo came shooting out the kitchen door, across the garden, and tackled Hermione about her waist. She stumbled, but smiled and knelt in front of Hugo and wrapped him in a tight hug. Molly came outside, wiping her hands on her apron and smiling as she kissed Ron. Hermione looked over Hugo's shoulder at her.

"He's been missing his sister," Molly whispered. Hermione nodded and scooped Hugo up in her arms, kissing his cheek.

"Aw, mate," Ron said as Hermione carried their son closer. "You miss Rosie?" Hugo shrugged, and Ron tousled his hair.

Ron turned to his mother. "Mum, we were wondering—"

"I've already got the table set for eight," Molly said with a knowing look between Ron and Hermione, before heading back into the house.

"Eight?" Ron asked. "Who—"

Molly turned back and nodded over his shoulder. Hermione and Ron turned around to see Harry, carrying Lily, and Ginny, walking in the garden gate with rather sheepish looks on their faces.

"Lily!" Hugo slid out of his mother's grasp and bolted across the garden towards his best friend, who scrambled away from Harry. They ran into the house together, giggling. Molly shook her head and hurried through the door after them.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione stood awkwardly in the garden for a moment, not making eye contact. Then, Hermione looked up at Harry and burst out laughing. One by one, they all succumbed to laughter and hugged each other. Hermione threw one arm around Ginny's neck, and Ron and Harry followed them into the house.

Heh. Hope it was worth the wait!

L