Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Updated 1/19/2021

Chapter Four

Second First Date

She was nervous. She had to admit it. Today, she was going on her first date in over five years, and it was with Ron no less. She had been dreaming of going out with Ron again for years, but that didn't prevent her from being nervous (if anything it made her more nervous). Sure, it was true that she had seen Ron a lot in the last week and a half, and had lunch with him almost every day that week, but Harry had been there too and it took the edge off. Today was going to be the first real date with Ron and she was terrified.

After their evening at the Burrow, Ron had asked her when she would have some free time. In all honesty she really didn't have any free time, she was busier than ever after the attack on the Ministry (as was Ron), but she knew that the longer she put this off the more worried she would get, and her nerves were already killing her. She told him that she would take the next Friday off and that he should do the same (it made it easier that she was the head of her department and that Ron's boss was Harry).

Arthur had gone back to school the Sunday after the party (which had been the next day) looking happier then she remembered seeing him in a long time (especially this last visit he was really upset). Before he left he said, 'You know Mum, this was one of the craziest week of my life, but I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in Gringotts.' He paused and grinned at her (he looked just like his father). 'I like him … I wish he was here more, it's nice knowing him. I wasn't prepared to like him, but I do.' He gripped her face and looked into her eyes, 'I want you to be happy, you have taken care of me for so long and I have never seen you as happy as you are now. I love you, Mum,' then he hugged her and left.

This meant a lot to her, to hear Arthur say all those things about Ron. She knew how much he struggled with his feeling about his father, and it was good to hear all of this. She hadn't realized until Arthur told her, how much she needed to hear that he was okay with Ron, truly okay with him and not just saying it to make her happy. His happiness has been so important to her; he was all she really had for all these years.

It was weird, the Ministry had been so hectic, chaotic, but she was actually really happy. She was never one to go to lunch, she was really too busy to spend time eating. And if it weren't for Harry, who made her eat lunch with him every Monday, she probably would never have left her office. But now she went down to have lunch with Ron and Harry everyday this week and she felt so much better, almost like she could do anything. Everyone in her office has been telling her how different she has been this last week, how happy she seemed.

She had been looking forward to today since the first time she saw him and it was making her quite crazy. It was starting to feel like the first date that she had with him all those years ago. The same fear of how they would relate with each other … to their new situation. Worrying that somehow they won't be able to connect the way they once did, but somehow, deep down inside, knowing that there was no need to worry, that they were meant to be.

They had decided to meet at the same Italian restaurant that they had their first date at, at 2:30pm. She had put on a simple sundress and left her hair down (since she knows how much he loves her hair). She got there ten minutes early and was surprised to see that he was already there. He was wearing some nice black slacks and cobalt blue button down shirt.

When he saw her, a huge grin was plastered on his face (she could tell that he was just as nervous as she was and that helped; a little) and couldn't help but grin back at him. "You look amazing," he said hugging her. "Simply amazing."

"You're not so bad yourself," she said hugging him back. "We should get in the restaurant now or we might not make it."

"Would that be so bad," he said raising his eyebrow.

"Yes," she said and took his hand and led him into the restaurant. They were seated a few minutes later.

"I'm nervous," he said after a few minutes of silence, "I think I'm more nervous about this, Mione, than I have been about anything else."

She smiled; she felt the same way. "Why?" She knew why she was nervous but she wanted to hear if he felt the same way.

"Because as long as I can remember you have meant happiness to me, when we're together I'm happy and today," he said looking very uncertain, seeming to grow more nervous with every word. "Today …"

"Is the day we see if we still fit." she said finishing his sentence and grabbing his hand that was on the table.

He smiled; a lot of the tension that had been building up the last few minutes seemed to disappear. "Couldn't have say it better myself."

The waiter came at that moment and they got their drinks. The next couple of hours they spent laughing and talking about all kinds of things. After the first ten minutes of tension was dealt with they were able to open up freely and discuss anything. He made her laugh, she hadn't laugh in so many years she had forgotten how good it felt. That wasn't all that he made her feel though. From the moment she saw him today (actually from the moment she woke up in his arms at the Ministry) she had an uncontrollable need for him. He was so incredibly handsome, with his fiery red locks and cobalt blue eyes that she found it hard to concentrate. The need to be with him was getting so strong now that she blurted out, "Would you like to come to my flat for some coffee." He grinned and nodded. This need that she had for him was not just of the physical level, she wanted to connect with him, completely connect with him and she needed that now.

