Ron walked up the neat cobblestone walk flanked by Charlie and a Ministry official named Hawthorn who was from his father's department. He swallowed nervously as he took in his surroundings. He'd only been to Hermione's house twice. Both times had been with his family to pick her up and take her back to the Burrow for part of the summer holiday. Each time he'd arrived via the Floo network in the parlor of her house.
Ron knew dimly that Hermione's family didn't want for money. After all, there were all those trips to France and Italy and the generous and expensive presents she always gave he and Harry. But now as he looked around the well-kept street with the dignified houses, he realized the true gulf between her family's circumstances and his own. A gulf that he would never bridge on an Auror's salary even if he ever managed to become an Auror. A Ministry official's salary, like his father's, would be considerably less. His new- found courage and optimism vanished as they approached the front door.
Beside him Charlie sensed rather than saw the change in his brother. He grabbed Ron's arm with a brief aside to Hawthorn.
" Just a quick word with my brother before we go in – family business, you know."
He gripped Ron's arm firmly and steered him to a carved stone bench under a rose arbor, just to the side of the house.
" What's up and don't say it's nothing because I know it's something," demanded Charlie.
" Well, it's just – all of this," Ron indicated his surroundings miserably. " I can't compete. I'll never be able to offer this to her. No wonder her father looked at me as if I was a poisonous toad!"
" You're really serious about her, aren't you?" Charlie asked thoughtfully.
" I reckoned I'd already made that plain," Ron answered in a low voice.
Charlie sighed," Alright. I'm not going to sugarcoat this. You're seventeen and in many ways you have grown up, but you still have a few things to learn."
He took Ron by the shoulder and said firmly," Ron, never think that you are not good enough because of the amount of galleons you have or do not have. Think of some of the wizards who are wealthy – Malfoy or Fudge. Would you really want to be like them?
What counts is you – your loyalty, your strength, your love for your family, friends and for Hermione. I've seen enough of Hermione to know that's what will count for her. If you ever think the thoughts you've been thinking, you'll let everyone down. Now- go in there- the brilliant strategist you are and win this one not just for your family but for yourself and the girl you care about so much."
With a slap on the back, Charlie gave Ron a shove towards the house.
" Oh, and if you have any more attacks of nerves, try imagining a very hacked off Ginny if you fail to come home with the prize!" Charlie added with a grin.
Ron took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and visualized his plan much as he did in both chess and Quidditch.
" Ready to go, son?" Hawthorn inquired.
" Ready as I'll ever be," Ron replied with grim determination and marched in the front door.
An assortment of people stood in the small foyer of the Granger residence. Here again the signs of quiet but confident wealth were abundant, from the marble floor to the expensive arrangement of flowers in an antique jardinière. A crystal chandelier sparkled above.
Ron ignored this and focused on his strategy. Without hesitating he found Dr. Granger at the edge of the group and headed straight for him.
" Could we have a word, sir?" Ron asked politely," in private?"
Dr. Granger's eyes were unreadable, but he indicated a door just off the foyer. Behind him, he could hear mutters of surprise. He supposed that his behavior might be considered rude by certain members of the Ministry party whom he'd walked by without acknowledging, but that was just too bad. Ron was on a mission.
He found himself in a small study that consisted mostly of bookshelves on three walls. They were crammed to the ceiling with oddly assorted volumes of all kinds.
Ron smiled in spite of himself. " I see where Hermione gets her love of books."
This seemed to take Dr. Granger off guard. " We're a bookish family," he admitted, " although Hermione has surpassed her mother and me over the last few years."
He finished his last comment a little sadly.
Ron abandoned his "first move" on hearing this from his " opponent" and tried a new tack.
" Sir, it must be hard not to know what's going on in our world except to realize that everyone is in constant danger. I just need to tell you that Hermione and your family will be protected as much as the Wizarding world is capable. They've probably already told you that, but I needed to promise you that I personally will be there for Hermione without fail."
There was a long silence as Dr. Granger gazed at a photo of Hermione on his desk.
" My daughter has talked incessantly of you and Harry over the last three years, young man. I saw with my own eyes yesterday that there is much more than friendship between you and my daughter. I can't pretend that I'm pleased."
Ron sighed. One move back to move forward. He took a deep breath.
" Sir, I'm very sorry about yesterday – more than I can say."
