Hello all! I know it's been a while but this chapter too a really long time to write (give me a break I'm a Sophomore in High School not a pro writer. yet) and had loads of mistakes for my beta to sort out. I've noticed that many of you have taken an interest in Draco and there's a bit in this chapter and he'll get what's coming to him in the next one. So here we go with the "thank you"s!

Firstly to me beta and friend

B4zooka Jules.

If you have time may I recommend her new story Tears of Pearls. It's awesome and can be viewed at

http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=250172

Secondly to:

Trinity13131,

Sunshyndaisies (formerly know as sgrquill. LOVE the new name),

Hermione Weasley,

sTaCiE,

Katt,

Ariana,

Hox ,

wmlaw,

SunMoonStars29,

Madison,

BeaterWeasleyGRL,

MissBlack89,

Herbie,

Witella,

And Tanny

Who all reviewed me. Those of you who have reviewed me before and are keeping up with the story get an extra-special thanks. You know who you are. Anyway, please enjoy the next chapter of Bright Eyes, Decisions.

Chapter Six

Decisions

"Up we go," Ron laughed as he bounced his baby girl up in the air.

Grace laughed and waved her arms wildly, squirming around in Ron's arms. He brought her down to him and kissed the end of her nose. Grace smiled and Ron held her up again and spun her around. The sunlight caught Grace's short reddish-brown curls making her hair seem on fire.

Ron marvelled at his tiny daughter. It hadn't occurred to him that you could love anything or anyone' here this much. Besides Hermione, he loved his daughter more than anybody. When he first got her home he had been a bit scared of her. She was so small and needed him so much. He hadn't been relied on that much in his entire life. Not even War Camp could have prepared him for fatherhood.

Grace had been born one month early. For a while, she had been in a Muggle hospital in the intensive care unit. The labour had really taken it out of Hermione. Ginny had informed Ron that it had actually been touch-and- go for a few moments, but Hermione had pulled through. Hermione had merely told him that everything went fine, but Ron knew her better than that. She was still weak, even now, but Grace was perfect, a normal and happy baby girl. His and Hermione's normal, happy, baby girl.

"Ronald Arthur Weasley, put her down this instant," said a voice from the doorway of the Burrow.

Ron stopped spinning Grace and turned around to see his mother at the door with a laundry basket on her hip and 'that look' that told him he was in trouble on her face. Mrs. Weasley had been official-well-being-overseer of Grace ever since she arrived home. It seemed as if she had taken on the full responsibility of making sure that Grace wasn't upset in any way, shape, or form. Ron was surprised that Grace hadn't been sealed up in a bubble. Not that he was completely sure that his mother hadn't tried that.

"Why?" Ron replied, Grace squirming in his arms to play some more, "She likes it."

"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said shrewdly, "and I'm sure that you will like it just as much when the poor child looses her lunch on you. Now hand her here, Hermione wants a word with you. Goodness knows I would have a few for you if I were her."

Ron brought Grace eye level with him and said to her, "I'm going to give you to Grandmum now, but don't worry. I'll be back soon. Won't leave you with the Fun-Nazi for too long."

Ron quickly handed Grace to Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley smirked at her son and took her Granddaughter. She quickly conjured a small cloud in the shape of a baby cradle that hovered in midair next to the clothesline. Mrs. Weasley placed Grace in it and the cradle began to sway slowly, while Mrs. Weasley began to hum Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star softly as she picked up a piece of laundry and hung it up to dry. The tiny baby girl stretched and yawned. Mrs. Weasley marvelled for a second how much she looked like her mother, but acted like her father, and continued with the laundry.

Ron bounded inside the Burrow and through the kitchen. He turned the corner and slowed down to make his way up the stairs. The Burrow really hadn't changed at all since he was young. The only thing that had been added was a room at the top for Hermione and the baby.

Hermione usually stayed in the room during the day. Even though she had given birth to Grace just over a month ago, she was still tender since she had a hard labour. Every once in a while she would come downstairs but in the end Mrs. Weasley would end up ushering her back up for one reason or another. After about two weeks, Mrs. Weasley had allowed Grace to be taken from the room because Hermione had insisted that she bond with her father. Molly hadn't liked that much, but since it was Hermione and her son's child, she couldn't find a reason to stop her.

Ron spent most of his time at work these days. It hadn't been one week after England was taken back by the light side, when Mrs. Weasley had sat all her boys down and told them to find jobs. Bill, who already had a job at the ministry, had helped Ron out an awful lot to find him a job.

Ron had ended up getting a position in none other than the Department of Magical Artifacts. While Ron was younger he had gone with his dad to work on many occasions and some how or another always ended up in the department of Magical Artifacts. Ron remembered that he always went there because of the interesting things it always held.

Once he had even found a hat that made you look the exact opposite of what you really looked like. When he had put it on, his red hair had gone black and curly, his skin turned a brown colour, and his eyes had gone deep brown. It had really been scary, but all the same, Ron had enjoyed messing around with it for the day.

Today, the office still brought in contraptions like that, but with the Death Eaters' homes raided, they also had many other Dark Arts materials. Ron put them in inventory and stored them in a vault. He really hadn't planned on keeping this job for a long time. It was just something to make enough to buy a house for him, Hermione, and Grace to live in so they wouldn't still be at the Burrow.

Fred and George had opened the Joke shop that they always wanted. Diagon Alley had been more than happy to let them rent a store and even though they were still in the construction stages, everything seemed to be going fine. Everybody in the Wizarding world could use a few good jokes now and good jokes they were. It made Ron wonder where they got the money for all the supplies and rent though. Diagon Alley may have lowered their prices, but they still weren't cheap. Of course then, this was Fred and George, and you never could be quite sure with that pair.

After Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley had made the twins get jobs at the Ministry. Surely they didn't save as much to afford a shop in Diagon Alley. However, every time this was brought up Fred and George would direct the conversation in a different direction. One day he would find out though.

Percy had resumed his position as Head of the Department of International Commerce. He was currently engaged to his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater. However, this was no new development. They had been engaged since before the war, but Percy had always wanted everything to be in order before they married. He wanted to make sure that they had sufficient finances and somewhere safe to raise their children as well as having enough time to be able to spend together in peace. So they had decided to wait until the war was cleared up before settling down.

Bill had shortly filled the position as Head of the Department of International Cooperation's, but he had quit and was currently being transferred back to his old job at Gringotts. He was still alone. No one had graced his life like that yet and so it seemed that no one would. His mother had long since given up setting him up with good witches from respectable families. The one person he should have been with was a casualty of the war. She had died at the beginning, one of the first to stand up to Voldemort. She had died standing, looking straight into the Dark Lord's heartless eyes. She died still carrying a baby in her arms. A baby that curiously enough, had red hair. Bill planned to seek him out after the war.

That left only two Weasley's.

Charlie was still fighting. He had opted to go to France to finish off the last of the Death Eaters there. Charlie had now joined the Order of the Phoenix. Charlie was not alone though; there was another certain dragon trainer he had his eyes on. One that Harry knew very well. One that went by the name of Cho Diggory. True, she had not yet forgotten how much Cedric meant to her but when the war was over, she had told Charlie, she would feel that her duty to seek justice for him would be complete. Then, and only then, would she be able to let his soul rest in peace.

Cho and Charlie were some of the only people who still wanted to fight. Charlie said that it was because he had been in Romania and had really only been involved in the war this past year. It hurt Mrs. Weasley to know that one of her sons was still liable to be lost to the war, but she was proud of him. After he returned from France, he would probably start dating Cho and his new job would be Care of Magical Creatures Teacher at Hogwarts as soon as it was restored.

Hagrid had never been found after the war.

However, there was yet another individual that Ron knew who had stayed to fight in the Order; Draco Malfoy. Ever since his mother died he had sworn to have his revenge and was slowly gaining it with every wrong he righted. Draco was not the person that he had been before the war. He had been one of the ones who helped Ron on his way through the Death Eater's tunnels. Draco had also been the one to find him when it was all over and pull him out of the mess with the little strength he had left. His attitude hadn't changed much. Still obnoxious as ever, but he had humanity now and even though he would still make Ron's life a little harder when he messed up, it was usually only to cover up for a time when he had shown kindness to him.

But Draco has not fully healed yet. Ron suspected it was because of the wound Pansy had left. They had dated on and off for their 5th, 6th, and 7th years, but Pansy really hadn't been more than a friend with benefits. Draco had always imagined marrying her and Pansy would have married him, but not for love, more for the name Malfoy and the power it had once held. However, when the war drafted him, Pansy moved on and was currently married to the 30 year old that she had been dating thoughout the war. He was rich and kept her safe. She had married him to stay in the country and was now bound to him for all eternity, which might not be long since he had a heart condition. Draco had gone to visit her and had only said one thing when he was asked what happened.

"I hope she's happy with her money and power. Some things last forever. Money is not one of them."

Now that Draco had gone through the war and seen some couples fight the way they did to stay together when everything was tearing them apart, he knew that he and Pansy had never really been in love. They had been in lust, but never truly loved each other. War had helped him see that and Ron found that war did almost as many good things as it did bad.

Ginny had probably shocked everyone even more than Hermione did when she came home with Grace. That night in the confusion and happiness of everyone coming home Harry and Ginny had slipped out. Everyone was either too happy to notice or figured that they had gone upstairs for a more private celebration. However, in the morning, they did not seem to be anywhere. A few moments after the whole house was awake and looking for the two, a letter had arrived from a Mrs. and Mr. Potter.

Yes, Ginny and Harry had eloped. Little Ginny who had always wanted a big wedding with a gorgeous frilly dress had got married in little more than a white sundress with an old blue sweater and flip-flops. Harry had run to the ring shop in Hogsmeade (which did a legendary trade of wedding bands that night) and bought the best ring for his bride. Then, they had gone straight to Dumbledore and asked him to marry them. Professor McGonagall had been the witness.

They regretted not having their family or friends there with them but they were going to have a more official ceremony later. Ginny had said it had just been the right time to do it. A month later and they were still on their honeymoon. Tomorrow they would be coming home with more than a lot of explaining to do. But war made people realize what they had and what they could lose. When you're faced with situations like that you come to grips with what you know that you must do and both Harry and Ginny felt they had to do it, so, in a way, Ron felt they had been right.

Late at night Ron still had nightmares about what he had seen. The only thing that could help was holding his baby girl. He would pick her up out of her bassinet and rock her in her rocking chair until he could hold her no more. She was like the one glimmer of hope that helped him live on. When he held her, Ron knew that he had to be strong for both her and Hermione.

Sometimes he would bring Grace in his and Hermione's bed and lay her between them. Being next to both of them, knowing they were both safe, helped him . They were the most important people in his life and there was no way he would ever let anyone take that away from him. Never again, Ron swore, would he leave them.

No matter how much Ron saw her, he could never get enough of his daughter. The reddish-brown curls atop her head, her perfect little fingers and toes, her sky blue eyes inherited from him, and Hermione's dimples on her cheeks all transfixed him each and every time her looked at her. She was his Saving Grace, his angel, and her mother was and forever would be his Bright Eyes, his Soul Mate.

