Month three – in the books.

Hermione and I had been living together for three months and even though I've spent a few weeks away here and there because of training, it's been bloody brilliant. I can't imagine waking up in this flat without her hair in my mouth. It's not as annoying as it sounds – the girl has a lot of hair on top of that adorable head of hers. I've spent plenty of time sleeping alone, my mouth and nose free of her locks tickling me. I didn't mind it at all.

We'd shared a bed on many occasions before moving in together of course. She spent the better part of that summer after the war in bed with me while I was still suffering from nightmares. Then that incredible New Year's when we were all alone at the Burrow. Not to mention the hotel room in Australia when we went to find her parents. All those occasions occurred because of extraordinary circumstances. When we rented this flat together I was most excited about the idea of the permanency of it. There was no expiration on the time we'd have together in our own place; no parents were coming home forcing us to sleep in separate rooms, she wasn't heading back to school. This was the beginning of our happily ever after.

Bill warned me it wasn't going to be easy at first. "You two are probably going have more than a few rows at the beginning. You'll do things that drive her insane and vice-versa; stuff you wouldn't know about before you live with each other. Sure, you're going to shag each other's brains out for a while, but eventually, you might even feel a little bored." He said.

Not likely. I thought. The idea that I'd ever get bored with Hermione was ridiculous. The idea that I'd get used to the noises she made when I made her pop…nope. Those are always going to do it for me. Bill must have read the doubt my face because he laughed.

"I'm not saying she's not going to turn you on anymore – but she's going to get on your nerves and you on hers." He added.

"We already get on each other's nerves, Billy." I said. "We've been that way since the day we met."

"You'll see." He said in that knowing way of his. "I love my wife and my kids are brilliant but I tell you, sometimes I'd just like to be able to watch the telly in my pants and not have anyone bother me." He winked.

Right after we moved in, I had to report back to the Academy for two weeks of survival training. I got a taste of what Bill was talking about when I returned. I walked in the door, dropped my stuff on the floor and kicked off my boots. I felt like I was wrapped in sandpaper. Two weeks in the bloody desert. All I wanted was a long bath and to eat a meal without feeling like I was chewing on an emery board.

Ok, so yes, I tracked sand in on my boots. Yes, I heard it falling to the floor from my clothes as I walked but bloody hell I had every intention of cleaning it up. I was home by myself, Hermione was still at work. As I was soaking in the hot tub, relaxing my muscles and getting the sodding sand out of my arse, I imagined a scenario of how I wanted the night to go. Hermione knew I was due back that day so she'd be so excited to see me when she got home at 5:15. I planned on being naked and in bed with her by 5:16, 5:18 the latest. I couldn't wait to snog her; couldn't wait to taste her skin. I imagined tossing her down on the bed and just ravaging her. The headboard she picked out had vertical slats in it, just wide enough for her to reach up for and grip when I went down on her. I like to think that she picked it out for just that reason.

I got my first wank out of the way, you know, so I'd last longer when Hermione got home. I let the water drain from the tub, wrapped a towel around my waist and went into the bedroom.

She'd hung a whole bunch of photos around the place while I was away. As I pulled on some fresh clothes, I smiled at the one of us at her parent's house. In the backyard, there's a swing hanging off the branch of a tree that she loved to sit on and read. I remembered the first time I'd seen her sitting there lost in a book. Freddy and I drove his new car down to pick her up over the summer before we started our 6th year. Fred let me drive the last hour of the trip while he tried reading the road map. I thought for sure he was going to get us completely lost.

"Fred, I swear if we don't get there soon, I'm going to leave you in the middle of wherever the bloody hell we are." I said gripping the steering wheel.

"Go ahead, Ronnie. I can Apparate." He said smugly. I gritted my teeth and cursed at him under my breath. I felt such relief when we pulled onto Hermione's street. I parked in front of the house and warned Fred to be on his best behavior.

"Do not embarrass me, Fred. Please, mate. Please?"

He smirked at me. It was unnerving when he smirked at me. He was either going to behave or do something so horrendous that I'd never be able to look at the Grangers ever again.

