A/N: So, as I passed my Law exam, which I must say it's quite an achievement, I've decided to treat you all with a new chapter hehehe. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and that you continue reviewing as you did with the previous one! All the reviews were amazing and I really can't express what they mean to me! So THANK YOU!
I was very amused to receive your ideas and predictions about what Ron is going to do or what Fred and Hermione will do now they have confessed their feelings… But you'll have to read to find out if you were right. Now, there were a few people who asked some questions, here are the answers:
Beth: Well Ron tends to be a bit reckless. But also Haley already knew about the mission because Voldemort had told her, so she knew exactly how to get it out of him! Thanks for the spelling/ vocabulary tips…
Taroshi: No, I'm not Danish. But I own a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer stone in Danish so I took the name from there. I don't speak Danish, I just collect copies of the book in different languages, I have it in British English, American English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
First Comes Marriage, Then Love?
Chapter XI: Someone Returns
The following morning Hermione awoke so comfortable and warm that she didn't open her eyes immediately. She could feel Fred's slow sleeping breathing rhythm. It was a soothing sound, like a sweet lullaby that invited her to fall back asleep and have wonderful dreams. She didn't want to leave his side, or to wake him, but she needed to get to work early. She had planned to do some research in the ministry library before it closed at midday. She attempted to disentangle herself from Fred's arm trying at the same time to move as little as possible so as to avoid waking him. She had almost done it when she felt her husband grabbing her wrist and pulling her back to the bed.
"Where are you going?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
"I need to go to the ministry to use the library."
"Nop, you are not going anywhere," he said shaking his head. "I want to spend the morning with you." Hermione began to complain but Fred interrupted pouting. "Come on! Breakfast in bed, how does that sound?"
"It sounds great, but I should go to work." Fred continued to put a puppy face, which was difficult to resist.
"You can take a day off, especially if it is a Saturday," he said running his fingers up and down her arm, leaving goose bumps where he touched her skin. Hermione considered her options. Locking herself the entire morning in a library, surrounded by old books and even older rolls of parchment suddenly didn't seemed as appealing as it used to. Meanwhile, the prospect of spending the same amount of time next to Fred was much more attractive. She smiled at the man lying next to her and he took that as the answer he wanted to hear.
"I'll summon something to eat," he suggested getting his wand.
"Maybe later, I'm not really hungry," said Hermione.
They went back to the position in which they had slept.
"Funny how life works, just yesterday I was telling George that there was no way there could be something between us, and now we are here."
"I know. This is strange, and yet it feels so right. I can't even feel guilty about this. I'm too happy," she said, turning to face him. He smiled and kissed her sweetly. He had been half expecting her to tell him that what they were doing was wrong, that she couldn't hurt Ron like that and that they should ignore their feelings until they disappeared. So hearing that she was happy about it made his heart lift. He knew exactly what she meant. He too had thought about Ron and the rest of his family, but not pang of guilt had attacked his stomach, which was now full of butterflies.
"Do you reckon we should tell them?" asked Hermione as if she could read his mind. Only two persons in the world could speak his mind without using legilimancy: George and her. And for Fred, the fact that she could was a powerful sign of the connection between them.
"You probably won't agree with me, but I think we shouldn't, at least not for the time being. There is really no need for explanations and telling everyone would ruin everything, the mission and," he hesitated before saying it, "us."
"Actually, I think exactly the same. We should probably figure this out by ourselves before we tell anyone else," she said, with a particular anyone else in mind.
"I suppose we should talk about this."
"Yes." An awkward silence fell between them. Neither of them dared to voice the question they had in mind in case the answer was not what they were expecting.
"So, do you- I mean, what to you think?" asked Hermione not looking directly at him but rather fixing her stare on the bed cover.
"Well, I love you, of that I'm sure."
"I love you too," she said trying to hide from her voice how relieved she felt.
"And I'd like to give it a shot, you know, us. And you?"
"Me too. I'd never felt like this before and I don't want to lose it. But it's not going to be easy. We'll have to face the rest of the world eventually." She hated herself for saying it, but her over-responsible self had gotten the better of her. She had the need to rationalize everything and to see all possible outcomes.
"Still, are you willing to face them?"
"Yes, I am." That was everything Fred needed. He did not have to thing about the consequences; there was no need to ruin the moment with bitter thoughts about the future. If she was ready to confront any obstacle that got on their way, he certainly was too.
