Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Hermione woke up with a groan, her head pounding. She found herself lying on the floor of the living room, surrounded by Weasley brothers. Angelina was also there, and Fleur was the sole person laying on the couch. Hermione's tongue felt thick and the light coming in the window was positively piercing.
She cursed Ginny for getting her drunk as she dragged her body into a standing position and ventured slowly into the kitchen. She found Mr. Weasley sitting at the table drinking tea and talking softly to Mrs. Weasley as she started breakfast.
"Good morning Hermione." He greeted her. She groaned.
"Any chance you have hangover drought?" She asked them. They both chuckled and Mrs. Weasley handed her a glass.
"Angelina can have some too, but not my sons. They deserve to suffer through it." Hermione giggled at this, but stored a small vial in her pocket when neither of them were looking to give to Ron.
"I like Angelina." Mrs. Weasley declared. "And I think she's good for George."
Hermione nodded. "I agree."
At that moment the door swung open to reveal Angelina herself. "Morning." She greeted softly, in better shape than Hermione had been.
"Hangover drought." Mrs. Weasley said, handing her a glass.
"Thank you very much." She responded awkwardly.
"So, what do you do at the shop?" Hermione asked her as the atmosphere in the kitchen became slightly tense.
"I make products and help run the shop. And I tell George if any ideas are stupid." Hermione chuckled.
"That's a big job, I imagine." She joked, noticing George standing behind her.
"Oy!" He complained. "Why are you always picking on me?"
"Because if I didn't you'd make me a target." Hermione responded wisely. Percy snorted. Everyone appeared to be awake, except for Harry and Ginny who were who knows where.
"None of you get any potion." Mrs. Weasley declared.
"What?" Bill gaped at her. "But Mum!"
"Absolutely not William." She pointed at him threateningly with a wooden spoon. He shrank back and she whirled around to glare at the rest of them. "You deserve it for breaking into my good stuff and drinking it all. Do you know how old and expensive that was?" She demanded.
They all had the good grace to look ashamed, but they also watched her beseechingly. She shook her head resolutely and they groaned, throwing themselves into chairs. Fleur patted Bill's shoulder consolingly and Angelina stuck her tongue out at George. Charlie got his hand slapped as he attempted to steal a dose.
"Juice?" Hermione asked Ron, grabbing him a glass. He grunted in assent, eyes murderous. Luckily, everyone was too miserable or distracted to notice her tipping the vial discreetly into his drink except for Mr. Weasley, who merely glanced at her in amusement. Ron's eyes went wide as he realized what she was doing.
"Wha?"
"Shh!" She interrupted him. He shut his mouth abruptly and drained the juice in one gulp. He leaned in closer to whisper in her ear.
"I love you." She flushed in pleasure but simply shook her head.
"They practically forced you to drink more, just like they did to me." She justified.
"Animals." He agreed with a grin.
Harry and Ginny chose that moment to grace them with their presence. They both looked slightly dishevelled and absolutely thrilled. They were both practically exuding happiness. This caused the older Weasley brothers to grumble, feeling so horrid themselves. Hermione knew for a fact that Ginny kept a batch of hangover potion in her room because her brothers routinely exhausted the communal supply.
"Could you pass my fiancé some eggs?" Ginny asked Charlie and was met with a chorus of groans. "So, have you decided where and when to have the D.A. reunion?" This was directed at Hermione.
"I was thinking a week today…" she trailed off and had a brief wordless conversation with Ron. He shrugged as if to say it's up to you. "In our condo."
"Your and Ron's?" Fleur asked in fascination. Hermione nodded.
"Well what do you know." George observed, eyebrows raised.
"You're invited." Hermione added to him, forestalling any insensitive remarks. "And you, Angelina."
"The rest of you weren't in it, sorry." Ron apologized. "But I'm sure we could have an Order reunion if you want. Although then Harry and Ginny would be excluded." He winked at Harry who rolled his eyes good naturedly.
