Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling

Playing House

Chapter 15: Come back

After exactly thirty minutes his departure from Ministry, Ron stood in front of a big house with a sign with the words 'Mr and Mrs. Granger BSD' on it, at the end of a narrow lane. He could easily find the address even though it had been years since he last visited this place. After their sixth year in Hogwarts, on a sunny June day, Harry and he had visited Grangers to explain that Hermione was going to leave the house to search the horcruxes with them. It had been a hard and challenging day for all of them, he recalled bitterly. And like a coincidence, his second visit was being really tough yet again.

He silently pushed open the door of the garden and stepped inside cautiously. The big square garden was full of various trees that had been planted orderly across the short path that reached the door. Raising his head, he looked up upstairs and gazed at the certain window, which he knew belonged Hermione. As expected, the curtains were ajar.

At the moment, a very pessimistic feeling got him on the stomach.

After breathing a few times to relax, nervously he rang the bell. Seconds later, the door slowly opened and Ron saw Mrs. Granger standing opposite of him.

"Oh Ron," she said, looking surprised to see him.

"Hello, Mrs. Granger," Ron greeted her, cracking a smile. "Err, is Hermione here?" he asked tentatively after clearing his throat.

Mrs. Granger merely smiled, nodding her head and wild opened the door, indicating him to enter. Ron walked in hesitantly, his heart starting to race.

"How are you Ron?" asked Mrs. Granger sincerely after closing the door behind them. Ron studied her face before he replied. She looked normal and calm as she used to be; there was no hostility in her voice. So, Ron deemed that she knew nothing. He gave a sigh of relief.

"I am fine Mrs. Granger what about you?" he asked, trying to be kind, his eyes wandering around secretly in the meantime. In his mind, he was wondering where hermione had been. "Thank you," Mrs. Granger answered as they walked on the long corridor.

"Hermione is in her room, I will- " she started but her explanation cut in with a voice.

"Mum, who is it?"

They both raised their heads at the voice. There was Hermione at the bottom of stairs, yelling. She stopped frozen when she saw Ron, her eyes widened in shock.

"Hello Hermione," Ron greeted her, trying to sound nonchalant. Hermione blinked at him, taken aback. They gazed each other for a couple of minutes.

"Hermione dear, Ron wants to talk to you," explained Mrs. Granger quickly, breaking the silence.

Hermione didn't answer. She descended the stairs slowly.

"Why don't you enter the living room," suggested Mrs. Granger, turning to her daughter. "I'll be in the kitchen," she informed and disappeared, walking swiftly away from them.

Mutely, Hermione walked towards the big oak door across the stairs, and Ron followed her.

He spotted that nothing changed in the living room. It was big and airy, full of showy furnitures. In the corner, there was an antique piano. The walls were painted with faint amber and interesting muggle portraits were hung on, which Ron thought amazing.

Hermione walked towards to the window and crossing her arms, she placed them under her chest.

"What do you want, Ron?" she asked impatiently, sounding harsh, not asking him to sit down as if she wanted him to leave the house at once.

Ron was taken aback with her tone. "What do I want?" he snorted.

"Why did you come here? And how did you find me?" she asked with an obvious bitterness in her voice. "Oh yes, Ginny told you, didn't she?" she didn't wait for his answer; she shook her head in discontent.

"Oh yes, Ginny told me." Ron approved, frowning. "What's wrong it? I went crazy when you didn't come home, I panicked, and you knew that! Why didn't you bother to inform me?"

Hermione snorted, rolling her eyes. Ron took a step closer to her but she moved forward to the middle of the room.

"I know you're cross with me, Hermione," Ron went on. "But I am sorry. I really am sorry," he said apologetically. "I know it was a mistake, I shouldn't have talked to Hugh. But I was scared that you actually dated him," he tried to explain. Hermione ignored his explanation.

"I was embarrassed Ron," she whirled around her heels, "Why are you being so selfish? I risked my job for you but irresponsibly you talked to him. You acted like a child!"

Ron lowered his gazes to the floor, feeling his face heat up.

"I don't undertand what do you want more Ron?" Hermione continued. "You almost get the job. You got convinced Mr. Hewlitt- "

"Come back home," Ron interrupted. Hermione's head snapped up in surprise.

"Oh really?" She smirked. "As a what? As a game partner? Or as a shagging partner?" she accused, her eyes becoming glassy.

