In Between

Author's Note: Hi again! This is the next installment in this series. Having such a lovely time revisiting this world. Fluff and mature moments ahead!

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read, leave a review and follow this story. Please do leave any ideas for moments you might like to see written between Ron and Hermione.

It goes without saying that nothing pertaining to Harry Potter belongs to me and is the work of J.K. Rowling.

Please review!

Chapter 11: Surprises & Back Rooms

It had been nothing short of excruciating to leave Ron behind in Hogsmeade the day before after having been apart for so long and then spending the day together. The day had been wonderful: like they hadn't been apart at all. And yet, one fact remained through the whole day putting a dark cloud of anticipation over the two of them: the fact that the day had to end and Hermione had to head back to the castle for dinner time. Then, to her surprise and to add to the difficulty and feelings she was having, Pig had swooped down over the Gryffindor table at dinner time, dropping a letter at her spot.

'Mione,

I miss you already. I know this doesn't make it any easier but I just wanted you to know.

Love you,

Ron

Her eyes had filled with tears and she had done her best to hide it from Harry and Ginny. They already teased her and Ron about their reactions to being apart and she didn't want to endure that just then. She knew they were only teasing and they understood it was harder for her and Ron than for them; they didn't have to be apart after all. But they couldn't really understand, could they?

As soon as she finished her dinner, she headed straight to Professor McGonagall's office. She was going to have to take matters into her own hands and rectify this situation immediately. She didn't want to feel like her heart was being torn apart each time she had to say goodbye to Ron and maybe a little more time with him would help that.

She hadn't been allowed to stay the night in Hogsmeade like her and Ron wanted and she wasn't going to ask that of Professor McGonagall again but she thought maybe she would be allowed to go see Ron on Sunday as well when it was Hogsmeade weekends. She was Head Girl, after all. She could be trusted to go and see him for an extra day. Well, at least she hoped McGonagall would see it that way.

She knocked on the door of Professor McGonagall's office and waited for a response. A soft "Come in," came from behind the door and she turned the knob to enter.

"Professor?" She asked, sticking her head in.

"Ah, Ms. Granger, come in, come in." McGonagall said, looking over the top of her glasses at Hermione and setting down her quill on the desk she sat behind. "What can I do for you?"

She entered quietly and sat down in the chair across from her teacher's desk, where she had sat many times before.

"I wondered if I could speak to you about something." She started softly. She knew she shouldn't be embarrassed about any of this but she was a little. She had never been the type to ask for things that were normally against the rules (though over the years she had gotten better at breaking those rules due to her two best friends.

"Of course." McGonagall replied, folding her hands in front of her and looking at Hermione expectantly.

"As you know, Ron is living and working in Hogsmeade at the moment," she paused and saw her teacher nod in acknowledgement, "and well, it's been really rather difficult for us to be apart this year for um… well many reasons." She cleared her throat and flushed a bit.

McGonagall smiled. "Oh, Ms. Granger, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I rather think most of the staff here knew you and Mr. Weasley would end up an item."

Hermione flushed but smiled to herself a bit. Obvious to everyone but them. "Yes, well, it was lovely to be able to see him today for the Hogsmeade weekend but, you see, it was only today and…"

"It wasn't quite enough for you?" McGonagall finished for her. Hermione's eyes widened as the teacher was practically reading her mind.

"Well, yes." She said, "So I was wondering if I might have special permission to go and see him in Hogsmeade on Sundays as well as Saturdays during Hogsmeade weekends." She was going to stop there but she thought some added facts might help her case. "I will, of course, be back for dinner as usual. And I will not fall behind on any assignments or any responsibilities. And the prefect meeting on Sunday nights is well after dinner so…" She intended to continue but Professor McGonagall raised a hand to indicate she didn't have to go further.

"No need to continue, Ms. Granger. I think that will be just fine. You are nothing if not trustworthy and I think the two of you deserve it after everything you've been through. It's the least I can do."

