a/n: Thanks to each and every one of you for your reviews, they brighten my day. Late update, but I hope you all like it. Merry Christmas in advance!
Unedited.

Chapter 30: The First Scene

They took the lift down to the lobby and Hermione, after taking a quick look around, pulled out a large umbrella from her much smaller handbag.

"Might I remind you, Miss Granger, Extension Charms are not supposed to be cast for private use," teased Ron before he could stop himself and cleared his throat, looking away and feeling rather foolish. He was on the brink of berating himself internally when she caught his eyes, a naughty smile lingering in those beautiful brown orbs. Ron sucked in a breath; his dreams did no justice to how pretty she actually was.

"Planning to arrest me for this, Auror Weasley?" she quipped back as they walked ahead and out onto the street.

"Well, said Auror wouldn't be alive if not for this misdemeanour of yours. So I guess I'll have to let this one slide," he replied, smiling.

They laughed together as she opened the umbrella and held it up with difficulty, trying to accommodate his towering height; as their eyes met with the laughter still lingering in them, both looked away hurriedly. Ron wondered if he looked like a lovestruck fifteen-year-old as Hermione instinctively pulled him closer under the umbrella before letting go suddenly. He felt lighter than he had in years and found himself clinging onto a hope he hadn't even dared to acknowledge earlier. He took the umbrella from her, their fingers brushing ever so slightly, and she looked up with the tiniest hint of a smile before looking away blushing, and suddenly he was transported back in time to that glorious September afternoon when the two of them had returned from Hogsmead, drenched and huddled under his school robes. He glanced at her and quietly wondered if she remembered it too.

The rain had regained a little more strength again, drawing them closer, their boots splashing water as they stepped in the small puddles. Ron, soaking in the closeness, aching to wrap an arm around her shoulder. Matching steps and their bodies so close, he could barely concentrate on the pavement as her proximity flooded his senses and he inhaled deeply, wishing to hold the scent in his heart forever. The rain hadn't felt so beautiful in ages. Despite all his concerns about their recent predicament, he found himself hoping, wishing rather, for a time when she'd forgive him and allow him to be a friend; he couldn't dare dream of more. Even if she never loved him back ever again- Merlin knew, he had given her reasons plenty- he knew he'd willingly spend an eternity loving and caring for her.

The realisation hit him so strongly that he paused in his steps momentarily- he hadn't agreed to her as a favour but simply because how much he craved to belong to her- even if it was under a pretence.

…

She craved for Ron, there was simply no other word for it. No matter how much she pretended otherwise, the truth was she ached for everything they had between them. Hermione exhaled softly, clutched her bag to her chest and noticed his long legs matching her much smaller steps. The rain pattering down on the umbrella and water splashing as their boots landed on the many small puddles on the pavement reminded her of a walk down the streets of Hogsmeade. She had lost hope of ever having those moments back. She glanced sideways frequently, still unable to believe that it was indeed no one else but Ron beside her. His proximity brought back emotions that she had assumed she had lost forever. Ever since her decision to ask him for the favour, she had feared about this scenario- she knew having him around would only magnify her craving to have him back, to be loved by him, to find him looking at her the way he did in her dreams.

Her steps slowed down further and she realised how Ron matched her pace. Sighing softly to herself, she closed her eyes to relive the memory from moments ago, the softness of his features and the raw vulnerability in his eyes- it gave her hope that somewhere deep down, he was still the same Ron who cried himself hoarse when she was being tortured back at the Manor, the same Ron who had belonged to her for a precious few months. It was nothing but a hope that seemed practically impossibly. It had been way too long, she reminded herself, their lives had taken completely different paths and she couldn't afford to go weak again, could she? There was no guarantee whether he was the same person anymore, whether he'd ever love her the way he did back then. As she took another stolen glance she wondered if he had learnt to hide that part of himself really well and her Ron was still there somewhere? Perhaps there was still time to bring her Ron back?

