In Between

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

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 12: Libraries & Arguments

It hadn't been too long since Ron had seen Hermione: 2 weeks and 5 hours to be exact. Not that he was counting, really. Okay so maybe he was. He looked forward to every single moment he got to spend with her because frankly, letters just weren't enough these days. Especially after the last time they'd seen each other in person. Hermione had surprised him with an extra visit on the last Hogsmeade weekend and he definitely wasn't expecting it, nor was he disappointed. His office would never look the same to him again. He was going to have trouble focusing when he was working in there now. He had already found himself stopping and staring at the back of the door where he had her hoisted up, her legs around him, more times than he'd like to admit. He smirked as he thought about it. No one else got to know that side of Hermione, just him.

Ever since that day he had been saving for a ring too. He even went out and looked at the jewelers for some ideas and started to form an idea in his mind of something he thought Hermione would like. She deserved something special, beautiful like her. But nothing gawdy or over the top because that wasn't Hermione. He wanted to get her this huge rock to show everyone that he wasn't that kid from a poor family anymore but it wasn't about what other people thought of the ring. It was about what Hermione thought of it. She wouldn't want some huge ring on her finger. She'd want something elegant, understated but beautiful… just like she was.

He didn't know how long it would take for him to save enough for the right kind of ring for Hermione, nor did he think that he would be proposing soon, they had only been together for like 6 months. But then again, he didn't think the normal, or what others considered normal, timelines really applied to them. What other couples had been best friends for seven years before getting together? What other couples had been through an actual war together? What other couples had experienced half the things they had? They weren't a blasted "normal" couple, really and he was happy about it. Being normal was overrated. He didn't want to be "normal" when it came to Hermione. They had a unique relationship and he was absolutely chuffed about that.

He was practically buzzing as he put on his old Gryffindor scarf and hat to head over to the castle for the Gryffindor quidditch match. He'd gotten permission ages ago to attend all the matches since both Harry and Ginny were on the team and it meant an extra visit with Hermione and watching the game with her in the stands. He made sure he had everything, his wand etc, and headed out of his flat and out into Hogsmeade. Harry, Ginny and Hermione were supposed to meet him at the gate before the match.

When he got there, however, only Harry and Ginny were standing waiting for him, already in their quidditch uniforms, minus the padding and the brooms.

"Oi!" He called out, jogging forward to meet them. "Where's Hermione?" He knew the first thing out of his mouth should have been hello but he couldn't be bothered. Where was his bloody girlfriend?

Harry rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you too, mate." He said, looking to the castle. "Hermione had some work to finish up so she said she'd meet us down at the pitch. Don't get your knickers in a twist."

Of course she was doing homework. Ron huffed a little but tried not to look like a petulant child when he was pretty annoyed on the inside. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him.

"What are we, chopped liver?" She asked, hand on her hip.

"Do you or Harry want to give me my hello snog?" He snarked back, raising his own eyebrow to match hers. Ginny made a face and Harry mimicked a retching sound. "Exactly." He said with a nod. "Now let's go, I'm getting cold out here with the wind."

"I'm getting cold out here with the wind!" Ginny mocked in a low voice that he assumed was supposed to be him. He reached out and tugged on her ponytail.

"Shut it, Gin." He grumbled as they started walking toward the Quidditch pitch. He was surprised at how many people said hi to him, or stared at him, as he walked through the grounds with Harry and Ginny. People he didn't even know were pointing as he past. He grumbled and ducked his head. He didn't want people staring. He knew after the war this kind of thing would happen but come on.

"Why's everyone staring?" He asked.

"Oh, I don't know, Ron. Maybe because the last time you were seen at Hogwarts you were helping Harry defeat Voldemort?" Ginny rolled her eyes. "You get used to it and learn to ignore it. Ask Harry, he's been dealing with it all his life."

"Yeah, more so since last year really. At least when I was a kid, I didn't know why I was being stared at." He shrugged. "Just try to ignore it. Everyone's been told not to bug any of us. At the start of the year Hermione and I would get approached for autographs! Got a bit ridiculous so a rule was made about it. Not allowed to bother us but doesn't stop them from staring."

Ron shook his head. He was glad he hadn't been there for that whole thing. He wasn't a fan of unwanted attention. He had always managed to slip under the radar. He knew that had changed with everything that had happened but didn't mean he had to like it.

When they reached the Quidditch pitch, he stood on his toes and tried to see if he could spot Hermione in the crowd. Normally he could see over the crowd pretty well at his height but there were a lot of people there to watch the match.

