Heres ur update! Keep reviewing I love it! =)
I like this chappie...they love each other so much, yet they still cant help but bicker... sigh the course of true love never did run smooth... ;)
Chapter Two: Babysitting
Ron awoke early the next morning and relished in the fact that he wouldn't have to greet his loud, overbearing family. He clanked at the clock on his bedside table. Six-oh-nine. He figured this would be the only time he'd get some peace in the next few days (according to Hermione), so he got out of bed and dragged his feet into the hall. Hermione's parents' door was open and the bedroom was empty. Ron could only assume they went to work early. He made his way downstairs and into the deserted kitchen. There was a note stuck to one of the cupboards:
Ron,
Incase you wake up before Hermione, the coffee maker is in the cupboard below the sink and you'll find coffee above the sink. Don't be afraid to take what you want from the fridge and pots/pans are in the drawer beneath the oven.
He opened the cupboard under the sink. "Which one's the bloody coffee maker?" he muttered to himself.It took fifteen minutes of rummaging through the cluttered cupboard before he found the appliance labeled: Coffee-mate 3000. Ron knew he was of age and allowed to perform magic outside of Hogwarts, but, he respected Hermione and her family and would do it the Muggle way. "Right," he said to the empty kitchen, "how the ruddy hell does this work?" He placed the coffee maker on the counter and noticed a long black cord attached to it which Ron recognized as a plug. He looked around for a socket, which he referred to as "holes." He found one in the wall above the opposite counter, stuck it in, stood back, and folded his arms. So much for the easy part. He referred back to the note:
...You'll find coffee above the sink.
Ron opened the cupboard above his head to find the coffee sitting right at the front. He reached up and grabbed it, knocking over a plastic bottle of honey in the process. It hit him on the head before toppling into the sink. Ron grumbled and rubbed his head before picking up the bear-shaped bottle and staring at it. No one was around...a little taste wouldn't kill anyone...He held the bottle upside down over his open mouth, squirted, swallowed, and shivered. He put the bottle down and smiled happily to himself. I should stop drinking coffee and start taking shots of honey every morning...
"Hi, honey," Hermione said behind him, pointing out the pun. Ron turned around and let his mouth hang open. Dressed in a pink silk nightgown that hugged her curvy figure perfectly she looked positively...
"Amazing," he whispered. She raised an eyebrow.
"Don't stare."
"Sorry...How come you never wear stuff like that at school?" She folded her arms firmly across her chest and pouted.
"Are you saying you'd rather I dressed like this all the time?"
"No...it's just- well, you look...pretty." He turned around to hide the blush creeping up his face and busied himself with the coffee maker again. She spoke again but this time her bossy tone was replaced by a distinctive whimper.
"You- you don't think I look...pretty anyways?"
"I never said that."
"Then what are you saying?"
He turned to look at her again. "All I said was you look nice. You should wear stuff like that because, well, it does you justice. Do you honestly think I'm that shallow?"
"Maybe."
"Hermione," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders, "I love you because you're you. You could look like pug-faced Pansy Parkinson or Millicent Bulstrode, though I'm glad you don't, and I would still love you because you're beautiful on the inside...and that's what counts, ok?"
"Ok...Thanks, Ron," she said pulling him into a hug.
"It's true." He pulled away and smiled at her. "Don't you dare go thinking you're only pretty if you wear," he tugged at her nightgown, "...things like this." She nodded and kissed him. Ding-dong. Ron jumped.
"No!" she hissed, "they can't be here yet." She stomped to the front door with Ron following close behind. She opened it to reveal a man breathing heavily, leaning over a stroller and a small boy next to him, rubbing his eyes.
"Hermione!" the man gasped, "so sorry we're early. Listen, thanks for doing this on such short notice, but I have to go." He gave her a kiss on the forehead and bolted to his car at the end of the driveway. "Tell your mother I'll call her later!" he shouted from his car. Hermione rolled her eyes as he drove away.
"Hey Jeremy," she said squatting on the doorstep, "do I get a hug?" The boy shook his head 'no'. Hermione sighed. "Right, well get inside and we'll get you some breakfast." Jeremy nodded and walked in the house without a word.
