We were all sitting around the kitchen table in a heated debate. The all in question was George, Ginny, and I. Ginny and I had a fit of girlish whimsy and had decided to bake chocolate chip cookies. George had wandered in about ten minutes later and started up a conversation whilst helping here and there.
"That's bullocks! The only reason she has as much notoriety as she does is because she's a girl!" challenged George brandishing his wand at Ginny and sending chocolate chips across the table.
"Less arguing! More stirring!" I chided in amusement, as I pushed George's wand hand back towards the mixing bowl.
"That is so sexist!" snapped Ginny, as she waived her wand and three eggs cracked themselves into the bowl. "Gwenog Jones and the Harpies are one of the best teams in the league!"
"I'm not arguing that!" shot back George, "I'm just saying there's other captains and teams equally if not more competent who don't get in the news because they're not the only all girl's team in the league!"
"Hermione what do you think?" Ginny said suddenly, turning to where I was heating the oven with my wand. I was caught off guard as I looked into their expectant faces.
"Oh no… I am not taking sides in this…" I said raising my hands in surrender.
"Oh come on…" groaned George, "What's the point of getting a new sister if she won't even side with me on things!"
I felt my cheeks grow hot at the proclamation George had just made. I looked up at him with a grateful smile but he just threw me a quick wink and then went back to his argument with Ginny.
"Fine," Ginny continued, "I still maintain that the Harpies are one of the top teams, but I'll give you that Gwenog has been a bit full of herself lately."
"A bit?" scoffed George, "Ever since she got that in-depth exclusive with the Witch Weekly she's been a down right spotlight hogging bitch!"
"GEORGE RUPERT WEASLEY!" screeched Mrs. Weasley as she bustled through the door smacking her son on the back of his head, "Don't you ever let me hear you using that kind of language again!"
To my surprise George turned in his seat to look at his Mum and raised an eyebrow.
"And umm… what kind of language would that be Mum? Is this one of those do as I say not as I do moments?" he was smirking.
"Excuse me?" said Mrs. Weasley putting her hands on her hips, but I could see her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"Refresh my memory Gin… what was it that Mum said to Bellatrix at the battle when she tried to kill you? Hmmmm let me think…." George made a show of scratching his chin and tapping his temple as though he were deep in thought while his mother turned steadily redder, Ginny was grinning and barely suppressing giggles finally George continued,
"Wasn't it something along the lines of….'Not my daughter you….' What was the last part Gin?"
"I believe dear brother it was, 'not my daughter you bitch'" said Ginny sitting up and speaking in her most formal voice, and then the three of us collapsed into giggles.
"That-was-not-the-same." Said Mrs. Weasley, swatting George with and oven mitt between each word, "there is a time and a place, and may I say it a certain type of individual who deserves that type of language!"
"Oh believe me Mrs. Weasley we know…" I said, still chuckling, but I stopped as I continued, "If anyone deserved it, it was Bellatrix…. She was a fowl, loathsome, vile…."
"Bitch." finished a voice from the doorway. We all jerked our heads up to see none other than Kingsley Shacklebolt and Professor McGonagall, the latter of which had finished my sentence.
"Did that really just happen…." Said George in awe, "Did you really just…"
"Yes Mr. Weasley," said McGonagall a slight smile playing at the edges of her lips, "believe it or not I too have learned a few choice words in my many years and like your mother, find there are those in this world deserving of their title." She then turned back to Mrs. Weasley.
"We very sorry to intrude Molly dear, but we were wondering if we might have a word with Ms. Granger and the young gentleman." She continued.
"Of course! The boys are in the other room. Hermione why don't you go tell them that you have company?"
Mrs. Weasley nodded towards me and I hopped up to go and tell Harry and Ron. Kingsley and McGonagall followed behind me, leaving George sitting at the table still staring open mouthed at McGonagall like she was about to sprout wings and fly out the window. I was feeling slightly nervous, not having any idea what this might be about. I walked into the sitting room where Harry and Ron were playing chess. Kingsley and McGonagall said their greetings, and then they asked us to have a seat. We took up a place on the couch and waited expectantly.
"Well, let's get down to it then," said McGonagall, "we have come here to discuss your futures. I would like you to know that Hogwarts will be opening on schedule this September, and you three are more than welcome to come back and finish your last year of N.E.W.T.S. with Miss Weasley's class we have created a slightly more intensive curriculum to make up for the lack of proper instruction that was given last year." Her nostrils flared in anger as she spoke, but she recovered and went on. "The Minister also wanted to inform you of another option open to you as well."
