Author's Note: It is written: It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. Likewise, it is better to express gratitude for those who reviewed than acrimony toward those who did not. Thus:
Thanks to Omega, Sarah Love, Dianne and Chailyn Kenzie. I hope you're still around when the last chapter is posted (and I hope you have LOTS of company!).
Enjoy and Review!
***
Chapter Two:
Starting Over
"More tea, Ron?"
Hermione was just emerging from the kitchen with a tray of scones. She was wearing tasteful robes of deep navy, her mourning garb now hanging in the bedroom closet.
Ron drained his cup, sighing as the warmth coursed through him.
"Bless you," he smiled up at her.
Hermione touched the teapot with her wand; it blew off a blast of steam, rising thereafter to refill Ron's cup. Fresh tea leaves had already replaced the sodden remains in his enchanted cup. He smiled at this, ever impressed with her cleverness. He took a cautionary sip. When he lifted is head, he saw Hermione, now seated before him on a short couch, proffering a buttered scone. He took it gratefully and bit into it as Hermione buttered one for herself.
Ron was sitting in an armchair in the parlor of what had been Harry's and Hermione's flat. She used it but little now, spending most of her time at her parents' house, where they could better help her care for little Jaime.
Ron had exchanged his drenched robes for one of Harry's bathrobes, which was too short by inches for his lanky frame. Much of his legs showed below the hem, and Hermione politely averted her eyes from the numerous tiny scars and marks thus revealed.
"So," Hermione began awkwardly, sipping her tea, "how's the family? Everyone okay?"
Ron nodded, grunting affirmation through a mouthful of scone.
"Dad got promoted," he said when he could articulate.
"Really?" Hermione said, looking interested. In fact, she had already got the news from Ginny, but she let Ron go on, not wanting to spoil his "good news".
"He's in charge of Muggle Affairs. Anything and everything having to do with Muggles passes over his desk. Lots of responsibility. Big raise, too."
"Wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.
"First thing they did," Ron said through another mouthful of scone, "was hire an exterminator. Chucked the ghoul out of the attic. 'Bout time! Bloody awful, the row he made."
"So," Hermione said coyly, "who got your dad's old job? You know, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts?" She knew the answer, of course.
"You're lookin' at him!" Ron beamed. "Supervised at first, of course. But I learned from the best, didn't I?"
"Oh, I'm so happy for you, Ron!"
The conversation lapsed, and Ron said cautiously, "Your mum and dad still helping with Jaime?"
Hermione lowered her eyes, said, "Yes," very softly before nibbling at her scone.
Ron was instantly suspicious.
"There's something you're not telling me," he said, reading her expression with the familiarity of long association.
Hermione did not answer at first. Ron said nothing, waiting patiently for her to speak.
"Mum hasn't been well lately," she admitted at last. "The strain of...everything." She paused, her upper lip quivering slightly. "They -- they won't be able to take Jaime any more. I...suppose I'll be moving back here full time. I've still a bit of savings left...I'll just cut short my leave -- "
"Not a bit of it," Ron said firmly, some of his old fire returning. "You're coming to stay at the Burrow!"
"Oh...Ron..." Hermione began slowly, setting her cup down clumsily, "...no...I couldn't...impose -- "
"Impose!" Ron said with disbelief. "Hermione, you're family! My mum'd have my guts for garters if I didn't bring you home straightway. She'll love having Jaime in the house. And now that the ghoul's got the sack, there'll be nothing to wake her up in the middle of the night -- well, three o'clock feedings notwithstanding.
"As for this place -- " Ron stood up, looking around grandly, " -- I think it's just what I've been looking for! I've got a good salary now. Right! I'll move in next week, take over the lease and everything. Fred and George can help - do 'em good to do a bit of work for a change."
Hermione sat quietly in her seat, her head bowed. Ron sat down beside her.
"Hermione," he said earnestly, "Mum and Dad loved Harry like a son. He was like a brother to me. And you -- "
He paused, swallowed.
"You're coming, and that's that."
At first Hermione did not move. Then her head fell onto Ron's shoulder and, very softly, she began to cry.
"Thank you, Ron."
Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulder and held her for a long time.
