Why Am I always the one making decisions, How do I handle pressure, I do my best to face it but honestly I hate it - Lennon Stella - Older than I am
May 6th 1998.
8 Heathgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London
The morning had been chaotic to say the least. It didn't need to be but packing for a 48 hour trip with a baby was more effort than Hermione had thought, mostly because Molly had insisted on Molly double and triple checking they had everything was just so as though she and Ron had never seen a baby let alone cared for one for the last nine weeks. She chastised herself as she recognised how much she was looking forward to a few days of peace and quiet away from her future mother in law.
Home had been connected to the Floo network and fully inspected to ensure no dark magic and after being given a clean sweep, Hermione had nervously stepped into the hearth and found herself transported back to the living room she had spent 17 years coming to know.
It was exactly the same as she had left it. Empty and immaculate. Untouched by war, as though it never happened. Just the way Hermione liked it.
It had been hastily arranged for the furniture to be returned from storage that day and as Hermione entered the room her mother excitedly announced "That's the first van here."
Ron had stepped through the hearth after her, just as a pair of muggle removal men walked past carrying the dining table. One of them stopped with a gasp and her mother quickly shut the door "That's my daughter's fiance, he's a chimney sweep." she heard her mother explain as she ushered the men through to the kitchen.
Ron looked at Hermione confused. "What's a chimney sweep?"
She smiles brushing the dust from his hair "Someone who cleans chimneys. He saw you appearing in the hearth and was a bit shocked so mum told a little white lie."
Hermione unzipped his hoodie to find Rose sleeping soundly, completely unfazed by her first trip by floo powder without so much as a speck of duck on her head. She took her daughter in her arms and began to wander the room with her. When Hermion had packed the house all those months ago there was barely room for her to wonder if she would ever return, the thought she would return with her own little family was insane. "Well Rosie, this is the house mummy grew up in."
Hermione watched as Ron followed at her heels, taking in her home clearly slightly uncomfortable by all the newness.
He observed the light switches, bent down to checkout the plug sockets and stared at the ornate light fixture above his head.
"You have a chandelier?" He questioned with an air of inadedecy.
Hermione chuckled, "Chandelier is just a fancy term for a light fitting Ron…"
His ears grew red and Hermione could feel the insecurity seeping from him. She walked to him, squeezing him around the middle with her free arm and pulling their daughter close. "Things might be different to the Burrow here but it doesn't mean anything. Please stop comparing yourself."
He smiled nervously again "I know I shouldn't, it's just hard not to feel a bit embarrassed, it's just… fancy here…" He looked at his clothes, "I feel like I don't belong here, you deserve better than me, someone who can actually give you this."
"Firstly, don't you dare talk about my fiance like that." His blue eyes met hers and gave a sad smile. Hermione smoothed the front of his t-shirt "You are my best friend, the love of my life, you have done more for me than anyone else could ever dream I'm alive today because of you. Secondly, I don't want this, I love the Burrow, I love the homely cosiness of it. Homes are what you make them, and you will see that this is home just like the Burrow and its not because of what we put in it, its the feelings and the love we share here." Hermione squeezed him again. "Your parents are some of the richest people I know because they have something worth more than money, my parents will tell you that too. Your mum and dad welcomed them in even though they were practically strangers, your mum and my mum are now best friends and my dad dotes on your dad. I'd live in a tent forever if it meant I could be with you."
He smiled, his ears still red and glowing. The door opened a creak and Jean appeared in the doorway, "Sorry to interrupt troops, Ron, can I have you help me with this please dear?"
"Sure Mrs Granger," Ron said removing himself from Hermione's grip.
"It's Jean, Ron… Come on through here." Hermione watched as her mother led him through to the still empty kitchen. Jean winked at her daughter as Ron left the room and Hermione walked quietly to follow them.
"I forgot to give you this back." Jean whispered as she placed something into his hands with a little smile. She took his face in her hands and smiled gently. "You are a wonderful person Ron, from a wonderful family, with a wonderful home. Your mum and dad have done a wonderful job of raising a very lovely gentleman and me and Henry couldn't think of anyone better for our daughter, please stop doubting yourself and your worth" Ron flushed bright red again and whispered a quiet thank you.
"Did you need me to help you with something?" Ron asked sheepishly.
Jean chuckled, "Go put this back where it belongs." She patted his hand and shooed him away.
Hermione ran back to the other side of the room and gazed out of the window.
Ron smiled as he saw her, "I saw you eavesdropping."
She smiled back at him, "Sorry, what did she give you?" He walked with purpose now twiddling something in his hands.
