Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ease of Tension

Hermione wasn't sure what to do after she had somewhat made up with her parents. She felt a little awkward being around them, but she didn't want to leave either. She knew that things would only get more awkward if she didn't at least try to make things more comfortable now. That's why she was really glad when her mum suggested that they continue to watch the football match so that they would have something to do. Though it was awkward, Hermione couldn't remember the last time that her mum actually watched the game with them, as Hermione would often watch the game with her dad when she came to visit her parents before now. It was also awkward because she knew her dad wasn't really paying attention to the game as he didn't cheer very much when his team had scored.

"I'm sorry dad, I think I've ruined this game," Hermione sighed.

"Nonsense," John rolled his eyes and smiled at her. "Sure, I've hardly paid attention, but I already told you, you being here is more important."

"But we just scored, and you haven't done your 'goal dance'," Hermione said.

"I don't have a 'goal dance'," John protested.

"Sure, you do, even I know that," Jean put in, her eyes twinkling in amusement, "you jump up shouting 'Goal!' and then you hop around four times before you quickly sit down again."

"That is not a dance," John said blushing slightly as his wife and daughter laughed. "It's a tradition."

"Oh, if it's a tradition then you must do the cheer now," his wife continued to tease him.

"You can't force it, if you're not caught up in the heat of the moment, the traditions are meaningless," John said huffily. "I'm sure Ron would tell you the same if he was here, Hermione." He then frowned as he realized something, "does he even know about football?"

"Yes, Ron heard of football from his friend Dean, who is a West Ham fan," Hermione said, and her dad gasped. "So that was the team that Ron rooted for too …"

"You didn't let that carry on did you! You told him that Manchester United was better, right!" John demanded and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Please dad, if I told him that there would be no way he would change his mind," Hermione said. "Ron hates joining the band wagon, after all Ron's Quidditch team is the worst team in the history of all teams that have played professionally in any sport and he will support them until he dies."

"Oh," John wasn't sure what to say about that, not knowing what Quidditch was but he did know die heart fans even when their team was relegated on a semi regular basis. Being a fan wasn't always logical.

"Don't worry Dad, Ron had never really watched football much, so it was easy for him to become a Manchester United fan since it was the only games that I was willing to watch with him," Hermione said, she didn't mention that Ron had found football quite boring to watch until she did her own 'goal dance' (that she had learned from her dad, though hers wasn't as precise) and he was all for watching games with her after that.

"That's my girl," John beamed at her, and she laughed.

"Speaking of Ron how are you two, there's so much I want to hear about him," Jean said, the last time he was here she didn't even get the story about how they met.

"Actually, Ron is probably a nervous wreck right now," Hermione said just now remembering how strangely she had been acting this morning. "I hadn't plan on coming here until this morning and then he dropped me off …"

"He drove you here … then he should still be around," Jean said. "You should invite him over and you both can have lunch with us."

"He didn't drive me, he Apparated," Hermione said, and she felt the bitterness she had the last month when she mentioned magic. Any time she would think about magic with her parents she felt this, and she was saddened by that fact.

"Is that what he did when you two disappeared last time?" John forced himself to ask, he knew that they were all uncomfortable about the magic issue, but he also knew that they couldn't avoid it.

"Yes," Hermione looked at him, wondering if it had scared them when she had disappeared like that, but she couldn't ask and she knew they wouldn't tell her that now. "I do need to call him whenever I'm ready to go, I suppose I can invite him over for lunch instead … I just don't know if he'll be ready for that."

"Ready, what does he need to be ready for?" Jean questioned.

"Just tell him that we would be happy to have him over," John said having a better idea about why the lad might be nervous. He knew last time Ron had been more nervous about the situation that was about to happen, but clearly the lad would want to make a good impression on his girlfriend's parents.

"Okay," Hermione said, getting up to go make the phone call in private.

O

Ron was quite nervous when he walked into the Grangers' house and waited to be reintroduced to Hermione's parents. It was true that he had met her parents before, but he hadn't spent much of that time getting to know them, nor had he tried to make a good impression, he was merely there to support Hermione. Now, however, he wanted everything to go well and hoped that they liked him.

