***DISCLAIMER*** I do not own any aspect of Harry Potter or anything
affiliated with the series. JKR and Warner Bros. do. I will own my copy
of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in a short two days (as of
when I'm writing this disclaimer)!! I don't own the song "Winter
Wonderland" and I have no idea who does! I don't own "Stopping by the
Woods on a Snowy Evening" either. Again, I have no idea who does! I know
it was written by Robert Frost, but beyond that I have no clue. I DO,
however, own my plot.
A/N One more chapter after this one! I decided to do some major reworking. I was going to have four other chapters, but I realized they, like chapter 14, really had no purpose and would just be mediocre filler chapters.
They were to take place in Italy; as I have never been to Italy, this would have been extremely difficult. I'm not going to abandon the plot bunnies, though, I'm going to store them until such time as I see fit to use them in the future and give you the good stuff (stuff I know how to write!) instead. ; - )
BUT I have four other stories in mind! And that just means that these last two chapters are going to be chock full of emotion and revealed secrets! Enjoy!
*stares at reviews* Wow - I have to say, I'm speechless! Thank you, thank you, and thank you again! I got eight reviews in less than 24 hours! You people are amazing! Thank you SO MUCH for reviewing my fic - it means a lot to me! As such, I will continue responding to your reviews! But I'm going to start only responding to constructive reviews, as some only have one or two words, and to reviews that ask specific questions and such.
Triniroo ~ Good! Yeah, I def liked this one better than 14. And, a beta reader is a person who reads the chapter before the author posts it to check for spelling/grammar mistakes and to make sure it flows generally well with the rest of the story.
Kang ~ Thanks! Yeah, I have to say the male bonding was my favorite part too (lol)! That's good that it seems to be coming together to ya'll too - like, I know my overall plot and everything so it all makes sense to ME but I don't know if it makes sense to you! Thanks again and I will update as much as possible!
Chelsea ~ HAHAHA! I think we should ask our favorite male consultant and spy about those male bonding sessions - I bet he'd have something to say! Thank you, sweetie! Enjoy this chapter!
Angelofboox ~ Wow . . . yours was the one that made me speechless! Thank you! I'll try to replicate whatever magic I may have weaved into the last chapter!
Felicia ~ Hehe, when I was writing the chapter I listened to the song about ten times over and over. I love it, but I'm honestly sick of it right now!
Aurora ~ No more school! YES! We're done! Thank you. : - ) I had been thinking over this chapter for weeks! I seriously started writing it at the end of April - no joke! I'll show you my math notes (lol!). I'm so glad that you liked the chapter, and the song, and as for Italy ; - ) it would be great if you could still get the info because I will definitely be using it for another story, just not this one. I need time to process the information and really make a good chapter out of it. Thanks again!!!
Tears from the Moon ~ Thank you! Yes, it's one of my favorite songs as well, but after listening to it so much in the past three days I think I'm going to take a break from it for a while! Thank you so much for always giving me such constructive advice - I love your reviews!
Thanks also to: Alyx, TallemeraRane, Strawberries and Blueberries, David Ken, Herbie ~ Your reviews were appreciated, and it means a lot to me to know that you are reading my story! Enjoy the next chapter!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
How Many Ways
Chapter 16 ~ Winter Wonderland
By AmericanAngel
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ron and Hermione were met with busy schedules again the following week and as such did not have time for a dinner date, but they met for lunch a few times, however infrequent.
Hermione found herself, like the Lifehouse song said, falling more and more in love with Ron each time she saw him, but she wasn't quite ready to tell him; the timing didn't feel right to her. She was waiting for that moment, and she knew she would know when the time came.
November was drawing to a close, and Christmas spirit was beginning to be felt wherever one went in the magical world. Magical lights and plants decorated the shops of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Large red bows hung above many of the doors and most shopkeepers had begun to prepare hot cider and mead for their customers to keep them warm from the bitter cold. Witches and wizards alike could be seen in Diagon Alley buying large and small gifts for family and friends. A new book or quill for the studious, a bag of sweets for the children, or a cloak which would adjust to the outside temperature and keep one as warm as possible perhaps? The choices were endless, and nearly all could find something in the alley for every person on their list.