They paid the bill and she grabbed his hand (only she could get into her flat through Apparation, she had put a heavily security on her house that is nearly impossible to break). When they got into the flat he looked around at some of the pictures. Then walked into the kitchen and said, "I make a pretty lean cup of coffee if I do say so myself."

She smiled and followed him; she had thought that she had made herself clear but she supposed she was using a Muggle come on (after all, it was from all the Muggle movies she watched where she got the line from), and it was different for wizards. "Ron, I'm not thirsty."

"But," he said turning around, "you …"

He couldn't get another word out because as soon as they faced each other she kissed him … kissed him so passionately that he nearly collapsed. It wasn't like the kiss they shared a few days ago at the Burrow, that was sweat and longing, no this was like their first kiss, intense and filled with all of the pent up passions they had felt for each other, he had even risen her off her feet. "Wow," he said with a grin after they finally pulled apart. "So that's what you meant when you said coffee?"

She grinned back slyly, "No," and pulled him closer, "that was just the appetizer." Then she kissed him once again. They were still in the kitchen for what seemed like hours, getting lost in the sensations that they have long forgotten but where quickly remembering. Things soon started to heat up and Hermione found herself being pressed up against a wall with her feet wrapped around Ron's waist. She pulled away and said, "Wait."

He was so caught up in the moment, with his right hand on her bum and his left on her breast (over her dress), that it was hard for him to stop. When he did he stepped back, she slipped off of him, and he said, "I'm sorry, I don't … I mean …"

She put her figure on his lips and said, "Shh … it's not that …" She grabbed his hand and started to walk towards the stairs, "I just wanted to go somewhere … more comfortable." She said looking at him, biting her bottom lip and giving him what she hoped was a sexy stare.

It must have been, because the next moment she knew she was being lifted up and carried to her room, giggling all the way. Time seem to have no presence in the room. Sometimes it felt like one moment seemed to last an entirety and then the next there seemed to be a lapse and they didn't know how they got to be where they were.

That is how they found themselves in her bed about do the thing they been thinking about for years. He looked at her and asked, "Are you sure, we can …"

"Shh …" she said looking straight into his deep blue eyes, so full of love and lust, "I'm sure." She was sure, she had been waiting this for so long, and she was going to make this work. He lowered his head and started kissing her and making his way to her neck, but she stopped him. She placed both her hands on his face cupping his checks and before he could question her, she said, "Look at me … Just look at me." His confused look turned into a small grin and he kept his eyes on her. Staring straight into hers. "I love you," she said.

"I love you," he said.

Then there was the connection that she so greatly craved, the walls seem to disappear … the world seems to disappear. All there was, was him, in his eyes she saw everything, all his emotions, all his hopes, all his fears. She could see his very soul and she knew that he could see hers. Then it went even beyond this. It wasn't like looking into his soul, it was like their souls were merging, that in all sense they were one being. After what seemed like hours, she felt like all kinds of magic, raw magic came bursting from her (and him too). They never broke eye context, they didn't want to lose the connection they had just attain; she just laid there on his chest with him stroking her hair.

"That," he said, finally speaking an hour later. "That was …"

"Unbelievable," she said smiling.

"Yeah," he said pulling her closer to him. "I remember the last time … this was more … intense … wait that's not the word …it was …"

"Yeah," she said smiling in his chest. "Intense …" She then turned and leaned against his chest. "I'm sorry, I just want to feel this again … this connection with you. The last time … it was so incredible … I just needed to feel this again."

"Do you hear me complaining?" he said with his playful grin.

"Well no," she said biting her bottom lip, and then grinned too. "Next time I'll make sure it more … playful … pleasurable …"

"Mione," he said, he looked concern, he could see through her attempts to make light of what just happened. How much it had meant to her, she was afraid he didn't feel the same. "Never apologize for that again. I love feeling that connected to you. It means more to me than anything else. I was there too you know." he said rubbing her check that had started to tear up but she was smiling sweetly at him.

"I know," she smiled; of course he was, or it wouldn't have been so special. Then she smiled slyly at him and said, "For that, I think you should get something."

"Oh," he said raising his eyebrow, grinning.

"Yeah," she said. "You know it wasn't only the connection I've missed. There are other things that I would like to do to you." She whispered in his ear and biting the lobe.

