Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters.
A/N: Happy Sweet Home Saturday! Let's reunite these two lovers, shall we?
Thanks to the most fabulous beta team: accio-broom, adenei, sm_jl, and be11atrixthestrange.
Sweet Home Ottery
Chapter Two
We were so bright
Standing in the sunlight
Never got burnt, we were alright
Had that easy kind of love and I let it in
For a moment
Felt like we were floating
Baby, I swear, we were golden
It was easy, natural as breathing air
And when the sky went dark
You think I would have known
Before we let it get this far
I should have let you go
Now I gotta crawl outta love
Now I gotta crawl outta love
It's so fucking easy to fall in
But now that this ain't what you promised
And tell me how to crawl outta love
Crawl Outta Love - Illenium ft. Annika Wells
17 years ago
Hermione stares up at the deep blue ceiling covered in tiny stars, transfixed by the floating candles that hover above her head.
The Great Hall at Hogwarts is even more magnificent than the pictures she saw in books.
A gentle squeeze on her hand redirects her attention, and Hermione pivots her head to find Ron standing next to her, giving her the warmest of smiles. She can see the excitement in his eyes, and she's lucky to already have a friend to navigate through this new world with. For Ron, he's known about the magical world his entire life. Hermione's adventure is only beginning.
The entire first-year class makes their way to the head table at the front of the room where Professor McGonagall waits, holding a sentient magical hat that looks old, battered, and patched.
Hermione's read all about the sorting hat and how it uses a special type of magic called Legilimency to interpret the thoughts of the person wearing the hat. The idea of something, or someone, being able to hear her inner dialogue terrifies her.
Professor McGonagall announces that the tradition has changed, and students are to be sorted into their houses in reverse alphabetical order, meaning Ron will be one of the first. A wave of uneasiness rolls through Hermione, knowing she will now be one of the last to be sorted. She had studied up on the sorting ceremony in Hogwarts: A History and was hoping to have hers over with sooner rather than later.
The ceremony passes by in a blur, and before Hermione even fully realizes it, Professor McGonagall calls her name, and she takes a seat on the wobbly stool.
Okay, relax, Hermione.
As soon as the hat is placed on top of her head, it starts to speak to her.
"Curious, very curious."
What does that mean?
"You are hard-working and diligent, traits that would serve you well in Ravenclaw house."
Hermione chances a glance over at Ron, who has already been sorted into Gryffindor, sitting next to his proud older brothers along with their new friend Harry, who they met on the train ride over. Ron gives her a thumbs up and a nod of encouragement.
Please be Gryffindor...please be Gryffindor…
"Ah, Gryffindor, you say?" The hat continues. Hermione can feel the heat on her cheeks. "But you have such expansive intelligence…hm...well, perhaps friendship and bravery are more important to you."
Please, please, please.
"Very well, then...GRYFFINDOR!"
Roaring applause echoes throughout the Great Hall, and Hermione is unable to conceal her delight as she bounces over to the Gryffindor table and slides into the open seat right next to Ron.
She can't think of a time she's ever been happier.
Present Day
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my long lost wife."
Hermione's eyes never stray from Ron's as they carry on in an intense staring match, neither willing to be the first to look away. She wants to slap the smirk right off of his face. Yet, she knows they're in public, and she must remain calm.
"It's Hermione," she hears Fred whisper off in the distance.
George shushes him, "I think our dear brother realizes that, don't you?"
Hermione takes a single step forward, arms crossed over her chest. "Ronald Weasley. Would you mind telling me why we're still married?"
Ron shakes his head, a callous laugh leaving his lips. "Took you long enough. I reckoned you would've pieced it all together at least three years ago. You're not as sharp as you used to be, huh, HGW?"
"Don't call me that."
He takes a large step forward, and Hermione finds the breath catching in her throat, not prepared to have him so close to her again.
"What? HGW? Don't tell me you've forgotten what it stands for."
"Mate, step off," Harry warns.
"Why?" Ron snaps, finally breaking their heated gaze to glare at Harry. "She comes barreling in here, on my birthday of all days, making demands like she has any right to anymore."
"Perhaps we should give them a bit of privacy," Molly murmurs, already retreating towards the Burrow. An instant feeling of guilt courses through Hermione for having interrupted a family day, but the guilt washes away just as quickly when she spots the fury on Ron's face that she can't help but feed off of.