Ron stopped in front of her, looked between her and their daughter and dropped to his knee. "Will you marry me?"
His blue eyes pierced her soul as he looked up her her through almost blonde eyelashes. There was so much adoration in his face that Hermione thought she might melt all over again.
"Yes, I will marry you." She leaned forward taking his face in her hand, and kissing him on the lips.
He took her right hand and returned her grandmother's ring to its rightful place on her finger, with a kiss.
"I love you," they whispered at the same time before laughing together again. Rose watched her parents, smiled widely and cooed loudly.
"Will you be our flower girl?" Ron said as he stood to full height again.
"Oh Merlin, what a wonderful day that will be." Jean exclaimed behind them, they looked to see both Jean and Henry smiling behind them. Henry held his wife's shoulders beaming with pride and Jean clasped her hands together crying tears of joy.
"Did you just say Merlin mum?" Hermione laughed. "When did you start saying Merlin?"
Jean ran over to the pair of them and enveloped them in a tight cuddle, "Oh don't start, we need to celebrate, I could invite your parents over for a bottle of wine or we could go out for dinner."
"I would have thought you would have had enough of my parents by now." Ron said.
Jean scoffed, "I have loved having your mother as company, I feel like a new person… Honestly, I'm baking Hermione… me, the woman who burns tinned beans…"
Hermione smiled, "No, I think we should celebrate just us mum. I've missed you guys, and I think it would be nice for us to spend a bit of time together."
"Well then that's settled, shall we go out or order in?" Henry asked.
Hermione took a small glance at Ron who looked as though her dad was speaking a foreign language. "I think we should order takeaway, I don't think Ron will have had that before."
Ron raised his eyebrows, "I don't know what that is?"
Hermione waved her hand, "You will like it trust me."
"Hermione dear, I was coming to tell you, and I don't mean to alarm you, but your bedroom has disappeared." Henry said with an air of amusement.
Hermione sighed, she had forgotten about that. At the point that she had been ready to leave her home, she couldn't face packing up her room as well as everything else so she had removed the door and glamoured the space so the room disappeared from plain sight. In a way she was grateful, it was one less thing to do now that everything was over. She smiled at Ron, "You want to see my bedroom?"
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow, "Yeah that'll be cool."
"Leave that door open kids, don't want any funny business now do we?" Henry chuckled and he gave Ron a friendly pat on the back, as he walked into the kitchen.
Ron's face dropped and Hermione laughed, "He's only joking Ron, come on…" Hermione pulled him up the stairs.
They ascended the stairs together, coming to the top of the hallway where her door should have been. With a wave of her wand they could hear the house creaking and the doorway reappeared.
She reached for the door handle and opened it with a small sigh of relief. Upon entering the room Hermione Granger was suddenly aware of two things, how unbearably girly the room was and that Ron Weasley was now stood in her bedroom for the first time.
He scanned the room with his eyes. "Cute…" he said smiling. "I didn't think it would be so pink. I imagined more books to be honest."
Hermione blushed, waving her wand once more revealing three large bookshelves two of which were packed to the brim with books of all kinds.
Ron stepped forward scanning the titles, on coming to the empty book shelf he turned to her again. "Don't tell me you had this book shelf worth of books in that bloody beaded bag of your's?" Ron laughed, apparently joking. Hermione didn't dare answer him, but in her silence, Ron laughed nervously. "Are you serious?"
"They were necessary Ronald" Hermione felt her face growing serious, "every one of them had information I could have used,"
He took two steps forward and took Rose, who was now sound asleep from her arms. "Did you use them all?"
"No, but if we had had time for light reading I might have," Hermione felt her heckles raising slightly as she dusted the empty shelves with her wand. "Imagine we had needed them and I hadn't packed them what would we have done then?"
"Light reading, huh?" He laughed his lips to his sleeping daughter's forehead. "This will be you soon so take note, I've said it once, I'll say it again… your mummy is a nightmare."
"You wouldn't have me any other way" Hermione retorted sitting on the end of her bed, grateful to have her arms free once more.
The sun shone brightly illuminating a very thin layer of dust that had formed in the course of her absence. Scanning the room, Hermione noted how it was the same as it had ever been, light pink walls with matching curtains. Her desk still faced the now overgrown garden, her computer unused for months, her probably now dried markers were still organised in a rainbow in the pot on her desk, pencils still sharpened and waiting to be used, the box of tissues in the pink tissue cover, her single divan bed with floral covers and a small armchair that occupied the space next to the book shelf. Her small CD player sat a top her drawers. Nothing had changed, yet she was not the same person who had occupied this room previously. It hit Hermione hard, this was the room of a… for lack of a better word … of a child.
