It was two weeks after the war ended when Hermione decided to go find her parents, who were still in Australia. She and Harry had been staying in the Burrow since the end of the war, just until the wizarding world had repaired itself enough for them to find some jobs.
The day of her departure, Ron was exceptionally irritable, especially since Hermione was leaving for two months to bring her parents back and spend time with them.
Around noon that day, a floating trunk came drifting vaguely down the staircase, followed by a stressful-looking Hermione, who was directing the trunk with her wand. Ron was slightly angry with her, and ignored her as she passed him on the way out of the house.
Her things were stacked up in the yard, Crookshanks in his basket; all packed up and ready to go. Ron followed her outside, despite his anger; he had to try once more.
"Can't you stay?" he asked pleadingly to her back. She turned around, wearing her disheveled hair up in a plait and a frown.
"No, I mustn't, Ron!" Hermione said. "And no, you can't come with. You know I'd like nothing more than for you to come along, but I need to do this on my own. Anyway, it'll be enough of a shock for my parents that I was in a war without telling them about…us." She blushed at the last word and turned back into the house to get another bag.
Ron rolled his eyes and followed her. Ever since their discussion in Ron's room a few days after the war, they were no longer awkward with each other, though they would still blush at certain things they said or heard.
Hermione was taking the stairs three at a time, but Ron easily caught up with his long legs. "Why can't I come?"
Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "For the millionth time, it'll be too much already for my parents when I tell them I've been risking my life for the last few months."
She was on the fourth landing when Ron took a few strides and was able to get in front of her. "That's not the real reason, you're lying."
Hermione pushed past him to get into Ginny's room. "Ron, can't we do this later? I'll be back in two months…" She reached onto the bed she had been sleeping in for the last two and a half weeks to retrieve her last bag and shut Ginny's door behind her.
"No, we can't do this later, because you'll be in Australia later!" Ron burst out furiously. "Just tell me why I can't come and I won't bother you anymore!"
"Fine!" Hermione spat. "If you must know…I don't want anyone coming with me because I know that once I explain things…my parents are going to fly off the handle, and I don't want you or anyone with me because I know you or anyone else would try to intervene to defend me!"
"Why is that bad?" Ron shot back at her.
Hermione let out a huffy sigh. "Because if I know you well enough, you'll start arguing with my parents about how I've been in all kinds off terrorizing events and that's the last thing my parents need to hear, especially out of you!" She pushed past him to go downstairs and he followed.
Once she was outside, she stacked the last bag on the pile of things she had and turned back to Ron, speaking in a much softer tone than before, "Ron, I just need to do this alone, alright? I don't know why you need more of an explanation than that."
She took a few more steps to cover the space between them and wrapped her arms around him. "I'll be back before you can miss me, alright?"
Ron kissed her forehead hesitantly. "Those aeroplanes crash though, don't they?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Ron, I'll be fine –"
"And what if you run into a group of Death Eaters while you're there who want revenge on us?" Ron asked wildly.
"Ron, what are the odds of –"
"Hermione," Ron said suddenly, "you know that I want to come with you only because I want to keep my promise."
Hermione's expression softened at the mention of Ron's promise. "Ron, as far as crashing goes, you wouldn't be able to do anything about it even if you were with me, and all the Death Eaters have been arrested."
"You don't know that for sure," Ron mumbled.
Hermione let go of him and threw her hands up to the sky. "Fine Ron. Whatever. I'm done trying to convince you." She strode back into the house to say her final goodbyes.
Ron felt guilty, and he knew she was furious with him if she wasn't willing to argue with him.
Despite his frustration with her, he watched her say goodbye to his family from the doorway. He loved to watch her, no matter how angry she was with him or him with her. He loved watching her studying, reading, or simply sleeping. He remembered many times in the last year when he would watch her sleep for what felt like hours. Hermione would always be the most beautiful thing in the world in Ron's mind.
Hermione was hugging his parents and thanking them for letting her stay at the Burrow. He watched as she hugged each of his siblings in turn, hugging Ginny more tightly than the others. She was saying something quietly to his sister that he couldn't hear. No doubt it was only girl things. Hermione hugged Ginny once more, and moved onto George, who had been forced out of his room by Ginny to say goodbye to Hermione. He was still grieving over Fred, and he probably would be for a long time.
Hermione moved onto Harry, whom she hugged longer than Ginny. Ron watched her say something to him too, and then watched her kiss him on the cheek. Ron's blood started to boil, and he felt the jealousy that had gone for the last few weeks come back. In the back of his mind he knew it was nothing, because he knew Hermione would never do anything to hurt him on purpose. But the jealous monster in his chest, like always, took over his brain.
Hermione was walking toward him. Before he could stop himself he said louder than he meant, "What was that?"
Hermione knew he was indicating the kiss she had given Harry. "Ron, its Harry. He's dating Ginny, and he's my best friend. Anyway, you know I would never do that purposely to hurt you."
Ron realized he was being stupid and for the first time, didn't argue back. She's good, the voice in the back of his head said.
"So, do I get a goodbye out of you or not?" Hermione asked, placing one more bag on her growing pile of things. Ron managed a grin, and kissed her soundly. She didn't hold back and eagerly responded. Ron was lost in his own world with Hermione when a voice worthy of Umbridge made them jump apart.
"Hem, hem."
Ron turned to find his entire family plus Harry watching him and Hermione with mild interest. Ginny had cleared her throat finally, losing interest in the scene. Ron could feel his whole face burning with embarrassment, but when he looked at Hermione, she didn't look at all embarrassed. She was looking at him with confusion, as if she didn't understand why he was embarrassed.
His whole family was laughing at them, however. Ron heard Harry yell, "C'mon, give us another one, lovebirds!" His family started egging them on, including his parents. He realized at that moment that they had all been waiting on him and Hermione for as long as he had been waiting for Hermione.
Hermione turned to him and gave him an almost flirty look, which was unlike her. She rolled her eyes at his family, grabbed his collar and kissed him deeply. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. He heard everyone around them wolf-whistling and clapping, and he grinned against Hermione's lips.
She broke the kiss as fast as she had started it. She hugged him one last time, whispered, "I'll be back" and before Ron knew it, she had Disapparated to the airport and was gone.