"Ron, it so good to see you again," Jean Granger said as she gave him a hug.

"Yes, it's nice to see you too, Mrs. Granger," Ron said nervously.

"Please call me Jean," she responded with a smile, "after all, we're practically family now."

"Mum," Hermione groaned in embarrassment as she blushed, and Ron chuckled awkwardly.

"I was just about to start making something for us to eat, but I thought I'd ask if you had any preferences," Jean said, paying no attention to her daughter's protest.

"No, I'm sure whatever you make will be wonderful," Ron said, hoping he wasn't being rude.

"Ron can eat pretty much anything," Hermione explained, "though he claims he doesn't like corn beef sandwiches," she added with a twinkle in her eyes and the two of them smiled at each other.

"Do I sense a story there?" Jean asked, smiling at the couple.

"A corn beef sandwich was the first thing that Hermione gave me," Ron started to explain. "You see I met Hermione at the café she worked at …."

"I had picked up an extra shift on Thursday night and that was when we met," Hermione added trying to give some background information.

"Yeah, and she practically tried to run me off, telling me that she wasn't interested in me, before I even said ten words to her," Ron chuckled.

"I could tell that you were interested in me … at least once you had deemed it worth your time to look at me," Hermione said and teased him lightly.

"I was trying to work, but I knew I was being rude, so I tried to show better manners," Ron rolled his eyes. "And you're right, as soon as I looked at you, I couldn't keep my eyes off you. But it's not like you were better."

"Guilty," Hermione agreed.

"But she still turned me down when I asked her out," Ron said turning to Jean who was highly amused by the two and just generally happy to see how happy her daughter seemed to be. "So, I asked her when she was going to be working again."

"And I told him the next day at four," Hermione said, "and then he didn't show up until six! Can you believe that? Showing up two hours late! And then when he ordered he told me to just make him whatever I thought he would want!"

"The nerve," Jean gasped playfully.

"I don't understand," John Granger said, he had joined the others in the hallway once Ron and Hermione started describing how they had met. He then turned to Ron holding out his hand, "It's good to see you again, Ron."

"You too, Mr. Granger," Ron said shaking the hand and was pleased to see that Hermione's dad genuinely looked happy to see him too.

"Please call me John, as Jean has said you're practically family now," John said, wanting to put Ron further at ease. Though he didn't know Ron personally yet, he would never forget how the other man had taken the time to make sure he knew that Hermione would be looked after when she was angry at them. "And I don't see what the problem was with what Ron had done. Did you tell him to get there at four? And didn't you worked at a place that served food?"

"She shouldn't have had to tell him to get there at four! He should have shown up early to show how important seeing her was," Jean told her husband.

"I'm sure the lad didn't want to seem too eager," John said. "There's nothing wrong with playing it cool, especially in the beginning when you're don't want to scare the girl … I know I was a nervous wreck when I was courting you."

"Don't remind me," Jean chuckled, remembering how she had tried to guess his feelings for her when they first met and agonized over whether he liked her or not. "You had me so confused for the week before you asked me out."

"Sorry," was all John could think to say to that. "I take it, it didn't go well for you either, Ron."

"Not at all," Ron chuckled. "She served me the dreaded corn beef sandwich and was angry with me until I had to confess to her that, as you put it, I didn't want to appear too eager."

"It was amazing how quickly my anger disappeared when he admitted he was just as nervous as I was," Hermione said smiling at Ron. "And Mum, maybe we should just get some take away, that way we can all talk together."

"Hm, I don't know," Jean frowned, she didn't really like that idea, seeing as she knew that Hermione didn't often have home cooking, though she like the idea of being able to talk with everyone more.

"Did you know that Hermione has started cooking twice a week," Ron said.

"And the food is edible?" John asked and smirked when Hermione glared at him.

"I've become a decent cook," Hermione said.

"You're better than decent now that Mum has been helping," Ron said smiling.

"I still have a lot to learn, but at least now I probably won't burn down the kitchen when I cook," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Besides, Ron is a much better cook than I am … and he actually likes doing it."

"I like doing it when it's only every once in a while," Ron corrected. "If I had to do it on a schedule it wouldn't be as fun."

