I do not own Harry Potter.
Life After the Last Battle
Chapter 44, Back to Normal, On Some Levels
"This is really, really bad, Hermione," Ron breathed.
"I didn't know... we have to get back to Harry and Ginny!"
"They're ok. I told Harry to place the same charms that I just did over his flat. I didn't tell him why, but he did it. We can go back tomorrow," Ron explained.
"Ok... does Ginny know anything?"
"Well, I expect Harry's told her what I told him, which was to stick together. I didn't want to ruin their little party, so I told him I'd tell him what's going on tomorrow. This doesn't seem extremely urgent, like they're going to come at any moment, but you never know. I'm worried, Hermione. We've got to tell someone."
"What good will that do? Then the children of these Death Eaters will just have more people to kill. They're going to go for us Ron, and they're going to go for anyone they remember being at the last battle."
"Well we can't very well not tell the people they're after," Ron said with a sigh. Hermione sighed as well.
"You're right about that... but what are we supposed to do, just try and get a hold of every single person who was there?"
"I'm not sure, Hermione... I think we should talk about this with Ginny and Harry first thing tomorrow. We know they're targeting you and Ginny first, and you two are safe for now, plus we don't know how many people Dolohov's kid has contacted right now..."
"Ok... I'm sorry, Ron..."
"About what?"
"Not telling you sooner. I didn't think it mattered. I wasn't worried."
"You can defend yourself, Hermione, I know that. But we can't defend everyone. And we don't know how many children of Death Eaters there are in all, which is really bad."
"What now?"
"Now we go to sleep and wake up early tomorrow to bring this letter to Harry and Ginny," Ron said uncertainly.
"Ok. So... do I go home?" Hermione asked. This was the confusing part.
"Well... I don't know... I mean... I'm not letting you out of my sight, so it's really up to you where we stay tonight."
"I think my parents are back home by now. It's too late to check anyway, but I don't want to bring them into this..."
"You can stay here then," Ron said awkwardly.
"Where shall I sleep?" Hermione asked, eyeing the small couch.
"I'll sleep on the couch. You can take the bed."
"Ron," Hermione sighed. "It doesn't need to be like this."
"But.. we... slow," Ron muttered.
"It's ok," Hermione said. "That doesn't matter right now."
"Yes it does," Ron said unconvincingly.
"Where's the bedroom?" Hermione asked. Ron pointed silently. Hermione walked into the room he pointed at and walked in. It was oddly neat. It was small, but still nice, like the rest of the apartment. Ron appeared in the doorway shortly after Hermione walked in. He watched her quietly as she went through his dresser.
"These look like they'll fit," she said with a tiny smile as she held up a pair of Ron's sweat pants. She rummaged through his dresser some more and pulled out an old shirt. "Bathroom?"
"In there," Ron pointed to a door in the room. Hermione smiled at him again and went into the restroom. Ron walked to his dresser and pulled out clothing similar to what Hermione had and changed quickly. He went into the kitchen and waited at the counter. He had yet to get a kitchen table, but it didn't seem important now.
"Ron?" Hermione called from the bathroom.
"Y-yeah?" he asked, getting up.
"I may need to run to the store," she said.
"Er... why?"
"It's a... girl thing..."
Ron was glad Hermione couldn't see his face. "Isn't there um... like a charm for that or something?" he asked hopefully.
"Ron!"
"Ok... um... I'll go... You stay here!"
"Alright..."
"Do I get the um... what... uh... uh..." Ron said to the bathroom door.
"Tampons, Ron, they're called tampons."
"Oh, ok... uh... is there like a... um... what color?" he asked, confused. He had no idea what he was doing.
"It doesn't really matter Ron!" she said. Ron could hear the embarrassment in her voice.
"Oh... ok... uh... is there like, a certain... um... what exactly... ok... uh..."
"Shall I just go myself, Ron?"
"No, no, I can do it..."
"Just get the regulars, ok?"
"Regular, got it... Ok, I'll um, be back in five minutes or so."
"Ok!"
"Stay here."
"There's no where else I need to be, Ron."
"Ok... bye..."
"Bye, Ron."
