Author's Note: A bit of fluff here, though I felt it was needed. I think it reminds the reader that Ron and Hermione once had something special and it's still alive. To everyone who remembered that next 'month' Hermione goes to visit Draco and forgets Ron altogether, no worries, I think it'll all make sense. Thanks for reading and reviewing! I love it!

Chapter 14

March 2000

Hermione hurried home from work, actually canceling a meeting Kingsley had requested because today was an important day. Today was Ron's birthday.

She started the morning off right, surprising him with a Hogwarts style breakfast when he arrived at her flat before work. After sufficiently stuffing himself, he groaned that he wanted to just stay there with her all day, maybe take a nap, and definitely not go to work at all. She convinced him that he had to go and that she would meet him for lunch and that she had a surprise for dinner.

"All three meals with my favorite girl?" he had grinned at her. "Well that I simply can't pass up."

They shared a few kisses before heading to work. At lunch time, she took him to a muggle restaurant that he'd never been to before but enjoyed to the fullest. Muggle cooking was just different. And now as the sun was setting, she took the floo home and quickly went to work on preparing the flat for a romantic evening alone. Hermione had arranged with his parents to let him off the hook of the normal family feast that the Weasley children usually had on their birthdays. She insisted that this year meant something different for them and asked if they could postpone the family dinner for the weekend. Having always liked Hermione, Ron's parents agreed that the young couple could enjoy a quiet evening at home together rather than with the entire family.

Hermione conjured up many candles, magically lighting them and placing them all around the house. She magically set dinner cooking and then went to change into something more… appropriate. Ginny had helped her put an outfit together for tonight. Though she protested, saying she did not want any detail of her brother's sex life revealed to her and that she really didn't know a thing about dressing naughtily anyway, Hermione had been able to persuade her in the end into helping. The end result was a skirt that was much too short and a top that was cut much too low which showcased the locket that she never took off. She felt foolish as she looked at herself in the mirror. She tilted her head sideways, gazing at her own reflection. The more time she spent with Ron lately, the more details he revealed about the relationship they had had before her accident. One night over a bottle of wine, he let slip a few intimate details about a rendezvous or two they had in the past.

The fact that she couldn't remember these private moments with him surprisingly didn't upset her. It just made her want him more. She wanted to create new memories and decided that his birthday was as good a time as any to begin. So here she was, in quite a slutty outfit, dinner cooking, candles lit, waiting for the birthday boy to arrive.

As if on cue, she heard a popping noise that announced Ron's arrival. "Hermione?" he called from the living room. She took a deep breath, pulling her skirt down a little before going to meet him. His eyes practically popped out of his head upon seeing her.

"Happy Birthday," she greeted him and immediately melted into his arms as he pulled her in for a kiss.

"I don't think I've ever in my life seen you wearing something like this," he murmured against her lips, his hands roaming from her hips, upward. It was easy for him to slip back into their old comfort zone where a touch or a kiss was more than welcomed.

"You don't like it?" she asked, pulling her head back to look up at him.

"Oh, I like it. It's just different. I wouldn't say this is a classic Hermione look."

"Well that's why it's for special occasions only," she smiled and took both of his hands in hers as she began to lead him into the kitchen. Once there, she let go of his hands and picked up her wand to finish dinner. She couldn't help but tug at her skirt and shirt as she moved around the kitchen. He couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable she was. He reached for her arm once the food was done and she was about to sit down.

"Go change," he murmured. She tried to protest but he shook his head. "I'll be more comfortable if you were comfortable." It was true. If he had to watch her fidget all night, he might go insane and he wasn't sure if it would be a good insane or not. She obliged and went to change but he couldn't resist a playful smack on the butt as she left. She jumped and squealed and gave him a dirty look but he just smirked and sat down at the table.

She came back in wearing a much more conservative outfit and they enjoyed dinner together and settled onto the couch afterward. Whatever random show on the TV Ron had settled on was soon forgotten as Hermione was successful in distracting him by placing delicate kisses on his neck. Before she could blink, she was in his arms and being carried to the bedroom.

The couple collapsed in a tangled mass of limbs onto Hermione's bed. Hands began to roam, clothing started to be removed, and they both fell into a comfort zone that felt incredibly natural. Earlier that day as Hermione thought about this moment, she was scared that she might be too nervous to go through with it but she was finding that every kiss made her relax more and more.

When the skin of one of her intimate areas brushed over his, a warm jolt shot through her and she became hungry for more. Every movement felt right, like a lock and key or a puzzle piece, and she had the oddest sensation that she'd been in this situation before. She had indeed been in this situation before, apparently more than once. She wasn't sure if she'd ever remember the details of their first night together, of her first time ever, but her body instinctively knew it was meant to be in this position with him and him alone. She found herself moving, shifting without thinking, evoking erotic sensations that coursed through her body and set every nerve of her body on fire. He knew exactly where to touch her to induce the gentlest moans of pleasure. Most importantly, they both remembered how to move together to make the most of every second that they were joined together as one. They were meant to be together and as the haze cleared and they looked into each other's eyes, they both knew it was true. They kissed once more before they settled down, her back to his chest, under the covers.

"I already sent an owl to our department heads," Hermione murmured. "We'll be late for work tomorrow."