"Where the bloody hell is she?" He grumbled. Harry clapped him on the shoulder.

"Sorry, mate, you know how Hermione gets. We have to head to the change rooms and get ready to play but give her a little more time before you pitch a fit alright? She wouldn't forget." Harry slapped him on the back and turned to go, Ginny on his heels. He watched them go but didn't make his way into the stands just yet. He had a good view of the castle and would be able to see Hermione coming if he stayed in this spot for a while longer.

He checked his watch. The match was due to start in fifteen minutes and there was no sign of her. He was going to wait ten minutes and then go looking. Maybe something happened to her. He knew it was kind of irrational to go straight to that conclusion but with everything they'd been through with the war, it wasn't exactly out of the realm of possibility.

He tapped his foot, saying hello to a few of his former classmates as they approached the pitch and made their way inside to take their seats.

"Mr. Weasley!" Came a voice behind him, he turned and saw Professor McGonagall approaching. "Nice to see you again."

Ron nodded. "Same to you, Professor. Thanks again for letting me come watch the matches."

She brushed off the thank you as if it wasn't necessary. "What're you doing out here? The match is about to start."

"Hermione hasn't come yet. I'm waiting for her." He replied, looking around again. Then he got an idea. "Professor, d'you think I could go and find her? She's probably in the library." He was about to go and do that anyway but it couldn't hurt to have permission to do so.

"Of course, Mr. Weasley. Go on." She nodded in the direction of the castle and turned to head into the quidditch pitch. He nodded his thanks before she turned away and took off running towards the castle. When he got inside, he headed straight for the library. When in doubt, go to the library; it was practically Hermione's motto.

He glanced into classrooms as he passed, just in case she was in one of them working and said hi to a few Professor's on the way. He glanced at his watch again. "Bloody match starts in five minutes, Hermione." He grumbled to himself. He finally reached the library and pushed the doors open, stepping inside.

He headed to the back corner of the library, the part he knew had been Hermione's favourite because it was secluded, quiet and away from everyone and as he approached, he spotted that head of bushy brown hair. He sighed. Thank Merlin.

"Hermione!" He called out, forgetting it was the library for a second. It was fairly deserted though so he only got a few "shhh"s from those studying. When he got closer, he saw Hermione wasn't alone and his eyes narrowed. Who the bloody hell was that? He could see Hermione laughing at something whoever that was said to her. He saw red. "HERMIONE!" He growled as he finally reached her table.

"Ron?!" She glanced up and looked genuinely confused. She glanced at the clock. "Oh dear! I completely lost track of time!" She stood immediately and finally the boy she was sitting with turned and looked at Ron. Terry Boot. Ron wanted to punch his face in.

"I've been waiting for like half an hour, Hermione! Is this guy the reason you forgot about the sodding match and your boyfriend who came all the way here to see you?!" His voice was getting louder and he was getting more and more frustrated by the second. His head told him to calm down and not pitch a fit but the rest of him wasn't really listening.

"Ron!" She said, stunned. "This is Terry Boot, don't you remember? We were working on a project for Potions! I'm sorry, Ron, I lost track of the time." Her voice got quieter, trying to calm the situation but Ron wasn't having that and she could see that.

"I don't care what you were working on, Hermione! Fucking hell, I haven't seen you in two weeks! And Terry sodding Boot," he turned and sent a glare at the boy and Hermione sent an apology with her eyes, "shouldn't get in the way of that!"

"Um, I'm going to go." Terry said quietly, gathering his books hastily and dashing out of the library.

"Yeah, you do that." Ron said as the boy's figure retreated through the library.

"You can't fly off the handle because of a simple misunderstanding, Ronald!" Hermione looked at him, hands on her hips. She thought he'd gotten over this jealous thing. Perhaps it would always kind of be a part of him.

"I'm not—it's not… Hermione, I haven't seen you in two weeks! Two sodding weeks and I got here early so I could have some extra time with you and you're not even there! You didn't come to meet me, you forgot about the game and I come and find you in the library, which I probably should have expected, with another bloke. It's just… I'm fucking annoyed, okay? I'm frustrated. And I'm allowed to be! You put your sodding homework before your boyfriend!" He sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

"You can't possibly be jealous of Terry Boot right now!" Hermione exclaimed, knowing most of what he said was valid but it was this one point that bothered her. "I thought we were past this, Ron!"