O

"Wow" he said sometime later. "I can't believe … that was bloody brilliant."

"I'd say," she said with a satisfied grin still plastered on her face.

"Man when you … and that … Wow," he said again pulling her close to him; he could feel the grin she had against his chest.

"I suppose I just remembered what you like then added some," she said in her mater-or-fact tone that was ruined by her sexy smile.

"Added some," he said grinning. "I'd say … but how … hmmm … I mean …" The grin sliding a little as he thought of ways that she could 'learn' the 'added some'; it made him sick thinking about her with someone else.

"I've wanted to do that since right before we broke up," she said noticing his smile fade. "But no more on that. Now you have to tell me about … about the other … people (she couldn't bring herself to say girls or women) you dated."

"What?" he said going a little red and felt more than a little scared.

"Ron," she said nervously. "Whatever happened in the past happened, whatever it was won't change anything between us. I just think I should know. I want to know everything that happened to you." She really did have to know, these last few days she has been worrying over this and if she didn't have answers soon she was going to burst. Not to mention the sooner she knew the sooner she could put this behind her (and the same for him).

Ron paused, he knew that he was going to have to have this conversation, but he didn't except to do it like this, lying in bed with her wrapped in his arms. He wasn't that worried about her reaction to what happened in his past, but he was terrified to hear what she had done. He knows that he can be insanely jealous and he didn't want that. "Mione … are you sure?"

"Ron, I'm worried too …" she said, seeming to read his mind. "Terrified really, but we need this … I need to know."

"Okay," he said, the mood in the room seems to be really tense. He couldn't take it. "But why do I have to go first?"

"Oh," she said leaning up and staring into his eyes. "Remember a few moments ago." He nodded. "That means you go first."

"I thought it was a reward," he said grinning.

"Nope," she grinned evilly. "That was so you would go first."

"That's not fair," he said. "I wasn't aware of this, perhaps I would …"

"Nope," she said and kissed him soundly on the lips. "That doesn't make a difference."

"Perhaps I need a little more incentive," he said kissing her passionately.

After a while she broke away from him, "Not that I'm not enjoying this …" she said biting her lips and backing away from him, "But I think we really should get to it."

"Yeah, okay," he said as he let his head cool down and she readjusted herself into his chest with his arms wrapped around her. "Alright, I guess I'll start with Scarlet."

"Scarlet?"

"Yeah," he answered defensively.

"You and colors …" she smirked.

"Oh shut up," he laughed. "Anyways, it was about a year after you went to France with Arthur for your job …"

"On your request!" she said with a little anger. She remembered that he had conveniently forgotten to tell his family that he practically demanded (well not really but he was very convincing) that she go to fulfill her dream job.

"Yeah," he said nervously, "I'm sorry about that, I swear I thought I told them."

"Hmph," she said. "Thankfully, Harry told Gin, or maybe they would never have known, and maybe Arthur would never have known any of his family." It was true, at the time Harry was over protective of Hermione (and Arthur) and would refuse to let Ginny come over, as long a Ginny was still angry. After the breakup Ginny was the only Weasley that truly didn't take sides (oh all the Weasley still care for Hermione and would be there for her in a heartbeat but Ron was their real family and he came first). But Ginny was also the only one that was close to them both, close enough to see the problems building before the breakup, she was after all Hermione best (girl) friend and confidant. Though, it was true that when Ginny had seen Ron after the breakup she wanted to curse Hermione to oblivion for making her brother that miserable (she had never seen him look that bad, not even when Fred died) that was until she saw Hermione, and she was just as broken.

Ginny was there for Hermione during the pregnancy, though not as much as Harry was (since Harry and Hermione now considered themselves to be siblings). She was a real friend until Hermione, two month after Arthur was born, took a job in France and left. She was so angry with Hermione that, she would take Arthur away for his family (especially since she only gave them a week's notices) and not even care that it made the difficult situation that they were in that much harder. So Ginny seethed for months, and Harry refused to let her near Hermione, saying that she couldn't take the extra strain of having one of her best friends hate her on top of raising a child on her own, so there was no way that Ginny could go there. This put some strain on Harry and Ginny's relationship, but lucky Ginny understood Harry protectiveness for his family and loved him all the more for it.