"Ronald." His mother admonished. "They're both honorary members and you know it."
"Yes. And I'm a full member." He wiggled his eyebrows at his sister who gave him a murderous glare.
"If you could spare us your member status that would be nice." Charlie muttered, earning him another smack from Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, speaking of me being a member of things," Ron shot Charlie a grin, "The auror ceremony is tomorrow."
"That's right!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "We'll all be there, of course." Hermione squeezed Ron's hand under the table. She was immensely proud of him. Harry too, but she was prouder of Ron than she could ever explain.
"You start work the next day, don't you?" She asked him. He nodded, his mouth full of food. "I start that day too."
He grinned at her. "You gonna make S.P.E.W worldwide?"
"I'm certainly going to try." She said earnestly, ignoring his knowing smirk.
"S.P.E.W?" Charlie asked, and she turned towards him to explain.
Later that day found Hermione chatting with Fleur, Angelina, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley about wedding plans.
"It's much too early for anything concrete, Mum. We want a nice long engagement. We just want to know that we're promised to be together forever. He didn't even think he could have forever a few months ago." Ginny told Molly softly.
"Of course." Mrs. Weasley agreed, softening.
"But," Ginny declared, "I do know that I want Hermione to be my maid of honour." She turned to Hermione who found herself incapable of speech. She beamed and hugged Ginny tightly.
"I would be honoured." She said intently, eyes filled with unshed tears.
"And I want the two of you to be in the wedding party as well." She informed Fleur and Angelina.
"Of course." They agreed in delight.
"And Luna." Ginny decided.
"I can't believe my baby is getting married." Mrs. Weasley blubbered. Hermione just smiled at all of them so widely her muscles hurt. For once she didn't mind some sappiness.
RWHG
Ron disentangled himself from his very grouchy older brothers and made his way outside. He had always loved the backyard of the Burrow. When he was younger it had been magical, certain to produce an adventure. He rounded the corner of the small pond and found his soon-to-be brother-in-law standing there looking into the water.
"Hey mate." He greeted.
"Ron." Harry responded. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder in silence for a time, enjoying the peace of their surroundings. "Did you ever believe life would turn out so well? You and Hermione moving in together, Ginny agreeing to marry me, all of us about to start jobs. The two of us at the top of the auror department, Hermione about to move her way up the Ministry ranks. I didn't even think I would survive to eighteen."
"I have to admit I wondered for a couple of minutes there." Ron jested.
"I couldn't have done it without you guys. I couldn't have endured any of it without you, Ron. You know that right? I value your friendship above everything."
"Everything?" Ron joked softly.
"Well, the same as I value my relationship with Gin, and your parents, and Hermione. But you know what I mean. You're my best man, you always have been."
Ron looked at him in surprise. "What?"
"Will you be my best man?" Harry asked patiently.
"You want me?" Ron was incapable of proper sentences. His throat appeared to have closed up.
"Who else?" Harry said simply, and Ron was ashamed to note the tear that had fallen down his face.
"I couldn't think of anything I'd like to do more."
"Well…" Harry insinuated and Ron snorted.
"Yeah. Except maybe that." He softened at the thought of Hermione. Ginny would ask her to be maid of honour, he was sure. He had no idea how they had gotten so lucky.
HGRW
The next day Hermione woke to a cold bed, an extreme irregularity when sharing a room with Ron. She squinted as she looked around his childhood bedroom for him. He wasn't there, and neither was anything else. They were moving into their condo this evening so everything had been sent there already except for two suitcases. It was unnerving to see the bare wall instead of Ron's bright orange Chudley Cannons posters.
She rolled over and reached half-heartedly for her suitcase. Realizing she was going to have to get up to open it, she groaned. The zipper made a shockingly loud sound as she searched for her watch. It was only five-thirty! She groaned again and rummaged around for a robe. She made a soft a-ha sound as she grasped the fuzzy fabric and yanked it out of the bag. She wrapped it around herself and walked as quietly as she could down the creaky old stairs of the Burrow.
