Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry for the huge delay! I have lots of excuses but let's save them, shall we? On to Hermione!


June 14- Continued

Hermione

"Hermione, love, don't they have anything a bit more tailored? These look an awful lot like your school ones," Jean Granger said, holding up a set of billowy robes.

Hermione turned from the mirror to smile at her mother. "Mum, they are fine. They're business robes. I don't need anything else."

Hermione's mother frowned at the offending garment and stuffed it back on the rack. "I suppose," she began, walking over to join her daughter. "But I just want you to look smart. It's your first proper job!"

"It's not a job, exactly," Hermione corrected politely. "It's only an internship. And besides, I'll be wearing muggle clothes most of the time anyway. These are just for office days."

Mrs. Granger sighed in assent and fussed with the maroon robes Hermione was currently wearing. She had found herself more and more drawn to the colour over the years, and after Ron had given her two maroon jumpers he'd outgrown, found the shade suited her nicely.

Just then, Angelina returned from the back with two hats to go with her outfit. "Alright," she said, holding up the hats by their tips. "Here we have your standard issue witch's hat in eggplant, which will go nicely with your hair," she said, placing the hat atop Hermione's curls.

Hermione turned her head slightly back and forth in the mirror to admire it. "Ok, this is-"

"And this," Angelina interrupted, "is our new slim-cut business hat from the Working Witch line. Very chic."

Before Hermione could speak Angelina yanked the purple hat from her head and sent it flying into the back room. In its place she put a deep blue hat with a curved point and a black satin band around the middle. It shimmered slightly as Hermione tilted her head to admire it.

"Now that is a hat!" Hermione's mother said, reaching out and running her fingers over the brim.

Hermione had to agree, and yet...

"It's doesn't really match the robes," she said, frowning at the obtrusive thing atop her head. Life at the Ministry would be a lot easier if she could just blend into the background. Stay out of sight and maybe no one would notice her.

"This is true, this is true," Angelina quipped nodding. Another wave of her wand had an outfit in a similar shade as the hat in question zooming to the front. It stopped suddenly in front of Hermione and stood at attention in midair.

"A suit?" Hermione asked tentatively, taking in the tailored garment. This was what her mother wanted for her. It was even what she herself imagined when she thought of her professional life after Hogwarts. But that had been before.

"Oh, it's perfect, darling!" her mother gushed, clapping her hands together excitedly. "You must try it on!"

Hermione frowned at Angelina, who seemed to be suppressing a smirk. "How much is it?"

Angelina averted her eyes. "Just try it on. I'm sure I can work something out with the price."

Hermione sighed and shook her head, grabbing the suit from the air and stalking to the fitting room. "You are spending too much time with George!" she complained and Angelina laughed.

"No arguments here!"

Of course it fitted perfectly. So much so that Hermione suspected Angelina had been in the back room pre-tailoring it to pinch in at her small waist and hug comfortably to her hips and bust. When Hermione turned to admire it she saw that the buttons glimmered much like the hat. All it would take was a shaft of light and all eyes would be on her.

"I don't really like it," Hermione lied from inside the dressing room. Suddenly the tan arm of Jean Granger had wrapped itself around Hermione's thin, pale wrist and tugged her forcibly out into the main room of Madam Malkins.

"Let's see then! Oh…" Hermione was embarrassed to see that her mother's eyes were filling with tears.

"Mum," she pleaded, smoothing the skirt out nervously as Angelina grinned at her from behind her weepy mother.

Mrs. Granger waved her hands in the air and laughed. "Sorry! I'm sorry! It's just, my little girl. Oh, Hermione. I know I wouldn't have remembered you, but it just kills me to think I'd have missed out on this, not seeing you get your first job. Not seeing you get married and have children."

Hermione blushed and glanced around the room. Angelina was now noticeably absent.

"Mum, I know. And I'm so, so sorry. At the time I really didn't see a more sensible option. I was protecting you the best I could."

Mrs. Granger nodded and wiped under her eyes carefully to keep her makeup intact. "So you've said dear. But don't you see? We're meant to be protecting you. You're our daughter. We're meant to take care of you, not the other way around. Not for a while anyway!" she added with a chuckle.

Though Hermione's mother seemed to be in good spirits as they discussed the last year, Hermione's heart swelled with guilt.