*Over the ground is a mantle of white
A heaven of diamonds shine down through the night
Two hearts are thrillin'
In spite of the chill in the weather*
Ron was met with the challenges of his top secret mission, which took him away from Hermione and his family for a couple days towards the end of November. Hermione received an owl from him just after the first snowfall of the year on the last Wednesday of the month while she was working on a draft paper for Percy and staring longingly at the soft, white flakes falling silently on the ground below.
Hermione,
I've missed you so much over this past week! When can we get together again? I have something up my sleeve, and you know you don't want to miss this!
Let me know; I'm back from upper Scotland now and I'll be in town for the next three weeks or so.
By the way, Mum and Dad have decided to have a Christmas party early in December. Dad's promotion this year really served to bring in more money for them and they want to do something to celebrate. I'm not sure when it is; they will probably send you an owl with an invitation. Just wanted to let you know in advance!
Looking forward to your owl,
Ron
Hermione smiled and quickly wrote a response for Pig to take back to his master.
Ron,
I've missed you as well! I hope things went well in Scotland, whatever you were doing there.
I'm available on Friday, do you want to make it a date? Let me know.
And the Christmas party sounds lovely!
See you on Friday,
Hermione
Ron told Hermione that he would show up at her flat around three and to dress warmly. When he got to the flat, he saw that she was wearing a pair of black trousers and a warm red sweater.
*Love knows no season
Love knows no climb
Romance can blossom any old time
Here in the open we're walking and hopin' together*
"Hey Mione," he said to her, voice full of affection.
She blushed as she replied, "Hi, Ron. Have you been alright?"
He grinned, "However I was before, now I'm perfect."
Her cheeks turned even rosier as she said, "Well, are these clothes alright? You haven't exactly told me what we are going to be doing."
He stepped back and examined what she was wearing in a half joking sort of manner, "Well, it will keep you warm, but unless you have a repelling charm on those pants you will get very wet."
She gasped, "What?"
Ron grinned again, "Don't worry, love. We're just going to be taking a walk through deep snow, maybe building a snowman, and the like."
Hermione smiled at him warmly, "Alright, I can handle that. Let me put a repelling charm on these pants, get some warmer clothes, and we can be off."
Hermione returned a moment later with a warm jacket, scarf, and gloves. Ron, already possessing these items, extended his hand and led her down out of her apartment into the cold, snowy air.
*Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland*
"Ron, where are we going to go to take a walk through the snow? All the London streets have been cleared," Hermione asked him as she saw the cars driving through the clean streets.
Ron grinned, "First, we'll be Apparating to the Burrow."
Hermione nodded and the both of them appeared a second later in front of the magical house. Hermione gasped and her eyes sparkled when she looked down the snowy, un-cleared drive by the house.
Four horses were tethered to an open, red sleigh for two and waited patiently for Ron and Hermione to board. Hermione could hear their bells ringing as they moved to keep warm in the frigid air and shook their white manes in greeting.
Ron smiled at his girlfriend's delight, "I thought you might enjoy this. I've never ridden in a sleigh before, have you?"
She shook her head, "Never. I've only read about it."
Ron gave a small tug on her hand, leading her towards the sleigh, "Well, come my darling, and we shall ride on wherever our fine horses lead us."
She followed him and he helped her step into the sleigh before getting in himself and taking the reins. Snow began to fall and she felt as if she were in a snow globe surrounded by the blanketed countryside. She cast a warming spell around the sleigh to shield Ron and herself against the added wind from the movement of the sleigh.
After a while, the sleigh stopped in a meadow and Ron jumped down from the sleigh to Hermione's side.
"Here is where we disembark for our walk, my lady," he said with a grin. Hermione laughed and took his hand as he helped her step down. When she was safely on the ground, he un-tethered the horses and let them walk off, then shrinking the sleigh to fit inside his pocket.
"Ron, won't the horses run off?" she asked him in confusion.
He shook his head, "No, they are magical horses of course. As soon as the sleigh becomes full size again, they will return. Come on, let's take a walk through the trees. The Burrow is on the other side of this wood here, and I walked through it often as a child with Fred and George, and Ginny, so I know it fairly well."
She nodded, "There was a forested area near my house as well. I used to go into the forest in the summer and read in one of my favorite clearings nearby, and in the winter I went to the same place with the neighbors to have snowball fights and build snowmen."
*Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is the new bird
He sings a love song as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland*
As they walked, a poem came to Ron's mind, though he could not place it.
"Hermione, have you ever heard a poem that begins, 'Whose woods these are I think I know / His house is in the village though / He will not see me stopping here / To watch his woods fill up with snow?'"
She smiled, "Yes, it's by the American poet Robert Frost, and it's called 'Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening.' I read it once in school, and I really liked it. It became one of my favorite poems. Where did you hear it? You didn't go to Muggle school."
Ron shrugged, "I don't remember; Harry has a book of poetry, maybe I read it in there. What's the whole poem?"
Hermione cleared her throat and then recited clearly the following:
"Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village though
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake
The only other sounds's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep."
Ron smiled, "Yes, that's the poem. I'm sure I read it in one of Harry's books now. You know, some of the ideas the Muggles came up with in their literature are pretty interesting."
Hermione nodded, "You know how I feel about books."
Ron groaned, "Oh, how could I forget?"
She slapped him lightly on the arm, "Ron!"
He laughed heartily and reached to wrap his arms around her, "Oh, Hermione, you know how much I love you. Especially your love for books."
Teasing him, she backed away and he started to chase her. With a little squeal, she ran down the path from which they had come and back into the clearing. He caught up with her and gently threw a snowball in her direction. Laughing, she lunged at his body and the two fell lightly into the drift of snow, rolling and throwing snow at one another.
*In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say 'Are you married?'
We'll say 'No man! But you can do the job when you're in town!'*
Ron got up from the ground and extended his hand to Hermione, "Well, would you like to make a snowman? We have plenty of snow!"
She smiled, "Sure! I'll roll the bottom part."
The two set to work packing and rolling the snow into large balls and making tracks in the snow marking where they had been with them. Hermione rolled a base four feet in diameter, and Ron rolled a middle part of two feet.
"Do you want to set that part on top and I'll make a head?" Hermione asked him as they caught their breath after the work.
Ron nodded, "Sure, sounds good to me."
She rolled a one foot snowball which Ron placed on top while standing on tiptoes, as he was not quite, but nearly, six feet tall; in the end the snowman was seven feet tall.
"Here, I'll get some branches for his arms," Hermione said, walking over the edge of the forest to find them. Ron transfigured one of the stubby ones into a carrot and some stones into coal and placed them on the snowman as well.
"So, Hermione, the snowman wants to know if we're married," Ron said jokingly.
She smiled, "I know what you're playing at Ron. Alright, just tell him he can do it when we're in town."
Ron grinned and then asked, "Do you want to continue the walk now?'
She nodded, "Sure."
He took her hand and they walked along the path through the forest..
"Hermione, what do you imagine you want to be doing in give years?" Ron asked her suddenly.
She was a bit startled by the question, but answered, "Well, I hope to have moved up a little in my job and have a much better position. I hope to have married, and maybe had a child. I hope that I will still have many friends and that I will be a good mother, and . . ."
Ron cut her off and gazed down at her through his loving eyes, "You'll be a wonderful mother, Mione. Don't even worry about that."
She blushed, but asked, "How about you?"
He shrugged, "I really hope we'll have caught all the Death Eaters by then, but I wouldn't want my job to get boring! I'd like to have started a family also, but what happens, happens. I'll be ready for it."
She smiled and they walked deeper into the forest, turning around when it began to get dark outside. Ron summoned the horses by the enlargement of the sleigh and they rode back to the Burrow and then Apparated to Hermione's flat to dry and get warm.
*Later on we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid the plans that we made
Walking in a winter wonderland*
Hermione changed into flannel pants and a shirt and found Ron a pair of sweats to wear as well as an oversized sweater. She made some hot chocolate and he said a charm to start a fire in the fireplace. They snuggled close together and drank the hot chocolate, as Ron again started asking her questions.
"Mione?"
She looked up at his face, "Yes Ron?
"Where do you see me, in your future?"
Hermione was startled by the question. She knew where she saw him - she loved him - but she didn't want to tell him that.
Ron could sense her confusion and frustration as she stayed silent for over a minute, although she didn't notice it.
"You don't have to say if you don't want to," he told her gently, caressing her hand.
She sighed, "I'm not sure yet, Ron. But I will tell you when I know, I promise."
