Their version of normal had become increasingly domestic, and Fred Weasley wouldn't let you catch him saying that he liked it. Hermione tried to come home from work every night at a reasonable hour, and Fred would be home shortly before or after, depending upon when the shop closed. Sunday dinners at The Burrow were happening regularly, and Hermione made a very concerted effort to make sure the two of them arrived early and stayed late.
It was Sunday evening, and Fall was approaching once again. Percy and Penelope had decided to get married at the beach, and let Molly throw a big party at The Burrow for the Weasley family afterwards. It had been exactly what Penelope had wanted, and Percy just wanted her to be happy. Ginny and Harry's wedding was coming up in September, and George and Angelina had decided they were going to capitalize on Christmas and get married on Boxing Day.
Hermione had thrown on a denim jacket over her dress, protecting her from the cold that had approached as the sun had gone down. She was very glad she'd brought an extra layer to the wedding, especially as she got home to a rather cool apartment. She did love all the happy occasions happening in the Weasley extended family, but it was a little exhausting smiling at Fred's many extended relatives asking when she and Fred were planning on getting engaged or getting married or having children. She carefully took off her jewelry, hung her clothes in the closet, and put her shoes in the basket under her bed. She began to take off her makeup and take the pins out of her hair while she pondered the topic more.
I know I earned my job, but sometimes I wonder if other people do. Arthur has been offering me that job since before Fred and I were dating, but still. No one has been more insistent that they get engaged than Molly Weasley, but she won't come outright and say it, of course. Just dropping hints about four of her children getting married in one year. I know she's traditional, and so is Arthur. I do appreciate all of the hospitality, love, and care that she's shown me. Especially with my parents being so far away in Australia. But I don't want to do anything just because Percy and Ginny and George are all getting married. I'd sooner wait a decade before doing it just because everyone else was.
"Knut for your thoughts, my love?" Fred saw her brow furrowing, and her head swaying back and forth, as it often did when she was conversing with herself in her head.
"Fred, remember when you said to me that your mother wasn't happy that we were living together, that we're living in sin or something like that?" Fred blanched, really hoping she'd forgotten about that thing he'd said a few months back.
"I don't think she really means it, honestly. I think she just wants us to get engaged. Or married."
"Well I know that much. But you asked, so that's what I was thinking about. I know we literally just got home from Percy and Penny's wedding, and we're putting the finishing touches on Gin and Harry's wedding, and then I have no idea what Angelina is doing for hers. Plus there's so much going on with -"
"Hermione, love, I promise you she's not really thinking about it beyond that she wants us to get engaged eventually. I think it's just on everyone's mind! And she and Dad got married very young, but Bill and Fleur took their time. We all just grew up faster, with the war being so much closer to home, with you and Ron and Harry. And instead of pairing off and having seven red-headed children, you went and saved the world with those daft toddlers you call friends." Fred smiled at her, and saw her face calm. The two fell back into a silence while they folded laundry that was finally dry, and Fred got ready to open the shop tomorrow. The two had taken the day off work to just relax, but Fred was going to go in and open the doors for Lee and Trevor, the not-so-new kid who was rapidly turning into an asset in the shop.
"She was worried when we started dating, you know. That it was just casual."
"Was she really?" Hermione stopped mid-fold.
"One morning, really early on, when you were sleeping at my place and I popped home to get you clean work clothes, she was really upset, and I told her I love you. And she chose then to inform me that she really wants you to be her daughter-in-law. So I really don't think she's actually that mad at you and I, love. Although George and Angelina better get married so she can stay off our backs."
Hermione had finally let things slow down at work, and in the months leading up to the Potter Weasley wedding ("It'll be the wedding of the century!" was the response from any of the Weasley brothers teasing their baby sister, half mocking their mother and half surprised Harry Potter was actually finally marrying their sister) she had found a way to get back to her hobbies. Mostly reading, really. But she had begun to learn how to knit magically, much to Mrs. Weasley's excitement.
"Do you want to get married right now?"
"Before we have this very serious discussion, I would like to just make it known that I'm usually the one who is interrupting the silence with my very probing questions."
"Well I'm trying to see things from your point of view. You're avoiding the question, Hermione."
She took a deep, calming breath and let out a big sigh. "No, but that doesn't mean I never want to get married. You have to understand that while I came into the world at a time of relative peace, every single year my very best friends would be getting into utter bullshit because the most evil wizard of all time wanted to kill one of them. And it was exciting to have friends who people wanted to be around, but be the afterthought. Ron and Harry were never the afterthought, but I always walked one step behind them. Not only am I enjoying finding myself outside the constant threat of death, I'm enjoying that people finally aren't looking at me like I'm a god."
"Well to be fair you are a god. A sex god." Hermione rolled her eyes and chucked a throw pillow at her boyfriend. Secretly, she was glad he was calm enough to be joking about such a serious thing she hadn't really figured out how to tell him.
"You know what I mean. Besides, you've seen all the nonsense that's surrounded Harry and Ginny's wedding. All the interviews with Witch Weekly and The Daily Prophet, and all of the extra security that we need to get to make sure we don't have wedding crashers and everything that's really just exhausting for something that should just be normal. People get married all the time, and it shouldn't be such a big deal. But it is, simply because he's Harry Potter. And when Ron gets married, it'll be a big deal. And when we get married, it'll be a big deal." She hadn't realized she'd said anything about the two of them getting married until he got a stupid smile on his face. Still, she played dumb. "What?"
"You said we. I didn't recall asking, Granger."
"Oh get off it, you know you wanna marry me. How else would you keep getting to learn all about that Muggle takeout you've fallen in love with over the last year?"
"I guess you've got me there. But thank you for being honest with me."
"Fred, you're my boyfriend. We live together. I think we have to be honest with each other."
"I mean, you could tell me you think I smell bad and you never wanted to marry a bloke who was smelly and I would probably believe you." The two laughed, reminded of Hermione's incredulous worries early in their relationship.
"Does that satisfy your curiosity? I love you, and yes I would love to get married one day. But I like people not paying attention to me for a while."
"It does. But unfortunately for you darling, I will always be paying attention to you."
"That I can live with."
A/N: I'm gonna slide back in here and pretend I've been updating this regularly, and not three years later. What a time to be alive. I'm not going to promise more is coming but more is almost certainly coming. Hopefully you've enjoyed returning to this as much as I have.