Ron climbed a few more steps and saw his old room. He didn't sleep there any more even though most of the family though he did. Every night he would sneak up to Hermione and Grace's room. He needed to be near them. Ron knew that his mother would not approve though, after all, Hermione and him were still not married. Even though they had a child, Ron had not even once taken her out on a date. They had never been boyfriend and girlfriend. They had never even had a real chance to talk about their feelings for one another before they had taken that big step in late June.

They had gone from being just friends to engaged overnight, literally. Ron did love his little girl more than anything else in his life (Hermione not included), but he wished that she could have waited a few years before she entered their lives. Hermione and him had never had time because time had been stolen from them.

Sure, they had been best friends for seven years and they had known just about everything about each other. And she had lived with him for a year too, but they had never been in a more than friendly relationship with each other before that night. Next thing you know, Hermione was pregnant for him. They had only been together once and even though Ron didn't regret in the least, he wished that they could have taken it a bit slower.

He himself had told her that they shouldn't but three years of harbouring secret feelings for her and three years of him fantasizing about her had taken their toll. In the end, it wasn't that that made him give in to her but more the fact that she wanted it just as much as he did. The fact that she had told him that she loved him a million times that night and the fact that when he woke up she was in his arms let him know that she meant what she said.

Then, he had waited for three longs months wondering where she was and if she was OK, but somehow, he knew she was. Something deep inside had told him that she was all right, but still he had worried for her. Then, the day before their teams' first mission, she had revealed herself. To think walking around for a whole week as Herman Grunting, knowing that he was right by her, but doing nothing about it. It must have killed her on the inside.

When she had revealed herself, she had told him about the pregnancy. Hermione had known for two months before she told him. If she had known that she was pregnant, Hermione would have probably never come out to the lines of fire. Still, even though Ron knew that he shouldn't have been, he was glad that she had.

It was then that he really believed without question that she truly and deeply loved him. In a way, he knew that Hermione had always loved him and he had always loved her. It had just been a matter of telling one another how they felt. Ron was glad that he knew this because it had been his love for Hermione and their baby that had saved him from the killing curse.

After that he had come home for a while. It had been so nice to be home with Hermione. Mrs. Weasley had even let them sleep together during this time because of Ron's nightmares and the fact that Ron couldn't do any more damage considering Hermione's condition. Ron had even worse nightmares during this brief stay at home, but he would never wake Hermione during them; he didn't want to scare her. All Ron could do was pull her close and wait for the images of the war to clear his head.

Sometimes he had held her until the morning light and sometimes he would peacefully fall asleep after an hour or so. However, soon Ron had to leave again. It had been Dumbledore himself who had written to Ron and asked him to join the Order. How could he have refused? It had hurt him to leave Hermione again, but Ron had known that she would have protection, even if he didn't believe that she would ever truly be safe without him by her side.

A few months later, Hermione had come home and the Death Eaters had cleared out of Britain. That had been the first time he had seen his baby girl, in person anyway. From that moment on, his definition of love had changed. He had been a father. The idea had taken some getting use to, but he loved his angel more than anything else on earth.

Harry and Ginny had a heartfelt reunion as well. Ron could only imagine what kind of dreams Harry had. His own were bad but thinking that you were responsible for all those people's deaths must have been worse. Even though they were on their Honeymoon at that very moment, Ron knew that he must still have those nightmares. That was partly why Ron hadn't been surprised or angry when he heard of their sudden and abrupt marriage. Harry had once told Ron that he never wanted to be without Ginny again, that he always wanted to be by her side to keep her safe. Harry needed Ginny in the way that only lovers can need each other.

When one hurts, both hurt.

Ron finally reached Hermione's room. He knocked on the door and heard a "come in" from Hermione. Ron opened the door to the room and stepped in shutting the door behind him. Hermione smiled brightly at him from her bed. Ron came over and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Hello," he said smiling.

"Ron," Hermione said smiling.

Ron sat down on her bed and Hermione continued, "Where's Grace?"

Ron sighed and said, "With her Grandmum. Where else would she be?"

"Should have known," Hermione replied, "your mum really does love her doesn't she?"

"Too much in fact," Ron said, "I can never get a moment alone with my daughter."

"Our daughter," corrected Hermione.

"Yes, our daughter," Ron said stealing a kiss from Hermione.

Hermione smiled and leaned back on the pillows of her bed. She closed her eyes and slowly exhaled opening them again to stare into space. Ron knew that look. Even though Hermione was smiling, there was a look in her eyes. A look that Ron knew well; worry. Hermione was worried and Ron had no idea why.

"Bright Eyes," Ron said taking her hand and stroking it lightly, "what's the matter?"

Hermione tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and slowly turning away from him, and said in a small voice, "What do you mean?"

Ron brought his hand up to Hermione's face and turned it back to him saying, "Hermione, what's wrong? I know that look."

Hermione sighed and looked out the window at the sunset. She pulled the covers back from her bed and, ever so slowly, got up. Ron ran around the bed and helped her. There was really no point in telling her to sit down. Hermione had always had a mind of her own. She would do what she wanted no matter what anyone told her, and it was one of the reasons that Ron loved her. In whatever she did, Ron would support her. He would support her because it was the only thing that he could do.

"Easy now," Ron said as Hermione made her way over to the window and she stopped to look out of it.

"Really Ron," Hermione exclaimed, "I'm not helpless!"

Ron smirked and said, "You're not helpless and that's because I'm giving you help."

