Thanks for reading and reviewing! It's greatly appreciated! Here's the next chapter:
Ron woke up to the smell of sausage looming in the air, which made him get up quicker than normal. It took just a second for it to all come flooding back. The war. But it was over right? Everything would be fine. He got out of bed, put on his robe, and headed downstairs. A big wave a relief came over him when he stepped down into the kitchen and saw Ginny, Harry, and of course Hermione. Knowing all of them were safe made his world a little better.
"Ron! There you are!" Hermione squealed running up and hugging him. Having his arms around her made him never want to let go. He smiled.
"Morning…just smelled something good, and it helped me get down here quicker."
"Oh that would be the reason." Ginny giggled filling four plates with sausage and toast.
"Hey, that should make you feel good, it means your food smells bloody delicious haha."
"Alright you two, shall we eat then?" Harry pushed.
"Right." He pulled the chair out next to his. "Here you are Hermione." And pushed her chair in.
"Thank you Ron." They exchanged smiles, looking at each other for which seemed like hours.
Llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
The four friends had a quiet but conversation filled breakfast. They were all still getting used to it.
"So when do you expect the ministry will call us out there?" Ron asked, finishing his sausage. "I mean…I figure we'll have to do something, or at least help them."
"Yeah I don't doubt it. But I feel like they're giving everyone they can a few days. You know?"
"I think that's good though." Hermione added. "Everyone needs a rest before…well everything that eventually has to come along with all this."
"I guess that would be the worst thing to do. Rush everything." Ginny agreed.
Just then, they heard someone else coming down the stairs.
"Mom! There you are!" Ginny got up and walked over to Mrs. Weasley, hugging her. "Here, come sit. We've made breakfast. I'll get you some tea."
"Oh, thank you dear. I'll just take the tea back up to my room. I'm still a bit tired, but I wanted to come check up on all of you." She turned her attention to Ron, Hermione, and Harry, giving them all deep hugs. "How are you three?" They all shook their heads and smiled, when Ginny came over and handed her the steaming cup of tea. "That's so good to hear. I just love all of you, and I'm so glad you're safe. I'll be going back to sleep now." She smiled to them and headed towards her room.
"Um…mom." Ron started. "Where's Dad, Bill, and Percy?"
"Oh, they had to go into the ministry early. So really, they weren't home that long."
"Is there something we need to do?" Harry jumped in.
"Absolutely not. You four stay here and rest. Okay? I don't you all running off again."
"As long as you're sure." Ginny said, sounding a tad bit disappointed.
Lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
The four friends ended breakfast and began cleaning up. Hermione and Ginny washed dishes while Ron and Harry dried. They did it all without magic, not really knowing why. Time seemed to go by quicker that way.
"I understand what everyone is going on about, but I really wish we didn't have to just sit here. I hate doing that even when nothing is happening." Ginny began, passing a plate to Hermione.
"It's true, but I just don't want to upset Mum. She needs us here too. She didn't look to well this morning did she?" Ron added.
"Ron's right. She's stayed so strong through this, I think it's time we give her a break and just be here. Since your Dad will probably be really busy the next few days." Harry told them.
CRASH
Hermione dropped a plate on the hardwood floor. Everyone in the room jumped.
"Blimey, Hermione!" Ginny gasped, holding her heart.
Hermione pulled her wand out within a second and had it cleaned up. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to…I'll replace it…it's just I…" Ron went over and held her shoulders.
"Hey! Hermione…haha calm down. It's just a plate, okay? Alright?" He was looking deep in her eyes. Something else was bothering her. "Wait…what else it wrong?" She couldn't look at him. "Hermione…"
"I have to tell you three something. I just don't know how you're going to take it." She walked back over to the table and sat down. Along with the rest of them. Worry was on all of their faces.
"Well, what is it?" Harry asked her.
"I don't know if you all are going to like what I have to say. We've been talking so much about how we all need to stick together in these important times, and really what I want to do is the opposite. It makes me feel even worse about wanting this."
Ron was more confused than ever. He took a deep breath. This didn't sound promising. "Whatever it is, Hermione we are here for you one hundred percent."
Ginny held her hand. "Ron's right. Just tell us."
"I…I want to…no. I have to go find my parents in Australia."
"Sorry?" the three others said.