"My, he seems pleasant," Ron said sardonically.
"Wait till he's got some energy..." she muttered. She pushed the stroller to the side of the porch and lifted the sleeping baby from inside. "This is Eric," she whispered, holding him out to Ron. He stared at her. you-?"
"Oh, sure." He took Eric from Hermione's hands while she gathered things from the stroller. Ron felt strange holding the child in his arms; Protective...Responsible...It was a kind of parental feeling he'd never felt before. It was almost...heartwarming?
"Eric sleeps like a log, but God help us if he does wake up," she said standing at the door. "Ron? Are you coming?"
"Oh...yeah." He followed her back inside the house where they found Jeremy sitting on the sofa, rummaging through his knapsack.
"So, Jeremy," Hermione said, taking Eric back from Ron, "what would you like for breakfast?" He shrugged. "How does scrambled eggs sound?"
"Ok..."
"Er- Ron? Could you come here a minute?"
"Sure." He followed her into the kitchen.
"Listen, Jeremy doesn't know I'm a witch so you're going to have to act like a Muggle for the next few days. No mentioning Hogwarts...we go to the local secondary school, St. Mark's, alright?"
"Alright."
"Great...um, could you take Eric?" she asked. Ron nodded and took Eric in his hands for the second time, the same feeling creeping up on him; it was strange but he liked it all the same. He watched in awe as Hermione managed to make breakfast without her wand. He never did understand the ways of Muggles but if he was going to have to be one for the next few days he would have to learn...fast. Hermione dumped the scrambled eggs onto three separate plates.
"Hungry?" she asked, holding a plate under his nose.
"Starving." She frowned.
"Oh, bugger..."
"What?"
"I forgot to get the high chair out of- you know what? I'll just bring the stroller in..." She put the plate down and marched towards the kitchen doorway, but Ron stopped her.
"I'll get it," he said holding Eric out to her.
"No, it's ok, I've got it." Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Now what kind of guy would I be if I didn't fetch a stroller for my girlfriend?"
"Where have I heard this before?" she said with a smile. She took Eric from Ron while he lifted the stroller back into the living room, Hermione close behind him. Jeremy had gotten his breakfast, and was sitting at the dining room table, picking at his scrambled eggs, eating them one pea-sized mouthful at a time. "What's the matter?" she asked, placing Eric in his stroller.
"Nuffin..." he said, putting his fork down.
"Want to go to the park later?"
"Ok."
"Right. Well, eat up and we'll get ready." He nodded and went back to his breakfast while Ron and Hermione ate theirs. Ron thought it wise to keep quiet incase he ended up calling Jeremy a Muggle.
"Done." Jeremy said, ten minutes later. "Let's go to the park now, Hermione."
"Ron and I still have to get dressed."
"Well, get dressed."
"In a minute, be patient."
"Get dressed!"
"Jeremy, the more you bug, the longer I'll take."
"Her-my-a-nee!"
"Ok, ok," she sighed, putting her fork on her plate and getting out of her seat. She flashed Ron an "I-told-you-so" look before taking their dishes to the kitchen.
"Oh, are you Ron?" he asked as if he'd only just seen him for the first time.
"Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you, Jeremy," Ron said, holding out a hand. Jeremy merely stared at him with wide blue eyes.
"Ron?" Hermione called.
"Yeah?"
"You should go get changed."
"Alright." He abandoned the table and headed up the stairs to his bedroom. Annoying five-year-old or not, he was determined to keep Hermione's spirits up.
-
"Can I go play, Hermione?" Jeremy begged as they approached the playground in the park. She nodded and he was on the slide in a heartbeat, while Ron and Hermione found a bench to sit on.
"I told you...that child has the energy of a ferret," she said, putting the brakes on Eric's stroller and sitting down.
"I don't think he's as bad as you make him out to be," he said, putting an arm around her. She flinched. "Er- is this ok?"
"I suppose...Jeremy might tell mum and dad, but either way, they'll find out sooner or later."
"Jeremy's not even looking. Besides, I don't know what the big problem is...mum was over the moon when I told her."
