Ch 10
It had been a busy two weeks in New York for both of them. Hermione had started her courses, and unsurprisingly, had immediately taken to the academic challenge and was thriving on the intellectual stimulation. Ron had felt much better after getting to know some of the other students and their families, especially Nancy and Elliott, the married couple who lived across the hall from Hermione. Nancy was in the program with Hermione, but was a year ahead. She was involved with elfin rights and she and Hermione had hit it off straight away. Similarly, Ron could have kissed Elliott when he discovered he was an American auror. He had completed his training several years prior and had managed to get re-assigned to New York from their original home on the west coast. Elliott had recognized both Ron and Hermione immediately, but had assured them both that most everyone else - magical and not - would not be aware of who they were or what they had done.
The two couples quickly bonded, and Ron felt ever so much more optimistic about the entire thing after meeting them. It wouldn't make missing her any easier, but he felt that she would be safe and there were people who would keep an eye out for her – to make sure she ate – and would know if she didn't show up where she was supposed to be. In addition to feeling reassured, Elliott and Ron spent a lot of time together talking about how American aurors used different electrical and security gadgets, which led Ron to brainstorm even more ideas about possible business opportunities for Weasely Wizarding Wheezes. And, Elliott invited Ron along to work out with him and some of his colleagues, which Ron not only enjoyed, but helped him feel like he was staying in shape to start his stint in training in a few weeks.
Hermione had started her coursework already, and not surprisingly, she had immediately fallen in love with every single one of her classes. She was already at the top of her class, and she was also already comfortable debating every angle of every subject with her new professors. Ron felt his heart soar at seeing "his Hermione" back in full swing. She wasn't the same she had been as a young teenager at Hogwarts. But the experienced, wise witch that she was now clearly had the same driven, brilliant core as the girl he had fallen in love with so many years ago.
The night before they'd had a small dinner with Nancy and Elliott to celebrate Ron's last night in New York before heading back to England and to his auror training. After that, he and Hermione had made love late in the night. Exhausted, they'd both fallen asleep still clinging to each other. But, knowing what was facing him in the day ahead, Ron woke up long before dawn. She had her first class at 9 that morning, so they had decided that they would have breakfast together, he would walk her to the building where her class was and they would say goodbye there. That way she wouldn't watch him vanish with the portkey – she would just go to class. Then he would head back to the apartment and get his portkey back to England. It all sounded good in theory. But now that the morning was here, there was such a lump in his throat he could hardly breathe. He knew she would be ok. He'd loved watching that spark return to her eyes the past two weeks. But he wasn't sure how he would do without her.
So, he lay there in the bed, holding her tightly and watching her sleep. Just watching her peacefully breathing next to him he was hit by a wall of memories of the many times he had watched her sleep. Some were difficult memories from Shell Cottage or after her kidnapping. Some were erotic memories like after their first time together in Australia or after their more adventurous love making at Grimmauld Place. Some were simply sweet, like recalling her asleep in front of the Gryffindor Common Room fireplace, some large text propped against her chest. Or the more bittersweet memories, like when he had first found his way back to them on the horcrux hunt and he was so desperate to find ways to help her and had been so relieved to see her asleep in piles of his old jumpers under his Chudley Canons blanket asleep on the old rickety cot. And he knew this moment – this memory in the making – would be added to the others as one permanently etched in his heart. He inhaled deeply, trying to sear the details of the moment into his mind so in the weeks and months ahead he would be able to picture her – asleep in this bed - her ink-stained fingers curled up under her pillow; the peaceful expression on her face; her perfect eyelashes casting pale shadows on her eyelids; the sounds of the city below seeping in from outside; her honey colored skin contrasting with the white sheets; and her soft exhales torturing an escaped curl with each perfect breath.
He wasn't sure how long he watched her sleep, but he was still staring at her when she awoke sometime after the sun had come up.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," he said, unable to hide his tender smile.
