A/N - Thanks so much for reading and continuing to review!
Chapter 12
Disagreement
7 May 1998
"So, what do you think?" Ron asked. They were all sitting in Ron's room, having finished dinner a few minutes ago.
"I dunno, I mean, it's always what I wanted to do," Harry said. "Never thought Kingsley would take us on now though."
"Me either," Ron agreed. "And without taking N.E.W.T.S. too!" The two of them grinned at each other.
"What about you, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Hermione," Ron echoed. Hermione bit her bottom lip.
"I, erm, hadn't really thought about it."
"Well, you're thinking about it now, aren't you?" Ron asked.
"I suppose so."
"Just think, you, me and Harry, the three of us, Aurors together," Ron said, grin still on his face. "It will be great." Hermione tried to smile, but it was forced. Why Ron thought she wanted to be an Auror when she had never voiced any kind of interest before was beyond her. Harry's brow furrowed.
"Hermione?" he questioned.
"It's just," she paused. "I'm not really sure being an Auror is for me."
"Why not?" Ron said. "You're wicked with a wand, you know you are. And you're brilliant too. You'd be great at it."
"I don't know," Hermione hedged.
"The training sounds a little brutal, but it would only be for three months, yeah? We've endured worse." Ron was still grinning like a little boy that had come across his stash of Christmas gifts early. Hermione really didn't want to disappoint him but being an Auror was just about the last thing she wanted to do.
"I just thought that I might go back to school next year," she said. Ron looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we missed our seventh year, didn't we? I thought I'd ask Professor McGonagall if I could come back next year and you know, finish."
"Why would you want to do that?" Ron asked. Hermione glanced at Harry, who looked like he understood. Ron was clearly still clueless.
"If I want to take my N.E.W.T.S., I need some instruction, don't I?"
"Blimey, Hermione, you could probably take your N.E.W.T.S. today and get all O's," Ron said, nudging Harry with a grin. "Besides, Kingsley said we don't need test scores." Hermione huffed out a breath.
"I don't want to be an Auror, all right?" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. The grin slipped from Ron's face.
"You don't?"
"Honestly, Ron, when have I ever shown any interest in becoming an Auror?"
"Well, you haven't, really, but you've never said anything that you wanted to be," Ron said with a shrug.
"I've always said I wanted to help people and do some good in the world."
"That's the definition of an Auror, Hermione." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well, I want to do something else."
"But, Hermione, Harry and I-" but Hermione interrupted before he could finish.
"And I'm happy for you, I really am, Neville too if he decides to join you. But it's not what I want to do, Ron."
"But we'd all still be together." Hermione sighed. Harry had been looking back and forth between the two of them for the last few minutes. He got to his feet.
"I think I'll just, erm, let you two talk about this," he said. Before Hermione could stop him, he hurried out the door. Ron looked at her for a moment after Harry left.
"You really don't want to?"
"I wouldn't be happy being an Auror," Hermione said.
"If you go back to school next year, we'll never see each other," Ron said.
"You could come with me." Ron scoffed.
"I'd hate it." He gave her a wry smile, realizing he had just proved her point. Hermione sighed again and sat down next to him on his bed.
"There's Hogsmeade weekends and school holidays," she said.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"And we still have this summer."
"Sounds like I'll be pretty busy come June."
"Kingsley will have to let you come home to eat and sleep," Hermione said. "It's not slavery." Ron chuckled. Hermione smiled.
"It would have been nice, to have that time together," Ron said wistfully.
"Can you really picture me being an Auror?" she asked. Ron laughed softly.
"No, I guess not."
"Besides, it sounds like Kingsley's going to have you so busy, it really wouldn't be time together anyway."
"Suppose so." Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and Ron wrapped an arm around her.
"Everything will work out how it's supposed to." Ron's arm tightened around her for a moment.
"Yeah," he finally said. Hermione thought he sounded a bit odd but chose not to ask him about it.
"What do you think your mum's going to say?" Ron groaned.
"Did you have to bring that up?" Hermione laughed.
"She did sound a bit perturbed at dinner."
"A bit?" Ron repeated. "What part of 'absolutely not in my lifetime' sounded just a bit perturbed?"
"She's just worried about you," Hermione said. Ron rolled his eyes.
"I'm eighteen, not ten. She has to stop treating me like a kid."
