Chapter Three: Catching Up

Disclaimer: Nope... I absolutely, definitely don't own any of it...

A/n: I'm trying my best... Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far: FeolaBlack, kellydofc, XxxsaladfingersxxX, Hogibear92, RaI'DeE PoYnT3r, PInk SuCks, Lois Lane IV, K9 and Co, Ron's goddess.

Hermione looked up and put her coat around herself. The pair of hands belonged to a person. A person who was coming closer and closer and closer.

"Here, you dropped this...," the red-haired person with tantalizingly blue eyes said, giving Hermione back the Galleon.

Hermione bowed down her head and thought deeply, this was no other than Ron!, and she smiled at herself.

"Thanks...," she stammered, and raised up her head to become face to face to the taller figure who was one of her best friends at Hogwarts, "Ron..."

"Excuse me," he asked, "Have we met?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten a 'bossy bushy-haired Hermione'," Hermione replied.

"'Mione? Is that you? Er... You've changed," Ron said, looking closely at her. She definitely had changed. Her hair wasn't as bushy as before; it cascaded in soft brown curls down to her back. She was quite taller now, though still not reaching his height.

The snow was falling heavily now, but they still were glued to each other's eyes.

"Er... It's getting cold out here. Why don't you come to my house and stay until the blizzard subsides?" Ron suggested.

Hermione was about to refuse when the icy cold breeze prompted her to nod.

Ron took her wrist and led her to a plain cottage not far away, and which was otherwise warm on the inside.

"Sit here. I'll fix some cocoa." he said, gesturing to a blue-and-white living room with a fireplace crackling merrily.

Hermione obeyed silently and went to settle herself on a cozy blue armchair, and looked around. At the top of the fireplace was a normal polished clock, and there were frames of pictures there. She didn't have time to examine them because at that very same moment, Ron came in with two cups of steaming hot chocolate and a plate of biscuits.

Hermione took the cup he offered her and waited for a few minutes before starting the conversation.

"Erm... How long have you been here," she inquired politely, setting down her half-finished cup on the table.

"Just yesterday. I haven't been able to unpack half of my things...," Ron responded, looking at the boxes at the far corner of the cottage.

"Er... I meant here. In Britain.," Hermione said quietly, gazing at the fireplace.

"Oh, I came here about two days ago. I visited Mum and Dad and my brothers... Ginny, too.," he replied.

"So... How long are you going to stay here," she asked.

"I'm not going anywhere, 'Mione... Mission's already finished," Ron stated, "Well, except Harry. He gets to stay there for another two months because of additional special training. Which means I'm getting a job at the Ministry."

"I missed both of you... You and Harry." Hermione said.

"Us too. But we were always busy that we weren't able to reply to your novel-length letters." he told her, apologetically smiling.

"It's fine... Really." Hermione murmured, smiling a bit.

"Enough talk about me. How about you," Ron inquired, glimpsing outside the window for a moment to see if the snow had stopped falling, which was still falling heavily, as he observed.

"Erm... I work at the Department for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, I am also one of the editors of the Evening Prophet and I co-own a bookstore in Diagon Alley with Hannah Abott." she replied.

Ron grinned lopsidedly. "I knew you'd make the most of your life! Imagine, three occupations at once! Only one person could do that all without panicking or collapsing within the first few minutes- you."

"I really intend to make the most of my life, thank-you-very-much. Unlike some, who leave their deadline-on-Thursday Potions essay until Wednesday midnight while still at Hogwarts." Hermione told him, this time grinning too.

"Those some who leave their deadline-on-Thursday Potions essay until Wednesday midnight while still at Hogwarts have also succeeded, becoming fine, respectable Aurors." he grinned, repeating a part of Hermione's dialogue.

"Oh, are they really," she said, " Anyway, umm... do you already have a family?"

"Nope. Not yet. Missions keep Aurors deprived of lovelife," he replied. "'Bout you? Still single?"

"Of course. Having three jobs isn't basically a walk in the park." Hermione smiled rather warmly.

"I know that. I was just wondering if you were still fraternizing with the enemy." Ron told her in a joking manner.

"Fraternizing with the enemy," she said, surprised, "I am not going to have an affair with a Bulgarian Seeker who is already married to a famous Bulgarian witch and has four children with her. Haven't you read? Viktor was married five years ago to a certain Tatyana Ivanevsky."

"Oh. Now I know how it feels to be shut out from the world in five years."

Hermione smiled and continued their conversation until it was beginning to get dark.

"I have to go home. The blizzard's slowing down." Hermione said, getting up to her feet. "Thanks a lot. It has been wonderful catching up with you."

"'Twas my pleasure, 'Mione. I'll accompany you home." Ron told her, handing her coat and getting one from the closet for himself.

"You don't have to, you know..." Hermione started.

"I insist." he said, "Now, what do you prefer? Floo network, Apparation or the good ole Muggle way?"

"The good ole Muggle way."

"The good ole Muggle way it is, then." Ron murmured, opening the door and offering his arm.

Hermione went out and took his arm. The snowflakes were falling slowly this time. She glimpsed the number of Ron's house: 33 Belladonna Lane. Hermione stared in amazement. If Ron's house was #33, then, she just lived next door!

"Er... 'Mione?" Ron asked.

"You know what? We're next-door neighbors. I just live there." She answered, pointing at the cottage next to Ron's.

"It won't be too much of a fuss to visit each other often, huh?"

"Yes, it won't."

Presently they came to Hermione's house: 32 Belladonna Lane.

"Wanna come inside?" Hermione inquired.

"No thanks. I still need to unpack." Came Ron's polite reply.

"Okay. I'll help you unpack tomorrow. Thanks again."

"You're welcome, 'Mione." he said.

"So... Er... Goodnight, Ron. Sweet Dreams.," Hermione whispered, and gave him a friendly peck on his cheek.

"Yeah, you too. Goodnight, 'Mione.," Ron approached her and kissed her forehead, then bade goodbye and left.

Hermione turned on the porch light and watched as Ron went back to his cottage. She gave Ginger the usual cat food and changed into warm bedclothes. Before falling asleep, she sighed and realized that she didn't want that wonderful day to just be a dream.

A/n: Too short? Tell me your thoughts about this fic. I'll improve in the later chapters. Thanks a lot!