Disclaimer: I don't owe Harry and Co! (duh!)
Good morning, afternoon, or evening. Depends on where you live. Anyways, welcome to chapter...19? Anyways for those of you asking what the deal was with the thing that happened in seventh year, it was in the first chapter. As Ron says...
"Fine if we're not changing subjects then you answer my question. Why do you care who I date? Or better hate, why do you hate people I date."
And of course Hermione gets mad and says: "You of all people are asking me this after what you did to me in Seventh year?"
And the thing that happened in Seventh year was...(((past photography moment about to occur here peoples)))
"Well if you must know, Seamus Finnigan has just asked me out."
"Hermione I think you're making a big mistake."
"Why do you always have to put down whatever I do?With Viktor, with S.P.E.W., with my work ethics and now with Seamus."
Those are just a few lines but I think you get the picture, it's all in the Prologue. Pretty much Ron put down the idea of Hermion ever dating Seamus. And now that she's kind of doing it to him he reacted and she just used her situation as a revenge sort of thing. Anywhooo...
TO THE THANK YOUS!
Chrismukkah-hunnie: I never would've pictured Dumbledore as a cafe owner either! hMmMm...maybe does an anteater have a trunk-like thing? lol anyways thanks for reviewing!
Chuckie Davis: Yes that's the Quirrell quote I was thinking of! I know I do the same rhyme thing too! I put in something that I think normal people might do in the story because don't we love it read about people doing the things we do in everyday life! Oh and thanks a bunch for the review!
ellen2321: Yes Ron's love life! I think I might have gotten side-tracked by Dumbledore but after this chapter it's coming back to the Romance. Of course Ron couldn't resist himself. He's a single guy and isn't planning on telling Hermione he loves anytime soon. Or so he thinks...muahahah! Lol j/ks! Haha drag it out...I actually have badish news for that. I'm already past the first half of the story! The second half is sure to be juicier but it's also going to wind the story down. But have no fear! It'll take me a while to tie up all the loose ends I promised I would tell you. Dumbledore's telling them exaclty why he's at a Muggle coffee shop! Btw, thank you so much for your review!
PinkyTheSnowman: Yes he does! Lol. McGonagall is usually pretty uptight all the time but yes she is mean in this kindaish! Yes REUNION! Where we'll all get to see our favb characters from Ron's year at Hogwarts. And thanks for volunteering your oh so wonderful reviewing skills into writing up the review you gave me!
MeryKey-7: Yeah all you want to know will be explained in this chapter!So I've talked to her and we've sorted it out. It turns out she isn't as changed as I thought. Still my same old, I-love-you-you-ditzy-moron-so-don't-move-away, best friend lol. Anyways thanks soo much for not only reviewing but giving me good advice on what to do on the friend situation. I'm sorry to hear things didn't turn out good when this happened to you but thank you so much for helping me!
memommy27: Yes, yes I know! They seem to be trapped in one place. But don't worry. After this chapter hopefully some interesting developments will happen! I'll get them some warmth and you all too for the holidays for sure! Wow that's cool but it must be difficult handling two young children and still being able to juggle your timetable! So thank you so much for taking the time to review my story!
piratingspiderelf: Thanks! Yeah I've really been pushing it. I've kept all my loyal reviewers on the edge for four full chapters! So I promise no cliffy at the end of this! Oh and I'm glad you're enjoying my story!
bethzc: LOL. I'm happy to hear the rhyming thing went down well with all of you! And it's good to know you loved it too! Thank you for reviewing too! It was greatly appreciated!
Balewilyiel: Yeah it's not as bad a cliffhanger as I've had other times. You all know that you're going to know! Thanks for taking time to read anywhere at all and for reviewing!
Brooke Monica: Yes! No more cliffies this chapter! I P-R-O-M-I-S-E! I wish I could read your story but these-a-days I have no time! I already have three people asking me to do the same! That's it, today I'm reading all those stories! Lol. Yes my trip was quite the blast. Haha, a very British and North American sentence. Thank you for reviewing too!