"Then there is nothing else to discuss. We'll cross each bridge as it comes to us. And the fist bridge we have to cross is breakfast, I'm starving." Hermione laughed and kissed him. He could be so incredibly cute sometimes.
Ron woke up from a confusing dream. He had had a bad night, his dreams full of Hermione and Haley. It was as thought his subconscious was trying to tell him something, to help him to make up his mind. But he hadn't got anything clear out of his troubled thoughts. The paper with Haley's address laid on his bedside table. He still hadn't decided what to do. Of course he wanted to get Hermione back, and he was prepared to risk anything. Yet asking someone he didn't know for help was not the wisest thing to do. Seven years fighting alongside Harry had taught him not to trust strangers, especially if they seamed to have exactly what you needed.
It was a Saturday and that meant he had to do some shopping. He was usually to busy during the week and by the time the weekend came there was hardly anything to eat in his house.
He decided he would walk up to the market. It was not near his house, but perhaps the fresh air would help him clear his head. The streets were mainly empty. It was a cold morning, so no many pedestrians had decided to bet out and about. Ron walked down the first ten blocks thinking hard about Hermione. He had almost arrived to the conclusion that there was no point in contacting Haley and her mysterious friend. Hermione would still we there when he got back home, and as she was married there was little chance she would have met someone else. It would be reckless to involve someone outside the Order to get her. He stopped, waiting for a traffic light to change. He was standing in front of the largest book store he had ever seen. It had a handsome display and even thought the books were all in Danish and he couldn't understand more than a couple of words he couldn't felt but stare at the window.
"Hermione would love it here," he thought without really thinking. He sighted when he realized that he couldn't show it to her. Luckily at that moment the light turned to green, enabling him to cross the street. He continued his journey through an alley full of trees. Carved one of them was the legend "R&H, in love for ever". He quickly turned his eyes from the trunk and look straight ahead, just to see a ginger cat run across his path. What was going on? Apparently walking to the marked had not been a wise choice. He looked around and as nobody was there to see him, he disapparated.
Ron re-materialized inside a grocery store, just in front of the strawberry container. Strawberries were Hermione's favorite fruit. He turned his back on the fruit as he had done on the tree and began to look for the things he needed, trying to avoid anything that reminded of the object of his affection. That seemed a mission impossible. It was as though the world had declared that Saturday was Hermione's day and everything he connected with her simply appeared in front of his eyes.
He left the store quickly, leaving behind half the things he needed and returned to his apartment. The owl that delivered the Daily Prophet was already there. He paid for the paper and set to make him a strong cup of coffee. In fact he needed something stronger, but it was not a good idea to start drinking so early in the morning. He scanned the front page. Most of it was occupied by a large piece on a dementors attack in York. But at the bottom there was an article that described a new successful arrest the Ministry had made.
Ron intended to read it quickly, but his eyes widened when he saw the words Department of Magical Families written in the middle of the first column. He threw the paper as far as he could. It was too much.
"Perhaps I should prepare a sleeping potion and sleep the rest of the day," he said out loud. But he had never been a good potion maker. Actually, if it hadn't been for Hermione he would never had passed his Potions exams. There she was again, no matter what he thought about, Hermione was always present. Perhaps he was being stubborn ignoring all the signs. Perhaps there was a reason by Haley had come to his life.
He stood up and got the piece of paper she had given him the previous night. He looked at it and hesitated for a moment, then he grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled a quick note. Before he changed his mind, he tied it to the leg of his owl and sent the letter. There was no harm in listening what the girl had to say, right?
Ron didn't have to wait long for a reply. Barely twenty minutes after he had sent the note his owl was back bringing a new piece of paper. He untied Haley's letter and read it.
Dear Ron, I'm glad you've decided to take a chance and try to get the girl back. Meet me in two hours at the same pub we met yesterday. Love, Haley.
She hadn't mentioned her friend, and that was probably better. He hadn't agreed to anything yet. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to go on with what Haley would propose, but the idea that he was doing something made him feel a bit better.
Two hours later Ron was sitting at one of the tables near the door, facing the entrance of the pub. Haley arrived just five minutes after him, looking as stunning as she had done the night before. Today she was wearing a pair of tight jeans and a small green top. She had silver high-heeled sandals and a matching purse. Her hair was pulled back in a pony tale, exactly as Hermione used to wear it while she was at Hogwarts.
