Chapter 10: Reunited

Ron knocked tentatively on the bedroom door, disbelieving what had just happened. Nothing could have gone farther from the plan. He just hoped that everything would eventually fall into place. He'd come too far.

When no one answered his knock he pushed the door open and stuck his head inside. He first saw Christine, in her strange attire, standing over Hermione's bed, looking concerned. As soon as she saw him, she came over to the door and motioned for him to come in so she could slip out.

"I'll just be out here…actually, Hermione, if you don't mind, I might just go back to Paul's. You know. The whip cream is probably melted by now…" she tried to relieve the tension but shrugged her shoulders and left Ron, who was trying to imagine what whipped cream had to do with anything, with Hermione, who had buried herself under her covers.

"Um…Hermione, I…we need to talk." Ron stood awkwardly, waiting for Hermione to say something. It had been so long since he'd seen her that when she came out from under the covers, he almost didn't recognize her. Granted, she still had the same big, brown hair, but her face looked different, tanner, a little healthier and her clothes seemed completely out of character. But he ignored that and just looked at her, and smiled. He was just glad to see her. "Hi."

She thought that was a rather odd thing to say, but smiled anyway. "Hi."

"Odd day, eh?" Ron ran his hand through his hair, nervously.

"You always did that."

"Oh, what? That? Yeah, habit I guess." He put his hand in his pocked to refrain from doing it again. "You look, uh, different. I mean, not bad, but just different. In a good way. Not that you didn't look good before, but um…crikey, I'm bad at this. Hermione, I've missed you."

Hermione, still in shock to see Ron standing in her bedroom in Salem, couldn't meet his eyes. Something wasn't right about this. She hadn't had time to think through what she wanted and needed to say to him. Clearly he had, otherwise why had he come all this way? But she had no bloody clue what to say.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Ron knew he wasn't following George's instructions right away, but he would get to them. He had surprised her, and not necessarily in a good way.

"That's fine." She still wouldn't look at him.

"I just flew more than 3000 miles to see you. I've missed you and needed to talk to you for quite a while. I haven't exactly thought through what I want to say, I guess I was hoping it would come to me." He paused, noticing that her hair had fallen into her face as it so often had. He moved his hand to brush it away, and still she didn't look at him. "But uh, Hermione, listen, I've been thinking a lot about this very moment. And to be perfectly honest, its not exactly happening the way I hoped it would. So, could you at least look at me? I have to tell you something."

Ron could hardly believe how calm he was acting. Maybe it was the adrenaline of finally doing what should've been done years before, but he thought he was being rather cool about it. Hermione was surprised by his tone of voice, as well. He had already allowed the nervousness out and seemed to be rather comfortable. She looked up at his big brown eyes to see something she'd seen so many times in the past and did nothing about; his eyes were twinkling as they looked her over; his face spread into a smile causing small crinkles to appear around his eyes. He looked not only happy to see her, but more handsome than she had ever noticed before. She couldn't help but see that he was looking her up and down, focusing on her lips before moving up to her eyes and finally her out-of-control hair. He reached over to push another tendril behind her ear and she nearly shuddered from the touch.

She pushed the hair behind her ear and then creased her brow. A thought had occurred to her. "You flew here? As in an airplane, or as in a fireplace?"

"An airplane."

"You, Ron Weasley, flew on an airplane to come talk to me?" She was in shock. Now she was just staring at him in awe.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah I guess I did." He started to blush when he smiled.

"Wow. I never thought I'd live to see the day…when did you decided to travel like a muggle?" She had sat up and tried smoothing her hair a bit.

"Well," Ron ran his hand up his neck but caught himself and put it back down. "Aside from nearly plummeting to our deaths from the sky, and having to trust Ginny's driving, I've taken a liking to many muggle things. Look, I even have a cell phone!" He whipped out his Nokia and showed Hermione who was merely staring at Ron in shock.

"Ginny? Is she here?"

"Um, yeah, she and Harry are waiting outside for me...uh, to…" suddenly nervous, Ron felt his face reddening as it so often did in the past.

