Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters.

A/N: Happy Thursday, all!

Special shout-out to accio-broom, who is the real MVP for beta-ing this chapter! She always provides the best suggestions and helped ease my mind as I mildly stressed over the content in this chapter. Thanks for always being awesome!

Ten Years

Chapter Seven

I've been dragging my feet slowly

Sittin' here waiting for you

Don't seem to want to listen

Even when my heart knows the truth

It doesn't matter who's to blame

To blame, to blame

The good we had has slipped away

Away

Don't wanna say it out loud

'Cause then it feels real

Don't wanna carry around

This thought that could kill

You're easy to talk to

So why's it so hard to break the seal

Start to heal

Don't wanna say it out loud, 'cause then it feels real

Out Loud - Fairlane, ROZES, and JT Roach

Ron

Ron,

I hope this letter finds you safe and well. How is your mission in Romania going? Please tell me all about the dragons that Charlie is currently studying. I find his work fascinating, and I am so happy that you are getting a chance to work so closely with and care for magical creatures. Although, I certainly hope you never run into a situation with a Hungarian Horntail like Harry in fourth year!

Everyone is doing well here, as I'm sure you already know from their letters. Ginny is about halfway through her pregnancy now — little James is running all over the place, so of course, they're having a bit of trouble keeping up with him. I try to have dinner with Harry and Ginny at least once a week.

We all miss you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Love,

Hermione

Hermione,

I miss you, too. Blimey, I don't think I realized how hard it would be to be away from home until it actually happened for me. I have an understanding now of what it might've been like for you over in America.

If only portkey travel were a bit simpler then I'd be coming home more often. However, it is nice being with Charlie. It's been a long time since we've had the chance to spend some extended quality time together. He's settled into a nice life over here and it's been wicked to watch how he interacts with the dragons with ease.

He is currently studying the Norwegian Ridgeback. Did you know that the babies can start shooting flames anywhere from one to three months old? I had to dart out of the line of fire with one little bugger — wasn't as cute as I thought it would be up close!

Anyway, I'll keep you updated on what is going on over here. I expect you'll be able to find me back in England by the time the anniversary of the Battle rolls around next year.

Thinking of you.

Ron

Ron read through his letter once, feeling satisfied by its contents, before rolling it up and attaching it to Hermione's owl.

"Off you go now." With a final pat, the owl flew out of the windowsill, and up into the bright blue sky.

Sighing heavily, Ron pulled a picture from his pocket. It was of him, Hermione, and James. The picture was moving, and he gently traced the outline of her face as she laughed and held James, who was in the middle of catching Ron's nose. She was leaning into Ron's arms that were enveloped around her as he gazed down lovingly at her.

"Is that your wife and kid?"

A voice ripped him from his memory, and he turned his head to find Tara, a fellow dragonologist on the reserve who worked closely with Charlie. She glanced down at the picture in his hands, and then raised her eyebrows back up at him expectantly.

Ron blushed profusely, his stomach tightening into knots as he realized that the picture certainly looked like they could be a family.

"Ah…no."

He wished, Ron admitted to himself. Oh, how much he wished. As he was getting older, seeing Harry and Ginny with a young one and another on the way...it made him wonder if he was wasting time. If there was a clearer path paved for him and Hermione than the one they were currently on.

"That's my…" Ron wasn't quite sure how to describe Hermione, as she had never really even been his girlfriend. "That's my best friend, and my other best friend's child. We are his godparents."

The petite woman raised her eyebrows. "Well, she's a pretty girl. Looks a bit more than just your best friend, I might add," Tara hummed with a wink.

Ron let out a short laugh. At the time, they were. They were so incredibly happy in that picture. He figured it was the happiest either of them had been in years. It was a cruel twist of fate that neither knew what would be coming just hours later — all because he royally fucked it all up.

Would he have ended up in Romania anyways? Yeah, probably. But, there was always a part of Ron that thought maybe he would have asked Hermione to try long-distance with him this go-around. That maybe now that they were older, more mature, they'd be able to make it work. After all, he'd much prefer to be with Hermione, even if it meant only seeing her a few times a year, than not at all.

Another part of him, perhaps an even more conflicted part, wondered why he didn't still ask her to try long-distance or even ask her to come with him.

Thankfully, their friendship remained steady, despite the questions that still lingered in the air regarding their relationship status.

Ron was getting close to solving the case he was working on in Romania. He had a few leads as to who was plotting to break-in at the Sanctuary. With every passing day, his fuel to find the bastard only increased — the longer it took for him to solve the mission, the longer he'd be away from home and from his family.

From Hermione.