Kingsley leaned forward to speak to us.
"As you know the Ministry is very grateful to the three of you for all you have done for the Wizarding World, and you have proven yourself to be very skilled and mature especially for your age. Therefore the ministry is willing to offer you any job that you are qualified to take, and put you in training programs for any job you may aspire to. Obviously we would be willing to put you in the Auror training program right away if you choose, and if you would like any other job, all you need do is come to the ministry and ask to speak with me about it."
He smiled kindly and stood up.
"Well I believe that's about all. I hope you have a wonderful day. I am at your disposal anytime you wish." He tipped his hat and then he and Professor McGonagall turned and left.
Ron's face was aglow with excitement.
"Bloody hell! Any job we want! In the whole Ministry, I bet you could even be put on the fast track to being the next Minister of Magic if you wanted!" Ron said to Harry.
"OH yeah…" said Harry, rolling his eyes… "That's just what I'd want…"
I watch them converse and chuckled slightly but I was relieved. This hadn't ever really even been a decision for me. Ginny and I had already been discussing the classes we wanted to take in our seventh year, I had decided before I ever left on that crazy journey with Harry that if I made it out alive I would finish my education properly. Now the only big question seemed, would I be doing so with Ron? It seemed that Harry and Ron were still thoroughly on the fence about which direction they would take. I left them to their discussion and said I was going to go finish the cookies.
"I'll come help!" said Ron, "It's about time I learned how to do something in the kitchen besides make a cup of tea.
"Yeah I think I'll come too." Said Harry jumping up and throwing an arm over my shoulders, I smiled at them both and we headed for the kitchen.
"So can you bloody believe it?" gasped Fred as we entered, he and Ginny were already making balls out of the dough and placing it on the cookie sheets.
"Believe what that we get to choose between school or working at the Ministry?" said Harry looking confused.
"You do?" said Ginny, "Wow that so amazing!"
"Yeah yeah yeah… brilliant," mumbled George, "but what about McGonagall?"
"What about her?" said Ron.
"Hermione! You didn't tell them?" George scolded.
"Good God George it's not that interesting!" said Ginny with an eye roll.
"We'll see what they think." Said George smugly before turning back to the boys, "McGonagall swore."
"WHAT?" they both shouted in unison, and George launched into a re-telling while I joined Ginny to help finish the cookies.
"Elizabeth was surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme; and, had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would have been the last object of her wishes." Ron finished the sentence and then closed my tattered book placing it on his night stand.
"Seriously Elizabeth Bennett needs to get some sense! Obviously Mr. Darcy loves her! She's just too proud to admit she was wrong! Now she mucking about with Wickham…" Ron crossed his arms and looked agitated at the foot of his bed.
"Now now… who was it that said my romance books were just nonsense, sounds like someone is getting invested in the story…" I teased and I kissed his jaw just below his ear, I spot that I had discovered was quite sensitive. He leaned into my touch and relaxed.
"Kind of impossible not to get someone invested we've been reading the bloody thing every night for two weeks…." He sighed as I continued to kiss up and down his jaw line.
We had made reading a nightly ritual, I would pick the book and Ron would read to me. I was a perfect scenario for me, because not only did I get to share some of my long acknowledged passions with the man I loved. I got the perfect combination of my two favorite things in the world, my priceless books, being read by the beautiful sweet voice I could listen to for the rest of my life and never tire of.
"I'm just saying," said Ron burying his hands in my hair and twisting it up off my neck, "If Pride and Prejudice is such a classic, you'd think the people would be a bit smarter…"
"Pride and Prejudice is a classic…" I said matter-of-factly as I threw my leg over his so I was sitting in his lap facing him, "It's a story about two stubborn, and flawed people making all the wrong choices and still finding each other."
"I think I know that story…" said Ron smiling as he rested his hands on my hips, "guys a complete tosser, who only thinks about himself and takes the girl for granted because he doesn't know how to tell her what he really wants."
"and a girl who's prideful, always wanting to be perfect, and always pushing away the man she truly loves so that he never gets the chance to really hurt her…" I continued brushing his bangs out of his eyes.
"How could two people like that ever end up together forever?" said Ron rubbing his thumb down my jaw line.
"No idea." I whispered, and then he pulled me to his chest and began kissing me. His hands were on the small of my back and I could feel him moving them steadily downward when all of a sudden…..
