***DISCLAIMER*** I don't own Harry Potter or anything affiliated with the
series, JK Rowling and Warner Bros. do.
A/N Sorry about the delay! I had a bit of writer's block over the long weekend; I knew what I wanted to write but I wasn't sure how to write it. HOWEVER it's all gone now. Enjoy!
TallemeraRane ~ Coolness! My sister has been there and she told me all about it, I've always wanted to go! Enjoy the chapter!
Mione Weasley ~ I've actually only known one person named Cassandra and she wasn't very nice, but I really like the name Cassie and I wanted a longer name, so Cassandra popped into my head. Anyway, I hope you'll like the story even if you don't like the name.
Angelofboox ~ More fluffiness coming your way. : - )
Triniroo, Andie ~ thanks!
Christy Myren ~ Glad that you got around to reading! And that you like it!
Felicia ~ Read on!
Tears from the Moon ~ I completely understand! Answers coming soon! And thanks!
Just me ~ Yay! Welcome to the R/H shipper world! Thanks so much! I think the only thing that's going to keep me sane these last few weeks is fan fiction. ; - )
* * * * * * * * * * * *
How Many Ways
Chapter 11 ~ Lifehouse
By Americanangel
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Mione,
It has been a crazy week, hasn't it! I just got back from the hunt of those Death Eaters. We finally found them up in Scotland, and now they are in custody in Azkaban, to be questioned soon. How have you been holding up? Not too much work I hope!
The triple date was fun last week, I thought anyway. Maybe we can do some stuff with them again? I'll talk to Harry and Marc.
Anyway, I want to see you. It's been a whole week! It just isn't fair to leave me hanging like that! Like it was a few weeks ago, but I don't want to think about that.
Will you come over to my place for dinner tonight? Harry is going to meet Cassie's parents, so it will be cool. I'll make whatever you want. Let me know, okay? I'll be here in the office doing deskwork *groan* all day.
Yours,
Ron
Ron reread his letter to Hermione twice before he was satisfied enough to seal it. He tied it to Pig's leg and sent him on his merry way to Hermione's office. With a small grin, he sat back in his desk chair and thought about how happy she would be, or how happy he hoped she would be, that night.
* * *
Hermione was working on Percy's schedule for the upcoming weeks when Pig arrived with Ron's letter. She smiled and gave him a bit of her lunch as she opened the letter from Ron. After reading it, she wrote a reply.
Ron,
Ah, deskwork - welcome to my life! Yes, it has been a very crazy week. I've been troubleshooting on some issues for Percy and now I'm creating a new schedule for him. Ginny and Marc have been going out nearly every night, but I've been coming home late so it's okay.
I agree, the triple date was great. It's fun having the four of us back together, plus Marc and Cassie as well. They both seem nice, although Cassie was a little quiet, and she needs to get out more! But I'm sure Harry is taking care of that.
I'm pretty sure I can come over tonight. What time? I want to see you too! Tell Harry that I hope the meeting with Cassie's mum and dad goes well.
Hermione
* * *
Smiling, Ron wrote a hasty reply back to Hermione with all the details.
Hermione,
I'll leave work around five to get things ready; so, is six-thirty alright? I'll tell Harry.
Ron
Thirty minutes later he received an affirmative response from Hermione, which served to brighten the rest of his day at work. He left his office at five and Apparated home, to find Harry getting ready in an unusually messy apartment.
"Harry?! How did our apartment get so messy?" Ron asked in indignation.
Harry, halfway through tying a tie around his neck, replied, "Ron, it's been like this all week."
Ron stared around the room, "Bloody hell, this is going to take a long time."
* * *
Hermione changed into a simple pair of blue jeans and a light pink sweater before going over to Ron's house for dinner. This fall was unusually cold, even for mid-October, and she had been pulling out more and more of her winter clothes. She pulled part of her hair up, but let the rest of her curls hang halfway down her back. She wore small pink earrings, and a silver bracelet her parents had given her.
She Apparated to the apartment at six-thirty and knocked on the door. As she stood waiting for Ron to open the door, she realized that she had never been inside the apartment. *Well, they are guys, so it will probably be messy* was her initial thought, but after Ron opened the door and she returned his smile, she looked around the front room in amazement. Everything was in order. The pillows were on the couches, there were no clothes or plates lying around, and there were no stacks of files on the desks in the corners. Nothing was new, but the room was cozy and comfortable, just like the Burrow.