"I-I know that mother, but given the circumstances," Hermione began but she was cut off by her mother's hand pressing down on her shoulder.

"Hermione, I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. All I was saying is, I'm your mother. Let me mother!"

Hermione furrowed her brow. "Um, ok? What does that entail?"

Mrs. Granger beamed and clapped her hands together matter-of-factly. "Well, first, you're getting that suit and the hat, my treat. Honestly darling you look so grown up and professional. Just like I imagined for you."

Hermione made to argue but the look on her mother's face stopped her. She knew the only way she'd be able to make it up to her parents is to let them be her parents again. As hard as it was to give up the control she'd fostered over the last year, it was likely the only way to repair the relationship with her parents.

"Alright, but I'm getting the maroon ones too, ok? I can't wear this every day!"

With a watery smile Jean turned and called Angelina out from the backroom. Thankfully, she didn't seem to hear their exchange, or pretended she didn't anyway.

Hermione was pleased that the suit and hat weren't too expensive, though she guessed she was getting some sort of discount. Ron had told her he hadn't bought lunch once since he began working at the shop, none of the cafes would take his money. While Ron thought this was a great perk, Hermione hated being treated differently because of her involvement in the war. Especially by people who were just building their businesses and lives back up after a year of horrors and poverty.

The look Angelina was giving her right now told her she was correct and that Hermione would not be fighting her either.

Fine, Hermione thought, I'll just keep it to myself then.

After her garments were folded and bagged, they waved goodbye to Angelina and stepped out in the warm sunny alley.

"What's next?" Hermione asked, somewhat brusquely. She really was having a hard time letting go, which just made her feel worse.

"Lunch," her mother replied, smiling happily around the main street. Though several store fronts had yet to be reclaimed and refurbished, the alley was bustling once again with shoppers. It was a small consolation to see that after what it had looked like to years ago when they'd come to visit the twin's shop.

George's shop. No, George and Ron's shop, she thought, her spirits lifting slightly. She was pleased that Ron had joined on as partner with George. Though she knew Ron actually liked the celebrity of being a huge hero, it made her proud that his family still came first. Also, she liked what he had said, about them having a normal life. That's what she wanted more than anything, though it was becoming clear that what she wanted wasn't a priority to everyone.


...Granger…Hermione…muggleborn…golden trio…brightest witch…

"Hermione? Darling are you hearing me?"

Hermione blinked rapidly and looked across the table at where her mother was cradling a butterbeer, looking concerned.

"Sorry, just thinking. What were you saying?"

But before her mother could repeat herself, two people had approached their table. A woman who looked much older than her age, with graying blonde hair and a permanently worried face along with a young girl whose long blonde hair was in plaits and whose arms were full of books.

"Hi, sorry to bother you, it's just my daughter is a big fan of yours and she wanted to say hello," the woman said to Hermione, looking contrite. Hermione glanced at the anxiously waiting girl and managed a tight smile.

"Hello," she said politely, "what's your name?"

"Cleo," the girl said looking shy. "I'm starting at Hogwarts this year!" she suddenly blurted out excitedly and then turned a shade of red that reminded Hermione fondly of her boyfriend.

"Oh well that's very exciting," Hermione said. "Are you here getting supplies with your family?"

The little girl nodded and squeezed her books tighter to her chest. Hermione could pick them all out just by their dust jackets. Well, all except one. "Just my mum. My dad was in the war too. He was a hero."

Hermione felt a lump in her throat at the use of past tense the girl was using to describe her father. The girl's mother cleared her throat and placed a light hand on her daughter's arm.

"My husband worked at the ministry. Things were strained, as you know, for muggleborns."

Hermione managed a stiff nod and gripped her hands tightly in her lap.

"Well, go on Cleo, we've taken up enough of Miss Granger's time."

Cleo rummaged in her pile of books hastily and yanked out the violet covered one that Hermione did not recognize. The little girl then held it out to Hermione and said in a hurried voice, "Would you sign this please?"

Hermione furrowed her brow and looked down at the cover. There, was her face, along with Ron and Harry's. The title, in big billowy calligraphy said "The Golden Trio: a biography of the three that stopped him" by "Archivald Timnus".