"You might want to watch those roaming hands little brother… if Mum ever catches you two she might just cut them off." George was leaning on the door frame grinning evilly.
"Bloody hell!" gasped Ron as we jumped apart, in his surprise Ron pushed me off of him and I ended up in a pile on the bed next to him. "How long were you standing there?"
"Not too long, just caught the tail end of the show…. Or was that the prelude?" teased George.
"We were reading." I grabbed the book of the night stand as proof, "Pride and Prejudice."
"Right…right… well Mum just sent me up to tell you all that it's late and you should all be headed back to your respective rooms. So if you plan on doing anymore reading I suggest you do it with the door locked and a Muffliato charm in place. I'm sure Harry and Ginny have already done both. Goodnight little ones." With a wink George bowed out of them room closing the door with flourish.
"That man is a menace!" I said with an eye roll.
"To tell you the truth I'm kinda glad it was him. If it was Mum we would have had to go through the trouble of pretending to go to our separate rooms and Apparating back…." Said Ron with a chuckle.
I waived my wand at the door locking it and then cast the muffliato charm as well. Ron waited for me to snuggle under the covers next to him before picking up his Diluminator from where it sat next to the book on the night stand and clicking it once to pull the tiny light from his lamp.
"George has been sleeping over a lot lately…" I said softly as I lay my head on Ron's chest.
"Yeah…. I don't think he can face being in the shop for very long periods of time, much less the apartment over it… he puts on a good front George, but he's hopelessly lost without…." Ron trailed off.
"Without Fred." I finished, putting a hand on his chest in comfort, and he covered it with his own.
"It's still hard to wrap my mind around you know…. Him being gone… it's like he's on holiday or something… I still can't make myself believe I'll never hear his laugh again…" Ron was speaking softly now as well.
"I know love…" I lifted my head and stretched to kiss him.
"What would I do without you Hermione Granger?" he asked with a smile, his perfect blue eyes looking deeply into mine.
"Let's not find that out?" I said with a smile.
"Sounds like a plan…" he replied.
Ron held our intertwined hands up into the shaft of silvery moonlight that trickled in through his window. He traced each of my slender fingers with his own, and then gently ran his index finger across the lines on my palm.
"So back to school for you Miss Granger…." He said, changing the subject, "as if there was ever a doubt."
" I know I could do whatever I want… but it just wouldn't feel right not finishing my education…" I replied.
"what about me…" he said, "you wouldn't think any less of me if I took a job right now would you?"
I propped myself up on my elbows to look at him.
"Of course I wouldn't! That's just my own personal decision, whatever you choose you do what's right for you….Is that what you're thinking then? That you want to work for the Ministry." I caressed his face as I spoke.
"Dunno…." He said, he stretched on his back and put his arms behind his head looking at the ceiling as he thought, "On the one hand… school has only ever been a means to an end for me and Kingsley made it pretty clear today that I've achieved that end."
"That he did." I agreed and I once again kissed the spot below his ear he loved so much, but this time I continued kissing down his neck.
"but a year away from you would be hell…. That might be incentive enough to get me to go back…" he finished. I had kissed my way down to his collar bone at that point so I sat up to look into his face.
"Ron… we won't be away from each other no matter what. I won't let it happen, so don't let that effect your decision."
"Yes Mame." He said with a grin, "but you know it's not as if I have to decide right this second."
"That's very true." I said, "and there are so many other things that can take precedence at the moment." I added with a devilish smile.
"Such as?" said Ron.
"Such as…." I whispered in his ear and then proceeded to kiss my way down his neck and across his chest, when I got to his belly button he drew a deep breath and I looked up at him with and satisfied smirk .
"'Mione when did you become such a devilish little minx?" he breathed.
"When I found something in the prefect's bathroom that I can't get enough of." I replied sensually, and I continued my trail of kisses.
Ron let his head fall back on his pillow and closed his eyes.
I felt a tickling sensation on my shoulder and looked over to see that a leaf had fallen from the tree I was sitting under and landed on my shoulder. I chuckled to myself thinking that Ron would have most likely jumped out of his skin thinking it was a spider. I knew I was going to have to be the brave spider slayer in our family. I grinned at the thought, our family…. It was an idea that seemed almost too perfect to be true.