"I'm sorry I'm late," she said putting an angelical face and taking the seat in front of Ron.
"You are not, you're just on time."
"How are you?" she asked batting her eyelashes at him.
"I'm ok. You?" He would have rather skipped the small talk, but he supposed it was part of the ritual, and after all he was there to ask her for help.
"Never mind me. We are here to discuss your situation, so let's get down to it." She had a gift to say exactly what the other person wanted to hear. No wonder why she always got what she wanted. She had known from the moment she had seen him that Ron was going to be an easy pray. He was too pure of heart, and nobody was easier to trick than a good, decent person. Well yes, a man in love was even easier. And Ron happened to have both requirements.
"I'm listening"
"You must understand that, although it is not impossible, what you want to do is not easy. It will require some sacrifices."
"I don't care, you can have everything I own as long as she's with me." He was also impulsive. This was going to be like taking a candy from a baby.
"I'm not talking about material sacrifices. You'll have to commit with much more than your staff."
"I don't understand," he said looking at her suspiciously.
"You will, when the time is right. What I need to know is if you are willing to risk everything. If I guarantee that Hermione will be with you, would you give up on everything?"
"What do you mean by everything? And how can you guarantee that she'll come to me? I don't want any tricks. If she is with me it was to be because she wants to, no tampering with free will or anything like that."
"No, of course not. No funny business."
"Then how can you assure me that I'll get what I want so badly?"
"There are many ways to convince a person, or rather to make her realize what she really desires. The first thing you have to do is to move back to London."
"What? Why? How's that gonna help?"
"Because, out of heart out of mind you silly," she answered in a fresh voice. "You need to remind her that you are her best friend and why she fell in love with you in the first place. You can send me weekly reports and I'll tell you what to do."
"And what about your mystery friend?" Ron asked in part to give himself thinking time. He wasn't sure if he was ready to go back and see Hermione act like the perfect wife to his own brother, the same brother by the way he had always been jealous of.
"He'll be helping me. Don't you worry about him, you'll meet him when the time is right."
"So you are suggesting I go back and act as if I were perfectly ok with the charade they are putting up?"
"Exactly. You can say something like you realized how immature you had been and that you are terrible sorry you caused them pain. That you understand perfectly well what's going on and that you'll like to help them in any way you can. Meanwhile, you'll be spending time with her. All you have to do then is send me 'reports' of what you two do together and I'll give you advice."
It didn't take long to convince Ron. In less than half an hour he was heading back home ready to pack his trunks. All in all the idea seemed harmless. The only thing he had to do was write letters to his knew friend and she, as a girl, would tell him what to do. He had often heard that it was easier to talk to strangers about one's problems, and apparently it was true.
At the same time, Haley left the pub to rejoin her master. She entered the room where Lord Voldemort was, but he was not alone. A tall figure was standing in front of the chair the Dark Lord was occupying.
"I'm sorry master," said Haley when she noticed the second man. "I thought you were alone, I'll come back later. I have wonderful news for you."
"Haley! Come in, don't mind Severus, he's my most trusted servant. Just as you are my most efficient weapon." Voldemort allowed Haley to kiss his hand before continuing. "So, is everything going according to the plan?"
"It is my Lord. The blood traitor will return to England and will do exactly as I told him. You were right my Lord, he was so easy to manipulate. You are always right," she said in the same sugary voice she had used with Ron.
"Good, Lord Voldemort is pleased with you. You know what to do now, don't you?"
"Oh yes master. I'll send you every letter Weasley writes to me. You'll have the mudblood conquered in no time."
"Very well, you may leave. I have other matters to discuss with Severus." Haley kissed her master's hand again before exiting the room.
"You see Severus, enchantments and curses are useful. But natural charms can be just as effective." Snape nodded without saying a word. "Soon enough both of Potter's friends will be down and he'll be even easier to destroy. Fools who depend on those they love for support never get far." Still Snape didn't utter a word. "Anyway Severus, I'll be expecting your information, go now and carry out your own task." Snape vowed and left his master presence.
The following day was a Sunday, the day of the Weasley's barbecue. Hermione was dressing in front of the room mirror when Fred came from behind, already fully dressed, and hugged her. He looked for a second at the image reflected in front of him and then began to kiss Hermione on the neck.