"Well, it's understandable, Ron. I think she just wants to keep all of you as close to her as possible, you know, because of Fred." Ron sighed and gathered Hermione into his arms.
"I know she does. But we can't all stop living our lives because of it."
"No," Hermione agreed, snuggling closer to him. "Your dad will talk to her, won't he?"
"Yes," Ron said. "Then she'll be in a snit for a few days, but she'll come around eventually. Maybe I'll just wait to tell her until June. She'll probably have accepted it by then." Hermione laughed. Ron smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her.
"You know," he said conversationally. "We're all alone up here."
"So we are," Hermione replied with a smile.
"Not likely to happen again anytime soon," he pointed out.
"You're probably right."
"Suppose we should take advantage of it then?"
"I suppose we should." Ron grinned and then leaned down to kiss her again. Neither one of them heard the door open, but Hermione heard the noise of surprise and disgust Harry made just before he closed the door again. She chuckled into Ron's mouth. He broke the kiss and looked at her quizzically, but she just shook her head and pulled him back down again.
8 May 1998
Remus was a bit surprised to see Kingsley in the Great Hall when he arrived that morning. The Minister was speaking with Minerva; Remus waited until they were finished before he approached.
"Good morning," Remus greeted.
"Remus," Kingsley said. "I was hoping to run into you before I left. Trial dates are being set for next week. The Malfoys are up on Monday." Remus frowned. Kingsley lowered his voice. "I realize it's the moon, but I promised I would fast-track their trials." Remus nodded. He would be fidgety and agitated the day of the moon, but it would have been worse the day or two after.
"Thank you, Kingsley, or Minister, I suppose I should say." Kingsley snorted.
"Kingsley is just fine, unless you're on official business at the Ministry." Remus chuckled as Kingsley turned back to Minerva.
"If there's anything else you need, let me know."
"I will, thank you, Minister," Minerva said primly. Kingsley rolled his eyes.
"Not you too." Minerva's eyes danced with amusement.
"Just employing proper protocol."
"Good day then, Headmistress." Kingsley winked and left the Hall to Apparate back to the Ministry.
"It's official then?" Remus asked once Kingsley had gone.
"Yes, this morning," Minerva replied.
"I believe I told you there wasn't any doubt." Minerva rolled her eyes.
"Yes, well, I assume it helped that three of our more vocal board members are currently sitting in cells either in Azkaban or the Ministry."
"Replacements?" Remus asked.
"Kingsley is working on it." She paused a moment, her lips pursed. "Would Andromeda be interested?" Remus' eyes widened in surprise. "Lucius Malfoy will be removed, regardless of the results of his trial. I will not have a Death Eater on my Board and Kingsley agrees."
"I honestly have no idea," Remus said.
"She has a grandson that will be a student here sooner than either of you would like to think about."
"He's a month old, Minerva."
"And yesterday, you were eleven and walking through those doors for the first time." Remus shook his head but didn't argue.
"Well, I see no harm in asking Andromeda." Minerva nodded.
"I have a proposition for you as well." Remus looked at her expectantly. "I have suggested, and the Minister has agreed, that we will offer O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. to eligible students at the end of June. As long as we can get the castle up to par, we will be holding revision sessions for the two weeks prior to the tests. The staff will be teaching, of course, but I will also need tutors. I would like to hire you in that capacity."
"Hire me?" Remus questioned. "Do you really think the Board will go along with that? Everyone is aware of what I am, Minerva."
"Kingsley has given me full authority over teachers and tutors. The Board will have nothing to say about it."
"Parents then."
"I do not foresee any problems on that front." Remus snorted in disbelief. "Remus, you were the best Defense teacher any of these students have had."
"Severus-," Remus began, but she shook her head.
"Severus was a good teacher, yes, but his personality and his behavior toward any student who was not a Slytherin left much to be desired. And while I am aware of the reason he thought his behavior necessary, you were never anything but fair."
"Whether the students liked me or not is really neither here nor there. The fact remains that some parents will not want a werewolf teaching their children."
"Which is why I am hiring you as a tutor and not a teacher. If there are parents that refuse to allow you contact with their children, then I will simply assign them another tutor if they require one. And do not forget that the seventh years are all of age and can make their own decisions regarding their education."
Remus fell silent, thinking about her offer. He had loved teaching the year he had spent as the Defense professor. And Merlin knew he could always use the money.
"If you truly think that the parents won't protest, I would like to accept." Minerva smiled. "Under the condition that I speak with Andromeda first to make sure she has no objection."
