Hello everyone!
If you are wondering about this fic's title, let me explain a bit. This work will be a four chapter fic where each chapter represents a moment that determined a new stage of Ron's life, according to Hermione.
This piece has not been beta-ed so, if you catch a mistake, please let me know so I can fix it and learn. Also, reviews are very welcomed.
All characters and the wizarding world belong to J.K. Rowling although Ron's beard is never mentioned in her books, so I might still be able to claim it.
Four agonizing months had passed since the last time Hermione had seen Ron. She knew that her being at Hogwarts and him going through Auror training would mean that their time together would be short and distant from each other. But actually experiencing this extent period craving for him was an absolutely different affair.
When Ron owled that he couldn't come to their Valentine's Hogsmeade weekend due to some Auror training mission she was devastated, although she took comfort in Ginny's shared misery. Time had kept running painfully slow, but Easter had finally arrived and Hermione was going to spend the holidays at Grimmauld Place with Ron. The train would head to London the next day, but Hermione and Ginny managed to make some arrangements with the Headmistress to leave the evening before as a surprise for the boys.
'Are you done embellishing yourself to arouse my brother?' Jested Ginny, leaning on the doorframe of the Head Girl room with an amused grin on her face.
'I am not - oh, shush!' Ginny was now full on laughing at Hermione's flustered response. 'You are as insufferable as your brother!' Hermione scolded, then turned back to take a last look in the mirror. She took a hair clip and pinched a rebellious curl back in her bun and fetched her beaded bag. Hermione walked towards the door and Ginny studied her from head to toes, making a "chef's kiss" gesture as Hermione moved past her.
The walk to McGonagall office was silent, the only sounds being some isolated chuckles from Ginny followed by Hermione shushing her. The Headmistress was waiting for them and after a polite greeting, they took the floo to their intended destination.
Hermione was ejected from the fireplace first, moving out just in time to not be crushed by Ginny. They had just begun to clean themselves from the soot when they heard loud rushed steps coming up. In a matter of seconds, a very dishevelled Harry violently entered the room, wand in hand, looking maniacal. Ginny attempted to greet him but he cut her mid sentence.
'What was the content of the snitch Dumbledore left me in his will?!' He asked, fluttering his wand back and forth between the girls. Hermione was taken aback by their reception, but Ginny smirked mischievously before she answered.
'Mmm, let's see..' she mused, 'I think it was the resurrection stone. But that may not be a safe question, many people could've found out. Next time you better ask something more private, like what word you say when you co-'
'Okay, you're definitely Ginny!' Interrupted Harry, lowering his wand. His wary face morphed to a grin as he opened his arms to catch Ginny, who was already rushing towards him.
Hermione was still processing Ginny's words when a second set of thunderous steps came rushing, this time from the upper floors. Over Harry's shoulder, she caught a glimpse of red hair and as her eyes focused she was gobsmacked by the newcomer.
Ron.
Ron with a beard.
Wildy looking Ron with a beard.
She gulped. Hermione tuned out the room, vaguely hearing Ginny explaining to the boys how they'd come to be there a day before planned. But her complete and undivided attention was now dedicated to drinking in Ron's appearance. His hair was pointing everywhere and he was wearing an old ratty jumper that was clenching to his chest and shoulders. He was definitely broader than he was at Christmas. She continued to survey the changes, feeling her legs getting wobbly. When she was finished with the body, she jumped to the face, and there it was, the beard.
So far, Hermione had seen him with a one or two days stubble, but never a beard. And a beard was a different thing. Boys had stubble, men had beards. Four months craving for him and she'd come to find this piece of a man. She growled internally at the warmth that was spreading through her body from just below her stomach. She couldn't be this randy, she thought, she hadn't even said hello to him and was already thinking of peeling off his clothes and taking him to the ro…
'Hermione! Are you there?' Ginny was snapping her fingers to catch her attention, still half hugging Harry, while Ron was standing in the door frame staring quizzically at her.
'Ehm, sorry. I was...I was a little taken aback by Harry's sudden apparition' she stammered. But Ginny wasn't buying it.
'Oh, I don't think it was Harry's entrance that made you lose your voice, did it?' She jested. Harry was smirking at her but Ron frowned in concern.
Hermione opened her mouth but the retort died in her throat as Ron had taken two long steps and encased her in a full body embrace. The rest of the word disappeared as she left all her senses to be filled with Ron. Hemione smelled notes of chocolate, broom wax, sweat, his apple shampoo, and him. That unique and distinctive scent was purely him. She could also feel his warmth and the delicious tension of his muscles as he contracted them to hold her. A shiver ran down her spine as his breath caressed her ear when he spoke.
'I'm so sorry you had to see me like this. You can wait up in my room and I'll go take a quick shower and shave this scruffy bea-'
'NO!' She had pulled away from Ron just enough to look at his face, and locking her eyes with his, she added, 'Leave the beard.'
He raised a questioning eyebrow at her and when she nodded, a smugly grin spread across his face.
'Oh, honestly, Ron!' Hermione shoved Ron's chest and fiery blushed when she caught the sound of Ginny and Harry howling and whistling.
'Oh, sod it!' She snapped, as she took a fist of Ron's jumper and tugged him out of the room to his bedroom. Ginny and Harry howling even louder.