"To what, Ron?" Hermione, though in shock, was finally starting to feel a little more comfortable and remembered why it was she was planning on going back to England. She became very conscious of her mismatched outfit and stood up slowly to move towards her closet.

"To, uh…" Ron noticed she was getting up, and said, "To do this." He leaned over, pulled her back down and leaned in very close to her face.

Hermione felt herself breathe in sharply and close her eyes. The moment she'd dreamed about for years was finally happening except it was nothing like she had expected. It wasn't a romantic walk on the Hogwarts grounds or a stroll through a park. She wasn't dressed nicely and her hair was actively doing its best to fly off her head. But Ron was here, blushing as usual, holding her and moving in for a kiss. And that's when she started to laugh.

Ron pulled back abruptly before he even had a chance to kiss her and looked at Hermione with a puzzled expression on his face. Why the hell was she giggling like that?

"What the-"

"I'm sorry Ron, it's just…" Hermione controlled herself and looked at him. For the first time in nine months she really looked at him, at his soft, gentle brown eyes, the tenderness in them shining through with an exuberant force. She reached up and touched his ruffled red hair. It used to be much longer back during school days, but she liked it now, just long enough to get ruffled. She licked her lips and then closed them tightly, thinking. He had changed physically ever so slightly: A few more freckles around his nose, his eyebrows seemed darker, he seemed a bit more in shape. Yet there he was, staring at her with a too familiar look on his face. At first he seemed hurt that she had started laughing but now he was just looking at her, almost smiling, content to just be with her and Hermione could practically smell his love radiating off of him. She smiled up at him and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oof.." she knocked him over onto the bed, hugging him with such a force that he had trouble breathing. But he didn't mind, because he had her, he had her exactly where he wanted and was willing to stay there forever.

"I'm glad you're here." Hermione whispered into his ear, and he could feel hot breath and warm tears on his neck.

"What? Hermione? Are you – oh, no no, don't cry!" He started laughing a little, sitting upright, bringing her with him. "Don't cry! I haven't even said what I needed to say yet!" She started laughing through her tears. "What is it you needed to say, Ron?" She wiped her eyes and laughed again before settling down and looking at him.

"Well, first, this." He leaned forward quickly, catching her off guard, kissing her hard on the mouth. She nearly fell backward but leaned into his mouth, reveling in his soft lips and the salty moisture of his tongue. The kiss was not much different from any other kiss either of them had enjoyed with any other person - sweet and firm, wet and slightly fumbly - but for once they both were kissing the person they were always thinking of whenever they were kissing anyone else. Ron reached up to Hermione's head and pulled her closer, entangling his fingers in her hair; the kiss deepened and Hermione leaned closer to Ron, pushing him on his back once more. Ron reached up with his other hand and wrapped it around Hermione's body, allowing himself to touch her for the first time.

When they finally parted for some air, Hermione sighed, saying, "Well said."

"Oh yeah." Ron laughed, sitting up on his elbows and looking at Hermione, who had rolled over on her side and was now looking at him intently. "Well, what I actually needed to say…was, uh, well," Ron didn't want to stutter through the most important thing he had ever told anyone so he sat up and took Hermione's hand in his, looking down at the bed. If he had to look in her eyes, he knew he'd fumble it: "I love you, Hermione. I always have and I always will. I'm sorry for being an idiot. Please come home with me." Once it had all tumbled out, he dared look at her face. He could see tears forming in her eyes and a coat-hanger smile on her face.

"Oh, Ron…" She sat up and hugged him again. "Oh, Ron…I…I don't know what to say…"

"Say yes."

"Yes. Of course I'll come home. In fact…in fact I had already decided to come home; I was going to be leaving with Christine in a couple days. I was actually going to be coming home to tell you that I loved you."

"Oh, so basically I flew on a plane when I didn't have to?" He grinned at her and ran his hand through her hair. "God, I've missed this hair. You know, too many witches try to control their hair with flattening potions and straightening charms. Why cant they just let it be natural?"

"You're mad."

"Mad about you."

She slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "You've been watching too many Hollywood romances. That was bad."

"Yeah, but you liked it. Don't deny it. You liked it."

"Just shut up and kiss me again." And Ron happily obliged.

Out in the hallway, Harry and Ginny finally took a breath. "Whoa, that was…intense." Harry took his glasses off to clear off the steam. Ginny readjusted her shirt and nodded. "Yeah. Wow. Ok, maybe we should go inside, see how things are progressing?"

"With or without the cloak?"
"With. Just to be sure."

Harry and Ginny tiptoed up to the door and pushed it open. Hopefully no one heard it creak. They managed to make it inside and close the door without making a noise, so they crawled into the living room and stood just outside the bedroom, whose door was now open. They could easily hear Ron and Hermione talking; she was picking up clothes from the ground and her bed, folding and packing them. Ron was sitting on the bed, leaning up against the wall with his arms behind his head.

"Do you remember that night outside number 12?"

"How could I forget? I still get goose pimples thinking about it sometimes."

"Yeah, it was pretty crazy, wasn't it? I just remember being so angry about buggering the whole thing up that sometimes I forgot what it was we were trying to tell one another."

"Buggering it up? Ron, you didn't bugger anything up. We both agreed not to talk about it and then the attacks started…there wasn't really anything we could do."

"But Hermione, now that I think about it, I think we were wrong not to talk about it. I think, I think that it would've made things easier, eased some of the tension that was always between us. Why do you think I yelled at you so much?"

"We stopped fighting shortly after that night, though, don't you think?"
"But what about since the war ended? There was always such...hostility-"

"Hostility? Between us? I never saw it as such! I always felt a bit uncomfortable with you because I couldn't be completely honest with you, but I don't remember being hostile!"

"Ok, maybe not hostile, but a definite tension that I hated every second. Half the time I just wanted to snog you on the spot but had to seriously control my actions."

"Is that why you seemed glazed over sometimes?"

"Probably. Just trying not to act rashly."

"You? Act rashly? Who would ever think? Ha." Hermione laughed. Harry and Ginny smiled at one another. Then Harry thought of something and motioned for Ginny to follow him to the far end of the living room.

"What?" She mouthed at him.

"I don't think we should tell your brother," Harry whispered.

"What? About…ohhh, um, why not? Its not that surprising…" Ginny understood not telling Ron right away, but now that he had Hermione, he would surely be much more understanding.

"I just think it would be smart not to mention it for a while." Harry looked down at the ground thoughtfully. "Maybe not ever."

"Never? What? You're nutters! We are going to tell them. Very soon."

"Them! Oh right, the rest of your family…" Harry muttered to himself.

"Listen, Harry, we don't have to tell them right away. We can wait, if you want. But we are going to tell them. But for now, it can be our secret, ok?" She smiled at him and kissed him lightly. She wrapped her arms around his head, careful not to upset the cloak, and pulled him closer. "I'm just glad we all finally had the nerve to tell one another how we really felt. Its rather ridiculous that its taken us this long hasn't it?"

"Yes. Yes it is."

Then Hermione and Ron came out into the living room. "So, when were you going to be leaving?"

"Probably in two or three days. Christine got an internship in London and I was just going to go with her." Hermione was in the kitchen, putting away dishes. Ginny noted the short PJ pants and muffled a snicker. Ron had sat himself at the counter.

"An internship? What's that? Like an apprenticeship?"

"Yes, sort of. It's at an ad agency."

"What's this?" Ron was grinning ear to ear, holding up the old photo of himself from 6th year that was on Hermione's counter. Her eyes widened, not remembering bringing it back out here. Perhaps Christine had put it back there just to mess with her head.

"Um, yeah. Christine likes to have it out here to look at when she's eating her breakfast."

"Don't lie." Ron smiled. "You have it out here because you like to look at me." He started taunting her. "You like me, you like me!"

Ginny rolled her eyes. For someone who had just realized that he was madly in love with someone, Ron was being a twit. She looked at Harry and motioned for him to follow him. They moved silently through the living room until they were standing just behind Ron. She held up her fingers and counted, 1. 2.

