Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline

Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass

Was never much but we made the most

Welcome home

- "Welcome Home" - Radical Face.

oOo

Mortifying... completely mortifying... and scary... and exciting... and brilliant, and really bloody arousing...

He practically shook with emotion as he marched down the rickety staircase that acted as the spine of the Burrow. The sound of the shower spray grew quieter as he went. With each step, he was further away from a naked Hermione.

He stealthily crept through the doorway of the kitchen. At the sink was Ginny doing the washing up, with a smug-looking Harry standing behind her with his hands on her hips. They were speaking quietly and she was giggling. As much as Ron wanted to run over there and wrestle Harry to the ground, he pursed his lips and let his face burn red. It would be hypocritical of him to scold his best friend for running his hands all over his sister when he'd just been snogging Hermione's face off for bloody ages.

He'd come down here for a reason, though. As Harry moved away from her and grabbed a tea towel, Ron seethed at the back of his sister's head. He suddenly spotted a plate on the kitchen table piled high with homemade sausage rolls. He reached over and grabbed one, rolled it in his hand and lobbed it in her direction.

It splatted against the back of her head before the bulk of it fell to the floor.

"EURGH! Ron, what the hell are you doing?!" groaned Ginny, combing flakes of pastry out of her red hair, glaring at him. Beside her, Harry looked bemused.

Ron pointed accusingly at her. "You lying fuck!"

"...excuse me?"

"You told me that Hermione snogged Victor Krum!"

Ginny looked for a moment as though her brother had spoken in pig Latin. Then, when a grin slowly spread across her face, he lunged to grab another sausage roll.

"Don't you dare!" she squealed, throwing her hands up to cover her face. He threw the sausage roll and deliberately hit the window behind her.

"How come you made all that up, huh? Why d'you let me think that?!"

"I was angry at you!"

"So you made me go and make a complete prat of myself?"

"What the hell are you on about?!"

Ron folded his arms and scowled at her. "I thought she'd kissed Krum."

"Yeah... so?"

"So..." Ron was about to explain, but Harry's awkward stance in the corner of the kitchen put him off. "Harry, piss off."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

Clearly not in the mood to argue, Harry rolled his eyes and shrugged before disappearing upstairs. Ron turned his attention back to Ginny, who was also standing with her arms folded at the other end of the kitchen table.

"Well?" she demanded. "How did I make you look like a prat?"

Ron's ears went bright pink. He shifted uncomfortably. He loved Ginny, but she had the intelligence and cunning to use delicate information as lethal weapons if she wanted to. She hadn't thus far, but he hadn't paid that much attention to her in the past to know if she ever would. He'd have to honour Gryffindor in a way that he might as well start doing.

"When you let me think that both my best friends and my sister had snogged other people, I felt like a pathetic little virgin," he grumbled. "But... I dunno, when you told me 'bout Hermione, I felt...angry. A bit useless, actually."

Ginny's expression of irritation didn't change. Only her eyes moved her gaze shifted down to the floor.

"I don't think I would've gone out with Lavender if you hadn't said that."

Ginny's eyes blazed with fury as she looked back up at him. "Are you serious?! Ron, you cannot blame me for that mess! You were the one who was quite literally stuck to that girl for weeks!"

"Yeah, and I wouldn't have gone near her if you hadn't made me feel so shit!"

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Do you realise how horrid you sound?"

"Don't be such a hypocrite, Gin, you went out with Dean Thomas when Harry ignored you for Cho!"

Ron immediately wished he hadn't spoken, or indeed come down here at all. His sister was bold and clever. She walked round the table and came to a halt right under his nose. Ron was alarmed by how serene she looked: like a mannequin.

"That was not the same thing and you know it. Cho was done with Harry long before I started dating Dean. Hermione told me to move on, so I did. I don't know where you're aiming to go with this argument but to me, it sounds as though you're sidling around the fact that you used Lavender to make Hermione jealous. It worked. You broke her heart."

Ron swallowed and looked away from Ginny. He could not get used to the idea that he had even the slightest influence on Hermione's heart, let alone the capability to break it. He'd once promised himself that he'd crush the balls of any man who broke her heart. He hadn't thought of the possibility that it would one day be him.

"You can sit up there snogging all you want, but eventually you're both going to have to leave that room and face the future as a couple, and that's not exactly going to be a barrel of laughs until you sort out the rubbish history that you two have."

Ron was too engulfed by the horror at his own actions to present any sort of retaliation to his sister. The reality was that he was a prick, and she knew it. Everybody knew it.

"Sort it out," she said firmly.