"What time is it?"
He glanced at his watch and said, "Morning time."
She rolled her eyes at him and went to get out of bed, but he held her firm.
"Just – just not yet. Give me a few more minutes," he finally whispered.
She nodded, her eyes now glassy with unshed tears and then tucked her head into the crook of his neck. He kissed the top of her head, holding her very firmly to chest. He felt her take a deep breath, letting it out in a shaky manner, making him only hold tighter.
"I just need ...I just need to know we will get back here. To us. To this place where we both need each other and both trust each other. Tell me that will happen. Promise me we will be ok," he whispered in a pained, gruff voice.
"We will. I promise we will. This – us – we come first. School, auror training – none of those matter as much," she said, her voice wobbly with emotion. "I promise you, Ron Weasley, we will be ok. And if at any point I think that may be at risk, I am coming straight home. And you need to promise me the same."
"I do. Fuck, Hermione, you know I do. I love you so much. This just – it just hurts. I knew it would, but I don't think I had any idea how much," he said, tears now openly streaming down his face.
"Me either," she sniffed, her tears now flowing as well. "But I still think it's the right thing. If you don't, you have to tell me, ok?"
"No, I think it's still the right thing. But that doesn't mean I don't hate it right now."
She laughed and then tried to sniff at her tears, but it came across as a horrible, snot-filled snort, which just caused them to both laugh, thankfully breaking the tension. She finally found a tissue and wiped her nose.
"Merlin, looking like this, you may not miss me all that much anyway," she tried to joke. But he was having none of it.
Immediately he had her in his arms and had rolled, pinning her beneath him on the bed. "Hermione, there is nothing – and I mean NOTHING – you could ever do to make me not miss you with every single breath and fiber of my being. Know that. Snotty crying now or being a crochety old witch seventy years from now, I will never not want you and never not love you."
Her eyes teared up again, but he cut off her words with a kiss. They made quick, fierce, passionate love one last time – nothing like the slow, tender, loving passion from the night before. This was searing, marking and raw, both climaxing together. But the release was cathartic – it released all of the emotion and then left no tears to keep shedding.
They were practical people and had faced walking into difficult things before despite a torrent of emotion. And so, after this last release, they were able to get up, shower, dress and get ready for this first day of their new lives. They had a nice breakfast together, Hermione reminding him of things she had sent for their families. Ron made her promise for the millionth time that she would promise to eat and sleep. And then they packed her bag up and they headed out the door to walk her to her first class of the day.
They both walked slowly, dragging each step despite the oppressive heat of the day, hands clutched tightly together.
Ron joked, "See you can't tell if we're even crying anymore because we're both so red and sweaty from the boiling humidity and crazy heat here. I'll need a blanket when I land back at The Burrow to avoid getting frostbite or something."
She laughed at this, leaning into him and resting her head on his arm as they walked. And then, before either was ready, they arrived at the classroom building. Hermione turned to him, unsure if she could handle the pain she anticipated seeing on his face, but she was relieved to see him calm, accepting and firm in his belief that this was the right step.
"OK," he said, no longer shaking in voice. "Couple last things. One – promise me you will never be without your wand, hairclip and cellphone. Promise?"
"Yes – and the same for you."
"Well, I can promise the wand and I can try to have the clip on and carry my phone, but those two may be sketchy during training."
"Well, then promise me if you don't have them on that someone – Harry mainly – will know where you are and how to reach you."
"Promise."
"Two – promise me you won't freak out if I can't write as often as I want. Harry made it sound like the first three months you barely have time to brush your teeth."
Hermione looked aghast, which made him chuckle.
"I'll brush my teeth, I promise," he laughed.
"I promise to write often. And, I promise to eat three meals a day and get a minimum of five hours sleep."
He frowned at her.
"OK. 6 hours of sleep."
"Better, not great, but better."