To Be Continued...***
Note From Fae Princess: Because FF.net was down for so long Stoneheart and I decided to re-post the chapters we put up just before the site went down. We want some response to the recent postings, so you just GOTTA leave a review. Please? Thanks a lot guys! See ya soon :) ~Love, Fae
Thanks to Omega, Sarah Love, Dianne and Chailyn Kenzie. I hope you're still around when the last chapter is posted (and I hope you have LOTS of company!).
Enjoy and Review!
Chapter Two:
Starting Over
"More tea, Ron?"
Hermione was just emerging from the kitchen with a tray of scones. She was wearing tasteful robes of deep navy, her mourning garb now hanging in the bedroom closet.
Ron drained his cup, sighing as the warmth coursed through him.
"Bless you," he smiled up at her.
Hermione touched the teapot with her wand; it blew off a blast of steam, rising thereafter to refill Ron's cup. Fresh tea leaves had already replaced the sodden remains in his enchanted cup. He smiled at this, ever impressed with her cleverness. He took a cautionary sip. When he lifted is head, he saw Hermione, now seated before him on a short couch, proffering a buttered scone. He took it gratefully and bit into it as Hermione buttered one for herself.
Ron was sitting in an armchair in the parlor of what had been Harry's and Hermione's flat. She used it but little now, spending most of her time at her parents' house, where they could better help her care for little Jaime.
Ron had exchanged his drenched robes for one of Harry's bathrobes, which was too short by inches for his lanky frame. Much of his legs showed below the hem, and Hermione politely averted her eyes from the numerous tiny scars and marks thus revealed.
"So," Hermione began awkwardly, sipping her tea, "how's the family? Everyone okay?"
Ron nodded, grunting affirmation through a mouthful of scone.
"Dad got promoted," he said when he could articulate.
"Really?" Hermione said, looking interested. In fact, she had already got the news from Ginny, but she let Ron go on, not wanting to spoil his "good news".
"He's in charge of Muggle Affairs. Anything and everything having to do with Muggles passes over his desk. Lots of responsibility. Big raise, too."
"Wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.
"First thing they did," Ron said through another mouthful of scone, "was hire an exterminator. Chucked the ghoul out of the attic. 'Bout time! Bloody awful, the row he made."
"So," Hermione said coyly, "who got your dad's old job? You know, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts?" She knew the answer, of course.
"You're lookin' at him!" Ron beamed. "Supervised at first, of course. But I learned from the best, didn't I?"
"Oh, I'm so happy for you, Ron!"
The conversation lapsed, and Ron said cautiously, "Your mum and dad still helping with Jaime?"
Hermione lowered her eyes, said, "Yes," very softly before nibbling at her scone.
Ron was instantly suspicious.
"There's something you're not telling me," he said, reading her expression with the familiarity of long association.
Hermione did not answer at first. Ron said nothing, waiting patiently for her to speak.
"Mum hasn't been well lately," she admitted at last. "The strain of...everything." She paused, her upper lip quivering slightly. "They -- they won't be able to take Jaime any more. I...suppose I'll be moving back here full time. I've still a bit of savings left...I'll just cut short my leave -- "
"Not a bit of it," Ron said firmly, some of his old fire returning. "You're coming to stay at the Burrow!"
"Oh...Ron..." Hermione began slowly, setting her cup down clumsily, "...no...I couldn't...impose -- "
"Impose!" Ron said with disbelief. "Hermione, you're family! My mum'd have my guts for garters if I didn't bring you home straightway. She'll love having Jaime in the house. And now that the ghoul's got the sack, there'll be nothing to wake her up in the middle of the night -- well, three o'clock feedings notwithstanding.
"As for this place -- " Ron stood up, looking around grandly, " -- I think it's just what I've been looking for! I've got a good salary now. Right! I'll move in next week, take over the lease and everything. Fred and George can help - do 'em good to do a bit of work for a change."
Hermione sat quietly in her seat, her head bowed. Ron sat down beside her.
"Hermione," he said earnestly, "Mum and Dad loved Harry like a son. He was like a brother to me. And you -- "
He paused, swallowed.
"You're coming, and that's that."
At first Hermione did not move. Then her head fell onto Ron's shoulder and, very softly, she began to cry.
"Thank you, Ron."
Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulder and held her for a long time.
To Be Continued...
Note From Fae Princess: Because FF.net was down for so long Stoneheart and I decided to re-post the chapters we put up just before the site went down. We want some response to the recent postings, so you just GOTTA leave a review. Please? Thanks a lot guys! See ya soon :) ~Love, Fae