It was still snowing on the grounds of Hogwarts. Ron was really moved when he came through his old school entrance. The two winged boars were still watching over the grounds. Hogwarts had not changed a bit… students were still playing with the snow, building snowmen, running everywhere… it made him remember their happy time there… A few years ago… They were happy and did not think of what was there to come…

Why Harry asked him to meet him in Hogwarts on April 1st was a complete mystery to Ron. He was wondering why since he got out of the Magicobus in Hogsmeade.

'Good day Sir…'

A small boy, who was probably in his second year, smiled at him and Ron responded.

Why did he not have kids? Harry and Ginny already had two, George had one on the way to Hogwarts next year. Mrs Weasley was an absolute delight with her grandchildren and was suffocating them with hugs, kisses and happiness… Why? Simply because he was still single… Or more precisely because he was not with the only woman he wanted to have children with… Hermione and he had not met since the elevator incident, one month ago.

Ron entered the castle and headed to the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom, where Harry was teaching. He knocked on the door and his best friend came to open it. A mysterious smile was on his lips. Ron came into the room.

'What are you doing here? It is the holidays and you are not with Ginny?'

Harry did not answer and before he could do anything, Ron was blinded by a black scarf. He tried to protest but obeyed and they both went in the corridor. Harry led him through the castle like a blind person. After a few moments, they stopped in front of a big wooden door. Ron had no idea of where they would be. The room was completely silent. Harry removed the scarf from Ron's eyes and the ginger wizard was completely taken aback. Most of his old school friends were there, screaming "Happy belated birthday!" He was really moved and almost started crying. The presence of one person in particular surprised him but made him more than happy. She was there smiling at him, tenderly. Hermione had a big gift with rubans in her hands but could not move. Ginny gave her a little hit on her arm to make her move. Hermione gave Ron his gift. He whispered a thank you, blushing and opened it. It was the latest product of the Nimbus brooms collection: the 3002 Nimbus. It was out since only the previous day. Ron was moved even more. It costed a fortune. He turned his head up and his eyes met up with Hermiones. She tried to explain, smiling:

'It is from everybody… We are a bit late but it is not everyday that you turn 25!'

They smiled brightly at each other then Ron resumed admiring his new broom.

'Ok now stop looking at it like that, it is gonna burst into flames…'

Everybody laughed and Ron started the round of thank-you's and kisses. He hugged Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus, his mother, dad, brothers and finished with hugging Harry, Ginny, his nephews and nieces and landed next to Hermione. They smiled at each other and they quickly kissed each other on the cheek. She then went to the other hand of the room to speak with Neville and Luna.

'How are you Hermione?'

'Good thank you and you Neville? I heard for you and Luna, congratulations!'

'Thank you Hermione… I have a confession to make… It is being there that made me think of it…'

'What is it Luna?'

'When we studied here and i did not know Neville back then… I was kind of… Kind of in love with Ron… I found him cute, sweet and funny. Then i realized that i only saw him as a friend and not as a boy-friend…'

'Why are you telling me this now Luna?'

'I have been watching the both of you for a long time now… In school, out of school… But also today when he entered the room… And i came to a conclusion…'

'Which is?'

'Already in school you liked him… Just to see how you looked at him and how you reacted when he went out with Lavander… it was obvious… At least for me… And he was exactly the same… He side-looked at you and smiled even wider every time you entered the room… You were madly in love with each other but you did not dare acting upon it… And then finally in 7th year, you made the move… It was really touching as Harry say… You jumped on him after he said something about Dobby and the houselves… '

Hermione blushed thinking back of her history with Ron.

'And then one day, Neville announced me that you guys had broken up… I swear I cried for a week…'

Neville nodded and smiled at Hermione.

'For me you were the perfect couple… Your love had survived even the worst of obstacles. The darkest, most terrible times of Magic History. But you had broken up… I was so shaken by the news. And now today… I have been watching you and it is the exact same thing… You keep your eyes on him, his eyes light up when he sees you close to him… i am used to have no patience but here I am going to let destiny or faith do its purpose… It would take time to mend everything that has been broken. But one way or another i knew you would reunite. You will grow old together as I always imagined it!'

Hermione hugged them tightly and kissed Luna on both cheeks. She did a few steps and moments later met up with Mr and Mrs Weasley. They were speaking together.

'Hello darling… how have you been? It's been a long time sweety!' Said Molly Weasley, widely smiling.

'I'm so sorry Mrs Weasley…' answered Hermione.

'Oh call me Molly, it's been 14 years since we met… you are like my daughter even though our paths have kind of splitted…'

Hermione smiled, blushed and walked away. Mrs Weasley had just reminded her how lonely and sad she had been for the past year, since Ron was gone from her life. Luna had made her feel better but a few word with Mrs Weasley and everything was hitting her back in the heart… Ron… as she was not paying attention, lost in her thoughts, she could not avoid him and crashed herself onto him:

'Oh sorry 'Mione…'

She blushed after he called her with her favorite nickname that he was the only one using.