"Excellent," Minerva replied. "We will discuss details in a few weeks." Minerva looked around the Great Hall which had become much noisier since Remus had first arrived. A quick glance himself proved that was because many of the volunteers had arrived.
"Excuse me, Remus, I have an announcement to make." Remus nodded and took a few steps back.
"Attention. Attention, please," Minerva called. The noise level slowly diminished until it disappeared altogether.
"Thank you. I have a few announcements I would like to make before we begin work for the day. I have spoken with the Minister and we have decided that O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams will be held the last week of June." There was a murmuring that spread across the Hall. Minerva held her hands up for quiet and everyone fell silent once more. "As your studies have been interrupted, we will be holding review sessions for the two weeks prior, here at the castle. The professors will be teaching classes and there will also be tutors available." The murmuring rose again and Remus saw Minerva draw her wand and point it at her throat.
"Quiet, please!" A few of the students jumped at the increase in volume and Minerva gave them an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but please let me finish and then I will take any questions that you have. In addition, any student that has missed the entirety of this past year or feels they will need more than the two-week revision before taking their exams is invited to repeat the school year. To this end, we will be adding an eighth-year class in the fall for those that are interested. All students, regardless of year, will be getting a letter with the pertinent information in the next two weeks. Now, questions. Mr. Macmillan?"
"What if we feel that we need more than the two weeks of revision before exams, but we don't want to repeat the entire year?
"You may see me or your Head of House and we will discuss tutoring possibilities. I have also been in discussion with the Minister about possibly offering another exam date at the end of August if you would prefer the summer to study, but that has not been decided. Mr. Potter?"
"Have you been made Headmistress, Professor?" Remus smirked at the vexed look on Minerva's face. Clearly this was not the kind of question she had in mind.
"I have, Mr. Potter." There was a small cheer that went up from the students. Minerva shook her head, but Remus could tell she was pleased.
"Who's going to take over as Head of Gryffindor?" Seamus called out.
"That has not been decided, Mr. Finnegan. If there are no more pertinent questions, we will get work started for the day." Minerva looked around once more, but it seemed that no one else wanted to ask anything about exams. "The professors will be coming around to hand out your assignments." The Hall completely devolved into talking and laughing as the professors moved through the crowd. Minerva turned back to Remus.
"If you'd continue with the wall you were working on yesterday," she said.
"Of course, Headmistress," Remus said cheekily.
"Do not test me, Remus," she said with a sigh. He saw a small smile playing about her lips, however.
"Will you be sending Hermione to join me?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes."
"I will see you at lunch then." Remus patted her on the shoulder before he left the Hall to head outside.
"Well, it looks like I won't have to ask Professor McGonagall about coming back to school after all," Hermione said to Ron.
"You're coming back?" Ginny asked excitedly. "Really?"
"Yes, I think so," Hermione replied with a smile. Ginny squealed in delight.
"What if they offer N.E.W.T.S. in August?" Ron asked.
"What if they do?" Hermione replied.
"Well, we all know how brilliant you are, Hermione. I'm sure Professor McGonagall could give you an outline of what you need to study. You wouldn't even need someone else to teach you." Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"I thought we talked about this last night," she said.
"We did, but we didn't have this information last night."
"Professor McGonagall said they were discussing it. Nothing's been decided."
"That's true," Ron agreed. "But maybe just think about it, yeah?" Hermione forced herself not to roll her eyes.
"Fine, Ron, I'll think about it." Ron grinned widely and put an arm around her, kissing the top of her head.
"Miss Granger, if you would join Remus again, I would appreciate it," Professor McGonagall said as she approached them.
"All right, Professor."
"And you three, back to the courtyard if you please."
"Again?" Ron complained.
"If you'd rather help Mr. Filch, I'm sure there is more cleaning to be done, Mr. Weasley."
"No, no, the courtyard's fine," he said quickly. Hermione stifled a giggle behind her hand.
"Thank you." The professor walked towards Seamus and Dean.
"Well, I guess I'll see you all at lunch," Hermione said. She gave the three of them a little wave and left the Great Hall to resume her work with Remus.
"Good morning, Hermione."
"Hi, Remus," Hermione said with a smile. He was squinting up at the wall, brow furrowed. "Something wrong?"
"No, it's just that we'll likely only be able to do two or three more rows before it's too high to be able to apply the mortar properly from the ground. It will get more difficult to fit the stones in as well."