Finally, the night before Arthur's first birthday, Ginny's need to see her nephew was so great she tried to convince Harry to let her go visit with him. One thing lead to another and the story of Ron convincing Hermione to take the job, because if she didn't she might end up resenting it (resenting Arthur) in the future. Ginny was horrified; she had been forcing herself to hate Hermione because Ginny thought that she put her career above family. Suffice to say Ginny went to Arthur's birthday party and within ten minutes of her reunion with Hermione they were both crying and hugging each other and able to salvage their friendship.

The worst part of coming back to the Burrow the next Sunday, (for Ginny at least) was that she didn't even get to bust Ron's balls for not telling the family about the circumstances of Hermione's departure, because he picked that weekend of all weekends to tell the truth. Though, it was quite obvious by his shock face that he had no clue that his family had no idea that he had told Hermione to leave, 'I told you, I must of,' is all he keep saying. Ginny was still angry that her chance to get even with Ron for his lack of information was ruined and all she could torture him with was the fact that she had seen his son and he didn't. However, this was not really torture for him (well not as much as Ginny would have liked anyways), since he was just so happy that someone from his family (other than Harry who he really did think of as a brother) had seen his son. Though he really wished it was him, he was still happy that Arthur would know one of his family members (besides he liked seeing all the pictures that Ginny had brought of Arthur).

"Mione," he said softly.

"It's okay," she said softly. "It's okay now, just go on."

"Okay so a few months after you left, George started dragging me to pubs. Thank god he found Angelina after the first week and he left me alone, but on the last day I meant Scarlet. She was nice enough, and we got on well, but there wasn't really any emotional connection, it was mostly physical." At this point she tensed up, she knew that she had no claim over him during those years, but she still didn't like to hear this. He squeezed her closer to him, "not that physical, not that she didn't want to, I just … I don't know, it reminded me of my relationship with Lavender … I felt like I would be cheating on you or something, and there was no real connection, she was just …"

"Okay I get it," she said annoyed but she was also smiling. "So how long did you date her?"

"About six months," he said and she raised her eyebrow. "I know, but you know I'm rubbish at breaking up with someone, beside I only saw her about once a week, since I was working a lot. It sort of crumbled apart and I haven't seen her since."

"It crumbled apart?" Hermione questioned.

"Yeah," Ron said.

"Why?"

"Um … she was tired of waiting for me to take it to the next level and take her more seriously," Ron said. "Though, truth be told, I don't think that she was really that into me."

"Why not?" Hermione asked heatedly.

"I think she was more interest in dating 'Ron Weasley' the war hero than she was in dating me," Ron smiled (he was both upset and pleased by that).

"That's horrible," Hermione said.

"Yeah well, after the breakup I didn't really go out anywhere for about a year …"

"It took you a year to get over that?" she asked.

"Of course not," he said perturbed by the interruption. "It was you, it's always you. I was trying to get over you …" he leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head.

"Are you nervous about something?" she said softly.

"Well, the next girl, Sarah, meant more to me," he said. "She was a Muggle …"

"You went out with a Muggle …!" she asked. "Your father's fondness for them rubbing off on you, huh?"

"I guess," he laughed. "Anyways, I meet her at this place in town, in Ottery St. Catchpole, there were all these people playing chess."

"Chess!?" she laughed. "Only you could meet a girl playing chess."

"Well it's better than the pub," he said defensively. "At least I knew we had one thing in common. Anyways I didn't go there to meet girls; I just met a girl there. So I was playing there for about a month and usually I would play Sarah because she was the only one there that was my age, and she was pretty damn good too. I found myself looking forward to our next chess match every week and, to my surprise, I was looking forward to see her. She was smart, bright, friendly, but not a pushover, serious but likes to laugh and can be funny on occasion. She had dark waver hair and brown eyes …"

"Okay, okay I get it," she said sharply, she didn't like the sound of affection in his voice; it was obvious that he liked her.

"Don't worry, love," he said smiling, knowing that she really didn't get what he was talking about. "We only went out for six month and were only happy for three."

"What happened?" she asked.

"Well," he said shifting slightly. "We just played chess for about two months, until I asked her out. We got on really well and we took things really slow. I just liked spending time with her, away from all the complicated matters in my life. I would see her about two or three times a week, have dinner or meet for lunch and of course play chess (though not every time we met).