He just didn't want to do it anymore.

May 2005

Hermione

She bubbled with anticipation as she stepped inside the Leaky on a chilly evening in early May, unsure of what to expect from what, or who, waited inside.

"Hermione!" An abundance of cheers rang out, causing Hermione to take an immediate step back, placing a hand over her rapidly beating heart.

It seemed as if the entire Hogwarts class from her year was all packed inside the small pub. She felt the heat in her cheeks rising with so many sets of eyes all pivoted towards her at once. After a moment, and realizing that she needed to actually take a breath, she finally had the chance to scope out the individuals all grouped around a massive section of the pub.

In the center of them all was the one person she had been most looking forward to seeing.

Ron's face split into a wide grin once her eyes landed on him, and he stumbled back out of his chair. She didn't care who she had to push out of the way just to get to him — all she could see was her best friend, and he was moving towards her just as quickly. They met somewhere in the middle, and Hermione threw her arms around his neck so tightly that she almost knocked Ron flat on his back from the force of her embrace. She squeezed her eyes shut as she nestled her face in the crook of his neck.

People were clapping around them, and when Hermione opened her eyes she found Harry's amused grin. She averted her gaze, choosing instead to bury her nose into Ron's shirt again.

All too soon, he was pulling away, and she only then realized that her feet were no longer touching the sticky wooden floor. Ron lowered her body slowly back down to the ground, his hands gliding around her waist to the front of her stomach, releasing his hold on her at an agonizingly slow pace. She observed the tint of pink in his cheeks as he stuffed his hands into the pocket of his trousers, looking around shyly.

Fortunately, it seemed as though most people returned to their previous conversations, no longer engrossed by their spectacle of a reunion.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be here yet," Hermione managed to get out breathlessly.

"I was surprised you weren't. Since when do you not arrive promptly at the start of the party? I figured you'd be two drinks deep by the time I arrived."

She wasn't about to tell him that she may have arrived later on purpose, hoping that she could find him as opposed to him finding her.

Instead, she only placed her hands on her hips and looked him squarely in the eye. "Since when have you ever known me to be two drinks deep?"

"Well put, Granger," Ron chuckled, then with an infuriating bite of his lip, he gestured with his head over to the bar counter. "So...would you like a drink?"

Her lips twitched. "I suppose one drink couldn't hurt. It is an occasion, after all."

"Brilliant!"

Would she ever not feel nervous around him? Hermione drummed her fingertips on the counter as Ron ordered two pints. She was about to offer her galleons to Ron when he placed his hand over hers, insisting that he pay.

An unsettling feeling rumbled low in her stomach. Shouldn't she be paying for his drink? After all, he was the one who just returned home. She knew she was likely overthinking Ron's gesture, but to her, it was almost as if they were on a date. Hermione didn't have time to process it, for a smooth, feminine voice uttered Ron's name.

Ron turned around swiftly once he heard his name, eyes bulging out. "Tara? What are you doing here?"

The beautiful woman, who had eyes the color of sapphires and long, black hair that looked as smooth as satin, beamed her pearly whites back at Ron. The woman opened her arms wide and pulled Ron into a crushing hug, which he reciprocated.

Who in the name of Merlin is THIS woman?

Once the woman stepped away from Ron — not quick enough, in Hermione's opinion — she cast her eyes over to Hermione with a bright smile. It was a smile that Hermione wanted to irrationally claw off her face. "You must be the mysterious Hermione!"

Ron was blushing now, and Hermione had no idea how to take that reaction. "I wouldn't say I'm mysterious, but yes, that's me," Hermione curtly replied, shaking the woman's hand delicately.

"I've heard only wonderful things, of course. I'm Tara, by the way!" Funny, Ron never mentioned a Tara in any of his letters.

Tara glanced back over to the ginger man. "Ron, do you have a moment to meet a few friends of mine? They'd absolutely be thrilled to know someone else who's worked on the Sanctuary."

So he did meet her in Romania.

"Of course," Ron looked back to see they were still waiting on their drinks. "Er, Hermione, do you mind?"

Hermione was already nodding, waving him off. "Yeah, yeah, go. I'll wait here."

"You're brilliant, thanks!" Ron squeezed her arm briefly before following Tara towards a small group of people on the opposite side of the room. They greeted him with boisterous hugs and smiles.

Hermione sighed loudly, glancing around the heavily crowded room, which suddenly felt quite suffocating. She was debating on slipping out quietly when another voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hi, Hermione!"

Standing before her was Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff who was also in her year at Hogwarts.

"Justin! Wow, I haven't seen you in ages! How are you doing?" She greeted him brightly, welcoming this distraction from her plaguing thoughts about Ron and the nature of his relationship with Tara.

