Disclaimer: JKR is the luckiest person ever!
Anywho now that I have so much darn time on my hands I decided to write the second chapter of this story. But it is two weeks till dooms-day a.k.a. the-day-winky-returns-to-school. Alas then I will not have all the lazy-time I have now.
Oh and I wanted to thank the people who reviewed the story so far!
Silver Ice-Thanks for your enthusiasm! But I must say I'm not about to write in detail about the Harry and Voldy war in this chapter. It's kinda setted after Hogwarts now. So it's much more Romance than anything else! (I have a slight tendency to steer off Romance and into Angst in a lot of my writing!)
HogwartzBoizRHottiez-Thanks for your review and you're about to find out who Hermione's boyfriend is in this chapter!
For him, life after Hogwarts was good. Great even. He was a very well known Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries, had great friends, and one heck of a family. So maybe he didn't have a girlfriend, but what did it matter? He was young and handsome and had a date every other day with some good-looking witch or the other. He never planned to be in a serious, marriage-worthy relationship by the time he was twenty anyways. Who really cared about love when he was practically as famous as Harry Potter for aiding him in putting a stopper in the Dark Lord's evil plots? Through his eyes the world was divided into two types of people: those who were liked by him and those who weren't. The world was spinning and he just kept on winning.
Ron Weasley had every reason to smirk.
"Mr. Weasley?"
Ron awoke from his current stupor when he noticed a little boy standing in front of him.
"Uh, hello," Ron said, rather perplexed at what a little boy would want with him.
"Mr. Weasley, do you, do you think I could get an autograph?" the little boy spoke up.
Ron beamed down at him, "Of course."
Ron could never turn down signing autographs. Unlike Harry, he actually liked it when people asked him for them. Harry would always grumble afterwards claiming it was irritating always getting asked to sign things. It seemed everything had Harry's face on them these days.
"Who am I making this out to?" Ron asked, looking up at the boy's flushed face.
"Sherman Macmillan," he said breathlessly, "My father says he knew you and Harry Potter while you were at Hogwarts! Is is true?"
Ron studied and boy's face and began to recognize some of his former classmate's features.
"Yes, it is true," Ron replied, "Your father was a...good prefect."
Sherman's face broke into a smile. Ron smiled back weakly. He had never been fond of Ernie. Actually, Ron had always thought him a rather pompous git.
"Sir, are you going off somewhere to meet Harry Potter?" Sherman squeaked, walking alongside Ron.
"Well, yes, actually I am," Ron said and immediately regretted doing so. Harry wouldn't like it if Ron brought along a fan with him to the Leaky Cauldron.
"But," Ron added, "He'll be extremely grumpy today. Had to fight off dark wizards, you know, being a well-known Auror and all. So it's probably best you don't ask him for an autograph today. Unless you want to displease The-Boy-Who-Lived?"
Ron knew he had hit the jackpot as Sherman's face screwed up in terror.
"No, no, I don't want to upset him! Well, I suppose I had best be going. Bye Mr. Weasley!" Sherman called, scurring off. Ron watched him run over to a bunch of his mates and show-off his newly signed piece of parchment. Ron decided he had better make a beeline for the Leaky Cauldron unless he wanted all those boys harrassing him for an autograph.
Once inside he headed off towards the counter after giving a couple of people who were already inside slight nods.
"Why, 'ello Mr. Weasley," Tom called happily, gesturing Ron over to the counter, "What will it be today?"
Ron had barely opened his mouth to speak when someone cut across him.
"One Firewhiskey with a bunch of cashews."
Ron suddenly became rigid. Only a select few knew what he always ordered. And that voice...so oddly familiar, but he didn't dare to believe who it was. It was a rather bossy-sounding voice that he hadn't heard in about three years. He turned to face a bushy-haired someone who was now wearing an amused expression.
"Hiya Herms," Ron said casually, as if nothing had ever changed. As if he still saw her everyday like he used to at Hogwarts. As if she had written and answered all the letters he and Harry had written her after the war. As if she had attempted to keep in touch with them. As if she hadn't ever broken up the invincible trio.
Hermione frowned instantly at the nickname which, as always, had that negative affect on her.
"Hiya Herms? After three years apart, that's all you have to say?" she sighed, "I see you're still as senseless as ever."
"I'm senseless? Why don't you think over who kept us apart for three years?" Ron questioned, more coldly than he meant.
Hemione faltered a bit then said, "Why don't you come join us at our table since you're alone?"
"Actually, I was waiting for Harry and Luna, but I guess I could wait for them over there," Ron said, cocking his head, "Who exactly are us?"
