Here's chapter 9!
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The next morning, Ron woke up alone once again. He rolled out of bed and walked into the kitchen, where he saw Rose helping Hermione pack up the kitchen. The sight made him smile.
"Starting without me?" He asked, yawning loudly and stretching his arms over his head.
"We're early risers." Hermione shrugged as Rose grinned up at him.
"I know that. You were always pleasantly annoying first thing in the morning." He smirked at her.
She rolled her eyes."Come in here, I need to catch you up." She turned to Rose. "Sweetie, I'm taking a break for a bit ok?"
"Ok. I've got the silverware." the girl replied, packing away every piece into a small box one by one with a concentrated look on her face, barely paying attention to her parents anymore.
"You know," He started as they walked towards the couch "You don't have to bring everything." He gestured towards the kitchen. "I have all of the basics, you can just bring the important stuff."
"Oh I know. I didn't plan to bring much. I'm just packing the rest so I could donate it before we left." She sat down and turned to him. "I already got on my laptop and bought the airline tickets early this morning. We leave tomorrow afternoon.
His mouth gaped open in surprise. "I had almost forgotten what it was like to be around you. You're always ten...no twenty steps ahead of me." He rubbed his eyes. "Wait!" His hand snapped back from his face, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. "I insisted that I buy those airline tickets."
"Don't worry Ron." She smirked as she gestured to his wallet that was sitting on top of the end table behind him. "You did. But only because I had to pay for the last three months of rent so I wouldn't break my lease."
He let out a breath and smiled. "This is really going to happen isn't it?"
She nodded. "It is. Not that I was particularly unhappy here or anything..especially since Rose came along..but it never really felt like home...and I want that." She looked at him longingly.
He leaned over and embraced her. "If it's up to me, you'll have all that and more." He told her, knowing that he absolutely meant it.
She returned his hug before they both stood up and got to work packing. Hermione had pulled out her wand (that was unfortunately Bellatrix's but he didn't tell her that, vowing that he would take her to get a new one as soon as possible) and he started to teach her a few simple spells to make packing everything away easier. She of course managed to learn quite flawlessly as he grinned his encouragement.
Rose watched all of this with wide eyes while Ron explained to her all about his world, telling her that it would soon be hers as well. She was looking at him in awe, like he was some magical creature that had just come out of one of her fairy tale books and he was loving having her undivided attention.
With Ron's urging, Hermione then left with Rose around lunchtime to go and bid farewell to Ms. Sandlin (the older lady that had told him Hermione's apartment number) and Sam. He knew that both Hermione and Rose were very close to Sam and could tell that they were sad to leave her. They had stayed away for over an hour, and when they had returned, Hermione had looked like she had been crying a little bit.
The day passed quickly, and by the end of the night, everything that they had needed to do had been done, including sending the boxes to a donation center. To no surprise, they were all exhausted and sleep came fast for all three of them.
For the first time since he had been in New York, Ron woke up first the next morning. Stretching, he made his way to the bathroom where he took a quick shower to help wake himself up. By the time he came out of the loo, Hermione and Rose were both dressed and waiting to use the bathroom.
After they were done, Ron gathered the few pieces of luggage that they were bringing, and all of them were about to walk out the door when they heard a knock. It was Sam coming to tell them goodbye one last time. After she had hugged Hermione and Rose, she turned to Ron and threw her arms around him as well. Stunned, he hugged her back.
"Promise me that you'll take care of them?" She asked as she pulled away and stepped back.
"I can promise you that." He responded sincerely, to which Sam gave him another quick hug. He knew that Hermione hadn't been able to tell her the whole truth of course, as she was a muggle, but he briefly wondered what she had said to her.
Finally they left the apartment building, and rode in a taxi to the airport. The ride was slow because of all of the traffic, even though the airport was only a few miles away. Rose was talking non-stop about everything that they saw out of the windows with impending excitement about riding on an airplane for the first time. To his delight, she had stopped calling him Ron and was calling him Daddy as if she had known him her whole life. Him and Hermione had smiled at each other, stunned, the first time she had done this.
Once they had arrived and gotten all their luggage checked in, all three of them held hands through the airport, happily talking about all they would eventually do once they were settled in and living together. Rose's room had been small at the apartment and Ron promised her her own room with her own furniture and whatever she wanted, toys, clothes, the works. Hermione had scoldingly told him that she didn't want to spoil their daughter, but just shook her head at him when he replied that he had over five years of things to make up for and Hermione would have to just deal with it.
Almost two days later, they arrived in London in the middle of the night, and headed towards Grimmauld Place. Ron decided that Harry should be the first to know what was going on, so he decided that they were going to stay there for the time being. It was now very early Friday morning and Ron was carrying a sleeping Rose in his arms as Hermione carried the bags that Ron had magically made feather-light.