Hermione felt even more colour leave her face as she looked at her likeness, strong and fierce on the cover of this book.

She glanced back up at the two strangers to see the little girl bobbing eagerly on her toes and the mother seeming to be almost, embarrassed.

"Mum, do you have a pen?" Hermione managed to say, though her voice sounded strange to her own ears.

Hermione's mother snapped her attention back from the little girl and blinked. "Hm? Oh, yes! Of course! And what house are you hoping to be in, Cleo?" Jean asked as she rummaged in her purse for a pen.

"Gryffindor!" Cleo replied at once. Hermione didn't need to be the brightest witch of her age to know this girl would respond thusly. "My mum and dad were both in Hufflepuff, but I just know I'll be in Gryffindor! I just have to be!"

"Mm," Hermione replied before hastily grabbed the proffered pen and scribbling her signature on the title page of the book. Then she closed it and held it out to the girl firmly.

"You know, Cleo," she added as the girl's mother turned her away. The little girl spun around at the sound of her name.

"Yes?!"

Hermione smiled and beckoned her close. Cleo practically ran back to her. Hermione leaned close and whispered, "You know, there were a lot of Hufflepuffs fighting this year. Some of which died defending Hogwarts. You should be very proud to be in that house, if that's what the sorting hat decides."

The little girl looked back at her with a surprisingly serious face. "Oh, I'd love to be in Hufflepuff. No offense, but that's where the real heroes go, in my opinion. But I'm going to be in Gryffindor. I just know it."

Hermione furrowed her brow. "Why do you say that?"

Cleo gave her a wide smile and looked back at her mother before responding, "Well, that's what my dad always said, that I was a true Gryffindor. So I just have to be in that house. No matter what."

And with that, the little girl turned and skipped back to where her mother was waiting, leaving Hermione to blink back tears.

"Hermione? Darling are you ok?"

Hermione blinked at her mother, unable to stop the trickle of tears from rolling down her cheeks. "I'd like to leave."

Jean didn't question it. She nodded and grabbed the bags from Madam Malkins and stood quickly. Hermione rummaged in her bag and pulled out a few sickles to cover their lunch before walking hurriedly down the high street her mother a step behind her.

"Hermione?" she heard someone call but ignored it. People were often calling her by her name these days. Or sometimes just saying it. Just acknowledging her presence. It was maddening to hear some voices full of appreciation or even awe to see the brightest witch of her age out in public. A girl who …..

"Oi! Mione!" Hermione stopped in her tracks. That was not a stranger. She turned to see Ron jogging down the street in the purple and orange uniform of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

"Mrs. Granger, hi, how are you?"

Hermione's mother gave Ron a smile before embracing him and placing a peck on his cheek. Ron barely seemed to react to the affection. His brow furrowed in Hermione's direction.

"What's the matter? What happened?"

"Hmm?" she said, stalling. "Oh, nothing. Just in a bit of a rush. You still coming round for dinner?"

Ron stared at her for a moment before glancing sideways at her mother. She knew him well enough to simply let her head dip in a slight nod that told him more than she probably could articulate at that moment in time.

"Erm, well yeah I'll be off at 5. So I'll see you both a little after. I have something for Mr. Granger," he added to Hermione's mother.

Jean Granger nodded. "I'm sure he'll like that. Hermione, let's be off, darling."

Hermione gave Ron a smile and squeezed his hands. "See you."

As they walked towards the Leaky Cauldron Hermione couldn't help but feel even more guilt about what had just happened. These were two people that she had hurt, or who had gone through insurmountable pain protecting her, and here they were, both trying to comfort her now when she should be comforting them.


"God damn buggering hell!"

"Daddy!" Hermione admonished though part of her was pleased. Not that Ron was absolutely demolishing her father at chess, even though a small part of her liked that too, but because Ron and her father were getting along, even if the names he called him suggested otherwise.

She glanced at Ron now and saw him was suppressing a grin, either for winning or riling her up, she loved seeing that look on his face. It was mischief and pleasure and... Merlin, we need to get out of here.

"One more," she heard her father grumble, dumping the small pile of Ron's pieces back on the table. Ron's grin grew wider. She relented, both because she was keen to finish this chapter and because secretly she loved watching Ron play Wizards' Chess. At first, the magical pieces frightened her and watching them slice and smash each other felt gruesome. But after seeing Ron move them around that giant chessboard in first year, when he sacrificed himself, really it had all changed after that.

