Chapter 26

The clock had barely reached five minutes past five when Ron heard the front door to the flat open. A moment later, Hermione entered, shrugging off her Ministry robes. She disappeared into the bedroom briefly without even looking at him, and when she returned she was wearing a t-shirt and plain pants, and her hair was hanging down at her shoulders after having been tied up all day.

She busied herself for a few more moments, using her wand to sort through the bag she always took to work. Out came a coat, some quills and an empty container that had — that morning — contained her lunch. She did all this without saying a word.

It was only when the kitchen was in the sink to be washed and her bag was hanging perfectly on the hook by the door did she look over at Ron and smile. She looked happy, relaxed, but there was also wariness in her expression.

He returned the smile, though it didn't reach completely to the corners of his mouth either.

This had been their life for weeks now — tentative looks, incomplete smiles and a whole lot of uncertainty about where the other stood. Ron had once been able to easily ascertain what she was thinking. He'd have a fairly good idea about how she was feeling and always seemed to know just what she needed. But these days… things had changed.

They had both been trying to fix their relationship, and for the most part, it was working. Hermione had been leaving work on time and getting home when she was supposed to, while Ron had been trying to not let what had happened get to him so much, trying to be more understanding of what she needed to do. But it was moments like these — when they'd not seen each other for most of the day — that were still a challenge. It was uncomfortable and a little awkward, because it was obvious to the other what was on their mind. Until now, everything about them had been a natural progression. Now, parts just seemed forced. They smiled, they welcomed each other, yet the knowledge that there was still a problem that needed to be fixed lingered.

They were getting there, and a lot of the time, it was good. It was just sometimes where it still wasn't.

"Hey," Hermione said, coming into the kitchen and standing on her tiptoes to kiss Ron. He returned it, relishing in the feeling of her lips against his. They'd been doing this more in recent days. Kissing, hugging, touching each other again. It felt better than Ron would ever admit out loud, but he was fairly certain she enjoyed it, too. After all, she was usually the one to initiate it.

"Hey," he replied. "How was your day?" Her eyes drifted to the stove in the kitchen where a pot was bubbling on top.

Ron had come home five minutes before her and he'd started dinner. This was a common occurrence. He got home just that little bit earlier, so therefore he started. It only seemed fair, even if neither of them had ever discussed it. Usually, she'd help and they would cook together, but today, Hermione sat at the table instead.

"It was really good," she said, nodding. "We got so much done today. So many new policies and things written down. The drafts, of course. We aren't really up to having a published law yet. But everyone is on board with the ideas I've been suggesting. It's great. After Kingsley asked us to start thinking about stuff, all I can do is think about how many things I want to present to him for the rights of magical creatures. Their skills are so undervalued and underappreciated and it's just not fair."

Despite himself, Ron smiled. He loved how she spoke with so much passion about what she did, and the way her eyes lit up when she told him all about her day was something he'd always envisioned after work. Then sitting down to a nice meal, talking about their day and all the exciting things they did. He loved that she was so passionate about her work, and he liked that she was so good at what she did, too. He'd always admired that trait in her, and he wished that this had been them the whole time. He would much rather her come home to him and tell him about what she did than not come home at all.

The fact that she did that now was the best thing he ever could have asked for.

"That's great," he said, peering into the saucepan. The sauce was bubbling along nicely, the spoon charmed to stir once every three minutes.

"How was your day?" Hermione asked. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you for lunch today. They gave me a later one than usual and —"

"My day was the same as any other," Ron said, cutting her off before she gave him a spiel about her work roster. Ever since he'd told her he would like to have lunch with her at least once a week, she'd taken to giving him reasons as to why she couldn't when she was unable to make it. Despite him telling her over and over again that he understood it was beyond her control most of the time, she still seemed to feel guilty whenever their schedules didn't line up.

Sometimes, Ron wished he'd never said anything to begin with. Her obliviousness to the situation sometimes seemed better than her fretting over something they both knew she had no control over.