Mental357: Ron's flooing everywhere because he's not the type of person that enjoys apparating. Oh and thanks for reviewing! I love getting them reviews!
Bhekie: Yeah I finally showed you all Dumbledore! Yup it's mentioned and also I wanted to thank you a lot for reviewing!
Blue Eyes222: Whao I'm glad you liked my story so much and that it kept you interested enough to read twelve of the chapters in one day! Asia was awesome. OoOo your sister's going to Japan? That is so wicked! I've been to Japan once and it was amazing! Where in Europe do you live? That's so cool. Thanks for your review.
Leslie: Oh I'm glad it appealed to you! Haha I should have like two time periods for this story. B. asia and A. asia or something I dunno! Thanks for reading and reviewing; it's greatly appreciated!
Rianna Potter: Yes with a mere cookie! It's not that bad though! The answers are all here in this chapter. Haha and thank you a lot for your awesome reviews!
Jesse: Thanks all around!
Ron impatiently stuffed two or three cookies into this mouth as he would've done with his usual cashews with Firewhisky. He did not feel like eating cookies. Not even the yummy soft, freshly baked, chocolate chip ones Dumbledore had offered them. Yet to his great shock he noticed that Hermione actually seemed to be eating the cookies slower as if trying to waste time. Now why in the world would she do that? Wasn't she curious to know what was going on with Dumbledore?
Dumbledore stared thoughtfully at the two of them for a long time and after a while finally lowered his half-moon spectacles.
"You two have grown up to be quite the adults" Dumbledore pronounced happily, "Not only have I heard from Professor McGonagall, read it in the Daily Prophet, but now I believe I am witnessing it, true greatness. For only true greatness could have returned you, two to me."
Ron didn't feel true greatness had anything to do with it. Luck, luck was more like it. And spying paintings.
"Professor, if you please I'd like to ask, why have you come here?" Hermione asked frowning, "Why did you leave the Wizarding World?"
Ron had just stood up to reach over the table to grab more cookies but stopped in his tracks at Hermione's words. Dumbledore, who had casually been polishing his glasses with his own fingers then lowered his hands.
"Mr. Weasley if you could please take a seat?" Dumbledore requested, "It is time for me you tell you everything."
Ron sat abruptly and felt Hermione tense up in preparation beside him. Dumbledore gazed out his dusty window for a long moment. In fact it was so long that it felt like he had forgotten he had just been about to start giving them an explanation. Yet before Ron or Hermione could remind him, he began, still looking out the window.
"You both know as well as I do the events that occured on the night of the final battle" Dumbledore commenced, "How Hagrid had been sent to the Hog's Head to find out if the rumor that Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters had reached Hogsmeade was even true. How he was murdered. How I wasn't even at the castle when Voldemort attacked. How I was by Hagrid's side as he passed away. Then I left the position of hiding his body to my brother, who I thought had at least some sense. As soon as I got to school the only person I found in the Great Hall was Sybill Trelawney. You can imagine how disturbing this was. She seemed to be having one of her reliable premonisions. This one spoke of the wise wizard who thought good was soon to become the destruct of others. I disregarded this because I hadn't quite comprehended it.-Ron snorted You well know I soon came into the Chamber of Edén to aide Harry in his battle. At this time when I entered most of the Death Eaters were dead. We all rejoiced Voldemort's defeat. But the first person to leave the chamber afterwards was me. I walked in on Lucius Malfoy torturing my brother, Aberforth. The poor man had only come to ask me where to put the cadaver of our beloved Hagrid. Once Lucius saw me he almost looked surprised. I suppose he thought Aberforth had been me. However, it was then that I realized that I was the wise wizard and would become a harm to others."
"Why then?" Hermione questioned.
Dumbledore smiled, "I cannot say for I do not know myself. Isn't life like that sometimes? You never know when you'll put together the various pieces. Well for me it was then looking into Lucius' eyes that I realized I might become a hazard because even after Voldemort's defeat, his Death Eaters would still be at large. I could endanger not only all of you but even my own wife and daughter-
"You're married? With a kid?" Ron blurted out incredulously. He had no idea that-He would never have imagined that his ex-headmaster had ever...
