It has been so long since I have upadted this story. I have meant to do it sooner but It's just getting the time. I found this chapter pretty torturous to write so I hope that you like it. Lets just say that Ron gets a bit more luck in this one. As for everything else, I do not own Harry Potter and if I did I would be rich like J.K Rowling and all of thosewise cracksat Warner Bros. I am not trying to earn any money off of this, only reviews. So please R&R. Thanks.

Chapter 4 – The joys of Family dinner

Ron and Hermione just stood there and looked at each other not knowing what to say. It was Harry that broke the ice.

"Aren't you going to get dried off?" He said to Ron, "it looks like you just stepped out of the shower."

"Yeah I guess you're right" replied Ron, looking slightly embarrassed and his ears turning red.

Ron turned and nearly ran up the stairs. Harry, Hermione and Ginny all looked at each other, with puzzled looks on their faces. Harry broke this by just shrugging his shoulders.

When Ron reached the bathroom he locked the door behind him. Why did it always have to be so hard for him when he met her? He had himself prepared for this time but yet again she had caught him off guard and his careful preparation had crumbled apart. He took the towel sitting over the bath and dried his hair roughly, that when he removed the towel his hair was a mass of messy red locks. He took the wand out of his pocket and did a quick drying spell to himself. Oh well! He sighed to himself. At least he was dry. He came out of the bathroom to hear commotion downstairs.

"Everyone must be here" Ron whispered to himself, as he prepared to go downstairs again.

Once he went downstairs everything seemed to be the way the where in the old days. There was a lot of commotion but it was the kind that made him feel at home. Fred and George were in the corner of the kitchen whispering suspiciously about something, taking glances at Percy and then continuing their secretive conversation. Bill and Fleur were talking to each other in rapid French, which surprised Ron but he had to take into consideration that Bill lived in France now. Percy was sitting talking to their dad who was only absently listening to him drawl on. Then suddenly as he took a sip of his tea, fire exploded out of Percy's ears and set the kitchen curtains on fire. Fred and George burst into laughter as Percy ran upstairs to the bathroom and their father extinguished the flaming curtains. "Torching Tea," Shouted George. "5 Galleons a bottle." He was surprised that his mother never done anything about it but she was far too busy fussing over her grandchild to notice. Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the corner catching up and occasionally giggling while Harry sat away from them looking disgusted. Once he saw Ron come into the kitchen he gestured him over to come and talk to him.

As soon as he came over it was Ginny that was the first one to speak though.

"Hermione, you have so got to show Ron your engagement ring." Ginny gushed, unable to hold in her excitement.

"It's alright Ron," Hermione assured, "You don't have to see it if you don't want to." She added looking slightly embarrassed.

"No it's alright." Ron said "I want to see it."

Ron didn't know what to prepare himself for but once he saw it disappointment took hold of him. The fact was the ring was beautiful. It was just for Hermione. It was silver and encrusted with many small diamonds with a larger one in the middle. He could never afford anything such as that.

"Yeah it's lovely" Ron commented trying to smile, but rather half heartedly.

"Dinner's ready, you lot!" Mrs Weasely called from out of the noise. And everyone assembled at the table.

Everyone sat at the table but all people seemed to want to do was talk. Of course, the hot topic of the table was Hermione's engagement. Hermione looked embarrassed by all the interest, while Ron sat there, looking gloomy, and chose not to participate in the conversation. He didn't know how much he could take of this talk and he didn't know how much more Hermione could take of it either. She looked totally flustered.

"So Hermione, dear, would you happen to have a date of your special day?" asked Mrs Weasely.

"Oh not an exact date." replied Hermione "But me and Viktor were planning it for the spring."

"How lovely," said Mrs Weasely, "It's a lovely setting, the spring."

Ron could tell that his Mum was pleased for Hermione but not as much as she made out to be. His Mum glanced at him without anyone noticing and gave him a soft smile. Obviously she saw his disappointment and tried to make him feel better. Maybe there is still some hope left for him, his mum thought to herself. She knew deep down that his heart was slowly being ripped apart by the person that he had only ever loved. Yes, she knew about his feelings for Hermione but did he know them.

"So Ron, have you started house hunting yet?" enquired his dad, changing the conversation.

"I have been looking, but I just haven't seen the right place for me yet." Sighed Ron, "Anyway, there's no way I can afford a place yet." He said this last bit rather quietly.

Last thing he needed was Hermione to compare Viktor's riches with his bleak financial situation. Viktor was already better than him at everything else.

"Well it's just good that you haven't." Mr Weasely stated. Ron looked at him strangely as if he just lost his head. "What? No Ron. I didn't mean it that way," apprehended Mr Weasely, seeing the look on Ron's face, "It's just that a colleague of mine is planning to retire and move away to a nice country. Found himself and his wife a nice home abroad. What it is Ron, he was looking for someone to move into his house and look after it while he lives out of the country. He did say he could sell it but he couldn't be bothered with all the hassle. So I mentioned you Ron. I said that you were looking for somewhere permanent to stay and that I would have a word with you to see if you were interested. So what do you say?"

"You're asking me if I want someone's house." asked Ron. He wasn't sure about the prospect but he thought it would finally be nice to have a place of his own. "What's the catch, you don't really think he would let me live there for free?"

"Well I think he might be expecting you to pay some rent, although I don't think he will leave you broke. He seems decent enough in those terms." replied Mr Weasely, "Also he would like to think you were responsible enough to look after his house. But you don't have to worry about that, I completely reassured him that you were responsible. I mean you're not a child anymore. After that all he said to me was that you had to keep the garden in good shape and look after their dog, as they'll be leaving it behind."

"That seems alright." said Ron

"Yeah, it's a great opportunity, Ron," Added Mrs Weasely, "If I were you I wouldn't pass it by."

"I'll think about it" Ron mused. However, he knew he was going to take the offer, but he didn't want to sound desperate.

After dinner everyone enjoyed dessert and then coffee afterwards. All Ron could say was that he had not had a meal like that in a while. Soon enough everyone were saying their goodbyes and exiting the door to disapperate. As soon as everyone was out the door Ron grabbed his father. "Tell him that I'll take it" He whispered. Then with that he walked out the door himself with his father smiling behind him.

"I'll see you later!" He shouted waving at Harry, who had began the walk back to his house, and was waving back at him in the distance.

He was about to disapperate we someone called his name. He turned around to be confronted by Hermione.

"Goodbye Ronald" She said and she went to hug him. It feels so good, he thought. When she broke away he was secretly disappointed but tried not to let on.

"I hope we can see each other again sometime, I've missed you so much."

"Me too." He strained out.

"Tell you what. We should meet up sometime." Hermione went on. "What do you say? Catch up on old times and stuff."

"That would be great, Hermione," Replied Ron.

"How about next Thursday afternoon then? I'll owl you a time." said Hermione. Ron nodded and Hermione turned away to disapperate.

"I'll see you then Hermione!" said Ron. With that she smiled then disapperated.

Well that dinner didn't turn out that bad, He thought, and then he disapperated into nothing.

Well that's another chapter. Trust me I am going to get straight to work on the next chapter. So stay tuned. I am not joking this time. I will get the next chapter up soon. If not I give you lot permission to thump me. But lets just say the more reviews I get the more enthusiastic I will be to write it. So for the sake of the next chapter please R&R this one. Only joking. Thanks again..