Chapter 29: Easter at The Burrow

By the time they arrived at The Burrow on Sunday it felt like there were already a dozen or more kids running around outside. Rose and Hugo quickly ran off to play with their friends and meet those who had been away at Hogwarts. Hermione and Ron were soon absorbed in the crowd and pulled into different conversations with George and Ginny quickly cornering their brother.

"So, ickle Ronniekins, how is life going as a family man?" George asked.

"Rather well, thanks," Ron replied. "Has the shop been busy this week with the kids out of school?"

"No, no, no. You don't get to change the subject there little brother. You and Hermione look particularly cozy. And the kids have all been out of school for a week, and you didn't show up last Sunday. Spill it. What's up with you two?"

"George, seriously, we just had a good week is all."

"Please," scoffed Ginny. "I already heard Hugo tell Lilly that he and Rose spent all week with Rose's grandparents. I don't have to be as brilliant as Hermione to figure out what you two were up to all week. But what I want to know is when you are going to come out in the open with everything."

Caught, Ron looked back and forth between the two other red heads and realized he was cornered. "Alright," he admitted. "It was a bloody brilliant week. And we are going to tell the kids in the next week or so. But until the kids know and have worked through the idea, we just have to lay low."

"Brilliant," declared George. "So will you make an honest woman of her anytime soon?"

"Well, we've decided that we aren't going to even discuss the issue of moving in together until at least the fall when Rose goes off to school. So, come fall we'll figure some more things out. But the next step is getting the kids used to the concept of an 'us' so to speak."

"I get that," Ginny nodded. "I can only imagine how difficult it will be for her to send Rose off to school. If I were her I wouldn't want you getting in the way of my last few months having my daughter home."

"Thanks?" Ron said.

Meanwhile Fleur had cornered Hermione on the porch. Speaking in French so no one could eavesdrop on their conversation, Fleur said, "You are positively glowing, Hermione."

"Thank you, Fleur. You look lovely in your Easter dress."

"That is not what I meant," said Fleur coyly. "You are in love, and it is quite becoming on you."

Hermione simply blushed.

"I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," Fleur said, "I am just so thrilled for you and Ron. I think you are the woman he has been waiting for all of these years. I haven't seen him this happy ever, and I have known him since he was about 13. Are the children aware?"

"I didn't know it was so obvious," Hermione said. "But, yes, things are going quite well with us. And, no – the children don't yet understand. But, we plan to address that in the next few weeks. I wanted to tell Rose soon so she could have time to get used to the idea before she leaves for school. I wouldn't want her to find this type of thing out by letter."

"Has Ron mentioned how famous he is in our world?"

"He did mentioned it, but I don't really have a sense of what to think of all of that."

"Well, he is quite well known. Between what he and Harry did all those years ago and the many achievements he's had as an auror, he is still somewhat of a star. And, being a handsome, single wizard, the press have loved following him. I don't want to scare you. I just wanted to be sure that you were prepared mentally for possibly being photographed and appearing in the Daily Prophet or other magazines."

"Well, we don't go out much, but when we have, it has always been in muggle places."

"That is wise. But, the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts is coming up soon. They often run a 'where are they now' type of thing then. Just don't be surprised."

"He said the kids would be safe from the limelight. Was that right?"

"Oh yes. They can no longer take pictures of children or talk about them. They will print pictures of you and probably print rubbish about you as well, but the children are fine."

"What do you mean print rubbish?"

"Whatever dress you wear will be the wrong one. If you had straight hair, they would say you should curl it, but since you have curly hair they will say you should straighten it. It is very similar to the nonsense that is printed in muggle magazines."

"Really? It's that bad?"

"Unfortunately yes. And, Ron is famous, rich and handsome."

"He's rich? I thought he said they grew up with very little money."

"He didn't mention all of the awards?"

"Well, he mentioned some Merlin award once, but I didn't know what it was."

"The Order of Merlin, First Class is the highest recognition in the wizarding world. It is an incredible honor. Both he and Harry were given it. But, after the war, countries from around the world all recognized their work with honors and gifts. And many of those were accompanied with large financial awards as well. I don't know what the final total was, but he is quite wealthy. It's funny, actually. The Weasleys had very little money when they were growing up. I don't think they ever went hungry, but they each understood what it was to go without. As Ron was the tallest, and the youngest boy, his clothes were always terrible. They were too short on him and usually threadbare. But, once he had all of this money, he barely spent any of it. He finally bought some pants that fit, but nothing terribly ostentatious. I probably shouldn't say this, but you should know who it is you are with. He contacted Bill, who works at Gringotts, and asked to pay off the mortgage on The Burrow and all of his parents' many debts anonymously and worked with Bill to concoct this elaborate story so his parents wouldn't know it was him."

"He did that?" Hermione asked, slightly in awe.

"Oh yes. He knew they would never accept money from their children, but he wanted them taken care of. I don't know what else he has done. He could have given it all away for all I know. He has lived in that flat above the joke shop forever, and I don't think George charged him any rent. George was so grateful for Ron's help after the war."

"He helped him reopen the shop, right?"

