Chapter 19

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters you recognize. These belong to the beautiful and talented J.K. Rowling. I thank her for creating them and being so kind as to loan them to me for awhile. Of course, she probably doesn't know about this bit of plot, nor will ever know. But I can dream can't I?

A/N: Sorry about Tonks taking over the last chapter. She and Remus just have minds of their own and keep popping up randomly. This chapter's been in the making for a while. I hope it's worth the wait.

PERV ALERT! Just kidding. Now that I've got your attention, how explicit do y'all want it to get later on? We're quickly approaching Ron/Hermione, so I just wanted to hear your opinions. People I know read this, so keep that in mind. Just let me know in your review. So in other words, REVIEW!

Hermione's talk with Tonks had made her feel a little better. She didn't know what would happen between her and Ron, but she did know she could pull through it. Now, she didn't delude herself with the hopes of a relationship, but she could see them becoming friends again. He'd already begun to patch things up with Harry, after all.

Hermione had left the girls with Tonks and Remus. They had two of their own, and she trusted them completely. No one else she knew would take such good care of them. Apparently they'd already hit it off with Sirius. It was good for them to have other magical friends, Hermione knew. It would help them deal with Hogwarts when they were old enough.

Hogwarts. It seemed like decades ago, not just four years. She would have been Head Girl if she'd attended her seventh year, but she and Ron had skived off with Harry to destroy the horcruxes and Voldemort. Of course, the school only remained open a few weeks. McGonagall and the Ministry just didn't think it was safe enough. Hermione didn't blame them. It wasn't, not with Dumbledore gone and Death Eaters on the loose. McGonagall herself had been killed by Death Eaters. Now Flitwick was Headmaster.

Hermione had no idea where to find Ron. She didn't know where he lived or his favorite haunts. So she went to the joke shop. And nearly disapparated immediately, thinking she'd come to the wrong place. The place was dirty and deserted. Then she spotted one of the twins.

"Hermione! Looking for Ron?" he asked.

She nodded. "Is he here?"

"Nope. It seems everyone but me has a girl looking for them. Alicia was here earlier, trying to catch George. The coward tucked tail and hid when he saw her coming, though. Bloody wanker."

So it was Fred. "Do you know where Ron is, Fred?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Wouldn't know. He and I haven't really been getting on exactly. He keeps bossing me around like a child. I don't know who he thinks he is. I miss the old Ron. It was fun to piss him off. Pissing Ron off now is like playing with fire: you have to be careful or you get singed."

George entered the room. "Is she gone?"

"Who? Alicia? Yeah. She did send you a message though. She said she can't give up on you. Oh, and she wants to grow old with you and have your babies." He grinned at his twin. "I don't know what you did to her, George, but she's all yours. She looked terrible."

"Fred!" Hermione cried, "Don't be rude."

George blinked at Hermione. "Oh, hi." He looked at Fred blankly. "Why is she here?"

"She's looking for Ron."

"Oh." George looked at her, comprehension lighting up his face. "Did he meet the kids?"

"Yeah." Hermione blushed. "It didn't go well."

George smiled. "Can't say I'm surprised. Well, if I know Ron, I'd look for him at the Leaky Cauldron. He's become quite fond of his firewhiskey."

"Thanks, George."

Hermione disapparated and appeared at the Leaky Cauldron. She sighed as she realized that this place had not changed. She saw the same old stools and dark interior. Then she spotted him. The redheaded man was talking intently with someone while holding a bottle of firewhiskey. George had been right. She was so caught up with his pained expression that she didn't realize he was talking to Harry Potter for quite some time.

Well, she'd just have to approach them. She nervously walked up to the two men; two men who had once only been boys and the best friends she'd ever had. She cleared her throat. "Ron?"

Both men pivoted and looked at her. Harry looked bemused, his emerald eyes glinting behind his round spectacles.

Ron, however, looked anything but bemused. He looked angry. "Come to hit me yourself, Hermione? Or did you come to demand child support or something of the like?"

She recoiled at the bitterness in his voice. Oh yes, she'd hurt him. She should have known he'd fight back.

"Ron," Harry hissed.

"Now don't you pick her side, Harry!" Ron bellowed, earning the stares of several curious customers.

"Ron, this isn't the place," Hermione whispered. "Let's go somewhere more, um, private."

Ron looked around and blushed. "Oh. Right." He looked back at Harry. "Catch up with you later, mate?"