"Then it happened, things started to get more um … heated … when it hit me like a Bludger to the head. I realized how much she looked like you. I was snogging her and I was thinking this isn't right, and I pulled away and realized it wasn't you. It was a horrible realization. She was really a wonderful person, but she looked a lot like you, not exactly of course, but enough. That wasn't all, her characteristic were like you too. I mean she was smart; she spent most of her free time reading and so many other things too.

"Well, suffices to say, I backed away from her, it wasn't right to put my feeling about you on her, it wasn't fair to her. I tried; I really tried to find things that were different about her, something that I could like for just her. Don't get me wrong, in many ways she was different then you, and some of them I like, but the things that had really drawn me to her were the things, the little things really, that reminded me of you, and I couldn't separate them from my feeling for her.

"I broke up with her, it was terrible, it was ugly, and she cried, I hated making her cry. I knew that she would take it hard, things were shaky for a while, but she still had no idea it was coming or the reason. She tried to convince me that it would be okay, that she could wait until I came around, and to be honest part of me wanted to stay. I knew that I would be terribly depressed once this was over and done with and part of me wanted to take the easy way out and stay with her. But I couldn't, it wouldn't be fair, to either of us, but mostly to her (and I cared about her too much to do that to her). I couldn't keep going out with her when I was in love with another woman; I couldn't stop her from finding a guy that would treat her like she deserves. Besides, pretending to be a Muggle was really difficult and you know how lazy I am."

"Ron," she said hitting him playfully in the chest. She didn't know how she felt about this relationship of Ron's. It was obvious that he had feelings for this other woman, more than the ones that he was pushing onto her, and it was also obvious he still care for her.

"You know," he said after a long silence, "If it wasn't for you I probably would have been happy with her." He said seriously but then grinned, "Or we never would have gone out in the first place." He was hit again for that. "It was a long time after the breakup before I saw her again …"

"You still see her?" she sat up and looked into his eyes shocked.

"Yeah," he said both nervously and briskly. "We play chess every once in a while. Don't look at me like that; she's a friend and nothing more. Besides she happily married now and has two beautiful kids, so she's long over her feelings for me."

"Okay," she said sinking back into his arms. "I feel better now."

"Oh," he said, "guess who she …"

"Whom," she corrected him.

He grinned beside himself, he hated her always corrected him, but right now it really made him happy. "Whatever. Guess who (she smacked him in the chest and he laughed) she's married to. Terry Boot, you know the guy …"

"Yes," she said. "I remember Terry, so she married a wizard after all."

"Yep," he said. "And it's great, now we get to play wizard chess, and it's much more interesting, but we still play normal chess once in awhile 'cause she loses too often when we only play the wizard way."

"Terry doesn't mind that you spend all this time with his wife," she asked unable to stop herself. "I mean it sounds like you two are still quite … close."

"Yeah," he said, he was starting to get nervous, he really enjoyed playing chess with Sarah, but if Hermione didn't want him to he would give it up in a heartbeat. "Well, he wasn't too keen on the idea at first, but he didn't seem to care after he found out why we broke up. He said that he seen me enough around you during school to know where my heart laid and left us alone after that."

There was silence in the room for a while and they were both afraid to talk until he said, "Look Mione, by the time that I saw her again four years had passed and I had realized that you were the only person for me, that no one else would work. I mean, I always knew that, you were always it for me, but now I knew for sure that in a million years I would never find someone that would make me feel one tenth of what you make me feel."

She kissed him at this point, she couldn't help it, he looked so intense with his little speech, his eyes all fiery and cheeks starting to go red. It also helped that what he was saying seemed to go straight to her heart, lifting all the doubt that she ever had and making her happier then she was already feeling.

"Wow," he said eventually pulling away from her. "I love it when you kiss me like that." He grinned at her, and then said more seriously. "But there's a little more I should say, before we move on." She nodded. "Well, after Sarah, I stayed in for about six months, but couldn't stand the depressive state that I was in so I started going to pubs again."

"I thought you said pubs weren't really for you," she said then began to ramble. "Well, you didn't actually say that you said meeting someone playing chess was better … what are you laughing at?"

"You of course," he said kissing her noise. "You're so cute when you ramble. Anyways, yeah, I don't really like pubs and I didn't really find anything that I was looking for. I went with some girls but always stop when thing got too physical, it wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted to connect with someone, but they just seem to be looking for a quick shag and then move on to the next bloke. It was in a derange pub, with one of the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen that everything fell into place. She was hot and she wanted me (mostly because I'm the famous Ron Weasley that helped Harry Potter defeat You-Know-Who) but I didn't give a damn about her. And not only that, but I would prefer to be home, working then be there. After that I stopped going out to pubs, I stopped looking for someone to take your place and resigned myself to my fate. I'd either die with you or I'd die alone. That was about ten years ago."