'Shit sorry Hermione…'

'No, no, no. She tried to say. You can call me whatever you… you want to call me…'

She couldn't speak more than two words. He was always the only one capable of making her lose her tracks and forget what she was doing or saying. Only he knew how to distract her from anything! For example, when she was reading a fascinating book and then he started to kiss and touch her in his best ways. He knew all of her weaknesses and used them to distract her. When he started this, she kept reading the same sentence a couple of times without understanding a word of it. And she usually succumbed to his attraction and passion… she could not resist him. But she knew it was the same for him and sometimes returned the favor… hermione had closed her eyes, submerged by memories.

'Ron, what is wrong with us?'

The wizard looked at her surprised and took her in a room next to the great hall where the party was thrown. He closed the door slowly and sat on a bench next to her.

'What do you mean?'

'Why… why aren't we together anymore?'

'I… you… because I left…'

'Yes but why?'

'Because we were arguing and because you wouldn't believe me…'

'We were always arguing during our time at Hogwarts and still we remained together and we still loved each other at school…'

'Yes but back then I got scared… you wouldn't admit that Jonathan only wanted to take advantage of you and you kept saying he was your friend… i was seeing him clearly and i was scared… for you, for us… i did not wanted to see what would have happened to us if someday you accepted his advances… i would have got to get out of your life and see you happy with a complete bastard…'

Hermione was crying silently while Ron was lost in his thoughts.

'I was hurt to see you with Lavander… when we were in 6th year here at Hogwarts but even last month on the news...'

'I know but i wanted to make you jealous… i thought i lost you forever so who was best than Lavander to awake you jealousy?'

'Nobody… and that is what happened… except that on this day Jonathan had wished to move forward and i finished at Harrys crying and i saw you again after one year…'

She bursted into tears against his shoulder. He took her into his arms and comforted her.

'Don't cry… please don't cry sweetheart…'

'Ron… don't leave me… it may be completely ridiculous but i need you… i need you in my life and I love you and i will always love you!'

He smiled while wiping off her tears.

'Mione? Can I… can I kiss you?'

'I have been waiting for a year now so you better…'

He laughed loudly and came closer to her face. Their lips were inches from each other when a flash of light entered the room. They moved away quickly, surprised. A blushing Neville was on the doorstep, confused. Luna, next to him, was crying of frustration. Ron and Hermione were also blushing, embarrassed by the situation.

'I… sorry i didn't mean to…'

'I know Neville it's ok…'

'There… you spoiled everything… they were about to kiss and you opened the door. I will be crying again…'

'Oh no, please my love… dont start again… they were about to kiss… don't cry as last time…'

The little blonde ran out of the room, Neville trying to catch her.

'Oh, oh… we are locked in…'

'WHAAAT?'

'Didn't you heard? There was the sound of the key hitting the ground on the other side of the door… we are stucked inside…'

Hermione was up on her feet in record time.

'Oh no, oh no… they will NEVER hear us in all of this noise out there… we are gonna stay stuck here…'

'Keep calm… they will ask where we are and Neville and Luna will say where they last saw us!'

'Ron… i don't like being locked up… without knowing if i'll be able to go out again…'

Ron bent his head and kissed Hermione in the neck. She muffled a disarticulate sound but Ron heard it.

'You've missed me that much?'

'Oh you can't imagine what your lips are doing to me when they touch any part of my body…'

Taking literally what she said, Ron kissed her intensely. They made love on the floor, they had missed the other for so long they could not wait any longer. They calmly breathed in each other's arms then put their clothes back on. By doing so, Hermione felt a stick in her pocket. She pulled out a wooden stick.

'Ron… I completely forgot… I had my wand… We can get out now…'

She came close to the door, said the Alohomora spell and the door opened slowly. Ron kissed her again in the neck and murmurs in her ears while the music brought them back to real life.

'I have no regrets that you forgot about your wand…'

She smiled at him and he bit his bottom lips, shy. They splited but met up again at the end of the party, going home hands in hands. When they arrived in front of the building door, Ron stopped and looked at Hermione speechless.

'What? What is it?'

'Back there… In the room…'

'Yes, what?'

'I… I did… I did not…'

'What?'

'Hermione… You ain't gonna want me after that…'

'Wh…? You're beginning to scare me Ron…'

'In the room… when we did… what we did! I did not say the contraceptive spell… I was too busy with you and with…'

'And so?'

'Well… there may be a chance that… you know…'

'And so?'

'You don't get angry?'

Snow was beginning to fall on the two lovebirds. She was smiling, happily.

'No I don't blame you… because I want it as much as you do… I want you to be the father of my children and I am fully ready to raise a child… if you stay with me until the end of times…'

Ron smiled and kissed her gently. He murmured, close to her lips:

'I love you and will always love you as long as I live… I love you Hermione Granger…'

They started walking again when, a few seconds later, Ron stopped again. Hermione looked at him quite scared. She could not react sooner but Ron was kneeling in front of her, holding her left hand.

'Hermione Granger, I love you… Would you like to become my wife?'

She was starstruck. And crying happily:

'Yes…'

He put a ring on her finger that he had made appear from Merlin-knew-where. Hermione was so surprised. Ron then kissed her. She threw her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. A couple clapped and congratulated them from the other side of the street. Newly engaged couple smiled, thanked them and entered their home.

They arrived in their apartment and went directly to their bedroom. Before falling asleep, Hermione, snuggled close to her fiancé smiled and said quietly:

'What a night!'

-TO BE CONTINUED-