Ch 67: 20th Anniversary Part 1
He knew it probably wasn't even 5 am yet, but Ron knew there was no chance of anymore sleep. He closed his eyes, trying to hold the memory of the feeling of being in his bed, arms around Hermione as she slept. He took a deep breath, relishing the feel of her curls against his nose. Not wanting to wake her, he crept quietly out of bed and made his way down to the kitchen. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was only half past four in the morning. It was going to be a long damn day.
He and Harry had planned to meet for breakfast as they usually did. But, that was almost three hours from now. He was sure he would go mad if he sat in the living room all that time, so he had a quick cuppa, grabbed some toast, threw on some dirty clothes from the laundry room, left a note for Hermione and Hugo, grabbed his broom and disapparated on the spot. His feet hit the sand, and the smell of the salt hit his nose before his eyes even opened. His lungs opened up, thrilled for the freshness that the seaside offered. By the light of his wand, he made his way over to Dobby's grave, leaving a sock on it he had grabbed on his way out of the laundry. Then he hopped on his broom and headed up the coast, letting the fresh air fill his lungs. His mind was so full, he needed this type of physical exertion to help force the thoughts and feelings into so sort of order so he could have any hope of making it through the day.
He recognized the mixture of guilt and dread and awe that he felt every year on this day. Survivor's gratitude and guilt mixed with the bizarre awe that he had to now fit remembering that monumental day into the everyday chaos of normal life. The fact that "Battle of Hogwarts Day Speech" was on his calendar between "pick up milk" and "Hugo's parent teacher conference" blew his mind. As he remembered back to that very long day now exactly twenty years ago, the idea that it would become somethings so routine and route was incomprehensible. Twenty years ago in these pre-dawn hours Fred was alive. Twenty years ago Snape was alive. Twenty years ago Colin and Lupin and Tonks were all alive. But twenty years ago Tom Riddle was alive too. And Ron knew that Fred, Snape, Collin, Lupin, Tonks – all of them would gladly chose to trade their lives again to ensure that Riddle was finally killed. As would he.
He knew he would never be able to comprehend how he and Harry had been able to make it through all of that alive. But he had. And now he was the happiest he had ever been in his entire life. Now for the first time on this day he had a wife. And children. He thought back to his parents, only now understanding the true hell they had lived through knowing what they could lose. When it is only your own life to risk, it is one thing. But to be able to do that while watching your spouse and every one of your children do the same. Well, Ron realized that took a whole other level of bravery and courage. His parents really were true Gryffindors. But somehow he and Harry were on the damn Chocolate Frog cards. He made a mental note to speak to his parents and tell them that now he finally got it, he would never understand how they had been able to put one foot in front of the other.
He thought back over the last week and how fucking amazing Hermione had been helping him write the piece for the Ministry but also to write his speech. He felt good about what they'd ended up being able to create, and he wasn't nervous about giving the speech. He was nervous about Hugo though. He knew Hugo had attended the 15th anniversary, but he was so young then he couldn't possibly remember more than a few hazy images. Hugo had been adamant that he wanted to go, sit with the family and be the one to light the candle for Collin. Hermione honestly said she couldn't offer any input as she'd never been to one of these ceremonies before. Ron knew Rose would be there, but that she would likely be with her fellow students. So, he finally gave in and said Hugo could go, but he was still questioning the wisdom of that decision.
As the light slowly crept into the east, Ron turned his thoughts toward what the paper would print that day. The year before he and Hermione had been outed as a couple. No one had caught on to the fact that they were now married, so maybe that would be the day's news. Then he realized that if it didn't make into today's paper it would probably be in the next day's paper as they would be appearing together today in public. He tried to imagine the worst thing they could print so he could be prepared for anything. He almost laughed as he tried to picture them saying Hermione married Draco. Taking comfort in his confidence in his relationship with Hermione, he knew it wouldn't bother either of them no matter what was printed as long as they didn't touch the kids. She had been brilliant helping him write the essay and the speech. Ron had never been so confident going into a speech like this. Even if he didn't read every word exactly, just talking it through with her and getting her feedback on how to group the ideas made such a huge difference. Didn't make it an easy day, but it did remove what could have been added stress.