"Ok..." Ron grabbed his wallet, which he kept Muggle money in for the grocery, walked out the front door, and Disapparated. He usually shopped at the grocery store blocks down the Leaky Cauldron, on the Muggle side. There was an alley way he and some other wizards he knew used to Apparate and Disapparate to when they needed groceries or toiletries. It was right in between a 24 hour grocery store and a hair salon. Ron walked out of the alley and into the grocery store. Though he had been here several times, he felt lost. He looked around for a moment.
"Do you need some help?" a woman who worked there asked. "You look kind of lost."
"Uh... yeah... I need tampons. Not for me though!" Ron blurted out. "They're for my girlfriend. She needs the tampons. I don't need them. She does."
"Got it," the woman smiled. "First time then?"
"No, she's probably used them before," Ron said, then felt incredibly stupid.
The woman laughed. "I meant the first time she's asked you to fetch her some lady products. Follow me."
"Yeah, she uh... yeah... ok..." Ron followed the woman to the Feminine Care aisle. "Now what?" he asked.
"Well did she say anything about a brand?"
"Uh... Regular?"
"Ok, she doesn't care what brand..." the woman searched for something and pulled down a little box. "Here, these are the store brand. They sell the best, so why don't you get these?"
"Uh... ok... is this the right kind?" he asked dumbly.
"Yes."
"Ok."
"Oh, and Mr..."
"Ron."
"You should get her some chocolate, too."
"Ok... thanks..."
"No problem. I'll ring you up when you're ready."
Ron nodded and headed for the candy aisle. He picked up a chocolate bar, then found a toothbrush for Hermione. He then walked over to the only open register. The woman who had helped him scanned his three items and bagged them. Ron paid with the Muggle money.
"Thanks," he said gratefully.
"You're welcome. Come back if you forget something," she winced, like it had happened before.
"I hope I didn't," Ron waved once and left. He wandered back into the alley and Apparated right outside his door. He unlocked it with his key and opened the door. Hermione was sitting on the couch, looking uncomfortable.
"Thank you, Ron," she said when he walked in.
"Of course," he smiled. He handed her the bag and she went back into the bathroom. She came out holding the chocolate.
"Did you get this for me?" she asked.
"Uh... yeah..." he turned pink.
"That's so sweet," she smiled, her eyes filling with tears.
"Don't cry, Hermione... Uh... it's ok..." he said.
"Sorry, I just get emotional sometimes when I'm... you know... but only for a little bit," she smiled and kissed him.
"I'll make some tea," he said, resisting the urge to grab her around the waist and snog her like he wanted to.
"Kay," Hermione said, and sat down on the couch again. She opened the chocolate and started eating it. Ron brought the tea out moments later.
"Here," he said, handing her a cup and sitting down next to her.
"Thanks, Ron. I love you."
"I love you, too," Ron said, watching her. She handed him a piece of her candy bar.
"No, it's yours."
"Ron," she warned. He took it and put it into his mouth. Hermione smiled and put her head on his chest.
"You know, this would be really, really nice if there weren't Death Eater's children after you," he said, stroking her hair.
"Us, and I know. But it's still nice."
"Hermione," Ron mumbled softly. "Hermione, we should get up."
"I don't want to," she grunted.
"I know, but it's after eight. And we really need to go see Ginny and Harry and figure this out."
"Five more minutes. Please, Ron?" she asked.
"Ok," he said.
"You're a bit of a push over," she said, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"Only because you're in my bed and we're not in my parents house or yours," Ron said honestly, nervous when he realized that this was true. This was his home, no one was going to barge in or anything. He and Hermione could very well be doing it right now and there was no one to bother them. Theoretically, of course.
Ron thought about how only months previously he and Harry had talked of moving into a flat together, and now here he was, his best mate living alone with his sister two blocks down, free to do god knows what. Ron let his head fall back against the pillows. But that's just it. It's your best mate. Harry. You trust him. It's not some random bloke who you don't know. It's not like you don't know him. He isn't a jerk who's going to leave her or something. It's Harry.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, interrupting his thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Are you scared?"
"I... it's hard to explain. I mean, it depends, right? If it's just the one then no, not especially. But there are more, and we don't know how many more. And we don't know what they're planning. So yeah, I'm scared. For you mostly."