He nodded, "Alright, and I'll wait, I promise."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Review! One more left . . .
Oh! And, please let me know what your questions are. I want to be sure to answer them in the last chapter, which I hope to post tomorrow morning or something!
~AmericanAngel
A/N One more chapter after this one! I decided to do some major reworking. I was going to have four other chapters, but I realized they, like chapter 14, really had no purpose and would just be mediocre filler chapters.
They were to take place in Italy; as I have never been to Italy, this would have been extremely difficult. I'm not going to abandon the plot bunnies, though, I'm going to store them until such time as I see fit to use them in the future and give you the good stuff (stuff I know how to write!) instead. ; - )
BUT I have four other stories in mind! And that just means that these last two chapters are going to be chock full of emotion and revealed secrets! Enjoy!
*stares at reviews* Wow - I have to say, I'm speechless! Thank you, thank you, and thank you again! I got eight reviews in less than 24 hours! You people are amazing! Thank you SO MUCH for reviewing my fic - it means a lot to me! As such, I will continue responding to your reviews! But I'm going to start only responding to constructive reviews, as some only have one or two words, and to reviews that ask specific questions and such.
Triniroo ~ Good! Yeah, I def liked this one better than 14. And, a beta reader is a person who reads the chapter before the author posts it to check for spelling/grammar mistakes and to make sure it flows generally well with the rest of the story.
Kang ~ Thanks! Yeah, I have to say the male bonding was my favorite part too (lol)! That's good that it seems to be coming together to ya'll too - like, I know my overall plot and everything so it all makes sense to ME but I don't know if it makes sense to you! Thanks again and I will update as much as possible!
Chelsea ~ HAHAHA! I think we should ask our favorite male consultant and spy about those male bonding sessions - I bet he'd have something to say! Thank you, sweetie! Enjoy this chapter!
Angelofboox ~ Wow . . . yours was the one that made me speechless! Thank you! I'll try to replicate whatever magic I may have weaved into the last chapter!
Felicia ~ Hehe, when I was writing the chapter I listened to the song about ten times over and over. I love it, but I'm honestly sick of it right now!
Aurora ~ No more school! YES! We're done! Thank you. : - ) I had been thinking over this chapter for weeks! I seriously started writing it at the end of April - no joke! I'll show you my math notes (lol!). I'm so glad that you liked the chapter, and the song, and as for Italy ; - ) it would be great if you could still get the info because I will definitely be using it for another story, just not this one. I need time to process the information and really make a good chapter out of it. Thanks again!!!
Tears from the Moon ~ Thank you! Yes, it's one of my favorite songs as well, but after listening to it so much in the past three days I think I'm going to take a break from it for a while! Thank you so much for always giving me such constructive advice - I love your reviews!
Thanks also to: Alyx, TallemeraRane, Strawberries and Blueberries, David Ken, Herbie ~ Your reviews were appreciated, and it means a lot to me to know that you are reading my story! Enjoy the next chapter!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
How Many Ways
Chapter 16 ~ Winter Wonderland
By AmericanAngel
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ron and Hermione were met with busy schedules again the following week and as such did not have time for a dinner date, but they met for lunch a few times, however infrequent.
Hermione found herself, like the Lifehouse song said, falling more and more in love with Ron each time she saw him, but she wasn't quite ready to tell him; the timing didn't feel right to her. She was waiting for that moment, and she knew she would know when the time came.
November was drawing to a close, and Christmas spirit was beginning to be felt wherever one went in the magical world. Magical lights and plants decorated the shops of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Large red bows hung above many of the doors and most shopkeepers had begun to prepare hot cider and mead for their customers to keep them warm from the bitter cold. Witches and wizards alike could be seen in Diagon Alley buying large and small gifts for family and friends. A new book or quill for the studious, a bag of sweets for the children, or a cloak which would adjust to the outside temperature and keep one as warm as possible perhaps? The choices were endless, and nearly all could find something in the alley for every person on their list.
*Over the ground is a mantle of white
A heaven of diamonds shine down through the night
Two hearts are thrillin'
In spite of the chill in the weather*
Ron was met with the challenges of his top secret mission, which took him away from Hermione and his family for a couple days towards the end of November. Hermione received an owl from him just after the first snowfall of the year on the last Wednesday of the month while she was working on a draft paper for Percy and staring longingly at the soft, white flakes falling silently on the ground below.