Letting his mind go blank, he focused on running flying drills through imaginary obstacles up and down the shore. Soon he was so sweaty and breathing so hard, he almost didn't notice the sun had fully risen in the sky. But, the rays were warming him to the point of needing to shed layers, which forced him to glance at his watch. Realizing it was now after 615, he headed back down to the cottage to land. He laughed when he saw that familiar messy black haired, spectacled git on the ground by Dobby's grave.
"Funny meeting you here," he said as he landed.
"When I saw the sock I figured you might be around here somewhere," Harry said as he greeted Ron. "Been here long?"
"Not quite two hours. Needed to clear my head for today."
"I know," Harry said quietly, looking back to the stone over Dobby's grave.
"Well, I need to shower before breakfast," Ron said, wanting to give Harry the same time alone that he had needed. "Still on for the same time and same place?"
"Yeah," nodded Harry, appreciative that Ron was giving him some space. "See you in a bit."
Ron turned and landed in the garage, put his broom away and headed upstairs. He was happy to see that Hermione and Hugo were both still asleep. He quietly accio'd his clothes so as not to wake his sleeping wife and then jumped into the shower and quickly readied for the day. He switched out his earlier note with a newer one in the kitchen saying he would catch up with them later in the day and headed out. As he was still a few minutes early, he stopped by Diagon Alley to pick up a Daily Prophet, a copy of the day's Ministry publication and headed to the muggle diner across town to meet Harry.
Once he'd found a booth in the back where he could see the door, ordered tea from the waitress and checked the other diners for signs of magic, he settled in to see what the papers had in store for him that day. He opened the Prophet first. He wasn't at all surprised to find a "20th Anniversary Special" with a collector's edition special pull out "Where Are They Now?" section. After quickly scanning the paper, he was relieved that there didn't seem to be any absurd articles focused on him and Hermione despite his picture being scattered throughout the paper. The "where is he now" section had him accurately teaching and working at the shop, and had a paragraph or two on his alleged romantic activities over the years. Ron simply grinned as he fingered his wedding ring. The section on Harry was equally benign. The inner sections had articles on Neville, Luna, Ginny, McGonagall and Kingsley as well as smaller paragraphs next to "then and now" pictures of people like Dean Thomas, Cho Chang and other former classmates. The back of the paper had the names and pictures of all those who died that day at Hogwarts, as well as the others who had died during the war whether in fighting, such as Sirius and Dumbledore, or as part of the muggle and muggle born attacks of that time, such as Ted Tonks. Ron slowly ran his finger across each name, painfully familiar with each. Angered that Dobby's name wasn't there, he made a mental note to add that to his speech later that day. He was lost in the list of names when Harry came in and slipped into the seat across from him.
Ron simply nodded his hello.
Gesturing to the paper Harry asked, "Is it bad? I haven't seen it yet today."
"Not too bad actually. I was expecting much worse. Seems to be accurate. Not complete, mind you – but at least not fictional."
"Guess that's as good of a start as we could hope for, huh?"
"Right," sighed Ron, sliding the Prophet to Harry and turning his attention to the Ministry publication.
"I actually did read that one," Harry said. "Kingsley gave me a copy yesterday at work. I'm assuming Hermione wrote that?"
"Yeah. Marriage has made me smart, but it didn't make me that smart," scoffed Ron.
"She's a good writer."
"I know. Bloody brilliant, she is. Can you imagine how much easier school would have been if she'd been there to get us through it?"
"Ahhh. The true romantic. 'Dear, I wish I'd met you earlier as you could have done my homework for me.'"
"Piss of, Harry," laughed Ron.
"Did she write your speech for today too?"
"Yeah. Nervous you have to go after me now?"
"Maybe," smirked Harry.
"I can see tomorrow's headlines now 'Weasley Presumed To Be Missing As An Eloquent Genius Polyjuiced as Him Apparently Gives Bloody Brilliant Speech and Upstages The Chosen One At 20th Anniversary.'"