"Well, yes, but the real thing he did was refuse to let George give up. George was in a deep depression and very close to committing suicide I think. Ron refused to let him be by himself. He would force George up every day, make him shower and eat and go to the shop. When George tried to drink it all away, Ron was the one who would search the pubs to find him and haul him home. Ron saved his life, and George knew it. So, he hasn't had any living expenses for the past almost twenty years while making the good salary of an auror. I know you aren't with him for his money, but it is important to understand his approach to money if you are to be with him long run. He is a good man. And he needs someone who loves him for him, not for the image of a rich, handsome bachelor wizard the media tries to make him out to be. He may be a rich, handsome bachelor wizard, but that isn't what defines him."

"Thank you for telling me these things, Fleur. Even after a few months in the magical world, I still feel like I am learning things every day."

"It is no problem, Hermione. If I am right about this, and I usually am on these things, you and I will be sisters in law at some point. And it is only fair for you to understand what joining this family and being a part of this world will mean. You know, we should get together away from all of this Weasley craziness. Sometimes all of girls meet for lunch in Diagon Alley. You should join us one of these days."

"That sounds lovely. I definitely will do that sometime."

"I get nervous when I see you two going off in French like that," said Ron only half joking as he came upon the two of them.

"No need for nerves, Ron," Hermione said playfully. "Fleur is just giving me the real stories I need to know."

"Maybe that is what I was afraid of," admitted Ron.

"Relax, Ron. I didn't tell her about the time you tried to ask me out," Fleur said as she got up to walk away leaving Ron's mouth open and ears blazing.

"You asked her out?" laughed Hermione.

"Uh, yeah. But in my defense I was 13 and under the full sway of her damn veela powers."

"What happened," gasped Hermione who was clutching her stomach from laughter.

"There was this ball at the school, and she was there for the year for this special tournament between the different wizarding schools. She was selected as one of the participants, so between being a strong, famous, powerful witch and her veela nonsense, I didn't stand a chance. But, I assure you, I handled it as smoothly as any thirteen year old could have."

"Oh, and how was that?" laughed Hermione.

"You know, I calmly asked her out in front of a large crowd of students and then promptly ran away before she could say no," he said joining her laughter.

"Oh you poor thing," she laughed. "You were just pitiful."

"Not my finest moment, thankfully," admitted Ron. "And it made it a bit awkward when I realized a few years later than she and Bill were an item. Luckily, she has mostly let me live it down. But being family, she knows how to bring it out at key moments."

"Made my day, I have to confess."

"Hmm. I guess I will have to find a moment to steal you a way and make sure that I am the best part of your day then."

"Good luck with that. She has set a high bar," Hermione teased.

"Challenge accepted," nodded Ron.

The chaos of the gathering soon overtook them, and Ron's mum sent them out to gather up the children for dinner. By the time everyone was seated, Ron found himself between Rose and George, with Hugo and Hermione next to Ginny and Percy at the far end of the table. He caught her eye and winked at her, causing her to blush and look away as she tried to chat with Percy.

Hermione thought Percy reminded her a lot of herself. She wasn't totally clear on what he did, but it seemed to be a staff position quite high up in the government. Like her, he seemed to have an appreciation for the rule of law and using the system to make things happen. The difference between Ginny and Percy was quite striking and almost made Hermione laugh as she tried to juggle conversation between them. As much as Percy respected the rules, Ginny seemed to take them at best as mere suggestions, and at worse as amusements. Percy seemed to be intrigued listening to Hermione discuss her work in the courts, and his questions let Hermione know he had quite a good understanding of international law.

At the other end of the table, Rose and Ron were deep in conversation themselves. Rose was still raving about her week with her grandparents.

"I was always more at home in the country," said Ron. "Growing up here I just got used to being able to go for a fly, see stars at night, and go for a walk where you heard birds and frogs instead of cars and cell phones."

"I know I've grown up in the suburbs of London, but I think I prefer the countryside too. The air feels different somehow. But I also love the seaside. I think the perfect place for me would be a country house by the seaside!"

"Well, you should visit Shell Cottage then. Bill and Fleur lived there when they were just married. It's on this giant cliff that overlooks the ocean, and it is far from anywhere. It is a tiny cottage, so they had to move when they had children, but I have spent some time there over the years. I think you would like it."

"That would be fun. Could we all go there?"

"Maybe, I don't recall exactly how many beds there are there anymore."

"Well, even if it isn't there, I think the four of us should go on holiday this summer."

"You do?" Ron said, taken aback slightly.

"Yes. I want the four of us to go away for a family holiday before I leave for school. I just think things will be different once I go, and I want to have time just for us. Do you think Mum would agree?"

"Well, I am smarter than to try and speak for your mum, but I would guess she would love to go on a family holiday before you go to Hogwarts."

"Will you ask her?"

"Ok. I could do that. You don't want credit for the brilliant idea?"

"No. Because then she'll ask me where I want to go and make me research places in the library and learn about it ahead of time. If you ask then if anyone has to go the library, it won't be me."

Ron was trying not to laugh, but finally he broke and started giggling.

"Oh come on, Ron. You know she does that kind of thing. I love her, and she's an amazing mum, but not everything has to be a research project."

"You're brilliant, Rose. Do you know that? You have figured out how to get what you want and not have to pay the price so to speak."

"So you'll talk to Mum?"

"Yeah," Ron laughed. "I'll talk to her, and I'll spare you the research portion of the holiday if she sends me to the library."

"You're the best, Ron," she said as she threw her arms around his waist and leaned from her chair to hug him tightly.

Momentarily surprised, Ron quickly put his arm around her too, hugging her and kissing the top of her head. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn't notice Hermione watching them from the other end of the table, her eyes growing damp.