Dumbledore studied Ron rather carefully. It made his ears go red with embarrassment and discomfort. His previous question now sounded rather stupid. He definately needed to learn to think before he spoke. Hermione glared at him, upset that he had interrupted Dumbledore in his story.
"Sometimes even the strongest, most powerful men crave simple things. Things that you do not need money nor strength nor power to receive. A thing you can only receive by loving" Dumbledore said then paused as the corners of his mouth twitched, "But affection is not enough if you keep your love hidden."
Ron's ears turned so red that some of the blood rushed to his cheeks too. He felt pinpricks on the back of his neck. What did Dumbledore know? How did he know? Hermione looked rather confused but didn't speak of it.
And when she spoke it wasn't on the matter of love at all, "Professor, could you please...?"
Dumbledore bowed his head up and down, "Why of course I'll continue the story Miss Granger. I was worried about everyone around me. So I left the scene where my brother reached the climax of his insanity and soon packed my bags and moved here with my family. After a while I came to own this coffee shop and opened it under the name Douglas'. Luckily when you caught Lucius torturing who you thought was me, he was immediately killed. The only sane witness was dead. All Deathe Eaters would be left to believe I was off my rocker and that was closure enough for most of them."
"But why" Ron began, "Would they want you and not Harry? He's the one who really defeated V-Ron paused, saying the Dark Lord's name in front Dumbledore was almost scary-the Dark Lord."
"Actually Harry was quite safe. As safe as any of you in fact. After Voldemort's fall, his Death Eaters just would not except the fact that a teenage boy of seventeen had won against him. Their only other answer was me" Dumbledore clarified. Immediately pictures of what really happened began to form in Ron's mind. It almost made perfect sense. He knew how stubborn those Death Eaters could be.
"It's as simple as that?" Ron inquired because the question had been on the tip of his tongue.
"It's as simple as that" Dumbledore finished, now truly smiling.
Hermione's face, however, was still screwed up in thought and frustration. Her hair was all over the place because of the wind it had endured outside. And her petite little nose was wrinkled comically, adorably. So many things seemed to be running through her head that she couldn't even fit them all in. Sometimes she opened her mouth, silently formed a word then closed it again as if trying to clear her mind. Forming the proper sentence seemed a difficult task.
"Why haven't you returned to the Wizarding World?" Hermione implored finally, "All the Death Eaters or at least the major ones are locked up in Azkaban now. They pose no more threat anymore. So why not come back?"
"You always were one to delve deeper Miss Granger for I believe I have never been asked that my anyone who knows of my being here" Dumbledore said in a kindly voice, "Yet the answer you will get in return is only sub par. There are laws in the Wizarding World. Any wizard who fakes an identity is considered a criminal and faces charges upon return. That troubles both me and my brother. And it just isn't healthy. Imagine how everyone would react if I had returned."
"They'd be jolly good that's what they'd be" Ron replied in earnest.
"Yes perhaps, but it isn't right. Imagine waking up one day and finding some like, oh I don't know, your dead mother there beside you. You might be happy, joyous, but it wouldn't teach you anything. We all need to learn the lesson of loss and life. Some day I really will go and I don't want to press the burden of losing me twice upon any of you. Loss is a part of us all. We all lose something whether through death or not" Dumbledore answered, "Nothing stays around forever but we must learn to grasp it while it is still here-Ron looked wistfully at Hermione and felt the dread of her upcoming proposal wash over him- Speaking of loss, you two had best be off."
Ron's eyes widened, "We're not leaving without you!"
"Ron" Hermione sighed quietly, "Let's go."
She stood and stared at Ron to follow her.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, "Are you mad?"
"No Ron, I'm sensible. Now get a hold of yourself" Hermione scolded gently.
Ron felt struck with a sudden sadness. He would never see his old Headmaster again and that he knew for sure. Ron glanced at him and noticed that his blue eyes were getting watery. Ron felt his own two eyes tear up too.
"Good-bye Professor" Hermione breathed. Ron just nodded. Speaking right now would be all too much.
