Chapter Seven
Ron stayed up until twelve putting together Destins room. Everything was in place except the sheets to the bed or the curtains; Ron was taking Hermione shopping for more paint, flooring and fabrics for the house. He guessed she had done a whole lot of sewing and knitting while Brent was at work; he made her be a stay at home wife. They had brought many knitted blankets and patch quilts along with them. He fell asleep on her bed in his clothes. He woke up to the smell of breakfast; bacon and eggs with toast. For a second he thought he had went back to the Burrow; the familiar smell of breakfast already cooking and orange all around him. But then he realized that this was definitely not in his own bed because his feet were hanging over the edge and his head was in a weird side ways position up against the head board. He slowly sat up and instantly knew that his neck would be killing him for the day at least.
He walked into the kitchen, but Hermione didn't see him; she was too occupied on not burning the food. Ron saw coffee behind her and walked in the direction. As he passed Hermione he brushed her lower back with his hand; an old trick he had learned. He felt her jump slightly then a shiver run up her spine. "How you feeling this mornin'?" he asked as he poured his coffee.
Hermione had been shocked at what Ron had just done, and how his touch still made her react! This was going to be more than she had bargained for. "Better, way better. Ginny was over early to bring food so we wouldn't have to go over there this morning. She checked me and said I made a very fast recovery. By tomorrow I should be able to start exercising again."
Ron smiled joyously. His happiness was a mixture of two things; one, seeing Hermione work so hard to make a proper breakfast, and two, thinking of her working up a sweat. "Well, that means we'll have to start on your exercise room now won't we?"
"I guess so," she replied nodding. She handed him a plate, "Eat where you want, I'm not picky." Destin ran in from outside. "Stop!" Destin halted immediately. "Shoes off, we might be putting flooring in today and I don't want to clean more than I have to."
"Sorry mum," Destin apologized. She took off her shoes and threw them out of the open door before closing it.
"Where did you go?" Ron asked curiously, looking at his daughter from the living room.
"Ran around, looking at stuff." Destin replied. "Lots of places to hide and run. I like it here."
Ron laughed, "Good, I'm happy you're happy." Destin just smiled in response.
"How 'bout breakfast mum? I'm starving."
"Here, eat by your dad."
"Thanks."
Breakfast was fun, and after everyone got ready (though they couldn't take a shower yet) they left to drop Destin off at the Burrow. After promising not to do too much physically and to be back by eight, Hermione and Ron left to the muggle stores. They went to a hardware store and picked out some easy-install flooring. "You like the hardwood?"
"Well, yes, but -"
"No buts," Ron interrupted.
"It's too hard to install," Hermione finished.
The guy helping them looked from one to another silently. "Not really, Harry will help me."
"Okay, but what for in the bedroom? I need something soft under my feet."
"Okay, soft fabric for the carpet. What colour are you going to want to paint that room? We need to match the flooring right?"
"Green would be nice on the walls; it'll match the sheets. So, cream carpet would work right? Then if I ever wanted to change the colour, the floor will be easy to match."
"Exactly, so hardwood for the other two rooms I'm adding on?"
"I guess ... But this will be too difficult for just you and Harry. Maybe -"
"No," Ron interrupted again.
"We should hire someone to help," Hermione didn't take notice of what he said.
"I have Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George to ask for help."
"Fred and George own a joke shop, why don't I completely trust them?"
"Okay, but still -"
"You're not going to bother your brothers. I'll help."
"No, you can't."
"You and Harry can do what little there is now, and I'll help with the additions. I'll be fine by then."
"Okay, fine. That'll be how much of each then?"
They gave the measurements and filled the car with the flooring supplies. "So all that left to do here is the paint right?" Ron asked.
"Correct, what colours do I want?" Hermione asked herself as they started back into the store.
"Green for your room. And I think blue would match the rest of the house the best. White shows too much dirt and takes forever to clean."
"Dark or light?"
"In between, but more dark. There's lots of windows so you can get away with darker colours." Hermione stopped and looked at him. He turned and stopped. "What?"
Hermione smiled and Ron swallowed. "When did you become a designer Mr. Weasley?"
"Mr. Weasley? When did you start calling me that?"
