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"You're being awfully quiet," Hermione notes.

Ron doesn't look up from his dinner, fish and chips from the Leaky Cauldron. "Dunno what you're talking about," he says, and he could kick himself because he knows he says it a little too quickly, and Hermione knows him too well.

Hell, it isn't like he's fooled her up to this point. Maybe he's been quieter, moodier than usual. Of course Hermione would pick up on it. That's just what she does.

"This is about that hag's article, isn't it?" Hermione asks, heaving an exasperated sigh.

Ron doesn't know if she's just clever enough to figure it out, or if he's too obvious. Maybe a bit of both. Either way, she's right, and all he can do is lean forward, resting his head in his hands. Rita Skeeter, unfortunately, is still making a living as a "reporter", if you can even call it reporting. Ron knows it's all a bunch of rubbish. He knows all the things she's written about Harry, or Ginny, or Luna, or anyone else he knows is just a bunch of nonsense that no one with half a brain would believe.

So why is it so easy to beat himself up now that Rita has written an article about how his marriage is doomed to fail after only two months? Maybe, deep down, he's still battling insecurities. It doesn't matter that he has proven himself again and again, or that the people who matter know who he is as a person. There are old wounds that haven't healed, and Rita's words are just salt on them.

"Oh, Ronald." Hermione reaches across the table, taking his hand gently in hers. "Don't you realize how special you are to me?"

"Of course I do." He bites the inside of his cheek. "I just…"

"Everything she writes is a lie," Hermione continues. "You and I… We have our differences. We aren't perfect." She offers him a small smile. "You still struggle with expressing your emotions. I am sometimes more invested in my job than anything else in my life."

Ron swallows dryly. To him, especially after reading the article, it sounds like a recipe for disaster. What's to stop them from falling apart? How does he know he won't lose control of his emotions? What if Hermione spends so much time at the Ministry that nothing else matters to her? In the end, will their vows mean nothing?

"But I love you, Ronald Weasley. And I know you love me." She pulls his hand closer toward her, kissing his knuckles. "We both knew this would be work when we got together."

He still remembers it so well. The war had only freshly ended, and he had been so nervous to ask her if the kiss meant anything. What if it had just been some impulsive thing for her? What if she had secretly wished it was Viktor kissing her? Beyond his insecurities, there was the stress of loss, the struggle with rebuilding… But they found a way.

Maybe Ron is still worried. Maybe those feelings will never go away. But they figured it out once, so what's to stop them from figuring it out again?

"You know what, Hermione? I think we're going to be okay."