"You like – ARGH!" Ron flew backwards as Ginny and Harry revealed themselves, shouting 'BOO'. Hermione, startled as well, dropped a glass in the kitchen and shrieked. Harry and Ginny started laughing. Then Harry started imitating his friend, "You like me, you like me."

"Oh, you bloody bastard. I'm gonna kick your arse!" Ron held up his fist in mock anger but started laughing. Hermione was still in shock from two people suddenly appearing in her living room. "When did you two get here?"
Ginny answered very non-chalantly, "Oh, we've been here the whole time, waiting and waiting for you two to hurry things up. I am SO happy its all worked out now. You love him, he loves you and now we can all go home." She ran into the kitchen and threw her arms around Hermione. "Oh, Hermione. I've missed you. Its so good to see you…though not in those clothes." Ginny whisked out her wand and magicked Hermione into a new, outfit: black capris, a black t-shirt and black sandals. Though she rarely wore black, Hermione rather liked it. "Very Parisian!" Ginny declared, clapping her hands together. "So, Hermione, you don't know anyone on the Floo network here, by any chance, do you?"

"No, unfortunately not." She bit her lip. "Unless…. Christine's friend's old aunt might still be connected. I could find out. Let me call Christine."

Ron and Harry took stools next to the counter while Ginny cleaned up the glass from the kitchen floor and Hermione called her roommate. "Christine? Sorry to call again, but…oh not the whipped cream again! Christine!...ok, fine, I'll hold…(she's cleaning up)…." Hermione walked around into the living room and picked up Harry's cloak as she sat on hold. She just shook her head and handed it back to him. "Amazing how many adventures that's taken you on, isn't it? Oh, Christine, you're back…yes, yes I'm sorry, I….ok…sure, now listen. Do you know if Paul's old aunt whatever is still on the Floo network?...yes please ask him…oh she is! Oh that's wonderful. Does he think she'd let us use it?...oh that's wonderful! Tell him to ask her if tonight is ok…thanks! And yes, I'm very sorry about interrupting. Again." Hermione hung up, smiling.

Ron looked particularly happy. "Good. No more airplanes."

"But Ron, I thought you loved all things muggle!" Harry slapped him on the back.

"Not things that could fall from the sky and make me into a pancake, no."

Hermione walked around and hugged Ron tightly. "I appreciate you flying here to get me."

Ron hugged her back and kissed her on the forehead. "Anything for you Hermione. You know that." They kissed for the first time in front of their friends and didn't notice when Harry and Ginny linked pinkies.

That night at the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley performed spur-of-the-moment-dinner-party-magic, inviting several of Hermione's old friends and new Weasley family members and preparing everyone's favorite dishes. Ginny, sitting on one side of Hermione, showed her pictures of sleeping Ron on the plane and told her all about the trip over (leaving out certain private details of course) while Harry told the same story (minus a few personal details) to the twins. Fred was there with Angelina, but George was sitting next to an empty seat. "Mum invited her, but I doubt she'll show up." He seemed very sad, and only cheered up a little when he and Fred told everyone about some new inventions. Mr. Weasley asked Ron and Harry for explicit details of airplane travel, but Ginny intervened to explain about airport security. Bill and Fleurs announced that they were pregnant, shocking everyone except Ginny who had already seen the bulge under her dress. And George fell out of his chair when Katie and Elizabeth walked into the dining room. Ginny squeezed Harry's leg under the table when she saw her brother timidly approach the love of his life and hug her. Elizabeth hugged his leg while her aunt kissed her would-be uncle. Hermione, Angelina, Katie and Ginny took turns gawking at Michelle's ring and asking about her wedding plans. And everyone took turns interrogating Hermione, in the friendliest way possible, about her plans now that she was home.

Home. That was the word. Hermione hadn't felt like she was home in years, and here she was in the company of her adoptive family, her best friends, and her one true love. She had never been happier. Ron glanced at Hermione and saw how alive she looked; glowing and smiling, he felt as he would burst with happiness.