Before the horrors, the hunt, the hatred she had been a child, and now despite everything that had tried to stop her, she returned today, alive, a woman with a future, a mother who had hope and happiness.
A movement beside her reminded her that she wasn't alone in the room. Ron stood infront of her, their daughter in his arms and in the other hand a tissue.
Her throat burned suddenly and she realised tears had formed in her eyes.
"Sorry…" Hermione choked.
Ron perched on the end of the bed, putting his free arm around her. "You never have to be sorry with me. It's a lot…" He kissed the side of her head as she wiped her eyes. "It's a lot…"
They sat together in silence, listening to the noises of the house, the movers shouting orders to each other, Jean and Henry chattering between the rooms and the buzzing of the odd level of normality that filled her heart. It was blissful.
"Where am I gonna sleep?" Ron whispered.
Hermione laughed again, "In here with me… I think mum and dad may have figured that we are together now"
Ron looked at the bed and down at his legs. "I don't want to be rude but I really don't think I'm going to fit in your bed."
Hermione rolled her eyes and stood. Taking out her wand she enlarged her bed making it big enough for the two of them to sleep in. "Better?"
"Much." He said with a wink.
"I'm going to give everything a dust and change the sheets, can you set up Rose's bed please?" Hermione asked.
A small knock came to the door, Jean poked her head in shyly, she held in her hands two cups of tea. "I've finally found the kettle so I brought a cup of tea for you both,"
"Thanks mum," Hermione said, taking her cup and placing two coasters on her desk. She returned for Ron's cup and placed that next to hers on her desk.
"I went up in the attic and couldn't believe the amount of space we had." Hermione knew when her mother was about to hint for something.
"Would you by any chance like to keep it that way mum?"
Jean smiled and folded her arms, "Well it could be such a lovely organised storage space. I was thinking of having a little clear out. The movers have just brought in five rather large boxes of your things that were in the attic Hermione, I think there is some or your baby things in there that might be good for Rosie, and if they wont suit her not we could maybe use this as an excuse to move them on, it's no use holding onto things for another eighteen years."
When she had been clearing the attic Hermione had shrank every item she had found and stuck it in boxes ready for the storage unit, seventeen years of hoarding had been condensed into fifteen waist height boxes.
"I was wondering if you wanted me to take Rose for a little while. I'm just going through all the boxes of photos just now, I would like to show them to her…"
"Mum she's nine weeks old," Hermione protested. "She can't see pictures yet."
"Oh I know, feel free to say no of course, I just enjoyed her company and I thought it would free up your arms, while you sort your room out and the boxes…"
Ron stood from the bed, "Jean, you can take her whenever you like, thank you for asking first."
Her face lit up as Ron transferred the still sleeping little girl into her arms, Jean once again teared up, running her finger over a stray red curl and two small clenched hands. "She's just too perfect." She whispered before leaving the room quickly as though minds may be changed.
"She is going to need to be fed soon, you know." Hermione watched as her mother descended the stairs. "My mother is going to be a tough one to wrestle her from."
"I've wrestled Rose from my mother on more than one occasion. I think your mum will be fine." Ron walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Stooping down he kissed her lips and Hermione felt flutters in her stomach. She reached her arms up around his neck and held him tightly.
She was standing in her bedroom kissing Ronald Weasley… and he was kissing her back. She had pictured this moment in her mind in lonely moments in the darkness in this very room and now it was happening. His arms tightened around her waist and as he stood to full height he lifted her from the ground and deposited her on the space on her desk.
In the silence all she could hear was blood rushing in her ears. His hands rested on her thighs as their lips moved against each other, her hands rested on his chin, moving slowly up into his hair. She wrapped her legs around him pulling him closer. He groaned, the feeling of triumph spread in her chest as she felt the evidence of his excitement press against her though her jeans. She pushed her hands under his t-shirt feeling his abs under her hands before taking hold of his belt.
He grabbed her wrists so suddenly it dragged her from the moment. "Hey," Hermione complained.
Ron laughed a breathy laugh, he smelt of spearmint toothpaste, her amortentia. "You're killing me here." Hermione felt her eyebrows furrow with rejection. "I love you you horny bloody witch but…"
"... but… oh is that how you feel…" Hermione raised her eyebrows, she motioned to push him away from her.