"Welcome to our humble home," Ron told her, "It's not much, but it's good enough for us."
"It's lovely," Hermione replied, giving her boyfriend a smile.
He led her into the kitchen to a table set with a bottle of butterbeer, the usual tableware, and a shepherd's pie. She could tell he had been cooking, but the kitchen was relatively clean. There were pots in the sink waiting to be washed; however all the food had been returned to the cabinet or the icebox. The table had a tablecloth, and Hermione was sure that her best friends didn't have a tablecloth on the table normally. She smiled at the effort Ron had put into the evening. She knew that they were very messy young men, after having known them for twelve years, and she also knew that it probably took Ron a good amount of his afternoon to clean up the place.
"You didn't specify a dish that you wanted," Ron began to say, "And I've always liked shepherd's pie on cold days, so I figured I would just make it and surprise you by how good it tastes."
Hermione chuckled, "I'm sure it's wonderful, Ron. My mum used to make shepherd's pie on cold days also. I've always liked it."
Ron brightened, "Great! Well, take a seat." He pulled out her chair for her and then went around the table and sat down. He put some of the pie on her plate and poured her a glass of butterbeer and they ate together while telling about their respective weeks and upcoming plans. Ron listened with wonder as Hermione told about all the work she had to do and the upcoming events in her life. At that moment, he felt so lucky that she would put aside time for him and consider him her friend, her best friend. He knew that if she were gone, his life would be meaningless.
Hermione noticed Ron staring at her, "Ron, are you alright?"
Ron snapped out of his reverie, "Uh, yeah, I'm great; great." He smiled at her and she returned this smile warmly.
He took her hand, "Hermione, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Hmm, what is it?" she asked, concern apparent in her voice.
Ron laughed, "Don't worry, it's not too serious. Well, you had a great time with Harry and Cassie, and Marc and Ginny last week right?"
She nodded, "Yes, I had a lovely time."
"Well, that's great because so did they. Anyway, the chaps and I decided that we wanted to do something for you girls. In talking, we found that you all had something in common. Well, I'm sure you have more than this in common, but this was pretty exciting."
Hermione furrowed her brow, "What is it that is so exciting?"
Ron laughed, "All three of you like the band Lifehouse, that American one we were listening to when we were cleaning."
Hermione grinned, "You didn't."
"We did," Ron said and he pulled out two tickets for the Lifehouse concert the following month. He handed them to Hermione and she gasped.
"Ron, these are amazing seats! How . . ."
"I have connections," he said simply, giving her another Weasley grin. She shook her head.
"This is so great, wow, thank you!"
He smiled. Everything was going according to plan.
* * *
Harry returned to the apartment around eleven and found Ron up in his room choosing clothes for the next day.
"Hey, mate. Did you show her the tickets?" he asked, stopping to talk to his friend.
Ron nodded, "I sure did. She's excited!"
Harry grinned, "That was a bloody brilliant idea, mate!"
"Thanks. Tell me about your date with Cassie."
If possible, Harry's grin became even wider, "Aw, it was great. Her parents are very nice, very intelligent people. Her dad is a Curse Breaker for the Ministry, and her mum is an independent journalist. She's how Cassie got her love for writing. They were both excited to meet me, and did the whole forehead thing of course. They asked me about myself and about my friends, and about how I grew up. They are really afraid of Muggles, it's a bit scary. Anyway, over all it was a great evening and I feel confident about it. I asked Cassie if she wanted to come to the concert at the end and she said that she would love to."
Ron clapped his friend on the back, "Brilliant, mate. This is going to be great. I know Ginny will say yes, but I'll send an owl to Marc in the morning just to make sure. Well, I have to catch some sleep now but I'll see you in the morning. Good night."
"Good night, Ron"
* * *
Ron lay in bed that night and pondered the evening. He thought about everything Hermione had said and every action she had taken. He knew exactly how her hair bounced when she walked, how her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and how full of life her voice was. He knew every part of her face and could recognize her anywhere. She filled him with joy whenever he thought or saw her, and she made him realize why he was living. She was his lifehouse.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Review! I hope you liked it. Again, sorry it took a while to get this one up! I've been thinking about it over the past few days and I had to get it exactly how I wanted it before I could post it. I hope you enjoyed it!