"Fred, I need to finish dressing or we'll be late," she said trying to sound exasperated rather than conveying how much she enjoyed his little kisses.
"I know, but I won't be able to do this once we are there so I want to make the most of the time we have," he answered grinning. That was perfectly true. They didn't have to pretend they were in love in front of the Weasleys and Harry, so there was no need to be holding hands or kissing as they did whenever they were in public.
"As incredibly sweet as that is, I still have to put on makeup and finish with my hair."
"I don't understand why you bother, you are beautiful no matter what you do to your face or hair." Those words earned him a passionate kiss from the woman standing in front of the mirror. However, she broke it to continue her task much sooner than Fred would have liked to.
Twenty minutes later they were knocking at the Burrow's door. Charlie answered it.
"I'll never get used to seeing you two together," he said greeting the couple outside the door. Hermione and Fred exchanged significant looks behind his back.
"Is everyone else already here?" asked Hermione to change the subject.
"No, Harry hasn't arrived yet. Nor have Percy and Penelope."
"I'll go help your mother in the kitchen then." She left the two brothers walking in the direction of the back yard where the large table was being set by George and Mr. Weasley.
"So, how is everything with Hermione?" asked Charlie leaning his back against one of the house walls.
"What do you mean?" asked Fred sharply. Did Charlie know?
"I mean, how's living with her in the same apartment. What did you think I meant?"
"Oh, nothing. Everything's great. She's very interesting and good company. It makes a lovely change sharing an apartment with her after living with George."
"Hey! I'm over here you know," shouted George. But his distraction caused half a dozen of plates to fall to the floor and break into pieces.
"See what I mean?" asked Fred taking out his wand and repairing them.
"Can you honestly tell me that you don't miss having your favorite brother around?" asked George, his hands on his hips in a very Mrs. Weasley's style.
"Yes, I can. In fact, I would ask Hermione to switch work places with you too if you weren't absolutely necessary for the shop."
"Well, at least you recognize that you need me. I know that's your way of telling me that you love me," George said ruffling his twin's hair affectionately. "What's happened to you?" he asked suddenly.
"Nothing, why?" replied Fred looking away from his brother's face.
"There's something different with you." Fred was saved from answering by his mother who chose that precise moment to walk through the door behind three trays of food she was levitating with her wand.
Everybody sat around the table. Fred got a seat as far as George from he could, and at the same time relatively away from Hermione too. If they were too close, it would be more difficult to make as if nothing had changed between them. His twin already suspected something was going on and he had no wish for the rest of the family to start wondering too.
The meal began normally, conversation flowed as it always did at a Weasley table. But suddenly Mrs. Weasley let her knife and folk fell with a clutter. She stood up and walked towards the house. Every pair of eyes was upon her, so only when she arrived at the back door did they see that Ron was standing there.
"I my good Ron! How wonderful! You came to spend some time with us!" she said hugging him tightly.
"Mom, you're strangling me," he said in a muffled voice. Mrs. Weasley let go of him and stared at his youngest son with a critical eye.
"You are skinny. I bet you haven't had a decent meal in weeks. Go and sit on my chair while I fetch you a plate."
"Don't worry mom, you'll have plenty of opportunities to feed me up 'cause I'm back for good." Mrs. Weasley hugged him again when she heard this. Her eyes full of teas she kissed Ron on one check and led him to the table to give the family the good news.
Everyone was still looking at them, curiosity reflected in each of the faces. They had not heard the conversation so they had no idea what was going on. Hermione and Fred exchanged a look full of meaning. Luckily none of the others noticed, not even George. But both of them knew exactly what the other one was thinking. Things were going to be much more difficult with Ron around. It was not that they didn't want him near. On the contrary, both had missed him terribly, but they had learned to live with his absence. And now that they had discovered and accepted their feelings for each other, now that they were beginning a relationship, he was back. And who knew for how long.
"Listen everybody, I have terrific news. Ron has decided to come back home and stay here!" said Mrs. Weasley smiling so widely it surely was painful. Her statement was followed by a stunned silence. Then, as the news sunk in Harry got up and gave his best friend a brotherly hug.
"It's great to have you back mate," he said.
"It's nice being back."
"Are you going to tell us what happened here?" asked George eying his youngest brother up and down.
"Well, to cut a long story short I realized that I had been immature and selfish. I understand now how important what you are doing is, and I want to help in any way I can," he answered taking a sit right next to Hermione. Fred stabbed at his food with such force that he left a mark on his plate.