"I always called you that in school."
"When you thought I was up to something."
"Aren't you?"
"Aren't I what?"
"Up to something." Hermione stepped closer to him so she could intimidate him.
Ron looked down at her beautiful brown eyes, and saw his chance. He bent down so his mouth was maybe half an inch from her ear and whispered, "I'm always up to something. You know that."
Hermione closed her eyes and let his voice run through her. This was a mistake, she knew it. But it felt so right, and she had long ago forgiven him for what he did. What was stopping her now? Could she really be thinking about perusing a relationship with Ron only two days after loosing her child and husband of almost six years. Yes she loved Brent, but a completely different kind of love. Her love for Brent was more out of respect and gratitude. Where as her love with Ron was natural, wild and unforgiving. "What is it this time?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"Only a little," Hermione replied. She stepped back, then winked at Ron with a laugh. "Paint, we need paint. Can we go for something to eat after this? I'm starving."
"Sure." They got all the paint they needed, and a few extra. Ron packed it all to the car.
"I keep forgetting about those muscles. Like seriously, now often do you work out?" Hermione blushed slightly, then tried to forget about it. 'I'm his friend who hasn't seen him in years, of course he's changed. And I don't know everything about him.'
Ron laughed. "I used to work out at least an hour a day, but that was when I had that big ... thing." Ron didn't want to make her too curious about anything.
"Right, I understand. I won't push it," Hermione said, putting her hands up in defense.
"It finally has made improvement, and I'd been working on it for about six years now. That's why I'm on 'vacation.'" Ron opened the door for Hermione and helped her in. He closed it behind her and went around to the drivers seat. Gracefully he sat down and turned on the ignition.
"You seem comfortable driving. Do it often for your job."
"This job was huge. I had to do everything from driving to teaching. I even had to learn how to coach about six different sports."
"Wow. All this for what?"
"For who, you mean."
"Right. For who?"
"A Prophecy I heard described a horrible situation about a young Wizarding child. A close watch had to be organized for the child, for protection. The name was disclosed only to me and Harry."
"Why were you assigned this? It seemed to have started right away, you weren't even experienced. And Harry's not even an Auror, why does he know."
"If I told you anything you just asked then I'd loose my job."
"Right sorry. I forgot myself."
"Don't worry about it. Now can we stop by my place quick? I have to check for updates."
"Yeah, have any food at your house?"
Ron laughed. "Since when have you had a larger appetite then me?"
"I don't know. It's like I'm craving energy. I'm probably just stocking up for next couple months. I'm going to go see a lawyer this week to see if we can make a short divorce possible. I don't want anything more than I have, so he should be happy."
"We can only hope."
***
Wish granted. If there was any divorce in history that took shorter to settle, Hermione would like to meet the people. As it turned out, when Hermione went to see a lawyer she found Malory. Malory was a lawyer, and was getting ready for her last case before maternity leave. This only strengthened Hermione, and she made sure she received little money as possible. Giving Malory forty percent of nothing was a whole million dollar check worth of happy. Because of the situation Malory had it over with in a week. Hermione had spent the week working out when she was in London, while Ron started on the house with Destin. She was dressed in respectable muggle attire when she walked through the door of her home. That's what she refereed to it now; it didn't take long to grow accustomed to it.
"Mum! You're back, finally! Do you want to come help us?" Destin questioned excitedly. Her hair was no longer in the tidy to ponytails that Hermione put in her hair. She now fashioned a big mop of red hair pulled away from her face with a green elastic; while the other two were hiding somewhere in there.
"Your hair is going to be fun to brush tonight. I'd love to help, are you guys on a break?"
"Yup, I'm making me and dad ... Okay so I'm just emptying the junk cupboard while he goes and grabs some butterbeer," she explained honestly. At that moment Ron chose to appear from the newly installed back door.
"Where are you Destin? I grabbed us two each ... Hermione." Ron wore a guilty smile while changing the subject, "How was it? Are you done?"
"Healthy Ron; you just ruined many years of making sure she ate right before sweets. Destin go eat outside would you? And only drink one of the butterbeers out there. I'll fix you a real dinner tonight. We're celebrating!"
