Chapter 19: The Golden Trio

"And this is Flourish and Blotts, your favorite store in the entire alley."

Hermione looked through the book filled window and saw a large, two story room, filled to completion with books of every shape, size and color. Her breath hitched in her throat and her eyes spread with delight. She clutched at Ron's sleeve. "Can we go in?"

Ron grinned joyfully and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he pulled her towards the door. "Glad to see you haven't changed."

The bell over the door tinkled loudly as Ron and Hermia pushed through into the store inside.

"Miss Granger!" The old witch behind the counter called out excitedly. "Bless my soul. Miss Granger, I never thought I'd see you again." Hermia took a step back as the old witch ran out from behind the counter and wrapped her in a friendly hug. "I knew what the newspapers were saying couldn't be true. Where have you been keeping yourself?"

"Well… actually…I…," Hermia stammered awkwardly.

"Mrs. Wade," Ron took a step forward, putting himself between Hermia and the old witch. "How have you been?"

Mrs. Wade transferred her gaze to Ron who was extending his hand to her. She narrowed her eyes a moment. "I've been fine, Mr. Weasley." She said taking his hand and shaking it briskly. "And what kind of mischief have you been getting yourself into?"

Ron gasped dramatically and clutched at his heart. "Mischief? Me? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Umhm." The old witch tried to keep a stern look on her wrinkled face but Ron and Hermia could both see the twitch threatening at the corners of her lips. "Haven't seen you in a while either, my boy. It's no surprise the return of this young lady would be what got you into my shop again."

Ron shrugged his shoulders as a slight blush tinged his ears. "Hermione was always the book lover." he offered. A shiver ran up her spine when she felt his hand graze across has back and settle on her hip, his grip tightening and pulling her in. "It didn't seem right coming here without you." He murmured in her ear, his lips close enough that she could feel the tiny puffs of his breath graze her lobe, sending tendrils of electricity racing down her spine.

Mrs. Wade stared at them suspiciously, "So what can I do for you two today?"

"Nothing really. I think I would like to just look around a bit. If that's all right?"

The old witch smiled brightly. "Of course, dear." She patted Hermia's shoulders affectionately. "Take all the time you need."

Mrs. Wade returned to her counter leaving them to browse the shop alone. Hermia eagerly turned to take a look at the closest stack of books, her eyes eagerly taking in the titles and authors.

Ron slowed his pace so that he could follow a step behind her, allowing him to watch her face as she took in all the different books she had forgotten existed. He watched as her eyes narrowed with interest at the titles of some books, or widened with surprise and delight at others. He watched her lips intently as she captured it between her teeth when a book caught her attention. Ron's tongue darted across his lower lip as he imagined kissing her. It always drove him mad when she did that.

He shook his head to clear it of such tempting thoughts and forced himself to focus on something else. His eyes caught on her slender hands when she lifted it to let her fingers graze the leather spines of the large tomes, stopping every once in a while to pull a book of the shelf, flip through its pages reverently, inhaling their comforting sent, before placing them gently back on the shelf.

Ron took no notice at the specific books that Hermia was looking at until she stopped suddenly, her head tilted slightly to the side, her eyes narrowing further than they had yet thus far. She reached out and pulled a large book off the shelf. Ron glanced at the red leather cover and turned his focus back to her before the words on the binding registered in his brain. The Golden Trio: A Complete Biography of the Trio that Defeated He-Who-Must-Not-BE-Named.

Ron's eyes widened with alarm as he lurched forward and tried to take the book out of her hands.

Hermia pulled the book back, glaring daggers at him.

"Mione," he pleaded, "you shouldn't read that?" He reached for the volume again, but she was to quick, stepping back out of his reach. She clutched the book protectively to her chest.

"Why?"

"Because there are things in there that you shouldn't be reading yet."

"I thought you told me everything last night."

"I told you everything important."

"Is there anything in here that isn't true?" she asked logically.

Ron stared at the book in indecision. "No." he said shaking his head, gently prying the book from Hermia's fingers to stare at the scarlet cover with gold inlay script. "The author of this book is the only one that received permission from Harry, me and your parents to write it. Everything in here is accurate."

"So why don't you want me to read it?"