"Why? Why not Ginny and Harry? And yourself?"
"Because I know Harry will do anything to protect Ginny. That he won't let anything happen to her. And because I'm not as irrational about them. I... I don't know... When I think of anyone or anything hurting you... I get sort of... out of control. I can't help it."
"Why do you love me so much?"
"That," Ron said, sitting up, "Would take too long to list, and we have to get going."
"I haven't any clean clothes."
"I, er, washed yours last night," Ron said.
"Oh. Thanks. But... I haven't any... undies..."
"Oh... Ok... Uh..."
"Ron, it's ok, I'll go get some from my parents' house."
"I'd rather you didn't," Ron said.
"Ron, I need underwear."
"I don't want you to be somewhere that doesn't have the charms on it."
"Then you go! You've already come with me into the bathroom while I peed and gotten me tampons! Why don't you go get me some underwear!" Hermione said, a little exasperated.
"Uh... o...k..."
"Ron, I wasn't serious."
"I don't mind."
"Perhaps I don't want you touching my undergarments," Hermione said, turning bright red.
"It's just underwear, Hermione."
"Alright... fine... second drawer on the left."
"Ok..."
"Of my dresser."
"Oh, right. I'll go get them. Do you want to take a shower?"
"Do you think I need to?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I'll go get that underwear," Ron said standing up.
"You do that."
"Be right back."
"Mhm."
Ron Apparated straight into Hermione's room. He spotted the dresser and walked over. He took a breath.
This is nothing to be nervous about. You've slept in the same bed as her.
It is so! I'm about to touch Hermione Granger's knickers!
Stop acting like an immature fifth year and get them already.
Ron opened Hermione's underwear drawer and peered inside. Different types? What did she want? Did she want the ones that looked like tiny little shorts? Or the ones that had flowers on them? Or the ones that seemed to be a tad lacking in fabric? This was unknown territory... Ron ferreted about in Hermione's dresser for a few more moments.
"Ron! What are you doing?"
Ron jumped about five feet in the air. He looked at the door. Mrs. Granger was standing there, staring at him. How this must have looked... Ron, alone in Hermione's room, in the dark, holding a handful of Hermione's knickers.
"I-I-I-I um, uh, I... uh... I came to... get... something for Hermione...?" he said the last part as a question.
"And she couldn't get it herself?" Mrs. Granger asked, staring at his hand.
"She, er, asked me to do it... uh... um..."
"Alright... are you quite sure she said it was alright for you to go through her underwear drawer, Ron?"
"Yes, yes, she needs underwear!" Ron declared, feeling stupid.
"Is something wrong?" Mrs. Granger asked, raising her eyebrows. "Why isn't she here?"
"She's um, staying at... um... my... um... yes, she asked me to come... and get her some underwear... she doesn't feel good..."
"Is she sick?"
"No..."
"What's the problem then? You don't mind my asking as this is my daughter we're talking about."
"She's... it's... she has a lady thing."
"Ah," Mrs. Granger's face no longer portrayed confusion. Now she just looked amused. "Well, I'll let you get back to her."
"Right," and Ron disappeared, grasping the handful of Hermione's underwear. He walked into his apartment and dropped the handful of undergarments on Hermione's lap.
"What's the matter, Ron? You look like you've just seen a ghost," Hermione said, standing up.
"Your mother walked in while I was looking in your underwear drawer."
"Oh," Hermione held back a laugh. "That sounds..."
"Embarrassing!"
"Oh, it's fine Ron. I'll go take that shower." Hermione turned and walked back into his room. Ron sat down on the couch and closed his eyes, wishing to forget about the encounter with Mrs. Granger. He smiled when he heard Hermione singing in the shower.
"Is that Celestina Warbeck?" he called from the living room. Hermione laughed and sang louder. The shower turned off and Hermione kept singing.
"That's my mum's favorite song, you know?" Ron said loudly. "She and my dad danced to it when they were our age..."
"Maybe we should as well," Hermione said, appearing in the doorway, wearing a large, fluffy robe.
"I don't own that," Ron said. "Where did you get that from?"
