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"Ron?"
The man looked at Hermione closely. She noticed a flicker of remembrance in his eyes, but it was replaced with worry. He placed a finger on his lips and took her hand. That motion sent shivers through Hermione. She couldn't believe she was holding his hand. He led her down an alley and stopped. "Mione," that name, hearing him say it, it made Hermione want to jump into his arms, "I'm sorry, there's a lot I need to explain, but it has to wait. C'mon." He continued to lead her to a familiar place. Diagon Alley.
They went to the Three Broomsticks. He led her to his room upstairs. He locked the door and turned around to face her. She ran and threw her arms around his neck. She felt his arms go around her waist and he buried his head in her hair. "Ron," she choked. She began to cry.
"No, no, no, Mione, please don't cry. Please," he pulled back and lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
"I'm so sorry, please don't cry." Hermione wiped the tears off her face and sat on his bed.
"What happened? Where have you been?" she asked.
Ron sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked down at her. "Dolohov came up after you left. Harry and I had snapped his wand in half earlier, so the wand that was pointed at me wasn't his, I guess that's why the spell didn't work. He tried the killing curse on me, and as much as I was wishing it would work when it hit me, it didn't. I woke up in St. Mungo's, three weeks later. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin and Moody were there, and Dumbledore explained that everyone thought I was dead. The only people who actually knew I was alive were in that hospital room. Dolohov thought he had killed me, so we had to make everyone think I really was dead, because if one of Dolohov's cronies found out I wasn't, he'd come back to finish the job, and kill everyone I care about, including you and Haven."
Hermione's head snapped up. "You know about Haven?"
Ron smiled. "I know she was born on Valentine's Day, and personally, I think that was the best gift anyone's ever given you. I know she is obsessed with the color orange and she loves Quidditch. I also know that she has had her last two birthday parties at the movie theaters, and that today she left to go to Hogwarts," he paused, "And I know I'm going to miss her."
"You forgot that she swears like a drunken sailor and that she looks exactly like you ," Hermione added. "How did you know?"
"Dumbledore told me when her name appeared on the list. He thought I should know," Ron smiled down at Hermione. "He also told me where I could find her on her birthday," Ron sat down next to her, "and how I could see her on Christmas, your birthday and some times when I really wanted to." Ron looked over at her. "How have you been?"
Hermione heaved a huge sigh. "It's been hard, you know, Haven is one of the nosiest children. But, I missed you," she paused and looked at him, "a lot."
He wrapped his arms around her, "I missed you more. I'd be sitting up at night, thinking about what it'd be like to see you, and Haven of course. Thinking about what our life might've been like," he trailed off.
Just being in his arms again made Hermione forget how late it was. They fell asleep like that, and Hermione's last conscious thought was about Ginny and Harry...
"Hey, sweetie," Ginny said as she kissed Harry's head.
"Where do you think she is?" Harry asked as Ginny sat next to him.
"Maybe she's with some handsome, rugged mountain man from the Alps-"
"Hey! I'm your husband, remember?" Harry said, pretending to be offended.
Ginny smiled at him, "Sorry, but Hermione's a big girl, she can take care of herself. As much as I love my brother, Hermione needs to move on. It's been almost twelve years Harry. She deserves to be happy."
Harry nodded, "It's just, they were perfect together. They would've lasted, they would've lasted," he trailed off.
Ginny took his hand, "I know, they would've, but things happen for a reason, Harry. Things will get better, I know it."
"How can you be so sure? What if things don't work out?"
"Well, if I'm not sure, I get depressed, if I get depressed, I get moody, and I hate being moody, so I'll just be sure instead."
"You hate being moody? If you hate it, why are you all the time?" Harry teased. Ginny grabbed a pillow and began hitting him with it. "Ow, you're hurting me!" he whined as he fell off the couch. Ginny giggled as he pulled her onto the floor with him. They laid there, on the floor, with Ginny's head on Harry's chest. "Enjoying yourself Mrs. Potter?"
"Yes, and I love the way that sounds," Ginny replied. She fell asleep listening to Harry say it again.
"Ron, could you be any louder? I don't want to wake them," Hermione complained as she unlocked the door to her flat.
"I could be, why?" he said with an evil grin. Hermione just laughed as she turned on the lights. She heard someone groan, and a disoriented Harry sat up. Ginny sat up a few seconds later.
"What are you doing with my sister?"
Both Harry and Ginny looked over to see Ron and Hermione standing in the doorway. "Ron!" Ginny yelled as she tried to stand up. Her stomach seemed to have other ideas. She waddled over to him and hugged him, then excused herself to go to the bathroom.
Ron turned to Harry. "What in bloody hell do you think you're doing?"
"Nice to see you too Ron," Harry looked nervous, they had never gotten Ron's blessing when they got married, for obvious reasons. Murder was in every inch of Ron's body. He walked over to the couch, and stood in front of Harry. Hermione noticed that Ron was a few inches taller than Harry. Suddenly, Ron hugged him. "Uh, hi Ron, where have you been the last twelve years?"
"What did you do to my sister?" Ron yelled. He had already greeted his friend, now he went into older brother mode. Harry swallowed hard. "Well?" Ron demanded.
"We got married ten years ago, and we have three kids and one on the way, hope you're not mad," Harry said quickly. He moved back, away from Ron. Ron began to chase him around the flat, while Hermione watched in amusement. Harry was faster than Ron and he had better reflexes. Ginny came out of the bathroom.
"Ron, that's my husband you're chasing! Knock it off!"
Ron stopped, and Harry ran behind Ginny. "Hiding behind your pregnant wife, that's a new low, even for you Potter."
"Yeah, well it beats getting my face beaten in," Harry responded.
"Dad, what's going on?" Jake asked as he walked out of his room. All heads turned to look at him.
"Jake, this is your Uncle Ron, Ron, this is Jake and James is probably going to wake up any minute, so you can meet him too."
"Hey Jake," Ron turned to Harry, "You have four kids and you haven't moved into a house?"
Harry just blushed.