"Oh," Hermione replied. "What do you suggest?"
"Brooms would work," Remus said. Hermione fell silent and when he looked at her, she had paled considerably. "Hermione? Are you all right?" He moved towards her in concern.
"I'm, I'm fine," she said, but she looked anything but fine.
"Are you feeling faint? Do you need some water?" Remus conjured a chair and gently pushed her into it.
"No, it's," she shook her head. "It's silly."
"What is?"
"It's just, I'm not a very good flyer."
"Oh, well, we won't be doing any flying, really, just hovering mostly." Hermione looked up at the wall, her gaze traveling up the sides of the castle. She gulped audibly and Remus could see her hands shaking slightly. He studied her in confusion for a moment. He knew she had flown before. All first years had to take flying class and she'd been on a Thestral twice. Not to mention the dragon she, Ron and Harry had freed from Gringotts. Sirius had told him about the flight on Buckbeak as well.
"Hermione," he said gently. "Are you afraid to fly?"
"I'm not afraid…exactly." She paused and Remus waited patiently for her to continue. "I've flown on airplanes plenty of times and that doesn't bother me at all."
"Is it the open-air aspect?"
"That's part of it, but it's more the magic aspect."
"I'm sorry, I don't follow." Hermione sighed.
"The dragon and Buckbeak, those weren't as bad because they were creatures that were supposed to fly. The Thestral was harder because it was invisible, but I still knew it was supposed to fly. I didn't like any of it, mind you, but I was able to deal with it. Mostly because I had little choice."
"Brooms are supposed to fly," Remus said.
"No. No, they're not. Brooms are meant to sweep the floor, Remus." Remus laughed.
"I suggest you do not let Harry or Ron hear you say that." Hermione huffed in frustration. "But you know that brooms are perfectly safe, don't you?" Hermione's mouth fell open.
"Safe? Are you joking?"
"All right, safe as long as you operate them properly, how about that?" Remus said.
"It's a thin piece of wood between you and the ground. The very, very hard ground." Remus chuckled.
"What if I promise that you will not fall?" Hermione looked at him for a moment before she shuddered.
"I just, I don't think I can do it." She was wringing her hands in her lap and Remus squatted down in front of her, placing a hand over hers to still her movements. She looked up at him and he smiled, giving her hands a squeeze.
"How about a ladder?" She glanced at the wall again.
"A ladder would work for now, but eventually we'll get too high."
"Let's worry about that when we get to that point, all right?"
"All right," Hermione agreed. Remus glanced around and spotted a pile of debris a few yards from them. He walked towards it, pulling a small sapling that had obviously been pulled from the ground at some point during the battle. Waving his wand, he transfigured it into a wooden ladder and directed it to rest against the wall of the castle. Hermione rose from her chair and moved towards the ladder, but Remus held up a hand to stop her.
"Let me test it first." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure your Transfiguration skills are more than up to par, Remus."
"Indulge me," he said with a smile. She sighed and shook her head but waited all the same. Remus climbed a few rungs of the ladder, bouncing on one a bit to be sure it was stable. When he descended, he turned to Hermione. "Seems sound."
"What about your broom?" she asked.
"Pippen," he said quietly and the House-elf arrived with a pop. He looked at Remus expectantly. "Would you be so kind as to fetch me a broom from the broom shed, please?"
"Yes, sir," the elf replied and disappeared again. When Remus turned around, Hermione had a slight scowl on her face. Remus swore silently under his breath. He was aware of her House-elf crusade during her fourth year.
"I'm sorry, I thought it would save time," he said.
"At least you were polite to him," Hermione muttered. The way Sirius had treated Kreacher at Grimmauld Place had been a huge bone of contention between Hermione and Sirius, Remus knew. She crossed her arms over her chest. "How did you know who to call?"
"A House-elf is assigned to each professor when they begin teaching," Remus explained. Hermione looked horrified. He stifled a chuckle. Before he could continue, Pippen returned, a broom in hand.
"Pippen is getting the best broom of the lot, Professor," the elf exclaimed.
"Thank you, Pippen. I appreciate that." Remus took the offered broom.
"Can Pippen be helping with anything else?"
"Not right now, Pippen. Thank you." The elf bowed again and popped away. Remus looked back at Hermione who looked more thoughtful than angry now.