"Relax, little brother. I'm not gonna take the piss out of you in front of your girl's parents." He said.

"She's not my girl." I said, looking away from him.

"Well, she bloody well would be if you had any nerve." He said. "You must know that, Ron. You can't be that daft."

I was about to reply when I saw her sitting on the swing, one leg was tucked her while she sat. I didn't even think of how foolish I'd look if anyone saw me leaping from the car like a gazelle and sprinting to Hermione. I called her name and she looked up at me and smiled. It sent a flood through my body to see her smile like that. She jumped up off the swing and met me halfway on the grass. We met in a giant hug and I lifted her off the ground a bit. I felt her lips graze my cheek in a hello and I didn't hesitate to kiss her cheek right back.

We talked excitedly for a while until I heard Fred laughing behind us. He was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Granger a little ways away from us.

"Adorable at that age, aren't they?" I heard him say.

Git.

The day we got them back from Australia and got them settled, her family and mine had a big meal together and it was like a different world. This time when I hugged and kissed her in the yard, she was my girl, only Fred wasn't there to see it. I sat on the swing and she sat in my lap sidesaddle-like. We were talking, in our own little world when we heard her Mum call our names. When we looked up we saw that she was aiming Hermione's camera at us so we kissed and smiled.

I felt bad for Muggle photographers. They miss out on capturing so many moments and emotions. This photo of Hermione and me depicted so much more than a still photo could ever show: we kissed and smiled at the camera over and over again. That intimate moment caught forever. The day that photo was taken was the last day I saw her for quite a while.

She understandably wanted to spend as much time with her parents as she could. I was going back to the Auror Academy to make up for all the time I'd taken off and it would be months before we'd be together again. That was almost as difficult a separation as the time I was the biggest prat alive. I don't even like to think about it. I'm still ashamed of it. Hermione never mentions it but it really bothers me.

I looked at the clock on her nightstand, I still had a couple of hours before she was due home. I could fit a nap in before I cleaned up the sand and got my clothes into the hamper. I threw the towel to the floor and flopped down on the bed. I laid on Hermione's side; I wanted to smell her. Her scent filled me, the faint hint of coconut from her shampoo, the citrus body wash and the natural scent of her skin made me woozy and randy all at once. I fell asleep happy to be home.

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I'd had such a long day at the Ministry. I hated how damn slowly everything worked. I was very idealistic I know, but I truly wanted to make a difference for house-elves and other creatures like Dobby and Pinky, who were drastically underrepresented in our government. When I was hired for the Department of Regulation of Magical Creatures I was told that I'd have the capacity to better their lives.

So far, all I'd managed to do was get a bill read that would make denying a house-elf food as punishment an offense that would garner a fine. That's all. A bloody fine. No one could explain how the fine would be levied, either. A house-elf would never complain that his or her family had denied them food for being disobedient. House-elves are obedient, it's just their nature to serve. It was a sound-good piece of legislation that wouldn't ever help a single one of them.

Mostly, all I dealt with was stacks of paperwork a meter high and a cramp in my wrist from my grip on my quill, not results. I decided to walk home from work instead of using the Floo Network. It was a decent day weather-wise and I needed to clear my head. I was exhausted by the time I got home but I felt less stressed. I opened the front door and felt the resistance, something was up against the door.

I pulled my wand out of my pocket and flicked the light on. Ron's rucksack was tossed against the door. I'd completely forgotten he was coming home today. I saw his boots and his clothes and sand. Everywhere. So much sand I was sure if I could gather it all up I would be able to fill a sandbox for Victoire. I followed the trail of sand to the loo and saw even more sand in the tub and all over the rugs. I was livid.

I went into the bedroom and he was fast asleep on my pillow. I called his name a few times and rubbed his back until he woke up.

"Hey, babe." He said opening his eyes briefly.

"Hi." I said. I was very happy he was home but I felt like I could hex him for leaving such a disaster.

"When did you get home?" I asked.

"What time is it?" He asked me, rolling over.

"After seven."

"Did you just get home?" He sat up and wiped the sleep out of his eyes.