They reached the secluded alley much too soon for her liking. "Let's take the next one," she blurted out before she could stop herself and perhaps she was dreaming, but she thought there was a faint hint of a relieved smile on his features.

"Sure," he replied. They resumed their walk, while Hermione silently rebuked herself, wondering whether it was much too obvious how she wanted to extend these stolen moments.

"That one isn't always vacant nowadays," she added haltingly in a way of explanation, not meeting his eyes.

"We'll take the next one," he replied.

Something told her, he wanted exactly what she did…

…

"Nervous?" he asked in an undertone as Hermione signed in the hospital register. She cleared her throat softly and bit her lip before exhaling through her mouth, trying her best to soothe the jittery nerves.

"A little. You?" she inquired.

"Freaking out, aren't I," he replied, looking around and waving at Mary with a forced smile. "Are we seeing your Dad too?" he inquired nervously as they walked towards the lift.

"Sure hope not," she replied as the door closed behind them and the lift lugged its way up.

…

As the door to her mother's ward opened, she noticed two people, one beaming and the other stoic. Behind her, Ron cursed softly as he closed the door.

He did seem much in control as he greeted her parents and beamed at her mum, taking a couple of quick steps towards the bed. As her gaze followed him, Hermione realised, the smile was genuine- he seemed like a different person altogether, a very young version of himself.

"Hey, Dad," she called, walking towards her father instead and giving him a hug. Ron was already perched on the side of the bed and speaking softly to her Mum, words she couldn't hear. They seemed utterly comfortable around each other and suddenly every lingering apprehension about asking Ron melted away- this was exactly what her Mum wanted.

…

Jane was beaming. He couldn't remember when he had seen her so ecstatic. Her face had regained colour and she looked better than she had in weeks. And yet, with his guilt gnawing inside him, Ron wished she knew Legitimacy and could read his thoughts, know without saying that he was sorry for the facade.

"Told you, didn't I?" Jane whispered, patting his cheek lovingly before she glanced at her daughter and back.

"Yes," he replied, looking down at the slightly wrinkled hand that clasped his right one. "I'll keep my word," he sighed, "I'll do everything in my power to keep her happy," he promised.

"I know," she sniffed before she let out a little chuckle. "I've waited a long time to call you my son," Jane sighed, her voice heavy with emotions, and Ron found it so incredibly hard to reply that he hugged her, hoping she'd understand how much her words meant to him. After all, she had been among the very few people who had taken him back without a complaint.

….

"A word, Ron?"

Hermione glanced nervously at her Dad and then at Ron who caught her eyes before looking away. He nodded in acknowledgement, looking much more prepared than she felt. He left the bed and Hermione walked up to take the empty space next to her Mum, smiling to hide the jittery nerves.

"Where are you both off to?" asked Jane, as she clasped Hermione's arm.

"That's between us," her father replied smiling as he gestured wordlessly at Ron and they left the room.

The door clicked back and Hermione faced her Mum properly, noticing that she looked better than she had in days.

"This was quite a surprise,"

"I guess we both reckoned it was about time," Hermione managed, realising that she really hadn't thought this conversation through.

"I hope it wasn't rushed?" asked her mum, rubbing the pad her thumb over Hermione's knuckles. Jane adjusted Hermione's curls behind her ear lovingly and Hermione grabbed her mother's hand in both of hers, tearing up for reasons unknown.

"You wanted this, didn't you, Mum?" she begged.

"Yes," Jane agreed. "It's a crazy world you live in, Hermione; gives your Dad and me a little peace knowing Ron's there for you."

Hermione smiled through her tears, glancing back at the door behind him, "He is," she agreed, gulping down a lot many jumbled feelings, not meeting her Mum's eyes as she was pulled into an embrace.

…..

Tom waited till they reached the cafeteria and ordered a couple of coffees. He had little clue what had transpired and worried that Ron and Hermione had simply arrived at the same time by chance and Jane had simply presumed the rest. But then again, his daughter did seem to have a different ring- and yet, he was utterly at a loss. Nothing made much sense.