"I know what you mean," Jean said. "There were times when I came home and it felt such a chore to have to cook something. And other times it was relaxing when I could just do it at my own pace." She then turned to Hermione and said, "I suppose take away won't be so bad, should I just get the usual at Jack's?"

"Yes please!" Hermione answered quickly, as it was her favorite restaurant near her home, and she had missed having food from there.

"Ron, join me in my study as these two decide on what we should eat," John offered, and Ron shared a look with Hermione before he followed her dad to the study.

Ron looked at the room and took in his surroundings more than he had the last time he was there. Last time the room had seemed a little ominous, but he figured that had more to do with the mood he was in at the time. Now the room looked mostly like a library that had a nice desk and a few comfortable chairs.

"Would you like a drink? I know it's a little early, but I always feel like I have to offer one when I come in this room with a guest?" John said, feeling slightly nervous and he could tell the lad was too.

"No, I'm okay, but thank you," Ron said having a seat in one of the comfortable chairs and John sat in his.

"So," John started once he got into his chair and then said with a very serious expression. "Hermione told me that you started off as a West Ham fan, but you have since taken on Manchester United."

"Er …" Ron said, being caught off guard by the subject matter and how serious he was taking this. Hermione had told him that her dad was a fan of that football team, but he hadn't realized that he would take it this seriously. "Well, that has more to do with how much Mione cheers for the team than anything. To be honest, I don't really get football too much and Mione hasn't been able to explain it to me."

"Well then you're just going to have to come over when the next game is on so I can explain things to you properly," John said, and Ron nodded his head. "But I'm only going to do that if you stay true to the Red Devils!"

"Don't worry, I can't change my allegiance now," Ron chuckled. "Though Hermione can't explain anything, she's a good fan."

"That's my girl." John smiled. "You know next week is the penultimate game and Manchester has a good chance at pulling off the championship … I don't know how helpful I'd be in explaining things to you but you're welcome to come to cheer the boys on."

"I'd love to … er … if you don't think that'll go against tradition," Ron said suddenly worried. "I wouldn't want to mess anything up."

John laughed at that as Ron looked at him oddly, "sorry, I had just tried to explain traditions to the girls earlier and they couldn't understand, but I knew you would."

"Right," Ron chuckled, he knew that Hermione had a hard time understanding the things he did whenever the Cannons were playing.

"Now let's get to business, you said that you watched some of the games, how many games and how did the team do," John said serious again.

Ron was just as serious as he thought of the games, "we've watched about fifteen games and their record in those games was 10-2-3 … er … or is it 10-3-2 … I can't remember which one is a tie or a loss, but they tied three times."

"10-2-3, you had it right the first time," John nodded his head, "so I reckon they don't have ties in …er … Quickish?"

"Quidditch," Ron said surprised that her dad knew that term but figured that Hermione must have brought that up. "And no, there are no ties. Mostly because there's no time limit to the game."

"Really … then how does the game end?" John asked, puzzled.

"I'll talk Quidditch with you all you want, but let's settle the football matter first," Ron chuckled. "Explaining Quidditch will take hours."

"Good point," John nodded, "I think you saw enough games with a winning record so it should be okay that you come over. But we'll put you on probation," he added, "we have two games left and we need to win one of them or Arsenal needs to lose."

"I see," Ron said nervously, "did Hermione tell you that my Quidditch team is …."

"Yes, she mentioned your team is … er …" John started to say.

"Terrible," Ron grimaced, he hated to admit that out loud, usually he would try to explain that away, but he had to be honest here, He didn't have a good track record for rooting for a winning team. He didn't want to mess with Hermione's dad's team.

"I think if you stick with a team like that, you're a fan worth having on my side," John said kindly. "But if they lose, you'll never be invited back."

"Deal," Ron grinned at the man, shaking his hand again.

"Deal?" Hermione said as she now stood at the door, "what deal are you making?"

"Oh … er … your dad invited us to watch the game next week," Ron said, his ears turning red realizing that he should have asked if she wanted to come next week or not. He glanced at John and noticed he had a sheepish expression too, and he realized that John was thinking the same thing.