"I'm not bloody jealous!" He yelled back. He wasn't, not really. The fact that she'd been late to meet him because she was working with another bloke was a minor point in all this but it still irked him. "That's the least important part of this, Hermione! This was important. This is the only time we'll see each other until the next Hogsmeade weekend! Would you have even remembered the match if I hadn't come to find you?"

"I…" She paused. He was right. She had lost track of time, that was true, but she shouldn't have. "Of course, I would have remembered!" She said softly. She looked at him and saw his face soften a bit at the tone in her voice. "I'm sorry, Ron. You're right. I shouldn't have come to work on this project before the match and I should have been there to meet you at the gates."

He was about to continue arguing his case, his mouth opening to reply when he realized she had told him he was right and had apologized. "What, really?"

"Yes, really. I'm sorry, Ron. I made a mistake." She approached him slowly and put her arms around his neck. "Do you forgive me?" She asked quietly, looking up at him.

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before resting his hands on her hips. "Yeah, 'course I do." He said, "Only if you forgive me for yelling at you, though." He really had freaked out a little bit more than he should have.

She smiled when he said that. So maybe Ron still had a bit of a jealous streak and could fly off the handle still but he had definitely grown out of most of that. He wouldn't have ever admitted he was wrong for overreacting in the past. "Deal." She said and she kissed him softly.

"Tell Terry I'm sorry too. He didn't do anything wrong." He shouldn't have yelled at the guy. As long as he hadn't been planning for anything more than studying to happen. His arms wound tightly around her middle and he pulled her close, kissing her back. "Good thing the library's empty, eh? I reckon you might have gotten kicked out!" He smirked. "And we all know how terrible it would be for Hermione Granger to be booted from the library." He teased a little, wanting the mood to be happier.

"Oh, stop it!" She admonished, but was smiling. She looked at the clock. "We've only missed about ten minutes of the match. Shall we go?" She turned and tugged on his hand.

"What, and leave all your stuff here in the library?" He asked, pretending to be shocked. "What would Madam Pince think?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'll come back for it later. No one ever uses this back corner table anyways. It's practically mine." She grabbed her cloak and scarf from the back of the chair she'd been sitting on and threw them on before taking his hand again.

"Yeah, alright, let's go." He turned towards the doors, Hermione in tow, their hands linked. "Look, next time just tell me if you need to study, okay? I'd rather come and sit with you while you work than not see you at all. The match wasn't the reason I came to the castle today." He looked over at her as they walked.

"You'd want to just sit with me in the library while I study?" She asked, surprised.

He shrugged. "Sure, why not? I'd be spending time with you and plus, it'd be fun trying to distract you." He wiggled his eyebrows.

She shook her head when an image of the two of them snogging in the library passed through her mind and she smiled. It wasn't the first time she pictured that. Then the image in her mind turned from them snogging to them doing a lot more with a lot less clothing on in between the stacks and she flushed.

Ron raised as eyebrow at her when he noticed her blush. She couldn't be thinking what he thought she was thinking. He grinned. Hermione, you little minx! The amount of times he'd thought of the two of them in the library… well, he lost count. It was really cool to think she had thought about it too. Put it on the to do list. He thought, smiling. Oh, they'd be doing that at some point. There was no doubt about it.

As they reached the doors leading to the grounds and were about to head outside, Ron stopped Hermione for a moment and tugged her to him. "Hey, 'Mione, we okay?" He asked, wanting to make sure.

She smiled. "We're better than okay, Ron." She reached up and brushed her thumb across his cheek.

"'Kay," he said, leaning into her hand. "Hey, you know what I just realized?" He asked, smiling. "That was our first argument in like a long time!" He was kind of proud of that. They would always bicker but it was getting less and less frequent. Hermione laughed and pinched his cheek.

"Well, we wouldn't be us if we stopped completely, would we?" She teased. "But you're right, its less and less frequent isn't it?"

"What are we, like, adults now or something?" He grinned.

"I suppose so! Strange to think about, isn't it?"

"So weird." He smiled. "Okay, one more snog and then we go." He tugged her to him and kissed her thoroughly for a few moments before pulling back, smiling at the flush on her cheeks and the swollen appearance of her lips. Everyone would know what they'd been doing but he couldn't force himself to care. "Let's go!" He said, tugging her outside and towards the pitch. "Go, go, Gryffindor! Go, go Gryffindor!" He chanted as they approached the pitch and found their seats. The entire time his hand remained in hers and he wasn't about to let it go anytime soon.