Chapter Eight: Dinner at the Grangers
As he drove, Ron was thinking about the reunion with his family.
'Are you all right, Ron?' Hermione asked in a gentle voice as she gripped his hand that was on the gear stick.
'Yeah, I'm fine, love, it was just seeing the twins and Bill again. I really missed them,' replied Ron.
'I know, I remember you telling me about Bill, about how he was the cool older brother, but I'm sure Ginny would say you are cooler, and I think you are the coolest person in the world, then again, I'm biased because I'm in love with you,' said Hermione, before kissing him on the cheek and resting her head on his shoulder.
'I love you too, Hermione, so fucking much …' said Ron.
The rest of the drive to her parent's house, passed by in almost silence as Hermione switched on the radio.
When they got to Hermione's parent's house, they pulled over and got out of their cars as Sirius dismounted from his motorcycle. The five of them walked to the front door before Hermione rang the doorbell.
A moment later the door was answered by Hermione's mother.
'Hermione, you're right on time,' she said.
'Hi, Mum,' replied Hermione giving her a hug before walking into the house as the rest of them greeted her mother and came inside.
'Tonks!' said Hermione loudly before giving her a hug and she returned it.
'Wotcher, Hermione, looking good, how are you?' replied Tonks.
'I'm great, sorry we couldn't greet you properly earlier,' said Hermione.
Tonks waved away her apology before she was on the end of a bear-hug from Ron.
'AH, Ron, you big lug, put me down!' shouted Tonks.
'All right, you're short, you're belly button sticks out too far and you're a terrible burden on your poor mother!' replied Ron, cheekily.
'Seriously, you're going to quote Ghostbusters Two?' said Tonks when Ron had set her back down on her feet.
'No, Ronly, only Sirius can be serious!' said Ron chuckling at her as she and everyone except Sirius groaned at the overly-used pun.
'Damn right,' said Sirius.
'I don't know how you put up with him, Hermione, I really don't,' said Tonks with a giggle.
'She can't get enough of me, Tonks, and you know it, she loves it when I scoop her up into my arms for a kiss or when I give her a big bear-hug!' said Ron.
'Sorry, Tonks, but he's absolutely right,' said Hermione, giggling as Ron wrapped his arm around her.
Harry and Ginny greeted Tonks as Hermione's father came into the room.
'Daddy!' she said happily before giving him a big hug.
'Hello, sweetheart, how are you?' he asked her.
'I'm wonderful, Dad, you?' she replied.
'Ecstatic to see my daughter, of course!' he replied.
'You're not down in the dumps about Jurgen Klinsmann leaving anymore?' Hermione enquired.
'No, not anymore, after all, Bayern are difficult to turn down,' said her father.
'A pity the replacement for him is shite,' said Ron, joining in the conversation and shaking hands with his father-in-law.
'Don't remind me, I can't believe we paid four and half million pounds for a Crystal Palace player!' Sirius said, groaning.
'I agree, but then again, how can you replace a world-class player like Jurgen?' said Hermione's father.
'All right, enough talk about football!' said Hermione's mother, 'dinner time!'
Everyone took seats around the dinner table and began to eat and talk about the latest goings on, as well as the Order meeting. Hermione's parents were not pleased when they were told what Ron's mother had called Hermione, while laughing at Tonks' and Harry's descriptions of all their faces, including Douglas'.
Once dinner was over, Hermione and Ron used magic to clean the kitchen and wash up before going to the nearby house they had rented for the summer. Once inside the house the four of them fell on to couches and sat quietly for a moment.
'Um, not to sound tactless,' began Hermione, 'but I have to ask if you're all right, you know, seeing them again?'
'Truthfully, I don't know what I'm feeling right now,' said Harry.
'I feel the same as you, Harry, what about you, Ron?' replied Ginny.
'I dunno, but it was weird, you know, but then mum spoke like she did to Hermione and I just snapped. Every thought and negative feeling in me came pouring out of me, and it felt bloody good getting it off my chest I can tell you,' said Ron.
'Yeah, I know what you mean, mate, I wasn't going to let mum lash out at Sirius …' said Harry.
'So, what shall we do tomorrow?' asked Ginny.
'Let's go to the beach,' said Harry.
'Yes, great idea, Harry,' said Ron.
'If we're going to the beach, I suggest we go to bed,' said Hermione.
'Yes, of course, we'll have to get up early, so come along, Harry!' said Ginny briskly before leading him upstairs to their bedroom.
'If you're going to fuck, don't forget the charms!' shouted Ron.
'Likewise!' bellowed Ginny.
Ron then stood up before helping Hermione to her feet and scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to bed.