Ron grabbed both of her wrists in his fists, pinning them either side of her to the desk. He moved his body so close that he pressed almost painfully against her body and leaned into her neck. The flutters in her stomach turned into a tornado. Hermione's mind raced as energy ran through her body. His lips hovered torturously over her flesh, brushing her skin as he moved his way up to her earlobe. He sucked gently, a jolt shot through her sensitive area. This was a side of Ron she had never seen but fuck she wanted more. Her body ground on him of its own fruition. His husky voice broke through the daze that had fallen without her knowledge, it was barely a whisper but god it did things to her body. "As much as I want to rip your clothes off and fuck you on every… single … surface in this room…" Hermione whimpered as the words sent her senses on edge, "... the door is open and I don't think your parents would appreciate hearing you begging like I plan to make you..."
Right on cue there was a creak on the stairs, Ron jumped from her as though he had been electrocuted and began rustling in the beaded bag which sat on the armchair. Hermione opened her desk drawer and began pretending to rummage, praying her cheeks weren't burning as brightly the flaming heat she felt.
Jean appeared in the doorway once more, "You don't need to leave the door open you know. Dad was only joking, you know. You are both consenting adu…"
Hermione interrupted quickly, forcing a smile as her heart rate returned to a steady beat. "Where's Rose?"
"Dad's got her just now but I'm about to send him out for a few bits and some drinks for tonight. I was wondering though if you would like to join us for a trip into the Centre tomorrow because if you do I will get him to pick up a car seat from Halford's for the car."
"What's the Centre?" Ron asked, his ears and neck still burned bright red.
"It's a shopping centre, like Diagon Alley, but it's all muggle shops. I think you would find it interesting, Ron." Hermione said. "I need some new clothes anyway I'm not sure anything in my wardrobe is going to fit anymore."
"Ooh wonderful, come and grab some carrier bags and bin bags, have a clear out. Honestly we should go into hiding more often, I've cleared 3 bin bags of rubbish and 4 bags for the charity shop so far and there's still all the stuff in the attic to go through. And honestly Ron, please don't be so embarrassed about not knowing muggle terms, we all have to learn." Jean gestured to his ears as she left and Hermione laughed loudly.
Ron avoided her gaze as she walked past him towards the door. "Mione," She turned to face him, he looked sheepish. "Was that too much?" He whispered. "I didn't mean to be a dick…"
Hermione quickly strode back to him "It's a side of you I've not seen… yet." She smiled and forced him to look at her, when she had held his gaze for a few seconds, she slid her hand up his neck and pulled him down so she could whisper in his ear. "Dominance really suits you…" and skipped away down the stairs to collect her supplies
When she returned she found Ron looking very pleased with himself sitting on the bed with a small piece of paper in his hands. She closed the door behind her.
"What's that?" She asked as she put the first of many large boxes of things to sort, the folded carrier bags and bin bags on the desk. The moment she saw the glitter Hermione knew what it was. Her heart dropped and she tried to swipe it from his hands.
Ron howled with laughter as he stood up holding the picture out of her reach.
"Why was there a picture on your wall of me in my quidditch gear with a pink heart next to it and glitter that reads, Weasley is my king?"
Hermione launched herself at Ron, scaling his body like a tree and grabbing the picture from his grasp. He continued howling with laughter as Hermione shoved the picture up her top into her bra. "That was private, Ronald."
His hand took her chin gently kissing softly, "Do you think I won't go in there and get it back out Miss Granger?"
"I was actually banking on the fact you would do just that..." She smirked removing her wand from her pocket and silencing the room. "My king…"
A little while later, they descended the stairs hand in hand, and found the house practically restored to normal except for a large pile of boxes marked with Hermione's name or the word "books" in bold letters.
Hermione had levitated several bags of folded clothes down the stairs and into the hallway. "Mum where do you want me to put the stuff for the charity shop and the tip?"
"Just in the office for now Mia, dad is going to take them when he goes out to collect our food later." Jean called from the living room, Hermione ushered Ron into the kitchen before carrying on down the hall with her bags.
"Am I? That's news to me," Henry chuckled from the dining table. He shook his head but continued smiling as Ron walked in. "There's always a job to be done isn't there, Ron."
Henry was sat at the table organising a large pile of paper work. He had a large grey box in front of him that looked like a book. He clicked on the buttons in the middle of the plastic pages. He appeared to be comparing each letter to something in the book. As Hermione joined them at the table he looked up, "Well, I give you your dues Mia every one of these bills is paid and after speaking to Susan at the practice everything has been running perfectly. Good job, sweetheart, we should let you do our admin more often. Between this and your mums new anti hoarding mentality, I'm wondering if I've come back to the right house."