Ron threw his arms around her waist and buried his head in her hair. How he loved the smell of her hair. She had told him many times that she loved how his hair smelled, but he really didn't see what was special about it besides the fact that it was an ugly shade of red. Ron really didn't see what was special about him. He really didn't see why an amazing girl like Hermione had given up all her dreams for him.

However, he was glad that she did.

"What's wrong," he said again rocking her back and forth slowly.

Hermione sighed against him and was silent for a moment before continuing, "Do you ever think about them, Ron?"

"Who?" Ron replied.

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "My parents."

Ron stood holding Hermione for a moment and said, "Yes, yes I do."

"Do you ever wonder what they would think of me and what I've done?"

Ron laughed and said, "No, I think of what your father would do to me. Never mess with an overprotective father. If anything like this ever happens to Grace, I'll kill the boy."

Hermione laughed and said, "Yeah, he would have been a bit mad at you, but I know that he would have done the same thing if he had been in your position. He loved my mum that much and I know that somewhere, he still does. I know that somewhere, he still loves me, and somewhere he would understand about us. I know that he would be mad at me at me for making such a stupid decision, but I know that he would still love Grace with all his heart."

Hermione stopped for a moment and continued, now with fresh tears running down her face, "and I'm sure that my mum would feel the same way."

Ron held Hermione closer and asked, "Do you want to see them?"

Hermione sniffed and said, "Yes."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Yes."

"What about Grace?"

Hermione looked out the window and stared into the sunset for a minute like she was contemplating her answer before slowly answering, "Not yet. When Grace sees them I want her to really know them. I want her to know her grandparents and not just the shells of them."

"OK," Ron said staring out the window, "if that's what you want."

"Thank you," Hermione said shifting her gaze down to look at Mrs. Weasley and their daughter, who was now only visible from her cloud cradle by her curly brownish-red hair.

"No," Ron said now looking down at their daughter too, "thank you."

"For what?" Hermione said slightly turning to face him

"For you and Grace," Ron said.

"You're welcome," Hermione replied smiling.

"And so are you." *****************

"Are you OK, love?" Ron said as he held the hand of Hermione walking into St. Mungo's hospital.

"Fine," Hermione lied.

She nervously glanced around. Hermione had no been to see her parents since last May. The hospital brought back bad memories. The day Hermione had heard what happened, she had run in to see if her parents were all right. No one had known of the lasting damage that the simple word "crucio" would do to the Grangers. Hermione had missed two day of classes waiting to see if they would be all right. She had not eaten, she had not even slept, all she had done was wait. In the end, it was Ron who came and made her come back. She had been so weak that he had to carry her out of the hospital.

It hadn't been until a week later that the Granger's had been stabilized and were in good physical health, but the Healers soon discovered that the Grangers' mental health was still unstable. They had endured so much pain, that finally they regressed it all, but it had been too much regressing for their minds to take. Finally, they got to the point where they could not remember anything. They had regressed their whole past and lost the ability to remember anything. The dark memories had swallowed up the good ones and finally, their minds had given in to the emptiness of the word "crucio."

"Ron?" Hermione asked timidly.

Ron stopped and looked at Hermione saying, "Yes."

"Will you come with me?" Hermione said in a small voice.

Ron smiled and replied, "Of course."

Hermione smiled and they continued to walk down the hall. There were many hospital rooms with many patients occupying them. Most of which were there from the war. Many families were not as lucky as the Weasley's. Many families had lost loved ones and many more had injured ones here. Ron had even been here for a short time while he was unconscious. He remembered how it had been when he woke up.

There had been people screaming with pain around him. Nurses dressed in white rushing to find a Healer for a patient. It hadn't been noticed that he was awake for a good hour and that had only been because Fred and George had asked Angelina and Katie to check up on their little brother if they had any time to spare. Of course, nurses didn't really have any free time, most of the time was spent monitoring severe cases and running for Healers if a patient flat-lined. The causalities of the war had been many. Ron was only thankful that he lived to see Hermione and Grace and that he was living everyday on. For even though the war was over in Britain, it would be forever scarred on the world, on the people who lived through it, and in his very soul.

Some souls had not even been released from their pain. Ghosts still walked the battlefield where they died or the bleak cots where they took their last breath as ever-present reminders of the war. To those like Ron, the war would re-live itself often in his memory and it would never die because the memory would always be alive. In a way, Ron though that the Granger's had it best, **semi-colon** they would not remember any of this. But in another way Hermione's parents had it worst; they would not remember anything.

It seemed strange to Ron that the war was both; the cause of his happiness and the cause of his pain. If he hadn't ever been drafted, Hermione and him might not have ever come clean about their feelings for one another and Grace wouldn't have been conceived. But then the war had also take away many friends and people he looked up to. In truth, it was hard to believe that the war wasn't even over yet. It still raged on in other parts of the world as strong as ever.

But even though the war was hard, this was harder.

Ron had to watch Hermione see her parents. He had to watch her go through this yet again. When he had come to see them with her at Hogwarts, it had been hard. He had always just been there as a "good friend", but deep-down in his heart he knew that he was there for more than just to live up to that role.

Ron had to watch the sad expressions on her face. He had to see the sadness in her eyes and worst of all, he had to let her do this. Ron knew that she wanted to see her parents, but he hated the way it made her feel afterwards. At Hogwarts, she would always cry in his arms and eventually she would always gain sweet release in the form of sleep. Then, he would carry her up to her dormitory and lay with her for a while until he was sure she would not wake.

