February 7th 2000

I pull my jacket on and wrap my scarf around my face. My muggle clothes are finally feeling comfortable again. I think about dawning my cape but I don't want to stand out in muggle London, even though I won't see a soul at this hour. I wasn't an easy decision to leave my friends behind in Scotland but London is where I need to be for school. My parents we're hoping I'd follow in their footsteps and become a dentist but when I found the wizard healer program I knew that's what I wanted to do with my life.

Two weeks ago I received an owl from Ron letting me know that he'd be in London visiting Bill and Fleur for a couple weeks. I selfishly agreed to pick him up at his portkey location because it's not due in until 11:30pm. Bill had offered but quickly relented when he learned the time, Fleur is pregnant and a good night's sleep is hard to come by these days.

I check my watch again as I quickly walk towards the small forest on the outskirts of the city. His boot is due to land in four minutes. I quicken my pace as I make it to the small hill at the back of the forest. My eyes scan the dark clearing in search of a hint that he's already landed. A loud popping noise startles me, and then I see him. His red scruffy hair blowing in the February wind as he floats down to the soft forest floor.

"Mione!" He exclaims as we pulls me into a hug.

"Ronald" I whisper into his winter coat.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Everything is right in the world now that he's in my arms. I worry about him and Harry, just because Voldemort is gone doesn't mean that the wizarding world is safe. We make the short walk back to my flat, his arm draped playfully around my shoulders. I lead him up the snowy stairs to my door.

"Sorry it's not larger, I'm not used to having overnight guests" I say as I show him around my small flat.

"No", it's perfect" he says smiling "very Hermione"

"You've had a long trip, why don't you take my bed. I changed the sheets this morning. I'll sleep on the couch."

"No way Mione! I'm not letting you sleep on the couch" he says firmly.

"Well then take the other side of the bed, it's big enough for two and you won't sleep well on the couch, you're much too tall.

"Are you sure?" he asks giving me a questioning look.

"Yes, I'm sure" I say.

We both climb into the made bed, modestly clothed in our sleepwear and visibly awkward. Our conversation flows easily, relieving us of the awkwardness. My eyes are getting heavy, with the sound of the fan, his even breathing and the hour. Just as I'm about to fall asleep, I hear him clear his throat to say something.

"Thanks again for picking me up Hermione" his voice is low and sleepy, he reaches over and takes my hand in his. Sparks fly through my fingers and find their way to my clenched abdomen.

"Goodnight Ron" I say, giving his hand a squeeze.

February 8th 2000

When I wake our hands are no longer intertwined. The sheet is resting comfortably over his hips, which are covered by a pair of flannel pants. His toned torso is covered by a thin white t-shirt. I take a moment to take in the view of his resting body. He looks younger when he sleeps, the anxiety that occasionally plagues him is gone. The thin creases in his forehead and around his lips show me that he has aged significantly in the nine years we've known each other. I watch his steady breathing and admire the strong arm I can see clutching the pillow under his head. As much as I'd like to lay here all day, I know I have to get up. I slip out of bed silently, throwing on my bathrobe as I make my way to kitchen. I start the electric kettle and open up my textbook.

After my cup of tea and some reading I head to the bathroom to take a shower. I let the warm water run over my body and try not to think of the boy asleep in my bed in the next room. I eventually let my mind wander to him. Last night was so simple, crawling into bed next to him was easy and peaceful. As embarrassing as it is to say, I could get used to it.

I step out of the shower on to the mat. I wrap the towel hanging on the hook around myself and the linen one draped over the rack around my hair. I look up at myself in the low hanging mirror. I've aged too, my wild curls no longer reach down my back, they now rest simply on my shoulders. My face and body have thinned since we first met, my arms are toned and strong but still feminine and my chest still makes me look like the woman I am, not the little girl I was nine years ago.

Damn! I think to myself, I didn't bring any clothes with me. I secure the towel around my body and quietly open the door to my bedroom, where Ronald is still peacefully sleeping. I tiptoe over to my dresser, I open the top drawer and pull out a pair of skimpy black underwear, a sweater from the middle drawer and a pair of dark skinny jeans from the bottom drawer. When I turn around, Ron is awake and watching me.

"Bloody hell Ron, How long have you been watching me" I ask coyly

"Hmm since around the black panites" he chuckles sleepily.

"Ronald Weasley! Why didn't you say anything?!" I exclame

"I didn't want you to think you woke me, because you didn't" he says

"So you decided to watch me pick out my panties for the day, like a creep?!" I say only half joking.

"Well when you put it that way it does sound creepy" he says laughing as he throws the covers off of himself.

"I'll let you get changed in peace. Do you mind if I use your shower? I smell like the boot I used as a portkey."

"Not at all, towels are in the closet. The shower works kinda funny, just holler if you need help. It took me forever to figure out. It is a muggle flat after all"

I've just finished pulling my jeans over my hips when I hear a soft knock at the door.

"Mione… I can't figure out the shower" and embarrassed Ron laughs.

When I walk into the bathroom, he's standing there with just a towel wrapped around his hips. His chest is sprinkled with red wisps of hair, a trail of the same red hair trails down his stomach and under the towel. I've seen him in a towel loads of time, but this time it's different. Harry isn't on the other side of the tent nor is the rest of his family floors below at the burrow.

I'm sitting at the table, my nose in a textbooks again when he comes out of the bathroom, his hair is still damp and tousled. I resist the urge to run my fingers through it. I make us a simple breakfast and more tea. As we eat he tells me about life, he works for the ministry as an auror with Harry, it's rare that the two of them spend more than a couple weeks in one place. I tell him about my healer program and the little life I have created here. I don't tell him that he's the first person to sleep next to me here.

The walk to his brother's house is quiet but not uncomfortable. I haven't seen his brother or sister in law in a couple months. We've gone to dinner a couple times and I had them over in November for dinner. Fleur's pregnant belly has swollen significantly since then, she didn't tell me they were expecting then, but I wasn't surprised when they told me the last time all of us were together at the burrow.