"I heard that," Jean entered the kitchen,Rose lay in her arms wide awake and taking in her surroundings . "Your grandad is saying very defamatory things about your nanny, Rosie, what are you going to do about it?" At that moment she locked eyes with Ron, her legs started kicking and she squealed a high pitched squeal. Jean walked behind Henry, allowing Rose to kick the back of his head as she passed. "Good girl," Jean whispered, as Rose suddenly forced both fists into her mouth. "I think you are hungry, who do you want now, mum or dad?"
"She want's her dad but she can come to her mum," Hermione held her hands out. "I left my magipump at the Burrow and I'm feeling a bit like an unmilked cow today…" Henry flushed red. "Sorry dad…"
"Don't apologise its entirely natural…" Henry began.
Jean tutted loudly, "Oh Hermione, but me and Molly reminded you at least four times, this morning to make sure you had that thing…"
"I know mother, I thought I had it on…"
Ron couldn't help but smile as Rose looked a little disappointed for a moment to not be handed to him. It lasted less than a second, as Hermione pulled her one of the soft covers from her bag that Rose now associated with food her legs started kicking excitedly again. "I can go back through the floo and get it if you want."
Hermione shook her head as Rose fed, "It's fine, I can manually express if I need to."
"How?" Ron asked furrowing his brows. Hermione looked at him and quickly gestured to her father who pretended to shuffle his papers but continued going to very beetroot red colour.
"Well you just hold your breast over a bottle and squeeze Ron, it's like milking a cow."
"Mother!" Hermione chastised.
Henry stood quickly, "Well I think I'm going to take the car for a run and go get dinner, what does everyone fancy?"
"Civerino's please." Hermione answered immediately. Ron didn't know what that was but he nodded saying nothing. She had a post orgasmic look on her face, Ron had never seen her this excited for food. "I would have killed for a Civerino's Hawaiian during our camping trip, I thought about it almost every hour of the day." She looked down at Rose and back to her dad. "Yes, Civerino's please dad."
Henry chuckled "Of course sweetheart. Jean … pepperoni calzone and a carbonara to share?"
"Ohh yes, what about you what kind of Pizza do you like Ron?" Jean asked.
"I've never had Pizza. I don't know what it is…" Ron said.
"Get a meaty one for Ron with extra cheese on both and we can just half and half." Hermione insisted.
"Perfect, nice and easy… I'll see you when I get back…" Henry picked up his car keys and walked away humming to himself.
"Come back here and help me get these bags in the car," Jean chased after her husband.
Ron reached across the table and offered his hand to Hermione. She took it with a smile, "I'm so excited," she rolled her eyes back in her head and made the most adorable sound "I've been craving Civerinos for months… I thought it was just a lack of food when we were camping but I think it might have been a craving."
Ron watched as the cover over his daughter moved, happy chirps emitted from underneath it, it was still odd to think about a time that Rose was with them, so close but so carefully hidden, making little demands of her mother for things she had never experienced. Hermione squeezed his hand. "You ok? You seem far away." She asked softly.
"I'm more than OK, I feel so lucky to be here," Ron smiled "Looking forward to trying Pizza, unless its like that French stuff they served at Hogwarts when Beaubatons was there,"
Hermione smiled back, "Pizza is Italian, that stuff was bouillabaisse,"
"Bless you…" Ron said receiving a small tap on the arm for his cheek.
Hermione had been right Ron had thoroughly enjoyed Pizza. It wasn't like what he was expecting and after a few slices he found himself to be so full he had to loosen his belt. After dinner Ron and Hermione had joined Jean and Henry in front of the television, they had put a show on that showed muggles doing funny or stupid things for money that Ron found slightly amusing.
"It's stupid really, some of them are so staged by people who are clearly just trying to get the money but…" Jean stopped and laughed midway through her sentence as a small boy smacked an old man in the balls with a bat.
"This isn't what they normally watch they just don't want to admit that they love University Challenge."
The door bell rang loudly, Ron jumped and Rose, who had been just about to drift off to sleep on her mother's chest, let out a frustrated wail.
"Oh can you get that for me Hermione please." Jean asked as she focused on the television screen and the knitting pattern she was currently making.
"Of course mother, it's not like I'm trapped under your grandchild…" She said pointedly, Ron took this as a cue to follow and went with her as she walked towards the front door.
As she opened it a loud happy cry rang in the hallway and Hermione was engulfed by a small elderly woman who appeared to have thrown herself at Hermione. "Oh my goodness Mia, thank the lord you are back. I have been worrying about you and your parents, you disappeared so suddenly and then next thing I hear on the wireless that you are on the run from You-Know-Who."
