Chapter 21

"Ron, are you okay? You're staring."

"What?"

"You're staring at me."

"Oh, right. Yeah, I'm okay… sorry." Ron grinned at her. "I just think you're really beautiful when you're all serious and do all that official stuff, you know?"

Hermione went very red, shooting an apologetic look towards the amused witch sitting across from them. Then she returned her gaze to the pile of papers in front of her and cleared her throat. "Yes, well, we need to do this now." She passed Ron one of the official-looking papers. Ron didn't miss the small smile she tried to hide as she did so.

Not at all sorry about his lapse in concentration, Ron drew the parchment towards him and scanned it quickly. He took out his wand and brought the tip of his parchment to it, but didn't bind the contract.

"So," he said, "I just bind my name to the contract and this place —" he gestured around the small flat where they now sat, "— is ours?" He'd never had to deal with this before, and honestly, he was just as confused about everything as he was about using the microwave at the Grangers' place.

"That's correct," the witch said, now looking at Ron with a keen interest. "For fifteen Galleons a week."

"And if we choose to move out —"

"Just do it, Ron!" Hermione said irritably. "You're stalling."

"I'm just making sure everything is in order," Ron muttered, though he tapped the contract with his wand and watched as his name appeared underneath Hermione's. He passed the parchment back to the owner of the flat.

She studied it with interest. "Huh," she said, "who would have thought that I'd receive an application for my old little flat from two heroes of the wizarding world."

"Yeah, well, don't go telling people that," Ron said. "And, Hermione here is really good at protective enchantments, so even if you did, they wouldn't be able to find it."

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, shooting the witch another apologetic look. "If you read the contract —"

"It's fine, it's fine," the witch said, Vanishing the contract they'd both agreed to. "Of course, by signing it, there are privacy enchantments locked into it. Then, of course, I will always protect people who rent from me, regardless of who you are."

"So, it's ours now, then?" Ron asked, looking around the small living area. It wasn't much — a tiny living room, an even smaller kitchen, with a single bedroom and bathroom off to the side — but it was perfect for them. Not to mention that if they needed anything, they simply had to go downstairs and they'd be in Diagon Alley. No Floo travel, no Apparating, or anything.

"Yes," the witch said. "All yours, so long as you pay —"

"Yeah, yeah, the money," Ron said.

Hermione glared at him.

"Speaking of, I do require a down payment of fifteen Galleons now, to secure the contract."

Ron, who'd been warned of this prior to coming, extracted a small pouch containing fifteen Galleons from his pocket. He grinned as he passed it over to the witch. He only felt satisfaction at parting with it, knowing that it was his first major contribution as an adult earning his own money. Sure, he'd bought himself some new clothes and could now afford to take Hermione out, but this was theirs. Their own place, for which he was fully independent in paying for.

"I've never seen anyone look so pleased with handing their gold over to me," the witch commented.

"Lucky you've got us then, eh?" Ron said. Hermione shook her head.

"Well," the witch said, standing up, "here are your keys. Though, the place can also be accessed via spells if you so wish. You'll just need to set them." She smiled. "Enjoy. If you have any issues, owl me, and I'll respond within two days."

"And if it's a leaking pipe?" Ron asked.

"You have a wand, do you not?"

Ron considered her tone highly rude, but chose to ignore it, along with Hermione's laugh.

"Enjoy," the witch said, and she left, leaving Ron and Hermione alone in the flat — their flat.

A silence ensued — one of the many, peaceful, and pleasant silences that had come to be a part of their relationship; a time for at least Ron to consider just how happy he was with the turn his life had taken after the war.

"We should celebrate tonight," Hermione said after a moment. "You and me. We have Diagon Alley at our disposal, let's not waste it."

Ron looked at her, a smile playing at his lips. "You mean to say, you want to celebrate us moving in together by going out?"

"Well, we don't have to go out. We can always stay in, and —"

"I've learnt to be an alright cook," Ron said. "Since living with Harry. We both have."

"Well, that makes one of us," Hermione said. "Never had the desire to learn…"

"Well, you're lucky you have me!" Ron said, beaming. "We can have a nice night in, in our new place. And I'll cook for you. I'm not fantastic, but I'm sure I can get something together. Then maybe afterwards we could go down to the ice-cream place and — I love you."

Hermione was looking at him with such a tender expression, apparently from his offer to cook for her, that the words — as they always did in a moment like this — slipped out. She had that effect on him. Just like earlier, when they'd been discussing the contract, she had been so serious and so focused that he hadn't been able to stop himself from staring at her. He couldn't believe he'd made it over a year with her, in a post-war world that was still trying to find its feet again. Sometimes, it was still hard to believe that they could be doing something as simple as finding a place together, when just over a year ago, he believed they were all going to die.