I flipped the page in my copy of Standard Book of Spells Grade 6, and looked at the next charm. Occaeco Occupo, it was a charm to give oneself temporary invisibility. It was a charm we had not practiced much with Flitwick, and we had no practical use for it in the real world so far because of Harry's Invisibility Cloak, but I was beginning to realize as I re read my books how rusty I was at my spell work and it frightened me. We were going to pick up our new school books in Diagon Alley within a matter of days while looking through my old books, I felt as though I was hopelessly behind. I was studying the wand movement for the charm in question when a shadow fell across my book. I squinted up into the sunlight and made out the tall figure that I differentiated only by his horned rim glasses.
"Percy!" I said happily, "We haven't seen you in over a week! What brings you to the Burrow?"
Percy took a seat next to me on the lawn and smiled. I had always enjoyed Percy's company much more than Harry, Ron, or Ginny. Percy was much more uptight than the other Weasley's. He was a very ambitious person and tended to be a bit high strung at times, and even though he had lost his way for awhile being caught up in the Ministry propaganda, I had always admired his drive. Prefect, Head Boy, and youngest assistant to the Minister in years, Percy and I were very alike and I knew he had the same warm Weasley heart as the others; it just took a kindred spirit to really appreciate it.
"I was one assignment in Brighton, Dad asked me to pop in and tell Mum he'll be a bit late for dinner. Moving up quickly in the ranks Dad is, ever since Kingsley became Minister Dad has been invaluable to him. Anyway I saw you out here in the garden thought I'd say hello. What are you reading?" Percy peered over my shoulder.
"Ah…." He said with a smile, "brushing up on our spell work I see… not that you really need it but best to be prepared. You're like me, no such thing as too much study."
"I just want to be sure I'm ready…." I said.
"Oh you'll be brilliant Hermione. I can't think of a time you haven't been brilliant since the day that I met you. You can achieve absolutely anything you put your keen and penetrating mind to, and I know that you are going to waste no time making a name for yourself. It's in your nature… just like me." Percy squared his shoulders at this last statement. I knew both Ron and Harry would see this as him being pompous but I understood, he was driven and determined to be something, and I respected him for it.
"You know…" Percy continued with a smile, "If you had been a few years older I probably would have tried to win you for myself… we would have been quite the unstoppable pair you and I."
I felt my face turn bright red, I was not used to boys telling me I was in anyway desirable.
"Oh don't blush I'm just stating the facts," Said Percy nudging me with his elbow, "as it is I'm quite pleased that my little brother had the sense to claim you for his own. You have brought out things I never thought possible in Ron."
"Really," I said as I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, "Like what?"
"He believes in himself now, because of you. I have known Ron since the day he was born on the couch in the sitting room." Percy and I both smirked, "He is smart and passionate, but he never had drive, he always just saw himself as the youngest boy. Living in the shadow of every accomplishment we all made before him. Then he found you, and you have never judged him based on us, you see him differently than any of us. You believe in him, and in turn he believes in him. I don't think he'd ever be at the Ministry doing what he's doing today, if it weren't for you."
"You know something about what he's doing today don't you?" I said quickly sitting up, "oh come on Percy give me hint! He wouldn't say a thing!"
"Not a chance! He wants it to be a surprise!" said Percy raising his hands in surrender.
Ron and Harry had still not made their decision about whether they wanted to return to school. For about a week Ron had been up to something, reading pamphlets, talking with Charlie and George in corners. Then that very morning he had announced he had a meeting at the Ministry and left through the Floo without another word. We had all been curiously awaiting his return home ever since.
I glared at Percy, but at that exact moment I heard the sound of excited voices wafting from the kitchen.
"Oh look… that sounds like Ron now…." Said Percy with and innocent smile, and we both stood. I rolled my eyes at him but he just tipped his hat and pulled out his wand, "Wonderful to see you again Hermione, give my congratulations to Ron."
"For what?" I began to say, but he had already Apparated away with a pop. I picked up my spell book and marched back towards the kitchen. I opened the door and began to ask what all the noise was about when I was enveloped in the arms I knew so well, and lifted off my feet as Ron spun me around in a circle. He was shouting that he got it. It took a moment for it to sink in and then I gasped in excitement asking him what job it was.
"Oh yes Ron! Do tell us!" said Mrs. Weasley.
"Just one more moment Mum." He said.
Once again I was caught of guard when Ron dipped me like an old Hollywood starlet and gave me the most passionate kiss we had ever shared in front of an audience. After a few blissful seconds Harry cleared his throat. Ron sat me back on my feet and we were both blushing as he mumbled a hasty apology to Harry and then turned back to the group.