June 21 . . . so close, yet so far away!
~Americanangel
A/N Sorry about the delay! I had a bit of writer's block over the long weekend; I knew what I wanted to write but I wasn't sure how to write it. HOWEVER it's all gone now. Enjoy!
TallemeraRane ~ Coolness! My sister has been there and she told me all about it, I've always wanted to go! Enjoy the chapter!
Mione Weasley ~ I've actually only known one person named Cassandra and she wasn't very nice, but I really like the name Cassie and I wanted a longer name, so Cassandra popped into my head. Anyway, I hope you'll like the story even if you don't like the name.
Angelofboox ~ More fluffiness coming your way. : - )
Triniroo, Andie ~ thanks!
Christy Myren ~ Glad that you got around to reading! And that you like it!
Felicia ~ Read on!
Tears from the Moon ~ I completely understand! Answers coming soon! And thanks!
Just me ~ Yay! Welcome to the R/H shipper world! Thanks so much! I think the only thing that's going to keep me sane these last few weeks is fan fiction. ; - )
* * * * * * * * * * * *
How Many Ways
Chapter 11 ~ Lifehouse
By Americanangel
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Mione,
It has been a crazy week, hasn't it! I just got back from the hunt of those Death Eaters. We finally found them up in Scotland, and now they are in custody in Azkaban, to be questioned soon. How have you been holding up? Not too much work I hope!
The triple date was fun last week, I thought anyway. Maybe we can do some stuff with them again? I'll talk to Harry and Marc.
Anyway, I want to see you. It's been a whole week! It just isn't fair to leave me hanging like that! Like it was a few weeks ago, but I don't want to think about that.
Will you come over to my place for dinner tonight? Harry is going to meet Cassie's parents, so it will be cool. I'll make whatever you want. Let me know, okay? I'll be here in the office doing deskwork *groan* all day.
Yours,
Ron
Ron reread his letter to Hermione twice before he was satisfied enough to seal it. He tied it to Pig's leg and sent him on his merry way to Hermione's office. With a small grin, he sat back in his desk chair and thought about how happy she would be, or how happy he hoped she would be, that night.
* * *
Hermione was working on Percy's schedule for the upcoming weeks when Pig arrived with Ron's letter. She smiled and gave him a bit of her lunch as she opened the letter from Ron. After reading it, she wrote a reply.
Ron,
Ah, deskwork - welcome to my life! Yes, it has been a very crazy week. I've been troubleshooting on some issues for Percy and now I'm creating a new schedule for him. Ginny and Marc have been going out nearly every night, but I've been coming home late so it's okay.
I agree, the triple date was great. It's fun having the four of us back together, plus Marc and Cassie as well. They both seem nice, although Cassie was a little quiet, and she needs to get out more! But I'm sure Harry is taking care of that.
I'm pretty sure I can come over tonight. What time? I want to see you too! Tell Harry that I hope the meeting with Cassie's mum and dad goes well.
Hermione
* * *
Smiling, Ron wrote a hasty reply back to Hermione with all the details.
Hermione,
I'll leave work around five to get things ready; so, is six-thirty alright? I'll tell Harry.
Ron
Thirty minutes later he received an affirmative response from Hermione, which served to brighten the rest of his day at work. He left his office at five and Apparated home, to find Harry getting ready in an unusually messy apartment.
"Harry?! How did our apartment get so messy?" Ron asked in indignation.
Harry, halfway through tying a tie around his neck, replied, "Ron, it's been like this all week."
Ron stared around the room, "Bloody hell, this is going to take a long time."
* * *
Hermione changed into a simple pair of blue jeans and a light pink sweater before going over to Ron's house for dinner. This fall was unusually cold, even for mid-October, and she had been pulling out more and more of her winter clothes. She pulled part of her hair up, but let the rest of her curls hang halfway down her back. She wore small pink earrings, and a silver bracelet her parents had given her.
She Apparated to the apartment at six-thirty and knocked on the door. As she stood waiting for Ron to open the door, she realized that she had never been inside the apartment. *Well, they are guys, so it will probably be messy* was her initial thought, but after Ron opened the door and she returned his smile, she looked around the front room in amazement. Everything was in order. The pillows were on the couches, there were no clothes or plates lying around, and there were no stacks of files on the desks in the corners. Nothing was new, but the room was cozy and comfortable, just like the Burrow.
