Days That Shape Us

9-June-1998

"How are your parents dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked while she watched over a pot of gravy.

"Arthur said he missed them."

"M-missed them?"

"When he went over yesterday."

"What was he doing there!" Hermione screeched nearly dropping the stack of plates she was holding ready to set the table.

Mrs. Weasley gave her an odd look. "He went with Bill to put up the extra wards and charms you told Ron you wanted over your house."

"Oh! The wards! Yes, yes, of course!"

"Are you alright dear? You look a bit peaky." Mrs. Weasley said coming over to feel Hermione's forehead. "Minerva isn't over working you lot is she?"

"No, it's fine. Honestly."

Mrs. Weasley smiled and patted her cheek. "Why don't you get Ginny and Ron, dinner is almost ready."

Hermione made her way to Ron's room in a daze. After every thing her father said to him he still went out of his way to make sure they had extra protection because she told him she was afraid for them while they were still here. She shouldn't be surprised at all, it was just like Ron to do something like that.

"Gorgovitch dodged a bludger hit straight at his head."

"SHOOT!"

"PASS IT!"

"Excellent flying by Gorgovitch this season. Now if he could only learn to have a better grip on the quaffel."

"SHOOT!"

"PASS IT!"

"Gorgovitch drops the Quaffel…"

"DAMN IT!"

"Told you he should have passed it."

"Shut up!"

"Good game?" Hermione said leaning against the door frame.

"What you would expect," Ginny said with a shrug. "The cannons are down 40 to 170. Did Harry get back?"

"Not yet, but your mum says dinners about ready."

Ginny got up from the camp bed that used to be Harry's patting Ron on the back saying, "Find a new team Ron, the cannons are hopeless." Ginny ducked the pillow thrown to her by her brother; stuck her tongue at him and ran out of the room before another could be thrown.

"And the Falcons score again!"

Ron stood and turned off the wireless "That's enough of that. What?" He said seeing the warm smile etched across Hermione's face.

"I love you, do you know that?"

"I'm easy to love."

"No," Hermione said walking over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. " I mean it, you're amazing."

Ron looked at her with narrowed eyes. "What do you want?"

"Nothing!" she laughed "Well, to thank you. You didn't have to tell your dad to put extra charms over my hou- my parent's house."

"Oh, well, I just thought it would make you feel better until they left."

Hermione closed her eyes and let her forehead fall and rest against his chest. "They froze my account. I went to the bank today to get some money and my account was frozen."

Ron walked across the room to close the door then pulled her over to his bed to talk.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I have no money."

"That's not to bad, we never had any money."

"You don't get it Ron, I don't mean I don't have enough money, I mean I don't have any. Nothing, I have one galleon and that's it. I can't go back to Hogwarts. I can't buy the course books or parchment, quills, potion ingredients; I can't even afford lunch for the week! They cut me off. "

"Oh. Well I'm sure Mum and Dad-"

"Are what going to buy my books for me? You're mad if you think I would even consider that!"

"Harry would –"

"I'm not asking Harry for money!"

"I have some money saved-"

"I'm not taking your money."

"Why not." Ron said sounding insulted. "Harry and my parents I can understand, but why wont you want my money? I'm your boyfriend helping you is part of the deal."

"I know you've been talking about getting a better broom."

"You're more important then a broom!"

Hermione gave him a sad smile before leaning in a giving him a small kiss on the lips. "You worked hard for that money, I'm not taking it."

BAM CRASH

On pure instinct Ron and Hermione jumped to their feet pulling out their wands.

"Protego!"

"Stupify."

"It's me!" Ginny said crouched down covering her head.

"Damn it Ginny, you broke my tank!"

"I'm fine thanks for asking."

"Are you ok?" Hermione said pocking her wand and helping Ginny up off the floor. "I guess we're still a bit on edge."

"Yeah," Ron said angrily. "Teaches you to go bursting into people's rooms and breaking stuff."

"Harry's home-"

"Good you can tell him to replace the tank you broke."

"That things been empty for years."

"That's besides the point."

"Use repairo."

"Still not the point."

Ginny opened her mouth to retort but shook her head, there were more important things than broken tanks that needed discussing. "Kingsley came with Harry and wants to talk to you."

Ron stopped inspecting the floor for stray pieces of glass and looked at his sister. "Me?"

"You and Mum. Official business he says."

"Mum?"

"Yeah, come on. I want to catch the rest of what he has to say to mum!"

Hermione looked worriedly at Ron. What could the minister of magic want with Ron and Mrs. Weasley. A pang of fear shot through Hermione like a lightning bolt and she felt all the blood drain from her face.

"Come on!" Gunny said pulling on Ron's arm. "Oh forget it. I'll see you down stairs."