Hermione,
I've missed you so much over this past week! When can we get together again? I have something up my sleeve, and you know you don't want to miss this!
Let me know; I'm back from upper Scotland now and I'll be in town for the next three weeks or so.
By the way, Mum and Dad have decided to have a Christmas party early in December. Dad's promotion this year really served to bring in more money for them and they want to do something to celebrate. I'm not sure when it is; they will probably send you an owl with an invitation. Just wanted to let you know in advance!
Looking forward to your owl,
Ron
Hermione smiled and quickly wrote a response for Pig to take back to his master.
Ron,
I've missed you as well! I hope things went well in Scotland, whatever you were doing there.
I'm available on Friday, do you want to make it a date? Let me know.
And the Christmas party sounds lovely!
See you on Friday,
Hermione
Ron told Hermione that he would show up at her flat around three and to dress warmly. When he got to the flat, he saw that she was wearing a pair of black trousers and a warm red sweater.
*Love knows no season
Love knows no climb
Romance can blossom any old time
Here in the open we're walking and hopin' together*
"Hey Mione," he said to her, voice full of affection.
She blushed as she replied, "Hi, Ron. Have you been alright?"
He grinned, "However I was before, now I'm perfect."
Her cheeks turned even rosier as she said, "Well, are these clothes alright? You haven't exactly told me what we are going to be doing."
He stepped back and examined what she was wearing in a half joking sort of manner, "Well, it will keep you warm, but unless you have a repelling charm on those pants you will get very wet."
She gasped, "What?"
Ron grinned again, "Don't worry, love. We're just going to be taking a walk through deep snow, maybe building a snowman, and the like."
Hermione smiled at him warmly, "Alright, I can handle that. Let me put a repelling charm on these pants, get some warmer clothes, and we can be off."
Hermione returned a moment later with a warm jacket, scarf, and gloves. Ron, already possessing these items, extended his hand and led her down out of her apartment into the cold, snowy air.
*Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland*
"Ron, where are we going to go to take a walk through the snow? All the London streets have been cleared," Hermione asked him as she saw the cars driving through the clean streets.
Ron grinned, "First, we'll be Apparating to the Burrow."
Hermione nodded and the both of them appeared a second later in front of the magical house. Hermione gasped and her eyes sparkled when she looked down the snowy, un-cleared drive by the house.
Four horses were tethered to an open, red sleigh for two and waited patiently for Ron and Hermione to board. Hermione could hear their bells ringing as they moved to keep warm in the frigid air and shook their white manes in greeting.
Ron smiled at his girlfriend's delight, "I thought you might enjoy this. I've never ridden in a sleigh before, have you?"
She shook her head, "Never. I've only read about it."
Ron gave a small tug on her hand, leading her towards the sleigh, "Well, come my darling, and we shall ride on wherever our fine horses lead us."
She followed him and he helped her step into the sleigh before getting in himself and taking the reins. Snow began to fall and she felt as if she were in a snow globe surrounded by the blanketed countryside. She cast a warming spell around the sleigh to shield Ron and herself against the added wind from the movement of the sleigh.
After a while, the sleigh stopped in a meadow and Ron jumped down from the sleigh to Hermione's side.
"Here is where we disembark for our walk, my lady," he said with a grin. Hermione laughed and took his hand as he helped her step down. When she was safely on the ground, he un-tethered the horses and let them walk off, then shrinking the sleigh to fit inside his pocket.
"Ron, won't the horses run off?" she asked him in confusion.
He shook his head, "No, they are magical horses of course. As soon as the sleigh becomes full size again, they will return. Come on, let's take a walk through the trees. The Burrow is on the other side of this wood here, and I walked through it often as a child with Fred and George, and Ginny, so I know it fairly well."
She nodded, "There was a forested area near my house as well. I used to go into the forest in the summer and read in one of my favorite clearings nearby, and in the winter I went to the same place with the neighbors to have snowball fights and build snowmen."
*Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is the new bird
He sings a love song as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland*
As they walked, a poem came to Ron's mind, though he could not place it.
"Hermione, have you ever heard a poem that begins, 'Whose woods these are I think I know / His house is in the village though / He will not see me stopping here / To watch his woods fill up with snow?'"