Harry nodded, much to Hermione's relief. "Yeah. See you at work tomorrow."

Hermione had forgotten the two both worked in the same department. Of course, when two people really want to avoid one another, they find ways. Like not answering someone's owls, she thought painfully.

Hermione led Ron back towards the entrance to Diagon Alley. "Where can we go?"

Ron shrugged. Then he grinned. "Got it! The shrieking shack. I don't think Remus will mind."

Hermione sighed. "Ron, I meant here, not Hogsmeade."

"Apparation, doll. It's only a pop away." And then he was gone.

Hermione sighed irritably. "Stupid men. Ron always was the worst. Impulsive…" She gave in anyway, visualizing the dump she'd seen the interior of only once. The night she and Harry had gone under the Whomping Willow to save Ron from…Sirius Black. Kind of.

Ron was waiting for her, looking altogether too smug. "I knew you'd give in. You always were the good little student until someone talked you into something dangerous. Then you enjoyed it."

"Like what?" Hermione said, trying desperately to sound indignant.

He smiled again, this one slow and very familiar. It made her spine tingle with recognition. "Hmm…I can think of many times. But one time in particular. The reason we both are here right now."

"Hey, it wasn't my job to remember," Hermione huffed.

He laughed. "Brightest witch of our age," he said, pointing at her. "Mediocre sixth Weasley," he said, pointing to himself. "I can't say I'm surprised I forgot. I'm just amazed that you did."

Hermione blushed. "You distracted me."

"Should I take that as a compliment?" Ron asked, his voice husky.

Hermione wanted to die. Merlin, he was driving her mad. She hadn't had a shag since him. She might be a slag, but damn, she wanted him. Badly. She looked up at met his perceptive indigo stare.

"I will then." He turned away. "Okay, what did you want to talk about?"

Hermione tried desperately to remember. Damn him. Damn his red hair, blue eyes, and long lanky body. She wanted to slide down his naked length. Stop it, Hermione, she admonished herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated. "The girls." Aha, that was it. She had children with this man. She wouldn't mind making more…She was way too randy. She needed to rectify that at some point.

"Oh, the girls." Ron shook his head. Hermione looked down. Good. He was just as distracted as her. "How are they?"

"Fine. They're with Prof—Remus and Tonks. They apparently got along really well with little Sirius."

"Good." Hermione was glad Ron was at a complete loss for words as well. "So…"

"So, everyone says we need to discuss custody," Hermione started.

"Oh. Yeah. I want equal with you."

"Ron, we live in different countries."

"Move here."

Hermione was offended. "Why should I move, Ronald Weasley? Just because I'm a woman?"

"No. I can't move." He said it flatly. There was no sorrow, no embarrassment. Hermione had the distinct impression he'd moved beyond that years ago.

"I don't want to."

"You're being selfish."

She knew he was right. "Ron! I'm their mother, I…"

"Look, Hermione, I want to be with my family. I'm a Weasley. We always stick together. So damn me to hell if I'm going to let my children live on a completely different continent."

This Ron frightened Hermione a little. He didn't fight like she remembered. "You don't yell anymore," she said softly.

"Yelling doesn't get you anywhere with St. Mungo's and the Ministry. I got George his wand back and Ginny out of St. Mungo's. I have learned."

Hermione looked heartbroken. "I can't move here. You can have the kids Christmas and summer holidays."

"That isn't good enough for now. And what about after they start Hogwarts?"

Hermione felt tears welling up in her eyes. Ron planning ahead? What exactly had he been through? "I don't know, Ron. I don't know."

"You've had almost three years with them. It's not fair."

"I know."

He was angry now. All the playful banter between them had ceased. "You're a bitch, you know that Hermione? Expecting me not to care about my own children!"

What little was left of Hermione's heart shattered. "No. I expected you to care too much about them. I just knew you wouldn't care about me." Then she disapparated, running away from the cold hard stare of the only man she would ever love.

A/N: Okay, I have three things to apologize for: 1)the wait. I've had these chapters done for ages, I just refuse to post more than one per day. I know, I'm evil. It's fun. 2)the perverted beginning. I didn't see that coming. Bad Hermione! Bad Ron! 3)the sad ending. Didn't see that coming either. Ron just had to lash out. I can't really blame him, though. It'll pick up. Remember…I want to know how perverted I can get later on. Let me know in your reviews.