"It's fine." Ron said turning to her. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with your parents." Ron intertwined their fingers then brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. The warmth of Ron's hand in hers gave her courage. "Together."

When they entered the kitchen Hermione surveyed the room. Harry was leaning against the kitchen sink beaming and Ginny looked as if Christmas had come early. Mrs. Weasley sat looking stunned in one of the chairs with Mr. Weasley wearing a similar expression standing behind her gripping her shoulders.

"What's going on?"

"Mum's rich!"

"Ginny!"

"Ok not rich but Mum's got money! Half of it's mine because it was thanks to me."

"Ginerva Weasley!"

"Oh come on Mum can I get a new broom? Please, please, please!"

"I'm not keeping it."

"It's yours Molly." Kingsley said reasonably.

"No." Molly said closing her eyes tight and shaking her head. "I don't want it."

"MUM!" Ginny said out raged.

"Give it to Andromeda, for Teddy. She was her… and she was the one who …"

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't feel right keeping it." She said lowering her eyes. Mr. Weasley crouched down in front of her and whispered "I wouldn't expect less from you." Then leaned up to place a kiss on her forehead. "You did what you had to."

Ron wrapped an arm around her holding her close and Hermione knew he was thinking the same thing she was at that moment. That one day they would grow old together and be just as in love and caring for one another like his parents. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Harry reach for Ginny's hand. Ginny gave him a warm smile then walked over to her mother giving her a hug. "It's ok mum."

After a moment Ron cleared his throat. "Um, I don't want to ruin the moment or any thing but… What's going on?"

You could see the moment Kingsley went from friend to Minister. He stood a bit straighter and his shoulders squared. "There was a thousand galleons reward for the captures of Bellatrix Lestrange. After the ministry mishap and her involvement in the war the Wizengamot agreed that the reward for her capture should be more around ten thousand." He nodded to the sack in Mrs. Weasley hand. "The Wizengamot also agreed that all of the rewards should be escalated."

"I don't have to pay taxes." Harry said with glee. "Ever. Which isn't much of a difference since I haven't had to pay any yet. But still."

"Which brings us to you."

"Me?" Ron said confused.

"From the intel we gather it was you and Mr. Longbottom who brought down Fenrir Greyback."

"I… uh."

Kingsley reached in to his clock and pulled out a sack of gold. "Five thousand galleons." He said jugging the sack in his hand. Ten thousand split two ways."

"I may just get my broom after all." Ginny whispered to Harry.

"I'll give you just enough to replace the tank you broke." Ron then turned to his parents. "You're not going to make me give this to Bill are you?"

His parents laughed. "No dear that's yours, but it would be nice if you bought Bill something nice with it."

Ron leaned down and whispered in Hermione ear. "Now I can buy both our school supplies and a new broom."

"And then there's this." Kingsley voice broke off Hermione's argument and once again reached in to his cloak and handed Harry Ron and Hermione each a scroll of parchment and a sack of gold.

For the first time that evening Harry looked confused and out of the loop. "I thought the three of you should be together for this." Kingsley said with something a keen to glee in his voice.

All three unrolled their scroll:

Dear Miss Granger, In light of your contributions and efforts to the betterment of the Wizarding World. The British Ministry of Magic is pleased to present to with our highest honor. An Order Of Merlin First Class, and we thank you for your service during our darkest hour.

Sincerely,

The Wizengamot

The three friends all stared at each other in shock before Ron finally exclaimed "YOU'RE FUCKING JOKING!"

"Ronald Weasley!"

"I'm getting an Order of Merlin Order of First Class! I can say what ever the fuck I want!"

"Don't use that- A what?"

"An Order of Merlin, Molly, First class. All three of them. And the two thousand galleon prize money that goes to its recipients."

"Best. Day. Ever!" Ron said picking Hermione up and twirling her as she laughed.

When Ron put Hermione down he ran over to Harry and hugged him as well . "I knew letting you hang around me would pay off one day!" he joked. "I can't wait to see the look on Fred and George's face!" For good measure Ron picked up Ginny and swung her around in the same way he had her. "Ah, Hell, I'll let you keep the money. You don't have to buy me a new tank!" Ginny threw back her head and laughed.

She and Harry knew what an honor this was, but they had only been part of the Wizarding world for seven years, Ron had grown up in it, she could only image what receiving this honor meant to him. When they broke apart Mr. And Mrs. Weasley rand over and Hugged their son then harry and Her offering their "Congratulations and We're proud of yous."

"I think we should celebrate!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"They'll be a ceremony and ball in their honor on the 17th of June at the ministry." Kingsley informed the room at large.

"Can't ask Fleur this time Ron, as she's married to your brother."

"Sod off Harry."