Hermione had never known that he had done this. He would always nestle right next to her and it was there and then that he had admitted both to himself and to her that he loved her. Ron remembered the evening well. It had been a milestone in his life. He remembered the way that the words had first escaped his lips. They had not been planned or even coherently thought out. They had just come.

He had just said, "I love you Hermione" out of the blue. It had shocked even himself that he had said them and, to be quite frank, scared him because he had known that he had meant them. Ron knew exactly how Hermione had felt about love at the time. She stated quite often that no one was truly in love at their age and it had been on her list of most aggravating things (right next to Ron teasing her).

And still he had told her. However, Hermione hadn't heard him that time and some part of Ron thought it best that their feelings for each other hadn't been realized there and then. Still, there had always been that hope, no matter how childish it was and no matter how improbable it sounded, that she might have heard him confess his love to her there and then. That she might have suddenly awakened and thrown herself on him, also confessing her undying love, but it didn't happen.

No, Ron thought, that was really only the kind of thing you saw in those old movies that his mum used to watch at the old Muggle theatre in town. Once, his father had brought home an old TV that caught very few channels. It was the summer that Hermione had lived with him after that attack on her parents. She had worked on the TV a bit that day and messed with two wires that stuck up from the top (she called them something the started with an "A" but Ron's memory failed him) and soon it was showing what she called a black and white movie.

The picture portrayed by the old screen had been unfocused and the "movie," as Hermione called it, had been somewhat sappy and pointless to anyone who was not female. While it played Fred and George had pretended to faint in each other's arms and repeated "Oh Fred" and "Oh George" an exuberant number of times until Mrs. Weasley called Angelina and Katie over to watch it and brush up on their Muggle studies of the 40's and 50's while enjoying a "nice old-fashion love story". After that, Fred and George had been forced to watch it and behave in front their girlfriends.

But really, Ron thought, the idea itself had been foolish. However, even then it just went to show you how much he had been in love with Hermione. It had hurt him to see her hurt, for when you're in love it's just like that. It Doesn't matter if you don't understand why their hurting, you will hurt as well just by seeing them sad and tormented inside. Ron always wondered if he should tell Hermione about that time in her room where he had admitted his love for her, but then that had been his moment to keep forever and store in his memory until his dying days. Hermione already believed that Ron loved her, she didn't need him to tell her. He only wished that there were a way to show his love for her, one that would help far more than going with her to see her parents. But he could think of nothing.

The hospital room was dark and quiet. There were curtains around dividing the room into halves. On one side resided the Longbottoms. Now aged and grey, they still had no memory. They just sat in their beds and various objects were put in front of them to keep them busy. Hermione never got to see the Longbottoms, her parents lived right across from them and didn't know they existed. They would hardly recognize recognise that anyone was in the room besides them. It was a sad way to live, Ron thought. But the Granger's and the Longbottom's were not the only victims of this, even if they might be the only ones who physically suffered. There were others who had been hurt more.

Ron followed Hermione as she went to the left of the curtain. Ron saw there were many pictures. Many of them were Muggle ones taken of Hermione and her parents at different occasions. There was a picture of Hermione as a baby, Hermione sitting back in a dentists chair as her father observed what looked like her first tooth, Hermione being kissed by her mother, what looked like a family portrait of all three Granger's, Hermione on her fist day of nursery school, Mr. and Mrs. Granger hugging their daughter as she held up a certificate, and there were even a few magical pictures (Ron himself was in a few) as well as some of Mr. and Mrs. Granger at their wedding. Hermione tightened her grip on Ron's hand s she spotted her parents.

Mrs. Granger was first to be seen. She quite resembled Hermione in certain ways, her complexion, the dimples in her cheeks, and her button nose. But she had blue eyes and though her hair had the same bushy quality to it, instead of brown it was black flecked with grey hairs now appearing to show her age. She looked as though, at one time, she had been bookish like Hermione. Her hair had been French braided back to keep it out of her way as she toyed around with some of he objects laid out in front of her on the neatly folded bed spread. She looked up at Hermione and smiled pleasantly before returning to her business of trying to figure out what the strange object in her hands was. Her smile showed the dimples of her cheeks and made the newly added wrinkles of age become apparent. However, the eyes remained the same. The same soulless, lifeless eyes that hardly knew where they were or why the rest of them were smiling.

Mr. Granger lay only a few feet over. Ron didn't think he resembled Hermione as much as his wife did, although his hair was the same mousy brown colour and his eyes were the same chestnut brown as Hermione's. His hair, like his wife's, was dulled with grey and was slightly wavy. His features were quite stern and he wore glasses perched on the end of his nose. Ron remembered meeting him, before all this had happened. His face had been the same, his features strict and terrifying to a boy at the young age of 16, but his eyes had always been like Hermione. His eyes had always been the one thing that made him look friendly, but now they no longer held that light which lightened his face. Now, his eyes were only just another dark and dismal feature of a man with no purpose and no place in neither the Muggle or Magical world.

"Hello, Mum, Dad," Hermione said, cheerfully even though her eyes betrayed her false happiness.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger stopped and each looked up at Hermione with curious eyes, but only stared for a moment before continuing to fiddle with the items so new to them even thought they probably had done the exact same thing everyday since their enclosure in the hospital. Hermione went and sat next to her mother and began to talk in the false hope that she would answer.

"So how are things Mum?"

Hermione waited a moment for words she would never hear. She knew that she wouldn't but it was the hope that kept her going. The hope that one day her mother would look up at her again and ask her how her day was going like she had done every day while Hermione was home. At the time, Hermione had taken those little things for granted. She'd always replied with a monotone "fine" or "good." Never thinking that a day would come where no one would ask her that and her mother would remain silent while she yearned to hear her voice once more.

