Ron and Hermione had just apparated from the Ministry to outside the Burrow's wards. They'd gotten up incredibly early on Wednesday morning to return home Wednesday evening. Hermione thought that might be better to help them adjust to the time difference.
"Think Mum'll have dinner out still?" Ron asked her.
"Probably. It is half six, after all. I'm not sure I can eat dinner, though. The time difference has me all out of sorts," Hermione stated as they walked down the lane toward the house.
"Says the witch who thought taking the first portkey at three in the morning would help us sleep better tonight," Ron chuckled. "Maybe it'll make it easier to adjust if we eat the right meal."
"Perhaps," Hermione agreed. "Who do you think will be most excited to see us? Your Mum or Harry?"
"Mum, no doubt," Ron said confidently.
Hermione laughed. "I'd wager on Harry," she countered.
Ron reached out to open the door and they were welcomed to the sight of the family eating dinner at the table. No one looked surprised to see Ron and Hermione walk through the door, but everyone was excited that they had returned. Mrs. Weasley had rushed over to them, and after she hugged Hermione, she began smothering her son. Ron noticed that the whole family was there, as his mum ushered them over to the table and began filling their plates.
They were peppered with questions about Australia and the trip, and the pair took turns answering between bites of Mrs. Weasley's delicious cooking. The food in Australia was good, but nothing beat a home cooked meal at the Burrow in Ron's eyes. Everyone was floored that they happened to walk right into Hermione's dad while out on a stroll, and that things had gone smoothly in reconnecting.
Hermione had explained that her parents were planning to return in August, and Ron asked Bill and his father if they'd be willing to help check on Hermione's house and prepare it for her parent's return. Both quickly agreed and were in the process of planning when Ginny interrupted. She had a look of impatience about her and Ron had a feeling he knew what was coming.
"Why didn't you answer my question?" she asked as she peered at him inquisitively.
"What question?" Ron was feigning innocence as Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"Mate, she knows I wrote it, so I wouldn't try and avoid it," Harry muttered.
The rest of the table quieted down now, and Ginny had a look of mirth on her face. "Fine, I'll ask it again. Have you or have you not gotten things sorted?"
Knowing this was coming, Ron had thought up the perfect remark to set his sister in her place, while avoiding the subject until he and Hermione were ready to tell everyone about their relationship. "Why do you want to know so badly, anyways? Have you wagered a bet or something?" Ron retorted.
He expected his family to laugh at his response. It was absurd, wasn't it? Yet, as he looked around the table, everyone was staring silently, waiting for an answer. It was only when Ron caught the tiniest of smirks from George that he realized that they actually had placed bets.
"Bloody hell, tell me you didn't.." Ron groaned. Hermione's cheeks were pink from what Ron assumed was embarrassment.
"So, are you going to keep us waiting or not ickle Ronniekins?" George asked.
"That depends on what the bets are," Ron shot back.
"Ah, but that's none of your concern. You see, you think you're doing a good job of hiding it, but the fact that your ears and face aren't that red from embarrassment tells more than you realize," George explained.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ron said in an annoyed voice.
"It means you two are clearly together now since you're not sputtering nonsense in an attempt to avoid it," George said triumphantly.
He did want to tell his family, but not with George taking the mickey out of him for it. Ron figured he should be happy, since it meant he and Hermione wouldn't have to make some big, uncomfortable announcement. Plus, George was acting more like himself, which was also a good thing, but he was still miffed by the whole ordeal.
"That's rubbish," Ron said. "You're just trying to win whatever you bet on." He was trying to call George out, but again it backfired when Percy spoke up.
"So, the charm bracelet on Hermione's arm is simply a souvenir, then?"
Ron's head whipped around and saw that Hermione's elbow was propped up on the table from where she was just resting her head in her hand. It wasn't that Ron was going to deny it as Hermione looked sheepishly up at him. Her eyes were trying to express an apology, but he didn't quite believe it. He wouldn't have been surprised if she'd planned it that way all along, which was brilliant, really. It was their way of telling his family without really telling them, and the fact that Hermione had even thought of it was brilliant.
Before Ron could muster a reply, or even a reaction, Ginny instinctively reached across the table and grabbed Hermione's hand. She was examining each of the charms, and as if his younger sister wasn't already obnoxious enough, she started listing off the tiny figures for the rest of the table.
"A book, how fitting," she smirked. "Oh, and this looks like your patronuses, an otter and a terrier, very nice. A seashell?" Ginny said, looking up at the two of them. She was so focused on Ron and Hermione that she didn't notice the shared glance between Bill and Fleur, who knew exactly what it meant.
"And what's this last one? Well, well, well, if it isn't a heart! And it's engraved with something...are those roses? Who knew my brother could be so romantic!" Ginny said as she let go of Hermione's arm and sat back down, a triumphant look etched on her face.
Hermione looked at Ron again. There was no embarrassment in her eyes, only pride. She was proud to wear his bracelet, proud to have him as her boyfriend. Suddenly, the opinions of his family didn't seem to matter anymore. He had the girl of his dreams and he wasn't about to waste another moment pretending they weren't together. Without bothering to care that they were still at the dinner table, Ron leaned over and kissed Hermione full on the mouth in front of everyone.
The gesture was met with cheers and wolf whistles, and all bets seemed to have been forgotten in the present moment. He vaguely heard people's comments of 'it's about time,' or 'finally!' Ron was pretty sure he also heard his mother say, "Oh, I always knew those two were meant for each other."
When things calmed down a bit, Mrs. Weasley stood up from the table and said, "I think this calls for a celebratory pudding!"
"Mrs. Weasley, I hardly think that's necessary," Hermione said.
"Yeah, Mum, it's too late to prepare anything spe-'' Ron was cut off when his Mum brought a magnificent looking cake over to the table and set it down in front of them. "Why does this say 'Congratulations Ron and Hermione' on it?" he asked. The two of them were completely stunned.
"It- it could have been for our success in finding my parents? Or- or your offer for the Aurors?" Hermione said weakly.
"Oh, don't be silly, you two! We all knew this was a long time coming," Mrs. Weasley said.
"But how did you-" Ron asked.
"Mrs. Granger, of course! She told me you two had finally figured things out. We agreed we'd always keep the other informed if any developments were made. Honestly, we've been waiting since the Yule Ball, so it really is about time," she continued, embarrassing them both now.
Everyone at the table burst out in laughter, and Ron found that he and Hermione had joined with them. When the spotlight was finally off of the two of them, Ron leaned over to his girlfriend. Whispering in her ear, he said, "Should we be worried about our mums plotting things now?"
He felt Hermione smile. "Perhaps, but I think it's a small price to pay," she said as she leaned into him.
Ron couldn't have been happier. He was home, with all the people he loved. Hermione's parents were coming home, and they both had plans in place for the future. The future.
Less than two months ago, the future was so unsure. If you asked Ron then, he would have said he didn't expect to make it through the war, and many close to him hadn't. But now he had a future, with the woman he loved right there with him. Anything was possible, and he was determined to make the most of it, with the ones he loved right there by his side.