Meetings and Meetups

Hermione came into the house and the kids ran to give her hugs and kisses. It was half past five and Ron sat on the floor in front of the coffee table with drawing paper and Rose's half completed homework scattered across the top.

"Go wash up for supper," she instructed and Rose and Hugo went off into the kitchen. "Ron, I'm so sorry. I was caught up in this meeting and—"

"And you didn't think it was important enough to leave," Ron said, his voice flat.

Hermione froze, her jacket half off. "No, I didn't say that."

"You do, though," Ron said. He let out a huff. "You know what, I don't want to talk about it."

"So you get to throw that out there and we're not even going to discuss it?" Hermione asked, shaking her coat the rest of the way off and walking towards him. She sunk onto the couch. "Ron, I really kept trying to get out. I thought I was just going to be a few minutes late. Then an emergency came up and I sent a message as soon as I could—"

"Emergency?" Ron scoffed.

"Yes, emergency," Hermione countered, standing her ground. "It couldn't be helped."

"It's funny how it can't be helped when it's put up against something with me," Ron said. "I'm always next on the list."

Ron was gathering up his coat, shrugging it over his shoulders. Hermione felt a sudden panic, moving forward.

"You're right," Hermione said. "I should have just left. Please, don't go. I'm sorry."

Ron stopped, looking down at her. He didn't soften. "I have somewhere to be."

"Where?"

"A meeting," Ron said.

"Can you come back after?" Hermione asked. "I'll get the kids ready for bed and everything. We can read to them and then talk."

"Not tonight," Ron replied. "Rose! Hugo! Come give me a hug!"

Hermione grabbed a throw, folding it and placing it over the arm of the couch as Ron made extended goodbyes to their children. He made a point of telling them to listen to her and get to sleep when they were asked. They ran back into the kitchen after he issued these instructions and Ron turned towards the door. Hermione rushed, cutting him off in his path.

"I love you," she said, lifting a hand to his neck.

Ron let out a frustrated sigh and swallowed. He forced a small smile. "I love you, too."

Hermione lifted herself onto her toes, kissing him. He was still upset with her, returning the affection, but not the way he had lately. She watched as he walked out the door. She stood, shaking her head and taking a breath before going into the kitchen, pulling out food for dinner.

Hermione tried to pay attention to Rose as she told her about school that day. But she couldn't concentrate. All she could think was how she had screwed up again with Ron. Things had been going so well and she thought—she thought—if she came in with a direct apology he wouldn't be upset. But she couldn't just remain apologetic. She just had to try and defend staying. Hermione felt sick throughout dinner. She tried to put it aside as she put Rose and Hugo to bed, reading a story for each of them.

"Mum," Hugo said after she tucked his blankets tightly around him.

"What, love?" Hermione asked, pausing just over him.

Hugo raised his hands to her cheeks, squeezing her face. "Don't be sad, Mum. I love you this much."

He removed his hands, spreading his arms widely against the mattress and Hermione smiled. She sat on the edge of his bed, leaning over to kiss his forehead again.

"I love you, my Hugo," she whispered.

He turned over, but she just sat beside him, running her fingers up and down his back.

She had allowed the meetings to continue because if she hadn't she would have had to come home late. She hoped Ron would understand, but she shouldn't have made that assumption. After Hugo had been sleeping for a while, Hermione went down the stairs, pouring herself a glass of wine and pulling out her phone.

Her parents had a landline still. From what Hermione gathered from the other mums at Rose's school, this was highly unusual. She took a deep breath, dialing the number. It rung three times before her mother's voice picked up on the other line.

"Hello," Mrs. Granger said.

"Hi, Mum," Hermione said, the emotion rising in her voice almost immediately.

"Hermione! Sweetheart! How are you doing, love?"

"I'm okay," Hermione said. She swallowed, swirling the glass in her hand. Her mother stayed quiet for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"No, I'm not," Hermione said with a little laugh. "Mum, I keep screwing everything up."

More silence as Hermione sniffed.

"I'll be over in fifteen," her mother said.

"Alright," Hermione replied.


Ron sat in one of the middle rows, slouching in his chair in hopes not to draw attention to himself. He got there ten minutes after it had started. He hadn't even intended to go that night. He wasn't sure he would go at all. But the more he thought about Hermione ditching him, the more angry he felt, and he just needed an excuse to not be there. He didn't want to be around and this was as good a reason to be out for the night.