Ron looked deep into her chocolate brown eyes. "Do you think you can handle it? Everything?" He tapped the cover with his finger tip. "One, there are things missing from this book, things that the general public could not be allowed to know. Two, this book gives the bare-bone facts. There's no beating around the bush. It doesn't always explain the intentions behind some of our actions. And three, it doesn't always cast you, for that matter any of us, in a very favorable light."

"How do you mean?"

Ron sighed with frustration. "Well the worst of it is from fourth year during the Tri-Wizard Tournament when Rita Skeeter reported that you were seeing both Victor Krum and Harry at the same time."

Her eyes rounded in horror. "I wasn't, was I?"

Ron almost laughed when he saw the disgust on her face. "No Mione. Skeeter was trying to sell papers. You never had any interest in Harry."

"What about Victor Krum?"

Ron's cheeks blazed red. He ran a hand across the back of his neck and through his hair. "Victor Krum was always a sore subject with me."

"Why?"

"Well, because he liked you." Hermia blushed prettily. "He asked you to the Yule Ball and I nearly went ballistic. It only got worse when I learned that he invited you to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer."

"Did I go?"

"No." Ron grinned sheepishly. "You didn't. You decided to come and stay with me instead."

Hermia self-consciously tucked a curl that had escaped her low ponytail behind her ear. She lowered her eyes to the book. Ron could see her beautiful mind working, trying to decide if she should read it or not. He knew her answer even before she did. He knew that she could never turn down the opportunity to read a book and learn something new. She wanted all the facts and they both knew that this book could give her what Ron couldn't or wouldn't.

Hermia stared back into his bright blue eyes. "I want to read it."

He nodded his head. "All right. You win." Turning slowly he brought the book to the counter and handed it to Mrs. Wade who glanced at the cover than back at Ron with an arched eyebrow that seemed to say, 'Being a bit big headed aren't we?'

Ron paid for the book without comment and handed it back to Hermia who clutched it tight to her chest. Together they moved toward the door and all the while Ron felt Mrs. Wade's eyes burrowing into his back.

Ron's arms snuck around her waist as they walked and Hermia leaned into his warmth. It amazed him that somehow after almost two years of separation they were still so comfortable with each other. It was as if, even without her memory, she still recognized him. Ron smiled contentedly. There was no doubt in his mind that there were such things as soul mates. His parents were soul mates, Harry's parents seemed to have been soul mates, Harry and Ginny definitely were, and he knew that he and Hermione were as well. She was his one and only. And he clung to that knowledge like a life line.

"Is there anywhere else you want to go today?"

Hermia threw a considering glance around her. They had already had a pleasant meal at The Leaky Cauldron, visited Gringots and most of the other stores in Diagon Alley, including Fred and Georges joke shop. After Flourish and Blotts nothing else seemed to appeal to her. She shook her head. "No. I think I want to go back to the Burrow and see my parents. Make sure Hero and Helena are all right."

Ron nodded. "All right. We should use the fireplace at The Leaky Cauldron."

Hermia agreed and they turned and headed back down the alley towards the wall that would dissolve into a doorway leading out of the secret street.

They stepped inside the back door to The Leaky Cauldron and made there way through the after work crowd toward the fireplace. Ron sprinkled a pinch of floo powder from a pouch at his waist into the flames. The fire flared a bright emerald green before blazing a comforting, inviting shade of bottle green. Still leery of this mode of transportation Hermia took Ron's hand into hers before stepping into to the bright green flames that would bring them back to the Burrow.

She closed her eyes tight just as Ron called out their destination, preparing herself for the dizzying experience that was traveling through the Floo Network. There was a sudden whoosh and Hermia clutched onto Ron more tightly as they spun around past hundreds of fireplaces. Ron's arms tightened around her, hugging her safely to his body, giving her the comfort and security she needed, and the contact that he craved.

Hermia heard another whoosh and the two bodies came to a sudden stop. She cracked open her eyes to see that they had indeed arrived safely in the Weasley's kitchen. Her eyes widened further and she was forced to bite her lip to keep from laughing when she realized that they were most definitely not alone.

The kitchen was thoroughly occupied by two other people. Ginny Weasley was seated on the edge of the kitchen table; Harry standing in between her slightly parted thighs. The pair was so engrossed with the other that they had failed to notice the bright flare of green light that indicated the arrival of someone in the kitchen.