After dinner, Ron looked at Harry, who also looked ecstatic. "Harry, follow me mate." Ron stood up from the table as the girls were clearing the table. He motioned for Harry to follow him outside. There, Fleur and Bill were sitting on the new swing Mr. Weasley had made for Mrs. Weasley and George was playing with Elizabeth as Katie looked on, smiling. Ron turned to his best friend and hugged him. Harry hugged him back and they stood like that until they both felt that the hug was extending too long and someone might notice. "Thanks." Ron looked at Harry and felt himself reddening. "I mean, without you and Gin pushing me, I wouldn't have gone to America…granted Hermione was coming here and all, but still. Thanks. I really owe you."

"It was nothing. We shoulda done it a long time ago. I'm just glad to see you so happy. Its great!" Harry smiled and slapped his friend on the shoulder.

"Well, I just thought I'd thank you and Ginny…" Ron's voice faded as he looked up into the kitchen window and saw Ginny and Hermione looking at them and laughing. "Speaking of which, you and Ginny, I mean, you guys seemed to be pretty close and all-"

Harry felt his body go stiff and tried to loosen his collar from the heat. "Um, well yeah, ya know, back at school-"

"And I just wanted to say, that even though it's a little bit weird seeing you guys back together…its probably the best in the long run."

"Oh, well, yeah." Harry nodded stiffly. "Yeah, she's great. Absolutely fantastic."

"Besides, I figured you'd tell me if something serious was going on between you and my sister, eh?" Ron nudged Harry on the shoulder. "C'mon, mate. Lets go inside."

"Um, yeah." Harry couldn't tell if he was blushing as badly as a Weasley but he had a pretty good idea that he was. Oh well, he certainly wasn't going to tell Ron after that conversation.

"You ok? You look kind of red?" Ginny put her arm around Harry as he came inside. "Yeah, I'm ok. But I think I was right about not telling Ron."

Ginny just laughed and moved her hand down Harry's back until his eyes nearly popped out from surprise. "Ginny! We are in public!"

"Oh stop being such a ninny. Now come into the dining room, my dad wants to make a toast."

In the dining room, the entire Weasley clan and company were gathered around the table. Bill and Fleur were standing next to his father. George had Elizabeth up on his shoulders, next to Katie; his twin was standing next to Katie with his arm around Angelina. Mrs. Weasley was at the opposite end of the table from her husband. Ron and Hermione stood next to Mrs. Weasley with Harry and Ginny to their rights. There were two empty seats honoring the lost Weasleys, Charlie and Percy.

Once everyone was assembled, Mr. Weasley cleared his throat. "I could make a big speech about family and love and how we are all very lucky to have one another, especially such a big group like ourselves." Everyone smiled around the table. "But instead of weighing down the air with heavy words, let me just say this: I love you all and consider myself to be very fortunate to have you all in my house." He looked over at his son Bill. "Bill, congratulations on the baby. I know you two will be very great parents. Fred and George, I'm very proud of you for growing up into two very mature and responsible young men." Small chuckles could be heard around the table. "Ron, your mother and I were stunned, but pleased, to hear what you had done to win Hermione back – who, by the way, we are very glad to have back in our home with us. Ginny, you have amazed us all with your success. And Harry, as always, we owe much to you and will always have a warm bed here for you." Harry looked down at the table and blushed. Ever since he'd met the Weasleys, they'd always been so nice to him, and he'd picked up the annoying habit of blushing. "So, to all my children – natural and surrogate – to family!" Mr. Weasley raised his glass, followed by everyone else.

Ron looked at Hermione and kissed her. "We finally did it."

"Yep. Looks like our past finally caught up with us."

"That it did." They kissed again as everyone cheered and clanked glasses and drank their wine. Amidst the noise and chatter, Harry and Ginny clanked glasses and exchanged kisses on the cheek; they smiled when no one saw them link pinkies behind their backs.

A/N: I'm finally done! Please read and review and encourage others to do so. I can only improve if I have people leave me comments! 