"You told your mother already?"
"Had to. What else was my excuse for coming here?"
"I guess so..."
"Don't worry so much, they'll be fine with it." He tightened his grip around her and placed a kiss on her forehead. An elderly couple walked by with wide eyes and whispered once they were out of earshot. "What the ruddy hell's their problem?" Ron hissed. Hermione shook her head.
"Dunno." She looked around. "Oh no, look," she whispered pointing to a lady across the playground who was also staring at them but hid her face when her eyes met Hermione's gaze. "Oh gosh...I'll bet everyone thinks I'm the mother," she said nodding towards the stroller, "how embarrassing!"
"Oh...well, it could be worse, right?"
"How?" Ron paused.
"That's not the point...the point is, you know it's not true. Who gives a damn about them...let them think what they want. As long as you know, nothing else matters."
"Thanks Ron." She smiled and kissed his cheek. They sat in silence as they watched Jeremy run about the playground until- "Oh, kill me," Hermione said hoarsely.
"Wha-?"
"Shhh!" She buried her face in his t-shirt. "That's Bradley...a kid from my old Muggle school," she said in a muffled voice.
"You went to a Muggle school?"
"Of course I went to a Muggle school; I didn't know I was a witch until my eleventh-"
"Oh. My. God. It's know-it-all Granger."
"Get lost, Bradley."
"My, my, such a temper." Ron released Hermione, fists clenched.
"Are you deaf? She said get lost!"
"Who's this Hermione? You're boyfriend?" She blushed.
"Damn right that's who I am."
"So what are we doing here?" He nodded towards a sleeping Eric, "Playing 'mommy and daddy'?" Ron pulled out his wand and stood up.
"Ron, no!" Hermione begged, "Please..."
"What're you gonna do? Beat me with your little stick?" Ron's ears were now glowing to match his flaming red hair.
"Ron..." Hermione pleaded. He reluctantly stowed his wand in his pocket and slumped back onto the bench, scowling.
"Hah! I didn't think so. Granger, your boyfriend's a bloody coward." Bradley smirked. Ron wanted more than anything to obey Hermione, but one of his greatest pet peeves was letting the enemy get away. Without thinking, he lifted his leg sharply, sending his foot straight between Brad's legs. He fell to the ground, his hands buried between his thighs and cursing so loudly that everyone in the vicinity couldn't help but stare.
"You bloody little git," he muttered, getting to his feet.
"You had it coming," Ron spat. They watched as Bradley hobbled down park path, muttering to himself. After laughing at his own efforts, Ron turned around to see Hermione's face glaring at him.
"You can't hold in your temper can you?!"
"Oh don't tell me you didn't enjoy seeing that!" he said, an incredulous look on his face as he pointed to the tiny figure in the distance that was Brad.
"I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it but..."
"But what?"
"I don't know. You just always have to do something..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Fine. Excuse me while I go fetch Brad and bring him back here to abuse you a little more." She shook her head irritably and folded her arms across her chest. "Look Hermione, he was being a right prat to you...I'd be pretty rotten if I just sat here and let him continue."
"I suppose..." He sighed. 'I suppose' was good enough for him, and probably the best answer he would get out of her. After all, she was...Hermione.
"I'm thirsty, Hermione," Jeremy said, approaching them.
"Well come on then...let's go home, Eric's due to wake up anytime now anyway..."
"Ok." Hermione got up off then bench and began fumbling with the stroller. Ron looked at Jeremy; he was exhausted.
"Hey, Jeremy," Ron said out of the corner of his mouth, "want a ride on my shoulders?" He nodded and hoisted himself on the bench while Ron squatted on the ground. Jeremy had to practically jump from the bench to reach Ron's shoulders seeing as he was still very tall even if he was kneeling. They caught up with Hermione who was already walking down the park path.
"Got the time?" she asked casually, clearly oblivious to the fact that her cousin was perched on Ron's shoulders grasping his ginger hair. Ron consulted his wristwatch.
"Quarter to eight."