When they were walking towards the front of the building, Ron sent a patronus to Harry. "Oi, Harry, it's me. Open up, I got some things to show you." He grinned at Hermione at his choice of the word 'things' and she rolled her eyes.
Together they walked up and stood right outside the doorway, nervously waiting. Harry then opened the door, putting on his glasses and looking slightly miffed about being woken up.
"Ron, wha-?" His eyes widened first in surprise, then in shock as he took in the sight of the three people in front of him. He reached up, grabbing the door frame for support, looking like his knees had given out.
Ron smiled at him, but Harry ignored him, his eyes focused on Hermione standing just behind Ron's shoulder.
"Hermione?" Harry said in disbelief.
"She doesn't remem-" Ron started, but was cut off as Harry threw himself past him, hugging Hermione fiercely.
She looked a little unsure, but smiled as she returned his hug.
Harry stood back and looked at her incredulously. "Holy shite! Come on, come in, let's go sit down and talk." He looked like he was definitely fully awake now.
As they started to make their way inside, Ginny appeared on the stairs. Her eyes too went wide, her hand coming up to cup her mouth as she let out a surprised squeak. Her eyes were first on Hermione, then traveled to Ron holding Rose, her eyes going impossibly wider.
Harry stepped next to his wife, grabbing her elbow and giving it a soft squeeze as he too turned his gaze to the sleeping girl.
Ron looked at both of them, nodding and confirming their obvious suspicion. "Yeah. She's mine...ours." he said with a smile, glancing at Hermione who was standing next to the luggage on the floor, looking nervous.
They both stared at him, mouths gaped open. All of a sudden, Ginny started hopping up and down with excitement and Ron could tell it was taking all of her self control not to scream out.
Ron rolled his eyes good naturedly before turning and walking towards where he knew their guest bedroom was. Once there, he put the sleeping child in the bed, tucking the blankets securely around her.
He quickly made his way back to the living room, where hushed voices were animatedly talking. He put up a silencing charm around them so they could talk without waking up the sleeping children in the house.
"So you really don't remember anything?" Ginny was asking Hermione.
Before Hermione could answer, he walked over to her and put his arm around her waist. "No. She doesn't."
"Well this can be fixed right?" Harry asked, looking slightly panicked.
"I'm not sure." Ron admitted "We are staying hopeful. But even if it can't...she's home now and that's the most important thing." He pulled her closer in reassurance.
"How the hell did you find her anyway?" Ginny blurted. "And ohmygod Ron, you're a dad!" she squealed.
"I found her with the deluminator. And yes I am Gin. I'm still getting used to the idea of it...but wait until you meet her! She's amazing."
Harry, as usual, was all business. "But if she had no idea that you even existed, how could she have called you with the deluminator?"
"I can answer that one." Hermione piped up. "I worked at a bookstore in New York-"
"Typical." Ginny cut in.
Hermione slightly smiled at this as she continued on. "A woman came in, looking for the children's author Wallace Ronald, and I repeated the name. It really was just a happy coincidence."
"Nice!" said Harry, smiling. He stepped closer to them. "We are so so glad to have you back Hermione...well almost all of the way back." He laughed before his eyes got serious. "You don't know what this means to us, to the whole family, but especially to Ron."
Ron saw Hermione turn her head to study him at Harry's words and he felt himself start to blush. "He's right...but let's stop the mush and get to the plan already. We want to go to St. Mungos as soon as possible. I didn't really want to tell anyone about my finding her until after she got her memories back...but we need you to watch Rose, so are you able to watch her tomorrow?"
"Of course." They both nodded at him. Ron knew that Harry had work, but that Ginny would be home. He watched as Hermione gave them a tight-lipped smile. He knew it would be hard for her to leave Rose with people who were basically strangers to her. He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze and then gave her a smile that she returned.
He studied her then. She looked exhausted and when he had that thought, he suddenly felt exhausted as well. It was a couple of hours past midnight and they had hardly slept at all the whole trip.
"Ok great then." He responded. "We'll leave around ten or so. We haven't slept so we really need to do that." Hermione nodded her agreement.
"Ok, we'll see you in the morning then. Goodnight." Harry said, leaning in to quickly give both Ron and Hermione a quick hug and Ginny doing the same before they made their way back towards their bedroom, both of them still looking to be in disbelief.
Ron picked up the luggage and turned to Hermione, taking her hand and wordlessly leading her to the guest room that he had put Rose in earlier. They took turns in the attached bathroom getting ready for bed. He had told her to go first, and when he walked out he had been expecting her to already be asleep. Instead, she was standing next to the bed and looking down at Rose, lost in thought. He walked across the soft padded carpet and stood in front of her.
"Why aren't you in bed? You need to get some sleep, tomorrow is a really big day." He affectionately rubbed her arm.
