Ch. 4
Jane, meanwhile was feeling a rush of excitement as she was waiting outside Ron's door. Her mother had just dropped her off in front of the apartment, just making sure Jane was buzzed into the building. The doorman, a retired bus driver named Mr. Shunpike, was familiar with Jane and her family's story, and was always pleased when he saw Jane having a chance to visit with Ron. He was very involved in trying to get her parents back together, and sometimes even took the liberty of proclaiming to Ron elaborate stories that involved a very weepy Hermione visiting the building at night and gazing wistfully into his apartment window.
"Hello, Mr. Shunpike," said Jane hurriedly as she walked in the door, as she could hardly wait to see her dad.
"'Ello there, Jane. Whatcha here for today? It can't 'ave been two months already?"
"Ah, no, Mr. Shunpike, it's just that my mum couldn't give me a ride to Quidditch practice and so I convinced her to let me come here so my dad could give me a ride and so she just dropped me off during her break so we could sort of spend the day together." Jane was slightly out of breath from saying this all very fast, but pleased that she was able to provide the doorman with all the necessary information in less than five seconds.
"Well, see you later, Mr. Shunpike!" said Jane as she half skipped, half ran down the corridor to press the elevator button.
"Yeah, catcha on yer way down, Jane!" he called in response as she dashed into the elevator, nearly jamming the close door button in earnest.
On her way up in the elevator, Jane began wondering what her father had planned for them. Jane knew however, that it didn't really matter what they did, she would just enjoy spending time with him. It seemed that lately she was having even more fights with her mother, only emphasizing the fact that she didn't have that other parent who she could just go to anytime she wanted for consent or solace. Sometimes Hermione just made Jane so angry. Like why couldn't she act like an adult and see that her daughter and her daughter's father spending time together was a good thing? What was so wrong with her dad anyway?
Jane didn't know what it was that caused Hermione to ask Ron to move out and then never want to see him again. Inevitably, she had of course had to see him again, but she always avoided his eye and only spoke when necessary. When she was frank with herself, she was also mad at Ron for not trying harder. He seemed almost submissive to their separation, like he had completely given up hope. Doesn't he want to spend more time with me?, Jane often wondered. However Jane always drew these thoughts to the back of her mind, only letting her negative thoughts towards her mom surface. After all, she knew from personal experience that Hermione could be a pretty scary person to challenge when she was adamant about something.
The elevator door opened, and Jane strode down the hall to number 614, where she knocked on the door and waited. She heard her father yell something from inside, probably that he was on his way. A few moments later the door opened, revealing Ron Weasley, her dad.
He was wearing cargo pants and an old t-shirt sporting the Chudley Cannons, the team he managed. His hair was a little messy, but at 34 he showed no sign of losing any of the flaming redness. Jane threw herself into his arms, letting her broomstick fall to the ground.
"Jane, hey!" Ron exclaimed when they broke apart the hug. "Come on in, here," he said, taking her stuff away from her and stashing it in a corner. Jane smiled. She liked the way her dad's apartment smelled. Like Lysol mostly, because he was too lazy to make any cleaning potions. Glancing around the room, she noticed that, as usual, not much had changed. His apartment had that look of being picked up at the last minute, probably in preparation for her arrival, being that there was a single sock draped over the couch, and a few of the cupboards were bursting with extra stuff that probably was normally on the floor.
"Here, sit down. Tell me what's up in the new and exciting life of Jane Weasley," said Ron, motioning towards the sitting area. Jane took a seat opposite him, and shrugged.
"Not much, really. I should probably be getting my Hogwarts letter soon, I s'pose..."
Ron blinked and shook his head slightly. "What? But Jane, honey, you're only..." Ron paused. "...eleven," he Ron finished, nearly whispering.
Jane gave Ron an exasperated look. "Eleven, yeah...that age ring any bells?"
"What? Oh, yeah, of course. I mean, of course I know it's eleven, I mean I remember it happening to me and all my brothers and sisters and stuff...but wow, I'd just...it had just completely slipped my mind..."
"Yeah, I know. I mean I understand...just the other day, mum looked at me and sort of randomly said, 'You're eleven' and started crying about me getting so old or something weird like that..."
"It's just that I ..."
"—can't believe your little girl's growing up?"
Ron chuckled. "Er...yeah, actually. It seems that it was just the other day you were this cute little girl in diapers running around and hiding Percy's shoes when he wasn't looking, and now you're about to go off to Hogwarts! It's just, just kind of hard to believe." He paused and then broke into a smile. "You're going to have a great time there, Jane. All the friends you'll make and stuff..."
Jane coughed. "Just friends?"
"Huh? Yeah, it's a great place to make friends, like within your houses and classes." Jane suppressed a laugh at what her father had obviously not picked up on.
"Yeah, well I am looking forward to it, I guess. I-I won't ever see you though. Or mum."
