Disclaimer: I can only wish I was a brilliant writer whose legacy is some of the most beloved books of all time and fanfic fodder, alas I am not.
A/N: Eh. I felt bad about the last super short chapter so I thought I'd post this one a bit early. Review if you are so inclined please.
10.
Ron and Hermione flooed back to Grimmauld Place once it was certain the Potter family would sleep the night through. Despite their own fatigue they were up 'til the wee hours reporting on the state of Harry's health and being briefed about recovery plans. It had been a long hard struggle and many communities had yet to begin the restoration process. Much had been done, but there was still a great deal left to do, including the restructuring of the Ministry of Magic and trials for the captured Death Eaters. There were also celebrations and memorials to plan. They had emerged victorious but not unscathed. Many had not returned from the final battle. And after a brief argument the young Mr. and Mrs. Weasley decided to not tell the Order about the Draco's pregnancy or the twins. Some aspects of Harry's private life, they finally decided, should remain just that.
They finally fell into bed exhausted, each looking forward to the boon of sleep, but before she'd succumb to the siren call of well deserved rest there was something Hermione Weasley needed to say and something she needed to know.
"Ron?"
"Mmrph. G'seep 'ne."
"Ron do you still want children?"
Suddenly her husband was awake.
"Ye-s," his answer was tentative unsure if this was a trap.
His wife nodded, "So do I, but after today I'm scared."
Ron shook his head and gathered his wife into his arms, "Aww Mione it's not going to be like that for you. You're healthy and you won't be alone. My mum and yours will be around to give you advice and it's not like you're too proud to ask for help when you need it."
Hermione stiffened, "Is that what you think happened?"
Ron sighed; evidently he'd miscalculated his path through the minefield. "Mione, Malfoy is a stubborn prideful man. And while I feel bad for the pain he went through today I think if he'd asked for help it wouldn't have been that bad. To be honest," he paused and gathered his thoughts hoping he wasn't setting himself up for an argument or a stretch on the couch, "I think it was pretty selfish of him to keep everything to himself. Harry suffered through hell today because he was too arrogant to get the help he needed."
"I see…"
"Mione…Mi…look, you're always telling me that I should consider Harry's feelings and respect how much he loves that gi-uh Malfoy. Malfoy obviously didn't consider Harry's feelings through all of this. He put himself first and almost lost his life and nearly killed Harry's children because of it. Nothing like that is going to happen to us so you shouldn't worry."
Hermione turned in Ron's arms, "Do you still think he's a coward and a traitor?"
Ron thought hard and examined his own feelings thoroughly before answering, "A coward? No. I have a lot of respect for child bearers and even more so now. It's hard to being babies into the world and it takes courage to endure that I think. A traitor? Maybe. Just because he birthed Harry's children doesn't mean I trust his motives or his loyalties…It wouldn't be the first time a child or children were born to ensure a political alliance or for the gain of an ambitious party. Bearing Harry's children means that a lot of people will cut him slack he doesn't deserve and look the other way when he gets up the kind of slimy shite he's known for."
Ron was surprised by the wetness on his shirt and even more so when his wife pulled away from him and left their bed. "Mione? What's wrong?"
"You Ron," she choked out, "You're what's wrong. Even after everything. You refuse to see past childish hurts and prejudices. You can't see how love changes people or makes miracles possible. I-I don't think you understand what love is…"
"Mione! How can you say that? I risked my life for a future with you! I love you!"
She shook her head, tears streaming, "Do you? How can you love me Ron when you can't see love around you? When you can't acknowledge it or embrace it in others? I-I thought I knew you. But I don't think I really do. I don't know if I ever did. You're brave and courageous and honourable, but unless something fits your view then it's wrong or disgusting or a lie. Love can't thrive surrounded by hatred. You hate Malfoy, you hate people with more money than your family; you hate people who've flaunted their status. You hate not being the focus, being the side-kick, the best-friend and not the hero. You hate your jealousy but you haven't mastered it. There's so much hate and anger and jealousy and bitterness in you, where is there room for love, for partnership?"
She hugged herself tightly, "I-I thought if I loved you enough I could change that hate into something else. I could show you to open your mind and your heart. But it's not for me to change you. You have to want to change for yourself, not for me or for anyone else, and if you don't think there's anything wrong then there's nothing to change is there?"
Ron was flabbergasted, "You think I have too much hate in me? You want me to change?"
His wife cocked her head, "I think we both have some soul-searching to do Ron. I don't know who you are anymore and I don't think you know who I am or what I want and need." She pulled her dressing gown from the hook behind the door and slipped it on.
Ron stumbled up from the bed and grasped her hand, "Wait. Mione where are you going?"
She gently pulled her hand away and belted the dressing gown. "I hate that this is happening now when we should just get to be happy, when we should be celebrating our victory but…I-I think you and I need some time apart Ron. I-I'm going to go stay in the guest room on Harry and Draco's floor."
Ron's eyes narrowed, "Is this that bastard's idea? What did that git say to you Mione?"
"You can't blame everything on Draco Ron."
"I can if he's been filling your head with this garbage! I bet he set up that 'guest' room with the idea of splitting us up all along! I knew letting you hang around with him was a bad idea!"
Hermione's voice was glacial, "'letting me hang around with him?' letting me? Since when do I need your permission to do anything Ron Weasley?"
"Since you became my wife and swore to honour and obey me!" he shot back
Hermione's eyes popped wide, "Is that what you think a marriage is about? What a wife is for? To obey her husband? Merlin's beard Ron, I…" She turned on her heel and stormed through the door.
Tbc…
A/N: I'm not sure where this came from...someone mentioned wanting to know about Ron's reactions earlier...honestly this is not how I envisioned things between Ron and Hermione going, this isn't quite how I planned this chapter I was all set for R/H schmoopieness but my fingers had other ideas and I just followed to where they wanted to go. So Voila!
I think times of war and crisis bring people together, I also think that sometimes the same sorts of situations that engender acts of great bravery and courage also leave space for some of the more base and less admirable qualities of our personalities to show themselves, revealling more truths about a person's strengths, abilities and attitudes than the people who love them can understand or accept and perhaps even more than the person themselves are ready to understand.