Muggle Relations

Ron came by Sunday morning to pick up the kids and Hermione continued to avoid talking with him. At least with Rose and Hugo home, he couldn't get her alone. She didn't want details of when Ron had started seeing Miss Ford. Her heart ached for what this meant for her, but it ached more for what it might mean for Rose. Rose, who had struggled more than anyone the last couple months… Rose, who had pleaded to stay at the school because she loved Miss Ford… Hermione couldn't do anything that would hurt her daughter again. Not until she had solid proof. Yet everything that had seemed strange to her built into this awful narrative and she couldn't think of anything else. And she simply didn't want to know.

Hermione went to get Rose around two in the afternoon. Hugo was going to stay with Ron, but Rose and Hermione were meeting up with Melanie and her mum, Lana, at a park near Rose's school.

"What time did you want me to bring Hugo?" Ron asked tersely.

"By dinner," Hermione said. "You going to stay tonight?"

"Did you want me to?" Ron shot back quietly. Hermione saw his searching look and wondered when he had last given that look to someone else.

"We can talk about it later," she said.

Ron gave a tight nod and turned to Rose, giving her a hug and kiss before she took Hermione's hand and they were off. They took the Knight Bus and got there ten minutes or so before Melanie and Lana met them. Rose brightened as the girls went off to do their own thing and Lana sunk onto the bench beside Hermione.

"Oh, I'm so glad you were able to do this today," Lana said. "And no offense to your husband, but I'm glad it's you here."

"Oh, really?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, well, it always feels a little awkward sitting with a dad watching our children play," Lana said. "Don't ever get divorced. People will always think the worst of you."

Hermione looked at her, dumbfounded. She knew Lana was a single mum, but she hadn't ever been around her enough for a conversation regarding the fact.

"I'm sure not always."

"No, only when you're talking to even the most semi-attractive male. Then the word homewrecker arises. And, really, your husband's a pretty good sight for a ginger," Lana said with a half laugh. She looked over at Hermione and stopped. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. I have a tendency to say whatever I'm thinking and—"

"No, i-it's fine," Hermione said. She had met Lana once or twice before, but since Ron was the one that picked Rose up, he knew the other mothers better than Hermione. "I try to not make such broad assumptions."

"You're one of the few," Lana said, giving Hermione a conspiratorial smile.

Silence hung over them as they watched Melanie and Rose building something in the sand. Melanie was taking charge, which Hermione smiled at thinking this must be something new for Rose, who spent most of her life at home playing leader to Hugo's loyal minion.

"I do have to say, your husband makes most of the dads at the school look like complete slackers," Lana said. "The way he is with Rose and that boy of yours."

Hermione gave a half-hearted smile, looking over at her. "Yes, he's a great father," she said. She looked towards the girls. "That much I can vouch for."

"Trouble in paradise?" Lana asked, perking up.

"Something like that," Hermione said.

"If you need the name of a good divorce attorney, you just let me know," Lana said. Hermione was surprised she could sound so perky about something like that.

"I don't think we're there just yet," Hermione said. An image flashed through her mind of Ron sitting with Miss Ford. Her imagination began to fill in the woman leaning forward, her lips getting close to his.

"It's not a bad idea to be prepared," Lana said. She shifted on the bench, digging through her purse. "You can bet he will be. Even my asshole of a husband immediately tried to get custody of Melanie."

Hermione felt her skin go cold. She hadn't even considered all the repercussions of divorce. Not really. She hadn't even thought about the idea of losing Rose and Hugo.

"Ron wouldn't ever do that," Hermione said.

"That's what I thought about Chad," Lana said, now holding out a business card. "Thought it could be done civilly, but I'm telling you Hermione, every little thing will be held against you when the courts get involved."

"Like what?" Hermione asked.

"Like every time you leave the kids with family to do something for yourself. Or whatever financial ability he has over you."

"Well, until recently we basically made the same," Hermione said. "I maybe made a little more."

"And now?" Lana asked.

"He has a temporary arrangement," Hermione said. "A business venture with his brother."

"Sounds to me like he's getting his ducks in a row," Lana said with a shrug. "Just take the card. Hopefully you won't need it, but it's never a bad idea to have a professional you can talk to."