"I see," Hermione said amused by their expression. She wasn't sure she would want to do that, but she wasn't about to stop Ron and her dad from bonding. "Mum said that lunch will be here soon and we might as well come to the table."

"We'll be right there," John said and once she left he added, "I probably should have waited to invite you when she was around, she might not want to be around us that much."

"Yeah, I was thinking that too," Ron sighed, "but I know that she wants to spend time we you and her mum."

"We shouldn't keep them waiting," John said clapping Ron on the back before they both left the study to join the girls at the table.

"I know the last time I asked this, things didn't go so well, but I'm still curious about what you do, Ron," Jean said as everyone got settled and indeed the tension in the room was palpable as everyone knew Ron would have to mention magic if he was going to describe his job.

"Is it okay?" Ron asked Hermione, he needed for her to tell him that she was comfortable with this or not. He really hoped she would, he was sure that the fissure between Hermione and her parents would never be able to heal if they avoided magic and he didn't want that. But he would do anything Hermione wanted.

Hermione nodded her head, she wasn't sure if she would be comfortable with them talking magic, as she just felt her anger rise, but she knew that she would never get over this if she didn't face it head on. She just hoped one day that she wouldn't feel this bitterness when she was with her parents.

"Like I said, I'm an Auror," Ron answered. "I told you it's like a detective but I'm not sure if that's the best description. The Auror office handles a lot of different departments and it's more than just policing. I personally and the Lead Auror of Surveillance. I mainly keep track of suspicious behavior or occurrences and define how potentially dangerous they are."

"Do you get involved with the people you suspect often?" Jean said a little worried that his job might be dangerous.

"Not as much as I used to when I was just a regular Auror," Ron said. "Now that I'm the one making the calls I only go out when it's necessary."

"That's just making it sound more dangerous," Hermione pointed out to Ron, who smiled at her sheepishly. "He does have a dangerous job, and I do worry about him quite a bit when he has to go on a mission, but he's driven to make our world a better place for everyone."

"Thanks," Ron smiled at her, hearing the pride she had in him.

"That's very admirable," John said, he remembered that Ron had said he lost two brothers and wondered how much that had shaped the lad's decision to have this career, but he didn't think they were ready for that talk yet. Just talking about magic was putting a strain on the conversation but he hoped they would be able to manage it.

"It's the only thing that I could do," Ron shrugged.

"So, Hermione, the last we heard you were about to take your SQE, have you gotten your results back yet?" Jean asked and then started to worry when Hermione stiffened.

"You know we would still be proud of you even if you didn't do well," John reassured hastily when he also noticed Hermione's reaction to what Jean said.

"She aced the test," Ron said when Hermione wasn't able to say anything and then moved closer and wrapped an arm around her when she started to breathe heavily and reacted nervously. "Are you okay?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Do you want me to tell them?" Ron asked next and she shrugged, so he quickly cast a charm so they couldn't be heard, "I know this is hard for you and if you're not ready we can put it off …"

"I don't want to run from this," Hermione said leaning into him, "but this just makes me feel like I always do when I'm with my parents."

"I know," Ron sighed.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked about that," Jean said sadly as she watched her daughter's severe reaction to her question. She could also tell the two were having a conversation though she couldn't hear what they were saying. "I should have known better."

"No," Hermione said and when her mum didn't react she looked at Ron who took down his charm. "Mum, I don't want to keep things from you and dad, it's just this is hard from me to deal with. As Ron had said, I had Ace the SQE test and you know that I had been planning on going to Oxford next term, but I'm no longer planning on doing that."

Hermione paused there as she watched her parents react to that news. They were both trying to control their emotions, though she could tell they were shocked and perhaps disappointed.

"That's … okay," Jean said shakily and then added because she knew this had to be true, "but you must have a reason for that. Have you decided to study something else … or gotten another job?"

"Oh, she's been study nonstop since she finished her exams," Ron answered when Hermione didn't say anything. He noticed that she was trying to figure out the meaning behind her mum's questions or if she was disappointed and he knew she needed time to process that.

"I imagine that you've been learning all you can about magic," John said tentatively, he knew this was a touchy subject but now that it was brought up, he had to make things clear to her.