Ron felt his heart dropping at the mention of the name. The woman patted Hermione's face gently and Hermione seemed very happy to see her so Ron tried to calm his nerves by moving closer to the woman and holding his wand in his pocket, just in case.
"Oh Hermione, look at you. How you've grown in a year. How are your mother and father? I was so worried you had been hurt." Rose began to gurgle in Hermione's arms, the noise alerted the woman to her presence. Her wrinkled face illuminated on seeing Rose smiling up at her, "... and who is this beautiful little lady."
Hermione smiled, "Norma, this is my daughter, Rose."
Ron assumed the womans name was Norma, she threw her spindly fingers to her mouth and took a very small step back. "Daughter… oh my goodness. During the war? While you were wanted by them" The woman grasped her chest and tears sprang to her eyes. "Well you don't do things by halves do you? I didn't even know you were pregnant, the radio didn't mention it once. Oh Mia, congratulations, you clever, clever girl…" The pair hugged once more and when Hermione withdrew she had tears in her eyes. "How old is this little darling?"
Before she could answer, Jean bustled into the hallway, "Norma, my goodness…" she shouted, throwing her arms around the older woman. "Come in, come in, we have so much to tell you. Have you met my granddaughter Rose? And my future son in-law, Ron"
Ron smiled nervously, and waved from the hallway.
"Oh my goodness," Norma gave Hermione's shoulders a squeeze and a mischeivous look up and down. Ron couldn't help but notice Hermione turned a faint shade of pink as Norma began to approach Ron. "Is this the Ron you used to talk about from school."
Hermione nodded. "The one and the same." Ron raised his eyebrows at her and she pulled a face at him as Norma turned away from her. Norma had reached him now.
Ron tried to act natural but her beady eyes watched him dangerously, "You aren't perchance a Weasley are you?" She squinted up at his hair.
"Erm yes I am ma'am" Ron said quietly. His eyes darted to Hermione but she raised her eyebrows in shared confusion.
Norma's face changed, she smiled brightly and clutched her hands together, "Oh I just knew it. That hair, that build… you look just like your grandfather, my dear."
"How do you.." Ron began.
"My, my Hermione, you never mentioned your Ron was a Weasley."
Hermione furrowed her brow, "I'm sure I did, don't you remember questioning me about his fa…"
Norma threw up her hands, "You told me he was handsome but you didn't tell me he was this good looking."
"Norma I have shown you pictures of me and him and Harry all together." Hermione chastised.
"I was at Hogwarts with your grandfather Septimus. Did you know him?"
Ron shook his head, "He died before I was born, I didn't know that you knew any witches Hermione."
Norma once again waved her hand at him, "I knew this little witch was a witch before her own mother and father knew she was a witch isn't that right Jean."
Jean chuckled, "Yes thats right, we have lived next to Norma and Arthur for twenty years, we just thought they were a little eccentric until Professor McGonagall came to let us know that Hermione was a witch. She saw Minerva on the doorstep and came over to reveal herself and that she had seen Hermione doing accidental magic in the garden."
"Anyway Ron… I won't speak gossip about the dead but I'll have you know that I knew your grandfather very well, in the biblical sense" she winked a cheeky wink and Ron felt as though he might drop dead. "I was devastated when he chose to marry Cedrella, but oh well I would never have married my Arthur and lived next door to this lovely lady for the last thirty years if he had married me would I."
Ron's face flickered with fear as he watched the old woman entering the house. "Oh don't look so frightened dear , I don't bite… these aren't my real teeth, but if I was thirty years younger." She nashed her teeth at him and raised an eyebrow.
'Come on you big pest, if you stop harassing her Dad, I'm sure Rosie here would love a cuddle while I fill you in… I take it you still don't read the prophet."
Norma scoffed, "I've stayed away from that rag since they denied You-Know-Who was back."
"Norma is harmless, don't worry." Hermione kissed the bare skin on his arm as Ron watched the women disappearing with his daughter into the kitchen.
"Does biblically mean what I think it means." Ron screwed his face up.
"I'll preserve your innocence for a little while longer…" Hermione chuckled, leading him back into the living room.
May 7th 1998
Before the war, Hermione had hated shopping, the prospect of going into a shopping centre at any point of the day would have been a nightmare. But early on Thursday morning as she lifted Rose from the car seat in her parents blue Ford Fiesta and decanted her into her new grey Britax pram, she felt a buzz of excitement at the normality of it.