"A lot has happened since I talked to you last, you know. I mean I've grown up so much and I've even had a baby. I wish you could have been there so much. I always though that you would and I know that you would if you could have been," Hermione lips quavered for a moment. "Her name is Grace Laura Weasley. You've always like the name Laura. You told me so when I was ten, Dad. I remember we were on the patio and you said that if you ever had another daughter, Laura would be her name. Everyone says she looks so much like me and I guess that means that she looks a lot like you too, doesn't it Mum?"

Ron stood by the front of the Grangers beds and watched Hermione. It was almost too much for him to bear. To watch Hermione talk to her parents and get no response from them especially when she loved them so dearly. To watch her force a smile while her eyes so clearly told another tale of severe sadness. It hurt him to watch her, that this was something she had to do. Ron swore to himself that one day he would right this wrong. He never wanted to see Hermione hurt like this, but he had to, he had to let her do this. And then Hermione called him forward.

"There is someone I would like you to meet mum, Dad," she said as she took Ron's hand and guided him to stand where she sat.

"This is Ron. He's Grace's father. He was one of my friends from school. I think you met him back in fifth year, didn't you Dad?"

Mr. Granger continued to fiddle with the marker board and markers he had been given.

"Do you Mum?"

Mrs. Granger turned over the brush in her hands trying to figure out what its use was. Hermione's smiled quavered for a moment and it was evident to Ron that she was fighting tears even though a fake smile was apparent on her face. Slowly it stated to fade and she rose.

"Ron," she said standing up from the chair and taking a firmer grip on his hand, "let's go home."

"Goodbye Mum, Dad," Hermione added turning to her parents who were still oblivious to her existence.

Hermione began to walk out but Ron did not follow. There was something that he thought he needed to do. True, it was sentimental and would probably be a waste of time, and a little voice in the back of his head kept asking him, "Why?" However, another little voice was also asking, "Why not?"

"Can I stay for a minute, if it's okay with you?" Ron asked Hermione who looked at him for a moment before nodding soundlessly and walking out.

Ron really had no idea why he wanted to talk to Hermione's parents. Mrs. Granger was still fiddling with the brush and Mr. Granger was writing on a markers board in strange lines that made no sense. Nevertheless, Ron sat down in the chair and began to speak to them.

"So, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. well. I guess you know me. I remember I met you in fifth year the day you picked up Hermione from the station. You know, Mr. Granger, you scared me out of my wits. I had liked Hermione even then. But you Mrs. Granger, I remember you reminded me of Hermione. Especially when you told Mr. Granger not to use the word "damn." It reminded me of Hermione and myself.

Ron stopped for a second and took a deep breath remembering that day and the days that succeeded that day. "But that was the first and last time I really met you. Mid-sixth year Hermione got the news of your condition. I wasn't there when she was told, but when she missed Transfiguration I knew something was wrong. I remember I just got up and walked out in the middle of the lesson because I couldn't stand not knowing where she was and I found her in her dormitory. She was crying. I had never seen Hermione really cry before that day. I had seen her shed a few tears here and there, but never like that."

Ron stopped for a moment and continued, "For months after she was in bad shape. Once, she even tried to kill herself, but I really didn't even need to talk her out of it. Hermione's strong, she always does what's right, even if it's hard for her. She's so smart too, so compassionate, and caring for everyone."

"You did a good job with her, you know?" Ron said turning his head either way to look at the Granger's.

"I don't deserve her," he said with his head down, "I wish she could have better, but this is the best that I can do."

Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. "I want to give this to her, but I haven't done it yet. As crazy as it sounds and as pointless as this might be, I wanted to ask you first. I guess you could blame it on my Mum. She taught us all to be gentlemen."

Ron laughed softly, "Guess I haven't been one lately but I'm working on it."

"I know that Hermione could do so much better than me and for so all that she's given up for me. I just wish I could make her dreams come true. I wish I could give her what she deserves. but this is it," Ron said as he looked down at the case and slowly opened it to reveal a silver ring with a small diamond on top. The ring had reminded him so much of Hermione, plain but elegance beyond beauty. "This is.." Ron stuttered, "the best I can do."

There was silence for a moment and then Ron spoke again, "I know you can't hear me and I know that I don't deserve her, but give me the chance and I'll make her as happy as I can."

"May I marry your daughter?"

The room was silent. It was so strange to have just asked a question like that and to get silence as your response. Ron just sat for a while, he knew he had been foolish to actually believe that they would answer, but there was still the hope that they might have had one ounce of their former selves, that they might have had just enough left to answer this pivotal question in his life. Ron got up to leave but he felt a pair of eyes on him.

A pair of eyes. Not a pair of soulless, lifeless eyes but real eyes. Eyes that were living. Eyes that were alive and coherent. He slowly turned around and saw who they belonged to.

Mr. Granger was looking at him. He wasn't smiling but his eyes were there. The same eyes at the train station that had made his face look friendly against his stern features. The lines started to fade away and Ron could tell that the deep chocolate brown eyes of Hermione's father were studying him intently. Then as soon as they were studying him up and down, they were looking straight at his face and into his own piercing blue eyes. Suddenly, it was as if words were not needed. Ron knew what his answer was. It was not in his face or body or even on his tongue.

It was in his eyes, the eyes he gave Hermione.

Ron turned his head to look at Mrs. Granger. Even though her hands continued to fiddle with the brush, silent tears ran down her cheeks and onto the bedspread. Her face was emotionless but her eyes conveyed all the feeling that she could not express. All the things that she had passed to Hermione stood out now and even if they were no showing feeling, the fresh tears making their way down her face was all the emotion Ron needed to make his decision about how she felt abut his question.