"Oh, we got rid o' Brent?"
Hermione was shocked at her daughter. "What did you just say?"
"Well I'm just repeatin' -"
"Destin you can go," Ron interrupted. Destin shrugged and ran outside with an armful of sweets. "Hermione I -"
Hermione started laughing uncontrollably. "Holy bloody 'ell Ron. What have you been teaching her when I've been gone?"
Ron shrugged, "Laughter is better then anger right now. So what you get?"
Trying to calm down she said, "Nothing more than I have now." Ron came and gave her a big hug and swung her around the room. "Ron! Come on we can celebrate later. We need to do what we can while there's still light." Ron put her down unwillingly, but continued outside with her.
"Don't you want to change? You're still dressed like a ..."
"It's the last time I'll ever wear it so no I'm fine. I've learned to do everything in a damned skirt. Mind this one's shorter then usual." Hermione's skirt was a soft grey that ended two inches above her knees; showing off her toned legs. Her shirt was bright and flashy, though elegant. Hermione's hair was left in controlled curls that now went to her shoulders. She kicked off her shoes and put on runners, then pulled her hair pack into a ponytail, though some layers didn't fit and fell across her face.
"No matter what you say, I'm not sure that you'll be able to work properly," Ron advised when she came out. Ron was nailing up some gyp-rock surrounding the second room. The first room had all the walls up; just needed some siding outside, a roof and a floor inside. The second was half way to the point of the first.
"Care to make it interesting Ronald?"
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, but he managed to pound in another nail. He hadn't called him Ronald for so long, and he hadn't remembered how seductive her voice could be. Ron turned around with a smirk. "How so?"
Hermione walked up close to Ron, picking up a nail gun. She stood good and close to him, "If I can put up a sheet faster then you, then you have to make the dinner." Hermione, standing about four inches lower than him, nailed the rest of the board in with perfect precision.
"Okay. But if I win, which I will," he added and Hermione laughed, "Then I'm choosing the movie of the night." Hermione glared at him in disgust. Ron knew that the movie of the night was a big thing with her, so he smiled. "For two weeks."
"Oh that's more sacrifice than cooking dinner."
"Scared Granger?" Ron asked, eyebrows raised.
Hermione looked deeply offended by the remark. "Your on. We have to start by scratch though." She eyed the two sheets laying up against the side of the house, maybe fifteen feet away. "Starting from here, with no help, we must each run and grab our own sheet. First one back takes first position, the other takes the next. Eight nails down each side, four in total across top and bottom. Deal?"
"Deal. Would you like to grab a foot stool first, so you can reach the top?"
"Har har. Now who is going to say go?"
Destin came up innocently licking her fingers. "Destin will," Ron offered.
"I will what?"
Hermione smiled down at her daughter. "Me and your daddy are having a race. We need someone to say go. Can you do it?"
"Okay." Hermione and Ron smiled at each other then turned to face their destination. "Ready . . . Steady . . . GO!"
Hermione jabbed Ron in the gut and ran. He let out a growl of pain but ignored it, setting off after her. It was a close race; on her way back passing Ron, he tripped her. She fell, putting a small dint in the board. It was down to the nail as they finished. Hermione put her arms in the air in victory.
"Go start dinner Ronald." Ron finished his board two seconds later. He growled, then looked over at her work and laughed. "What?"
Ron smirked at her. "I'm going to go pick out a movie."
"Why is that?" Hermione asked, eyebrows bunched.
"Because you finished with only seven nails down the right side. That's why." Hermione's eyes opened dramatically and searched her sheet. Sure enough he was right.
"Don't you remember telling me years ago about that Turtle and the Hare book? The turtle wins."
Hermione put in the last nail, to her dismay Ron and Destin were laughing. She turned and saw Ron doing an airplane with Destin. "Okay, you win. Movie's your choice for a week. Come on, I think we'll finish the walls before dark."
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, you mean so much to me! Sorry about the long wait, school started and man is it more work this year. I have no time for anything. And not to mention that I have more stories that desperately need updating on my other file and fictionpress. Enough of me explaining. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I had most of it done and I think it's longer so that's good. I think it'll be ending soon. I made some explainations that'll lead to more questions :D.
