Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story! It means the world to me. The next two chapters are chock-full, and I mean full of Ron and Hermione, it's kind of a bittersweet mixed bag, but that's because Chapter 5 is where the action really begins. And if anyone doesn't like this story or has an issue with the way I'm portraying the characters, please don't feel the need to keep reading at your own expense. I'm sure there are a thousand other fanfictions to suit your fancy. XOXO

"If my wishes came true, it would have been you."

Hermione blinked. She hadn't been expecting that. What could he want to say to her? Fleur quickly stood up.

"By all means, le frerot. I need to check on the children anyway." And with a smile at Hermione, off she popped, Apparating away.

Ron dismounted his broom and came to sit down beside her. "You want a shot?" he asked her, holding up the bottle.

She shrugged. Firewhiskey wasn't normally her thing. But nothing about this evening had been her thing. "Why not?" she said with a smile.

She quickly conjured up two glasses. It had been a postwar ritual of theirs. Back when he was studying to be an Auror and she was at Hogwarts, she would Apparate to the Roof many a night and they would talk long into the night.

Ron had always brought the liquor and she had would always conjure up the glasses. Normally she would drink Elfish wine and he would drink Firewhiskey, but that was when she was his to cater to.

She poured silently into the glasses. If he wanted to talk, he'd have to pick a subject.

"So, what should we toast to?" he asked.

She thought for a moment about saying something trivial (good health) or something obvious (the Fallen Fifty), but instead she dove right in.

"To your engagement?" she offered.

He looked a little surprised, but only a little. "To my engagement," he agreed. So much for letting him choose the subject. They didn't break eye contact as they raised their glasses.

"Cheers," she said as their glasses clinked.

"Cheers." There was a pause to take a sip.

"So, this is kind of weird, huh?"

His candor surprised her, but at least it meant they weren't going to avoid the subject. They had done more than their share of that in times past.

Hermione nodded. "Just a bit. Fleur told me that you really wanted me to come tonight."

He looked down at his glass. "I thought we should talk. You're not upset you came?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Did you get your invitation?"

"I did. It was a bit unexpected."

He looked really surprised at that, almost stung. His eyes met hers, an edge of hurt in them. "You thought I wouldn't want you at my wedding?" his tone was shocked.

She looked at him for a long moment. "We're not exactly close anymore."

He took a large sip before speaking again and she thought there was an edge of hurt in his eyes. "We're not exactly strangers, either."

She looked up at the sky, clear and bright with stars, the exact contrast of her state of her mind.

Ron took a large sip before speaking again. "Hermione, no matter what happened nothing can change the fact that you're always going to be one of the most important people in my life."

Inwardly, Hermione grimaced. Was he giving her the "best mate" speech? She didn't know if her soul could stand it.

Now, she took a large sip before speaking. "I know that, and I feel the same," she added automatically. Because what else was she supposed to say?

"Hermione," he said as if seeing right through her. "I mean that."

She looked at him earnestly and saw that his gaze was just as earnest, but her skepticism won out.

"Ron, we've barely spoken in six years."

He stared into his glass for a moment and then he looked at her. "I didn't know what to say. It didn't seem like there was much to say. And I needed...space."

"America is an ocean away and fairly sizeable, so I've been told."

He rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. Besides, you didn't actually owl me once a month either."

It was her turn to take a long sip. "I didn't know what to say either. I guess I was waiting for something...something that didn't come."

Ron finished his Firewhiskey and Hermione poured him another one.

"I'm sorry," he said after a beat. "For not staying in touch, like we said we would. I'm sure I've must started a thousand letters, tried to Floo Call a hundred times. But the words wouldn't come. I just didn't know how to revert things to the way they were before...it all so..."

"Complicated?" she offered.

"I was going to say 'fucked up beyond all reason', but 'complicated' works too."

She laughed. "Ron, I...this is a bit weird...but I can't help but feel at home here. And I'm glad I came."

"You are?" His eyes looked hopeful

"Yes. Because I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I didn't stay in touch. I wanted to, but it just got easier not and of course, I knew if anything was really wrong, Harry would tell me. I'm sorry I didn't...I'm just sorry. For it all."

Hermione finished her Firewhiskey and normally, she didn't have more than one glass, but this was a night of exceptions. She poured herself another glass.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come," he told her honestly. "And I want you here. You know, coming back home, I've seen everyone but you. And that's when I realized this world, my world, it's not complete without you. And I was afraid that if you didn't come, I wouldn't be able to tell you that."