"Well that is a lovely sentiment," she said sarcastically.

"I thought so," he said defensively. "Well that's my story. What's your?"

She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear what he said. She was going over the facts and she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. She had to make sure. "Wait, Ron," she sat up and looked at him. "You never slept with anyone else?"

He looked at her a little strangely, like he was ashamed, proud and worried all in one and said firmly, "No." He paused, took a deep breath and said, "It … there wasn't enough … then … No, I never slept with anyone else. Now it's your turn to talk," he repeated.

All he got in response was her grinning evilly at him and her attacking him hungrily. "Nah-ah, that's not how it works."

"Come on Mione," he said as she kissed his ear. "That's not fair, I told you."

"Oh I know," she said now kissing his other ear. "But you have to pay the forfeit before it's my turn."

He suddenly stopped trying to fight her and lifted and turned her over, which caused her to let out a giggle, "why didn't you say so sooner? I'm make you squeal … then you can tell be your story."

O

Sometime after that; they once again laid in each other's arms, neither able to talk (quite yet) nor did they want to. Finally he broke the silence by saying, "I think I earn the right to hear your story now."

She had a quip to say to that, something nice and witty that would make him laugh, but honestly she was unable to say anything. He had quite literally left her speechless (and she loved every moment of it).

He looked over to her, waiting for her to talk to him, realizing it wasn't going to happen on its own he squeezed her to him and said, "Mione … come on, I played by your rules, so spill already."

She hugged closer to him and finally said, "Okay … it seemed that I had lost the ability to speak … sorry about that."

"Seriously," he said raising an eyebrow and grinning. "I didn't know that was possible, I can actually make you shut …"

"Hey," she said slapping him playfully in the side but also grinning. "All I can say is that I won't get tired of that …"

"So I should keep trying to shut you up," he laughed again and received another slap. "But, seriously, Mione, when are you …"

"You seem to have a one track mind, don't you," she smiled evilly.

"Well now that I've told you mine, I really would like to know yours," he said then continued to ramble on. "Besides, it makes me feel naked …"

"I thought we were both …" she tried to comment but he didn't stop speaking.

"… I have my heart on a sleeve and I don't know where I stand."

"No matter what I say," she said sternly looking into his eyes. "You will always be my everything, you'll always 'stand' as the only man that I love … the only man in my life."

He let out a breath, some of the tension that was in his face relaxed as he said, "Thanks."

"Okay then," she said leaning back down into his chest. "I guess I should get started now, after all, as you said this is my game and I should follow my own rules.

"Well, for the first five years after the break up I didn't see anyone. At first I was too busy being depress and worrying about the pregnancy. Worrying that I wasn't going to be a good mother and how difficult it was going to be to raise a child practically alone. Though, I must say at that time I thought that you were going to be involved more than you were but …"

He stiffened and was feeling guilty at this (and a little annoyed, how was he supposed to be there, she was in a different country). "I wanted to …"

"Ron," she said and knew he would feel the smile that was growing on his chest. "I know it wasn't your fault, actually it was mine, and I'm the one that should feel sorry about it not you.

"That's not to say that it wasn't difficult and that I wasn't grateful for all the help that Harry gave me, I don't think I could have survived without him. But that is not the point. Basically, I didn't go out with anyone until I came back to England four years after Arthur was born.

"The first boyfriend I had was Steven," she pause, she knew that Ron wasn't going to take the next bit of information well and she hoped that he wasn't going to overact. His jealousy had been one of the major reasons for their fights in the past and she really didn't want that now. She bit her lip and took a breath, "we went out for about two years …"

"Two Years," he shouted shocked and exasperated. He started to pull away from her but she held on tightly to him. "Mione …"

"I know it's a long time, but I swear it wasn't all that serious," she said trying to calm him, which seemed to work since he stopped trying to pull away.

"Mione, that's longer than we went out," he said quietly, trying to keep the anger, jealousy and hurt out of his voice (though he knew it was no use, she knew him too well).