"Oh no, don't leave because of me. This won't take long." With a flick of her wrist, she sends a stack of papers into Ron's fumbling hands.
"Sign these, and I'll be off."
Ron scans the documents, the muscles in his jaw twitching as he recognizes what they are. He removes his wand from his back pocket, and Hermione watches in horror as the papers shred so thin that the remaining pieces flutter to the ground like confetti.
"You know what? I don't feel like it."
Hermione's jaw drops. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I'd like to enjoy my day."
"Ron Weasley, why do you have to be such a pain in my arse?" Hermione hisses through gritted teeth, fully aware that the entire garden has grown quiet as everyone listens in to their heated battle.
Ron's eyes darken as he steps even closer, towering over her as they stand almost toe to toe. "You're the one that married me, love."
An idea pops into her head, and Hermione hums as she glances over at the single-tiered chocolate cake with a strawberry mousse frosting that sits on a small picnic table nearby.
"Hm. Is that your cake?"
Ron's eyes shift back and forth between Hermione and the delicatessen. "Yes…"
"Maybe we should reminisce about our wedding day, shall we?" Hermione plasters a fake smile on her face as she waves her wand to levitate the cake into the air.
"Don't you bloody dare-"
Before Ron can get out another word, the entire contents of the cake smash into his sputtering face.
"Happy birthday, Ron."
Hermione spins on her heel, stalking off.
As she walks away, she can hear Molly chastising Ron behind her. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, what did you do to that poor girl?"
"Me? I'm the one with a face full of cake!"
With tears blurring her eyes, Hermione makes her hasty escape down the long winding path back towards the village.
Hermione gazes out at the setting sun, throwing rock after rock into the small pond, listening for the splash as the water ripples from the heavy-set stones.
"Out of all the entrances I considered you'd make over the years, that wasn't one of them."
Hermione's hand stills in mid-air with a rock poised for throwing, and she glances up to find Harry smiling down at her with his hands shoved in his pockets.
"Oh, Harry!"
She stands and throws her arms around him, listening to him grunt as she engulfs him into a tight hug. Despite all of the terrible feelings that have stirred up from being in Ron's presence, she's grateful for the time spent with Harry again. He's been the most amazing friend all these years, and although they've kept in touch occasionally via owl post, it's not the same as being together in person.
"Hi, friend. I missed you," he murmurs into her hair.
Hermione sniffs, wiping the tear stains from underneath her eyes. "I missed you, too."
Harry pulls back, giving her shoulders a squeeze as he searches her eyes. "So, want to talk about what happened back there?"
Hermione groans into her hands as she plops herself back down on the ground. "I don't really know what came over me. He just makes me so-"
"Angry?" Harry guesses with an arched eyebrow.
Hermione blushes. "Yes."
"You two always manage to communicate best while yelling at each other."
Hermione sighs, placing her chin in her hand. "It shouldn't be that way."
Harry lowers himself to the ground, and they sit in silence for a few minutes. "So, you did know that it was his birthday, right?"
"Of course, I did!" Hermione answers at once. "I have to say, though, out of all the birthdays we spent together, I've never smashed an entire cake in his face before."
Harry snorts. "I dare say it may go down as a highlight for many years to come."
Hermione frowns, furrowing her brows with deep concentration. "I need to apologize to Mrs. Weasley. I'm sure I completely spoiled their afternoon, and that beautiful cake that I know she made — I behaved so childishly. I wasn't even planning to bring up the divorce papers in front of everyone. I just got a bit carried away when I saw that smirk on his face."
"You know, before I came to find you, Molly stopped me and told me just to make sure you were okay. She's worried about you. We all are."
Hermione fights the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "I don't deserve it."
"No one blames you for being angry. Really, Hermione." Harry places a comforting arm around her shoulder. "I mean, we're confused as hell as to what actually happened. Ron doesn't talk about it."
He always excelled at hiding his true feelings.
Harry squints into the fading sun. "Anyway, we're glad that you're home."
Hermione fiddles with the grass in her hands, plucking piece after piece out of the ground. She has a sudden, desperate need to change the subject.
"So, you and Ginny."
A lovestruck smile lights up Harry's face. "Me and Ginny."
Hermione bumps a playful shoulder against his. "I can't imagine Ron took it well?"
"Actually," Harry laughs, "it wasn't all that bad. I suppose he suspected I had feelings for her for quite some time. At the time, I was more worried about, well...er, you know. It was just so soon after you two split."
