Ron and Hermione's relationship is evolving. What decisions will they make today?
Song: River by Leon Bridges
Hermione snuggled deeper into the covers and sighed. She knew better than to hit the snooze on her mobile, but it was Friday. Two things always happened on Friday - working the closing shift at the library and Chess Club.
"Morning, love," Ron nuzzled into the crook of Hermione's neck, dropping kisses along her ear. "I hate to go, but I have to open the shop today."
"It is too early, Ron. It is still dark outside," Hermione mumbled and covered her head with a blanket. "I need sleep. This is all your fault."
Ron pulled back the covers and kissed her on the cheek. "If you get up with me, I can promise tea and muffins before I have to leave."
"It will take more than that to get me out of this bed before I have to be, Ronald." Hermione covered her head with her pillow.
"Have it your way, love." Ron kissed Hermione's shoulder. "It is not completely my fault that you got so little sleep last night. I'll call you later. What time do I need to pick you up for Chess Club?"
"We have to be there by 6, so be at the library by 5:30." Hermione burrowed deeper into the pillows. "Love you. Go away and let me sleep."
Ron pulled the covers over his sleepy girlfriend. "Love you, too, Mione. Your alarm goes off in an hour."
Harry: Where are you?
Ron: None of your business
Harry: We were supposed to meet for coffee before work
Ron: Sorry, mate. George asked me to open today
Harry: Oh
Ron: I promise I would rather be anywhere else right now
Harry: Having coffee with me at 7:30 in the morning
Ron: Maybe … maybe not
Harry: Did you have dinner with Mione last night?
Ron: She cooked
Harry: You survived
Ron: She can cook some things
Harry: You are a braver man than me
Ron: I'll let her know you said that
Harry: Please don't … she will tell Gin
Ron laughed as he tucked his mobile into his back pocket. He and Hermione had been dating for a while now and he had come to a couple of conclusions - she did not like to get up early and he wanted to be the one to wake her up every morning. All he had to do now was convince her that they could make it work.
They had spent years dancing around each other and the relationship they had. Ron was tired of dancing. He felt complete when she was a part of his life. He wasn't searching for a meaning or a purpose. She was his meaning and his purpose. He had come up with more ideas for the shop in the last few months than he had in years.
He loved listening to her talk about things that were happening at the library. She had even helped him organize the back room of the lab last weekend. It had started as a joke, but once they had gotten started they couldn't stop. Now, everything was tagged, cataloged and he had a check sheet to help determine when materials needed to be reordered.
He returned the favor by designing a child friendly book return system for the children's section of the library. The children loved to watch the books tumble through the system and her fellow librarians had seen a decrease in the number of books that were scattered through the reading nooks in the library. It was interesting how their lives had started to wind together. He could do this for a long time.
Hermione: Thank you
Ron: For what?
Hermione: The extra alarm and the breakfast
Ron: Did you hit snooze a few times?
Hermione: Maybe
Ron: How were the muffins?
Hermione: Good, tell your mum thanks from me
Ron: I will … How has your day been?
Hermione: Dull
Ron: George tried to blow up the lab today
Hermione: How?
Ron: Glitter bombs
Hermione: He is still working on those?
Ron: Yes
Hermione: Oh boy
Ron: Are we still on for Chess?
Hermione: See you at 5:30
Ron: Miss you
Hermione: Love you
Hermione looked up at the clock on the wall. Twenty more minutes and she could close up the library. Chess Club should be interesting tonight. It was the first time she and Ron would be arriving together.
The had been "dating" for a couple of months. They had really been dating for years, but this was the first time in a while that she felt like they had a relationship beyond friendship. It felt good. They fit together this time. It was comfortable spending time with him and she missed him when he wasn't there.
It wasn't the "Can't breathe because he isn't here" kind of missing someone, but it was the "I can't wait to see him" kind. He had helped her think through several problems at the library. The children loved the book return system he had built for them. She had even spent a Saturday helping him at the shop, working the front counter was just like working the circulation desk at the library. She liked helping people find what they needed. She could see herself doing this for years to come. Loving him had crept up on her. But, sometimes the best things in life did that.
Hermione: Anybody holding our table yet?
Luna: No, but I am headed over there to clean it up
Ginny: What are you doing there Luna?
Luna: WORKING because I got called in
Hermione: It's Friday. You ALWAYS have Friday off
Luna: I don't want to talk about it
Ginny: Can you come eat tonight?
Hermione: Who do we need to kill?
Daphne: My students
Luna: No one right now
Ginny: They are children. We can't kill them
Hermione: Luna, please don't kill anyone. We don't have a place for the body yet
Ginny: Breath Luna. We will be there soon
Daphne: Luna, how strong can you make my coffee
Luna: I'm afraid not strong enough for either of us today
Hermione: I love you guys
Ginny: Stay strong … or the boys will have us committed
Luna: Thank you … I needed to laugh
Ron pulled into the staff parking lot as Hermione stepped out of the back of the library. She rushed over to the car and pulled open the door. "Sorry, I was running late. Last minute shelving to do," Hermione place a quick kiss on Ron's cheek before she closed the door."
"No worries. I just got here." Ron returned the kiss and put his car into gear. "We should still get there before Harry and Ginny."
"Are you ready for this?' Hermione asked as she watched the street lamps slide past her window.
"Ready for what? Letting everyone know we are dating?" Ron asked, turning into the Parking area for The Bishop's Brew. "They have known that for a while."
"But we have never arrived together before." Hermione began to twist her fingers together with worry. "What if they don't approve?"
"Love, they have known us for a long time. My baby sister told me the other night, if I didn't make an honest woman out of you soon she was going to tell Mum." Ron turned off the car and turned towards her. "I love you and that is all that matters to me. What they think has no impact on how I will ever feel about you."
"Well then," Hermione said, turning to open her door. "I guess it doesn't matter to me either. I love you and I still have not figured out how I got lucky enough to keep you."
Ginny: We are running late
Hermione: We noticed
Luna: I'm taking a break
Daphne: I might start breathing again in a year
Ginny: What happened?
Hermione: Daphne is still laughing
Ginny: What have I missed?
Luna: Don't tell her
Hermione: The look on Theo's face
Ginny: What happened?
Hermione: Ask your brother when you get here …