Tomorrow he would see if the kids could spend the night at his flat to make up for it, but for now he was concentrating on avoiding eye contact of the dozen or so other men in the meeting. There was a shorter blond man ten to fifteen years older than Ron up at the front, opening the meeting. He had a shaggy sort of appearance—stubble and purposefully unkempt hair—but his clothes were well put together, wearing a suit jacket over a plaid shirt and denim jeans. He smiled, his front teeth large and crossed, but it had a friendly sort of appeal to it.

"Every week we go around and share a little bit about ourselves," he said. "My name is Calvin Jensen. I have been running the group for about four years. I am a wizard, though I am married to a muggle woman."

Ron thought this was an odd detail until they started going around and he learned that there were actual muggle men here. One, named Ralph, had a bit of a stutter. There was another newcomer named Quinton, and then it was Ron's turn.

"Er, Ron Weasley," he said. "I was just referred here. Wizard. And… yeah, that's about it."

"Welcome, Ron," Calvin said.

There were three or four other people, then Calvin had them all stand, pushing away the extra chairs, using his wand to circle their own around. Ron took his seat again, rubbing his palms against his trousers.

"Let's start with recent successes," Calvin said, leaning forward, his eyes lit with excitement.

Quinton talked about how him and his wife had gone a whole week without an argument. That he had made a point of listening and that she was more willing to open up as a result. Calvin lead the group in a round of applause for this before a mousy man named Xavier, mentioned his attempts to show his wife he cared through being more clean around the house. Somewhere in the back of Ron's mind he knew the applause and confession style was ridiculous. He would normally laugh at this, but he found he liked it. The way even the littlest marital success seemed to be celebrated and supported by the others. No one seemed to congratulate out of some insincere place. Soon he found himself just as enthusiastic as anyone else.

"Thank you, everyone," Calvin said. "Now, for those of you who are new, this next bit can be the more challenging one. You're welcome to share, but we open it up to talk about something that you have been struggling with. There is no judgement here, but we do open up the floor for feedback from one another. When suggestions are made, we ask that you don't get defensive. Just consider other possibilities."

Quinton started on this one, too. A large man broke down, talking about his problems drinking. He talked about scaring his daughter, only a year older than Rose, and how his ten year old son took her by the hand and they hid in the attic.

"I'm afraid Bethany is going to leave," he cried openly.

Ron just looked at him, surprised at how trivial his and Hermione's problems were in comparison. He nodded as someone reminded him it would require one day at a time. They talked about ways he could avoid drinking, but also where to turn to avoid his family seeing him this way. One man got tense with him, saying this would only change when he wanted it to.

Calvin talked about his own experience with this twenty years before. "You have to hit rock bottom," he told the man. "If this is it, then start pushing against it. Let that be your support. You have value and you have value to your children. Do it for them."

Everyone was silent, Xavier, patting his large, shaking shoulders.

"Ron, you've been fairly quiet," Calvin said.

"I'm just here to observe," Ron said, shaking his head.

"This is a participation sport," Calvin said. "Unless you're from the Prophet? You going undercover here?"

Ron laughed. "No, of course not," he replied. He licked his lips. What would happen if he told a group of strangers? How bad could it be?

Before he knew it, Ron found himself telling them everything about how him and his wife had started therapy. How she was always busy with work and he was so often put on the backburner. How their children were. Then he was talking about the nanny. How Hermione had done it when she knew how he was against it.

"But you both work?" Quinton asked. "For the Ministry?"

"Well, yeah," Ron said. "But we always have. We've always figured it out before. Even when Rose was in daycare young, we wouldn't have her there more than six hours a day if we could help it."

"And what changed?" Quinton asked.

"Well… she was promoted," Ron said. "She moved general jobs, but they also invited her to be part of the Wizengamot."

Everyone was silent for a moment. They looked surprised. Everyone except Ralph and the other two muggles, who probably didn't know what that was.

"She's part of the Wizengamot? How old is she?" Quinton asked.

"Thirty-two," Ron said.

"Is Hermione Granger your wife?" Xavier asked.

Ron blushed. "Yeah," Ron said. "That's her." He wondered what Hermione would think about him spreading their problems to a room of strangers.

"And you don't have a nanny?" Quinton asked incredulously. "I mean, you said you're an auror… how are you not kept late most days?"