"Pippen was assigned to my quarters," Remus explained. "He used to scold me because I cleaned up my own things." Hermione looked interested. "I don't know if you've met many of them, but some elves can be quite bossy." Hermione nodded.
"Actually, Kreacher became a bit like that while we were staying at Grimmauld Place last year."
"Yes, well, Pippen was most put out that I did not give him enough work to do, so he began to help me after the moon."
"But I thought the Wolfsbane-" Hermione began.
"It helps, yes, but I am still quite tired and sore afterward. Pippen was a great help."
"He does seem to like you."
"I like him, as well," Remus said. "He was quite a good caretaker." Hermione chewed on her bottom lip, but in thought this time.
"I just want them to be treated fairly," she said quietly. "Not everyone does, you know."
"I am aware of that and I think it is an admirable goal," Remus said.
"But you don't think they should be freed, do you?" Remus shrugged.
"I think that each case is unique. The elves here at Hogwarts, for example. Would you agree that they are treated fairly?"
"I don't know," Hermione said. Remus gave her a disbelieving look and she sighed. "All right, yes, I suppose."
"I can assure you that they are," Remus said. "Their needs are tended to immediately if one of them gets sick or hurt, they always know that they can speak to the Headmaster or Headmistress if there is anything that is bothering them and they are given time off if it is needed for one reason or another. In fact, Albus met with the Head elf every w-"
"There's a Head elf?" Hermione interrupted incredulously.
"Of Hogwarts, yes. She's a liaison of sorts between the House elves and the Headmaster or Headmistress. Her name is Liddy."
"Why did I never know this?"
"Did you ever ask?" Hermione looked away, her face coloring.
"No," she nearly whispered. She was staring at the ground now, looking very unsure of herself. Remus stepped closer and put a hand on her arm. She glanced up at him for a moment, then back at the ground.
"I didn't either, until I became a professor." That didn't seem to make her feel any better. "Hermione, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be sure that House-elves are treated fairly. All wizards and witches should want the same. Your only mistake was not talking with the House-elves and finding out what they wanted." She sighed heavily.
"Hagrid told me the same thing." Remus smiled.
"You've done nothing wrong, Hermione. You were just a bit, overzealous." She gave him a wry smile. "Now, shall we make sure that Pippen's contribution doesn't go to waste?" He picked up the broom. Hermione nodded in agreement and the two of them went back to work on the tower.
"How's the courtyard coming?" Hermione asked Ron as she sat down beside him for lunch. Remus had gone to sit with some of the professors. Ron groaned.
"Don't even ask, Hermione," he said. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"You are such a drama queen. It's not that bad."
"Sure, it's not that bad for you," Ron retorted. "You're not dragging huge pieces of armor all over the place, trying to match it up. Tell her, Harry." Harry looked between Ron and Ginny. Hermione saw Ginny's eyes narrow. Harry cleared his throat and reached for a platter of roast beef.
"Merlin, am I hungry." Ginny beamed at him and went back to her own lunch.
"Traitor," Ron muttered. Harry shrugged and took hold of Ginny's hand. Hermione pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Ron scowled at her. Hermione finally took pity on him and leaned over and kissed his cheek. He seemed to relax a bit and dug into his food.
"Hey, Neville," Harry said as their fellow Gryffindor joined them. "How are the greenhouses?"
"Slowly coming along," Neville said. "We're just about finished with Greenhouse Five. Professor Sprout wanted to finish it first, since it has most of the dangerous plants." Harry nodded.
"Thought more about the Aurors, Nev?" Ron asked. Neville nodded while spooning potatoes onto his plate.
"I talked to Gran about it last night," he replied. "She thinks it's a great idea, although she was concerned that we didn't have to take our N.E.W.T.S. first."
"So, are you going to do it?" Ron questioned.
"Maybe," Neville said. "I'm still thinking about it."
"Your parents were Aurors, weren't they?" Ginny asked. Neville nodded.
"During the first war, yeah." He moved some of his vegetables around on his plate. "I kind of get the feeling that's why Gran's so enthusiastic about it."
"Wish Mum felt that way," Ron grumbled. Hermione patted his arm sympathetically.
"What about you, Harry?" Neville said.
"I'm leaning towards it."
"Hermione?"
"Hermione's coming back to school with Luna and me," Ginny interjected.
"She might not," Ron said. "If they give N.E.W.T.S. in August, she might do that instead." Hermione frowned.