"Well if you take in to account how long we like each other it was really nine years …"

"Mione …"

"Okay, maybe that's too long; we loved each other for five years …"

"Mione …"

"Fine, I know," she said and stopped trying to justify her past relationship. "But really, Ron, I didn't love the guy. Frankly, I hardly even like him that way. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy talking to him, he was rather interesting (well at least to me, you would have thought he was boring), but he never really made me feel anything. Anytime he kissed me it was well … awkward."

"How the hell did you have a two year relationship with this guy?" he said, definitely feeling better now.

"Well, I barely saw him," she said. "He worked a lot, and so did I. We met once a week at the most. I think I just like the idea that I had someone, and I cling to the idea, not really caring for the man. I believed that he only met Arthur once, about a month before we broke up. I remember asking Arthur what he thought of him and he said 'he was boring'. I think that was what made me realize that it was time to change things, beside I could tell that Steven was getting more serious, he seemed to be for a couple of months (hence the meeting with Arthur). I didn't want to lead him on so I broke up with him; he got a bit more emotionally than I had ever seen him, and I must say that his last kiss to pleaded me to stay with him was rather convincing (Ron shifted at this comment, but otherwise remained silent), but I know I would never have feeling for him so I let him go. I see him every once in a while at work, but we don't really talk."

"So you never," he said hesitantly. "You know …"

She rose her eyebrow, "I could barely kiss him … no nothing happened … with him," she added mysteriously. She knew she was teasing him and making him squirm but she couldn't help herself, he's so adorable when he squirms.

"Okay, so it was about a year later that I meet Thomas," she said moving on businesslike to the next case. "That one lasted about a year and it was a little more serious, but not much. At that time I had just transferred into the Law Enforcement Department and he was one of my co-workers. He helped show me the ropes and about a month after we met, we were going out. Don't look at me like that … he wasn't my boss or anything … we just work together.

"Well, anyways, we would go out about once a week, (and see each other just about every day) and things were pretty good. I would still have to say that he was more involved in the relationship than I was, but I didn't feel awkward when we kissed so that was an improvement."

"Says you," he grumbled.

She just grinned at him and continued. "It was again about a month before we broke up that he came over and met Arthur. If you could have seen Thomas's face when he was with Arthur; it was priceless. He was so uncomfortable and Arthur would just stay by him smiling and forcing himself (discretely) on Thomas, making him more uncomfortable. You would have been proud, your son seems to have excellent ways of chasing off man and he knows how to do it more stealthily than you. Actually, he has a brilliant way of assessing what was the best way to deal with them and attacking their weaknesses without them even noticing it."

"That's my boy," he laughed.

"Anyways, I asked Arthur what he thought of the new guy and he said, 'he's alright, but I don't know if he likes me,' he said in his soft voice, making it seem like he cared about this. I must say this time I fell for his act, it made me think about the problem and try to come up with a solution, which was to get Thomas to come over again to try and work things out. Of course, by the time that the dinner was over I could see that Arthur was just working me (and Thomas), but I didn't find myself too fuse about it. It was pretty obvious that this wasn't going to work out; Thomas was terrified of Arthur. About a week after that Thomas broke up with me saying that he liked me but he couldn't deal with a relationship right now. I just smiled and said 'yeah, I can't agree with you more, but I think Arthur going to miss you.' He bolted from the office so fast I thought he Dissaperated."

"You made fun of him," he said grinning.

"Well, he didn't go about breaking up with me the right way," she sat up and grinned at him. "He had to pay for that."

"Remind me not to get on your bad side," he said.

"I thought you already knew that," she said slapping his arm.

"Yeah, I guess I do," he admitted. "But just keep reminding me anyways," he kiss the top of her head.

"Okay," she said then continued her story. "Anyways …"

"Wait … You didn't … with him, right?" he asked as innocently as he could.

She tried to surpass a grin at the question and his 'innocent' expression. "No, not that he didn't want to, but I didn't want to jump into anything. Besides, he didn't make me feel anything special, so I didn't think it was right."

"Goo … I mean … right," he said trying not to grin.

"But then there was Jason, I really liked Jason, he was a great guy," she said.

"Oh, be serious," he said.

"But I am serious," she said evilly. "Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but I did really like him. He was different from the last two guys I dated, they were smart (book smart), prestigious, set store in rules and regulations, basically the opposite of you."

"In other words boring pompous prats," he joked and received another slap.