"I'm not kept because I make sure I get out when I need to," Ron said. "I go in late to finish things up lately. But we used to share that. Now she just doesn't even try."

"I'm going to throw an idea out here," Calvin said. He had leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. "Not having a nanny matters to you, yes?"

"Yes," Ron agreed.

"Then why does she have to compromise with her work positions to make that happen?" Calvin asked.

"Because they're both of our children," Ron said, feeling worked up.

"Right, but you do know that when both parents work, it's very typical to get childcare to cover whatever hours are worked, yes?" Calvin asked.

"Well, yeah," Ron. "So?"

"So, if it matters more to you to do something different than what's typical, don't you think you should make that happen?" Calvin suggested.

Ron had never thought of it like that. He had always seemed that if one of them cared about something concerning Rose and Hugo, they should both take it on. But in Calvin's words seemed a different framework. Yes, he was the one that cared that one of them was with the children.

"Well, that's nice, but I get flack from co-workers about adjusting my schedule," Ron said, bringing up the other issue.

"Then you change to meet the circumstances you want your life to have," Calvin said. The more veteran men nodded as though they had heard this before. "That might mean looking for a position that gives you the salary you wish, the schedule you wish… it might mean allowing your wife to be the breadwinner of the family."

Ron scoffed at this idea.

"Being a family man doesn't just mean putting food on the table," Ralph interjected this time. "You get to define that much."

"My dad provided for all of us," Ron said. "I couldn't not at least contribute in some way."

"Then you find a balance," Calvin said. "And that might include your wife's adjustments, but historically women who sacrifice work for family never find the same success as a man who does the same. I think it's fair to consider other options than her risking where she has gotten."

Ron sat back. It was like ten different ideas had struck him at once. And the world opened up for what could happen. Answers that had been laid out for him clearly suddenly made sense. He had a hard time suppressing a smile as the next person talked, then the next.

As the meeting came to a close, Ron stood, ready to leave. Calvin stopped him with a quick greeting, shaking his hand and saying he hoped Ron would come again. "We meet every Tuesday and Thursday," he added.

"I think I will," Ron said. And he meant it. It was as much a revelation as anything else that evening. He smiled, hurrying from the building and apparating. He was on George's front step, knocking quietly, hoping he didn't wake up Fred.

Angelina cracked open the door first. "Ron," she said with a smile, opening the door wide.

"Is George home?" Ron asked.

Answering to his name, George appeared in the hall, stepping forward until he was cast under the light overhead. "What's up?" George asked.

"Is that offer still open?" Ron asked. He couldn't stop smiling.

George's smile widened as well. "Come in," George said. "We'll talk about it."


The papers in Hermione's right hand felt heavy as she weaved through her floor at the ministry towards the Auror department. She ran into Harry first.

"What the fuck is this?" she snapped.

Harry looked confused for a moment, then took the papers. Ron's resignation from the Ministry. Understanding donned his face, then he licked his lips. "I thought you knew," Harry said.

"Does it look like I knew?"

Hermione was furious. She had spent half the night with her mother, sobbing and telling her about every misstep. Her mother listened patiently, rubbing Hermione's back and giving words of encouragement.

"There's a time and season for everything, Hermione," her mother said. "Right now seems the time and season for your marriage and family. That might mean pulling back a little in other areas."

"You think I should quit?" Hermione asked for the second time in a conversation with her mum. It almost always seemed to head towards that conclusion.

"No," her mum said firmly. "I think it means putting your foot down and creating boundaries with your colleagues. Even when it's easier to allow conversations to impede on your time with Ron."

Hermione was thinking through this when she saw the paperwork on her boss's desk. She asked him, but he said it had just been passed along to him to approve. Right along the top was Ron's name and attached were papers for human resources to process the end of Ron's time at the Ministry by his final day in two weeks.

"Hermione, take a beat, alright?" Harry said.

"What's the plan, Harry?"

"I think you need to talk to Ron about that."

"You bet I will," Hermione snatched the papers.

"Hermione, maybe you should calm down first," Harry called after her as she entered the main area of cubicles.

She ignored him, moving fast, her hair bouncing behind her as she arrived at Ron's desk. He was eating a bagel while reading through something. She threw the stack of papers right on top. Tears were already stinging her eyes as she clenched her jaw. Ron turned up towards her, brows furrowed.

"Just tell me," Hermione said. "Is this—all this—just some insane midlife crisis?"