"Come and see," Hermione said playfully. Ron grabbed his firewhiskey and cashews and followed her as she headed towards a table near the back of the room. Ron was almost shocked to see Seamus. He hadn't realized Hermione was still with him. Then again, why wouldn't she be? During the famous battle with Harry and You-Know-Who when Hermione had fallen and been mortally wounded Ron had rushed to her side only to find Seamus already there, cradling her in his arms. It had infuriated him but he couldn't do anything about it.
"I suppose you'll remember Seamus?" Hermione said, sitting down.
"Why, of course," Ron said a bit too politely, squeezing Seamus's hand rather threateningly during their handshake. He took a chair.
"Always nice to run into a fellow Gryffindor," Seamus said grinning, completely oblivious to Ron's threat. Ron smiled heartily and looked back at Hermione.
"I didn't know you two crazy dogs were still together," Ron said as nicely as he could muster.
"We've been together since Hogwarts," Hermione said cheerfully, causing Ron to twitch his head irritably.
"Ah," Ron said delicately, "I see."
"So you with anyone right now Weasley?" Seamus inquired.
"Nope," Ron said happily, "I think being in a relationship when you're young is a bother really."
"Oh, I completely disagree," Hermione started, "Love at anytime in your life is wonderful."
"I have to agree with my girlfriend on that one," Seamus said nodding. Underneath the table, Ron clenched his fist.
"She must have you whipped then?" Ron retorted smugly.
"Even if she did I wouldn't have minded. She's the best thing to happen to me my whole life," Seamus said, staring at Hermione affectionately and she looked back at him the same way. Ron didn't open his mouth. He feared that if he did he would need to vomit violently.
"So Ron," Hermione said, finally breaking the blissful gaze with Seamus, "You're quite the man of the moment aren't you?"
Ron flicked his wand around carelessly, "I don't know about man of the moment, but, yes, I am doing quite well."
"Oh, please, that's an understatement. You and Harry practically make headlines every other day with the wonderful things you two do at the Ministry," Hermione said, "and I should know, I'm editor of the Daily Prophet."
"Well, well, well, not so bad off yourself, eh?" Ron said, "And what do you do Seamus?"
"He owns a Quidditch shop" Hermione said, answering for him.
"Not bad," Ron said appreciatively.
"So Luna and Harry still together then?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, as always they are perfectly perfect and it sickens me," Ron said disgustedly. Deep down though he was rather happy for them both. Over the past three years Luna had practically become one of Ron's best mates weirdly enough.
"Anyway, their relationships is always all over Witch Weekly," Ron continued, "And Luna gets a hefty amount of money for writing columns in there and the Quibbler."
"Yeah, she's becoming quite an icon herself," Hermione said thoughtfully, "Getting lots of respect for being with Harry and all those civil rights laws she wants pushed through. Not counting the fact that we had a field day when she declared she might consider becoming an Auror to spend more time with Harry."
"Mmm...," Ron nodded. He had never paid much attention to Luna when she got to rambling about civil rights for various magical species. She was almost as bad as Hermione and S.P.E.W.
"Hermione, it's two," Seamus said suddenly.
"Oh, we should be going. Sorry to leave so abruptly, Ron," Hermione said.
"No biggie," Ron said.
"I'll perhaps owl you sometime?" Hermione suggested nervously.
"Uh, yeah, sure. This was nice," Ron said truthfully.
"Yes, and tell Harry and Luna we said hi," Hermione said, before trailing after Seamus. Ron watched her go and tried to stop the sinking feeling in his stomach. Why was it that just when he thought he was over Hermione she had to walk into his life again and make him fall in love with her all over again? She always made him feel like a silly school boy, still fighting off acene and trying to seem cool.
Hermione always brought back memories of the past and he had tried to shove her into the back of his mind. Just a blurred memory. He tried to get the perfect picture of her out of his mind and sometimes he barely succeeded in making it hazy. How many times of heartbreak would it take for him to realized that Hermione hadn't cared enough to write to him after the war and wanted nothing to do with him? She'd moved on and he had to too.
"By George, Luna, I think he's actually thinking for a change!" Harry's voice rang out. Ron looked up a bit dazed but quickly shook out of it.
"Shut your face," Ron said.
"Oooh, is someone angry?" Harry questioned.
"Nah, just forget about it," Ron said, "What's up Luna?"
She yawned and Harry looked at her rather concerned.
"She's been up all night working on some report," Harry said, rubbing the back of her hand, "Even though I told her to come to bed so she could rest."
"Or so you could shag he,r" Ron said cheekily.
"You watch your mouth," Harry said grinning.
"Harry, could you go get me some Gillywater please?" Luna requested. Harry nodded and stood, leaving Ron alone with Luna. She wasn't her same old self. The war had changed her. Worrying about Harry and then helping them all fight off the Dark Lord had shook her into reality. Although, sometimes Ron had to admit she was still as crazy as ever. She was still looking for that Crumple-Horned whatever. Sometimes she even took Harry and Ron along with her to search for it.