Hermione took the card. Carlyle Neubaur. Her heart pounded just holding this. It pounded harder as she slipped it into her pocket. They talked about other things—the class, other mums, and their work. Hermione was distracted and struggled to keep up with the muggle version of her job.

Towards the end of the hour, Melanie ran up to her mother, carrying a long stick in her hand.

"Mum, I want to get one of these," Melanie said.

She shook it and it turned into a large rubber chicken. Hermione's eyes widened, straightening. Rose stood just behind her friend, looking excited, her cheeks flushed from running around.

"What is it?" Lana asked.

"It's a trick wand," Melanie answered.

"Neat," Lana said as Melanie shook the chicken and it became a wand again. Hermione swallowed. "How does it do that?"

"One of my friends makes them," Hermione said. "Or did. I'll have to see if he still makes them."

"Do," Lana said. "I would love to buy one."

Melanie beamed at this news, handing the wand version back to Rose. Hermione turned her attention back to Lana, deciding that they would have to do this again before Christmas break. They hugged, as did the girls, and Hermione took Rose's hand as they walked away.

"Put that away," Hermione hissed under the breath.

Rose looked up, her smile fading as she put the fake wand away. They walked in silence, calling the bus again. When they got back to the house Hermione grabbed onto Rose's shoulders, turning her and getting down on her level.

"You cannot go showing wizarding things to muggles," Hermione said, shaking Rose with every other word. "You know better, Rose!"

"But she's my friend," Rose argued. Her voice was shaky.

"It doesn't matter, Rose," Hermione said, her own tone getting louder. "You cannot share these things with her, do you understand me?"

Rose's eyes filled with tears. Her lip trembled. "Why are you so mean?!" she shouted right in Hermione's face.

"I'm not being mean, Rose!" Hermione argued. "I'm telling you, you aren't allowed to do that sort of thing! Do you understand?"

"I hate you!" Rose shouted instead. Hermione's hands dropped with her heart. "I hate you!"

Rose turned, crying, and ran towards the stairs. She stomped upwards and Hermione stayed right where she was, thinking about everything Lana had said. Hermione knew that if it were left up to Rose in this moment, she would choose to go with Ron in an instant.


Ron didn't stay for dinner. And he didn't stay on Monday night either. In the quiet moments of evening, Hermione found herself dialing the number on the card, then hanging up immediately.

"Don't," Hermione muttered to herself. "Don't do this to yourself."

On Tuesday, she had decided she needed to have a frank conversation with Ron. She needed to see if he would tell her exactly what was going on. Hermione was building herself up for it, even through lunch. Just after two in the afternoon, she was walking back to her desk when the main announcement board caught her eye.

There was a board in almost every department of law enforcement of different cases that groups were being sent on at any moment. Details would scroll beneath a map with blinking dots of persons involved. She narrowed her eyes, not sure she was seeing what she thought she was. There, in small lettering, were the crossroads where Rose's school sat. A single white dot blinked at her as colored dots were surrounding the place. Colored dots being ministry workers.

Hermione set her mug of tea on the nearest desk, rushing towards the exit while summoning her jacket from her office. Her arms shook as she shrugged the coat on, pressing the button for the lobby at the lift.

"Come on, come on, come on," she muttered, as though willing the lift to move faster.

Hermione didn't wait as the doors began to slide open, pushing herself through and making it to an apparition point. She found herself on the outside of a gathering crowd at a barrier. In the middle of meandering adults, moving in and out, was her little girl looking very small. Her hands were bound in green. Rose was cuffed and bound. Hermione pushed herself through the crowd.

"Let me through!" she shrieked. "That's my daughter, let me through!"

She pushed and shoved against bodies and the barrier, but could only pound against what was in front of her. Her hands hurt and her voice was going hoarse. The officials surrounding Rose and the two set at the barrier ignored her. And there was Ron, pushing through them, wand out and face red.


It was Ron's last day with the Ministry. There was a cake Kepler Jameson had brought in. She was one of the nicer young aurors and she smiled warmly at the compliments to her baking. They were all standing around Ron's desk when Harry came by.

"Ron, we need to go," he said.

Ron took a moment to switch gears, setting down his plate and excusing himself. "What is it?" he asked.