Hermione's face lit up. "Really?" When her teacher laughed a bit and nodded, she smiled even wider. "Thank you, Professor!"

"Not at all, Ms. Granger." McGonagall said, waving her hand as if it were nothing. "Be back for dinner on those particular Sundays and all is well."

"Thank you so much!"

"Not to worry! Alright then, off you go. Have a good night, Ms. Granger."

Hermione nodded and thanked her again before leaving the office and practically skipping down the hallway. She couldn't wait to surprise Ron the next day.

Ron was bloody exhausted. Yesterday had been fantastic, being able to see Hermione and spend the day with her. But it had been even harder to say goodbye to her that evening when she headed back to the castle in time for dinner. He wished she was able to spend the night with him but he understood why she hadn't been allowed. That would be a huge stretch of the rules, saviours of the school or not. He bloody hated it, but he understood it.

He had sent off that quick owl to her after she'd left and then he had an early night, going to bed far earlier than he was used to in order to be up early to open the store the next day. George would be there with him as well, but not until mid-morning so it was up to him to open things up for the morning.

He waited all night for a response from Hermione, even a short one, but when Pig was nowhere in sight, he sighed and figured Hermione had gotten busy that night and hadn't been able to write back. The next morning, he was a right grump, even George noticed, making a comment about what the hell was stuck up his arse. He ignored it. He was allowed to be ticked off today, wasn't he? Had to say goodbye to his girlfriend yet again the day before, hadn't he? He could be in a bad mood.

He had finished up some work in the front of the shop after George arrived and indicated to him that he would be in the back room, working in his office. George told him a rather crude comment about having a wank to release some tension as he made his way back there and he flipped him the bird, scowling as he went into his office and closed the door. Back to work, it was.

When Hermione told Harry and Ginny what her plans for the day at breakfast, she didn't hear any teasing, nor did she hear any complaints. Both of her friends seemed genuinely excited and happy for her and agreed that McGonagall had been gracious but also that her and Ron definitely deserved the extra time. She did, however, get a request to bring back some more chocolate frogs from Honeydukes if she had the chance to stop by and she promised she would try. She didn't know if Ron would give her any time to do so, though, she knew he was working that day. She didn't mind if she had to spend the whole time just keeping him company while he worked, so long as they got to be together.

Once she had changed, checked in with McGonagall to let her know she was headed out, she made her way to Hogsmeade, a grin on her features. She hoped she would be able to surprise Ron. She knew he didn't see it coming. She hadn't written back to him the night before on purpose.

When she got to Weasley's, she peered in the window to see if Ron was in the front of the store and when she didn't see him, she figured he was working in back. She went inside and was surprised to see George at the cash register.

"Hermione!" He exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. "Fancy seeing you here on a Sunday! Sneak out, did you?" He raised an eyebrow and she rolled her eyes.

"If you must know, I got permission to spend Sundays of Hogsmeade weekends with Ron in addition to the Saturdays." She stuck her chin up.

"Oh, have you? Quite the negotiator." He smirked and she shook her head.

"What are you doing out here? You're usually in back."

He shrugged. "I like to work the register when I can. Lets me interact with the customers. Ron's in back today." He smirked, looking to the door leading to the back rooms. "The door should be unlocked if you want to go visit ickle Ronniekins. Just lock the door behind you. And for Merlin's sake, case a silencing charm, woman!" Hermione flushed and sent a quick glare his way before nodding and headed towards the back. She blushed but did exactly as George said, locking the door leading to the back room behind her and casting a silencing charm as she approached Ron's office. They were going to need it.

She knocked as she reached the door.

"Yeah?" Came his voice through the door. She didn't answer him but instead opened the door and slipped inside, leaning on the doorknob and clicking that locked as well.

"Well, hello there." She said and his head snapped up at the sound of her voice.

