Chapter Twelve: What's Wrong with Me?
Ron awoke late on Monday morning to find that Hermione's parents had gone to work, and that Hermione was studying in her room. He greeted her with a long, drawn-out kiss before wishing her a good morning. Ron collected his Potions and Transfiguration assignments so he and Hermione could do them together, which translates to Hermione explaining the difficult bits by putting them into plain, simple English. Once she had done that, the assignments were done quickly.
After a spot of lunch, the pair retired to the living room and watched the television. Like they did the previous Friday, they sat and watched the awful daytime programmes. Ron made a joke that the programmes were so bad that they made people want to go to work or school instead of watching the crap on TV. Despite the fact the programming was crap, Ron and Hermione managed to have some fun. They switched off the television and went into the kitchen to make a snack. Hermione showed Ron how to use the muggle kitchen appliances. Once they had their snack they went back into the living room. Ron then switched the stereo on as Hermione chose a CD. The CD she chose was full of love songs and so Ron asked her to dance with him, and Hermione accepted gleefully.
They danced slowly together, breathing each other in as they held each other. When they were tired of dancing they lay down on the couch together before Hermione fell asleep on Ron's chest.
As he watched her sleep contentedly on his chest he was thinking just how lucky he was right now. The girl he had loved since he was eleven years old loved him in return. He marvelled at how beautiful she was as she slept, and with that thought, he fell asleep too.
That evening Ron decided to tell Hermione's parents the full story about what had happened between him, Potter and his family. He also told them about Voldemort rising again and the danger he posed to not just the wizarding world but the whole world in general. Ron was also quick to forestall any notions of taking Hermione out of Hogwarts against her will as it would be against wizarding law and also explaining that Hermione would be safer at Hogwarts while she was still underage. He gave Richard and Helen Granger his word he would protect Hermione until his dying breath when the war escalates. However, the thing that angered Hermione's parents the most was that a man they had never met had practically tried to whore out their fifteen-year-old daughter to a boy she did not love as a condition of friendship. Ron calmed them down and told them he would not have allowed it to happen even if he was not in love with Hermione, because he felt that Hermione deserves better than to be treated like chattel, and as her best friend he would have decked Potter and Longbottom if Hermione had been forced to agree to the ultimatum. Ron also told them about his declaration of his feelings for Hermione but of course he left out the fact they made love that same day.
Hermione said her piece about how happy Ron made her, she also declared that Ron was going to be a permanent fixture in her life and even told her parents about what Ron said, asking her to marry him one day, which made her happy that she was all Ron wanted and that she was good enough for him, this led to Ron to say that he didn't think he would ever be good enough for her, this might have led to an argument but her parents told them that they could see how much they loved each other and assured Ron that he was more than good enough for Hermione, and they also told Ron that he could stay with them for as long as he wanted. This made Ron very happy and so he hugged Hermione and Helen before sharing a solid handshake with Richard, before they realised how late it was and going to bed.
Ron spent Tuesday morning reading a book on Potions before allowing Hermione to test him in the afternoon. However, upon the first question Hermione asked, Ron's mind went blank.
'Why can't you remember it, Ron? You only read it this morning,' said Hermione, puzzled.
'I've always had trouble remembering the stuff I read …' he said.
'What makes you say that?' Hermione asked.
'I'm not sure … I mean I've never had a problem recalling stuff people tell me,' Ron said.
'Such as?' asked Hermione.
'Stuff you tell me, I mean, I still remember the first conversation we had after we became friends, you told me about your life in the muggle world …' said Ron.
Hermione did not know what to say and so stayed quiet to think.
'Do you think there's something wrong with me?' he asked.
'I don't know, I'm not an expert,' she replied. 'There's something odd going on here that much I do know.'
'I can't argue with you there,' he said.
'Do you think you should see a Healer?' she asked.
'No, if I went to St Mungo's they would inform next of kin and need to get my parents' permission to do anything serious to make the problem go away …' Ron told her.
'What about Madam Pomfrey?' Hermione asked.
'No, I've been in the hospital wing three times in four years and she's never found anything else wrong with me bar the dragon bite, the concussion I suffered from that bloody queen and my broken leg,' said Ron.