"Well, unlike you, I paid attention in Transfiguration. It isn't difficult, Ron, if you know how to do it," Hermione smiled and walked over to him. She took his and and pulled him up, humming. She put her hands around his neck.
"Hermione, perhaps I should go take my shower now."
"You would rather take a shower than dance with your girlfriend, who is currently only wearing a robe and underwear?"
Ron turned bright red. "Now I have to, Hermione," he said, putting his hands on her waist. Hermione starting humming the tune of "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love."
Hermione stretched onto her toes and kissed Ron for a moment, knotting her hands into his hair.
"I love you," she mumbled. "And I'm glad you're you again."
"Me too. Because I seemed to have forgotten how much I need you," Ron grinned at her. "But I really need to go take a shower because, incase you've forgotten, people are after us again, and they are things to do," Ron said, his smile fading, but not going away completely.
"I'm not afraid, Ron."
"Well, until we know how bad this really is, you should be," he said seriously. He pulled away from Hermione and walked away. "Your clothes are in the dryer, by the way!" And Hermione heard the water run.
"Thank you!" She smiled to herself and walked to the dryer and opened it. She pulled out a pile of clothes and dumped it into a laundry basket that was sitting on atop the washing machine. Ron had washed some of his clothes with hers. Why did that make her feel all warm inside. It wasn't like they lived together. It was just laundry. Hermione smiled to herself and unwrapped her jeans from Ron's boxers. She found the shirt she had been wearing the night before and her bra was there as well. That made her cheeks turn burn bright red. Ron had washed this. He had touched it. Hermione shook her head. This wasn't the time.
She took her clothes into Ron's bedroom and dressed quickly.
"Ron?" she asked, knocking on the bathroom door.
"Uh... yeah?"
"Have you got a spare toothbrush?"
"Yeah, I got you one last night at the grocery store. Didn't you find it in the bag?"
"No, it's ok though. I threw the bag away, but the toothbrush should be clean. I think I threw it away in there, though."
"Uh... ok..."
Hermione opened the door a crack and took her wand out. "Accio toothbrush," she said. She toothbrush came whizzing out of the dust bin. Hermione caught it and looked around the door at the counter. Ron's toothpaste sat on the far edge. She would have to go into the bathroom to get it. There was a giant mirror right opposite the shower, which had a sliding glass door. True, the glass was fogged up and patterned, but still...
"Ron, I'm coming in to get the toothpaste, ok?" she asked for an unknown reason. Why did this have to be so weird? These were the things she had always looked forward to. Sharing a bathroom with Ron, not feeling ashamed or weird about walking in and getting a tube of toothpaste.
"Yeah," Ron said, his voice a little high. Hermione walked in, grabbed the toothpaste and walked out. That wasn't so bad, right? Hermione sighed and went to the kitchen to brush her teeth. Things were getting back to normal, on some levels. Regarding Ron, at least. The whole thing with the Death Eater's children though, that was a little off...
Ok... well... that was... yeah... so... : ) Was that good? Bad? Kinda sorta in between? Review please. This is the cool thing about writing on the internet; if it sucks, you can rewrite it. So, should I rewrite Ron and Hermione's first night alone together in his place, or was it ok. YOU decide. XD I thought it was pretty good. Not AMAZING but not just 'aight' either, know what I mean? Sighh, so school is starting back up again in about a month. Ew. Ok, so, my goal is to get to Chapter 64 by September first. Think I can do it? I hope so! That would be sooo awesome. I don't know though... that's TWENTY chapters. AHHH. Wow... Ok... Breathe, breathe... Just kidding, I'm sure you guys won't hate me if I don't get there :) So, thank you for all of your amazing reviews. When I see one from someone new, or one from someone who's been reading them since the beginning of the year, it just makes me happy, and I want to write faster because I know there are people out there waiting for MY writing. Do you know what I mean? It's a really good feeling. Sorry for the rambling. It's like, 2 am. Oh! Before I go, tell me about how long my chapters should be. I have a really close friend who reads these and she tells me that they should be longer cuz it makes it more fun to look forward to if you know there's going to be more. I think I agree, the only problem is that it MIGHT take a tiny bit longer to write longer chapters, so tell me what you think. Ok, ok, I'm leaving now.