"Ladies and gentleman!" he said proudly, "you are looking at the Quidditch commentator for the Wizarding Wirelesses new program, News Daily, with Lee Jordan."
"What?" screeched Ginny. Who rushed across the room to hug him.
"I don't believe it..." said Harry with a smile. "You made a career out of how much you love to talk about Quidditch."
Ron beamed at him.
"You bet I did." He said, "I was thinking about it all week… it's been an idea in the back of my head for awhile. So I wrote Kingsley and he sent me some pamphlets on different options of jobs having to do with Quidditch. Commentator was the one I liked best… I told him, and he told me that Lee was starting his own radio program, since you know he did the Potterwatch last year, and so I went down and talked with Lee today at the Ministry, and we set everything up. I'll go in everyday and help Lee organize things for the program, and then I just have to talk bout Quiddtich. I get to go to tons of games, and meet and interview players and coaches!"
"Alright stand aside there Ginny…" I said with a grin and I flung my arms around is neck and kissed him. Once again he responded so vigorously he picked me up. I pulled away and put my forehead on his.
"I'm so proud of you…" I said softly.
"Never could have done it without you." He whispered back.
Next to us Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with excitement.
"We must tell your father!" she said. "We'll have a party tonight, for you Ronald. Oh my goodness, my little Ronnie is going to be on the radio! I can't believe it."
She kissed his cheek and ran off to busy herself.
"So…are you still going to come visit us at Hogwarts once you're a working man?" said Harry.
"Yeah of course mate!" said Ron. "I'll only have work until about four in the afternoon most days. Except when there's games, and I was thinking about getting a place in Hogsmeade, then I can Apparate to work and still come see you lot in the evenings."
I was relieved as I heard him describe his plan. Seventh years were allowed to visit Hogsmeade whenever they wanted as long as they left word with their Head of House, so I could visit him whenever I pleased. I cuddled my head on his chest but then Harry's words sunk in and I realized something.
"Wait a minute." I said, "does that mean you're going back to Hogwarts too Harry?"
Harry shrugged.
"Yeah I guess I am. I just feel like if I'm going to become an Auror, I should have to do everything that everyone had to do to get there." He said. "You know?"
"Yeah I think you're right." said Ginny
I walked into Ginny's room and closed the door. Ginny and Harry were still in the hall and I wanted to give them their privacy. It had been and exceptionally fun evening. We had a great party for Ron and the whole family showed up. It was the best spirits I had seen everyone in, for quite some time. Towards the end of the evening Fred had poured a copious amount of some brown liquid into each of our cups of punch when his mother wasn't looking, informing us that we were celebrating Ron finally growing up so a little grown up celebration was appropriate. The only experience with alcohol I had ever had was a glass of wine in France with my parents so the liquor had gone straight to my head. I was surprised how uninhibited I was, Mrs. Weasley hadn't even noticed, I just felt… rather giggly, and maybe a hair more reckless than usual. I changed into my pajama's and just as I was pulling my t shirt over my head Ginny came bouncing into the room grinning.
"All set up! You can Apparate upstairs whenever you're ready." She walked over and flopped on her bed, "ummm… you're not going like that are you?" she said raising an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with this?" I looked down at my pajama's, fitted cotton capri's and one of my favorite t shirts, "this is what I always wear to bed."
"Yes… but it's Ron's big day? Why don't you give him a bit of a special surprise?" Ginny grinned slyly.
I felt my face turn beet red.
"I don't' own anything surprise worthy!" I mumbled, and it was true… the fanciest thing I own was a pair of underwear with a little blue bow on the front.
"Hmmm… " Ginny cocked her head to the side and looked at me appraisingly. She then picked up her wand and waived it. I stifled as gasp as my outfit morphed on my body. The Capri's shot up into tiny shorts that barely covered my behind and the top turned into a tight fitted tank top that was very low cut.
"There that's much better." Ginny giggled, "Now just one more touch…." She waived her wand one more time and the shorts turned black with a slim orange stripe up the sides and the shirt turned orange with two large black C's on the chest.
"What in the hell am I wearing?" I said looking down.
"That is the official uniform of the Chudley Cannon Cheer Girls." Said Ginny matter-of-factly, "Bunch of witches in skimpy clothes that cheer at the Cannons games. They think it will boost their popularity, not all that effective, but one thing's for certain. My brother gets one look at you in that and you're going to have to re teach him how to breath." She was still grinning evilly, as I picked up my wand and turned, red faced, on the spot.