"Rose," was all Harry said as they moved towards the corner of the office where aurors were able to use Portkeys to go up and out and straight to their target area.

"What?" Ron asked, grabbing Harry's arm, turning him.

"The department heads all got a memo," Harry said, talking quickly. "There's been a breach of muggle secrecy and the location is Rose's school."

Ron felt the warmth leave his face as he stayed on Harry's heels. They got to the corner and Harry grabbed an old newspaper from one of the drawers, tapping it as Ron took hold as well and they were off.

As soon as they landed Ron felt every nerve on end. Rose stood, looking up at the adults around her, tears streaming down her face. He pulled out his wand.

"This isn't your jurisdiction," someone said to Harry, putting a hand on his chest. Ron ignored this rushing forward, his hand in a fist around his wand.

"You bloody bastard!" Ron shouted at the man who had hold of Rose's restraints. He pushed him back. "Off! Take them off!"

"We're following protocol!" he shouted back.

Ron grabbed him by the front of his robes. The man was fairly short so that when Ron pulled at him, he was left standing on his toes.

"Now," Ron growled.

"Since when is it protocol to restrain a six year old?" Harry argued from behind him. "Do it."

"But if I—"

"We will take it from here, let her go," Harry said, much more calmly than Ron, but with just as much gravitas.

The man looked between the two, obviously having an internal debate about whether his job was worth all this. He swallowed and with a swish of his wand, Rose's hands were free. Ron dropped him and scooped her up immediately.

Ron held her up with one arm, his other hand holding the back of her head as Rose gripped his neck like a vice, crying into his neck.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Rose said. "I'm sorry! I was showing Melanie the animal cards and Katie came and took one…"

"It's okay, sweetheart," Ron said. "It will all be okay."

His heart was still going a mile a minute.

"Ron!" someone called to his right.

He turned, seeing Miss Ford standing there, eyes wide with panic as another ministry officially was tugging on her arm.

"Ron, my aunt… my aunt is a witch," she said. "Please, don't let them change my memory!"

Ron looked to Harry and he moved forward, talking down someone else as Ron continued to sway with Rose, whispering that she was safe over and over again. He looked over to the crowd, seeing Hermione at the front, pressed against the invisible barrier. Her eyes were as wide as Rose's had been, her hands flat against the spell keeping her back. He moved in her direction. There were two people guarding the barrier.

"Let her through," Ron said.

"Who do you think you are?" a snotty woman asked.

"Let her through," Ron said. "Or I will get my superior over here to make you do it."

Everyone had witnessed this twice already now. She pursed her lips, but waved her wand as Hermione stumbled passed the others.

"Rose!" she shouted. "Rose, are you okay?"

Rose reached for Hermione and Ron let her go, petting her hair a few times as Hermione knelt on the ground, holding Rose to her, rocking her back and forth as Rose stuttered out what had happened again.

Ron moved towards Harry, who had Miss Ford next to him. "So your aunt?" Ron asked.

"I know a few people like you," Miss Ford said with a nod. "I had… wondered about Rose. After a couple things. They were at play and something happened. Katie was screaming. There were all these people and they froze us all. Is everyone else going to be alright?"

"Yeah, they will be," Ron said with a sigh. "They'll just have their memories modified. Sure you don't want yours to be, too?"

"No," Miss Ford said with a sigh. "Knowing that Rose… well what she can do… I can be of more help. Is there anything I can do?"

She reached out, putting a kind hand on his arm. Ron let out a breath, looking back at Hermione and Rose. "No, I think we just need to chat with her."

"Well, thank you," Miss Ford said. She leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Ron's neck. "I was really worried they were going to make me forget."

"Yeah," Ron said, patting her back. "Thank you for keeping an eye on Rosie."

Miss Ford straightened and nodded. She turned and headed back towards the school. Ron turned back and Hermione had been looking at him. She turned away, biting her bottom lip before she pulled Rose back, running her thumbs along her cheeks, wiping away tears.


They took Rose home, sat her down, and talked about why she wasn't allowed to take wizard things to school, even to show her friends. Hermione was more calm than Ron had expected, holding one of Rose's hands as she kept asking questions about what had happened. Rose had cried a hundred apologies, most of them to Hermione, which made more sense to Ron when he realized this wasn't the first time she had taken a joke shop item to show Melanie.