He sounded so at peace, so comfortable so easy and the more he talked, the harder it was for her to talk. The harder it was for her to lie. Because she wasn't fine at all, and every moment she spent with him made it worse.

"I'm glad you told me that," she said, happy for a moment of honesty. His words had moved her deeper than he could know. "The times I've been here while you were away, it didn't quite feel right without you. You're a part of my world, too. And I'm happy for you," she inwardly sighed at having to lie again.

"Thanks," he told her with a large smile. "I honestly can't believe it's happening. Every time I think about it, it's like 'what the fuck am I doing, and 'don't fuck it up' and is 'this really fucking happening' and yeah, it is."

"Jitters?" she asked and hoped she didn't sound hopeful,

He shook his head. "Not really. Not yet, anyway. To tell you the truth, I can't believe I got past a second date with Allie. No idea why she keeps me around."

You're gorgeous, you're funny, you're smart, you're brave, you're loyal. Not to mention you're hung like a horse and fuck like a porn star. Hermione knew exactly why Alison Forell kept Ron around.

And she couldn't believe that she had ever been stupid enough to let him go.

Of course, she couldn't say what she was thinking. So, she settled for something general. "Don't sell yourself short. You always do, you know?"

He laughed. "Maybe. Maybe you're right. I am actually quite marvelous, aren't I?"

Don't kiss him. Don't kiss him. Don't kiss him. Those lips belong to someone else now.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she did her best not to inhale his scent. His cologne was the same.

"I'm glad you came, if I haven't said it before. I was so worried that you wouldn't come. Let's not be strangers anymore, yeah?"

Hermione smiled. "Well, it'll be easier now that you're back. Why are you moving back? Does this have anything to do with the Aurors?"

He nodded. "Kingsley's orders, really. Couple of guys are leaving, so they had open spots."

"So, Kingsley just swooped you back in. Why do I get the feeling that there's more to the story?"

The look on his face told her that there was. "Does this have anything to do with that case? The one Charlie was talking about?"

He nodded. "I caught a baddie, a real one. Not like Voldemort bad, but bad. He was the number two guy in a dark magic ring that was doing all kinds of nasty things. The thing is, the number one guy is here. Somewhere in London. I've got inside knowledge of how they operate, so I'm taking up the task force to try and apprehend him."

"What kind of nasty things are they doing?" Hermione couldn't stop herself from asking.

"It's classified, Hermione."

"Oh, please I'm a Ministry Ambassador, I should definitely be in the know."

He laughed at that, because they both knew it wasn't true.

"Besides," she said taking another sip. "Unlike your brothers, I can actually keep a secret."

He hesitated for a second. "We think they're trying to find an old way of Time Travel."

"Damn. Really?" Hermione said, half-amazed, half horrified. "I thought the only way to time travel was Time-Turners and they all went tits up."

"Well, not in America. There's plenty of Time-Turners. But there's definitely other ways. There's written in legend that there's an actual Center of Time. A place where all timelines meet and diverge. It was hidden away, thousands of years ago, possibly by Merlin himself. This dark magic ring, they call themselves Tempus. And they're trying to find it."

Hermione was shocked. "That can't be actual place, can it? There was nothing about that in H—"

"Hogwarts: A History?" He finished for her with a grin. "There's a lot we don't learn at Hogwarts. I'm learning that more and more every day."

"Between you and Harry, I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"You know, we may actually need your brains on this one," Ron said as if a lightbulb had just gone off in his head. "These people, they're really smart, fucking geniuses. We need a genius too."

It was nice to know he still had a high opinion of her. Of her brain, at least. "Well, I'm happy to help in any way I can."

He smiled at her and there were a few moments of comfortable silence. She placed her head on his shoulder. She done it before they were dating, she figured she could still do it now. He didn't protest.

The silence was comfortable because Hermione couldn't shut off her brain. She couldn't help but think that this shouldn't be the first time in six years they were sitting on his rooftop. They should've never stopped sitting on that rooftop

"Can I tell you something?" she said. "If we're being honest?"

"We are being honest," he agreed.

"I was a bit shocked that you were getting married to...well...to anyone else. I mean I guess I always thought I'd have something do with your wedding."

Ron smiled. "Well, so did I. That's why I asked." They both looked away and sipped, remembering a night they would do anything to forget. Hermione couldn't detect any bitterness in his tone, he didn't even sound resigned. He sounded like he'd let it go, like he had let her go. She chided herself for her stupidity. The man was fucking engaged to someone else.