"Welcome to our humble home," Ron told her, "It's not much, but it's good enough for us."
"It's lovely," Hermione replied, giving her boyfriend a smile.
He led her into the kitchen to a table set with a bottle of butterbeer, the usual tableware, and a shepherd's pie. She could tell he had been cooking, but the kitchen was relatively clean. There were pots in the sink waiting to be washed; however all the food had been returned to the cabinet or the icebox. The table had a tablecloth, and Hermione was sure that her best friends didn't have a tablecloth on the table normally. She smiled at the effort Ron had put into the evening. She knew that they were very messy young men, after having known them for twelve years, and she also knew that it probably took Ron a good amount of his afternoon to clean up the place.
"You didn't specify a dish that you wanted," Ron began to say, "And I've always liked shepherd's pie on cold days, so I figured I would just make it and surprise you by how good it tastes."
Hermione chuckled, "I'm sure it's wonderful, Ron. My mum used to make shepherd's pie on cold days also. I've always liked it."
Ron brightened, "Great! Well, take a seat." He pulled out her chair for her and then went around the table and sat down. He put some of the pie on her plate and poured her a glass of butterbeer and they ate together while telling about their respective weeks and upcoming plans. Ron listened with wonder as Hermione told about all the work she had to do and the upcoming events in her life. At that moment, he felt so lucky that she would put aside time for him and consider him her friend, her best friend. He knew that if she were gone, his life would be meaningless.
Hermione noticed Ron staring at her, "Ron, are you alright?"
Ron snapped out of his reverie, "Uh, yeah, I'm great; great." He smiled at her and she returned this smile warmly.
He took her hand, "Hermione, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Hmm, what is it?" she asked, concern apparent in her voice.
Ron laughed, "Don't worry, it's not too serious. Well, you had a great time with Harry and Cassie, and Marc and Ginny last week right?"
She nodded, "Yes, I had a lovely time."
"Well, that's great because so did they. Anyway, the chaps and I decided that we wanted to do something for you girls. In talking, we found that you all had something in common. Well, I'm sure you have more than this in common, but this was pretty exciting."
Hermione furrowed her brow, "What is it that is so exciting?"
Ron laughed, "All three of you like the band Lifehouse, that American one we were listening to when we were cleaning."
Hermione grinned, "You didn't."
"We did," Ron said and he pulled out two tickets for the Lifehouse concert the following month. He handed them to Hermione and she gasped.
"Ron, these are amazing seats! How . . ."
"I have connections," he said simply, giving her another Weasley grin. She shook her head.
"This is so great, wow, thank you!"
He smiled. Everything was going according to plan.
* * *
Harry returned to the apartment around eleven and found Ron up in his room choosing clothes for the next day.
"Hey, mate. Did you show her the tickets?" he asked, stopping to talk to his friend.
Ron nodded, "I sure did. She's excited!"
Harry grinned, "That was a bloody brilliant idea, mate!"
"Thanks. Tell me about your date with Cassie."
If possible, Harry's grin became even wider, "Aw, it was great. Her parents are very nice, very intelligent people. Her dad is a Curse Breaker for the Ministry, and her mum is an independent journalist. She's how Cassie got her love for writing. They were both excited to meet me, and did the whole forehead thing of course. They asked me about myself and about my friends, and about how I grew up. They are really afraid of Muggles, it's a bit scary. Anyway, over all it was a great evening and I feel confident about it. I asked Cassie if she wanted to come to the concert at the end and she said that she would love to."
Ron clapped his friend on the back, "Brilliant, mate. This is going to be great. I know Ginny will say yes, but I'll send an owl to Marc in the morning just to make sure. Well, I have to catch some sleep now but I'll see you in the morning. Good night."
"Good night, Ron"
* * *
Ron lay in bed that night and pondered the evening. He thought about everything Hermione had said and every action she had taken. He knew exactly how her hair bounced when she walked, how her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and how full of life her voice was. He knew every part of her face and could recognize her anywhere. She filled him with joy whenever he thought or saw her, and she made him realize why he was living. She was his lifehouse.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Review! I hope you liked it. Again, sorry it took a while to get this one up! I've been thinking about it over the past few days and I had to get it exactly how I wanted it before I could post it. I hope you enjoyed it!
June 21 . . . so close, yet so far away!
~Americanangel