A heavy sigh releases from Hermione's lips. "Ah. I see."
"Anyway," Harry continues, catching on to Hermione's discomfort, "he sorta just gave me a nod like if you must, and then we never really spoke of it again."
"You never spoke of it in the letters you sent me either."
Harry sends her a pointed gaze. "Did we ever talk about you and Ron in any of those letters?"
Well put, friend.
Deciding to let Harry's retort slide, Hermione leans over and rests her head against Harry's shoulder. "I'm happy for you, Harry. Truly."
"Thanks, Hermione."
They sit in a welcomed silence for several minutes, watching as the last bit of sunlight fades away. "I should probably go back in there to apologize."
"I'm pretty sure Ron left about an hour ago. Probably home now."
Hermione's face falls. As much as she'd love to speak with Mrs. Weasley, she knows she needs to go find Ron first. "Oh. Right."
"You know, he still lives-"
"Yeah. I know exactly where he is."
The cottage is situated on the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole, nestled in a secluded area with a vast amount of land.
Hermione's breathing slows as she takes in the appearance of the place she once considered home. It still has the same thatched roof, made out of wood shingles and harvested reed. The cottage itself was built from stone, and the lattice-style windows paired with the massive, stacked chimneys add to its rustic charm. Long, winding vines cover the exterior of the cottage, indicating to Hermione that Ron is a bit more lax on the upkeep of the house than she was when she lived there.
Loud barking pulls Hermione from her thoughts, and she spots a familiar smooth-coated dog with black and tan markings bounding in her direction.
"Chudley!" She whispers, bending down to the pup's level as he enthusiastically greets her with licks to the face.
Hermione scratches Chudley behind his big, floppy ears. "Hi there, Chud. Did you miss me? I missed you."
"Don't feel too special. He greets everyone that way, whether they deserve it or not."
Hermione's head shoots up to see Ron watching the pair from the front door with an unreadable expression on his face.
She stands at once, letting Chudley run off down the meadow. "I actually came here to apologize for my less-than-proper exit earlier, but after that comment, I have half a mind to leave again."
"Wouldn't be the first time, would it?" Ron sneers.
Hermione lets out a loud exhale, placing her hands on her hips. "Come on, Ron. This isn't Weasley's Wizard Wheezes —the joke's over."
The fire in Ron's eyes returns, and she knows they're settling in for round two of their never-ending battle. "You're bloody mental, aren't you?"
Determined to not let him deter her from her mission, Hermione holds her head high. "Lucky for you, I've made copies of the divorce papers. I will send them over tomorrow, and will color-code, highlight, and mark the areas that require your signature."
Hermione is about to turn and walk away when she can hear Ron approaching from behind. "You come stomping back in here like a madwoman after nearly five years, without so much as a 'Hey Ron, happy birthday', and you expect me to immediately fall at your command?"
Hermione whirls back around, eyes blazing. "Don't pretend like you've missed me while I've been gone."
"Oh, of course." Ron's voice drips with sarcasm. "I absolutely missed the way you sputtered on without any regard for anyone else's feelings but your own!"
"Excuse me?"
Chudley's barking interrupts their argument, prompting both of them to shout out, "Shut it, Chud!"
Hermione's shoulders deflate, and she allows her eyes to fall up towards the night sky. Her voice is much quieter and less hostile when she speaks next.
"Why can't we just be civil, Ron?"
He doesn't answer, and Hermione searches for ways to fill the tense silence.
"Please, please sign these papers tomorrow, so I can go home."
That does it.
Ron snaps back,"Home...right. You know, there was a time that this place was your home, or have you forgotten?"
"That's not fair."
Ron ignores her objection, switching topics. "You know your parents are having an anniversary celebration next weekend, right?"
Hermione frowns. "How did you know about that?"
"Are you daft? Did you forget how small of a village this place is?"
"Of course not," she defends, "I just didn't realize that you kept tabs on my parents."
"Well, somebody had to."
Hermione lets out a harsh laugh. "That's rich, coming from you. Have I heard from you once in the last five years, other than the multiple times that you sent back these papers?"
Ron points a finger in her face, gritting his teeth as he snarls out his next words.
"You left me."
Hermione's eyes burn with tears, fully aware that the betrayal she feels mirrors his own.
"I may have left five years ago, but you left me a long time before that, and you know it, Ron."
Hermione doesn't linger long enough to interpret the look of anguish that flashes across Ron's face before she disapparates.