Dr. Granger's face showed his surprise. " You're sorry about almost kissing my daughter? You're sorry about clutching her in that – that embrace!" Dr. Granger's voice rose and was beginning to take on a tone that Ron recognized only too well. It was the tone that Hermione used just before she wound up to really let him have it when they were in a passionate argument.
Right – time for a bold move.
" No, sir. I'm not sorry for almost kissing her or for embracing her. I am sorry that it happened the day after the funeral of our greatest Wizard leader and the day after attacks were made on my family home and on Muggles in your area. But I won't apologize for the way I feel about your daughter. She means the world to me and I will do everything to protect her from harm. I thought I could ignore my feelings – that being friends would be safer for us. But that's not the way, sir. I believe we'll be stronger together."
Dr. Granger looked as stunned as Ron felt. Yes, he had rehearsed this as a possible scenario but where had those words come from? He'd never sounded so articulate or convincing.
Obviously, Dr. Granger thought so, too.
" I think you may have misunderstood what I said before. Hermione is my little girl – she's my only child. She's been away at school so much that it's hard for her mother and me to believe that sweet little girl who used to sit on my knee and read her favorite book is now a beautiful young lady whose father is no longer the most important man in her life. I don't doubt your intentions, but I can't help wanting to protect my daughter."
He finished now with great sadness in his voice that tugged at Ron's heartstrings.
" Then let me help you," Ron offered, holding out his hand.
Dr. Granger stared into Ron's eyes holding the gaze for what seemed an eternity. Ron didn't flinch or break the stare once. If this was a battle of wills, he meant to win.
Finally, Dr. Granger looked away. He took Ron's extended hand in a firm grip.
"Thank you," he said quietly. " I'll hold you to that."
" Checkmate," Ron thought, exhaling air that he hadn't realized he was holding. He smiled inwardly. Ginny was right – thinking chess really did help but being himself and doing what he believed in made the difference.
Ron exited Dr. Granger's study just in time to see Hermione descend the last few stairs of the winding staircase from the second floor. He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. She was – breathtaking. And she was smiling at him. How in Merlin's name was he to concentrate on anything, especially something he knew nothing about, while he was anywhere near her?
" Breathe," a voice behind him advised as Hermione approached.
Charlie then said, " Good morning, Hermione. You look in top form this morning, doesn't she, Ron?"
Ron still hadn't found his voice but Charlie's elbow nudged him hard and he asked somewhat shakily, " You slept well? Everything was alright last night?"
Hermione looked up at him, her eyes shining and replied," Everything was fine, Ron. Especially after Pig came and brought your note."
Ron relaxed as he considered the implications of her last statement. With a newly found confidence, he steered her towards the front door and out of the hearing of the rest of the group.
" I have a few things to say to you but when we're alone, not now. Charlie is going to try to arrange an opportunity. But one thing quickly, just to be clear."
Ron hesitated becoming lost in the depths of the brown eyes gazing warmly at him. Hermione reached out and touched his sleeve. He felt her slender fingers burn into his arm.
" Ron, are you alright? Were you speaking to my father just now? He didn't do anything or say anything, did he? " Now her brow began to furrow and worry pinched her lips.
He cleared his throat nervously. " No, no. Just a friendly chat. " Time later to give her any details after they had settled the problem that was now gnawing at him. After all, if he'd misunderstood this, maybe he'd misunderstood everything. He took a deep cleansing breath.
" You did agree to be my date for Bill's Wedding, right?" His eyes searched her face anxiously.
She looked very serious as she opened her mouth, also clearing her throat before she spoke.
" I said I was coming- with you. And I meant it," Hermione said a little huskily, a becoming pink flushing her face.
Ron beamed with a pleasure that was now flooding his whole body and couldn't help drawing her into a close embrace. Merlin, he could get very, very accustomed to this! Hermione hugged him back fiercely, whispering " Don't think you can get away with not telling me about that friendly chat with my father! "
" Ron, Hermione – it's time to begin," Charlie waved them both towards a large room off the foyer.
They disengaged quickly but not before Hermione gave him a rapid feather soft touch of lips to his cheek.
" More to come later," she promised quietly with a distinct gleam in her eye.
"Not too much later with Charlie's help," Ron replied grinning. He reached for Hermione's hand and gave it a sharp squeeze. He was now prepared for anything including the next challenge of the day.