'Have you ever had a full medical scan?' she asked.
'No, I don't think so,' he said, but then he remembered something, 'that's it …' he whispered.
'What's it?'
'I just remembered something Bill once told me …'
'And that would be?'
'Well, it was ages ago so I don't know if they still do it …'
'They?' she asked, 'Do what?'
'The Goblins of Gringott's … Bill told me a few years ago that when a wizard opens a new account at the bank they offer a free medical scan using their brand of magic, only according to Bill, no bugger ever takes them up on it because of the lack of trust wizards have for goblins …' Ron said.
'We should do that then, Ron, mum and dad have Friday off and we can go to London to have them check you over …' she said.
'What if – what if it's something really bad?' he asked in a scared voice.
'Then we'll deal with it, and I'll be with you through it all, I promise,' she said.
Ron and Hermione did not speak any more and spent the vast majority of the afternoon snogging before her parents returned from work. During dinner, Hermione informed her parents about the need to visit Gringott's and they agreed to help Ron too.
On Wednesday, Ron's resolve was broken when he and Hermione shagged on her bed. She had looked so sexy and irresistible in a short summer dress that he had to have her, and he did, a lot. When they had finished, Ron almost had a panic attack as he thought they not used contraception, but Hermione quickly informed him of the potion she was taking every month, this calmed down Ron enough to want to shag her again and again and again.
Thursday saw something unexpected arrive for Ron; a letter from Sirius. In the letter Sirius expressed his sorrow for what had been decided and that he had voted against Ron's mother and Bill and Charlie at the meeting. He also told them he was pleased that he and Hermione were together as they reminded him of James and Lily. Sirius also told Ron that he could still keep Pig. Ron was rather pleased at this as he had missed the tiny, crazy owl. There was also a short letter from Percy telling him that he loved him too, and that he was glad that he and Hermione were together and also expressing his dismay at Harry's behaviour, as well as his anger with the six members of their family who had hurt Ron.
Percy's letter also told of their father's anger and dismay of how he had been treated, and details of what Percy felt was a well-earned spanking for Ginny, which made Ron smile.
Once they had finished reading the letters, Ron and Hermione went back to their love-making.
After an early wake up call, Ron and the Grangers drove to London to get last minute supplies for their holiday abroad, for which they were due to leave the next day, and they were going to the French Riviera for sun, sea and sand. Though Ron slyly added sex to the list of things beginning with S when he and Hermione were alone which earned him a giggle from her.
Luckily for Ron his wizarding passport was still valid. He had gotten it the summer his father had won the Daily Prophet Prize Draw and then they had all gone to Egypt to visit Bill. Ron's wizarding passport was also charmed to look like a muggle passport in case of emergencies. This was how Ron would be able to go abroad with the Grangers.
After finding somewhere to park, they made their way around to all the shops they needed to visit. Ron was reluctant to let Hermione's parents pay for him to go on holiday with them, buy him things he would need for said holiday, and his school supplies. Hermione's father had merely said,
'Ron, you are our guest, and it is no problem for us to pay for all this, we are fairly well-off and, after all, we can't take our money with us when we shuffle off of this mortal coil.'
Ron had no idea what Richard's words meant in simple English until Hermione translated it for him, he had never read Shakespeare and so had never heard of the expression.
Once they arrived at a shopping centre, they split up into pairs, leaving Hermione to shop for her supplies with her mother, while Ron was paired with Richard. This made sense as Ron wanted Richard's help in what he should wear.
Together they bought three pairs of beach shorts each, two pairs of sunglasses each, as well as other casual clothes for not just the holiday but for every day wear too.
When they met up with Hermione and her mother all their shopping for the holiday was complete and loaded into the boot of their car. They took a short bus ride to Charing Cross to go to the Leaky Cauldron. Once they had passed through there, they were helped into Diagon Alley by Tom the landlord. Of course going to Gringott's would not be easy as they knew that Bill worked there. However, Ron knew his brother's schedule as he made mental notes as to when his brother came home for lunch while they were still at the Burrow. So, with a look at their watches they knew that it was the perfect time to visit the bank so they went inside.
