CH 42: Hermione's Birthday

Ron and Hugo had conspired Monday and had decided that Hermione had either forgotten her own birthday or didn't think they knew it was the next day. They planned a surprise breakfast for her, so once she had gone to bed Monday night, Ron snuck back to the kitchen and decorated the whole space. Rose had sent a card to Ron to give Hermione on her birthday. Hugo had made a colorful banner to hang across the kitchen doorway, and then he had made multiple bookmarks for Hermione that he had decorated himself. Ron wrapped up a book that was connected to the larger surprise for her to open. He hoped he would be able to get up before she made it downstairs to get breakfast made in time, but just in case that didn't work right, at least the room was decorated.

The next morning when he heard her get up and get in the shower, he bolted downstairs to make breakfast, waking up Hugo on the way down. By the time Hermione made it to the kitchen, the boys met her with smiles and broke into song. She was utterly surprised, and claimed that while she hadn't forgotten her birthday she just didn't see the need to make a fuss.

"Hermione, you would never let us get away with something like that. So why would expect anything different from us?" Hugo said.

She laughed conceding, "You're right, Hugo. I'm not sure what I was thinking."

Soon they were all eating while she opened her cards and presents. She was touched that Rose had not only remembered, but had planned ahead to send a thoughtful card. She made a proper fuss over the pretty bookmarks from Hugo, and then started to open the present from Ron.

"Oh, thank you. I loved reading about the Salem witch trials as a little girl. Now I can read about the rest of the story so to speak," she said admiring the book.

Hugo giggled, causing Hermione to lift an eyebrow in question.

"Actually, the book is just a hint for the real present. The real present is that you and I are going to go to Massachusetts for a few days in October so you can learn all about it in person."

"Yes, and I am going to spend that long weekend with the Potters so I don't have to go on an educational trip or watch you two be mushy," grinned Hugo. Ron laughed and turned to look at Hermione, whose jaw was still open.

"You're serious? We're going all that way for just a few days?"

"Well, yes – but travel with portkeys is much faster than muggle airplanes."

Hermione was still near speechless, and Ron started to get nervous that he had missed the mark with his gift. "Hermione, if you don't want to go, we don't have to. I just thought-"

He was interrupted with a kiss from the now beaming witch.

When she pulled back from him she said, "of course I want to go you prat. I was just shocked. That was such an incredibly thoughtful gift."

Ron grinned sheepishly. "Good. I have been really excited to surprise you with it. I just didn't expect to actually see you speechless."

"Doesn't happen often," she laughed. "And you're sure you don't want to go, Hugo?"

"Very," said Hugo assuredly. "Not that I don't want to visit America someday. But there are about 100 places on my bucket list ahead of witch history tours."

"Fair enough," Hermione said. "Well, you two really outdid yourselves with such a lovely surprise this morning."

"And your parents are coming for dinner too," declared Hugo.

"Really?" Hermione said looking questioningly at Ron.

"Really. And don't worry about a thing, your mum and I have it all under control. Just be home by 6 if you can."

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," said Hermione.

Hugo took his dishes up to the sink and went upstairs to get dressed for school. Hermione leaned back over to Ron and kissed him again.

"Any chance I can take you to lunch for your birthday today?"

"I can't today," frowned Hermione. I have to be in court at 11, and it could go to 2 or 3 this afternoon. But could we try on Thursday? I am definitely free then, and I would love to have an hour to ourselves to just chat."

"Thursday it is then, Ms. Granger."

"Thank you for remembering my birthday."

"Well, I forgot my own, so remembering yours is a step in the right direction."

"Did Rose tell you when it was?"

"Actually, Fi saved my arse once again. I found her list of important dates and birthdays in one of the drawers a few weeks back."

"Nice."

"I would whine at you for not telling me, but then I don't have much of a leg to stand on with that particular argument."

"Very true."

"Did you really think I wouldn't find out? I may be unemployed now, but I was a quite good auror there for a few decades."

"No - all summer all I could think about was September 1st. Everything after Rose getting on that train seemed rather irrelevant. And then the past few weeks have been so absurdly busy that it just slipped my mind. It wasn't a secret plot, I promise."