"I said I'd think about it, Ron. And even if I decide not to come back to school, that doesn't mean I'm going to be an Auror."
"But you said," Ron began, but Hermione interrupted him.
"I never said, you assumed."
"But - ow!" Ron reached down and rubbed at his shin while glaring at Ginny. "What the bloody hell was that for?"
"Nothing," she said innocently. "Just a reminder not to be a git." Harry and Neville quickly shoveled food into their mouths to keep from laughing.
"We'll talk about this later," Hermione said, her voice clipped.
"Fine." Ron returned to his food with one more glower for his sister. The rest of their lunch was spent discussing less volatile topics. When Hermione saw Remus rise from his seat, she did the same. She said good-bye to her friends and turned to walk towards Remus, but he approached them instead. Neville was already on his way out of the Great Hall and Ginny and Ron had started for the door as well.
"Harry, can I have a word?" Remus asked when he reached them. Ginny and Ron paused, but Harry waved them on.
"I'll catch up," he said. "What's up, Remus?" Remus led the two of them away from the table a bit.
"I don't know if you're aware, but the full moon is on Monday." Harry nodded in understanding. "I wonder if you would be opposed to me using Grimmauld Place for my transformation." Harry frowned as Remus continued. "There is already a space set up for me in the cellar. I used it when, well, when Sirius was living there." There was silence for a moment and Harry looked at the ground before taking in a breath.
"I don't have any problem with you transforming there, but don't you have a place at home to do that?"
"I do, but this will be the first moon since," he paused and cleared his throat. "Since Dora." They were all quiet for a few moments. Remus finally pulled in a breath and continued.
"I am not sure how my wolf will react to the fact that she's…gone." They all fell silent again, a look of extreme sorrow on Remus' face. Hermione took a step towards him, wanting to comfort him somehow, but when he looked up, the grief had disappeared from his face.
"I am not sure what will happen, so I would rather transform away from Andromeda and Teddy the first time. Especially since Dora's scent is still all over the house and gardens."
"I understand," Harry said. "I don't mind if you use Grimmauld Place."
"I'll need someone to lock me in," Remus said.
"No problem," Harry replied.
"Thank you." Harry nodded.
"Well, I suppose I should get back to work. See you later, Hermione, Remus."
"We should go as well," Remus said. Hermione nodded and followed him. When they reached the door to the tower, Hermione stopped him with a hand on his arm. Remus looked at her questioningly.
"If you need anything, anything at all," she said. He swallowed thickly and nodded.
"Thank you, Hermione." She smiled and the two of them walked outside to finish the work on the tower.
"How are things going at the Ministry, Mr. Weasley?" Hermione asked that night at supper. She was sitting between Harry and Charlie, still irritated with Ron.
"Incredibly busy," Mr. Weasley said with a sigh.
"How're you figuring out who was working with Voldemort, Dad?" Ron asked.
"Kingsley authorized questioning everyone under Veritaserum," Mr. Weasley explained. He frowned. "There were far more that were complicit than I expected."
"Some of them were threatened, of course," Percy put in.
"Yes," Mr. Weasley agreed. "We've been taking those on a case by case basis. What charges are filed will depend on the threat as well as the harm done by that employee. On top of all that, the trials start Monday."
"Which ones?" Charlie asked.
"The Malfoys." Hermione glanced around the table. Nearly everyone wore a scowl. She glanced at Harry, who gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
"Are they trying them together?" Harry asked. Mr. Weasley shook his head.
"No, separately." Harry nodded, giving Hermione a sidelong glance. He didn't say anything else and Hermione figured he must be waiting to speak to Mr. Weasley in private. Harry still hadn't told anyone else that he planned to speak at the trials.
Mrs. Weasley stood and began to clear the dishes away. Bill and Fleur got up almost immediately, having stopped for dinner after the day at Hogwarts. They bade everyone good-bye, despite Mrs. Weasley's plea for them to stay for just a bit longer, then walked outside to Disapparate.
Everyone else started to get up from the table as well and Harry walked towards Mr. Weasley. Hermione, knowing they needed to talk anyway and wanting to distract Ron from Harry's conversation with his father, crossed the room to where Ron still sat.
"Can we talk?" she asked.
"Sure," Ron said, nearly jumping to his feet. Hermione grabbed her jacket from the coat stand by the door and walked outside. Ron followed and the two of them made their way to the pond in silence.