"Just take it!" her father finally shouted as Ron leaned over and pressed his knight forward to capture the queen. "Bloody hell you are good!" he consented standing up and rubbing his face.

"Another?" Ron asked innocently and both Hermione and her father shouted "No!" at the same time. She blushed slightly as she got curious looks from both her boyfriend and her father. "It's getting dark and you said you wanted to ride in the car today."

Hermione's father laughed. "He's not a dog, darling. But please do be careful. I know you have your license now but a car is much more dangerous than say..."

"Driving an invisible flying death horse?" Ron supplied cheekily and Hermione glared at him. He was exuding confidence from his recent string of victories. Thankfully her father simply chuckled.

"Maybe not as dangerous as all that. Wait, when did that happen?!"

"Later, Daddy," she said, leaning over to give him a kiss while shooting a glare at her now sheepish boyfriend. "We'll be back around 11?"

Kevin gave her a suspicious look. "No, I want to see my car before I go to bed. Nine thirty, young lady." Hermione smiled at her father's stern tone, mostly because she was just so happy to be able to hear it again.

"See ya then!" She said cheerily, turning and taking Ron's hand.

"Bye sir," he said hastily as she pulled him out to the garage. "Merlin he acts like you're the one who crashed a car into a homicidal tree!" Ron said as they made their way around to the car.

"Shhh! Not helping, Ron," she chastised, opening the garage door and unlocking the car. "He loves this car. The way your dad loves or loved his." Ron frowned slightly, either remembering the incidents surrounding the destruction of the Ford Anglia or because he didn't understand.

"I don't understand," he began and she couldn't help but laugh.

Hermione took his large freckled hand in her smaller one and pulled him close. "What?" he asked, though his other hand was already in the back pocket of her shorts.

"Men just love their cars Ron. I'm sure one day we'll have a car and you'll love it more than you love me."

Ron leaned down and kissed her lightly. "That would be impossible Mione." Hermione's entire body electrified at his quiet deep tone.

"Get in."

Hermione never imagined she'd feel so at ease driving a car. Aside from summer holidays, her life had become so entrenched in magic that sometimes she forgot about using things like microwaves and email. She'd been nervous when her father suggested she get her driver's license. Would the car break? Would she fail her test?

But learning had turned out to be a wonderful experience both for her and her father. And after only two weeks she had her license. It felt very normal and very freeing.

"How close are we to my house?" Ron asked after about fifteen minutes of driving.

"Not close. It would take several hours by car." Ron goggled at her. "Several hours? Blimey, I really prefer the Floo."

Hermione let out an uncharacteristic giggle. "Yes well you can't Floo everywhere."

Ron leaned over and took her hand. "I'm not complaining. I like driving in the car with you. It feels very...easy."

"How do you mean?"

Ron let go of her hand to turn down the radio. "I don't know. I mean maybe easy isn't the right word. It's just, we spent ages traveling slow last year, but there was all this pressure and danger. Then we went to Australia and that was...well, a bit, stressful." Hermione laughed at the understatement. "So this is just, you know, different. We don't have to hurry or plan, it's easy."

Hermione smiled. "It is."

After another twenty minutes the sun had shifted into setting and Hermione pulled into a minimarket for some drinks and snacks. "I want to do it," Ron whispered when they had collected a fair amount of junk food. Hermione glanced at the checker. He didn't seem too bright so even if Ron screwed it up somehow he'd be easy to confund.

"Ok," she said, handing over muggle change purse and her bottle of lemonade. Ron grinned and kissed her. He really did seem at ease.

She stood back so he wouldn't get nervous and watched him pay for their food. Ron stared at the change he received a little too long but other than that it was perfect.

"We'll done," she said when they returned to the car. Ron was still playing with a few tiny coins. "Why do these even exist? They're barely money."

Hermione grinned. "My father has been saying that for ages."

Ron gave her a sideways glance. "Is that weird? Me and your dad, being similar?"

Hermione pulled back on the highway and thought. "No," she finally decided. "I mean isn't that what people say? That women end up marrying men like their fathers?" She realized exactly what she said a second too late and gauged his expression between watching the road. Ron had already started on his cache of candy bars and didn't seem fussed.