"Third – the emergency portkey is there in the apartment if you ever need to come home immediately. And, if you ever need me immediately, let me know and I will be here within the hour. Elliott and Nancy can reach me as well."
"I know. It will be ok. And I will see you by Christmas at the latest. Maybe sooner if the class schedule works out."
Ron grinned wickedly.
"What caused that cheeky grin, Mr. Weasley?"
"Oh, I was just thinking that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be a madhouse as always, but I am so fucking glad we have announced Boxing Day is more or less our stay-home-alone-together-and-have-sex-all-day day."
She barked in laughter, blushing as she did. "Why yes, I am surprised there isn't a greeting card for that yet."
"See, yet another brilliant product idea for the shop from this trip," he winked.
Glancing at his watch, he said, "I made you late for classes at Hogwarts, but I will not be the one who stains your academic reputation here at Columbia. So, it's time." He paused, softly cupping her cheek in his hand and ghosting his thumb over her lips. "I love you, Hermione Jean Granger. And I know can't wait to see you again. But in the meantime, I just know you are going to kick some serious academic arse here and put all those other wizarding schools to shame. Go show them what a Gryffindor from Hogwarts can do."
And with that he kissed her – deeply and swiftly and then pulled away. He glanced at her one more time as she whispered "I love you," then he kissed her cheek and turned her towards the door.
Taking a deep breath she nodded and walked to the door. As she walked in, she glanced back at him and paused for a moment.
"Go on already," Ron teased. "Don't make me conjure the canaries, woman."
With that, she laughed, blew him a kiss and headed to class.
As soon as she was out of site, he hustled off to set up one last surprise for her before catching his own portkey in an hour.
When Hermione came home that evening, she found an enormous bouquet of roses on her table with a basket next to it filled with tons of boxes wrapped in the Wheezes orange ribbon and a tiny label. There was also a small box wrapped in much less obnoxious colors and a note.
Even you may need a puking pastille every now and then, or you can get back at an annoying classmate with a well-placed canary cream. You just never know. There are 23 boxes here. One for each week, and a few in case of emergencies. They are tagged with a description of an appropriate time to open it – some for celebrations, some for being homesick, and some – not surprisingly my favorite ones, for when you are randy. Then there is also this gift in that not so Wheezey wrapping. Open it now and then tap this note three times for more explanation.
She tapped the note and laughed when a different message appeared.
I take great comfort in knowing you would ignore my instructions. Tsk, tsk, Ms. Granger. Try again. Open then box and THEN tap the note. Well, go on then.
Laughing she opened the box and pulled out a beautiful necklace with a gorgeous opal on it. She gasped as she looked at it, and then hurried to tap then note.
This is a charmed opal. I had Rocks help me track it down – to be more specific, it is actually half of a charmed opal. There is a jeweler on Declan Row than Rocks recommended. The opals are from Australia, and the jewler charms it so that when you rub your stone, the one I wear around my neck will warm so that I can know you are thinking of me. And, when I rub the one I have on, you will feel my warmth and love as well. Our lives and schedules may not allow us to talk regularly, but I want you to know every day how much I am thinking of you, and how much I love you. Go ahead – put it on, I'll wait.
She laughed again and clasped the necklace around her neck, instantly feeling the warm stone against her skin. She quickly grasped it, rubbing her opal between her thumb and forefinger whispering, "I do love you, Ron Weasley. And we will be ok. I just know it."
An exhausted Ron was lying in his bed in Grimmauld Place, thinking of Hermione and hoping she had found the gift. He was rubbing the stone and trying to force himself to relax enough to fall asleep. He only had two days to reset his clock to adjust to time back in England before he had to report to training. And, if he didn't get to sleep soon, he knew the first few days at the academy would be even more awful that they already promised to be. Then suddenly, he felt the opal around his neck warm up, bringing a huge smile to his face. She'd found it, she could feel his love, and he could feel hers. They would be ok. They would make it.