"Yes," Hermione's head snapped to him, equal measure of nerves and bitterness warred for dominance. "I've learned through the third-year lessons and the progress is still moving along smoothly."

"It's actually quite amazing how quickly Hermione has picked everything up," Ron added. "I know it doesn't sound as impressive if you're thinking about thirteen years doing these lessons, but magic isn't really about age it's about control and learning how to use it right."

"I'm sure being older had helped me a bit," Hermione turned to Ron.

"Maybe, and not having to write all of the essays obviously made things move along quicker," Ron added. "Though of course you would have been able to whip those up in no time."

"Yes, but then Harry would have had to read them and that would have taken too long," Hermione said and Ron laughed, knowing that it probably would take Harry longer to read something like that than for her to write it.

Hermione then turned back to her parents and she noticed that they were uncomfortable about something and her dad kept opening his mouth to say something and then stopping. She wasn't sure what that was about but she knew that they were just as wary of this topic of conversation as she was. She decided to add the other thing that was going to happen soon. "I'm also going to start my new job at the Ministry of Magic on Monday."

"You've already got a job in the magical world and at the Ministry no less," Jean said excitedly, catching Hermione by surprise, "you must tell me how that happened?"

"You … you're okay with this … me working in the wizarding world?" Hermione said confused.

"Hermione," John sighed and waited until Hermione was looking into his eyes. "I want to make one thing clear to you. I had reacted completely irrationally that day so many years ago when I wouldn't let you go to the wizarding world. In the letter I had said that you would never be the same daughter I raised if you had gone to that school, but looking back on that now I know I was wrong that day. Not just because I didn't let you go, but because that thought I had was completely ridiculous. Of course, you would have grown when you were gone, and you would be different than I had imagined, but it wouldn't have changed who you are at your core.

"I stopped you once from being who you're supposed to be, and I know that you're not going to let me do that ever again. And I just want you to know that I'm happy that you won't … I'm so relieved that you have chosen what would make you happy." John said firmly and then sighed as he added, "I don't think I ever really objected to magic … it was more about it being part of a hidden world that your mum and I didn't belong to."

Hermione blinked a few times, not sure how these words affected her and again things started to war within her. She figured that this was something that would get better as time when on.

"So, what is your job?" Jean asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I'm working in the department of The Upkeep of Muggle Law and the International Statutes of Wizarding Secrecy," Hermione said. "And right now I'm just an intern. I only have to be in the office twice a week where I learn about wizarding laws and the history of such laws. The other three days a week I'm studying o0ther magical subjects and learning as much as I can about the magic world."

"She probably already knows more than I do, but of course she has to learn more," Ron chuckled and she shook her head.

"Don't be ridiculous Ron, there is so much you learn about the magic community since birth that I could never learn … at least not from a book," Hermione pointed out.

"That is true," Ron nodded agreeing with her knowing she had a point.

"You said that you were learning to cook from Ron's mum, has she help you learn those cultural things," Jean supplied. "I mean if she could get you to cook … she could probably do anything."

"Hey!" Hermione protested, before she laughed with everyone else. "Molly is also helping me learn potions and she hax taught me a lot about all of the subject we've mention."

"That job sounds like it's the perfect thing for you … I actually can't think of anything that would be better," John said.

"Well, it helps that Andromeda Tonks, the head of the department, is a close friend of Ron's family," Hermione said.

"Honestly, Andromeda is the lucky one that she was able to hire you," Ron said. "I know this job is going to help you a lot to get on your feet in our community, but I'm sure you're going to make a name for yourself."

Hermione just rolled her eyes at his comment.

"I have no doubt you're right, Ron," John agreed with him.

It wasn't long after that that the food was delivered, and they enjoyed eating the meal. After it was finished Ron and Hermione stayed a few more hours there talking with the Grangers. It seemed like the tension was easing the longer the conversation went on and though she knew it would still be there next week when they come to watch the game, she was sure they were on their way of making things better.

A/N: I'm not sure how the chapter came out. I wanted to show a better relationship with Hermione and her parents but I'm not sure if I'm forcing that or not. Well, hopefully it's okay. And now the next chapter will be the last.