He and Harry were both laughing as the waitress took their orders.
"What are you doing between now and Hogwarts this afternoon?" Harry asked.
"I'll swing by and check on George and then swing by the Burrow."
"Hugo have school today?"
"Yeah. But, Hermione is picking him up at lunch. He is adamant that he wants to be there. I don't like it, but he wants to be with the rest of the family, and he want stop be the one to light Collin's candle. How can I be the one to say that's a bad idea? It's not like he doesn't know death and grief as intimately as anyone else there today."
"I know," Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Lilly will be there today too. I've kept her away until now, but Gin agrees that it would be like excluding her from the family. So, she'll be there. Hopefully they can sit near each other."
"I don't suppose the Prophet has something interesting like quidditch scores today does it?"
Harry gave him a look.
"Well they should. It's the one damn day of the year when we all need something like quidditch to focus on and they don't run it. Barmy if you ask me."
Harry cracked a smile, and the two settled into their annual tradition. After breakfast, Ron paid the waitress and headed out, patting Harry hard on the back.
"It'll be better tonight, mate. And it will be much better by Sunday."
"I know. Thanks. And, well, you'll be there, as you always have been. And that makes it bearable." Harry turned and headed down the road without looking back.
Ron watched him walk away. He realized that after all these years the hopes of the nation still rested on Harry's shoulders. But damn if he wouldn't always be there for Harry to help him bare the weight of it.
By the time he made it home after seeing his brother and his parents, Hermione had already picked Hugo up from school, and they were both dressed and ready to go.
"Hey guys," Ron said. "Let me run up and change and I'll be ready to go."
"No rush, Hermione said. "We have plenty of time. How about a sandwich first? It will be a long afternoon."
"Ok," Ron said. "I'm never one to turn down food."
Hermione smiled, handing him a sandwich she'd clearly had waiting for him. They sat at the kitchen table as he caught them up on how everyone was doing that day, and Hugo entertained them both by doing a whole dramatic interpretation of an apparently elaborate disagreement he'd seen on the playground that morning at school. Ron was grateful for the amusing distraction before the afternoon that he knew would be draining.
After eating he headed upstairs to change into his formal robes. He'd put on the robes and picked up the deluminator. It made him wonder what Dumbledore would think of him now. He was looking in the mirror smoothing his robes while twirling the deluminator in his fingers when he realized Hermione was in the doorway watching him. He gave her a nervous smile.
"I don't know how you're feeling, but you look amazing," she said as she walked up to him, straightening his collar and running her fingers through his hair.
"Just a day when I don't want to let people down is all," he mumbled quietly.
"Ron, you don't let people down. It's not part of your make up."
"Oh, I've let plenty of people down in the past," he said sadly as he fingered the deluminator again. "But luckily I have always had a way to come back from it."
"Ron, you were a teenager who was in a war and possessed by dark magic. It's been twenty years, love. It's time to forgive yourself. Harry forgave you a long time ago. Isn't it time that you did the same? Maybe twenty years is more than enough to punish yourself for something that wasn't your fault."
He looked at her, taking in her look of complete and unconditional love and letting it wash over him. He felt a lump in his throat and didn't want to let it overtake him, so he simply nodded and swallowed.
"I love you, Ron Weasley. And I am so proud to be your wife." She went to give him a reassuring peck on the cheek, but he caught her lips and deepened it, letting the emotion swirling in him come out in ways words could never express. He kissed her as if his life depended on it, gripping her waist and wrapping his other arm behind her head. It was if she sensed the need and let him sweep them away for a moment before gently touching his face, and slowly pulling away to simply nuzzle against his nose.
"I love you. And we can pick up where we left off when we get home later. So if nothing else this afternoon, we at least have that to look forward to," she said quietly.
"Thanks," he said as he held her close. "Ok, well, I suppose we need to get going." She nodded, and smoothed his robes down from where she had rumpled them, and soon all three of them were ready to head to Hogwarts.