She savoured the early morning sunrise for a moment, taking in the sight of the cozy house by herself for what felt like would be the last time. She would come back of course, of that she was certain. But she didn't know if she would ever live there again. She smiled at her memories and ventured towards the kitchen, where she assumed Ron would be.
Sure enough, she found him sitting at the table with a glass of water, staring out the window. She came up behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. He leaned back into her and she massaged them gently.
"Big day today." She said softly. He nodded. "If you don't want to move out yet I understand."
"No." He said firmly. "I do. It's just a big step and I'm worried I'll forget Fred and I'm nervous about the ceremony."
Hermione didn't fail to notice how he had slipped Fred in the middle as if it wasn't bothering him. She knew it was what was bothering him the most. "You will never forget him." She said, sitting down beside him. "You think you will, but you will always remember him and who he was. Even if some things fade, like the exact sparkle in his eyes or the way he said Forge, you will always remember the essence of who he was, who he was to you, and the love you have for him. It will hit you at the most random times and, eventually, you'll smile when it does. You'll tell your nieces and nephews and children about him and he will live on in their minds and your memories."
Ron gave her a tired smile. "I just wish he was here."
"I know." She whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. "I wish they were all here." He put his arm around her and they sat in companionable silence until Mrs. Weasley came down an hour later to start breakfast.
"Good morning soon-to-be Deputy Head Auror Weasley." She beamed at her youngest son. Ron smiled and let her kiss his cheek.
"Morning Mum."
One by one the rest of the Weasley's meandered into the kitchen, except for Bill, Fleur, and Charlie, who had gone home last night. Breakfast was, as always, a merry affair and Hermione found herself just watching all of them and hoping that she would still get to do this with them once they moved out. She also found herself wishing that she would mend her relationship with her parents so they could be this warm again.
Eventually, they were back in Ron's old room for the last time to get dressed for the ceremony. Ron was wearing his new emerald green auror robes and was brushing his hair. Hermione had on a black suit dress on (a dress that looked like a suit but was more elegant) and was pinning on some earrings. She shrunk their suitcases and put them into her purse, then laid a hand on Ron's arm and left him alone in his room.
"Hey Mione." Ginny greeted her. "You look sharp."
"And you look stunning, as always."
"Mmm." Ginny agreed. "Can you believe Ron and Harry are going to be running the auror department?"
"Heaven help the department if they have to do the paperwork." Hermione giggled.
"Hey!" Harry protested, planting a quick kiss on Ginny's lips and snagging a muffin off of the table. "I can do paperwork when it's required."
"Sure." Hermione said skeptically, remembering his efforts to avoid homework.
"You guys excited to move in tonight?" He asked her.
"Yes." Hermione smiled. "I think we'll use magic to unpack since we both have to go into work tomorrow."
"Smart." Ginny agreed.
"Alright everyone, we'd better be off." Mr. Weasley declared just as Ron walked into the room. "We'll meet in front of the new fountain inside."
Hermione nodded and grabbed Ron's hand. "Side along me, Auror Weasley?" She smiled and his answering beam made her heart beat faster.
"It would be my honour." He grabbed her hand and they twisted into nothingness to reappear outside of the official entrance to the Ministry. "Ahh. This brings back memories, doesn't it?"
Hermione chuckled. "It certainly does." Memories of knocking out Ministry officials and dragging their unconscious bodies, that was.
"Crazy how fast the world changes." Ron mused before releasing her hand and making his way to the men's toilets. Hermione stepped into the toilet on her turn and flushed herself into the Ministry. She really wished they had decided on floo powder today.
She re-emerged and almost crashed into Ginny, who was staring at the new fountain with a strange expression on her face. Hermione grabbed her arm and led her closer to it so she wouldn't get hit by anyone else.
"It's like the old one still exists." Ginny murmured.