Ron smiled and said into the stillness, "Thank you."

He turned around and didn't look back, slipping the velvet ring case back into his pocket and heading for the door.

He had his answer. Maybe the Granger's were still in there after all. If not in body, then in soul.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Harry and Ginny had just come back when Hermione and Ron arrived home from St. Mungo's. It was dark outside and evening had fallen already, but the Burrow was alight with laughter. Everyone was there. It was the second party at the Weasley house since the end of the war. Mrs. Weasley quickly informed them that they had shown up just shy of an hour before Ron and Hermione returned and from there (with the 'help' of Fred and George's ample supply of 'party goods' - butterbeer as well as stronger such drinks included) the party had begun. Even Percy seemed to be happier than usual, although that might have been because his fiancée Penny had just spent the last thirty minutes slow dancing with him (among the drinks he had consumed).

The only Weasley who didn't seem to be there was Charlie, but since he was somewhere in France they could hardly expect it of him. Everyone was dancing and having a good time. At once, Harry and Ginny had come over to Ron and Hermione with greeting or (in Harry's case) apologies for running off so fast. Ron merely smiled and clapped Harry on the back making sure to tell him that Ginny still had five other brothers around even if one was in France in case there were any problems, before laughing it off as a joke when Hermione gave him a very familiar look of disapproval.

And yet behind the large smile as Ginny showed Hermione her wedding ring, there was that look again. Ron had seen it many times before. She was wondering about her future again. Ron knew that Hermione would never give up her dreams of curing her parents and going to school gaining all sorts of knowledge, but she couldn't do it. She didn't want to leave Ron and ultimately, if she had to chose between doing what she wanted to do or doing what he wanted to do, Hermione would always side with what he wanted. Hermione would do anything for Ron and Grace, and if that meant only dreaming about things she wanted, then so be it. She would dream and do nothing more than that. Her hopes would always be alive, even if they didn't seem possible.

Ron smiled in spite of himself. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful Hermione was. It didn't even look like she had had a baby. She was just as thin as she had been before. Maybe a little wider in her hips and he couldn't help but notice that other places had grown as well. She was still the same old Hermione though. Despite the war and despite everything that she had went through, her eyes still lit up when she read a new book, that thirst for knowledge still intact. All her old habits were still there too; the way she chewed on the end of her quill when she was deep in thought, or the way that you could dance naked in front of her when she was working and she wouldn't even notice. All the things that made Hermione who she was were still there. However, Ron couldn't help but notice that she was forming new habits as well.

She was a bit overprotective now, of everybody, especially Grace. She also couldn't stand the little things anymore, like hair in a person's eyes, or dirt on a person's nose. Hermione had really never been tolerant of untidiness though. However, Ron had known that for a long time, it had in fact been how they had met. At the time, he had liked her, from the very moment she had walked in. It had been sort of like destiny.

"By the way, you've got dirt on your nose, did you know?"

Her exact words. Ron had been too confused to answer. He hadn't known that, as he hadn't known that later that year she would become his best friend. He still picked on her though, but it was just the sort of thing that guys did to girls they liked in younger ages, silly really. He had teased her to the point of where she had gone and locked herself in the girls' bathroom only to be attacked by a troll later and form a friendship with him that would lead to so much more. He hadn't known that either. But then there were so many things that he wanted to learn from her. So many questions that needed answering. He had one in particular. It felt right now.

"Hermione," Ron said as he bid Harry goodbye, "Hermione."

"Over here Ron," Hermione said as she rocked Grace back and forth while talking to Ginny.

Ron smiled as he made his way over to them. Hermione smiled back over at him while she rocked Grace. It was amazing all the things that Hermione could do at one time. Ron had even heard talk of his mother teaching her to cook once she was fully recovered. She was something, already thinking about the future. Ron wouldn't be surprised if she was already trying to plan out Grace's class schedule. Grace would go to Hogwarts of course, Ron had already made sure her name was the first on the list.

"Ron," Ginny said as he hugged her, "I'm so glad you're back. Just look at her, Ron!" Ginny said as she stared adoringly at Grace, "she looks so much like Hermione, but just look at those eyes, they're yours."

Grace smiled and wriggled around and Ron could only manage a "yeah" as he continued to stare at his daughter for a second. She did looks so much like her mother, but as Ginny had said, she had his eyes.

"Thanks Gin," Ron said focusing his mind back on he task at hand, "can you take her for a minute? I want to dance with my Hermione here."

Hermione blushed a shade of scarlet to rival Ron's hair as Ginny giggled a bit and took Grace quickly and began to coo over her new niece. Ron took Hermione's hands in his and pulled her onto the dance floor as a slow Muggle song began to play. She settled in his arms and breathed out a sigh of relief. Ron held her close. It was amazing how she seemed to fit perfectly in his arms.

"Sometimes the snow comes down in June

Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon

I see the passion in your eyes

Sometimes it's all a big surprise"

"I like that," Hermione said softly into Ron's shirt.

"What?"

"What you called me, 'My Hermione,' 'your Hermione' I like when you say I'm yours," Hermione answered as she breathed in the scent that was distinctly Ron.

"Do you really want to be mine?" Ron asked.

Hermione tensed in Ron's arms and replied, "Of course I do."

"Do you really want me," Ron asked, "just me. Just Ron's."

"Yes," Hermione answered, "I love you."