They sat at a table and he took a sip.

"I'm surprised," he announced, noticing the young man look intently at his cup before Ron met his eyes. "I was worried she'd bring the Malfoy boy. Especially after he came down to meet us."

Ron lowered the cup without taking a sip. "Malfoy met you?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes," he exhaled, "Wanted to meet us, I mean, your parents and me," Tom explained. "He wanted to apologise and ask permission to marry her." He noticed the way Ron's jaws clenched at the words before he adjusted his expression. "That's why I am all the more surprised to find you-" he added. "Pleasantly surprised, of course, but it still makes no sense to me."

Ron continued to look at him for a while before looking away. There was no denying the boy looked guilty. "You deserve the truth-" he said at last. Ron seemed to be struggling with whatever he intended to say. "Jane does too, only that I don't-" he added haltingly before trailing off, sighed and placed his mug down. "It's … Malfoy had to break the engagement with her- found out he had some nasty curse on him that'd affect her."

Tom literally dropped the cup "What?!" he gasped.

"No, she- she's fine," Ron added hurriedly. "It'd effect only if they'd gotten married," he explained.

Tom exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose. "My heart is really not as strong as it used to be. What was Hermione thinking? going out with a boy from that family?!"

Ron nodded stiffly but refrained from making a comment.

"Where do you fit in? Didn't you say that the two of you-"

"Broke up years ago, yes." Ron exhaled tiredly. "Hermione had already told Jane about bringing someone to meet her. Wasn't willing to break Jane's heart. So she-"

"Asked you instead?"

"It's …complicated. Just an arrangement," Ron added guiltily. "I tried to reason with her. She wouldn't listen." He continued to look down. "I -I'm sorry."

Tom watched the young man intently for a while; his tone was stoic when he spoke. "My daughter is very headstrong but I want to know why you agreed."

"She was distraught- I didn't know what else to do to help."

"So she wants to marry you just to fulfil Jane's wishes," Tom mused aloud and Ron muttered a quiet 'yeah' in response.

"Why did you agree to this?"

"Hermione-"

"No, Ron," Tom interrupted. " Just your reasons,"

For the first time, Ron met his eyes with a strange determination. "I've been telling myself that I did it only to help her out. But the truth is- I've always loved her, still do." Ron sighed and looked away. "Does that make me selfish?" he asked.

Tom placed his mug down and chuckled drily. "At least one of you has the right reason to get into this."

"Even when this whole thing is nothing but a facade? I don't know," Ron muttered. "She deserves better, shouldn't get into a relationship with someone-"

"No, she shouldn't get engaged or married for a reason like this," he agreed, grim. Tom pondered quietly for a while before he spoke again. "However, she has trusted you, Ron."

"But she shouldn't!" Ron seemed to struggle to find words before he met Tom's eyes again. "Neither should you trust me with her. I broke her heart when I left, and pretty ruthlessly too. I don't deserve her trust."

The thought that his little girl had been heartbroken and dealt with it all alone made him incredibly mad, and yet, as Tom looked at the young man ahead of him, he knew there was more to what met the eye. "Why did you do it?" he asked.

Ron looked miserable but there was a strange determination in his words when he spoke. "I was recruited for an undercover mission. There was no guarantee when I'd return- whether I'd return at all… Didn't want her to waste her life waiting for me." He looked up and let out a dry, bitter chuckle. "Making her hate me had seemed the right thing to do back then."

"You seem to have a lot of regrets."

"I don't regret taking that mission," he replied. "Especially since I know what fate the wizarding population narrowly escaped. Do I regret hurting her and leaving her that way?" Ron paused, gulped down and looked away. "I do," he added softly, "all the time."

Tom absorbed the news silently, and despite his anger imagining what a heartbreak would have done to his little girl, he couldn't help but admire the strength of the boy. Tom knew very little of the wizarding world but he wasn't a stranger to the insane amount of danger the children had faced growing up. And he knew the boys, both Ron and Harry wouldn't think twice before jumping in the line of fire to save Hermione- especially Ron.