"Hermione!" He practically shouted, dropping everything he was doing and standing, practically running at her at the other side of the desk and almost tackling her into the door with a hug. "What… are… you… doing… here?!" He punctuated each word with a kiss to somewhere on her face.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around him, marvelling at how happy he was and how happy that made her. "I got permission to spend Hogsmeade weekend Sundays with you as well!" She commented, her eyes closing at the kisses her was placing on her neck. "Surprised?" She asked, pulling back to look at him and smile.

"Fucking hell, am I ever!" He grinned so wide he was sure his face would break in two. "Bloody brilliant, you are!" He complimented, placing more kisses all over her face.

She giggled. "George knows I'm here so I believe we have a little time alone." She commented softly, sighing at the feel of his lips on her skin.

"Oh yeah?" He smirked, kissing a trail from her neck to her mouth, capturing her lips in a heated snog. He reached for the doorknob behind her only to find she'd already locked it. That made him inwardly smile. She was always one step ahead.

"Mmm," she agreed against his mouth, kissing him hungrily. Her hands went to his belt buckle and frantically, undid it. "Did a silencing charm outside the door too." She murmured lowly.

He felt himself go hard at just the sound of her voice like that. Husky, wanting, seductive. Merlin's beard, he loved this girl, "Like I said… bloody brilliant." He muttered against her mouth, reaching down to bunch her skirt up around her waist, thanking the bloody gods that she'd chosen to wear it again today.

"Couldn't wait any longer," she sighed, undoing the button and zip of his trousers and shoving at the waistband so they fell down his legs and to the floor. "Needed to see you. Needed you." She said, her voice coming out in a bit of a moan.

He groaned and shoved her knickers aside, not bothering to slide them off, only to find she was already wet for him. He moaned against her at the feel of it and pulled his head back to look at her, asking if all this was okay. When she met his gaze and nodded wordlessly, he put his hands under her arse and hoisted her up against the wall, her legs going around her waist. He needed her now. And it definitely seemed like she needed him too.

With one swift movement, he slid into her, burrowing himself entirely in her warmth, his head dropping to her shoulder with a combination of a groan and a grunt as the movement of it pushed her back against the wall.

"Oh, Ron, yes!" She moaned as he pushed into her so swiftly, roughly and her back met the door with the force of his thrust. This was new and exciting and completely bloody incredible.

"Tell me if the door hurts you." He managed to grunt, pulling back and pushing into her again, pushing her harder into the door. He was having trouble controlling the force with which he was moving in and out of her, it was so fucking amazing a feeling.

Her legs tightened around his waist and her arms gripped his neck and shoulder as he moved in her, her back hitting the door repeatedly but in no way causing her any pain. If anything, it was causing more pleasure to sweep through her. She moaned again, her head tilting back into the door. "More, Ron, more!"

He nearly lost it right then and there when she asked for more in that voice. "Fuck, 'Mione, you're going to kill me." He grunted, forcing his hips to move faster without becoming rougher. This was so unbelievably hot. Thank God Hermione cast a silencing charm because the entire shop would have heard them otherwise. He was close and he wanted Hermione to get there with him so he used the hand that wasn't holding her up against the door to reach down and rub her clit as he drove into her again and again.

"Oh, Merlin, yes!" She cried, her head slumping forward onto his shoulder, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. She was almost there. Only a few moments of Ron touching her while moving in and out of her was all it took before she reached her peak, her inner walls clenching around him as she moaned loudly, her breathing heavy.

"Oh, bloody hell!" He groaned, the feeling of her climaxing around him brought him to the edge and his orgasm hit as he spilled inside her, his hips moving a few more times with a few final grunts. He closed his eyes for a moment and attempted to catch his breath. "Best. Fucking. Surprise. Ever." He grinned, the hair on his forehead plastered to the skin with sweat. He shook it out of his eyes and kissed Hermione as they both came down from their high.