"Good. Alright, let's get you off to work and Hugo off to school. Can't have the brilliant solicitor late to court on her own birthday."

A few days later, Ron found himself waiting outside a bistro Hermione had picked for lunch. She had said she would be coming from meeting a client that morning so to meet her there. Thinking back on her birthday, Ron felt like it had gone really well. She'd seemed to really like her gift, and dinner with her parents had been fun. But he was looking forward to lunch, as even though they lived together now, he felt like he hadn't had any time just to talk to her since before Rose left for school.

Hermione came around the corner towards the bistro and saw Ron standing there. She wondered at what point in their relationship she would stop feeling weak in the knees at the sight of him waiting on her like that. Something shimmered in her peripheral vision and she turned her head, catching sight of person standing behind a tree holding a camera. Based on their clothing, she was rather sure she was a witch, and Hermione wondered if it was someone from the Daily Prophet. She stepped back for a moment and stepped into a doorway. From there she texted Ron, "Hi- don't look up but I am across the street. But I am rather certain that there is a photographer from the Daily Prophet behind a tree waiting to take pictures of us. Anything we can do to not end up in the newspaper tomorrow? Because I would rather like to kiss you right now, but I don't necessarily need to have the whole wizarding world see me do it."

She saw Ron look down at his phone, grimace and look back up. He didn't try to look for her, but simply nodded in response, and texted, "Got it. Good eye – you could be an auror if the whole advocating for the voiceless thing falls through. Give me five minutes. I'll be the bloke with the black hair. This could actually be fun." She didn't understand it, but stayed in the doorway of the neighboring shop to watch. Soon Ron had popped into the café. A couple minutes later someone of his height but who had jet black hair and different clothing came back out. He had a leather jacket, black Doc Martin boots and ripped jeans on, and overall sported a rather goth look. Acting aloof, he wandered down the street until he stopped right next to the tree where the photographer was hiding. Hermione saw him move his arm and suddenly the camera was in his hands instead of the woman's. She could tell he said a few terse words, and then he walked away with the camera still in his hands. A few minutes later her phone buzzed. "Next street over there is a lovely café called Millen's Place. Mind if we try that one? I'm back to my ginger self and have a table in the back corner. I'm the bloke with the new camera." Hermione chuckled and set off to the new place.

When she found him she gave him a very long kiss. "Something about you being all cloak and dagger to keep me out the papers is turning me on. Though, I do prefer the real you in ginger hair."

He laughed. "Good catch. That was an old, shall we call her acquaintance of mine, named Rita Skeeter. She is a horrible excuse for a journalist, and really a sorry excuse for a person too. I am confident she will make things up about us now that she doesn't have a picture to run, but at least there won't be pictures of us snogging getting delivered to the Hogwarts breakfast tables in the morning."

"How do you know her?"

"Oh, she's worked for the Prophet for as long as I can remember. Seems like she should be too old to be staking out cafes and such now, but never the less she doesn't seem to go away. She made life difficult for Harry even before the war, and then certainly made life challenging when it was all over. She used to make up ridiculous stories and run them as fact in the paper. She'll probably come up with something as equally fictitious to run tomorrow. Instead of me dating a muggle, maybe by tomorrow I'll be dating a dozen mermaids or something."

"Hmm. Well, that will be tomorrow's problem then. Let's enjoy our lunch first."

"Good plan. Aside from the cloak and dagger bit, how was your morning?"

"Not bad, actually. I won some pre-trial motions this morning, so that was good. Should make things easier for me – and my client – down the road. And let's face it, I still get a kick out of winning. How about you? How's your day been?"

"Good. Things are beginning to fall into place with my work ideas. I met with George this morning and we talked through what I thought I could do for the business and what role I might be able to play. He was excited, and I think I have him understanding the time commitment I'll be able to give him."

"So what will you work on first with him?"

"Well, when I was going through and asking about how he reviews his suppliers and vendors to be sure he'd getting the best prices and such, and he couldn't really answer. And then similarly, he sells some of his products overseas, but couldn't tell me much about the distributor relationships or his representatives abroad. So, I think I'll start with those two pieces and at least get a handle on what is what and see if there are any opportunities there. Once the basic cost and pricing pieces are in place then hopefully I'll be able to focus more on strategic direction of the company, developing product and distribution markets and helping him with that kind of thing."