Ron could only nod. He turned and glumly made his way back into the hallway and up the stairs. Ginny had a point. He had to sort out their relationship. But he knew Hermione better than she did. She was smart. She knew that their feelings for each other were all that mattered now. It wasn't as though he'd never given his disaster with Lavender some serious thought where Hermione was concerned. He'd spend a lifetime apologising to her if he could. For once, she was being too bloody forgiving. Maybe if she berated him for hurting her, he'd start to actually believe that Hermione liked him. This new-found relationship was too dreamlike. He'd have to make the first move. He had to test the waters. He was just as eager as she was to see where this could go. He loved her, he knew that much. She needed to know that. They needed that date that he'd promised her.

He knocked on Ginny's bedroom door. He was suddenly acutely aware that the last time he'd spoken to Hermione had been one of the most embarrassing and awkward moments of his life. Perhaps the most embarrassing moment. They'd been snogging. On his bed. She'd been pressed up against him. However many times she denied it afterwards, she had gently bumped her hips against his. It had had a profound effect on him. They were both left bright red in the face, with a pillow on his lap and her muttering something about a shower before scurrying out the door.

"Hermione?" he called quietly, testing the waters. He hoped Ginny wasn't listening downstairs. She'd hex his balls off if she knew what he was about to say.

"Come in," Hermione called calmly. He opened the door and found her sitting there on her bed in her PJ's and dressing gown, rubbing a towel into her damp hair.

"You alright?" he asked dumbly, shoving his hands into his pockets.

She avoided his gaze. "Yes, I'm fine... how're you?"

"M'fine. Um... yeah."

There was a lot of fidgeting as the thick silence irritated their skin. Darkness was falling. Soon, Dad would be home from the Ministry and Mum would be back from wherever it was she'd disappeared to. He didn't have a lot of time. You'd have thought he'd be good with time-restraints by now.

Hermione dropped the towel she was using to dry her hair and looked exasperated.

"Ron, we need to talk."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "We do?"

"Yes. And you know why."

"I do?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, Ronald. We need to talk about our past."

Ron, who was completely caught off-guard, started theatrically looking around the room.

"Ronald, what on earth are you doing?" Hermione sighed as he looked under the bed.

He sat up and shrugged. "Just looking for where you hid the rest of the Let's-Back-Ron-Up-Into-A-Corner Party."

"I'm sorry?"

"Why is everyone so hell-bent on bringing up the past?"

Hermione looked a little embarrassed. "I think it's important."

"Why?"

"Because it's awkward!"

Ron stared at her, stunned. "It... it is?" he felt like a girl who'd been told her arse looked big in a pair of jeans. It was humiliating that she'd seen flaws in their relationship, and he would readily marry her...

"Well, no, not quite... but there are certain things I need to know."

"Like what?" he asked numbly, not too sure how to process this: his first relationship problem that actually mattered. Wow, he really was a heartless bastard.

Hermione inhaled deeply. "Your... reaction to certain activities earlier made me a little... anxious. I want to know how far you got with Lavender."

Had Ron been drinking, he'd have choked. His eyes practically bulged out of his skull. "Why do you want to know that?"

Hermione looked hurt. "Don't you want to know how far I got with McLaggen and Krum?"

"Don't need to. You didn't kiss them."

Hermione blushed and looked away. "No. I didn't."

"Then what's the problem?"

"For heaven's sake, Ron, did you have sex with her?" she hissed.

"No!" he spluttered, not believing that he'd heard Hermione Jean Granger utter that word.

Hermione nodded to herself, then braced herself again. "Did you do anything else with her?"

"No, Hermione, we just snogged."

Hermione grimaced. He guessed she'd still resent his past with Lavender a little bit, but this was... this was embarrassment. She looked practically ashamed.

"Hermione, what's up?" he asked her seriously.

She bit her lip. "Are you sure you didn't do anything else?"

Ron felt his neck get hot. If Hermione knew something, which she inevitably did, he'd better own up now.

"I may've felt her tits a few times."

Hermione seemed to swallow her reaction. She choked it back and simply nodded again. Ron ran his fingers through his hair in frustration before a horrible thought occurred to him.

"You're not angry at me."

"No, I'm not."

"Why not?"

"Because you're telling the truth."

Ron chuckled. "That's how it works?"

"Krum kissed me."

There was still a faint trace of a smile on Ron's face when she said it. It dissolved slowly. He didn't even try to hide his misery from her, try though he did. This was his reality now. It was a disgusting thought, that someone else had been near her mouth. He imagined it was Krum's way of comforting her after Ron had upset her at the Yule Ball. He imagined his hands all over her and he shuddered.

"You're upset," said Hermione.

"Yeah," he sighed.

"Don't be," she said softly. "I thought I'd never have a chance with you. For all I knew, it was the first of many disappointing kisses."