"I'm sure I feel the same way when you get married," he continued after clearing his throat. "And what a lucky guy he'll be. Forever my loss."

It doesn't have to be, it really doesn't have to be.

"Ron," she said after a beat. "Are we still being honest?"

"We are still being honest."

"Then can I ask a very selfish, very unfair, very insensible thing of you?"

"By all means."

"Have you ever brought her up here?"

He shook his head. "She doesn't like heights."

Their eyes locked for a moment. "Don't," was all Hermione said.

With an earnest glance, he uttered one word. "Ok."

She smiled at him and for a second her façade nearly broke. She blinked back a tear. "Why is it so easy to talk to you now?" she asked, half to herself. She shook her head, her mind somewhere in between and awe and frustration, thinking of the miscommunication that characterized the twilight of their relationship.

Ron looked thoughtful for a moment. "We've got nothing to lose now. There's nothing to figure out."

Hermione stared up at the sky. "We could figure out how to stop the evilest Dark Wizard who ever lived, we could figure out an insurrection against the worst teacher to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts, we could even figure out how to stop a troll. It seems to me like we were pretty good at figuring things out."

Ron coked his head thoughtfully. "Only when our lives or the world was at stake. We were kids, Hermione. We didn't know what the fuck we were doing."

Hermione laughed. "I guess that's true. Do you wish we had just stayed friends?"

"Never," he told her instantly. "I never will."

"Neither will I." Another silence ensued.

"Are we good?" he asked. "I mean, are we cool?"

Hermione smiled. "Always."

Their eyes locked again and they both smiled. For a long moment, it was no time had passed. They were up on the roof like they had been before. He had just finished telling her about his Auror classes and she was talking about her studies and how she couldn't wait for graduation.

If she shut her eyes, she could imagine that this was the moment before the words ran out and the lips spoke in other ways.

But unlike times past, he didn't lean forward her and kiss her senseless. He was content to stay at arm's length.

They moved on to more general topics, the air having been sufficiently cleared. They talked about work and their families. Hermione threw in a few seemingly innocent questions about the wedding, hoping they sounded casually interested and not morosely obligatory.

Of course, every question she asked was met with an enthusiastic response, too enthusiastic for her liking, but she couldn't expect him not to be excited about his own wedding.

Every now and then, she thought she caught him looking at her a bit the way he used to. She knew it was her own wishful thinking, but still, she couldn't really help herself.

They were looking up at the sky and saw a shooting star go by.

"What should I wish for?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Why would you make a wish?" Ron asked, confused.

"You know...shooting stars grant wishes."

"Is that a Muggle thing? Or are you talking about actual Wishing Stars."

Now, Hermione was confused. "Wishing Stars?"

"It's an old legend, a fairy tale. It was said that Olana the Ageless, one of the First Witches created nine Wishing Stars and hid them all over the world. Legend has it they appear once every millennium to grant the wishes of a chosen few."

"I don't remember this in school."

"You dropped Divination, remember? But everyone knows about it. People have tried to find them. It's like finding Merlin's wand or something. What would you wish for if you found one?" he asked turning am impish grin on her. "Let me guess, go back to Hogwarts and get perfect marks on everything?"

She laughed, but it was hollow. "Something like that."

"Ron," called Molly interrupting their reverie. "The children want a bedtime story from the Guest of Honor."

"Right then," he called to his mom. "Coming down. I'll talk to Kingsley about looping you in. Rumor has it he's dying to have you back in England anyway."

Hermione shrugged. "That's just a rumor."

"Oh please, Kinglsey's been grooming you to take over since the War ended."

Hermione merely shrugged in reply. "Ron, is it okay if I bring a date to the wedding?" It was a simple enough question, an obvious question really. But Hermione was testing the waters. She watched him closely to see if he'd give anything away.

Ron didn't miss a beat. "Sure," he said smoothly. And then she remembered she had never beaten him at chess. "By all means, please do. I can't wait to meet him."

She smiled. "Great." She realized that Harry had probably mentioned that she was seeing someone. After all, he did the same for her. Still, it would've been nice to have the element of surprise. "You had better get down there, can't keep the kids waiting. I'll see you later."

He smiled. "Yeah, yeah you will." Her spirits lifted a tad when she thought he sounded genuinely happy about seeing her again. He popped away. Hermione slid back down in a huff. Denial. Absolute denial, that's what she'd been living in.