Ron and the Grangers approached the desk where a goblin was counting some gold.
Ron then cleared his throat to get the goblin's attention before speaking.
'I wish to go somewhere private to discuss the opening of a new account,' he said.
The goblin looked at Ron before saying, 'Very well, follow me.'
The goblin led them to a private office, where an older looking goblin was working.
'Bogrod, we have a young wizard who wishes to open a new account with us,' said the first goblin.
Bogrod looked up from his work before saying, 'Very well, please take a seat, young man.'
Ron took his seat as the goblin left him and the Grangers alone with Bogrod.
'I wish to open a new account with Gringott's bank,' Ron stated clearly.
'What's your name?' asked Bogrod.
'Weasley, Ron Weasley.'
'Ah, a member of the oldest pureblood family in Britain …' said Bogrod.
'Er, I suppose,' said Ron.
'A drop of your blood will be enough to confirm that you are indeed a Weasley,' said Bogrod.
Bogrod then passed Ron a knife so Ron could provide some blood for Bogrod to verify his family, and once that was proven, Bogrod asked what specifications Ron wanted on the account and the vault itself.
'I would like for my girlfriend's name to be added to the account, and the usual security charms on the vault,' Ron told him.
Hermione and her parents were shocked at Ron's request.
'Are you sure you want my name on the account?' Hermione asked.
'Yes, I am very sure. I told you that whatever is mine is yours too, even if it's not very much, besides I'm going to marry you one day …' Ron replied.
Hermione blushed as her parents looked on, while Bogrod passed the parchment to Hermione so she could sign her name to the account.
'The name on the parchment and the account will change as soon as you are married,' said Bogrod, as he looked at the parchment before adding, 'whether the ceremony is magical or muggle …'
Hermione took Ron's hand as Bogrod asked his next question.
'How much money will you be depositing with us today, Mr Weasley?'
'Four Galleons, I know it's not much …' said Ron.
'No matter,' said Bogrod as Ron placed the Galleons on to the table before Bogrod tested them to see if they were real gold, which they were.
'Wait, I have five Galleons I would like to deposit,' said Hermione, before handing over the five Galleons that Ron gave her on the Hogwarts Express.
'How much is that in our money, Hermione?' Richard asked curiously.
Hermione whispered to her father, 'It's about forty-five pounds.'
'One Galleon is worth a fiver?' he asked.
'Yes,' replied Hermione.
'In that case, I'd like to make a contribution to my daughter and future son-in-law's new account,' said Richard.
'Richard, you don't have to do that, you've done so much for me already,' said Ron.
'I'm not just doing this for you, Ron, I'm doing it for Hermione too,' said Richard.
'Dad, you don't have to do this for us –' began Hermione she was cut off by her mother.
'Hermione dear, don't try and talk your father out of this, he has made up his mind and you know how stubborn he can be.'
'There's really no way I can talk you out of this, is there?' Ron asked.
'Nope,' said Richard, popping the P.
Ron and Hermione smiled as Richard said, 'I take it that you can exchange muggle money paid into an account into Galleons?'
'Of course,' said Bogrod, sounding insulted.
'My apologies, I meant no insult,' said Richard.
'Accepted, you were merely asking a question, now, how much do you wish to add to Mr Weasley's new account?'
'Two thousand pounds, but do you take Debit Cards?' Richard said.
'We do,' said Bogrod, as he held out his long fingered hand for Richard's card.
Richard handed over the card as Bogrod did some goblin magic with it as he asked Richard to sign a piece of parchment. Once that was done, Bogrod spoke again.
'The money is in your account now, Mr Weasley, here is your copy of your vault and account details; underlining your agreement with Gringott's the Wizarding Bank. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?' said Bogrod as he handed Ron a rolled up piece of parchment.
'Yes, there is one thing. Do you still offer a free medical scan to new account holders?' Ron said.
Bogrod looked shocked for a moment before saying, 'We do, but no-one has asked us to perform this service in seven hundred and fifty-two years.'
'I am asking you today,' said Ron.
Bogrod got to his feet and said, 'If you would like to follow me.'