"I think that's brilliant, Ron. Interesting and fun, and all while helping your brother – pretty great combination."

"Thanks," he smiled.

"How about the teaching stuff? Have you had any progress on that?"

"Well, yeah – I didn't get a chance to tell you about it with everything else this week. But, Harry talked to the head of the Auror Academy, and they are excited about me teaching the strategy class when the new recruits come through this fall. They are there now, but they wouldn't get to that class until late October, and then it would run through 'til the Christmas holiday. If that goes well, then I can repeat it in the spring. And, then maybe I can develop into somewhat of a mentoring role than can serve as a transitional person to help people from Hogwarts through the academy and into their first few years on the job."

"That's fantastic, Ron. Have you been able to work out the Hogwarts bit?"

"Well, McGonagall happened to be at the Ministry the other day when I was there, so Harry and I spent some time discussing the idea with her. She was pretty enthusiastic – at least enthusiastic for her anyway. The details are still evolving, but hopefully that piece could start later this school year. It wouldn't be a class as much as it would be sort of a career club that I would lead and help offer a place to assess and hone skills they would need as aurors. And, it could also be a place to identify students who may be good aurors but wouldn't have qualified by the historical method of excellent academics."

By the time their food arrived, the conversation had shifted to their trip to America.

"So, when are we actually going on this trip? I figured I needed to put in for those days off."

"Well, it's just over three weeks away. The plan is to leave on Thursday the 12th and come back that Sunday evening. We're going to stay at a magical inn in Salem, and we'll go to a few places on the early history of magical people in the Americas and then if we have time and the weather cooperates we might be able to go see the famous fall foliage further up in New England."

"It sounds so amazing. How did you know?"

"How did I know what?"

"How did you know that would be the exact kind of thing I would want?"

"Well, I didn't know. I hoped I had it right, but I wasn't totally sure. But, I mean, I love you. And I spend most of my day either with you or thinking about you. And so I have at least figured out by now that you aren't a person who would be thrilled by some random purse or jumper. You love learning and travel and spending time with people you care about. I just had to figure out how to combine those things. And I remember you mentioned reading about the Salem witch trials as a little girl when you were just beginning to understand your gifts. So I thought I might be able to bring all those pieces together."

"You are amazing, Ron Weasley," she said as she slid her foot up the back of his calf.

"Why Ms. Granger, I do believe you are flirting with me," he said with a smirk.

"Hmm. That auror training helped you pick up on that, huh?" she laughed. "Well, I might not be able to give you a proper thank you right now, but just know it will come soon."

"If you keep talking like that I'm going to come soon," he laughed as his ears started to turn red.

Hermione blushed and laughed again.

"So, what are you up to at work the rest of this week?" Ron said, trying to get his thoughts back under control.

"Well, I am back in the office this afternoon. But Professor McGonagall sent an owl and asked if we could meet tomorrow morning instead of Monday, so I'll floo up to Hogwarts early tomorrow and then go into the office a little late."

"Will you try to see Rose?"

"I haven't decided. I worry that it's only been a few weeks. If she is struggling at all with homesickness then it would just make harder to see me. But, well, you know I am desperate to see her."

"Just send Nev an owl today and see what he says. Since you're going in the morning she may be in class, but he could tell you if she'll be free or if she would be ok to see you. And either way – we can send you up with a package of treats that McGonagall can make sure she gets."

"That's a great idea. I'll make some of those biscuits she likes tonight and can take those up. But I still need to read some more in charms before I meet with McGonagall. I don't want her to think I am wasting her time by not keeping up."

"I thought you had read those chapters already."

"I did. But I need to study them a bit more I think."

"Hermione, you are going to burn out before Christmas at this pace. Trust me when I say that McGonagall will not for one second think you are wasting her time. You probably know more about charms than I do at this point."

"Well, no – not yet. But I will hopefully at least catch up to you soon."

Ron just shook his head. He wondered what their relationship would be like when he was no longer the magical expert of the two of them.

They finished up their lunch and he walked her back to her office, waving to Nicola as he left.