"I suppose," he said with his mouthful. "I like to think I'm not as bossy as him, though."

Hermione looked back at the road, keeping her face impassive. "No, but that's my trait isn't it?"

Ron stayed silent and she looked at him to see he was watching her. "What?"

"I'm not dumb enough to answer that question, Hermione. Give me a little credit."

They made it to the overlook just as the sun began to set. She pulled in next to two cars and put the car in park. "Now what?" Ron said looking around.

Now I snog your brains out, Hermione thought, but instead just gestured to the sun. "Want to sit outside?" Ron nodded and waved his wand to banish the rubbish that had accumulated in the car before tucking into his pocket. They climbed up on the hood of the car and watched the sunset, just like she'd imagined.

"Do you think Harry is like my dad?" Ron blurted out suddenly and she turned to face him.

"What are you talking about?"

Rons face automatically flushed. "Um, we'll what you said in the car, about marriage..."

Hermione smiled and squeezed his hand. "I think in some ways he is, yes. Harry values family more than most people, and he's quick to put the needs of others before his own. Most importantly, he loves her dearly, more than I think you realize."

Ron looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah, I know he does. I just think about that sometimes, you know? My little sister being married." He said the word like marriage was equivalent to catching an embarrassing disease.

"I don't think they'll be getting married any time soon, Ron. She still has school and were all so young."

Ron frowned. "We aren't that young."

"In muggle culture, people don't usually get married until they are in their 20s"

"You'll be 20 next year," Ron offered and Hermione glanced at the two teenagers laying back on the car next to theirs. She guessed their conversation was not quite as serious as their own.

"Yes, and there's a lot I want to do in my 20s," she began, trying to figure out how to phrase her words.

Ron turned to her and took her hands. "There's a lot I want to do too, Hermione. But I want to do all of it with you. And I want it to be really perfect, believe me. Otherwise I'd ask you right now."

Hermione gaped at him. "Ask me?" Ron let go of her hands and reached in his pocket. Bloody hell if he pulls out a ring. He pulled out a small silver object. The deluminator.

"I just want us to be together forever. I know that makes me sound like a prat but I don't care. I know I promised I'd never leave you again but it's more than that. Leaving you made me realize it's a whole bloody lot more than that."

Hermione sniffed and reached out to hold the hand that was clutching the deluminator. The sun was a bright orange half moon, dissected by yellow and white streams of cloud. "I know that Ron. It is for me too." Ron looked up at her and she saw his eyes were also wet.

"So do you want to?" he asked throatily.

Hermione looked at him in shock. "Just hold on Ron. Don't say anything you might regret."

Ron laughed. "Yeah because I never do that."

Hermione pressed her hands into her bare knees and rubbed them back and forth. Ron surely wasn't asking her to marry him. "I need to graduate first, Ron."

Ron nodded, he didn't look disappointed. "Yeah I know. What else?"

"What do you mean what else?"

Ron gestured around the park. "We'll like, other than the timing, I mean, would this be a good place? Seems romantic."

Hermione smirked. "In theory, yes."

"In theory?"

Hermione looked around at the cars. Now that it was almost full dark only them and another couple remained outside of their cars. "Yes, I'll explain in a few moments. But look Ron, I'm really pleased, that you are thinking about our future, but I can't give you instructions on how and when to ask. It will show how well you know me when you can tell on your own its the right time."

Ron looked stunned. "Blimey, that's a lot of pressure."

Hermione laughed. "You have plenty of time, Ron. I'm not going anywhere." Ron leaned over to kiss her and she leaned back smiling.

"Mm?"

"Let's get back in the car," she said, sliding from the hood and walking around to the driver's side. Ron mimicked her until she pushed her seat forward and slid into the back seat. She avoided his eyes as she felt a flush burn into the backs of her knees. How did girls manage this? It was likely, she thought, that they didn't have to. Most muggle boys would've gotten the hint right away.

"Erm, what are you doing?" Ron asked now, standing in the open door on the passenger side.

Hermione shrugged and looked everywhere but at Ron. "Nothing."