Dumbledore smiled up at the two of them, "You have done me proud. Miss Granger, watch over Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley for me, will you? And Mr. Weasley, do not hesitate to say the words which are written all over your face before it is too late."
Hermione looked at Ron quizzically but he brushed her off. Partly because he didn't want to see her cry. He tried to hold it in as much as possible. But somehow two or three tears squeezed out.
"Damn! Damn! Damn it!" Ron cursed under his breath as the two paced out of the room. They were out of Douglas' soon and back in the cold snowy I tell you something" Hermione started softly, "But you have to promise not to get mad."
"You said yes to Seamus?" Ron asked dumbstruck. Was she really getting married?
"No, I just wanted to say I was hungry" Hermione said suspicously, "But what's all this about Seamus?"
"Nothing" Ron murmured.
"Ok..." Hermione commented still seemingly suspicous, "Where do you want to eat?"
Ron looked up and down the street. It was packed with Restaurants. Most of them had colorful signs. Finally he chose one that looked like it was really the best place because it was way busier than the others.
"How about the place with the two golden arches?" Ron said pointing across the street. It really was packed.
"McDonald's?" Hermione asked in a dazed sort of voice.
"Yeah, it's filled with Muggles" Ron explained, "There has to be something good about it."
"Not in particular" Hermione shrugged, "And anyways I am not eating at McDonald's. It has enough customers. Let's give the little restaurants a bit of a chance."
In the end Ron found himself inside an odd restaurant by the name of Fisherman's Frenzy. The two of them sat at a blue and white checkered table with a lobster and prawns between them. It tasted rather good with the oyster sauce. Ron had to admitt that sometimes Muggle's cooked pretty well.
Cheesy music played in the background. Ron could almost laugh. He could also admitt Muggle's had the strangest music.
"Why are you laughing?" Hermione questioned him with a slight smile.
"This song" Ron laughed, "It's ridiculous."
"It's Elton John" Hermione responded, "Oh shush it's over and I like this next song!"
I don't know what it is that makes me love you so
I only know I never want to let you go
Cause you started something
Oh can't you see
Ever since we met you've had a hold on me
Its crazy but its true
I only want to be with you
"The song's not bad" Ron commented, "I actually quite like it. Who sings this stuff?"
"Bay City Rollers" Hermione said automatically as if she'd read it out of a book.
As the song continued Ron almost felt as if it was speaking what he felt for Hermione. If he ever told her or kissed or held her he'd want this song in the background. It was catchy!
It doesn't matter where you go or what you do
I want to spend each moment of the day with you
Look what has happened with just one kiss
I never knew that I could be in love like this
After a while Ron pulled a quill out of his pocket and began scribbling the lyrics. He'd want to remember this song later on. It almost soothed him. At least he knew some other person was just as crazy in love as he was. There were probably plenty of people under this same predicament.
You stopped you smiled at me
And asked me if I cared to dance
I fell into your open arms
I didn't stand a chance
"Now listen honey, I just want to be beside you everywhere. As long as we're together honey I don't care" Hermione sang cheerfully.
Ron joined because he knew the next part, "Its crazy but its true, I only want be with you!"
He and Hermione broke into grins which soon turned into the giggles. Softly they started the singing up again, this time in tune with each other, "You stopped you smiled at me, And asked me if I cared to dance. I fell into your open arms. I didn't stand a chance."
They broke off as Ron's voice cracked involuntarily. Hermione laughed appreciatively and Ron fought the urge to grab her hand.
No matter what you do
I only want to be with you
Hermione's laughter continued and showered a feeling of a true Christmas over Ron. Almost as if he was only a Hogwart's boy again. He leant forward and pushed his lips up against hers ever so slightly.
Its crazy but its true
I only want to be with you!
Author's Note: Some warm fuzzies for Christmas! It's kinda a songfic chapter. Not really though. Look no cliffhanger! Yayness! Gayness! (As in the happy kind you perv!) Winkyness! Highness! Yes yes! I LOVE you all. And I must say slowly, my life is coming into focus and becoming undercontrol! Oh and please R&R!
xoxo
WINKYwink!