She smiled, "Yes, it's by the American poet Robert Frost, and it's called 'Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening.' I read it once in school, and I really liked it. It became one of my favorite poems. Where did you hear it? You didn't go to Muggle school."
Ron shrugged, "I don't remember; Harry has a book of poetry, maybe I read it in there. What's the whole poem?"
Hermione cleared her throat and then recited clearly the following:
"Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village though
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake
The only other sounds's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep."
Ron smiled, "Yes, that's the poem. I'm sure I read it in one of Harry's books now. You know, some of the ideas the Muggles came up with in their literature are pretty interesting."
Hermione nodded, "You know how I feel about books."
Ron groaned, "Oh, how could I forget?"
She slapped him lightly on the arm, "Ron!"
He laughed heartily and reached to wrap his arms around her, "Oh, Hermione, you know how much I love you. Especially your love for books."
Teasing him, she backed away and he started to chase her. With a little squeal, she ran down the path from which they had come and back into the clearing. He caught up with her and gently threw a snowball in her direction. Laughing, she lunged at his body and the two fell lightly into the drift of snow, rolling and throwing snow at one another.
*In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say 'Are you married?'
We'll say 'No man! But you can do the job when you're in town!'*
Ron got up from the ground and extended his hand to Hermione, "Well, would you like to make a snowman? We have plenty of snow!"
She smiled, "Sure! I'll roll the bottom part."
The two set to work packing and rolling the snow into large balls and making tracks in the snow marking where they had been with them. Hermione rolled a base four feet in diameter, and Ron rolled a middle part of two feet.
"Do you want to set that part on top and I'll make a head?" Hermione asked him as they caught their breath after the work.
Ron nodded, "Sure, sounds good to me."
She rolled a one foot snowball which Ron placed on top while standing on tiptoes, as he was not quite, but nearly, six feet tall; in the end the snowman was seven feet tall.
"Here, I'll get some branches for his arms," Hermione said, walking over the edge of the forest to find them. Ron transfigured one of the stubby ones into a carrot and some stones into coal and placed them on the snowman as well.
"So, Hermione, the snowman wants to know if we're married," Ron said jokingly.
She smiled, "I know what you're playing at Ron. Alright, just tell him he can do it when we're in town."
Ron grinned and then asked, "Do you want to continue the walk now?'
She nodded, "Sure."
He took her hand and they walked along the path through the forest..
"Hermione, what do you imagine you want to be doing in give years?" Ron asked her suddenly.
She was a bit startled by the question, but answered, "Well, I hope to have moved up a little in my job and have a much better position. I hope to have married, and maybe had a child. I hope that I will still have many friends and that I will be a good mother, and . . ."
Ron cut her off and gazed down at her through his loving eyes, "You'll be a wonderful mother, Mione. Don't even worry about that."
She blushed, but asked, "How about you?"
He shrugged, "I really hope we'll have caught all the Death Eaters by then, but I wouldn't want my job to get boring! I'd like to have started a family also, but what happens, happens. I'll be ready for it."
She smiled and they walked deeper into the forest, turning around when it began to get dark outside. Ron summoned the horses by the enlargement of the sleigh and they rode back to the Burrow and then Apparated to Hermione's flat to dry and get warm.
*Later on we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid the plans that we made
Walking in a winter wonderland*
Hermione changed into flannel pants and a shirt and found Ron a pair of sweats to wear as well as an oversized sweater. She made some hot chocolate and he said a charm to start a fire in the fireplace. They snuggled close together and drank the hot chocolate, as Ron again started asking her questions.
"Mione?"
She looked up at his face, "Yes Ron?
"Where do you see me, in your future?"
Hermione was startled by the question. She knew where she saw him - she loved him - but she didn't want to tell him that.
Ron could sense her confusion and frustration as she stayed silent for over a minute, although she didn't notice it.
"You don't have to say if you don't want to," he told her gently, caressing her hand.
She sighed, "I'm not sure yet, Ron. But I will tell you when I know, I promise."
He nodded, "Alright, and I'll wait, I promise."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Review! One more left . . .
Oh! And, please let me know what your questions are. I want to be sure to answer them in the last chapter, which I hope to post tomorrow morning or something!
~AmericanAngel