After a long moment of awkwardness she heard the passenger seat move forward and Ron grunting as he tried to squeeze into the back seat with her. "Bit cramped back here," he complained as he finally pulled himself through to land roughly next to her on the seat.

"Suppose you're right," she said quietly. With an easy flick of her wand the back seat was enlarged and Ron immediately stretched out his long legs and placed his arms behind his head.

"Much better!" he said and Hermione couldn't help but giggle. "Are you going to get a car of your own?" Ron asked suddenly.

"I doubt it. Like you said, it's much easier just to Floo or Apparate."

Ron rubbed her shoulders slightly and she let her head fall onto his chest. "Yeah, but for work. I doubt you can visit Muggle towns and locate missing Muggle and Muggleborns without a car."

Hermione frowned. Nothing could ruin her mood more than discussing her new internship. Harry had brought it to her attention one night while they were out in the backyard of The Burrow practicing silent defensive incantations, something that, as an auror, Harry really needed to master.

They both agreed that Hermione might feel better about things if she were out there helping with the effort. The Muggle Rehabilitation Coalition seemed like just the place to do that, at least, until school started.

And yet there was all this guilt. Every time she thought about those affected during the time they spent looking for horcruxes. The weeks she forced them to plan to break into the Ministry. The months of traveling from one hillside to the next. If she had acted quicker, more instinctively, like Ron or Harry, maybe some lives could've been saved.

"Mione?" Ron finally said and she was snapped back to the present. She flushed, wondering how long she'd been out of it this time.

"Sorry, I was just thinking."

Ron laughed. "Of course you were. You're always thinking, brightest witch and all that."

Hermione felt chills run up the backs of her arms. "Don't say that, Ron."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not. You know it and so do I. If I were the brightest bloody witch things would've went a little differently this past year, wouldn't you say?"

Ron put an arm around her and leaned against the back seat. "Well Hermione, I'd like to see anyone who could've done better. You've been holding us together since day one, me and Harry. And we all know that there is no way in hell Harry would've defeated...Voldemort, without you. You got us locket, you figured out the sword bit, you brewed the polyjuice potion, you..."

Ron trailed off as Hermione shifted so that she was straddling him and watched as his eyes went wide. "I don't want to talk about this anymore," she said, placing a soft kiss against his lips. Ron let out something of a whine and placed his hands lightly on her waist. She took that as a good sign and pressed herself closer against him. They kissed for a few moments more until, to her complete surprise Ron pulled away looking confused.

"Um, Mione?"

"What? What's wrong?" Ron cocked an eyebrow and pushed himself up against her in response. She bit her lip as excitement flooded her body. "I don't see a problem," she replied, pushing back against him so that he groaned a little.

"But, oh Merlin, but Mione, were in the car. Can't we go back to mine?"

Hermione pouted. "I don't want to sneak around the Burrow. Besides, isn't this exciting?"

Ron goggled at her. "Wait, was this intentional? Is that why you brought me here?" Hermione backed off him now, feeling embarrassed. "You saucy minx!" he exclaimed laughing and circling his arms around her waist.

"Don't make fun of me Ron! I thought you'd like it!" Ron was tying to place kisses against the more ticklish spots of her neck now as she squirmed against him.

"I do like it! I'm just surprised is all. I mean, who gets off in a car?"

Hermione yelled out as Ron bit lightly against her collarbone. "Stop! Ah, please it tickles!" Ron let go laughing.

Hermione caught her breath and sat back. "To answer your question, Ron, everyone."

"Huh?"

"You asked who'd want to get off in a car? The answer is everyone. Why do you think there are so many cars here?"

Ron gaped. "You mean all these people are...shagging?" he finished in a whisper.

"Maybe some of them. But mostly it's a good place for teenagers to have a bit of a snog. I've always wanted to come here...with you."

Ron's eyebrows arched in disbelief. "Always?"

She hit him in the chest. "Shut up, Ron. I'm not being literal. I just meant, I thought it would be fun."

"We have to go back soon," Ron offered, glancing at his watch. Hermione pouted again causing Ron to laugh while he simultaneously reached around to grab her backside. "You know what that face does to me," he purred. "Come here."


A/N 2: There you have it. A bit of Romione fluff somewhat by request! I'm hoping to get Neville and Luna's chapters out this week. Sorry again for the delay! Hope some of you are still reading! :)