"I presume you haven't told her the truth upon your return."

"I tried," Ron replied quietly, "But she wasn't ready to listen and then-" he paused, licked his lips, "I found out she was seeing Malfoy. Didn't seem right to let her know anymore. She had moved on."

"And now?"

"I want to," Ron admitted. "But I won't force her to listen. I'll tell her everything the day she is ready."

"Why do I feel that Molly and Arthur don't know this either?"

Ron looked up. "Because they don't. Mum would've told Hermione, and I - I don't want her to return to me driven by guilt. It should be her choice." He looked down at his cup. "Please don't tell them."

Tom pinched the bridge of his nose, adjusted his glasses and tried to wrap his head around all the new information and the repercussions of the 'act' on Ron and Hermione's future. "I don't think I'm wrong to assume that apart from Harry perhaps, only I know the truth?"

"Yeah," he agreed.

"Hermione deserves the truth too," he reasoned again.

"Yes, but she gets to decide when she's ready."

Tom placed his empty mug down. "So what do you both plan to do now?"

"I don't know," Ron admitted. I'm kinda hoping she'd see sense and not get into a pretend-wedding driven by her sense of duty. Maybe Ginny can talk to her," he mused, "Perhaps you can?" he beseeched.

"I doubt she'd listen," Tom exhaled tiredly. "What is it that you want, Ron?" asked Tom.

"I just want her to be happy," Ron replied without missing a beat.

Tom patted the man on the shoulder, marvelling at the strange turn of events in these children's lives- it was as if a stronger hand was at work here to set things right and honestly, he was immensely grateful.

…..

"What did Dad ask you?"

They had just left the hospital. Evening had turned to dusk and the glow from the streetlights cast mesmerising shadows on her face, reminding him inexplicably of their walks down the long corridors at Hogwarts during their late night patrols.

"He was surprised to see me," he provided.

"And?" she inquired, impatient.

"And I told him the truth," he replied, looking straight into her eyes. "He deserves to know."

She looked away before Ron could decipher the emotions in her eyes. "You told him this is a make-belief engagement."

"Yes,"

"And he was okay with it?"

"Do you think he'd be okay with his daughter getting into a marriage driven by guilt?"

"You saw mum," she reasoned. "You saw how happy she was. As if-" Hermione looked away, not bothering to finish the sentence.

They walked in silence before Ron spoke again.

"Where do we go from here, Hermione?" he asked as he paused and turned sideways to face her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"What next?" he repeated. The conversation with her father had brought back the perspective- and the pain too. He couldn't get carried away, Ron reminded himself as he forced himself to look away from her face although he felt her gaze fixed on himself. He at least needed to try, he told himself. He knew her, and it was evident that once this phase in their life was over, she'd regret not thinking through the decision- regret making a choice based not on logic but only emotions. For fuck sake, she'd only just come out of one relationship, and that too wasn't by choice. She'd regret every bit of this act.

"Well," she began haltingly. "I-"

"Think this through," he interrupted. "We can, you know, keep this act of being engaged till the time Jane recovers and then-"

"Call it off?" she spat.

"You realise this -"

"She wants to see me walk down the aisle, Ron! You saw how happy she was today! Why can't you just help me out?!" she cried.

"I am trying to!" he retorted angrily. "Trying to stop you rushing into- into this!," he exclaimed, throwing his hands up exasperatedly. "You've only just come out of an engagement, are you even ready for this- this 'marriage' thing right now?! Don't you realise how much you'll regret this later?!"

"I won't!" she spat before she swallowed thickly and met his eyes "Not if you help me," she added quietly. "Maybe we can do this- maybe-"

"- maybe, this will work out somehow?" he finished for her, breathing deeply. Hemione bit her lower lip and nodded once. He was afraid to hope and yet, it seemed like she was willing to give themselves another chance. Ron let out a small moan and ran his fingers through his hair. "Let me drop you home?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied.

…..