"Mostly theory with a little practical at the end of the day," he continued. "Tomorrow's all practical."

"What was the topic today?" Hermione asked curiously, sounding genuinely interested in what he was doing in Auror training. He enjoyed telling her about all the amazing things he'd learnt as much as he loved listening to all of her daily successes.

"Continuing on from yesterday," he said. "Identifying Dark magic where it isn't obvious. I think I'm alright at it now. Harry seems to have an innate ability to spot it where the rest of us can't, but is that surprising?"

"Not really," Hermione said. "I guess not." She thought for a moment then smiled up at him. "But I'm sure you're amazing at it, too. Don't sell yourself short."

Ron shrugged. "There's some things I manage easier than Harry. This is just his area of expertise. We'd probably make a good team when we're qualified."

"Of course!" Hermione said brightly. "Ron, have I ever told you how I know you're going to make an amazing Auror one day? I haven't even seen you do anything, but you're so… this job is right for you. You bring so much to the profession."

Ron didn't say anything. He checked the sauce again and turned down the stove. Eventually, he turned back to her and said, "That day seems so far away, though, doesn't it? Who knew three years could feel so long when you're really looking forward to something?"

"It'll come eventually," Hermione assured him. "And you'll be one of the best Aurors the Ministry has ever seen. I know it."

Ron snorted. "Maybe."

"You will."

Ron shrugged. That was what he wanted to be, and if truth be told, he really was one of the better trainees (along with Harry) but he didn't want to label himself as one of the best ever. That felt like a lot of pressure. He just wanted to be a good Auror.

He Summoned some plates onto the kitchen bench. He then pulled out two glasses. "Drink?" he asked Hermione.

"Just water," Hermione said. "I don't think I had enough of it today."

"That busy, huh?" Ron said, refraining from reminding her once again that looking after herself was more important than completing her work. She'd heard it enough. Telling her would only bring tension to what was becoming one of the easiest conversations they'd had in weeks. Besides, it was small steps with her. At least she was remembering to eat every day — even if it wasn't always with Ron.

"Just a lot of discussions," Hermione assured him. "Sometimes my mind just gets away from me…"

"Sometimes?" Ron laughed.

She blushed.

"It's alright," Ron said. "Lucky you have me to help you remember." He placed the glass of water in front of her and then ran his hand along her back comfortingly. He really did miss their closeness, and tonight seemed like the perfect time to start initiating contact with her again.

She smiled at his touch, even if she tried not to show it by drinking her water.

Smiling himself, he turned to go back to preparing dinner, but he was stalled by Hermione grabbing his hand. Soft, warm skin on his that sent shivers all the way around his body. Merlin… he'd definitely not felt that in weeks.

"Ron…" Hermione shifted in her chair, suddenly looking uncomfortable and completely unaware of the sudden effect she was having on him with her hand in his.

"Yeah?" he said.

More hesitation. She averted his gaze for a moment before returning it to him. He'd never seen her so uncertain in her life. She was always so sure of herself, so confident in having an answer for everything. It was disconcerting seeing her struggle with handling their relationship. She seemed clueless at times, like nothing in the Hogwarts library had the information she needed, or the words to express.

"We're okay now, aren't we?" she said softly. "I mean… I know it's not perfect, and I know we still have things to work on, but… it's okay, isn't it? What we're doing now? How things are progressing forward?"

There was a thumping in Ron's chest that had not been present before now. He didn't even need a moment to give his answer. "We're okay," he said. "Things are going well, if you ask me." He withdrew his hand from hers and grinned. "You just touched me and I kind of wanted to take you to bed."

She smiled. "You can if you want."

"I'm cooking."

She smiled again, his words seeming to have some kind of effect on her worries. "I've been really trying, Ron."

"Me too," Ron said.

"And it's working?"

"Is what I'm doing working for you?"