"Are you upset with me?" Ron asked quietly after a few minutes. Hermione sighed and turned to face him.
"Ron, I'm not going to be an Auror," she said flatly. "Even if they offer N.E.W.T.S. in August and I decide to take them instead of going back to school, I'm still not going to be an Auror." Ron had shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and was looking at the ground.
"I know, Hermione," he finally said.
"Do you?" she asked. "Because you seem to keep bringing it up as if I'm going to change my mind." He shrugged.
"Just wishful thinking, I guess."
"Why, Ron? Why are you fixated on this?"
"I don't know."
"For someone who doesn't know, you've been awfully vocal about it." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. Ron looked up and raked a hand through his hair.
"It's just," he sighed. "I like spending time with you."
"We can still spend time together, even if we're not working together."
"I know, but," he trailed off and shook his head.
"But what?" Hermione pressed.
"Look, you go back to school, I'm working at the Ministry, we're never going to see each other."
"It's only for a year, Ron."
"A lot can happen in a year, Hermione." Her brow furrowed and she studied him for a moment.
"Are you saying that you're going to find someone else?"
"What? No! Of course, not!"
"Then I don't understand the problem," she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. He muttered something under his breath that she didn't catch. "What?"
"I said, maybe you will." Hermione's jaw dropped open in shock.
"Why would you even think that?"
"Don't play daft."
"I'm not playing anything, Ron. I have no idea what you're talking about." Ron scoffed.
"Sure, you don't."
"If you don't stop being cryptic right this second, I'm going back in the house." Ron looked at her skeptically.
"You really have no idea?"
"That's what I've been saying for the last five minutes."
"You've never noticed all the blokes looking at you?"
"What blokes?"
"At least half the people we went to school with for starters."
"Don't be ridiculous." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm not!" Ron stared at her for a few seconds. "I can't believe you never noticed."
"Maybe I never noticed because you're imagining things."
"No, I'm not," Ron insisted. "Ask Harry." Hermione went silent. If Ron was bringing Harry into it, there must have been some truth to what he was saying. Although, she still thought he was barmy. She'd never noticed anyone looking at her, except maybe Cormac McLaggen and he was a complete tosser.
"You don't even realize, Hermione. I think Neville's been half in love with you since third year."
"Neville fancies Luna," Hermione said immediately.
"Now, maybe," Ron replied.
"Even if that is true, what does it have to do with us?" Ron looked at her, then glanced away quickly, the tips of his ears turning red. He shrugged a shoulder. Hermione sighed in frustration but was beginning to think she understood.
"Ron, you can't worry about what other people might or might not think about me. I have no plans to find someone else."
"No one plans it, Hermione."
"Don't you trust me?"
"Of course, I do. It's all those other people I don't trust."
"Now you're just being ridiculous." Ron's eyes narrowed.
"I'm ridiculous for being concerned about my girlfriend?"
"No, it's ridiculous to think that just because someone else might pay me a bit of attention, I'll fall at their feet and forget all about you. What does that say about me?"
"That's not what I meant," Ron protested.
"Well, that's sure what it sounded like." Hermione had her hands on her hips, getting more irritated by the second.
"I didn't," Ron sighed and shook his head, scrubbing a hand down his face. "That isn't what I meant, damn it!"
"Well, when you figured out what you did mean, let me know, won't you?" Hermione spun on her heel and began walking back towards the house.
"Hermione, wait!" She ignored him and kept walking, muttering under her breath about idiotic, insecure boys. "Hermione!" She heard him behind her and when he grabbed her elbow, she shook him off.
"Leave me alone, Ron," she snapped and kept walking. She was tired from working all day and she really didn't want to deal with all of this right now.
"Hermione, I love you!" Hermione froze. She knew this already, Ginny had let it slip, but hearing Ron say it was a completely different thing altogether. She turned around slowly to face him.
"What did you say?" she asked quietly.
"I love you," he said again. She stared at him for a minute before she flew forward and flung herself into his arms, kissing him. Ron returned the kiss enthusiastically.
"I'm sorry," he said when she finally pulled away, needing to breathe. "I know I completely bolloxed up what I was trying to say. I-" Hermione put a finger over his lips.
"It doesn't matter," she said, kissing him again. "I love you, too." Ron's grin was so wide, Hermione thought it might split his face. He laughed and spun her around and then kissed her until Mrs. Weasley called outside, looking for them.