Disclaimer- the song that is used an Appalachian folk song, "Black is the
Color" but I've changed the "he's" to "her's". The rest is written in the
first chapter's disclaimer and, for sake of unredundency, I'll just let you
read the other disclaimer again.
Ron starred open mouthed at Hermione. She was by far the most beautiful creature he'd ever set eyes on. Her skin had turned a slightly pink color and her nose was still as comical as ever. She didn't look to have aged a day since he'd last seen her at age 20. The only thing that had really changed was her hair. When she had left it had grown out to below her shoulders though she always kept it up in a bun. He studied her carefully, he liked her new haircut, it framed her face perfectly.
He was still gazing at her when Harry advanced and pulled her into a big hug. "You look just spiffing Hermione!" he exclaimed.
"Thanks Harry, you look pretty spiffy yourself," she playfully punched him in the stomach. Ginny was next followed by Mr. then Mrs. Weasley. Finally, when Ron noticed everybody was starring at him expectantly he walked foreword tentatively.
"Cheers Herms!" he hugged her for a fair bit longer then any of the others had.
"It feels nice to be home again!" she exclaimed when they finally parted.
"Where are you staying by the way?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I don't really know, I haven't even got a job yet."
"Oh Hermione dear, stay here with me and Arthur. The house is so utterly lone-"
"Ron could get you a job! He's head of department," Ginny blurted out.
"Really? What department?"
"Unmentionable," Ron muttered.
"That's wicked! I can't believe how much you've changed. I was thinking Games and Sports."
"No, I've been with the Unmentionables for three years."
"That's great. Maybe I will take you up on that offer Mrs. Wea-" Before Ron could stop himself he spoke up.
"Oh Hermione, you should stay with me. I have plenty of room."
"Really? That sounds great! You don't mind do you Mrs. Weasley?"
"Of course not, it will be nice to know there's someone living with Ron. He keeps trying to tell us that his cats are enough but I don't believe a word of it."
"Well I would be- wait, Ron has cats?"
"Yes, two, Sanura and Namir," Ginny answered hastily.
"My, you have changed," she added before a house elf came in and tugged on Mrs. Weasley's dress hem.
"Mistress Molly, dinner is ready."
"Than you Nida," Mrs. Weasley said to the short little thing. Everybody followed her toward the dining room. Ron caught Hermione looking at him several times during dinner. He knew he was blushing 9/10th's of the time but he didn't care. Hermione was going to live with him and she was probably going to work in his office. Things were looking up.
He didn't actually say anything the whole of dinner till dessert was nearly over. Hermione cleared her throat and turned to him. "Ron, were you serious about me moving in with you?"
"Of-of course I was, I wouldn't have it any other way." He answered, licking whipped cream from the side of his mouth.
"Good, when?" she asked eagerly
"Well, you'll need a place tonight so I guess you'll just come home with me."
"Where do you live?"
"London, Notting Hill specifically."
"Right, when do we leave?"
"Soon, let's leave right now come to think of it." The two rose and Ron could hardly feel his legs. It was like a dream come true. Hermione was finally coming home, his home, with him. He was also pleasantly surprised to see how anxious Hermione seemed to get to the flat. The two were "out the door" in less then a half hour.
They apparated into the living room and Hermione looked around. The room was painted a deep emerald green with cream sofas and chairs. A large TV stood against one wall and paintings hung on every available place.
"So, how do you like it?" Ron asked as he showed up beside her.
"It's wonderful, I just love it Ron." Hermione continued to look around as two cats made their way into the room. Ron scooped one of them into his arms. It was the fattest one, Sanura. She purred deeply as he stroked her fur. Hermione turned to him. "She's just beautiful Ron," she said before catching sight of the little kitten.
After Ron had shown Hermione her room they found themselves on the couch. "There's only one problem Ron-"Hermione finally said.
"What's the problem?"
"I haven't received my luggage yet. It's supposed to come from Bulgaria tomorrow."
"That's fine, I've got an extra toothbrush and I'll lend you a T- shirt."
"Thanks, I'll just show myself to your room." She turned and Ron continued to stroke Sanura. He stayed in that position until he was sure she was asleep. Then he crept into her room. In a soft voice he began to sing as he ran his finger over her soft, pale arm.
"But black is he color of my true love's hair
Her face is like some rosy fair
The prettiest eyes and the neatest hands;
I love the ground where-on she stands
I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
If you on earth no more I see
I can't serve you as you serve me
The winter's past and the leaves are green
The time is past that we have seen
And yet I hope the time will come
When you and I shall be as one"
After a minute of silent meditation on her face Ron turned to leave. He closed the door softly but Hermione was already awake. She touched the place on her arm that he had previously been caressing. "I think I'm in love with Ronald Weasley," she murmured before falling into a very restful sleep.
