Ron is in a near panic when I pull into the parking lot.
"Ron, she'll be okay." I turn off the engine and hand him his keys.
He clears his throat. "I know. It's just…I wasn't there for her."
"Can I come in with you?" I don't want to intrude or anything."
"Yes, please! But you've been warned my sister and brother in law will question you." Ron says. He practically stumbles into the front lobby.
"Right, your sister thinks I'm your girlfriend." I remind him.
He searches for his sister. "Sorry about that."
When he finds her, he sprints in the direction of the only other person with flaming red hair.
Man, he sure does love his daughter. I smile and follow him.
"Now what happened again?" Ron asks, worried tones seeping out.
"Ron. She just broke her arm. Relax," his sister says. She smiles at me. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Ginny and this is my husband Harry."
"I'm Hermione. Your brother is helping me move into my place."
"I heard something about that," Ginny says. She smirks at Ron.
"Yeah, yeah can we focus on the reason we're here?" Ron begs.
"Ron, geez I've never seen you so wound up." She'll be okay," Ginny assures him.
"Maybe I should go." I say, sending Ron's nervous tension.
"Please don't let my brother send you away," Ginny says.
This makes me chuckle to see their bond. "I meant to go back to the car. I've got to do some stuff for work anyway."
"Oh, where do you work?" Harry asks.
"She's the librarian at the library downtown. You know the one that closed down last year." Ron interjects.
Ginny and Harry give Ron a suspicious look.
"Thanks, Ronald," I say. After a bit of silence, I excuse myself. "I'll be in the car."
Ron's point of view
As soon as Hermione leaves, Ginny bursts out into laughter.
"And what is so funny about this?" I ask finally finding Rose's room.
"Daddy!" Rose exclaims when I enter the room.
"Hi Rosie Posie," I sweep her into a gentle hug. "How's my girl?"
"I okay. I get a purple arm!" Rose hops off the bed and walks over to the window.
"Hi Mione!" Rose waves with her arm that isn't broken, out the window.
I nearly choke on my spit. "What?"
Ginny sneaks up behind me. "Wow, Ron. You're as pink as Mom's strawberry cake."
"Daddy, is Mione your friend? I saw you hug her."
This makes me blush even harder.
"How did he do that Rose, he just got here," Harry says.
I avoid eye contact with Ginny and try to hide my blush that keeps growing.
"Hey, Rosie, how would you like it if uncle Harry takes you to get something for being so brave?" Ginny suggests. She drapes her arm around my shoulder.
"Okay! Bye Daddy! Let's go uncle Harry," Rose squeaks out.
"So, what is the deal with this Hermione?" Ginny nudges me.
I lean against the window, "I don't even know. I feel like I've known her forever, but it's only been a week."
"Yeah, what else is it? What's Rose talking about a hug?" Ginny asks.
"She seems great with Rosie too. And I just don't want Rose to get attached." I rub the back of my neck.
Ugh. May as well tell her about the wedding because I'm going to be spending a lot of time with Hermione.
Ginny waves out the window. "Well that's great isn't it, since Lavender has no brain and can't even stay in her daughter's life."
"And that's why," I slump onto the hospital bed.
There's a soft gentle knock at the door.
"Come in!" Ginny says.
Hermione peeks her head in. "Hey. How's Rose?"
I jump up immediately, almost as if startled. "She'll be fine."
Hermione clears her throat. "Do you think we could head back to the apartment?"
"Yeah, of course." I stand and stretch.
Ginny looks between us. "You two go ahead. Ron, we'll bring Rose by later this evening. Maybe after dinner?"
"Thank you so much," Hermione says.
She grabs my arm to hold me back a bit from Ginny. "I have a little something for Rose."
"You really didn't have to."
"It's really no problem. Just something small," Hermione smiles and walks ahead.
After a tearful goodbye from Rose, Ron and I are finally on our way back to the apartment.
We unload the chair and desk and place them in the office.
TBC
AN/ If you like this so far, I could use some help! Give suggestions on what should happen in the aftermath of the encounter with Mrs. Granger? If I pick your suggestion, you get a shout out in my next upload!