"Right. We'll go home, get Eric fed, I want to take a shower and-"
"Look at me, Hermione!" said a voice from above her. She turned around to Ron and jumped back.
"Ronald Weasley, put him down!"
"What harm is this causing?" he asked while Jeremy giggled madly on top of Ron's shoulders.
"What if you'd dropped him?!" He rolled his eyes.
"Do you think I'm that careless?"
"No! But he's my responsibility and-"
"Hermione, look me in the eyes." He bent down so that his face was level with hers. "You may still think I'm an idiot, but I'm not. I'll put him down if it makes you happy but I can't believe you have such little faith in me and won't trust me with a child." She narrowed her eyes but didn't speak. Ron sighed. "Time to get down, buddy," he said lifting Jeremy off his shoulders.
"Aawwww..."
"Thank you," she grumbled and went back to pushing the stroller. They walked in almost complete silence back to Hermione's place; Eric had woken up halfway and was crying loudly, piercing through the calm morning air. Hermione had tried several ways of calming him down once they reached her house, but none seemed to work. She sat on the living room sofa for what seemed like endless minutes before breaking down completely. "I can't even comfort one baby! I'm a total failure, look at me!" She'd forgotten she was even the slightest bit angry with Ron and asked for help. "There's a high chair in the garage, you can't miss it it's at the very you run and get it for me?" Ron chuckled to himself as he left her alone with Eric sobbing in her arms and Jeremy tugging at her jean shorts. She never stayed mad for long...especially not when there was work to be done. The best words to describe Hermione Granger...a swirling mass of contradictions. Ron found said high chair at the back of the garage, like she said. He lifted it and paused. He could be the gentleman and come to her aid with it...or he could be the prat she accused him of being and let her suffer a bit. No...no, he cared for her too much...but did she care for him? She was pretty nasty in the park...but then again she was known to abuse Ron a little more than others...was that her way of showing her feelings? God knew. He hesitated a bit but she needed help and he would help her...but this discussion wasn't going to go un-discussed.
"Got it," he said, waltzing into her living room once more.
"I think he wants to be fed," she sighed, "I figured that out when he tried to chew my fingers off." Ron set the chair down in the middle of the floor and watched as she placed a still squirming Eric carefully into it. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "Could you do me another favour? There's a bag in the thingy under the stroller...It's got food and Lord knows what else but I'm sure we'll need it. Would you-?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Ron did as he was told...once again. He brought the bag in and gave it to Hermione. She rummaged around in it and pulled out a jar of what looked like...well, vomit. Ron crinkled his nose at the sight of it. "God, this stuff smells bad," she muttered, running to the kitchen to get a spoon, "I don't know how I ever ate this..." She attempted to spoon some into Eric's mouth but he refused to take it. Several tries it took, before he finally cracked and swung his arm out at the spoon. Baby food went sailing into Hermione's face making her squint and splutter. She turned and smiled at Ron. "My day is complete."
"Oh stop being so negative."
"You try," she said, holding the spoon and jar out to him. "I need to wash my face anyway..." He took them from her hands and watched as she stomped down the hallway to the bathroom. He then turned to Eric.
"C'mon, it's not that bad..." he waggled the baby food-filled spoon in front of his face. Nothing. "Not even a little bite?" Eric merely stared. Ron had an idea...an idea he knew he would regret thirty seconds later. "Look, Eric, look how good this stuff is!" he put a spoonful of the putrid substance into his own mouth and grimaced. "See? Delicious..." Eric still only stared. Ron sighed and ate another mouthful. It really was nauseating. "Mmmm...don't you want some?" Eric slowly but surely parted his lips for a brief moment...just long enough for Ron to stuff a spoonful of food in.
"You did it!" Hermione shrieked, "You got him to eat, I can't believe it...you-you're a miracle worker!"
"Don't doubt it," he said, smiling. "Kids, no matter how young, will always fall for reverse psychology."
"Impressive."
"Aren't I?" She smiled and stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss, completely overlooking the fact that Jeremy was still in the room.
"You kissed Ron!" he squealed. Hermione pulled her head away and spun around to the source of the voice. "I'm telling!" She blushed profusely.