Eventually, Ron went to get Hugo and brought him home. They sent both to play upstairs and Ron wiped a hand down his face. It was a more eventful last day than Ron had anticipated. And not even by way of normal work. He would need to go in that night and tie up the last files to be reassigned.

"Why didn't you tell me this had happened before?" Ron asked.

Hermione visibly bristled. "It was just this Sunday," she said.

"And?"

"And I talked to her about it," Hermione said.

"Apparently she didn't understand, did she?"

"I'm doing the best I can!" Hermione shouted at him.

"How about telling me what's happening? Then I could have at least checked her bag for something like that before taking her to school," Ron said. "Or talked to her about why she couldn't take those things to school."

"Because you're going to say something that I didn't," Hermione replied sarcastically.

"No, but I'll probably do it without screaming like a banshee at her!"

Hermione stopped in the tracks. Her eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip quivered.

"Hermione?" Ron asked, uncertain as to what just happened.

She dropped the rag in her hand and marched out of the kitchen without another word. Ron stood there, trying to make sense of her reaction, but he couldn't. He went up the stairs, watching Rose and Hugo play. As it got later, he made dinner. Hermione still didn't come out of their bedroom. He left a plate out for her and got the kids dressed and ready for bed.

After he tucked them in, Ron stood on the other side of the door to their room. He thought about what he could say. They had already reversed any progress they had made and he couldn't think of how it had happened. At the last support group meeting, he brought up the night Hermione had yelled at him. He admitted he probably should have run the new job by her first, but that she hadn't seemed upset when she learned about it.

"Sometimes people get mad at what's easier to handle because what they're really angry with is too hard to deal with," Ralph said after explaining something similar that had happened with his wife a while back. "Sometimes you have to just be quiet and listen until the truth comes out."

But Ron didn't know how to listen when she wouldn't even talk. And it hurt. So he turned and walked out, apparating back to the Ministry to finish up the last of his work there.

Ron's first day as a co-owner of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was tainted by an article about the incident the day before. Rose was mentioned, though not named, but both Hermione and he were called out. The journalist suggested that Rose might be rebelling against her mother's strangling view of muggle relations and insinuated Ron's departure from the auror department might have something to do with the events of the day. If they could keep Rose from knowing this side of the incident, Ron would feel successful. It was about all the success they had left in their control.

"Sorry the company's name got dragged through that," Ron said. The deck of cards that had been the issue were discussed as well.

"Are you kidding me?" George said. "If it doesn't triple those sales, I will eat my own shoe."

Around eleven, Ron got an owl from Harry, asking if he wanted to meet up at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. He responded back the word YES! And continued going through the bookkeeping information George had in the office. Every bit of serious work was punctured at random by ideas for new or improved products. Ron grabbed a notepad, starting up a list of these as they came up.

At half twelve, Ron went to the pub, where Harry had already got a table for the two of them.

"Sorry your last day was so crazy," Harry said. "I was hoping you'd at least get a decent send off."

"It's alright, mate," Ron said.

"I'm going to miss having you there," Harry said with a sigh. "I know it hasn't been the same as when we started, but I liked at least getting to chat, you know?"

"Yeah," Ron said with a grin. "I do."

"How's Rosie doing?" Harry asked, then dug into his roast.

"She's shaken up," Ron said. "You saw the article?"

Harry nodded solemnly. "That Caldwell Jesters is an ass," Harry said. "Just as bad as Skeeter, if you ask me."

"Yeah, I'm hoping it doesn't give Hermione too many problems at work, though," Ron said. It was the other thought besides whether Rose would find out about it. Ron may have been mentioned, but the article was a scathing criticism of everything she had fought for since joining the ministry.

"I checked on her. Seems the difference between Skeeter and Jesters is that he's not the Ministry's darling the way she was. No one pays much attention to it," Harry said.

"She's still likely to get some nasty owls," Ron said. They both knew it was true. People thrived on having something to be indignant about and this was going to be the latest for a bit. Misstated or not, people thinking Ron had been fired would likely spare him as they would feel he had already gotten his comeuppance.