Justin leaned against the bar counter, facing her. "Well, I'm working as a Healer now, in the Artefact Accidents department. You wouldn't believe how many cauldrons have exploded on people's faces!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Hermione giggled distractedly back, and she could see Justin giving her an odd look.

She peered at Ron out of the corner of her eye, her insides boiling as his attention remained fully on the group of people he was standing with. He threw his head back in laughter, and was having a jolly good time, it seemed.

Just then, her ale arrived along with Ron's, and she took her pint, downing it all in just a few gulps.

"Whoa, you are going to have some fun tonight," Justin chuckled, warily watching her pick up Ron's pint and take sips from it as well.

"It's a party, isn't it?" Hermione winked back, her entire body tingling from the liquid courage she had just consumed. She snuck one more hazy glance back over at Ron, who was still preoccupied with his new group of friends.

Hermione took one last swig of Ron's ale and then offered the polite man in front of her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Justin, if you'll just excuse me. It's so crowded in here — I might just need to get some fresh air."

"Of course, lovely seeing you again, Hermione."

"You too, Justin." She gave him a final brief nod and a wave before darting for the side door, careful to avoid any curious gazes.

Hermione inhaled deeply once she stepped out onto the cobblestone path. She wobbled unsteadily on her feet, the combination of an empty stomach paired with a minimal tolerance for alcohol making it increasingly difficult to see or think clearly.

Damn you, Ronald Weasley.

She hated feeling like this. She hated the fact that she wasn't in control of her inhibitions and, an even larger part of her was frustrated that she couldn't control the way she acted when she was around Ron. For the past seven years, their relationship had been an endless cycle of ups and downs, without any sort of clear direction.

It was all incredibly exhausting, and Hermione let her weight sag against the brick wall behind her as she closed her eyes in hopes of mitigating the dull pounding in her head.

"Hey, you."

Ron's husky voice forced Hermione's eyes to open again, and he was now leaning casually against the same wall just outside the door she came through. He had a playful grin on his face, and she found it very difficult to stay mad at him.

"Why aren't you enjoying the party?" He questioned once he likely realized that she wasn't going to respond.

"Roonil...Wazlib…" Hermione slurred back, pointing a firm finger in his direction before dropping her hand back down lazily by her side, her knees buckling.

Ron's grin grew even wider, and Hermione fought the urge to groan out loud, knowing she had been caught. "Hermione Granger...you are drunk! Wait — how did you manage to get drunk in less than ten minutes?"

All remaining logic left her mind completely, unable to contain the unintended confessional that proceeded to follow. "Yes, I am, because of you! And-and that woman you met in Romania...she is quite pretty, so I understand why-"

"Wait, wait, wait. What are you..." His eyes widened in realization, "You're jealous!"

"So what if I am?"

"Hermione…" Ron chuckled and shook his head. "Tara is married. She's got a husband and kids waiting for her back home. I would never…there's absolutely nothing going on there, she's just been a friend. Honest."

Although immensely relieved to hear that she didn't have anything to worry about, Hermione's cheeks still flushed with embarrassment over her rash decision-making.

"Now," Ron began, taking a step closer, "Can we talk about your show with Justin Finch-Fletchley in there?"

"You saw that?" Hermione winced.

Ron snorted. "O'course...although, if you really wanted to make me jealous, I'm not sure going with someone who'd be more interested in me than you would be the right move…"

Of course. Hermione groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Oh God, can we just forget about all of this?"

"Fine," Ron agreed immediately, already moving on from the conversation, and she could hear his feet moving on the pavement as he sauntered dangerously closer.

A pair of large hands curled around her petite ones, the simplest touch igniting a spark that ran through her fingertips. When he gently pulled her hands away from her face, Hermione found herself staring into a pair of deep ocean blues, albeit slightly darker than normal.

"It's really, really good to see you Hermione."

"Likewise."

A single, constricted breath later, Ron's lips descended upon hers, and she wondered immediately if he could taste the ale on her lips. His deep, guttural moan as he pressed her back more firmly into the rock solid wall behind her confirmed her suspicions.

Their hands were roaming everywhere, grasping at each other's clothing like they were starving for each other — a desperate need to be as close as possibly overtaking every rational part of their bodies.

The need she had for him was intoxicating. The passion between them raged on, as always, and she could find herself easily getting lost in his arms.

However, in the back of her mind, Hermione couldn't quite shake the feeling of avoidance. That maybe they were both trying to convince the other that they were happy as is, not willing to take their brooms any higher.

