Original tumblr ask: Ron and Hermione decide that they'll get married once they're settled in their career, but I imagine them making a promise to each other that they'll marry eventually (+ there are rings involved). If it inspires you!

Era: Post-War

Rating: K

Written for the IWSC Writing School
Challenge: Tense (Present / Past)

WC: 636

Any Day

"Happy anniversary."

The words come as a whisper in my ear. Like wind rustling through faraway trees, they could blend right into the background, but once they grab my attention, I can't ignore them. Those words should make me smile, but they don't.

Today may be our anniversary, but it's also the day Fred died, and on this day every year, we gather at the Burrow to remember his life. Thankfully, the grief has become more manageable over time. It no longer greys every day like it used to — just this one, May 2nd.

"Happy anniversary," I say back, although the words don't feel or sound sincere. I squeeze her hand, and she returns the pressure firmly. When the weight of her head lands on my shoulder, I know she understands.

I never mentioned our first anniversary because the grief was too overwhelming. It felt wrong to celebrate, so I said nothing at all.

The following year, I waited until June. When the emotions finally began to subside, I didn't feel quite as guilty relishing in something that made me happy, so I said something.

"We've been together for more than two years now."

Instead of celebrating two years together in May, we celebrated more than two years together in June. We continued like that over the years, always honoring the passage of a milestone, but never the milestone itself. More than three years. More than four years. More than five years.

Each year, our well wishes crept closer to May 2nd, but we kept clear of the actual day. Unlike other couples, our celebrations were always quiet. We never went on fancy dates, took holidays, or received cards from friends and family, but we could always count on an invitation to a solemn dinner memorial at the Burrow. We convinced ourselves we didn't mind because there were more important things to commemorate on our anniversary.

Today is the first time I've heard her say those words on May 2nd, not sometime after, and I can no longer deny that it bothers me. I start fidgeting with the grass, plucking a strand and twiddling it between my fingers, a nervous habit that she immediately recognizes. "What's wrong?"

"We should pick a new day to celebrate."

Hermione laughs sadly. "I wish we could."

The words 'I could have kissed you sooner' sit idly behind my lips, but I hold them back. Dwelling on the past won't get me anywhere. "We can pick a new one."

She squeezes my hand and narrows her eyes questioningly, silently asking me to elaborate.

"Would you like to pick a new anniversary?" I ask more confidently, my fingers on her hand — more specifically, her left ring finger.

She breaks into a genuine smile, and her eyes glisten with tears. I've already seen her crying today, but not because of happiness. She nods. "Yeah. I would."

I tie the blade of grass loosely around her ring finger. It's flimsy and breakable, but it'll do for now. "I'll get you a real ring, of course."

With a smile, she plucks another blade of grass and reaches for my left hand, tying it around my ring finger too. "I think these are perfect."

"Let's pick a day then." I lean back on the grass, and she follows suit, huddling into the crook of my arm.

"Any day?"

"Any day."

We lie there on the grass for some time, admiring the sun creeping through the clouds, shining some light on the day. We've discussed marriage before but have never made official plans. It's nice to focus on the future and not the past. It's been an unexpectedly good anniversary, but I know our next one will be even better, no matter what day it happens to be.