"How are things going?" Harry asked. "With counseling and all that?"

Ron didn't know where to start. "Hermione's not happy with… something," Ron said. Harry tilted his head. "She's angry with me about something and I can't get her to tell me what."

"That's odd," Harry said. "I remember her being ridiculously articulate when she was mad."

"Yeah," Ron said. "I don't know, Harry. I just wish I could figure out what's going on in her head, you know? Because now every time we get into other things, I'm just mad that she won't talk to me and it makes it worse."

"You two bringing the kids for Christmas Eve at our house?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Ron said. "Hermione might be spending Christmas Day with her parents, so I think that will be my time with Rose and Hugo."

Harry sat back and let out a breath. Ron could only nod. Without a word, he knew exactly what Harry meant.


Hermione had gone into research mode. Whenever Ron had Rose and Hugo or at night after they fell asleep, she would read as much as she could about the divorce laws in England. From what she could tell, wizarding and muggle laws stayed fairly consistent in this area. Where she had been excited for Ron taking a job where he had a chance to shine, she now saw the potential for him to avoid child support or claim that he could support them better from a financial standpoint. He could easily argue his own ability to spend more time with them with his new schedule, whereas Hermione would need to provide childcare if she had custody. Then there was everything that happened at Rose's school. The article painted her as the oppressive parent, forcing her child to attend a muggle school to prove a point. Would that be brought into a divorce hearing?

She spent hours one night, going between Rose and Hugo's room, watching them sleep and wondering how she could possibly live through losing them. She didn't even have time to mourn the thought of losing Ron. He rarely stayed around anymore once she was home.

Around the twentieth of December, Ron mentioned that Harry and Ginny were hoping they would all come Christmas Eve.

"Are you alright with that?" Ron asked.

"Yes," Hermione answered. "I want to take the kids to my parents on Christmas Day, though."

"Okay," Ron said easily.

Hermione spent hours wondering if there was an angle to letting them go on a holiday so easily.

On the morning of the twenty-fourth, Hermione helped Rose and Hugo wrap their presents for the cousins and Ron, and was braiding Rose's hair when Ron came through the door.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Almost," Hermione shouted. She had hoped to have everything together. Hermione had been trying her best to not rely on Ron to help with anything. But then he was here and things needed to be done. "Can you help Hugo get changed?"

She heard Ron on the staircase and turned back to Rose's hair.

"When I'm done here, you need to pack an overnight bag," Hermione said.

"Are we staying at Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry's?" Rose asked.

"No, we're going to Grandma and Grandpa Granger's."

"Will Daddy come with?" Rose asked.

"Not this time," Hermione replied.

"Then I want to go with Daddy," Rose said.

Hermione tied off the bottom of the braid, making herself take a few deep breaths before talking to Rose. "Not tonight, sweetheart," she said. "Grandma and Grandpa are going to be so happy to see you."

Even to Hermione, her own voice sounded tight, but she hadn't yelled. She hadn't snapped. Rose didn't argue back as Hermione pulled out her suitcase and left her to finish.

Hermione went down the stairs to pack her own overnight bag and finish getting ready. She was just putting on earrings when she went into the kitchen, where Ron stood by a brewing pot of coffee.

"Is Hugo ready then?" she asked. She turned to him and Ron didn't answer. His jaw was clenched and he was focused on her. "What?"

Ron raised a business card between his two fingers. Carlyle Neubaur's business card. Hermione swallowed and raised her chin, her mind reeling through excuses as to why she would have that.

"When were you going to tell me?" Ron asked, his voice low. Hermione looked towards the kitchen door, then back at Ron.

"When there was something to tell," Hermione said. The truth, she decided, the truth was the best way to approach this. "Lana gave it to me. I haven't called and wasn't planning on it."

"But you kept it," Ron said, moving closer to her.

"Now you get to say which business cards I'm allowed to keep?" Hermione snapped. Any patience she had practiced with Rose was gone.

"Why would you unless you were planning to use it?" Ron asked. "Merlin, Hermione! You won't even talk to me! I've been doing everything to be here and be present and you've just been planning to end things all along?!"