She kissed Ron back with all she had and laughed at his exclamation. "I know, I'm brilliant." She commented with a smirk, taking a page from his book. He laughed.

"I fucking love you, do you know that?"

"Language!" She said automatically, "But it's okay because I love you too." She kissed him again. "Now, do you think you can let me down?" She asked with a smile.

"Oh, right! Sorry." He said, quickly pulling out of her with a slight whimper at the loss and setting her down gently on the floor. He watched as she adjusted her clothing, made sure her knickers were on properly and then lowered her skirt from her waist and he smiled. Nothing was hotter than post shag Hermione. He bloody loved that he was able to make her come undone like that. That he was the only one who ever had. He snapped himself out of his thoughts and reached down, pulling his trousers back up and doing up his belt.

"As fantastic as that was, 'Mione, I still have to work today." He said, looking at the door. "Should probably get back to it before George bursts in here. Will you stay though? I finish at 4 and then we can go for a butterbeer or something." He ran a hand through his hair and picking his wand up off the floor where it had fallen when Hermione had surprised him. "What time do you have to be back?"

"Dinner time, like yesterday." She told him, sitting down in one of the chairs on the other side of Ron's desk. "I'd love to just stay here with you. I brought a few books in case so I can sit and study while you work until you're done. I just want to be with you."

He smiled and walked over to where she sat down, leaning over to kiss her softly. She made him so happy. It was nice to feel wanted and needed just like he felt for her. "Sounds perfect." He commented, making his way around the desk and sitting back in his desk chair. For the first time, he caught sight of her famous beaded bag on the chair next to her. "Leave it to Hermione Granger to never go anywhere without a book." He tilted his head with a grin.

"Well, I hardly think this should be a surprise. You know me well enough by now." She smiled, so entirely happy and still on a high from their activities moments prior.

"I'd like to think I know you better than most people." He said with a grin, wiggling his eyebrows at her. She flushed and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, honestly." She said with a sigh but she smiled all the same.

They fell into an easy rhythm for the rest of the day. Hermione studied while Ron worked. Ron got distracted by Hermione while he was supposed to be working. Hermione had to remind Ron to get back to work several times throughout the day. Ron would whine until Hermione gave in and snogged him for a few minutes and would then go back to work. Hermione went over to the Three Broomsticks and got them both some lunch and they ate in his office happily, snogging after finishing, an action which Ron called dessert. She helped him stock some shelves in the main area of the shop for a while after lunch. When 4:00 rolled around, Ron said goodbye to George and the other employees, as did Hermione and they headed over to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. They spent their time in a cozy booth, enjoying their drinks and each other.

Hermione knew it was going to be hard to say goodbye again at the end of the day, but at least they knew they had two days which each other each Hogsmeade weekend now. That was a lot better than just one.

When it came time to say goodbye this time, they did so without an audience. With promises to write frequently and see each other soon (at the Gryffindor quidditch match in a few weeks) and several snogs, they parted but this time, they did so feeling a little bit better. This would get easier with time but it would never stop being difficult all together.

When dinner time rolled around, this time it was Ron who received a letter from Hermione, Pig almost flying into the window frame in an attempt to get it to him quickly.

Ron,

It's my turn to tell you how much I miss you. Today was lovely, amazing, fantastic, just what I needed. I hope you enjoyed my surprise.

I love you and can't wait until next Hogsmeade weekend.

Yours always,

Hermione

The moment he finished reading that letter he made a decision. He was going to start saving up for a ring. He didn't care that they were only eighteen/nineteen. Hermione was it for him. He knew that from the moment he realized he was in love with her. It would take him a little while to save up enough to get the ring she deserved but George was paying him well enough and he would be able to afford one relatively soon if he started saving now. Sod it, he thought, I'm going to marry that woman. He grinned at the thought. Tomorrow he would start saving. Tomorrow he would start looking at rings. Tomorrow he would start on the journey to his life with Hermione. Checkmate.