"You've been working yourself too hard," Ron observed.
"So have you," Luna responded, "And how many times have I told you to get yourself a girlfriend?"
Ron grimaced, "I don't need a girlfriend."
"Sure, you do," Luna said, "You can't let one person hold you back from love Ron."
Ron stiffed. Luna was always nagging him to find a girl and always telling him that he shouldn't expect Hermione to suddenly come back to him.
"I know," he said quietly, taking a sip of Firewhiskey. Harry returned holding a Gillywater cocktail and a butterbeer for himself. The Gillywater seemed to wake Luna up rather effectively from her drowsiness.
"So, what's the latest?" Ron asked, staring at the two of them. They immediately sat straighter and looked at each other, smiling like idiots.
"Well," Harry said, smiling wider than Ron had ever seen him smiling before, "Last night I asked Luna to marry me."
Ron choked on his firewhiskey and had to duck his head under the table to spit some of it out. When he came back up his face looked elated.
"And we're all smiling because Luna was smart enough to say no right?" Ron joked.
"No, you git," Harry said, still smiling, "She said yes."
"Really?" Ron said, "Well that's even better!"
"That's not all Ron" Luna said, "We want you to be best man."
"Why, I'm in the shock of my life! Me? Ron Weasley best man at Harry Potter's wedding? Who would've thought? I always imagined it'd be Draco Malfoy!" Ron said, grinning. He couldn't have been happier really. It was about time the two closest people to him got hitched.
"Good for you both," Ron added, more seriously, "I happy for you two."
"Thanks, mate," Harry said, reaching up to shake hands with him.
"Although...," Ron said thoughtfully.
"Although?" Luna asked.
"Although, I would've thought that if Luna and I were to be married our kids would've been a lot more good-looking," Ron ended. Luna laughed at this and Harry glared a bit before returning to his smiling state.
"So, Luna who's the maid of honor?" Ron asked.
"Well," Luna began, "I was thinking Ginny, but then I thought it would be rather weird if you had to walk her down the aisle as a date-type thing and, well, I'm not completely sure now."
Ron realized that if Hermione had been with them Luna would've chosen her in a heartbeat.
"I'm sure you'll find someone," Ron said supportively.
"Yeah, I wonder if I can ask an old friend from Hogwarts or something" Luna said, thinking of who out of the few friends she'd had would be suitable as a Maid of Honor.
"Speaking of old friends from Hogwarts," Ron started darkly, "Guess who I bumped into today? Hermione."
The mood at the table changed from joyful to rather grim.
"What did she want?" Harry asked.
"Harry," Luna tutted his defensive tone. She was the only one that hadn't held a grudge against Hermione for not keeping in touch.
"Nothing much," Ron answered, "She's editor of the Daily Prophet and still dating Seamus."
Luna snorted, "They're a horrible couple."
"Why do you say?" Harry asked.
"Well, they're not soul mates, are they?" Luna said, taking a big gulp of her Gillywater. Harry and Ron exchanged looks of utter confusion. It was times like these where Luna really did seem loony.
"Are we soul mates?" Harry said, arching an eyebrow.
"Of course," Luna said, "Or else we wouldn't have made it this far."
Harry grinned at her and leaned down for a kiss. Ron wrinkled his nose. It was annoying when they three would be talking and, out of the blue, Harry and Luna would begin a kissing fest. It kind of made Ron yearn for a relationship like theirs.
"Oh, stop it you two," Ron said, "You can do that when you get home. What did I tell you about our talks being sacred? No kissing while we talk! It's degrading and disgusting!"
They pulled apart and grinned up at him.
"Obviously, talking to Hermione has enraged you," Luna stated, calmly.
"Nuh-uh!" Ron said, sounding like a child.
Luna's eyes bulged and she simply said, "Yeah-huh," before falling into a kiss with Harry again.
"Sickening," Ron grumbled whilst stuffing a few more cashews into his mouth.
He fell into thought once again. Would Hermione owl him like she said she would? And if so did that mean they were friends again? Would they always be destined to be friends and would Ron always have to stand on the sidelines while Seamus got her all to himself? Or were they, like Luna said, not soul mates? Ron scolded himself for believing such outrageous stuff and settle back to just picturing how she'd looked today. Hair bushy as ever. Wearing pale green robes with a silver clasp. Big brown eyes intact and looking as beautiful as ever. He wanted to savor the moment he'd had with her as long as he could before he felt he would need to wash it out of his mind.
Author's Note: Not much of the general plot yet I'm hoping to add that to the next chapter. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter! R&R please!