"I know." Hermione responded quietly. She looked around the atrium to stop the memories and found it to be absolutely crammed with people. Of course. She had no idea how she could have forgotten. Not only were Harry and Ron becoming head of the auror department, but Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys would also all be in attendance, which made the event highly sought after. She hoped Ron's nerves in front of crowds were limited to the Quidditch pitch.
He emerged with Harry and George and eventually the rest of them caught up. Ron offered Hermione his arm and she took it. They had to look official and important while entering the venue. He released her arm at her seat and continued to the front next to Harry.
First would be retirement speeches from Robards and Kingsley and a few other veterans who were retiring. Then Harry would give a speech as Head Auror and they would all be on their way. Hermione found herself watching the crowd throughout the retirement speeches, recognizing quite a few faces, and turning away from quite a few cameras. Finally, Robards took the mantle back up to award Ron.
"I am very pleased to be announcing the Ministry of Magic's new Deputy Head Auror. Ronald Weasley is an incredibly skilled and talented auror who's insight into strategy knows no bounds. He is brave, strong, and cool under pressure. I've seen him duel with the best of them and they were no match. I am confident that the department will only grow better under his supervision."
Robards stepped down to place a badge on Ron's uniform. This would only be worn at the most formal of occasions, today included.
"I give you, Deputy Head Auror Ronald Weasley!" The crowd erupted and Hermione and the Weasley's all soared to their feet, hollering. Ron grinned at all of them but when his gaze met hers he gave her a wink. She beamed back at him, immensely proud.
"Okay, alright." Robards quieted them down as Ron went back to stand off to the side. "It is now time to announce the new Head Auror. This man is a legend. He was born one before he even knew who he was and he grew into one during the war. His lists of accomplishments are endless, but today I'm here to congratulate him on his bravery, skill, and leadership qualities. I have gotten to know Harry Potter the man over these past few months and he is honourable and dependable. There is no one I would rather have replace me. Everyone give it up for Head Auror Harry Potter!"
The crowd screamed as Harry got his own badge and Ron whistled from his spot at the front. Ginny was glowing with delight. Harry took the podium and cleared his throat.
"First of all, I would like to thank Auror Robards for his incredibly kind words and let everyone know that there is no way I could ever replace him. I have wanted to be an auror since I was fourteen and a Death Eater disguised as my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher told me I would make a good one. Of course, at the time I had no idea he was actually a Death Eater, but the thought stuck with me. The man he was impersonating was former Auror Alastor Moody, the toughest warrior I have ever met. I think of him as I take this office, and I think of Auror Scrimgeour who died heroically without revealing any of my secrets, and Auror Tonks, who was a great friend of mine and one of the best aurors. I hope that I can honour all of the great men and women who have held this office before me, and help to make this world a better place. Thank you."
Hermione was crying slightly, as was almost everyone else. "That was a beautiful speech." She told Harry vehemently as she hugged him in congratulation. "Just beautiful."
The crowd surged around Harry to congratulate him and all of them stayed and chatted for hours as the last guests left. Ron faced his family. He hugged Ginny, then Harry, Charlie, Bill, Fleur, George, and Mrs. Weasley.
"You come over whenever and as often as you want." Mrs. Weasley said, fussing with his tie.
"Oh I will. Soon you'll be complaining about how much food I eat even though I don't live there." He reassured her. Mrs. Weasley gave him a watery smile before releasing him. Mr. Weasley shook his hand and then pulled him into a hug. Hermione found herself tearing up yet again as she hugged them all.
"Sunday dinners are non-negotiable." Mrs. Weasley instructed sternly and Hermione chuckled.
"Of course." She responded.
There was a chorus of goodbyes as Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and apparated them to their front door. They just stared at the door for a moment before Ron hauled Hermione into his arms. She shrieked slightly as the earth suddenly twisted sideways.
"Ron!" She protested as he carried her over the threshold, kicking open the door.
"Just let me be romantic, will you?" He asked, perturbed. He kissed her then, slowly, and Hermione felt herself blush.
"Alright." She murmured into his mouth. "I think I can do that."