Ron starred open mouthed at Hermione. She was by far the most beautiful creature he'd ever set eyes on. Her skin had turned a slightly pink color and her nose was still as comical as ever. She didn't look to have aged a day since he'd last seen her at age 20. The only thing that had really changed was her hair. When she had left it had grown out to below her shoulders though she always kept it up in a bun. He studied her carefully, he liked her new haircut, it framed her face perfectly.
He was still gazing at her when Harry advanced and pulled her into a big hug. "You look just spiffing Hermione!" he exclaimed.
"Thanks Harry, you look pretty spiffy yourself," she playfully punched him in the stomach. Ginny was next followed by Mr. then Mrs. Weasley. Finally, when Ron noticed everybody was starring at him expectantly he walked foreword tentatively.
"Cheers Herms!" he hugged her for a fair bit longer then any of the others had.
"It feels nice to be home again!" she exclaimed when they finally parted.
"Where are you staying by the way?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I don't really know, I haven't even got a job yet."
"Oh Hermione dear, stay here with me and Arthur. The house is so utterly lone-"
"Ron could get you a job! He's head of department," Ginny blurted out.
"Really? What department?"
"Unmentionable," Ron muttered.
"That's wicked! I can't believe how much you've changed. I was thinking Games and Sports."
"No, I've been with the Unmentionables for three years."
"That's great. Maybe I will take you up on that offer Mrs. Wea-" Before Ron could stop himself he spoke up.
"Oh Hermione, you should stay with me. I have plenty of room."
"Really? That sounds great! You don't mind do you Mrs. Weasley?"
"Of course not, it will be nice to know there's someone living with Ron. He keeps trying to tell us that his cats are enough but I don't believe a word of it."
"Well I would be- wait, Ron has cats?"
"Yes, two, Sanura and Namir," Ginny answered hastily.
"My, you have changed," she added before a house elf came in and tugged on Mrs. Weasley's dress hem.
"Mistress Molly, dinner is ready."
"Than you Nida," Mrs. Weasley said to the short little thing. Everybody followed her toward the dining room. Ron caught Hermione looking at him several times during dinner. He knew he was blushing 9/10th's of the time but he didn't care. Hermione was going to live with him and she was probably going to work in his office. Things were looking up.
He didn't actually say anything the whole of dinner till dessert was nearly over. Hermione cleared her throat and turned to him. "Ron, were you serious about me moving in with you?"
"Of-of course I was, I wouldn't have it any other way." He answered, licking whipped cream from the side of his mouth.
"Good, when?" she asked eagerly
"Well, you'll need a place tonight so I guess you'll just come home with me."
"Where do you live?"
"London, Notting Hill specifically."
"Right, when do we leave?"
"Soon, let's leave right now come to think of it." The two rose and Ron could hardly feel his legs. It was like a dream come true. Hermione was finally coming home, his home, with him. He was also pleasantly surprised to see how anxious Hermione seemed to get to the flat. The two were "out the door" in less then a half hour.
They apparated into the living room and Hermione looked around. The room was painted a deep emerald green with cream sofas and chairs. A large TV stood against one wall and paintings hung on every available place.
"So, how do you like it?" Ron asked as he showed up beside her.
"It's wonderful, I just love it Ron." Hermione continued to look around as two cats made their way into the room. Ron scooped one of them into his arms. It was the fattest one, Sanura. She purred deeply as he stroked her fur. Hermione turned to him. "She's just beautiful Ron," she said before catching sight of the little kitten.
After Ron had shown Hermione her room they found themselves on the couch. "There's only one problem Ron-"Hermione finally said.
"What's the problem?"
"I haven't received my luggage yet. It's supposed to come from Bulgaria tomorrow."
"That's fine, I've got an extra toothbrush and I'll lend you a T- shirt."
"Thanks, I'll just show myself to your room." She turned and Ron continued to stroke Sanura. He stayed in that position until he was sure she was asleep. Then he crept into her room. In a soft voice he began to sing as he ran his finger over her soft, pale arm.
"But black is he color of my true love's hair
Her face is like some rosy fair
The prettiest eyes and the neatest hands;
I love the ground where-on she stands
I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
If you on earth no more I see
I can't serve you as you serve me
The winter's past and the leaves are green
The time is past that we have seen
And yet I hope the time will come
When you and I shall be as one"
After a minute of silent meditation on her face Ron turned to leave. He closed the door softly but Hermione was already awake. She touched the place on her arm that he had previously been caressing. "I think I'm in love with Ronald Weasley," she murmured before falling into a very restful sleep.