Five days ago they had been fighting for their lives and today Hermione had gone to the cash point, withdrawn some muggle cash and memorised her new PIN number in the hope of being allowed to use the new technology that had not existed prior to fighting for her life. No she wasn't fighting for her life now, she was walking arm in arm with her fiance.
Ron wandered the stores in awe at the sheer size of some of them. Hermione noticed that every item he passed he touched and felt, running his hands over the garments and marvelled at the level of choice muggles had. They had found a few new summer dresses for Rose, sleep suits and rompers and the loveliest dressing gown with little rabbit ears Hermione had ever seen.
Ron smiled at it sweetly, holding the hood as though she was in it. "It's so soft…" he said as Hermione placed it in her basket.
She watched him running his hands over the denim, on a pair of jeans he stretched and touched the soft material. "What size are you?" She asked seeing him looking at the price tag with a furrowed brow.
"I don't know, mum always bought my clothes." Ron mumbled putting the garment back and moving away.
Hermione strode towards him, reached down the back of his trousers and found the silk label.
"Excuse me, we are in public" Ron chastised as an older woman looked at them with shock. The label gave her no information, it was white from years of washing.
Hermione pulled a pair of jeans off the rail, held them against his body, "I think you should try them on. See if they fit."
He didn't hesitate taking the jeans and putting them back on the rail,"Nah its ok my jeans are fine."
"Ron, your jeans have been patched more than that cannons quilt you love so much."
His ears had gone bright red. "Hermione, I don't have money to buy them."
"I will get them for you." She said softly.
"I'm not a charity case" Ron snapped. "I'll buy them myself when I have money."
"Ron I don't think that you are…" Hermione scoffed.
"Enough, Mione, I can come back when I've got my order of Merlin money and get them. I don't want you to be spending your money on me. It's bad enough that your parents have had to buy the van thing and you have to buy that stuff for Rose, I'm failing because I can't provide for her."
"No Ron, it's enough from you. Our money is shared, what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours. If you are really that bothered by it, consider it a loan and you can pay me back when you get the Order of Merlin. You can give it back or you can save it and put it towards Rose's future. Until then it would be nice not to see you in the pair of jeans that weren't covered in my blood after having our daughter on a beach."
It had been a thought she had had very deeply over the last few months, but it had seemed trivial compared to everything else that was going on. The three outfits she had worn on rotation over the last ten months had seen so much, they reminded her of so many both good and bad moments. Ron's wardrobe was always limited and while it didn't really bother her, Hermione knew it bothered him. From his brief angry rants, he had never had anything new except the clothes his mother made him and after everything he had done for her and their family he deserved to wear something that made him feel the worth he gave.
The clothes Hermione had left in her room and rediscovered yesterday didn't feel like hers anymore; she was a different person now. Most of them had been donated in the cull of the previous day and she was ready to replace them with something that made her feel better.
The realisation appeared to register for Ron. "I really don't think…"
"Look, it will make me happy. I'm going to do it for me and Rose anyway, she is starting to outgrow some of the things she has and I want to get some nice things for me that don't remind me of fighting for our lives." She rubbed her hand on his chest. "I really want you to see how worthy you are, I think a few new pairs of jeans, some new t-shirts, shirts, jumpers… pants… you'll feel like a new man," Hermione looked up at him from hooded eyes. "...and besides, I get the benefit of being able to look at you… touch you while you wear them." Her hand snaked under his t-shirt running over his flesh leaving goosebumps in it's wake.
His eyes shut as he contemplated her offer.
"And if you really wanted you could always find another way to pay me back." Hermione chuckled.
Ron laughed heartily, "I like the sound of that option."
Later that evening
"I think you two should go and enjoy a date night. Me and dad can take Rose overnight and you can go and do something fun, just be a couple for a little while… oh Hermione you can show Ron the cinema, oh you would simply love it, or dinner and drinks, or bowling, oh Ron you would love bowling."
"Or both?" Henry interjected. "It might be a little while before you get time on your own again when the funerals and the trials start from what your dad was telling us, Ron."
"I don't think we've been on a real date yet?" Hermione stated, Ron's ears suddenly turning red once more.
"Is it not a bit dangerous for us to leave?" Ron asked.
"The muggle world is mostly very safe. We are being all well protected according to your dad and Kinglsey as well." Henry said softly.
"I really like the idea of this, Ron, we could take dad's mobile phone and we can call you, if we are worried, you can call us if anything happens and we can apparate right back."
"You both deserve to let your hair down even just for a few hours." Jean pressed with a smile.