"Cause there was a time when all I did was wish,

You'd tell me this was love

It's not the way I hoped or how I planned

But somehow it's enough"

Ron held he close and closed his eyes. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why Hermione Granger would want to be with him. He couldn't figure out why a person as wonderful as Hermione would want to give it all up to be with "Just Ron." He had no money, he had no fame. he had nothing but Grace and Hermione. They were his everything. He just hoped that he could be their everything also, everything they wanted and deserved.

"And now we're standing face to face

Isn't this world a crazy place?

Just when I thought a chance had passed

You go and save the best for last"

Hermione leaned up against Ron and breathed his scent in again. She wondered why he was asking her all of those questions. He was good enough. Why wouldn't he be good enough? Did he think she deserved better? Even if he did, she would have none of it. Ron was meant to be with her. She had dreamt of that ever since first year when she had had a small crush on him. It had laid dormant for a few years and Hermione had thought it all gone when it had really been growing and mid-fifth year, it had returned as something more developed than a mere crush. It had been love. From there her love for him had only grown.

She had seen Ron through thick and thin in those years that her love was growing. She had seen girl after girl break his heart and leave it in pieces, then she had been to shy to step in and tell him how she felt. However, there had been clues, especially when her parents were attacked.

Hermione bit back tears at the thought and repressed the memory. Once, she even dreamt that he told her he loved her after one of her nights, but it had been only a dream, at least she thought it had only been a dream.

"All of the nights you came to me

When some silly girl had set you free

You wondered how you'd make it through

I wondered what was wrong with you"

And now felt right for both of them. Ron knew that she loved him, he had always known to some extent, but now was his chance. It wasn't a leap of faith. She had already planned on marrying him, but he had never really asked. It had just been an understanding between them. However, he had never asked her.

Ron needed to ask her if she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

"You keep can your love from everyone

yet share your dreams with me

Sometimes of everything you're looking for

It's the one thing you can't see"

"Hermione" Ron said timidly.

"Yes."

"Can I ask you something?" Ron said as he pulled her away from the dance floor.

"Yes."

Ron stuck his hand in his pocket and fingered the ring. It was simple. It was his ring for her.

"Hermione, I know I'm not anything special and I'll never be as famous as Harry or as smart as you, but if you'll have me, then you can be mine and I can be yours .forever."

Hermione held her breath as Ron hit one knee and pulled a ring from his pocket. The whole world had faded away. All the Weasley's were not looking at them. Mrs. Weasley had not just dropped her vase. Penelope had not just let out a sob. There was nothing but Ron and her and Grace and the ring, but most importantly a choice that was her future.

"But now we're standing face to face

Isn't this world a crazy place?

Just when I thought a chance had passed

You go and save the best for last Sometimes of everything you're looking for

It's the one thing you can't see"

"Yes," Hermione said in a breath that was so soft but ran through the silent kitchen.

Ron smiled the boyish grin that he had worn so often in his younger years at Hogwarts. Hermione almost didn't realize that she was crying until Ron wiped away her tears with his thumb and picked up her hand. Slowly she watched as he slid the ring on her finger. It was beautiful. Not as flashy as Ginny's. There was only one diamond in the center. Still, the ring was timeless and elegant, and Hermione could not have picked a better ring herself.

"Sometimes the snow comes down in June

Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon

Just when I thought a chance had passed

You go and save the best for last"

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

It was perfect. Everything was utterly and unimaginably perfect.

He Ron was officially marrying the girl of his dreams, the woman that would bear his two Quidditch teams of children. There was nothing that could be better. Nothing on Earth that could make him happier.

Ron bid the last guest goodbye and sat down in the rocking chair in the living room of the Burrow. Soon after, Mrs. Weasley handed Grace to him and told him that she was going up to bed before giving him a hug and telling him how proud she was of him and how happy she was. He rocked Grace back and forth in the same chair that his father had rocked him. She was asleep quickly. It had been a big day for her, for all of them.

Slowly he stood and walked up the stairs, a month of practicing walking up stairs without waking a sleeping baby had paid off when he reached Hermione and the baby's room without her waking up. Ron was about to enter when voices from the inside peeked his interest. Ron bit his lip, what would it hurt to listen.

"I'm so happy Ginny," said Hermione's voice.

"I can imagine and your ring, it's beautiful," replied Ginny's voice.

"Oh Ginny," Hermione said, "everything's so perfect, you know but."

Ron heard a creak of a wooden chair and Ginny asked, "But what, Hermione?"

"It's nothing," she replied quickly but Ron knew she was lying.

"Yes it is Hermione. What's wrong?"

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "I don't know Gin. I love Ron and I love Grace, but do you ever get the feeling that there's something more that you're meant to do? I mean I want to marry Ron, I do more than anything and my dreams will always be alive, but I want to do more than just dream them. I want to live them and I want Ron and Grace to be a part of them. I don't know how though. Ron wants a big family and I do too. But I want to go to school also and learn more and if I'm having a family, how can I do that. I just feel there's something more I'm meant to do."

There was a long pause and then Ron heard Ginny cross and put her hand on Hermione's shoulder in comfort.

"We'll figure it out Hermione, we will."

Ron turned and walked back down the stairs careful again not to wake Grace. He wandered back into the living room and sat back down in the chair and began to rock Grace again.

"I dunno Angel," he said to her, "you think we could manage?"

There was no answer for his little Angel was fast asleep in the arms of her father.

Ron sighed.

He knew what he had to do. He had to let her go. After all that she had given up for him it was the least he could do. If he loved her, and he did, he had to let her go.

He had to let Hermione follow her dreams.

To be continued.

(A/N: I know, I know the cliffe! Please review and tell me what you think if you have time. Thanks for reading!)