She'd convinced herself that he no longer mattered, that it was all water over the bridge. But it wasn't.

She had never been a slow learner, always the quickest, never a wrong answer. Of course, that was when it was academic or potentially world-ending.

Matters of the heart had never been her forte. Now she was paying the price. She wanted to scream and she wanted to cry. But she could do neither. So, she just sat there, looking up at the dark sky, wondering how everything had gotten so messed up.

That was where Harry found her, nearly half an hour later.

"So..." he began and she knew what he was asking.

"We're fine," she told him honestly and hoped she didn't sound disappointed. "Everything's perfectly fine."

"You sure?"

"Well, I suppose as fine as it could be. He seems really, really happy."

"He is," Harry said.

"Did you tell him about Taron?"

"Uh, I think Ginny did," Harry said after thinking for a minute.

"He said it's fine if I bring him to the wedding."

"Will you?"

"Of course," Hermione said. "He's my boyfriend."

"Just checking," Harry replied sheepishly. "I'm glad you guys talked. I'm glad everything's good. I had my worries."

"Did you?"

"Well, I have watched you sic birds on him before and I have watched you punch him before. You know, all the times I wasn't like on the run for my life at school, I was watching the two of you row."

"We're not kids anymore."

"Yeah, but I mean, you're still Ron and Hermione."

"No. He's Ron. I'm Hermione. There's no 'and' anymore. And it's better that way. We were kids back then. Kids who thought that just because they had saved the world that we knew everything. How wrong we were. But, it's all fine now."

Harry gave Hermione a skeptical glance, which she chose to ignore. "I'm freezing," she said. "Any trifle left?"

All too soon, she was back at her flat. Her empty, quiet flat. It was such a contrast to the place she had just left.

The Burrow had never known quiet and Hermione, for some reason, had surrounded herself with it.

It was an irony Hermione was now realizing was quite purposefully done. Ever since she and Ron had parted, everything had been the opposite of the life they had together

The flat they had shared had been full of life and noise and laughter. There had been people over all the time. She couldn't count the nights George had been there, Harry and Ginny practically never left despite having a much bigger space at Grimmauld Place.

Taron, equally quiet and equally bookish, had brought very little by the way of excitement. Most of their nights consisted of reading or catching up on work. He hadn't officially moved in, though there had been some discussion.

It was all so...boring, she suddenly realized. It was boring. Yes, she had never met a look she didn't like (with maybe the exception of those awful Horcrux ones), yes she loved Ancient Runes, but to have someone so similar in her life that disrupted her, never challenged her, never excited her.

She was Hermione Granger. She lived for challenges. She lived for being the best at them. But she hated failing. So, she had gotten rid of everything that had reminded her of what she considered her greatest failure.

She plopped down onto her bed in a huff.

She curled her legs up under herself and let out a long, hollow sigh.

She closed her eyes and tried not to think of red hair, lanky arms and snarky jokes...to no avail.

She replayed their conversation over and over and over, trying to find some hidden sign, some hint that maybe, maybe he was feeling the way she was.

She could find none. It was well and truly over between them.

She showered, changed into a nightgown and did her best to sleep. But sleep wouldn't come.

Needing something to distract herself and knowing damn well a book wouldn't do the trick, she reached into her nightstand drawer and pulled out The Wizard.

The Wizard had been a present from Ginny, who knew full well Hermione would never buy one of her own. Hermione had hardly ever stepped foot into the Ripped Robe, let alone made a purchase.

The Wizard was a magical vibrator. It had the capability of taking many forms, as many forms as the user could imagine. Hermione could count the times she had used it on one hand.

She turned it on and one image came to mind and instantly The Wizard became the Ronald. Am I really going to do this? She asked herself.

Before she could answer that question, there was a knock on her window. There was Pidge with a letter in his beak. She went to the window and let the bird in, petting the top of his familiar head as she looked down and read handwriting she knew all too well:

Kingsley's says you're in. Ministry Tomorrow at 10:00. Harry's Office.

Ron.

"Oh, Hermione," she said aloud. "How in the name of Merlin do you get yourself into these situations? First the wedding, now a mission. What's next, a fucking Horcrux Hunt?"

No double chapters this time, but I'll try to have it to you as soon as possible. Thanks again for indulging me with a read and please if you can, leave a girl a review, why don't you?