"I know you all may not get it, but I haven't seen them in over a year now. With all this talk about being together, staying with family and all that. It made me realize how I really need to be there for mine. They still have obliviated memories and I want to go try and put them right. I need them." Tears began to fall, not any sooner did all three of her friends come up and hug her tightly.
"Hermione…are you sure?" Ginny asked carefully, as they all broke their hug.
"I've never been more sure."
"It seems there's no changing your mind, although I think we all know we can't argue with you." Ron laughed weakly.
"Thank you all for understanding. I didn't mean to bring this on you so suddenly, but it's the only time I could get a portkey within the next few days so I could be back in time for all the…well you know."
"We understand." Harry said, comforting her. "I'm sure any of us would do what you're doing. I know I would. So when do you leave?"
"At noon."
Ron coughed uncomfortably. "Noon? Like in a couple hours, noon?"
Hermione looked at him sadly. "Yes. A couple of hours. I set up with Kingsley for my portkey to be just out in the yard beyond that hill."
"Well, you'd better go get packed then. Don't want to keep your parents waiting. I'm sure they'll be ecstatic when you bring them back." Harry said, with a grin.
"Thank you all so much." Hermione smiled weakly, and went upstairs to get ready.
Llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"Well, I wasn't expecting that so soon." Ginny said.
"Me neither, but she was right. It would be better for her to go now rather than later."
"But do you think she'll find them and well, fix them?" Ginny asked him nervously.
"With her, I have no doubt." Harry noticed Ron across the kitchen. He hadn't moved since Hermione had gone upstairs. "Ron? Ron, is everything alright mate?"
Ron shook his head, as if he were in some kind of daze. "Fine…I just need some air." He walked quickly out the door to the back yard.
"Give him some time." Ginny said to Harry.
LLlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Ron couldn't believe it. Hermione, leaving? It wasn't a big deal before but now times were different. Not only now was he most concerned with her safety but they were kind of…together weren't they? That's it, he had to go tell her what was on his mind. He came back in and marched straight up to Ginny's room.
He got to the half opened door and knocked gently. "Hermione…Hermione, can we talk?" then he swore he heard crying. "Hermione? Hey, hey what's wrong?" She was sitting on the floor by her suitcase, face covered in tears. He sat down next to her quickly and wrapped his arms around her. "Shh…shhh. Hermione come on, what's wrong?" He stroked her hair, trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry Ron… about all of this. I feel so guilty leaving at such a time. With all of the funerals and everything, but I swear I think I can make it back in time. When you three were talking this morning about being here for everyone, I felt so conflicted about my decision. But I need to be there for my family too, right?"
"Hermione, don't you dare feel bad about this, you understand? They're your parents. Of course you should go find them. Don't worry about things here okay? You'll be back before you know it. Just imagine how happy you'll be when you have your parents back."
Hermione's tears began to fall again. "That's another thing that scares me. Ron, what if I can't bring their memories back? It's never guaranteed, and when I obliviated them I was just focused on keeping them safe. I honestly never thought we'd survive."
Ron placed his hands on Hermione's cheeks and focused her eyes on his. "You listen to me. There's a reason you are called the brightest witch of her age. There's a reason you were able to help find horcruxes, and there's a reason you were able to help defeat Voldemort. It's because you are one of the greatest witches who ever lived Hermione Granger, and I'm not just saying that. It's one hundred percent true. So, there's no doubt in my mind you will find your parents, AND restore their memories perfectly. Because you're amazing. You just have to believe in yourself. And don't you worry, Harry, Ginny, and I will be right here for you when you get back."
She looked at him, his hands still on the sides of her face. "Ron…"
"Yeah?"
"I don't want to you to be here when I get back." Ron was stunned.
"W…what?"
"I don't want you here when I come back, because I don't want to go alone… I want you to go with me, and be there the whole time." She looked at him, and he looked at her, still trying to process what he had just heard.
"You…you want me to go with you? But, why?"
And in that moment, Hermione pushed her lips on his, shocking Ron at first, but then they melted into each other. The kiss deepened, both of them feeling safe and warm.
They broke free and rested their foreheads on the other's.
"Because I love you, Ron Weasley. I want to be with you always."
"I love you so much, Hermione. I'll never let anything happen to you.