"Oh, Jane, don't worry about that...you can come home for breaks and we'll write to you all the time. And...guess who will be there?"
"Who?"
"Uncle Charlie's going to be teaching Care of Magical Creatures. Yeah, Hagrid's retiring. You won't have that class yet, but you'll still see him around. He and Tonks are moving into the castle, so Hagrid will still live on the grounds, don't worry. And then you'll have all your cousins there to look after you."
"Yeah. I guess. But anyways..."
"Yes, anyways...have you eaten lunch yet? Because I thought we might, well I don't know, you've probably already eaten--"
"Oh, no, I haven't had anything! Let's go!"
"What, you're reading my mind now? Neither I or H-Hermione had any talent in divination, so how are you s'posed to know I was planning on taking you out for lunch?"
"Geez, dad, this is only what we do every time I come over practically!" she laughed.
"That's not true!"
Jane just gave him an incredulous look and he surrendered with another look before striding over to the fireplace. Together, they grabbed some floo and whizzed away to Spavanack's Pub.
The small pub in Diagon Alley had been their special place since Jane could remember. Ron had told her the story of how he took her there one day when she was little, back in the days when Hermione attended S.P.E.W. rallies rather than file paperwork for the foundation, and Ron, as her husband, was entitled to take care of Jane whenever he wanted. Apparently Ron had really wanted to go to the pub that night to meet Seamus, Dean, and Harry, but couldn't, obviously, leave Jane home alone. So he took her with her, and although he wasn't completely sober when he returned yet was certainly not drunk either, Hermione yelled at him for nearly an hour. But Jane had thoroughly enjoyed herself, crawling into all of Ron's friends' laps and making music by using Ron's wand as a drum stick and tapping all the bottles behind the bar.
They were having a great time at the pub, seeing the old bartender again and ordering their "usuals." Their conversation had been mainly comprised of silence, too, until Jane gathered the courage to ask something she'd never felt able to before.
"Hey, Dad? Um...I was just wondering...what did you do wrong?"
"Wrong?"
"Yeah...like why mum never talks to you anymore. Why did you guys split up?"
"You assume it's my fault, I see how it is..." replied Ron, trying to make humor out of the situation. Jane responded only with an expectant look.
"Okay, okay. Merlin, Jane, it's just complicated, I guess. Wait, no, scratch that. It's quite simple, actually."
A/N: okay that was a little longer...the next chapter may not be up for another week though, because I'm planning on writing more than just a few pages for it....reviews MUCH appreciated!!!!
Jane, meanwhile was feeling a rush of excitement as she was waiting outside Ron's door. Her mother had just dropped her off in front of the apartment, just making sure Jane was buzzed into the building. The doorman, a retired bus driver named Mr. Shunpike, was familiar with Jane and her family's story, and was always pleased when he saw Jane having a chance to visit with Ron. He was very involved in trying to get her parents back together, and sometimes even took the liberty of proclaiming to Ron elaborate stories that involved a very weepy Hermione visiting the building at night and gazing wistfully into his apartment window.
"Hello, Mr. Shunpike," said Jane hurriedly as she walked in the door, as she could hardly wait to see her dad.
"'Ello there, Jane. Whatcha here for today? It can't 'ave been two months already?"
"Ah, no, Mr. Shunpike, it's just that my mum couldn't give me a ride to Quidditch practice and so I convinced her to let me come here so my dad could give me a ride and so she just dropped me off during her break so we could sort of spend the day together." Jane was slightly out of breath from saying this all very fast, but pleased that she was able to provide the doorman with all the necessary information in less than five seconds.
"Well, see you later, Mr. Shunpike!" said Jane as she half skipped, half ran down the corridor to press the elevator button.
"Yeah, catcha on yer way down, Jane!" he called in response as she dashed into the elevator, nearly jamming the close door button in earnest.
On her way up in the elevator, Jane began wondering what her father had planned for them. Jane knew however, that it didn't really matter what they did, she would just enjoy spending time with him. It seemed that lately she was having even more fights with her mother, only emphasizing the fact that she didn't have that other parent who she could just go to anytime she wanted for consent or solace. Sometimes Hermione just made Jane so angry. Like why couldn't she act like an adult and see that her daughter and her daughter's father spending time together was a good thing? What was so wrong with her dad anyway?
Jane didn't know what it was that caused Hermione to ask Ron to move out and then never want to see him again. Inevitably, she had of course had to see him again, but she always avoided his eye and only spoke when necessary. When she was frank with herself, she was also mad at Ron for not trying harder. He seemed almost submissive to their separation, like he had completely given up hope. Doesn't he want to spend more time with me?, Jane often wondered. However Jane always drew these thoughts to the back of her mind, only letting her negative thoughts towards her mom surface. After all, she knew from personal experience that Hermione could be a pretty scary person to challenge when she was adamant about something.