Ron froze a moment in shock when he saw his best mate's hand press suggestively on his little sisters breast. He had grown use to the ides of them together long ago but out of consideration for his sensibilities the two had refrained from being too affectionate while around him. Instead of growing angry like he would have in the past, Ron rolled his eyes and pulled Hermia out of the fireplace.

"Oy!" He shouted into the quiet room. "I thought we had a talk about this." Ron had to bite back his laughter when Harry jumped back from Ginny like had been scalded by heat while Ginny scrambled down from the table, frantically trying to straighten her clothing. "I gave you permission to date my sister, Potter. Hell, I gave you permission to marry her. But I thought you two agreed that you would restrain from snogging anywhere that I might see." Harry and Ginny turned red in the face and glanced at each other guiltily.

"Ron." Hermia scolded as she jabbed her elbow painfully into his chest. "Leave them alone." She smiled at the two people who had been her friends, "It's obvious that they are very much in love."

"Doesn't mean I have to be subjected to watching it." He mumbled childishly.

Ginny's embarrassment dissolved into an annoyed glare that she pinned on her brother. "Thank you, Hermione. I knew I could always depend on you to keep this prat," she jabbed Ron in the chest with her finger, "in line." Hermia couldn't help but return the infectious smile Ginny shot at her.

Sending a final glare in her brothers direction, Ginny linked her arm through Hermia's and pulled her towards the sitting room. "Sorry about that. Are mums got on the topic of wedding plans again. I hate it when they do that. It makes me feel like it's not even my wedding."

"Do they do that often?"

"Do what?"

"Talk about your wedding plans?"

"Yeah." Ginny nodded. "When your parents first learned that you disappeared they needed a distraction so my mum invited them over to help keep their minds off of you. They became good friends and they stop over here all the time."

"I didn't know that."

"I think it helped them feel closer to you. But never mind that. What did you and my git of a brother do today?" Ginny asked as she pulled her through the door, leaving the two men they loved to watch their retreating backs.

As soon as they were out of sight, Ron turned to Harry, his arms crossed in front of his chest, one eyebrow raised higher then the other. Harry, feeling Ron's blue eyes pinned on him, turned to face his best friend, his face flushed a deep crimson. "Sorry you had to see that, mate."

"No, I think it's a good thing I came in when I did. Another minute and I might have had to kill you." Harry's cheeks flamed an even darker red.

"Nothing would have happened with your parents in the next room."

"Is that the only thing that stopped you?"

Ron turned his head so that Harry couldn't see the laughter dancing on his lips. He might give Harry a lot of ribbing about Ginny, but the truth is he could think of no one better for his little sister. And if he was going to be perfectly honest, he was thrilled that he and Harry were going to legally be brothers. Not that Harry needed to marry Ginny to be a part of the family, he always had been, but Ron liked that it would finally be official. The fact that his best friend and sister were happier then he had ever seen them was an added bonus.

"It's all right, Harry." Ron relented, throwing his arm around his best mate's shoulder. "Even if you two had … you know" Ron just couldn't make himself say the words in regard to his little sister, "you're marrying Ginny in a week. Besides," he shrugged, "I think you're both old enough to make your own decisions."

Harry looked over at Ron like the tall red haired man had gone mental. "Who are you? And what have you done with my best mate?"

Ron laughed robustly, clapping Harry playfully upside the back of his head. "But seriously mate," he sobered, stopping Harry and forcing him to look at him. "I want you and Ginny to be happy. I know better then anyone how suddenly and unexpectedly the person you love can be taken away and I don't want you and Ginny to live with the same regrets that I have the past two years."

"You've said that before."

"I know. It doesn't make it any less true."

Hearing the emotion in Ron's voice Harry clapped Ron on his shoulder. "None of us are going anywhere. Hermione is back. It's over now."

Ron shook his head. "You don't know that, Harry. You don't know if tomorrow a Death Eater that got away from us won't show up and try to take one of us out, namely you, trying to avenge Voldemort's death. Hermione's particularly vulnerable."

"Ron, can we not talk about that right now? Please? I'm getting married to the most incredible girl in the world, and I now have both of my best friends back. Don't spoil this for me."

"What do you mean you now have both of your best friends back?"

Harry's eyebrows arched for a moment before he tried to brush it off with "Slip of the tongue."

"No." Ron stopped him. "What did you mean by both of your best friends?"