"I have not!" Hermione said. She cleared her throat, lowering her voice. "And present? You're the one who left, Ron. You're the one who walked out."

"To avoid saying anything else we would both regret."

"And so you'd have a cozy little bachelor pad to carry on with other women," Hermione said. Her cheeks warmed, but she felt satisfied at finally having out with it. The way he had been so tender, even in front of her and Rose, with Miss Ford had messed up Hermione for days. It was hard to say whether the backlash from the article or that moment had been more difficult for her.

But here Ron stood, blinking at her.

"Other women?" Ron asked.

"Don't do that," Hermione said. "At least don't lie to me about it! I saw you!"

Ron shook his head back and forth. "Have you gone mental?"

Hermione scoffed, turning towards the refrigerator.

"No really," Ron said. "Have you completely lost it? Other women? Who did you see me with?"

"You tell me, Ron," Hermione said. "I think that after ten years of marriage you could at least do me that favor."

Ron stood, mouth agape and speechless. He opened his mouth when Hugo walked into the door. He closed it and moved to zip up Hugo's backpack and adjust a pile of toys in his hands.

"You can only take a few of these," Ron told him. "Lily will have plenty to play with."

The argument ended as Ron stood with Hugo at the hearth, taking the floo to Harry and Ginny's.

"I want to go through on my own," Rose said. Hermione nodded, letting her take a handful of powder.

Hermione seriously considered staying behind and picking Rose and Hugo up later. Instead, she took her own handful of powder and threw it in, following behind Rose and landing to a flurry of happy sounds that did not match her mood after the argument with Ron.

Ginny came up and gave her a tight hug. Her smile faded as she pulled back.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.

Hermione pushed back the tears threatening the family gathering, shaking her head side to side.

"Harry," Ginny said. "Why don't you and Ron take the kids to the hilltop to go sledding?"

"Yeah! Let's go!" James shouted enthusiastically.

Everyone ran around, finding coats and gloves as Harry pulled out a few sleds, fixing them up with a few waves of his wand. Ron had Hugo on his shoulders and Rose holding his hand as Ginny stepped over with a black and grey scarf, pulling it around Harry's neck.

"I'll get lunch ready," Ginny said, standing on her toes to kiss him.

Hermione looked away, not wanting her own bitter thoughts to wander where they were already headed. Harry wrangled his three and they were shouting down the yard and to the street, turning left just outside the gate.

"Teddy and Andromeda are coming in a couple hours," Ginny said, bustling around for mugs of hot apple cider, setting one in front of Hermione. "Now, what's going on?"

Hermione just shook her head again. "I can't," she choked out. "It's Christmas and I just can't."

Ginny put a hand over hers, nodding kindly and sitting there as Hermione covered her face and cried. The cider was cold before Hermione gathered herself.

"I just have to be here for the kids," Hermione said. "I just can't let things get to me."

"Well, when you're ready to chat," Ginny said. "You sure you can be here with Ron, too?"

So it hadn't been lost on Ginny. Not that Hermione had expected it to be. Hermione nodded. "I can."


Ron caught Albus as he went flying from Harry's spell. He grunted, taking the hit. Albus laughed and ran off to get in line at the top of the hill again. Over and over for the better part of an hour they played with their children. When they finally called it quits and started heading back, the kids all ran ahead and Harry lagged behind with Ron, carrying the three sleds between the two of them.

"So, what happened now?" Harry asked.

Ron knew it had been obvious. He hadn't ever been good at masking his own anger.

"She's talking to a divorce lawyer," Ron said.

"What? Since when?"

"Well, she said she hasn't actually called," Ron replied. "But she started on me about my flat being some place to bring women."

Harry stopped. "Why would she think that?"

"Search me," Ron said. "She hasn't talked to me and now…"

"Don't give up," Harry replied.

"Can you see any reason not to?" Ron asked. He turned to face Harry. "Really, Harry, can you? You keep telling me not to give up, but she doesn't seem to care if I'm around or not. Not really."

"You know that's not true," Harry said. "You know she's glad you're around for the kids—"

"Yeah, but not for her," Ron said. "I feel like the sign is on the wall."

Harry looked uncertain, but Ron couldn't find a way around it. Especially if Hermione was now fabricating some sort of affair to which he apparently wasn't privy to.