I felt the familiar pressure and then release as I landed in Ron's room. Harry looked up at me and stared for a moment before turning slightly red and looking away. I reluctantly let my eyes find Ron, he was looking at me like he never had before, his eyes were wide and his mouth hung slightly open. The only other time I'd seen this look on his face was when Harry had received his Firebolt third year. I smiled sheepishly.
"Hey Harry weren't you leaving?" Ron said pointedly without looking away from me. Harry chuckled and I heard the pop, that signaled his Disapparation. Ron and I stared at each other for another long moment and then he got off his bed and walked the few steps to where I was standing. I felt nervous, he hadn't even commented on my outfit yet, but he was looking at me in a way he never had before, with and intensity that made me feel warm all over.
"Do you like it?" I said, and even my voice sound slightly higher than usual, "I thought I give you a nice surprise to celebr-"
"Shhhh…" he said, putting his finger on my lips and silencing me, he stepped close and pushed me against the wall pressing our bodies tightly together, his face was less than an inch from mine. I felt my heart hammering, even though I had been with Ron numerous times now, there was something about his intensity in this moment that had my blood pulsing. He ran his hand down my body bringing it to rest on my thigh, then without warning he lifted me up still pinned to the wall. I gasped in shock and excitement and wrapped my legs around his waist instinctively. He began to kiss me aggressively, more so than ever before. In other circumstances it might have even scared me a bit, but then combination of my slight inebriation and his excitement at my outfit seemed to have made us completely uninhibited.
Three days later we were walking through Diagon Alley hand in hand having a debate.
"I still have no idea why you find it necessary." Ron was saying.
"A Muggle Studies N.E.W.T. is important when starting a career in magical law!" I explained again.
"But 'Mione you lived as a Muggle for eleven years! What more could you possibly need to know?" said Ron.
"The way the Magical world sees them, especially when it comes to the laws we have regarding them." I replied.
We were in front of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, which was packed to the brim as always.
"Hang on I've got to go in…" said Ron pulling me towards the store.
"Oh you go on… it's too crowded in there for me…" I said pulling back, "I'll wait out here for you."
"Just as well… I'm getting a present for you anyway." Ron said with a smile.
"Ron! Don't waste your money on me honestly I don't need—"
"Nope, don't even try it!" Ron said stopping my rebuttal with a kiss, "I'll be back in just a minute."
With one more kiss he ran into the crowded store, I smiled goofily after him and leaned against the side of the building taking out one of my new school books.
"Well aren't you two picture perfect?" said a voice to my right. I looked up to see Lavender Brown standing a few steps away laden with packages.
"Yeah I guess we are aren't we?" I said, trying my best not to sound smug.
"Good to heard you'll be returning to Hogwarts Hermione, Seamus and I will be returning as well…. We're dating now you know… Seamus and I." Lavender finished and looked at me expectantly.
"Well… good for you. I'm sure you two make a fine pair." I said awkwardly.
"Yes… well… see you at school." She said, and she turned and hurried away. I watched her go and shook my head in amusement.
"What're you lookin at?" said Ron behind me.
"Lavender Brown…" I answered.
"Bloody hell where!" yelped Ron diving behind me.
"She left… and why are you still hiding? You two haven't dated in over a year, and last time I checked you had a new girlfriend."
"Yeah….sorry. Just a gut reaction you know?" said Ron ruffling his hair sheepishly.
"Coward." I said rolling my eyes at him, "Now where is this present I'm supposed to receive?"
"Oh right!" He pulled a small black rectangle out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was roughly the size and shape of a playing card and seemed to be made of some kind of stone.
"what is it?" I said curiously.
"Fred and George came up with the idea about six months ago but with everything that's been going on George and Charlie just got them into production, watch this." He took out an identical black tablet and held his wand over it. He motioned as if he were writing on it with his wand and then tapped it once. The moment he tapped it the rock in my hand turned warm. I looked down an there were words written on it in Ron's untidy scrawl.
I love you.
"That's brilliant!" I said looking from the tablet to Ron.
"All you have to do is run your hand over the stone and the message will disappear." He said, "I figured if I was going to be forced to be away from you. It would be nice to have a way to tell you all the little things that happen throughout the day."
"Have I ever told you that you are the most amazing man on the planet?" I said putting my arms around his neck.
"Never hurts to remind me." he said with a grin,