"Watch this," Ron whispered, giving Hermione a quick wink. He walked over to the sofa and took a seat beside Jeremy. "Why are you going to tell, Jeremy?"
"Because only mommy and daddy are allowed to kiss!"
"Ok, that's a pretty good reason...you can tell."
"What?"
"I'm just saying that's a good reason to tell...who were you going to tell, anyway?"
"I- I dunno..."
"Oh. Well, I think you should tell everyone."
"Why? You don't care?"
"Nope."
"Oh..." He stared at his feet with his hands in his lap and said no more. Ron smiled at Hermione and got up off the sofa. "I am a miracle worker," he said, passing her and heading up to his room.
-
"Where'd Eric go?" Ron said, his hands over his eyes. "There he is!" he exclaimed, removing them and smiling at Eric who was sprawled on a blanket on the living room floor. Jeremy sat in front of the television, flipping through the channels, looking thoroughly bored. Hermione was up in the shower while Ron entertained the baby. "Where'd he go now?" Ron asked, putting his hands over his face again. Eric giggled riotously whilst squirming on the blanket. The front door opened. Ron removed his hands and spun his head around.
"Hermione? Ron? We're home!"
"Hermione's in the shower," Ron called, turning back to Eric.
"In the shower?" came her mother's voice, "She left you with the children?"
"Uh...yeah."
"And you don't mind?"
"Not really. No." Both parents appeared in the room.
"I see Eric's taken a liking to you, Ron," Mr. Granger said.
"I guess..." The phone rang. Hermione's mother picked it up.
"What's that, Tom? Cancelled? Alright...Yes, we'll be home. Ok. See you then." She hung up. "Tom's business trip's been cancelled. He's coming back to pick up Eric and Jeremy in a little while...looks like Hermione will get her wish after all." Hermione appeared at the bottom of the stairs half an hour later. Ron sniggered; No matter what she tried, she couldn't tame her unruly hair. Bushiness abound! She came strolling into the living room with a wet towel in her hand.
"Hi, Ron. Looks like Eric's grown fond of you..." she noted, pointing to Eric who was still laughing merrily in front of Ron.
"Yeah...too bad he's leaving now."
"What?"
"Your uncle's business trip thingy was cancelled...he's picking them up again tonight."
"Oh..." He could tell she was secretly delighted, but didn't sport her happiness in front of her parents. "At least we'll have some time to ourselves," she added in a whisper and went into the kitchen to greet her parents.
Ding-dong. The bell rang twenty minutes later. "Hermione, get that will you?" her mother called. She ran to the door and opened it, staring face-to-face with her uncle.
"Hello, Hermione. So sorry about earlier..." he pulled her into a hug and stepped inside. "How's my favourite sister?" he hollered from the hallway.
"Hello, Tom," Mrs. Granger said happily, scampering down the hallway towards him. They hugged quickly before Tom took his shoes off and wandered into the house.
"How's my little buddy?" he said, walking into the living room.
"Daddy!" Jeremy said with glee, hopping off the sofa and running to his father's arms.
"And who are you?" he said, letting go of Jeremy and turning to Ron.
"Oh...Ron...Ronald Weasley, sir," Ron stuttered, getting to his feet. He stuck out his hand for Tom to shake.
"Thanks so much for doing this, Hermione even if it was only a day..."
"Don't thank me...thank Ron. He's a better babysitter than I'll ever be." Tom turned back to Ron.
"You are, are you?" Ron stared at his feet and blushed. "Well, thank you very much Ronald...I appreciate it."
"No problem."
"Come on, Eric," he said, walking to his other son and scooping him in his arms. "Time to go home." After gathering all of Eric's things, Tom made his way to the door. Night everyone," he called.
"Bye!" they all said in unison. Ron felt strange; Uncomfortable. Watching Eric and Jeremy leave was unusually hard for him to do. He'd only spent the day with them but had grown so fond of them both...The whole idea of it was perplexing, but he couldn't help but feel a bit... gloomy.
hope u liked that...chap 3 up as soon as I can I promise!
Keep the reviews comin!!
--much luvvv, natalia