Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Harry Potter, I am simply borrowing J.K. Rowling's wonderful characters, history and locations!
"Why does he always have to do that?" Hermione muttered softly as she walked back into the kitchen.
Mrs. Weasley stood by the sink, briskly peeling potatoes as she absent-mindedly took out some dishes. "What's that dear?"
Hermione took a large stack of plates from the air and started to place them on the dining room table. "I was just wondering, has Ron seemed a bit… tense, lately?"
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about I'm sure; he's been a bit stressed at work lately, that's all. I can handle the table from here. You must put those magazines away! Caden should be here any moment. He's coming straight here from his parents', right?"
"Yes, Molly. He owled in this morning." Hermione smiled slightly. She knew she should just let Ron be, but part of her was still hung up on the reason why. He had been doing well since Hogwarts. The job was everything to him, everything he enjoyed and loved. Why now was he starting to fall behind and why was he shutting her out? She tried to act casual as she walked around the dining room table, tracing the small lines that ran through it. "Molly?"
"Yes dear."
"I was wondering; how long has Ron been having trouble at the Prophet?" Her eyes darted to the back of Mrs. Weasley's head and then back to the table when Molly glanced at her, frowning.
"Well," she began, pausing suddenly to charm cups. They levitated one by one, heading towards the table. Each set down perfectly next to its plate. "He hasn't been himself lately. A few months perhaps. I know there's something he's not voicing. A mother knows when there is a problem. I was hoping he would be at the very least coming to you about it…" She trailed off and turned back to the stove, eyebrows raised slightly.
"He doesn't talk to me either, perhaps Harry though?" Hermione added, hopeful.
"Of course, but with Harry continuously traveling... I'm sure he'll come around. Maybe once Harry moves back to England, things will be better." Molly smiled slightly.
"That is true. Harry and Ron have always had a connection that I've never been able to understand." Hermione said trying to convince herself more than Molly.
"Mhmm, yes dear." Molly's reply sounded a few worlds away. She had not seemed to hear a word that she, Hermione, had said. Her eyes were gazing out the window towards the back yard. When Hermione reached with in viewing distance, she stifled a laugh.
Mr. Weasley was standing in the middle of the yard holding a matchbox and wearing a 'Kiss the Cook' apron. He stood over a large black grill that by the looks of it were filled up to the brim with coal. "Oh my, you don't suppose he'd actually try to light that, do you?" Mrs. Weasley asked bringing a hand up to her mouth. Just then, he scratched a thin match along the box, jumping when a flame appeared.
"I'd imagine he would." Hermione said quietly. Mrs. Weasley tightened her grip on her wand and ran out to door.
Hermione started after but stopped when she met Ron at the stairs. "Mum, what's for din--"
"Not now dear, your father's about to burn his eyebrows off." Mrs. Weasley said in a rush before she was out the door.
Ron looked startled and glanced off at Hermione, whose face was flushed red from the laughter. "Your father has decided to try out the grill Harry gave him for Christmas last year."
"No wonder Mum's in a hurry." He chuckled. Hermione grinned wider when she heard his hearty laugh. True, they hadn't spent much time together, but Hermione could have sworn it's been weeks since she heard Ron laugh. It was then that, at least for a few moments, things started to feel as it did in Hogwarts those three years ago. "I told Harry it was a bad idea. But when does he ever listen to me?"
"Now you realize how I felt every day at Hogwarts. Breaking rules, jumping to conclusions, you two were danger magnets."
Ron finished the last few stairs in two long steps, causing Hermione to have to take few steps backwards at the landing. "Good thing we had you around, eh?" His eyes smiled at her, for the first time in a while. Hermione's stomach flipped a little suddenly. They hadn't been this close since… well since Fred and Angelina's wedding, during their one very short, slow dance. She could still remember the night. That was the last night they were still somewhat kids; months after that she had left on her first trip to America, to start her internship with the Ministry.
"Am I interrupting?" A voice came from the fireplace. Ron's smile fell slightly as he saw Caden stumble out of the corner of his eye. Hermione turned around, hair twirling at her shoulders. She took a few steps towards him, grabbed his hand, and squeezed it. Ron's heart clenched a bit.
They looked picture perfect, the two of them. Ron thought back to the muggle old fairy tales Hermione used to talk of. Her smile was bright and her eyes full of promise. He was her Prince Charming. It didn't matter that Ron was standing there. Her eyes were for the man with the suitcase, the man with the hair, the man with the manners. Not that Hermione deserved any less. Ron knew Caden was a difficult man to beat. As long as he treated Hermione like the princess, like the amazing and bright witch, she was, Ron would just have to suck it up and bear it. Caden made her happy.
"Oh, Caden you're back! We were just talking about our Hogwarts days." Hermione said her smile never leaving her face. "No need to worry."
Once he finished dusting floo powder from his jacket, he slowly bent over to give her a kiss on her forehead. "Ha, I would never." He replied, grinning dimly in Ron's direction and curtly nodding as he did. "Ronald, how have you been? Haven't seen much of you lately. Work taking a lot out of you?"
Ron, who was now frowning in wake of the latest show of affection, didn't quite know how to answer the question. Being a half a head taller than Caden didn't help him feel less intimidated. "Just working on the Cannons game." He said, with no emotion attached to his voice. It took all he had to try to look at Caden instead of Hermione. However, he failed miserably. She was grinning like Crookshanks at the two of them, happy to see them conversing probably. He shrugged and finished, "It's a killer really; losing their game like that."
Caden's hand left Hermione's and found Ron's shoulder. Ron tried not to cringe. "I heard a few men chatting about that with Lee this morning. The Cannons are no Tornadoes, everyone knows that, wasn't expecting much from them were you?" He offered, in a tone that barely anticipated an answer.
"They'll pull through again," He said. "They've always got fans in this house."
Hermione coughed, smiling slightly as Caden took a step away from Ron. "Oh yes, you and the Cannons go back a ways don't you? Well you'll soon realize no one can beat the Tornadoes." He gave Ron and Hermione a cheeky grin.
"Ron I need you to get rid of that blasted grill. Harry will understand. Your father simply cannot comprehend the concept of fire!" She huffed, flinging a dishtowel around in the air as she did. She stopped suddenly at the sight of Caden. "Oh dear, Caden, hello. So sorry about the mess. I understand you'll be staying for dinner?"
"That would be lovely, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you." He charmed, "My parents are very delighted to meet you and your family this weekend."
Molly brightened, "Oh will be splendid. Ron you must make sure you finish your stories before Saturday. There is no chance you'll be missing dinner. Charlie's even flying in! Oh it's been months since we've seem him." Molly rushed, as if realized how much needs to be accomplished in such a short time. "Now wash up, dinner is almost ready. I believe Ginny was going to try to make it tonight as well."
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