Her words, her honesty and her kindness were what it took for a smile to form on his lips. When she smiled shyly at his response, his smile grew. She was beautiful and she was his. Their surrendering of the truths combined with Ginny's words and the Ministry being prats and every other bloody thing they'd been through together washed around in his mind until the room began to spin.

"I need a walk," he slurred, standing up. He held his hand out to her. "Come with me?"

She looked at him as though he had two heads. "Where are we going?"

"For a walk."

"Where?"

"Outside."

"Ron..."

"Hermione..." he droned, mocking her voice. She slapped his arm and smirked.

"I'm in my PJ's."

"No-one will see you."

Hermione deliberated for a few seconds. When Ron took a taunting step towards the door, she sighed in surrender and scrambled to her feet.

"Where are we going, then?" she asked, taking his hand. It was amazing how something so simple could flood his veins with happiness and confidence.

"There's this bit near the woods where we always used to hide as kids," he explained, internally frowning as he choked back the nostalgia. All his memories would sting now.

The sky was now a pretty shade of deep blue. It was just light enough to see Hermione's face. As soon as he was outside, walking, holding her hand, he was no longer swollen with the pressure of everything going on. He still needed her company though.

"You scared about the inquiry?" he asked as they trudged up the hill towards the wooded area. Behind them, the lights of the Burrow were flickering on, as we were the lights of Ottery St Catchpole in the distance.

Hermione shook her head. "Like Kingsley said, they're not going to do anything. They'll look bad if they arrest us. They'll just ask us some questions and take some memories."

Ron winced. If the Ministry didn't know how much of an arse he'd been, they'd be sure to know once they'd extracted Harry and Hermione's memories.

"...although," began Hermione again, moving a little closer to him as they walked. "It does set things back a little bit."

"What d'you mean?" he asked.

"Well, I don't see as though they'd let me leave the country while all this goes on. I have no idea when they're going to call me in..."

"You planning a holiday?" Ron smirked, nudging her. He didn't see how being Britain bound was an issue.

Hermione glanced at him briefly, looking a little hurt. "It's hardly a holiday, but I do need to go to Australia and restore my parent's memories."

"Oh... yeah... of course..."

Ron let go of her hand and put an arm round her shoulders. It had been months since she mentioned her parents. How had he forgotten about them? She probably talked to Harry about them, rather than him. She probably thought Harry was a better listener. She probably thought Harry cared more than he did during those dark months on the run.

"Can I come with you?" he blurted, stopping in his tracks. She spun round.

"What, to Australia?"

"Yeah."

"Um... yes. If you want."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, no! I just... don't see why you'd want to..."

Ron shrugged and stood a little taller. "I'm your boyfriend. I've got responsibilities."

Hermione crossed her arms. "What makes you think I can't take care of myself?"

"I know you can take care of yourself," he said, rolling his eyes.

"So what's the problem?"

"Hermione, please let me come with you. Australia's huge, there's probably loads of creepy blokes out there. I'm not the only bloke in the world that thinks you're pretty."

He'd hope she would blush and maybe thank him. Instead, she rolled her eyes.

"What?" he asked. "You are."

"I know you like me, Ron," she blushed. "You don't have to try and flatter me."

"I wasn't trying anything," said Ron truthfully. "You're pretty and I want to be with you when you get your parents back."

Hermione looked up at him and seemed to search his face for something.

"There are millions of massive spiders in Australia."

Ron gulped. "I don't care."

Hermione gave a small smile and put her hand back in his. "Alright. We'll go together."

Ron hid his ridiculous giddy grin by leading her onwards towards the woods. They walked in a comfortable silence. As they reached the top of the hill, thoughts of their imminent trip to Australia filled his mind. Travelling alone with Hermione would definitely be the perk of his year. It would mark a big step in their relationship. Away from school, away from Harry, away from family. Maybe she'd get nervous and lean in to him more. They could kiss in public. They'd have to find places to sleep and they'd have nothing to do but be with each other. They could be normal if you momentarily disregard the mission to restore a muggle couple's memories.

But Ron wasn't thick. He noticed how he prayed for moments of normality in their relationship, rather than progression. Sure, he was eager to push the established boundaries of their relationship at some point. But emotionally, was there anywhere they really needed to go? He wanted to take her out on a date because that's what she deserved. It was normal. She needed to be happy. But why else was he asking her? Why did she think they needed a first date?

"I owe you a date," he said suddenly, when they were in the shadow of the trees.

"Yes, you do," she said, smiling. He dropped her hand and wondered over to the tree that he remembered dozing against in the summer before his first year at Hogwarts. It was the one memory he had in which he was truly carefree.

"I was wondering... what you had in mind."

He looked over to her. She looked confused, but she still smiled. "I don't know, Ronald. You asked me out, remember? I don't mind what we do."