"At least if I was seeing other women, I'd have a bit of company," Ron scoffed, turning back and walking down the hill. The kids were all well ahead of them now.

"You don't mean that," Harry said.

"No, I don't," Ron replied.

When they got back, Hermione was stiff towards him, but pleasant enough for the children. They continued with holiday activities—decorating the tree, making cookies, dancing around to the wireless. Albus, Rose, and James went wild when Teddy showed up and Albus challenged Ron to a game of chess.

After a nice dinner, Ginny suggested they open presents that night, since Hermione and their children would be leaving. Rose and Hugo had gotten Ron picture frames, having drawn in each. Ron enjoyed watching them open their own gifts; a journal for Rose and several Weasley Wizard Wheezes products that Hugo had been drooling over and Ron hadn't allowed him to get yet.

Then Hermione was opening Rose's gift to her. Ron's mood took a downturn. He watched, biting the insides of his cheeks as she pulled off the paper and stopped, her brows knit before she started again.

"What is this?" Hermione asked.

"Daddy helped me!" Rose declared.

She stood up and opened the cover. It was familiar and neglected. Perhaps an apt way to describe their marriage.

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"The book Ron made when he proposed," Hermione said, her voice strained and soft. Rose continued to turn pages for her.

"I wrote more!" Rose said. "I wrote about when I was born and Hugo and everything we do together and everything!"

"I helped with some pictures," Hugo said.

Rose had brought the idea to Ron after finding the book a while before. She had diligently written, asking Ron questions and writing it in her own six-year-old way. He helped her attach them in with the old portion of the book. Helped her wrap it. Hermione's eyes were glazed with tears and Ron thought that perhaps for the first time in a while, it might be for a good reason.

"Thank you, love," Hermione said. "I love it."

She reached out, pulling Rose into a hug, the book pushed on her lap between them. She gave a side glance to Ron, but there was no other recognition to his part. Not a smile, not a word.


A/N: Just a couple things here today! First, I want to say a word in defense of Hermione (and people going through these kinds of situations) before anyone reviews. Her reaction to what Lana says and new concern about custody is one I've seen played out by dear friends. I've seen their ex-spouses try and use really terrible things against them (often unfounded or twisted) and I've seen that fear develop in the most irrational ways. I have a friend who is worried that by having her ex or his new wife watch her daughter when she doesn't have someone else to do so (when she's working for instance) that they might someday use that to limit my friend's time with her daughter. I think most caring parents get a little crazy when presented with the possibility of losing their child in any way.

Second, I do reply to people who are logged in, but I have a couple reviewers (regular ones) who have PM turned off. I wanted to reply to one of these replies because they had a couple good questions that I did indeed consider and think it might be a good thing to answer in general. Question 1: why was Hermione glad Ron was quitting?

Hermione was mad at first because it was out of left field (he hadn't mentioned the offer even) and she thought that this was some sort of dismantling of Ron's own life. Regardless of whether or not she can provide financially, they're a 2 income household and one of those going away would significantly change things. Ron's the one that cares about the money in a larger fashion (he's the one that keeps mentioning that in the meetings and in these moments). Hermione becomes happy when he says this because it's an opportunity for him and it's a good one. She's shocked, but immediately realizes this will make him happy. (So yay! Hermione's not a complete bitch!) From a writing perspective, she would have been just as happy about it had he told her first, but it gave me the chance to give her something she could throw back at him instead of addressing any real issues.

Second question was whether the people would recognize Ron or why they didn't seem to. First, I have a theory about the chocolate frog cards that perhaps the more popular current wizards are easier to find. I had in my head that there's probably one or two guys in the crowd that know who he is or whose kids have his card, but he also hasn't done anything noteworthy or significant since. I think his personal life has been fairly protected from this as well and that very few people bother to dig into Hermione on that level either. Hermione, on the other hand, would have recently been in the news for her legislation, her promotion, and the remarkably young age at being invited to the Wizengamot. Even then, I think there are a couple people that heard she was in that and just thought "is he married to someone older" whereas the man who asked if it was Hermione he was married to actually follows politics.

Hope that clears a couple things up at the very least! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!