Hermione huffed as she sat her books down on the desk. School was days away but she had spent the majority of her time reviewing previous years' works. NEWTS would be horribly difficult and she wanted to be ready. The year out of school had been a set back but she was determined to do well. Today's challenges had been potions and ancient runes. She tackled two subjects a day on rotation. That way she had sufficient immersion to the subjects while still maintaining a refreshing subject matter. Her stomach was really starting to show on her small frame. She no longer looked just fat, but rather really, truly pregnant. The morning sickness had worn off and but she never chanced more than tea and toast until 11 in the morning. Leaving the stack of books where they lay, she went into the kitchen to fix something for her and Ron's dinner.
Ron flooed it just as she was dishing out two large plates of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. It was a basic meal, but one of Ron's favorites. Hermione wasn't the master cook but it was a quiet pleasure of hers to see Ron happily eating whatever she put in front of him. With a stove and a stocked refrigerator, she wasn't as bad as when they were on the run. "How was studying today?" Ron was shoveling his food in as usual.
"Not bad, I've almost gotten caught up in potions, and ancient runes I was never really behind in. I read those books so much when we were debating the Hallows. I've had plenty of practice. Tomorrow I'll work on herbology and charms." She took a bite of garlic bread before asking him about training. She simultaneously reveled in seeing how excited he got for everything he learned and dreaded hearing because she knew it meant he was that much closer to being in the field.
He paused in his food, "It was a good day, we focused on charms and finding enchantments. It went well and Harry and I are top of our group, so that's definitely something." Ron hesitated, "I ran into Dad today as well. He asked if we'd like to come to dinner on Sunday." He glanced up, waiting for her response.
"It'd be good to see everyone before school starts up. It has been so awkward lately with your whole family."
"I know, but they have to accept where we are in our lives right now. I'm tired of them pushing into our business. We have to find some level of normalcy. I can't stand Mum pushing us to get married every time we see them. I thought she would have a hippogriff when she realized we were sleeping in the same room!"
"Well we know where we are. They can push all they want. We've decided our priorities and they have to live with that. Baby, relationship, then school and work, and then we will discuss marriage. We said weeks ago that it was off the table until the baby was here, safe and healthy. Mrs. Weasley will just have to deal with that. I won't have us rushed into anything and I'd like my parents there, if that's a possibility."
"About that, Kingsley said he might have gotten a new lead. They're still looking, but it seems they never ended up in Australia at all. They may be somewhere in South America."
"Why would they have gone there?"
"We have no clue, but that's where the next plane took them, so that's where the search has headed."
"Well thanks for keeping up on it, I think he got tired of my daily owls, and I'm just really eager to know where they are. I'd like them home before the baby was born."
"Me too. I did get tomorrow afternoon off for the doctor appointment though! They agreed since we are finding out the gender and since they'll be running all the health tests on the baby."
Hermione beamed, "That's fantastic! Ginny offered, but I really wanted you there with me. It has me so worried with everything that could have gone wrong."
Ron reached across the table to take her hand, entwining his fingers in hers, "I told you I'd make it work, and I did. I'll be there for everything."
Ron began to clear their plates and handle the dishes from the day. Hermione removed herself to the sofa with a transfiguration book. This was their routine. She cooked, he did dishes, then they'd light a fire in the fireplace and she would read one of her many books and he would review his notes from training. It amazed her somewhat how devoted Ron was to his training, for a boy who fought doing his homework at every turn, she was surprised how much effort he put into auror training. He walked over with his notes, lifted her feet to sit in his lap and began his nightly review. She continued to read her book, grinning to herself about the peace that they had found, even for just a few moments. She knew school would get terribly difficult in the coming months, that having a baby would change their entire lives, and having Ron out on missions would be nerve racking for her, but here in these moments, she was happy. These moments were the ones she would hold onto when those rough times came, and she knew she would be ok.