Stupidly, he only reacted with vague acknowledgment. This was all so uncomfortable. They'd just started out, but she was still Hermione... she was still bookish, barmy, brilliant Hermione. Being his girlfriend wouldn't change her.

"Do you not want to go on a date with me?" she asked quietly. He looked over at her in alarm. She was almost tearing up. "Is that why you took this long to bring it up again?"

"No! I mean yes! I mean... obviously, I want to go on a date with you. But..."

He sounded like an arse again, and he knew he was in danger of upsetting her again.

"But?" she probed. They were ten feet away from each other.

"I reckon it'll be weird, going on a date with you. First dates are for getting to know one another, and I already know everything about you."

"That's rubbish! You don't know everything about me!"

"Well, no, not everything, but..."

"But what?! Ron, I don't understand what you want to get out of this!"

"Out of what?"

"This argument!"

"Oh, this is an argument now?"

"Yes!"

Hermione's hair was beginning to crackle. He was entering dangerous territory, with her and within him. How could she not see it? Had she been that naive about his feelings all this time? They were clear as day to every other bloody person in the world...

"Look," he began again, staying calm. Arguing with Hermione was his normality, but not like this. Not about them. "I just wanted to know what you had in mind for a date. I don't want to do the conventional first date stuff. It'll be too weird. It'll feel like we're pretending."

Hermione blushed and looked down at the grassy ground. "Well, it seemed like a good place to start."

"But I don't want to feel like we're starting out."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm in love with you."

...great.

While she continued to stare at him with an expression that looked to be somewhere between amazement and fear, his chest physically hurt. He'd imagined that if he ever managed to tell her, he'd no longer feel as though he were carrying the world on his shoulders. Now, the words simply hung thickly around them like fog. He watched her for any signs that she loved him back. The fog was too obscuring.

He remembered her breezing past her with Krum at the Yule Ball. The gut-wrenching regret he felt for not asking her to dance with him echoed in his stomach. His overwhelming guilt when he learnt that she'd sat at his bedside in the hospital wing even after he'd spent weeks avoiding her hit him again. The heart break he'd felt when she'd first told him about her parents and the misery he felt in those dark months without her all piled on top of him until his conviction was entirely resolved.

"We've only got one life, right? You and I know that better than anyone, 'Mione. I know I sound like a right numpty now, but I don't care anymore."

She was breathing heavily, seemingly stunned. He kept going regardless. One life, one love. She was his.

"I've been such a twat. I don't get why you're with me but I'm not bloody letting you go any time soon. You're literally perfect, 'Mione. You're kind and funny and you're an effing genius and you're pretty..."

Tears glistened in her eyes. He would not regret making her cry this time. She needed to hear this. He needed to tell her. Everything in his life spiralled around her. He didn't understand any of it without her.

"Bloody hell, Hermione, you're beautiful. And it really pisses me off that you don't see that."

Somewhere in the distance, a crow cawed. An evening breeze blew. All the sounds that would make for a tranquil moment of calm all dissolved into mundane motifs of the day in comparison to the beautiful girl standing a few yards away from him.

"Don't swear, Ronald," she said quietly.

Ron scoffed. "Is that it?"

"No, of course not."

"Then... say something else," he failed to disguise the fleck of hope in his voice.

"I... didn't know you felt that way."

Ron laughed. "Oh, come on! Really?"

Hermione blinked several time as annoyance dawned on her face. "Well excuse me for not seeing the signs! I must've been distracted by the countless arguments and incessant teasing! How on Earth I managed to fall in love with someone who constantly made me cry, I have no idea!"

The crow cawed again. Ron took a step towards her.

"What did you just say?"

Hermione took three long strides towards him, the annoyance gone. In its place was something Ron would never be able to pinpoint.

"In light of letting go of the past... and being uncharacteristically spontaneous... it might be a good time for me to admit that I've been madly in love with you for years."

Ron gawped at her. She loved him. He loved her. It seemed ridiculous that they were still so far away from each other. They soon closed the gap.

The lovers kissed passionately. They arms circled each other, desperate to feel the comfort and love that only their embrace could provide. No awkwardness, no trepidation. They were in love. Nothing else mattered.

When they broke apart, Ron stared at her in amazement. In this light, above all others, she was the most beautiful thing in existence.

"You love me!" he breathed, astonished.

She rolled her eyes jokingly. "You're supposed to say it the other way round."

Ron grinned. "I love you," he said. To his delight, something inside him slotted into place. Hermione witnessed it happen.

"I love you too," she beamed back, before reaching up and kissing him again.

oOo

A/N: Review if you want. But be nice. No being rude to Romione shippers. Or Ron.

Love,

Nel X