His words seemed to snap her out of some reverie. Her eyes regained focus and she looked up at him.

Ron smiled at her. "You alright there?"

"Yes," she said. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine. More than fine, actually." She shuffled towards him, allowing Ron to gather her in his arms. He held her tightly. "I love you, too," she added a moment later, almost as an afterthought.

Ron laughed. "Come on," he said after a moment, pulling away from her. "We should probably go and get our stuff. Though, we don't need much, do we?" The flat had come fully furnished, apart from their personal belongings.

"No, we don't," Hermione said, frowning suddenly at the ugly sofa they were sitting on. "Though, Isadora did say that if we wanted our own things, we just had to contact her and she'd remove these ones for us."

"Yes, but we don't have our own things, do we?" Ron said. "I mean, most of the stuff at Grimmauld Place — including the bed I sleep in — belongs to Harry. And the stuff at your place is yours parents, isn't it?"

Hermione looked up at him, thoughtful. He could tell an idea was forming in her head, and for once, he could guess what it was.

"We'll have to make do with it for the meantime," Ron said. "Maybe one day we can buy our own furniture. I had a look at that bed in there —" he pointed towards the bedroom, "— and it doesn't look very comfortable, so that'll be the first to go."

She smiled, taking his hand, and they made their way down from the flat and onto Diagon Alley. "You surprise me, Ron," she said once they reached the busy street.

"You've said that before," Ron replied. "I amaze you, I surprise you, I impress you…"

"Well, you do."

"In a good way this time, I hope."

"Of course. Always in a good way."

"So, what amazing thing have I done this time to surprise you?" Ron asked with a smile.

"Just that once upon a time ago, I had serious doubts that you could ever be so thoughtful, so caring… so affectionate…"

"You were looking at me all wrong," Ron told her. "Besides, back then, I was not only younger, but I had no idea how to approach things with you. I had no idea, at sixteen years old, how to say 'Hermione, I know we're friends, but I really like you in a more-than-friends kind of way'. Nor did I have the confidence to do it, even if I had known how. But I always cared about you, and Merlin, I always thought about you."

Hermione raised her eyebrow at him, to which Ron added, with a smirk, "Not even going to deny it, Hermione. There's no point. That time between the end of sixth year, and Harry arriving before the wedding and Horcruxes… that time when it was just you and me, I had many thoughts about you — some innocent, like wondering what you would do if I just kissed you there and then. Other times, I got a little carried away with my imagination, and it ran a little wild."

"Charming, Ron," Hermione said, though she was smiling and looking rather pleased with herself.

"What?" Ron said. "Most of those thoughts became a reality anyway. You made sure of that, not even two weeks in."

It seemed Hermione felt she didn't need to give a dignified response, instead smirking as they weaved their way through Diagon Alley.

"Well," Ron said as they reached the Leaky Cauldron, "at least I don't have to wonder how you feel about me anymore. That's one less thing to worry about. I mean, you wouldn't have moved in with me if you didn't feel something, right?"

Hermione squeezed his hand as she pulled him through the archway and into the pub, and for Ron, that was a good enough answer.

…

The idea had occurred to him later that day — a way that he could make their first night in their new home memorable. Their first year together had been rather dateless, with Hermione going to Australia, Ron's exhaustion from Auror training, and then Hermione going back to Hogwarts. There simply hadn't been the time to even go out to dinner one evening.

But now they had all the time in the world; all the evenings together, all the weekends to do whatever they wanted.

So, naturally, Ron decided the best date was staying in.

He didn't know where the idea had come from, but right before starting on the dinner he'd promised to cook her, he decided that eating at the table would be boring.

A picnic, he thought, would be much more interesting, and much more romantic.

Hermione seemed to agree.

"This is why I keep saying you surprise me," she said, grinning at him as she watched a blanket, two Firewhisky glasses (and the Firewhisky) and some cushions appear in the centre of their small living room. Simultaneously, the sofa, the armchair and the coffee table all jumped out of the way to make room.

"What part?" Ron asked. "The part where I can do all that non-verbally now, or this?" He indicated the picnic.

"Your romantic side," Hermione said softly. "You're a romantic at heart, and I like it very much."

"Only for you," Ron told her. "You make the effort worth it."

She flushed with pleasure and sat down on one of the cushions while Ron Summoned the food. He had to admit, it wasn't the best — his mother could have made something ten times better — but he was quite pleased with how it had turned out. He just hoped it tasted alright.

Ron joined her on the second cushion, and she beamed at him. Then she laughed when he picked up the Firewhisky bottle.

"There are a lot less potent things than that around, you know?" she said.

"And where would the fun in that be?" Ron asked, pouring some of the drink into each of the glasses.