"I'm nervous. What if it doesn't work? What if I'm going to miss a huge chunk of my life forever? I mean, I'd already come to terms with it before, but now I know you so it's...different."
He contemplated for a minute. "It wouldn't be ideal I guess..but I'd still want you Hermione...with or without your memories, and that won't change. We'll make more memories, you and Rose are my family now and I've never wanted anything more."
She wrapped her arms around his middle. "If it didn't work I would try to learn as much about my previous self as I could. I would try my hardest to be her..for you."
"You are already her." He assured her. "Smart, funny, damn near perfect. Maybe just a bit nicer...and definitely a lot more flirtatious." He smirked into her hair. We haven't really rowed yet...but it'll happen, trust me.
"I can stop the flirting if I wanted to, you know." she replied, her cheek against his chest, her eyes closed.
"Your sense of humor is the same." He squeezed her tighter before pulling her back and kissing her lightly. "I will never get used to just being able to kiss you."
She grinned up at him, her eyes sparkling.
He groaned. "Let's go to sleep now because I really want to snog you senseless, but that definitely can't happen." He gestured to their sleeping daughter.
She laughed and climbed into the bed under the covers, pulling Rose close to her. Ron climbed into the other side facing them.
Hermione put her arm out towards him on the pillow and he reached out and grabbed her hand. They both fell asleep almost instantly.
Both Ron and Hermione were woken up the next morning by a curious and happy Rose jumping on the bed and asking all sorts of questions regarding where they were at. They stayed there for several minutes, Ron goofing around with Rose before he told them to go ahead and take the bathroom first, while he lay in bed lazily and waited.
They came out together, dressed and ready for the day and after a few exchanged words, Rose forced Hermione out, wanting to see the rest of the house and meet other new members of her family.
Once he was ready and dressed, he made his way downstairs to find everyone in the kitchen and dining room area. Harry was dressed for work and was about ready to floo out. Ginny and Hermione were at the table eating breakfast burritos, while Rose sat on the floor oohing and awwing over sleeping newborn baby James in his baby swing.
Having already greeted both Hermione and Rose, Harry bid Ron good morning before regretfully telling everyone that he had to go, making Ron promise to keep him updated with everything that was going on. Although he looked happy and hopeful, he also looked quite anxious about everything as he got into the fireplace and left.
"Hey Gin." Ron called out, turning around and walking to the table.
"Ginny looked up at him and smiled. "Yes? Rose is a delight by the way! Even though I know that she didn't get that from you." She winked at Hermione.
"Hardy har-har." He replied sarcastically. "Do me a favor and send an owl to mum and let me know that I'm here, and safe, and I'll be at The Burrow soon."
"You do realize that everyone is right peeved at you Ron? You just disappeared after leaving such a vague message. Especially George, who's been doing things by himself at the store for a week now."
"I know." Ron said regrettably. "I was all the way in New York! I didn't know how to get a hold of an owl from there, and none of you lot have phones so I couldn't call. Besides, I think bringing back these two will more than make up for all the trouble. As for George...I'll make it up to him somehow."
"I agree that bringing them back will definitely get you off the hook." Ginny laughed as she got up. "This is still so surreal!"
"Trust me. I know." Ron replied, staring at a silent Hermione. She was still sitting at the table and he could sense that she was nervous about going to the hospital and he hoped that she wasn't second-guessing her decision to go. He sat down next to her, grabbing a breakfast burrito and shoving half of it in his mouth. He internally laughed at her face as she looked away from him.
He swallowed. "You know you can chastise me for the way I eat. You used to do so all of the time."
She looked at him then, disapprovingly. "Apparently it didn't help."
Ron shook his head. "Nope. It didn't."
She went on. "But fine. Ron, you eat like a pig."
"Thank you for your honesty." He grinned at her as he shoved the rest of the burrito in his mouth. "Ust ike ol imes!" He went on while still chewing.
Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes as she stood up. She walked over to Rose, who was quietly reading a book to little James, who was now awake and staring at her, perfectly content.
"Rose, Your Daddy and I have to go somewhere today. Will you be fine staying here with your Aunt Ginny?"
Rose had done surprisingly well with all of the changes that were happening around her, from meeting him, moving out of the states, and then meeting even more family members all within days. She shook her head. "Yes, I'll be fine. I'll stay with my new cousin James. He's so so cute!"
"I'll keep her around often if she can keep him entertained like that." chuckled Ginny. "She's the baby whisperer!"
Happy with Rose's reaction, Hermione stood and looked to Ron. Finished eating, he stood and walked over her, taking her hand.
"Ready?" He asked, gently squeezing her hand.
She nodded. They had decided that they were going to disapparate straight to St. Mungos, now that they were able to apparate since Rose wouldn't be joining them. Both Ron and Hermione said goodbye to Rose and Ginny one last time, before Ron pulled her close to him, and then they disappeared with a 'pop'