Knowing that Ron wasn't going to give up until he had his answers, Harry turned and sat down on the edge of the table. "What I mean Ron, is that ever since Hermione disappeared I've felt like I lost both of you." Ron sank onto the table beside him. "I know it's not your fault, but you just weren't the same after she disappeared. We all knew that you missed her, and we understood. We missed her too. But I really missed having my best mate to talk to, or hang out with."

"Harry," Ron hung his head, "I'm sorry."

"I'm not looking for an apology, and I'm not complaining. I would have been the same way if it had happened to Ginny, and I like to think that you would have stood by me as well."

"You know I would have."

"Then there's nothing to apologize for. I'm just glad that you're back. Both of you."

Ron looked over at his friend. "It's still not the same, is it?" He looked away from Harry to stare at his twiddling thumbs. "What if she never gets her memory back?" Ron voiced the question that had been nagging at the back of his brain since yesterday. "What are we going to do then?"

Harry thought it over a moment before he rested his right hand on Ron's shoulder. "If that happens, we accept her for who she has become and love her for who she is."

Both men stared gloomily at the floor a moment until they heard the soft tinkle of their girl's laughter coming from the sitting room.

Harry's hand dropped from Ron's shoulder. "I suppose we should join them." He said, nodding his head towards the door.

"Yeah," Ron agreed, pushing to his feet waiting for Harry to join him. They walked towards the door but Ron stopped Harry before they reached the portal. "Harry, I have to ask you a favor."

"Sure Ron, anything."

Ron bit his lip in a manor that reminded Harry greatly of Hermione. The redhead tugged at the collar of his robe and swayed from one foot to the other in discomfort. "Hermione wants to see Draco Malfoy." He blurted out in a rush of air.

Harry started with surprise. "I'm nut suppose to do that, Ron. He's a high security prisoner."

"I know that." Ron groaned and turned to pace the short distance between the door and his friend. "And I wouldn't ask you to do it," he continued, "if it were anyone else. But it's Hermione we're talking about. She wants to confront him, face to face."

"Ron." Harry reached out a hand and stopped his friends nervous pacing. "Draco Malfoy is dangerous. The Dementors don't affect him the same way they do the other prisoners."

"Like Sirius?"

"Don't compare that bastard to Sirius." Harry seethed angrily at his friend.

"Sorry mate, that's not what I was trying to do." Ron put up his hands as if that could warn away Harry's wrath. "I would never dream of comparing the two. They are nothing alike." Harry relaxed at Ron's soothing words. "I only said what I did because…"

"I know." Harry stopped him. "Don't worry about it." He sighed heavily. "It just bothers me that they seem to be so similar. I mean this is Sirius and Malfoy we're comparing." Harry ceased his raving, his shoulders seeming to slump under enormous weight. "She's certain she wants to see him?"

"You know, Hermione." Ron ran a disgruntle hand through his hair. "She likes to have all the facts and she can't have all of them unless she speaks to him."

Harry nodded. "All right," he rolled his eyes. "I'll throw my name around and get it set up."

"Don't do anything to get yourself in trouble."

Harry snorted. "You seem to be forgetting who I am, mate. And it's rare that I use my name to get anything, so they owe me."

Ron patted Harry's back affectionately. "Thank you, Harry. I owe you."

"No," he disagreed, "Hermione owes me." he looked at Ron with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Don't think I like you enough to do this for you."

Ron laughed and punched Harry playfully, if not slightly painfully in the arm before exiting the kitchen through the swinging door. Laughing merrily Harry caught up to Ron in the hallway.

The two men stepped through the door to the sitting room and instantly a small voice called out with delight. "Dada." Hero struggled out of her grandmother Granger's arms and ran on podgy legs to her father, her arms held up towards him so that he would pick her up.

Instantly Ron bent over and tossed the baby into the air, catching her securely in his arms. Hero squealed with delight when she was air bound but settled herself against her father's chest when she was secure in his arms. "How was your day, sweetheart?" Ron asked, pressing a kiss to his daughter's chubby, soft cheek. The baby shrieked with laughter when she felt the prickle of Ron's stubble on her sensitive baby skin.

Ron covered the ground between him and the circle of seats the adults were sitting in. He settled his large bulk into the vacant spot beside Hermia on the sofa. She glanced over at him from the corner of her eye and almost imperceptibly moved closer to the warmth of his body. Ron smiled happily and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. She tensed for a moment then relaxed, her heart feeling lighter then it had in a long time.