The feeling was suddenly sobering, and while it didn't exactly provide the same intoxicating sensation she had experienced just moments before, it certainly was toxic in nature.

Yet, she did nothing to vocalize her thoughts as she snogged him carelessly in a public alley for as long as her breath would allow.

Two weeks.

Another two weeks passed, and Hermione was no closer to working through the conflicted emotions that kept her up at night on several occasions recently. She figured Ron was just settling into his new flat, as well as picking up where he left off in the Auror department. Hermione was relieved when Ron told her that Kingsley had asked him to come back — finally, they were both staying in the same place.

But were they in the same place?

Her mind drifted too much and it was no good trying to concentrate on work. She began packing up her handbag in her office, deciding that she'd bring the rest of her paperwork home for the day.

Before she could step out of her office to head towards the lift, a blonde-haired man blocked her exit.

"Hello, Granger."

"Cormac." Hermione's voice was short and unpleasant. Ever since Cormac transferred to the Law Enforcement department last year — a fact that she hoped had nothing to do with her also taking a position there — he often sought her out during the most inconvenient of times. "I'm sorry, I was just leaving-"

"This won't take long," Cormac interrupted, walking fully into her office without invitation before closing the door behind him.

Hermione was seething on the inside, clenching her fists underneath her desk. She really wasn't in the mood for more of Cormac's antics.

"I heard that there would be a promotion up for grabs in the department soon," he remarked snootily, moving uncomfortably closer to sit on the edge of her desk.

"And?" Hermione lifted a single eyebrow and crossed her arms. If he had a ploy to come into her office and intimidate her, he would be sadly mistaken.

Cormac laughed airily, and she wanted to swipe the smirk right off his face. "I hope you are okay with me fighting hard for the lead position. I just wanted to clear the air in case there were any hard feelings...you know, because of our history."

Hermione couldn't help the snort that escaped through her nose. She tried to ease back her laughter as she observed Cormac's less-than-enthused expression. "I don't think that'll be an issue, Cormac."

Cormac opened his mouth to retort when Hermione's door swung open widely to reveal her favorite ginger holding a rather large brown paper bag, almost taking down a startled Cormac in the process.

"Hiya Hermione, I thought I'd come see if you'd eaten dinner yet! I left so quickly last year that I never really got a chance to see your offices…" Ron's voice trailed off as he finally took in the sight before him.

Hermione slowly sat back in her chair, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched Ron's eyes lock murderously on Cormac's.

"But if I need to come back another time..."

Hermione stood up at an alarmingly fast speed. "No, Ron, stay! Really. We were just talking about work."

Ron didn't take his eyes off Cormac, who seemed to get the message, already backing away slowly.

"I'll just leave you two, then. Think about what I said, Granger." Cormac departed the room with a final wink thrown back towards Hermione before shutting the door soundly behind him.

The room was so silent that Hermione could've heard a quill drop to the floor. Ron remained frozen in his spot, eyes unmoving from the wall.

"It really was nothing, Ron-"

"Really?" He snapped, finally acknowledging her with a glare. "And ex-flings like Cormac sodding McLaggen come around your office quite frequently, huh?"

His words were almost like a slap in the face. Her cheeks grew red out of anger. "Well you are in my office too, aren't you?"

"That's beside the point! It's me, I'm your best friend!"

"Yeah, but that's all you are, isn't it?"

Ron straightened his posture from his typically hunched over state. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Hermione swiped a finger across her brow, mentally chiding herself for failing to be in control of her own mouth. "Nothing, sorry. I'm just tired and cranky. Can we get back to you strutting in here like a jealous giant?"

"I wasn't."

"You were jealous. Just admit it!"

"Of course I was jealous!" Ron shouted, loud enough to make Hermione jump in her seat. "It drives me mental to see you with another guy."

Her heart swelled from the intensity of Ron's proclamation, but that didn't stop the sigh from escaping her lips. "Ron, we've been doing this back and forth thing for years, and I just thought…"

"You just thought what?" He pushed once he noticed her stalling.

"I thought we were finally getting somewhere when you left last year. Now you're back, and…Ron, you've been back for nearly two weeks, and we have yet to even discuss what this is." Hermione gestured between their bodies, still a safe distance away from each other, not really sure how else to put into words how she felt.

He matched her gaze head on. "So, let's discuss it now."

"We can…" Hermione sucked in a breath as she watched the muscle in Ron's jaw twitch, sending a wave of heat rushing through her body. She was filled with the sudden urge to cross the room and kiss him soundly.

So that is what she did.