"Yeah. I had a really crap day, I went for a walk." He leaned over and kissed me, pulling me into his chest. I was kissing him back but I couldn't get the images of the sand everywhere out of my head. It was an itch in my brain that I couldn't scratch.

"I missed you so much." He said snaking a hand up my blouse to unhook my bra. I pulled back.

"Not now, Ron. There's sand everywhere…" I said. I tried not to sound hyper-critical but I couldn't relax knowing the mess that awaited me.

"Forget the sand…" he kissed my neck but I pulled away,

"Ron, I said not now. I had a bloody awful day and now I have to clean the floors and the tub and…Ugh, why did you leave me such a mess?"

He turned away from me, got out of bed and stomped out of the room. I heard the water running in the tub, when I poked my head in, he was on his knees washing the sand down the drain with his hand.

"I'm sorry I made a mess but I've been in the bleeding desert for two straight weeks, Hermione. I couldn't care less about a mess, I just wanted to fucking see you." He snapped at me. He turned the water off and wiped his hands on his jeans.

"Scourgify!" He cleaned the rest of the sand from the loo and pushed past me.

"I know I'm not as neat as you but can't you forget the fucking mess for an hour?" He dramatically pulled his clothes into a pile in his arms, more sand falling from the crumpled fabric.

"No, actually I can't. You've been gone, I've unpacked every last box and got this place sorted out. You've been home all day and left me a disaster!"

"Mione, I've not been on holiday – I've been busting my hump at the Academy…"

"Oh and my job is easy, is that it? Because I sit at a desk all day I couldn't possibly be too tired or too frustrated when I get home?"

"I didn't say that! Don't put words in my mouth!" He stomped past me again and tossed his clothes in the hamper. He came back and waved his wand and I watched the sand rise up off the floor. A second wave of his wand sent it all flying out the open window.

"There – is that better? For crying out loud, Hermione." He said

I had my arms folded tightly across my chest. "You could have done that hours ago and avoided this whole fight."

"And you could have actually been happy to see me." He snapped back.

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If I knew we were going to fight over the sand, of course I would have bloody cleaned up. But I didn't, so send me to Azkaban already. I knew we were going to have to get used to certain things. At school, the house-elves picked up after us and at home, Mum did most of the cleaning up. I was willing to try to be neater, but Hermione was going to have to tolerate a certain level of disarray, (right?)

There was a good old-fashioned stand-off in the Granger-Weasley living room. She stared at me and I returned every centimeter of her glare. She was so bloody hot. I wanted to snog her so badly but I wasn't going to be the one break eye contact.

The seconds ticked away loudly from the clock in the hallway. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. I wet my lips and watched her eyes focus on my tongue. All wasn't lost after all.

She started chewing on the inside of her cheek and I could practically see the wheels turning in her mind. Your move, Hermione.

Without taking my eyes from hers, I brushed the fringe out of my eyes and crossed my arms, flexing. She shifted on her feet and I distinctly caught her glance down at my crotch. Checkmate.

She looked back up to my eyes but she knew she was busted. She smirked and giggled a bit when I raised an eyebrow at her.

I let my hands fall to my sides and she walked to me and put her arms around me.

"I'm sorry." I whispered into her hair.

"Me too."

We didn't talk much until after we'd made love (moaning and groaning doesn't really count). We were in bed frustrations completely forgotten and I said "I'm home for a while now. At least a month until the next survival training mission. They're going to have us doing some physical training next time out – with a Muggle instructor!"

"A Muggle instructor? Whatever for?" She asked me.

"They're trying to incorporate some useful Muggle things. We're going to learn a fighting technique Muggle soldiers use. Hand-to-hand combat and all that. If we're disarmed we need to be able to fight our way out of a dangerous situation." I felt her cuddle in closer and grip me a little tighter.

"I can't think of you in danger. It's too scary." She said, kissing my chest.

"Love, we've both been there before." I said twirling her hair in my fingers.

"But I was there. I could keep an eye on you." She said. I laughed.

"Yeah, you protected my arse; I'll grant you that. It's Harry's job to cover my back now. And I've got his as usual."

"As long as you come home safe to me."

"Promise."