Hi everyone! I've been getting a lot of comments telling me to update... Ashley!... so I decided what the heck and am posting something new even though it is not the weekend like it normally is when I post. I have a four day weekend... thank you Thanksgiving... and I wasn't ready for bed yet, so I decided to type up what I have written and post some of it. Be warned, you aren't getting all that I've written this week. You get to wait until the weekend.

On a completely different note, I have another story now, called 'Chapters in Our Lives'. It's a series of missing moments throughout Harry Potter. You should all definetly check it out. I only have one chapter posted right now, but I'm definitely going to post some more over the weeked.

I think that's all for now. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Read and Review!

Chapter 34

"Wash up for dinner" Molly Weasley was calling through the house as Ron and Hermione walked in. "Hello!" she said brightly as they stepped through the door. "Wash up, dinner's ready. Bill and Fleur and George and Angelina are here. Percy may be coming with Audrey later. I was missing everyone, so I decided to have an impromptu family dinner! Now hurry!"

They did as she told them, and then sat down in their usual spaces at the Weasley table. The other members, except Mr. and Mrs. Weasley all looked shocked by their presence.

"Why, hello Miss Bookworm" George said wryly. "Why aren't you off at Hogwarts being bookish? If you're trying to skive off, I have some Skiving Snackboxes that I'll see you cheap." He grinned at her, but stopped when he realized that she wasn't laughing. "Why are you here?"

"There was a fire at my parent's house, and both of my parents are at St. Mungo's. They're going to be fine" she added at the gasps of pity and worry that echoed through the room.

"That's horrible, Hermione" Angelina said sympathetically.

"That's life" Hermione replied.

"How's my youngest son been through all of this?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Absolutely wonderful! I don't know what I would have done without him!"

"What! Ickle Ronnikins! A good, supportive, wonderful boyfriend?" George feigned shock. "Never thought I'd live to see this day!"

"That was with Lavender and you know it" Ron muttered, shooting a glare at his brother.

"Yeah, George" Angelina shot at her fiancé. "What's so funny about that? I would LOVE it if I could get wonderful or supportive out of you every once in a while! I find it quite attractive!" George straightened out quickly after that.

"How are your parents doing, then?" Bill asked.

"Well, they should be out in a couple of days."

"They're going to stay here, Bill!" Mr. Weasley said enthusiastically. "Two muggles staying in my house! Say, Hermione, do you think your father would be willing to show me about plugs and elekicity?"

"Arthur" Mrs. Weasley warned.

"It's electricity, Mr. Weasley. And yes, I'm sure he would be happy to teach you about them."

"Wonderful!" he said excitedly. His wife looked a great deal less pleased.

"So how are you?" Hermione asked Fleur, determined to take the conversation off of herself and her parents.

"I'm doing well" the now seven months pregnant woman said, catching onto what Hermione wanted to do. "The baby's been kicking a lot lately."

"Amazing!"

"Whomever is in there is certainly a strong one" Fleur said, lovingly placing a hand on her enlarged belly.

"Just like their mama" Mrs. Weasley said.

They had just finished their meal when someone called "Hello? Sorry we're late! Work's been crazy as usual." Percy strode into the room, Audrey in tow behind him.

"You just missed dinner, dear, but I can warm something up if you…"

Percy cut his mother off. "That's alright. We figured we'd miss dinner, so we grabbed something before we left. So, father" he said, going straight to business, "have the aurors gotten any leads on that Death Eater case? The one near Reading, Berkshire?"

Hermione's heart stopped. That was where she lived. Her face paled as she realized the fire could have been an attempt at revenge.

Mrs. Weasley shot her husband and son a look that clearly said "pipe down or more to another room." They, along with everyone except Hermione, Ron, Fleur and Molly moved into the sitting room.

"Are you alright, dear?" Molly asked. "You look a bit peaky."

"Yeah, fine."

"What's wrong?" Ron asked her quietly, reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze.

"Not here" she mumbled. "Tell you later." Then she announced "I'm going to take a shower. I should be out in half an hour." She gave Ron a meaningful look and he nodded slightly."

"Take your time, Hermione. No need to rush" Mrs. Weasley said, getting up from the table to put on the tea kettle.

Hermione made her way to the bathroom outside of Ginny's room, and got into the shower, turning the water hot as she did so. The tensity she'd been carrying in her muscles for the past few days began to slowly melt away as the water worked its wonders.

She tried not to think about what she'd heard downstairs. "It's probably just your run of the mill house fire. Don't freak yourself out about this."

But, even so, she finished her showed quickly and dressed in a worn pair of pajamas. She walked out of the bathroom, towel in hand, and opened the door to Ginny's room. Ron was pacing the floor, waiting for her.

He sat down on the bed cross-legged. She squeezed the last of the water out of her before doing the same, facing him. She grabbed his hands and began absentmindedly tracing the lines on them.

"Did you hear what Percy said to your dad? About the Death Eater case near my house?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Do you think it's at all possible that that Death Eater was the one who set the fire? I mean, what are the chances that the house would catch fire when both of my parents were home? They have completely different shifts at their offices! Only someone watching the house, or an act of fate would make that possible!"

"It is… possible… when you put it that way. Bit, think Mione. Why would a Death Eater just set your house on fire? They would have tortured or killed your parents, and then torched the place!"

"Am I just being paranoid?" she asked, turning her back into his chest and snuggling down into his arms.

As he gently massaged her shoulders he said "No, you're being honest. And you're getting ahead of yourself. You just need to wait and see what happens. You never were good at just going with the flow, you know."

Hermione was finding it rather hard to think at the moment, with Ron's warm hands kneading her shoulders; she sat up quickly.

"Well, I'm, um, going to go to bed."

"Night" Ron said, kissing her deeply. She inhaled as his lips met hers. Some things never got old. Her arms ventured up around his neck; his encircled her waist, pulling her closer. Warm fingers brushed the bit of skin exposed between her t-shirt and pajama bottoms, sending electric jolts through the both of them.

They broke apart, gasping for breath. Ron stood and said dazedly "Right. Bed" before trooping out the door, shutting it behind him.

Hermione couldn't help but let out a little giggle as she heard the door click. Brining a hand up to her slightly swollen lips, she marveled at the realization that one person could make her feel so much. There were some mornings when she woke up and couldn't believe that things were finally working with her and Ron. But moments like this confirmed it all over again.