If Ron was surprised at all by her sudden attack, he didn't show it, for instead he tangled his fingers through her curls and smashed their lips even closer together. They were so lost in the moment that neither heard the door swing open again.

"Hey guys, I wanted to see if you wanted to — OH. Sorry." It was Harry, who was already backing away quickly out the door. "Er, dinner at the Burrow if you can come."

Ron's eyes darkened as he stared breathlessly at Hermione. "Go on over, mate. We'll meet you there in a bit."

"Sure thing," Harry whispered before quietly closing the door behind him.

Hermione laughed awkwardly and made a move to pick up where they left off when Ron took a step back.

"What are we doing, Hermione?"

"I thought we were kissing," Hermione coyly responded, moving back in to reattach her lips to his.

Ron caught her elbows before she could, pushing her gently back at arm's length. "When are we going to stop this back and forth?"

Hermione let her hands fall down to her sides and turned away from Ron. He clearly wanted to talk now, just like she had wanted to for weeks — so why is it that she suddenly didn't know what to say?

After several long, pondering seconds, Hermione softly spoke, "I think part of me is afraid...that if we disrupt the flow of our relationship, or disrupt how we've been lately that…" She lifted her head up to meet Ron's gaze, in hopes of conveying the worry behind her eyes.

Ron nodded in understanding, slightly chuckling, "I'm not sure our relationship has ever really flowed — more like we've been moving chaotically down a massive waterfall."

Hermione couldn't help but giggle along with him. Leave it to Ron to find the humor in every situation — she supposed that's why she loved him so much. The pang in her chest only grew.

Ron continued, "But, I feel the same way. Your friendship means everything to me, Hermione. I just feel like so much time has passed, y'know? I don't know where to go from here."

It honestly felt odd, tackling this tough conversation with Ron head-on, like mature adults, but it was a conversation that was long overdue.

"And if we don't know where to go, or where this is heading, then something isn't right," Hermione whispered hoarsely, feeling the tears already stinging her eyes. A part of her hoped that Ron would outright disagree with her — that he was ready to tell her that she was wrong, and that she was barmy for thinking they couldn't make it work without ruining what they already have.

But he didn't. Deep down in her heart, she knew by the look in his eyes that they were finally on the same page, even if it wasn't the page she had once hoped for.

"It shouldn't be this hard…" Ron croaked out.

"I know."

"I don't want to lose you...and I just have this sinking feeling that if we continue this way…"

He didn't have to finish his sentence for her to understand completely. They would lose each other. It wasn't just their romantic relationship at risk here. The decision they made now threatened the entire foundation of their friendship, something they had spent so many years building.

"I know," she simply responded again quietly, unsure of what else to say.

"You're my best friend." His own eyes welled up with tears, and she wasn't sure if she had ever seen Ron so emotional. He was pleading with her to understand.

Hermione already did. Her own body was now trembling as she fought back her emotions. "You're my best friend too, Ron. Always."

Ron took her hand in his, and squeezed it so hard her knuckles almost turned white. "I'm never going to feel anything for anyone even close to what I feel for you." His voice broke at the end and he furiously wiped a tear away from his cheek.

Hermione let out a short hiccup and sniffled, struggling to maintain her composure as she processed the truth behind Ron's admission. It was honest and raw.

"I love you, you know that, right?" Ron added.

It was the first time since his casual declaration in sixth year that she had heard Ron say that he loved her.

"I know. I love you, too."

A part of her wanted to throw it all out the window and take everything she just said back. However, the fear of losing him heavily outweighed the level of risk she was willing to take.

Hermione threw her arms around Ron's neck, holding him as close as she could as she tried to stifle her sobs. She could feel the increased wetness on her own shirt as he lowered his nose onto her shoulder.

Their friendship was more important than anything else. For now, that was what they would focus on.

It didn't make the loss of their romantic relationship hurt any less.

Some time later, Ron and Hermione made their way to the Burrow, finding Harry sitting alone by the familiar willow tree.

"So...are you two all sorted now?" Harry asked warily as they approached.

Hermione sat down cross-legged across from Harry, and Ron took a seat next to him, letting his back rest against the tree.

"Yeah…" Hermione smiled softly as she toyed with a piece of grass she plucked straight from the ground, "We're good."

Ron met her gaze with a comfortable grin.

"Blimey," Harry let out a laugh, "Do you remember the last time it was just the three of us together?"

Hermione thought back and found that she really didn't know that answer. So much had changed from the time they defeated Voldemort seven years back. Harry was now married with two kids, and she and Ron...well, perhaps not much has really changed there.

For a little bit, it was like they were transported back into time to Hogwarts. Just the three of them.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Happily laughing by the willow tree.