"Oh, please Hermione," Ron cut in, wincing. As a real wife, he wanted to say. But the words caught in his throat, he opened his mouth then quickly closed. "Not now," he reminded himself. "Not yet," he said under his breath. And not like that, while she was frowning at him.

He took a step closer. "I love you," he declared.

Hermione didn't respond instead she pressed her lips angrily. Ron just stared at her, waiting for her to say something, something similar indeed. Her silence drove him completely crazy. "Why don't you believe me?" he snapped loudly.

"Don't raise your voice Ron!" Hermione scowled as she spared a look at the door.

"I'll raise my voice," Ron protested. "I've come here to tell you that I love you and you worry about my loud voice! Oh please Hermione, be open to me!"

"I just can't trust you," she said, her voice cracking and turned away from him. Ron's mouth opened and then closed.

"Is that all you've to say?" he asked with a touch of sadness behind his words. Hermione avoided his eyes.

"Will you come home?" he asked insistently, the pain evident in his voice.

However, Hermione didn't reply. They waited in a tense silence for a couple of minutes. Ron did not say another word. Feeling humiliated and irritated, he made his way swiftly to the door. In the foyer, he ran into Mrs. Granger.

"Oh Ron, are you leaving?" asked Mrs. Granger, surprised, looking at him inquisitively. It had been just ten minutes.

"Yes, Mrs. Granger," replied Ron and then glanced at Hermione who had just walked out of the living room behind him.

"Why don't you stay for dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asked eagerly. Ron glanced at Hermione, hoping she would ask him to stay, but colouring slightly, she only lowered her gazes.

"Thank you Mrs. Granger, but I can't," Ron turned to Mrs. Granger, forcing himself to smile. "I have already promised mum to drop over," he lied quickly, trying to control the anger in his voice in the meantime.

Hermione opened her mouth as if she was going to say something but then she whirled around and abruptly dashed to the upstairs. Mrs. Granger watched her go, her mouth agape, looking extremely confused. Ron quickly bid good-bye to her without making an explanation and left the house without further ado.

As soon as he walked out of the house, he cursed under his breath. "Just great," he mumbled to himself as he marched in the drizzling weather. "I've told her that I loved her and she doesn't even trust me," he thought with a sinking feeling.

What was he expecting indeed? "It was just a game, wasn't it?" He needed to remind himself. And now the game was over, everything had to be in order again. He doubted of course, things would never be the same. But if Hermione wanted to remain that way, there was nothing he could do about it. He wished they never played this game. He wished he had never touched Hermione that way. Now, he was addicted.

This time, he didn't choose to go to the pub. Alcohol wasn't a solution to his laments, he experienced. It changed nothing. Therefore, he directly went home. It was a torture though. In the totally silent house, he felt pathetic and miserable. The memories of Hermione walking in the house and cooking in his small kitchen were still fresh in his mind. Never having her back in his house seemed incredible now. And the fake wedding pictures on the easel weren't helping. After having a poor dinner alone, he decided to go into an early sleep at least to escape from the guilty feeling gnawing inside him.

Extinguishing all the lights in the house, he changed into his pajamas and collapsed into the bed. Instinctively, he embraced the pillow lying next to him. Tormently enough, it smelt like Hermione. Closing his eyes, he tossed and tossed in the bed helplessly. He tried to not to remember her snappy behaviour towards him, and tried to make himself believe that Hermione would forgive him eventually. There was no use though. And the fact that she hadn't responded his love yet, made his situation unbearable.

The moment he believed that he wouldn't sleep in any case, a faint noise coming from outside made his eyes snapped open. Automatically, he grabbed his wand that rested on the nightstand and placed it under the pillow. He thought there was someone wanted to break in the house. He waited a little to be sure. But as he heard a key flicked on the door, he felt his heart gave an odd thump. He immediately remembered that Hermione had got a reserved key. But again, Ron waited on guard, noiselessly he stunned in the bed.

"Ron," the very acquainted voice of Hermione called him out tentatively after a minute. She had returned. She had come back to him. Ron't didn't answer, feeling excited, he collapsed back to the bed, and pretented to be asleep, lying opposite of the door.

Moments later, her footsteps echoed in the house and Ron noticed they approached closer. Holding his breath, he remained silent. After that, the door of the bedroom opened slowly, he could feel. Hermione moved closer to the edge of the bed and gazing over, she checked whether he had been indeed asleep.

Convinced, she slipped of her shoes and slowly slid under the covers, much to Ron's surprise. His heart missed a beat. He had to keep the urge to scream. Then like a miracle, she wrapped her arms around his waist, cuddling over. After a second later, "I love you too," she murmured into his ear. A wave of familiar burning sensation warmed Ron's inside.

