It was a year after Rose had been born, and everything couldn't have gotten better.
The Weasley family was able to move back into the Wizarding World, which was slowly rebuilding itself after the Death Eaters were gone. Arthur and Molly were repairing the damage done to the Burrow (the Death Eaters had set it on fire) with the help of Bill and Charlie, and occasionally Ron, Harry and George. Percy was travelling the world for his job at the Ministry; he had regretfully been gone for two months already.
Harry and Ginny had had their second child a few months after Rose had arrived, a boy named Albus, after their beloved headmaster. Not long before that, Harry had been honored with the title of Head Auror, to which Ginny responded with a large party in which Ron, Hermione, and Rose all attended, along with a great amount of the rest of the wizarding world.
Ron and Hermione were able to get a new house close to Harry and Ginny in Godric's Hollow. Harry loved his new home. Hermione would watch him stroll down to his parents' graves at sundown and occasionally place a bouquet of flowers in front of their headstones. She knew this was where Harry really wanted to be: close to his parents.
One night, after finishing the signing of many papers for work (she had gotten her job back at the Ministry, but she didn't work full time, due to Rose) Hermione rushed up to Rose's room to see if she was still awake.
To her surprise, she found Ron leaning over Rose's crib, talking softly to the child. His back was turned to her, and he hadn't heard her come in. Hermione, however, could hear everything he was saying to Rose.
"You're going to be just like your mother, Rosie. Top of your class, you'll be, with top grades and all your O.W.L.s…" Ron trailed off as he stroked his baby's red hair, which was now very prominent.
"And then one day, you'll meet a real git who drives you mad, and you'll get stuck with him."
Rose giggled, and Ron chuckled lightly at her. Hermione smiled and approached Ron slowly; wrapping her arms around his waist, and making him jump. Before Ron could say anything, Hermione cut in on his rambling.
"And you'll be a brilliant Quidditch player, just like your father," Hermione said, avoiding Ron's eyes on her and keeping hers on Rose. "And you'll make everyone in the room laugh, because your father will teach you all his sick and twisted jokes." A smile played at Hermione's lips, and Ron cut in.
"And you'll worry about everything and care about everyone, because your mother is raising you," Ron grinned at Hermione, who returned it. "I'm sure she can give you some pointers about worrying properly."
Hermione slapped him on the arm playfully. They both looked down at their daughter, and saw that she had fallen asleep. Hermione drew her arm up and over the crib and stroked her baby's cheek. "We love you, Rose."
Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and led him out of the room, Ron looking back reluctantly.
"She's fine Ron," Hermione assured him. She knew he still had worries about Death Eaters coming back. Ron had become much more protective of both Hermione and Rose in the last nine years.
Hermione led him to their bed. Ron lay down under the blankets and Hermione did the same next to him. As he drew his arms around her like he did on most nights, Hermione noticed something rather odd.
"Ron, what are these?" she asked, tracing her fingers on the many small scars on his arm.
Ron looked confused. "That's where those brains attacked me at the Ministry in fifth year. You remember me telling you about that, right?"
"You mean you still have the scars?" Hermione was shocked. She couldn't believe these scars had stayed so prominent for the last eleven years.
"Well..Yeah…but they're fading," Ron grinned sheepishly.
Hermione, however, pursed her lips and continued to trace the scars. "Why haven't you ever removed them with magic?"
"Well, I've never really thought about it," Ron said. "And I don't think I would want to."
"Why?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I don't know," Ron said, and looked like he truly meant it. "I guess I feel like they're apart of me now."
Hermione was silent, quietly stroking the purple scars on his freckled arms.
"What about yours?"
Hermione looked up, meeting Ron's eyes for the first time. "What?"
"Your scar," Ron said it as if it was obvious. "On your throat."
Hermione suddenly realized what he was talking about, and her hand flew to her throat to trace her own thin scar. It was still a reminder she had of Malfoy Manor.
"What about it?" Hermione asked, holding back her tears.
"Well, you've had it just as long as I've had mine, so why haven't you've ever removed it?"
"You're two years off, love," Hermione said, trying to change the subject.
"Whatever," Ron rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Hermione, just tell me."
"Well, I suppose…" Hermione stalled. "I suppose it's because I need a reminder of that…night."
"Why would you want to remember that night?" Ron asked, clearly taken aback by her answer. "I'm always trying to forget it. Worst night of my life…" he began stroking her scar absentmindedly.
"Because I…" Hermione trailed off and suddenly realized what she was trying to get out. "Because you saved me that night. And it was the first time I realized you really cared about me. When you took me to Shell Cottage, it was the best moment of my life (up to when Rose was born) because I knew you cared. So I suppose, I always needed a reminder of that, so I kept the scar."
Hermione turned to Ron, who looked as if she had slapped him across the face. "Hermione, I have always cared. Why would you think otherwise?"
"Because you left!" Hermione burst out, now scowling at Ron. "And you dated Lavender Brown to prove everyone wrong, how was I supposed to know –" But Hermione was cut off by Ron's lips pressed into hers. When they broke apart, Ron looked at her sternly.
"Hermione, I need you to know something. I have always cared about you. It's always been you first. Lavender Brown was a mistake, a big mistake. I did it to prove to Ginny and everyone else that I could get a girl, and I subconsciously was doing it to make you jealous."
Hermione's expression softened. She had already figured this out long ago, but Ron had never admitted it to her face.
"And as far as leaving you and Harry, you know how I feel about that," Ron went on. "You know I wish I could take it all back."
Hermione's eyes now swimming with tears, she softly kissed Ron's lips. She snuggled into the nape of his neck as he continued to stroke the scar on her neck.
"I love you," Hermione whispered into his neck.
"I've always loved you," she heard his voice and recognized the honesty in it.
