A/N: This idea actually came to me in a dream. I don't know if someone has already done something like this... but oh well.. I'm still not gonna say who is Ron's wife until it comes up in the story, which it comes up in THIS chapter... Oh, and Mary.. too bad! You knew what was coming anyway because I told you already... :o) The characters, places, names and all other stuff you recognize from the books are NOT mine.. wow. I have a feeling I used like almost the exact same a/n as last time! Gee. Ok.. um, yeah.
Once Ron was sure that the woman was downstairs, he unlocked the door. He stepped out cautiously, looking around and went up to a dresser he was sure was his. Oddly enough, everything was where Ron thought it would be on his first guess. He pulled on a navy baggy t-shirt with some long blue-jeans. Over top of him, he put on a comfortable fit style black robes. Around his neck he wore a long sliver chain, with an emblem that looked vaguely familiar to him. Ron pocketed his wand, and set out for downstairs.
When Ron stepped off the landing, he saw the beautiful woman sitting on the couch. Even though she was hardly dressed very sexy, Ron felt his insides melt like butter at the sight of her. She was in dark red business robes and her hair was tied back in a neat bun. The woman sat fingering a bunch of papers in a folder, and finally looked up after a few moments. She smiled, but frowned at the sight of his outfit.
"Jeans and a T-shirt with plain robes?" she said, disapprovingly. "You know Quidditch Captain and Co-Captain are supposed to wear their Team Uniform in all-day practices. And with Harry gone for his Birthday today, you're going to have your work cut out for you. The least you could do is dress accordingly..."
In excitement, Ron ignored the fact that he was being lectured. "I'm Co-Captain of a Quidditch team?"
The woman looked at him strangely. "Why, no. You're captain of the Chudley Cannons, and you're Keeper, and Harry is Seeker, remember?"
Ron looked as though he were about to burst with happiness. Captain of his favorite team! He played Keeper, too. Obviously he must make the team at Hogwarts! The woman mumbled some nonsense and went back to shuffling her papers about. Ron's eyes, not focusing on the woman anymore, were free to wander around. Something interesting caught his eye, and he walked over to see it. On the mantel of the fireplace, there were a bunch of pictures. His wedding, beach pictures, a camping trip, Hogwarts graduation... Many of the recent pictures had Harry in there with him, like he was the "Best Man" at the wedding. Hermione wasn't there at all, and Ron was beginning to get worried. He felt the woman's presence behind him, so he figured he should ask her now if he wanted to know at all.
"Uh.. um.. Dear, whatever happened to Hermione Granger?" he said, turning around to face her.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" she said, her eyes narrowing. Ron couldn't help thinking of how familiar that looked.
"All I mean is.. What happened to her? Is she a teacher, did she move... did she die?" Ron gulped as he said that last part. The woman's eyes narrowed even more and she held a very stern look on her face. Obviously she wasn't very good friends with Hermione..
"Well.. I don't think she's changed that much, thank you. I mean maybe just her hair... and her last name."
Ron smiled. Hermione got married? "What did she change it to? Her last name I mean.."
The woman looked very angry. "RONALD WEASLEY, you of all people should know the answer to that question! Now if you'll excuse me, in 2 minutes, I'm late for work. Oh, and since you're in some sort of forgetful spree, I just hope you remembered to ask for time off to go to Harry's party tonight. That is of course, if you remember who he is."
Just before the woman apparated, she put a pin on. Ron caught a glimpse of what it said and looked in shock.
Harry put his hand on his forehead. He studied the picture as if making sure it was real. "It's..." Harry looked over to his reflection, then back to Cho's confused face. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I just thought I saw something... But I didn't."
"Oh." said Cho, still a little worried. After a few moments of silence, they continued eating. Cho looked at Harry, "We need to pick some things up for the party today. I reviewed the guest list and the RSVP's and about 1,500 people are coming! Ron owled yesterday and he is going to be there a little late because of work. Since you're gone today he has to do extra..." Cho continued, but she saw that the words seemed to go through one ear and out the other. She couldn't help but notice the sick expression on Harry's face. He was facing down and shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Harry's whole body language had changed. What was bothering him? "You know," she said, sipping her glass of orange juice, "You're acting a little strange this morning..."
"Yeah.." Harry said. Heh. Let's see, I got sucked into a mirror in October and woke up 10 years older on my birthday in July. Plus, my dead parents and my Azkaban runaway godfather are coming casually over for dinner. Not to mention the scar that was my trademark since day 1 isn't there anymore... I see no reason for acting strange.
"Well," Cho said, taking another drink, "I was just thinking that..." she hesitated and looked at Harry. "That maybe.. You're nervous about your 25th birthday, and don't get me wrong, I completely understand you know, being the older of us. You just have had a lot to deal with lately..." You have no clue. Harry smirked a little. Cho continued, "Maybe you'd like to cancel your party and just have a quiet little evening. You understand, to get your thoughts straightened out."
"What? Cancel my party? But I've been waiting a long time for this. Plus, I really need to see Ron to talk to him about something... I'm fine, really. My stomach just isn't feeling good and I have a headache that's making me see things."
Cho picked up her plate and pushed her chair out. She got up, and put her it carefully in the sink. On her way out the kitchen, she walked up next to Harry. "Well I'm glad to hear it. Nice to know my baby wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing." She kissed him and left Harry sitting in the kitchen blushing furiously with a half-eaten pile of bacon and an empty glass of orange juice.
Hermione sat in her seat in the Gryffindor Commons. She was thinking about Harry and Ron and where they might be. Ron. Hmmm.. He's such a thickheaded dope he could be anywhere. He's always wearing that Chess Champion pin, maybe I could put a tracking spell on that... No. It isn't very reliable and what if he took it off? She sighed. Harry. Always with his Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map- the Marauder's Map! He certainly didn't have it at dinner, and if he didn't go back to his room, it must be there. It would show where they were in Hogwarts! This is perfect! But there was one problem with Hermione's plan. How to get into the boy's dorms was a whole different story.
A/N: So how did you like it? Good, bad? Need work? Please R/R and let me know! :o)