"It never stopped working for me. Ron…" And now she blushed a deep red in a very un-Hermione-like fashion. "You have always made me feel so many things all at once. You're the one thing in my life that is not logical, that doesn't always make sense, but also the one thing that I never want to leave it. I love you so, so much, and I hate what's happened to us. I hate that I never saw it, and I hate that it's my fault."

Ron sat down in the chair opposite her, taking her hand again. It was so soft, so gentle, and he didn't want to let her go ever again. "It's both of our faults," he assured her. "We're both sort of to blame. I got myself into this with you, knowing what you're like. You… well, you got yourself into this too, knowing what I was like. We both just failed to remember." He smiled back at her, giving her hand a squeeze. "We'll be alright," he promised her. "I can't imagine spending another day without you. Even when we're old, decrepit things, it'll be fine because I'll have you."

"It's just not like it used to be," Hermione said softly.

"We were far too dependent on one another before anyway," Ron said. "We can make it better. It might just take more time."

Hermione visibly relaxed and Ron brought her hand to his lips.

Although he knew that it wasn't, in that moment things almost felt normal again. The two of them sitting at the table, holding hands and talking. This was how it had once been and this was how it was supposed to be all the time.

Things hadn't been right for so long, but this felt right again all of a sudden — as if a weight had been lifted from both of them by the simple question of are we okay?

Of course they were okay, because they were both making the effort. They both wanted to be okay.

They looked at each other, smiling together, and Ron sensing the sudden joy, not just in himself, but in her, too. They loved each other so damn much and for the first time ever, Ron realised that she loved him just as much as he loved her. She just had a different way of expressing her love than he did.

And as he realised this, his own love for her — something he'd been too afraid to unleash lest he be hurt again — burst from its hiding place, nearly knocking him backwards by the sudden impact. He jumped as such intense feelings flooded him once again, overpowering all of his senses. She was so beautiful, and he could smell her perfume, see her smile, see everything he'd always loved about her. She was… perfect the way she was.

These feelings, this love, had him jumping to his feet, dragging her up with him. Her eyes… they were so beautiful, so happy to be with him.

"Ron —" Hermione began, seeming to sense the intense moment that had come on, but she was cut off by Ron cupping her face and kissing her hard on the mouth. A kiss hadn't felt so good in… well… a very long time. Maybe when they'd first kissed, in the middle of a war, it had been this good. But in a way, this was even better, because it wasn't a kiss that either of them thought might be their last.

She responded for a moment, kissing him back with as much force, but then she pulled away, looking up at him. "Ron," she breathed. She looked pleased and flustered and delighted all at once.

He held her for a few moments longer, enjoying the feeling of having her — properly — in his arms again. He wanted to hold her forever and never let her go — never think about letting her go. But that was impossible, he knew, especially now because —

He swore.

"What?" Hermione asked.

Ron let her go as abruptly as he'd grabbed her and hurried back into the kitchen. He peered into the saucepan he'd momentarily forgotten about. The sauce had burnt at the bottom.

He looked back to Hermione and smirked ever so slightly. "I blame you," he said.

She frowned.

"I burnt dinner because I was distracted."

Hermione flushed, another smile creeping up to her lips. And then she laughed, and the sound of her laugh was sweet to Ron's ears. There hadn't been much laughter here recently, and it filled him with so much love for her — so much happiness.

"I wasn't really hungry, anyway," she said a moment later.

Ron stared down at the burnt pot and Vanished it with his wand. "You know what?" he said. "Neither am I." He took the few steps to reach her and embraced her once more. This time, she didn't pull away, but encouraged him to keep kissing her.

This was how it was supposed to be. This was how he wanted it to be. All the time.

They were going to be okay. Even if it took them as many more weeks, they were going to be okay in the end.

They just had to keep having evenings like these.

I hope I didn't portray that it is completely resolved just yet, because it's not. I just wanted to show a good moment within it. They're on their way, though!

I hope you all enjoyed!