"Talk a little quieter, please," Ron said.

"I will not!" she said, louder than a moment before. "What is this all about?"

Ron stood and let out a breath, barely suppressing a smile. It pissed her off even more.

"George offered me a job," Ron said.

Hermione blinked. That wasn't what she was expecting. "As a shop clerk?" she asked. That would be a significant step down.

"No, full partner," Ron said.

Hermione took an unsteady step back. "What?" she breathed out.

"I mean, we both agreed we need a trial period. We don't want family drama if things don't work like we hope, you know," Ron said. "He's paying me a salary for the first year, then if we both think it will work out I'll stay on, splitting profits and all."

"What kind of salary?" Hermione asked.

"Twice what I get here," Ron said. "I mean, there won't be benefits, but I can cut back on some spending and pay for those and still save most of the extra. If we decide against it, that will give me a while to look for something new."

Ron smiled widely now. He was obviously excited about this change. Hermione felt lighter than she had walking in.

"That's amazing," she said.

"I'm sorry, I should have warned you," Ron said. "I wanted to put in my two weeks as soon as possible. I didn't think you would see it before I could talk to you toni—"

Hermione threw herself around Ron's neck. He caught her, stumbling back, then wrapped around her waist in return, kissing into the crook of her neck. Hermione pulled back, her hands still on his shoulders.

"Okay, well we need to celebrate," Hermione said. "Ron, that's amazing."

"The best part is I can make my own schedule," he said. "George said we can arrange any new shop openings for the summers. He was going to be opening one in Italy this summer. He said we can go together, so he can show me the ropes. We can make a family vacation of it."

"Yes, yes," Hermione laughed. "Well, tonight we'll go out. Anywhere you want to go. Just… wow."

Ron pulled her in again, kissing her. Hermione stayed close to him.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," she whispered. "I'll set up an appointment for next week, if that's okay."

"Yeah, that's great," Ron said.

"Okay, I better get back," Hermione said. She turned to leave. Ron held her hand until she had just stepped out of reach. She took three steps then turned back. Reaching over, she took the paperwork again. "I better put those back."

Ron smiled at her as she turned again.

Hermione smiled all the way back to her office. She smiled the whole day.


November had turned into December and life was evening out. Ron only had three days left in his old job and Hermione was encouraging in the evenings when Ron would spend his time meeting up with George, making plans. They spent the weekends together. And Hermione was glad for some time with Rose and Hugo. She was starting to feel like she was catching up with this part of life. Catching up when she hadn't known a couple months ago that she had gotten so far behind.

"Good job, Hugo!" Hermione said. The uneven letters of his name finished in his own hand. The G was backwards and the legs of the H were tilted in, almost like an A. "You are so brilliant!"

She kissed the top of his head. Rose was busy writing. Writing, writing, writing. It seemed that lately she did nothing else, though she didn't want to share it like she usually did either. If Hermione reached for it she would go wide-eyed and clamp her hands down over the top of the papers.

"Not yet!" Rose would shout.

"Alright," Hermione laughed at her.

Hermione was trying to not let the pressures of work seep in here. Especially in these moments. She wanted to be present. A time and a season, her mother had said. She took it to heart.

There was a knock on the door. Hermione moved Hugo from her lap to sit on the floor beside her. She pushed herself to her feet and walked to the door, opening it.

"George," Hermione said, surprised. He smiled at her with a nod. He was holding a box in his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to bring by some things for Hugo and Rose to test out," George said.

"Come in," she said. "Where's Ron?"

"Search me," George said with a shrug.

"Uncle George!" Rose yelled, putting aside her pages and standing to run and hold onto his leg. Hugo wasn't far behind. "Look, Uncle George, I have a loose tooth!"

"Wow," George said. "You best be careful Hugo doesn't try and steal it and get the tooth fairy money all to himself. Maybe I'll take care of it, just in case."

George reached towards Rose's mouth and she squealed, stepping out of reach.

Hermione watched all this, but her mind was elsewhere. Ron said he had a meeting. He couldn't even stay for dinner. If he wanted space she would give it to him. They had done that for so many weeks now, she had to wonder… why would he lie to her? Her stomach dropped at the thought.

Hugo and Rose were going through the box. There were new exploding snaps and fake wands. There were invisible gloves and top hats. There was a deck of cards that, when a card was pulled, turned various features into animal transfigurations. Elephant trunks, cat claws, dog ears and so on. Rose and Hugo were laughing as they tested these out. As soon as they dropped any card, their own features would return and they would reach for another.

