Hermione stood nervously at the back door of the Burrow. It had been so long since she'd been there that she couldn't even remember the last time. She had met Molly in the garden where they'd said their hellos, and played catch up on all the happenings with the family over the last couple years. Then, with a playful smirk, Molly informed Hermione that Ron was just back from a run, and could be found in the kitchen.
Now Hermione found herself standing on the literal and proverbial threshold. She hadn't seen him since the night she'd left for Venice. She briefly thought back to that time. She remembered hoping he would come after her. That he would beg her to take him back. She was going to make him suffer, and then "reluctantly" agree to give him another chance.
She waited, but her hope dwindled more and more with each passing day and month of silence until her heart finally broke completely. It took some time, but once she'd made it past the hurt, anger quickly set in and she was furious with him. He was probably off shagging 'her' brains out. Finally, Hermione convinced herself that she was better off without him, and swore never to speak to him again. She even went so far as to ask Ginny never to mention anything about him because she didn't want to know.
Pushing the screen door open, her eyes fell instantly upon him. He stood facing the counter with his back to her.
She took in his tall, broad frame. She didn't remember him being that… well… fit. Her eyes raked over his toned arms, legs, back and his… She flushed slightly, and looked away. She felt a nervous flutter spiral its way up through her chest. This was going to be impossible if she didn't get a hold of herself.
Finally finding the courage to speak, she said, "Hello Ronald."
He didn't turn or answer, but stayed facing the counter doing whatever it was he was doing.
'Fine. He wants to be like that!' She thought angrily.
She was about to head upstairs when she noticed he was bobbing his head a bit, and humming. She looked closer, and saw that he was actually listening to a Muggle Walkman. She just stared at him in disbelief.
'His father must have given him that.'
Suddenly, he started to sing along, and Hermione couldn't help but giggle slightly. He looked ridiculous, and adorable. She instantly frowned at the last thought.
She listened to the words, and felt her heartbeat quicken.
"Slippin' and a slidin'… something and a something with you… my brown eyed girl…. You my brown eyed girl… Do you remember when we used to sing…"
At this point, Ron shoved a pumpkin Danish into his mouth, and continued to hum. He picked up his plate and glass, and turned around to find a memory staring back at him.
A moment later, the Danish fell out of his mouth unheeded.
His eyes quickly made the course of her body reacquainting himself with her. It was definitely Hermione but she looked so different. Her hair, which used to be a dark, chocolate brown looked to be lighter, and was pulled back loosely, the odd soft curl escaping here and there. Her skin was tanned, and the tight fitting, low-cut, v-necked sundress she wore accentuated her soft curves. She looked absolutely stunning.
His eyes darted quickly to her mouth, and every memory he had of kissing those lips flashed through his mind. His mouth had gone completely dry, so he cleared his throat, and swallowed hard.
"Her..." his voice squeaked, and he cleared his throat again. "Hermione."
"Ronald." She responded softly.
They just stood regarding each other in total silence.
"What are you doing here?" He finally managed.
She huffed and gave him a pointed look.
"I'm here for the wedding."
"Right. Yes, of course. But… But are you staying here... at the Burrow?"
"Gin didn't tell you?"
"No, she didn't." He answered flatly.
"Well, I am. Is that going to be a problem?" She quipped at him.
"No, it won't be a problem." He responded, a fair bit of snark in his tone.
"Good." She paused to consider her next move. "Listen Ronald, we both know that this is going to be a difficult two weeks. Can we at least try to remain civil with each other?"
He eyed her suspiciously, but finally conceded. "Yeah sure."
Suddenly, the screen door opened and banged shut. Both looked to see who had just come in.
"Roberto, there you are. Where did you get to?" She squealed happily.
There at the door stood an absolutely gorgeous Italian man levitating two trunks to the ground.
"Mia Bella, I was spellbound by a beautiful red-headed woman in the garden." He smiled saucily.
"Oh, you prat!" She said far too lovingly for Ron's taste.
The greasy git, as Ron was now going to refer to him, rushed over to Hermione, took her small face in his over sized hands, and kissed her on the lips.
The reaction inside Ron was instant and violent. He hated this man with a passion.
"So, who is your friend, Bella?"
Roberto had his arm slung over Hermione's shoulder now, and she had hers wrapped around his middle.
"Oh right. Roberto, this is Ronald Weasley. Ronald, this is Roberto Tellini."
Roberto took his arm from around Hermione's shoulder, and reached out his hand to Ron.
Ron, in turn, stared viciously at the man and his offending appendage, but finally relented to the handshake by placing his glass and plate on the table, and taking the proffered hand.
"I have heard much of you."
Ron shot Hermione a quizzical look, which she purposely ignored.
"Are you not the Keeper for the Chudley Cannons?" Roberto continued.
"Um… Yes, I am."
"You are doing quite well for them I hear."