"No," she said. "Well maybe, but what I was going to say was the type of guy that I thought I should like. You know someone I could share things with and have something in common, but really they were just boring. But Jason was different; he was more like you. He was able to make me laugh and enjoy some of my time, and he was actually good looking so that was a plus too."

"I don't like him," he said trying to make it sound like a joke but she could see the truth behind the words.

"No, I didn't think you would," she said. "But you really don't know him and he really is a good guy, even though he was a ladies' man …"

"He was a what?" he asked sitting up excitedly. "What does that mean … did …"

"Sit down, Ronald," she said calmly. "It's not like that. I just meant that he went out with a lot of women before he met me. He said that meeting me really made him grow up (at this Ron raised an eyebrow, obviously thinking this was some kind of line), which he told me years after we broke up. We dated for about six months (which was his longest relationship up until that time), and it was probably the happiest time for me during our break up. Thought I must say you affected my heart more by looking at me in the Ministry that day then he ever did.

"After about three month he met Arthur and that was an interesting meeting. Arthur was ten at the time and was a rather quick thinker, but he was not prepared for Jason. Usually I would give him some time before introducing him to my boyfriend, but when he came home that morning he was not prepared to see Jason …"

"Morning," Ron said shocked. "That guy stayed over …"

"He was drunk, I couldn't let him Apparate home, he would have splinch himself," she said defensively (knowing full well that she was riling him up and enjoying every minute of it). "I slept on the couch … he passed out on the bed. Actually he was quite the gentleman despite being drunk; he didn't try to take advantage of me, seeing as I was quite drunk myself. Arthur spent the night at Harry's and when they came that morning they were both rather surprised. Well anyways, Arthur was found off guard and was unable to discourage Jason at first, and he also notice the effect that Jason had on me and knew that I was happy so he laid low, or more so than in the past."

"Hmm … The one I really needed him for too …" he said quietly; she choice to ignore this.

"I would see him about two or three times a week and he came over a couple more times. Then about a week before we broke up he got really moody. Then one day he came to be rather upset and we had a serious conversation. He had kissed another girl …"

"WHAT …" he said sharply. "He cheated … how …"

"Calm down," she said. "Okay, I know what you're thinking but there's more to it and I need you to not interrupt me okay." He nodded. "He told me that he had been spending time with this other girl for awhile and he was starting to have real feeling for her … but he had to make something clear first. He told me that he was pulling away from me lately because he had realized that I didn't feel the same way he did and that I was still hanging on to the past. He said that he heard you and Harry talking about me, and you had called me Mione. He had tried to call me that months before but I wouldn't let him, I told him I didn't like it, but the truth was it hurt me too much to hear it; it made me think of you and what I lost. In fact, no one has called me Mione since we broke up; I made Harry and Gin stop.

"He then asked me if I would ever feel the way for him that he felt for me, because he never felt this way for someone before, but he needed to know if there was a future here. I said that I really did like him and things we getting better, I was feeling better all the time, but I didn't know if I could feel the way he did (knowing that I wasn't feeling anywhere near what I felt for you). Then he kissed me passionately, making my head get a little fizzy and then asked if he could call me Mione; if I could let go of the past. I shivered when he said the name, I could only think of you. Suffice to say we broke up, but I guess we are still on good enough terms. I see him every once in a while, and he's even taken Arthur to Quidditch matches some times. Don't worry, he got married and is very happy with a child of his own now, and Arthur didn't like him until after we broke up. Arthur was very moody with him while we went out, which I'm sure you're very happy about. Also, after Jason, I decided not to date anyone because I wasn't over you yet and spent a year trying hard to get over you only to realize that I never would."

"Wait did you …" he asked, trying to keep his happiness at a minimum.

"No," she smiled at him. "It appears that you are the only man I have ever and will ever be with."

"And you are the only woman I've ever and will ever be with," he smiled and kissed her. "Do you think that's odd?"

"Maybe," she said truthfully. "But frankly I don't really care right now. I'm just happy that we haven't; it makes me feel better about this."

There wasn't that much talking after that, they just spent time enjoying each other company.

A/N: Okay so I know this chapter was a little steamier and I don't know if it should still be rated T (though I have read T that have been worst I've also read M that have been less). Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter that gave a little insight to Ron and Hermione's past. And for all of you people that are craving a little more attack don't worry it's coming in the next chapter. Hope you enjoy this and until next week, bye.