"Mum, pick one!" Rose laughed, holding out the cards.

Hermione pushed aside her wondering for a moment, pulling out a card and feeling her ears tingle. Rose and Hugo fell into belly laughs, George smiling along.

"Mum has bat ears!" Hugo got out.

Hermione laughed, glad to see her children so happy. If only she could get that bug out of her ear.


Hermione's parents wanted to take Hugo and Rose to a muggle film and Hermione needed some time to think. Ron was supposed to be doing research, but Hermione still wasn't sure what he had been doing the other night instead of meeting with George.

"What's wrong?" he asked her the night before.

"Nothing," Hermione lied, but she couldn't even bring herself to make it seem true.

Ron put a hand around her neck. "Hermione…"

"I'm fine," Hermione said. "I'm just stressed. From work."

Ron nodded apprehensively and they went back to playing with the kids. Later he asked if they could have a date that night. Hugo and Rose would stay with their grandparents for the night and Hermione would pick them up in the morning.

In the meantime, she needed to wander and think. Hermione went to an old shopping area in London she used to go to with her parents as a child. There was a dress shop. She looked for some new clothes: a dress for that night and some shirts to go under her work robes. She picked up some new things for Hugo and Rose as well. When she finished all possible errands, she headed towards what had always been her favorite bookshop, adjusting the bags hanging on her arms. She looked up from the end of the row of shops and froze. Attached to the bookstore was a cafe and sitting at the table just outside was Ron. He had a notebook and pen set beside a large mug, steaming. He was laughing and scratching the side of his head. And sitting across from him was Miss Ford.

Hermione stepped behind a column watching quietly. She felt her breath shortening as Miss Ford leaned forward, legs crossed. Ron said something and she rolled her eyes with a shrug. And then he smiled. The smile Hermione had loved more than any she had seen. The smile that wasn't tempered or tainted by anything. The smile that Hermione had always thought was hers. For several minutes, she couldn't stop watching. Couldn't move.

When she finally could, she rushed to an empty space and apparated home. She was glad the children were away as she broke down, curling up on her bed—their bed—and sobbed.

She didn't move as the sky darkened. One shuddering breath after another. She heard the door open and close and she still didn't budge.

"Hermione," Ron called out. "You ready to go?"

Hermione didn't reply. She stayed where she was, curled up and quiet.

" 'mione?"Ron said. He walked towards their bedroom. The door creaked open and he reached in, turning on the light. "You feeling okay?"

"Fine," Hermione muttered.

Ron moved into the room. She didn't look at him as he sunk onto the edge of the mattress by her. He reached out a hand, feeling her cheeks and pushing back her hair.

"What's wrong?"

Hermione bit the insides of her cheeks. She shook her head, not having words for what she wanted to say. She didn't have the energy to even yell. She just wanted to be alone. Hermione pulled away from Ron's touch.

"Hermione?" he asked again. "How about we do something here?"

"No," she finally said. She looked at Ron, who looked confused. Good, she thought.

"What's wrong, Hermione," Ron said. "Last time I saw you everything was fine."

Hermione sat up. "Fine?" Hermione demanded. "Fine? You living in another apartment, changing our entire world upside down, that's fine?"

Ron blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "Are you upset because I took the new job? I thought you were happy about that?"

"You didn't even ask. You just went ahead and did it," Hermione said. She pushed herself around Ron, standing and walking out of their room. Ron followed as she grabbed the laundry basket, folding the clothes by hand.

"So the one time I do something that will open up our options and bring in more money, you get mad at me? After everything else?" Ron demanded.

"Just go!" Hermione snapped, turning on him.

Ron's mouth hung open, looking at her. "Hermione, I—"

"Just go!" she screamed.

Ron shook his head at her, letting out an exasperated breath, and walked towards the door.

"Go!" Hermione shouted again.

The door slammed behind Ron. Hermione began to cry again, wiping at her nose as her chest felt like it was going to burst. She moved towards the door. On the side table she saw a book, wrapped up in the familiar blue and gold paper from the bookshop. She unwrapped it. The book was some novel. She opened the front. In Ron's handwriting on the inside cover was an inscription.

To my Hermione,

May you always have a few extra hours for a good book.

Love, Ron

She closed the front and threw the book across the room.