"What, you want to get us drunk, do you?" Hermione said, sounding amused.

"Honestly, it was all they had," Ron confessed. "There wasn't much of a choice. Unless I wanted to pay two hundred Galleons for a tiny little bottle of something."

Hermione accepted the now full glass of Firewhisky, still smiling.

Ron returned it, watching her for a moment. "You really are worth it," he said eventually. "I just wish we'd done this sooner. Earlier."

"You mean in the middle of a war?" Hermione asked.

"I mean, even earlier than that," Ron said. "Around the… time of Lavender. I really liked you then, but I had no idea how to tell you. And I also had no idea how you felt and thought that if I said anything — even if I had the confidence to — it might have destroyed our friendship."

"I asked you to the party, though, didn't I?" Hermione said. "I mean, I thought I had been obvious —"

"Nah, you needed to have spelt it out for me a little clearer," Ron said. "I thought you asked me as a friend. If I had thought it was anything more, even the slightest chance… well, I wouldn't have gone for… Lavender." He always felt so guilty admitting that, but enough time had passed, he thought, that it was okay. He'd been sixteen then — young and stupid and very unsure of himself. Besides, she was happy with Seamus these days.

"I'll know that for next time then," Hermione said. Her expression turned thoughtful, and Ron was suddenly aware that they had not yet touched the food, nor their drinks. He moved the plates of food in front of them.

"Can I ask you something?" Hermione suddenly said, ignoring the food.

"Of course," Ron said. "Er, as long as it doesn't embarrass me."

She smiled, shaking her head. "If you didn't like Lavender… in that way… why did you go out with her for so long? I thought… well, honestly, you never were good at hiding your feelings, and I at least strongly suspected how you felt about me, and then all of a sudden you were with her — after I'd asked you to the party, too. I was confused, to say the least."

"There's a story behind that that I don't really want to tell you," Ron said. "But to put it quickly, Ginny pointed out to me after the Quidditch match that I'd never kissed anyone before, which annoyed me. Then she added that you had… you and Krum… well, that annoyed me too."

Hermione seemed to want to argue his statement, but he cut her off. "I didn't seek her out or anything, if that's what you're wondering. She came to me, and… and I was upset with you. I admit that. I just wanted to forget."

Hermione stared at him, looking rather surprised by that information. Ron never had told her about that evening, and he hoped he never would have to go into detail about it. He wasn't proud of it, and whilst Lavender wasn't a bad person, he'd never really liked her all that much and often found himself thinking about Hermione and wondering what she was doing when he was with Lavender.

"You should eat," Ron said after a few moments of silence. He indicated the plate in front of her. "Before it goes cold."

Hermione seemed to accept the fact that the topic was no longer up for discussion, nodding slowly, and turning to their meal.

They began eating, striking up less intense and less uncomfortable conversations than past failed relationships.

"You know what we should do?" Ron said as he cleared their plates away with his wand, along with the glasses and the Firewhisky that had been too strong for either of them to drink too much of. "We should throw a housewarming party next weekend. Have everyone over."

"There's really not much room," Hermione said. "By everyone, do you mean… everyone?"

"Well, you know, Harry, Ginny, my brothers and whatnot. Neville, Seamus, Dean, Luna… that lot. Though I doubt Bill and Fleur would come, but I suppose Victoire would be welcome."

"Hardly a place for a baby, don't you think?" Hermione said. "I imagine there'd be plenty of drinking — I mean, you saw the Common Room when we were all under age…"

"It's why I said I'd doubt they'd come." Ron grinned. "It will be good to celebrate with everyone. All of us together again, for something good for once, too. What do you think?"

Hermione smiled. "I don't see an issue with that. It's right before NEWT results are due to arrive, too, so might be a good distraction."

"Yes, because you'll need that from the one hundred NEWTs and one hundred and one job offers you'll get afterwards," Ron said.

"Don't say that, Ron."

"I love you."

"You can't use that as a way to change the conversation —"

"Yes I can, because it always works." Ron shuffled on the cushion so he could kiss her. "I love you."

"Didn't you say we'd get ice-cream after dinner?" Hermione said, pulling away from him.

"Yeah, I guess, but we don't have to." Ron kissed her again, but she pulled away once more, looking at him, rather amused.

"So, I take it you're not actually interested in ice-cream?"

"Not at all," Ron said, and for the third time, he kissed her, and finally she didn't pull away, instead wrapping her arms around his neck to draw him closer.

This was a little bridging chapter here between 'chapters' of their lives haha. I have a few of them throughout the story, just to lead into other things :) I hope you all enjoyed anyway!

Also, if anyone is wondering, I've actually just finished WRITING chapter 73, and it's so interesting to see where they are here and how far they've progressed as a couple up to that point. I'm having so much fun writing this!