The elevator door opened, and Jane strode down the hall to number 614, where she knocked on the door and waited. She heard her father yell something from inside, probably that he was on his way. A few moments later the door opened, revealing Ron Weasley, her dad.
He was wearing cargo pants and an old t-shirt sporting the Chudley Cannons, the team he managed. His hair was a little messy, but at 34 he showed no sign of losing any of the flaming redness. Jane threw herself into his arms, letting her broomstick fall to the ground.
"Jane, hey!" Ron exclaimed when they broke apart the hug. "Come on in, here," he said, taking her stuff away from her and stashing it in a corner. Jane smiled. She liked the way her dad's apartment smelled. Like Lysol mostly, because he was too lazy to make any cleaning potions. Glancing around the room, she noticed that, as usual, not much had changed. His apartment had that look of being picked up at the last minute, probably in preparation for her arrival, being that there was a single sock draped over the couch, and a few of the cupboards were bursting with extra stuff that probably was normally on the floor.
"Here, sit down. Tell me what's up in the new and exciting life of Jane Weasley," said Ron, motioning towards the sitting area. Jane took a seat opposite him, and shrugged.
"Not much, really. I should probably be getting my Hogwarts letter soon, I s'pose..."
Ron blinked and shook his head slightly. "What? But Jane, honey, you're only..." Ron paused. "...eleven," he Ron finished, nearly whispering.
Jane gave Ron an exasperated look. "Eleven, yeah...that age ring any bells?"
"What? Oh, yeah, of course. I mean, of course I know it's eleven, I mean I remember it happening to me and all my brothers and sisters and stuff...but wow, I'd just...it had just completely slipped my mind..."
"Yeah, I know. I mean I understand...just the other day, mum looked at me and sort of randomly said, 'You're eleven' and started crying about me getting so old or something weird like that..."
"It's just that I ..."
"—can't believe your little girl's growing up?"
Ron chuckled. "Er...yeah, actually. It seems that it was just the other day you were this cute little girl in diapers running around and hiding Percy's shoes when he wasn't looking, and now you're about to go off to Hogwarts! It's just, just kind of hard to believe." He paused and then broke into a smile. "You're going to have a great time there, Jane. All the friends you'll make and stuff..."
Jane coughed. "Just friends?"
"Huh? Yeah, it's a great place to make friends, like within your houses and classes." Jane suppressed a laugh at what her father had obviously not picked up on.
"Yeah, well I am looking forward to it, I guess. I-I won't ever see you though. Or mum."
"Oh, Jane, don't worry about that...you can come home for breaks and we'll write to you all the time. And...guess who will be there?"
"Who?"
"Uncle Charlie's going to be teaching Care of Magical Creatures. Yeah, Hagrid's retiring. You won't have that class yet, but you'll still see him around. He and Tonks are moving into the castle, so Hagrid will still live on the grounds, don't worry. And then you'll have all your cousins there to look after you."
"Yeah. I guess. But anyways..."
"Yes, anyways...have you eaten lunch yet? Because I thought we might, well I don't know, you've probably already eaten--"
"Oh, no, I haven't had anything! Let's go!"
"What, you're reading my mind now? Neither I or H-Hermione had any talent in divination, so how are you s'posed to know I was planning on taking you out for lunch?"
"Geez, dad, this is only what we do every time I come over practically!" she laughed.
"That's not true!"
Jane just gave him an incredulous look and he surrendered with another look before striding over to the fireplace. Together, they grabbed some floo and whizzed away to Spavanack's Pub.
The small pub in Diagon Alley had been their special place since Jane could remember. Ron had told her the story of how he took her there one day when she was little, back in the days when Hermione attended S.P.E.W. rallies rather than file paperwork for the foundation, and Ron, as her husband, was entitled to take care of Jane whenever he wanted. Apparently Ron had really wanted to go to the pub that night to meet Seamus, Dean, and Harry, but couldn't, obviously, leave Jane home alone. So he took her with her, and although he wasn't completely sober when he returned yet was certainly not drunk either, Hermione yelled at him for nearly an hour. But Jane had thoroughly enjoyed herself, crawling into all of Ron's friends' laps and making music by using Ron's wand as a drum stick and tapping all the bottles behind the bar.
They were having a great time at the pub, seeing the old bartender again and ordering their "usuals." Their conversation had been mainly comprised of silence, too, until Jane gathered the courage to ask something she'd never felt able to before.
"Hey, Dad? Um...I was just wondering...what did you do wrong?"
"Wrong?"
"Yeah...like why mum never talks to you anymore. Why did you guys split up?"
"You assume it's my fault, I see how it is..." replied Ron, trying to make humor out of the situation. Jane responded only with an expectant look.
"Okay, okay. Merlin, Jane, it's just complicated, I guess. Wait, no, scratch that. It's quite simple, actually."
A/N: okay that was a little longer...the next chapter may not be up for another week though, because I'm planning on writing more than just a few pages for it....reviews MUCH appreciated!!!!