Ron smiled despite himself, and became awkward and humble.
"Yeah… um… We're having a pretty good season so far."
Roberto gave him a huge, dazzling smile.
"The best from what I understand."
Hermione, not liking where Roberto was heading with his flirtatious line of conversation, nudged him hard in the ribs, and said. "Roberto love, could you take our trunks up to our room? It's on the third floor, second door on the right."
Rubbing at his side, he responded. "Of course, mi amor. Anything for you."
He leaned in, and gave her a quick kiss on the neck. Smiling devilishly, he eyed Ron while levitating the trunks up the stairs.
"Who was that, exactly?" Ron asked tightly.
"Roberto? Oh, he's my boyfriend."
"And how long have you two been together?" Ron tried to ask calmly.
"Oh, about three years."
'That would mean…' Ron thought to himself.
He nearly exploded, but forced a cool exterior.
"And yourself, Ron? What have you been up to? Still living with your parents I see."
"No actually, I'm just staying here for the wedding. I live in Diagon Alley… with Lavender."
He flinched slightly, but hoped she didn't notice.
"Oh, really!" She forced out through clenched teeth, but tried to continue on as pleasantly as possible. "Well, that really must be lovely for you both."
Knowing he was finally getting to her, he smiled wickedly. "Oh, it is. She's fantastic."
"Fantastic." She gritted out. "Well, I really must be getting back to Roberto. He doesn't like to be away from me for too long. You know how Italian men are? Can never keep their hands to themselves."
As she turned on her heels and sauntered up the stairs, she smiled at the look of seething rage on Ron's face.
For all his anger toward her, Ron still couldn't help but watch the slow sway of her hips as she climbed the stairs.
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Roberto lay stretched out on the bed with his hands behind his head.
Hermione walked in leaving the door open slightly, and began to pace the room like a caged animal.
"Oh Hermione, he is even more gorgeous than all of his photos. How can you possibly resist that? I think I'd lose my mind if that man ever looked at me the way he was looking at you."
"He's with her! I can't believe he's with her!" She ranted ignoring his comment.
"Who is this her you are speaking of?"
"Lavender." She growled.
Silently, he mouthed the word. "Oh."
"This isn't going to work now."
"What isn't sweetie?" He asked sitting up.
"Well, if he's with Lavender, there's no way he's going to get really jealous or upset over me being with you."
Roberto laughed outright. "Oh Bella, men don't work that way."
He stood, walked over to her, and gently placed his hands on her forearms.
"We're very possessive. If we have had you once, we will always consider you ours. I'll tell you this, he did not look too happy with me downstairs."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"I don't know."
"Do you really want to make him jealous?" He asked uncertainly.
"I want to make him suffer." She returned darkly.
All of a sudden, there was a slight rapping at the door.
Ron's voice came from the other side, "Hello… Hermione… Ricardo… I hope I'm… " and the door started to open.
Thinking fast, Hermione threw her arms around Roberto's neck and pressed her lips aggressively to his.
He stumbled a bit, but wrapped his arms around her waist to steady them.
"…not interrupting." Ron said finishing his sentence as he entered the room.
Seeing Hermione completely wrapped around another man made something in Ron snap, and he shouted. "Excuse me!"
Hermione pulled away, and gasped out. "Oh, sorry about that. Didn't hear you at the door. Berti is just so distracting sometimes."
Ron said nothing, but glared at Roberto with what could be described as a predatory look.
"I need to use the bathroom. Where might it be?" Roberto asked Ron cockily.
"Down the hall, third door on the left." Ron said burning a hole through him with his eyes.
"Grazie. You." He said pointing a finger at Hermione who, in turn, jumped a little in response.
"You better be ready to play when I get back."
And with that, he smacked her arse. As he was leaving the room, he stopped to give Ron an appraising once over.
Once Roberto was gone, Hermione asked coldly. "Is there something I can do for you, Ronald?"
'Yeah. Burn in hell!' He thought to himself.
Allowing the volatile feelings her presence had instigated in him to settle, he finally answered. "We need to talk about the Stag and Doe at some point. Harry and Gin don't want separate parties, so I thought it might be fun if we just had a big bash."
"That sounds lovely Ronald, but can we discuss this later. I really should be … getting ready." She smiled coyly.
His scowl from before returned. "Fine."
With that, he turned briskly, and moved out the door slamming it behind him.
'That felt wonderful.' Hermione thought to herself as she flopped down on the bed.
Out in the hall, Ron was livid.
'She's a completely callous, cold, vicious witch with no heart. She wants to be cruel. Fine, it's war then. I'll make her wish she had never come back. All I have to do is get Lavender to agree to play along. Maybe if I offer to send her and Seamus on vacation when all this is done, she'll go for it.' He plotted silently.
And with that, Ron marched down the stairs, a man on a mission.