Ron retold a rehearsed story Haley had prepared for him. He told them that he had been walking through a park and he saw a large family sitting in the grass laughing and chatting and that at that precise moment it the truth hit him. He had realized that his place was with his family, helping the Order so he decided to return home.
Nobody raised any objection. They had no reason not to trust Ron so they bought it. Soon enough the whole family was talking to him as if he had never left, and the rest of the meal passed amicably. Only two persons were quitter than usual, Fred and Hermione. But in the excitement of having Ron back, this went by undetected by everyone.
Once they had all finished eating, they went back to the house. Hermione remained behind. She was waving her wand, sending all the plates and trays to the kitchen when Ron approached her. Fred was halfway down the garden when he turned to seen his youngest brother putting a hand on his wife's shoulder. For a moment or two he considered going back to mark his territory. But he trusted Hermione completely. And he knew there were some unfinished business between her and Ron. It would be better to let them solve their issues alone. He quickened his pace and entered the house without looking back. The fact that he understood the situation did not mean that he liked it and he most definitely was not going to witness it.
"'Mione, I need to talk to you," said Ron.
"I'm kind of busy now Ron. Perhaps later we could-"
"No, please. I need to speak to you alone and we night not have another chance," he insisted, this time putting both his hands on her shoulders.
"Ok then," she answered, but she took his hands and removed them from where they were.
"I just wanted to say that I'm terribly sorry for all the pain I caused you. I still don't know why you are my friend seeing that I always end up making you cry. You are the greatest person I've ever met, the best friend I could ever had and the most important person in my life."
"Ron you don't need to," Hermione began, but he interrupted her.
"Yes, I do. And I want to. I never intend to hurt you and yet I always do it. And you continue being my friend no matter what. I don't think I deserve it."
"No, you probably don't. But that's what friends are for, to accept you with your virtues and faults," she said putting a special emphasis in the word friends.
"Yeah," he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. The conversation wasn't going exactly as he had hoped, so it was better to leave it for the time being- another of Haley's advices. "That's all I wanted to say, friends then?" he asked extending his arms.
"As always," she nodded hugging him. "We should go inside now," Hermione suggested once they had separated.
Some time later the reunion had ended and everybody was back at their respective houses. Well, everybody but Ron who wasted no time in locking himself in his room and started writing a letter to Haley telling her everything that had happened.
Meanwhile Fred and Hermione were at the study in their apartment. Hermione was re-reading some memos that described what she would have to do the following week. Fred was sitting at his couch reading the last volume of the books Hermione had gave him. Or at least he was pretending to, because he couldn't concentrate. The image of Hermione and Ron alone together wouldn't leave his mind. What if seeing him had brought back old feelings? After all his brother had been her best friend and flame for many years.
"Fred, are you trying to set that page on fire?" Hermione's voice sounded amused.
"What?"
"You've been staring at the same spot for the last five minutes. Either you are trying to use a non-verbal spell to set that page on fire or something's bothering you."
"No, I was just thinking."
"That much is obvious, what about?"
"Nothing important, just stuff." Hermione had stood up from her desk and was now kneeling next to him.
"It's over six and you haven't asked what are we going to do for dinner. Something's really wrong with you." He just couldn't lie to his wife.
"I've been thinking and now that Ron's back… well if you to… I mean if you want to, you know, have something with him I understand completely."
"I knew it had to do with that!" she said with a triumphant smile. "Listen, do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"What?"
"Oh, I see you treasure every word I say," she said in a very Fredish tone. "I told you that I love you. And nothing's gonna change that, not even Ron coming back and asking me to marry him!"
"Did he ask you to-?"
"No! It was just an example. The point is that I love you and you are the only person I want to be with. Got it?" Fred nodded but he continued to look gloomy. Hermione decided she would have to do something tom make him understand what she was saying. So she sat on his lap and kissed him passionately. She broke it only when they both needed air. "Do you still have any doubts?"
"If I say yes would you do that again?" he asked. His characteristic spark was back in his eyes and voice. Hermione smacked the back of his head playfully.
"Come on! I'm hungry and it's your duty to cook," she said forcing him out of the sofa. But once he was on his feet he put his arms tightly around her waist and kissed her again. There was plenty of time to have dinner, but right now he only wanted to be with her.