Chapter 32: Rose's Birthday

When Rose's birthday rolled around a few weeks later, she was delighted to finally receive her Hogwarts letter. Instead of a party with school friends, she had asked only for a family dinner with her mum, Ron and Hugo and her grandparents. The evening had been a great success, and Ron realized later it was the first time he had spent much time with Hermione's parents. He particularly enjoyed her father, Michael. While they didn't seem to have much in common, they seemed to share a similar sense of humor, always finding themselves laughing at the same things. He was also impressed with the questions he asked, always figuring out how to get to the heart of the issue in one question.

Rose was surprised to find a present from Ron separate from the gift from Hugo. As she unwrapped the bulky brown paper, Ron sheepishly apologized for his wrapping skills. But, Rose's shocked gasp when she saw the beautiful cherry wood box that held the intricately carved wizard chess set turned his apology into a grin.

Later in the evening Hermione sat off to the side observing all of her loved ones in one room. She was slightly overcome with emotion realizing that this would be the last birthday she would get to spend with Rose for many years to come as she would be at Hogwarts for the foreseeable future. But, she also watched Ron playing chess with her daughter. She noticed how Ron was patiently teaching her and instructing her while clearly enjoying her presence. But she also noticed how clearly Rose adored him as well. And at the same time, her father sat between them, entranced by wizard chess, but also clearly taken with Ron. She guessed her father was admiring his combination of patience and strategic thinking, which was something her dad had always valued. But she had also noticed over the course of the evening how her dad and Ron seemed to have a similar sense of humor. Prior to this evening that had not spent much time together, and it was lovely to watch the two men in her life get along so well. She'd sensed how nervous Ron had been leading up to it, which was not something she'd seem in him before, and she thought it quite sweet. And when she'd tried to kiss him earlier when her parents were in the other room, he'd turned so she could only peck his cheek.

"What's that for?" she's asked slightly put off.

"Give a bloke a break, Hermione," he'd pleaded. "I'm already worried about what your parents think of me and of us, I really don't need them thinking we're off snogging in a room the second no one is around."

She'd been about to retort that it would be an accurate impression, but she thought better of it, realizing how endearing it was that Ron cared so much about what her parents thought of him. So she'd simply hugged him for a moment before reminding him that her mum was as ready to shove them down the aisle as his mum.

But now she could sit back and enjoy the room. Her mum and Hugo were reading a book together that had been a favorite of Hugo's grandmother. Hugo was curled into her mum the same way he used to curl up with Dennis' mum, and it tugged at Hermione's heart. And watching her dad look up at Ron with admiration and awe when Ron made a clever move, or explained something to Rose made her heart melt as well. It was hard to look around the room and miss Dennis and his family while still being so grateful for the family they were becoming. But, she finally felt like this was the life she was meant to live, and her heart was full.

(Author's Note: A short & sweet chapter. It didn't fit anywhere else, but I didn't want to leave it out...carrytheotter)