The bright morning sunlight streamed through the window and Ron's eyes opened slowly. At the scene, he felt his stomach do an odd flip. Hermione was there next to him, sleeping peacefully. Last night wasn't only a dream, he realised. Grinning to himself, he leaned on his elbow, lying on his side, he watched her for a long time, savouring every moment of her presence in his bed. Then, he glanced at the clock. It was only eight a.m. He wasn't late for work yet.

"Brilliant," he murmured ecstatically.

He wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and kissed her softly on the mouth. Hermione didn't wake up. He leaned again, and kissed her more insistently. Finally Hermione opened her eyes. She gave him a sleeply smile and flushed significantly. Ron couldn't hold back the grin.

Then he kissed her lips … her cheek … her nose... Hermione seemed too drowsy to realise what he was up to. But then she gathered her composure and "Ron wait!" she murmured when their lips parted. But Ron ignored her. Why was she stopping him?

When she began to shift restlessly in his arms, "What?" he snapped, feeling slightly irritated.

"I love you, too," Hermione muttered.

Ron grinned down to her and she grinned back heavenly. Feeling a sudden surge of desire, Ron went back kissing her more passionately, his heart pounding madly.

When he drove his hands over her shirt, Hermione gasped in a false shock and pushed him on the chest. "I am late for work!" she said, attempting to get up, looking suddenly ashamed. "Good try," stated Ron quickly, pulling her back to the bed. "You are on a break, remember?"

Hermione blushed. Without waiting another interrupt from her, Ron shoved her blouse up. He ran his hands over the soft skin and he tried to deepen the kiss, but Hermione pulled away.

"Ron, you know what?" She interjected. Ron rolled his eyes dramatically. They were in the middle ofa bed together, but she was seriously trying to tell him something. " Unbelievable," he thought privately. He distracted her by leaning in for a kiss. But Hermione kept muttering stubbornly. "I think now it's revealed-" Ron cut her off with a sharp kiss; he impatiently waited for her monologue to be over. "We should consider-"

"Stop babbling," he taunted between the kisses.

Hermione pulled away and stared into his eyes. "People can learn what's going on," Ron pressed his lips to hers, Hermione pulled away again, "what if someone finds out and-" Ron tried to silence her with his mouth however Hermione looked really concerned.

"Well mum already knows," the words slipped from his mouth. "Oh, shit!" Then he cursed to himself. But Hermione heard him. She turned to him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Perfect timing," he scolded himself mentally. He let out a defeated sigh. Seeing that she was waiting for an explanation, he reluctantly gave a break to their snogging. "Err, last day when I returned from work, I found her waiting for me. She had seen the pictures on the frame so I had to tell her everything," he exclaimed, wrinkling his nose.

Hermione widened her eyes at his words. "But she didn't hate the idea, I swear," he quickly went on soothingly for she looked alarmed, trying to make it sound positive.

But Hermione did not take it optimistic. "Oh my god," she groaned taking her hands over her face. "I'll never be able to look her at the face now," she complained, straightening up. Ron pulled her back to the bed once more.

"Oh, please don't exaggerate," he said, half-exasperated. "She just wants to know that you were volunteer," he reasoned, praying she wouldn't cross that much. Hermione bit her lips looking thoguhtful and then looked up at his face.

"What if I say, I weren't?" she blurted out abruptly. For a moment Ron thought she looked serious, he swallowed, looking panicked. But then, Hermione chuckled merrily at his scandalized expression. "I am joking Ron!" she stated, looking really amused. "Oh," Ron said. She was only teasing him. Then Ron joined in her laughter and they rolled inside the bed, their bodies tangled.

Ron didn't mind, how late he had been late for work. Finally he had sorted things between he and Hermione. And there were just a couple of days for his victory. Everything seemed in order, much more than he had asked for.

Before he left for Ministry, they agreed on going to the Burrow in the evening. "Sooner is better!" Hermione had commented even though she felt really uncomfortable. She stayed at home since she was on a break. But she told Ron that she was going to visit Ginny. They both knew she was dying to know what had happened.

In the evening, Ron returned home at seven o'clock. Hermione was waiting for his arrival. On his lunch break, he had informed his mum that they would visit them for dinner. So, they got prepared quickly and stepped inside the fireplace to Floo over Burrow.

"Just tell them, you were volunteer, okay?" suggested Ron, after kissing Hermione on the forehead encouragingly. Hermione nodded in agreement, looking pretty nervous. After holding her hand tightly, Ron yelled "The Burrow."

"What the hell!"

The moment they had stepped out of the fireplace, Ron's jaw dropped at the scene facing him. The small kitchen of Burrow was noisy and crowded. Fred and George were at the table with Harry, rolling with laughter merrily; Ginny was standing over Harry, her arms around his neck. Then he noticed, his seven months old nephew Alex was crumpling on the floor, and there were Fleur and Mrs. Weasley discussing something in front of the counter. The all Weasley family was there with the exception of Charlie who had been in Romania.

"Ron what is this?" Hermione whispered, nudging him badly.

"I don't know," Ron whispered back, his eyes huge in awe. At that moment Mrs. Weasley noticed them "Ron, Hermione," she cried, beaming. All heads turned into their direction. Ron cracked a smile; but Hermione still gaped at the scene facing her.

Mrs. Wasley pulled Ron into a fierce hug and then Hermione, muttering something under her breath. Ron tried to act normal whereas Hermione looked stunned.

"We were expecting you," stated Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum I told not to tell anyone," Ron whispered in her ear. "Oh, I didn't," Mrs. Weasley replied simply and then turned away from them. Ron threw a dark glance at Ginny who looked rather amused, and then she waved at them, grinning wildly.

"Ginny can we talk?" asked Hermione after greeting everyone, and she dragged her in to the corner along with Ron.

"Did you tell them?" she asked. Giny looked innocent for a moment but then "I might have mentioned," she blurted out.

"Ginny," Hermione scolded. "Now everybody thought how silly we had been!"

"No they didn't," Ginny protested at once. "They thought it's romantic," she said, giggling. Hermione blushed crimson. Ron only shrugged and quickly went to speak to Harry.

The dinner was a catastrophe. Everybody stared at Ron and Hermione as if they were coming from another planet, with the silly grin on their faces. Twins looked they were having a lot of fun. Ron doubted they would ever get matured. Luckily, Hermione was used to their disturbing jokes. Harry and Ginny weren't less from twins; they shared mischievous looks, which Ron had to bear throughout the dinner. He made a mental note to thank Bill afterwards who had been the most reasonable person at the table. Even Mrs. Weasley hinted at them; Mr. Weasley had to silence her with a significant look. From time to time, Ron glanced at Hermione secretly. Secretly since everybody waited for a mistake to poke fun with them.

After dinner, Ron saw Mrs. Weasley dragging Hermione to the upstairs, along with Ginny and Fleur who was carrying Alex in her lap, gigling. Hermione glanced Ron over her shoulder with a miserable look on her face, and mouthed "I'll kill you later," Ron couldn't help but chuckled slightly at the scene.

"Ron our little bro, we had thought you way passed your playing era," George teased as soon as the women left the kitchen.

Ron merely rolled his eyes at him trying to avoid the likely conversation. But much to his dismay, the others filled on to the subject quickly. There was no escape now. He sighed audibly.

"When are you going to propose her?" asked Fred, beaming.

"What?" Ron looked surprised. "Who said I would propose her?" he asked playing dumb.

"Come on, Ron," Harry chuckled. He exchanged a -don't give us that rubbish- look with twins. "Even you can't be that stupid, I believe," George commented.

"Well, okay… but not right now," Ron managed.

"Not right now?" repeated Bill astonished. "When then?" he asked, rasing a serious eyebrow.

"Well, I am waiting for the results," Ron stated. "Don't look at me like that," he said quickly as he saw they gaped at him incredulously, "There is only one left one week," he remarked.

"Are you stupid?" George snorted loudly. "Did you fix that on a condition? If Hermione knew that she would hate you, what will you do if they don't choose you?" he reasoned.

Ron shrugged helplessly. "Try to understand me please."

"I don't know Ron," Bill looked thoughtful for a moment. " That's not a wise option, but yeah, if you say just a week…"

Ron nodded eagerly. Before they could dig out the subject, Hermione returned back to the kitchen along with the others. She looked calm but embarrassed, Ron observed.

"We should go home," she murmured, in a low voice.

"Of course, of course," aprroved Mrs. Weasley before Ron could answer. "You should go home," she said in a cheerful voice. They both blushed deeply at the hint. And under the piercing looks of the family members, they stepped inside the fireplace to end the awkward night right away.

AN: Come on, you thought they wouldn't come together, didn't you:) Well, what can I do? It's Ron and Hermione. Review?