It didn't take a lot of convincing before both Ron and Hermione were ushered upstairs, dressed and ready for the night. Ron changed into a pair of dark blue Levi Jeans that hugged his hips and covered his ankles even when he bent and moved, a white polo shirt that was so soft he couldn't help touching it and a brown leather zip up jacket.
Hermione's desk was filled with more bags of new clothes than Ron had owned in his entire life. It made his stomach turn to think about how much she had spent on the items but the look of happiness on her face when she had come home and inspected her purchases was good enough to counteract that.
While they had been out Hermione had had her hair cut and blow dried and Ron had visited a barber and had his hair trimmed by a barber for the first time and he actually loved the way it looked. The barber had styled his hair in a short quiff at the front and Ron looked in the mirror trying to replicate the style.
Hermione watched with a smile as Ron appeared to check himself out in the mirror. He had always looked gorgeous but with his new confidence came another level of attractiveness.
"How do I lo…" Ron turned to face her, his jaw-dropping. She had opted for a fitted red dress and black kitten heels with a matching bag. "Fucking hell you are fit." He whispered as she made her way to him.
"You like?" She asked already knowing the answer.
"I have no words… except… Wow!"
"Ready for our first real date?" Hermione asked nervously, she had no idea why she felt so nervous, they had been best friends for 7 years, they were engaged, they had a baby for goodness sake. But this felt different. He was in her world, they were on a date. It was exciting.
"I've never felt so ready in all my life," He placed a kiss on her neck and she let out a sound. "Just kicking myself I didn't do it years ago."
"Movie starts at 5:30. We should go." She whispered into his ear.
"Or we could just stay in and I could get better acquainted with my new favourite purchase." He husked as she smacked his arm and pulled him out the door.
When they returned several hours later, the house was in almost complete darkness as Ron and Hermione apparated back into the garden. Hermione giggled and swayed before falling dramatically into his arms.
"I love dancing with you." She slurred.
"Come on drunky, let's get you back to bed." Ron laughed,
"Promises promises…" Hermione winked at him.
"Yeah nice try but I doubt we will be doing that tonight Mrs, you can barely stand up."
"You aren't depositioning me, I am a strong and integral woman and I have needs." Hermione pointed her finger at him. She held her heels by their straps on her finger and they swung as she moved. Ron hadn't noticed just how drunk she had been until it was far too late, she was no harm to anyone, she was a very friendly drunk, very touchy feely.
"You mean disappointing…" Ron corrected before Hermione took off bare food into the overgrown garden.
"Come on this way." She whispered.
"Where are you taking me?" Ron said, running after her.
"We are going in through the window… I've always wanted to sneak into my house." Hermione cackled to herself as she placed her foot on the wooden trellis on the wall.
Ron grabbed her lifting her before she could climb any higher, "Are we buggery? Come on."
He pulled her towards the door, took out his wand.
"Remember Ron, it's LeVEEEEEEosA with a swish and a flick," Hermione hissed looking at him through squinted eyes.
Ron stared at her for a moment before whispering "Alohomora" The door clicked open and Ron let them in. As the door shut, the light in the hall flicked on and Jean appeared from the living room in a fluffy dressing gown.
Hermione shushed Ron roughly placing her finger over his mouth. "Shhh if we stay still she wont see us." She almost shouted, stumbling over nothing.
"Sorry for waking you Mrs Granger." Ron gave a sorry side smile. "She had a few cocktails and … well…"
Jean smiled, "It's Jean, Ron, and it's fine, Rose is out like a dream, and it's so lovely to see the two of you getting to just be…"
Hermione slurred, "Mummy," throwing her arms around her mother. "Have you met my boyfriend Ron…"
"No dear, I have not met your fiance." Jean said sarcastically.
"We might have sex…" Hermione hissed.
Jean turned a shade of beetroot that matched Ron's ears and neck. Ron met Jean's eyes and shook his head frantically.
"Ok dear, enjoy yourself…" Jean patted Hermione's back and ushered her up the stairs. Ron walked past sheepishly also receiving a small rub on the arm. "Don't worry so much Ron it's all fine, get some sleep… but remind Hermione to pump and dump in the morning or the alcohol will come through the milk and that's not good for Rose."
"I will do, thanks Jean…" Hermione had made it to the top stair and was now swinging on the bannister. "Come on, bed time."
Hermione threw herself onto the bed, starfishing her legs and arms out around her at odd angles, she closed her eyes and leaned back into the pillows. "Ravage me…"
Ron laughed, "What?"
She opened her eyes, looked at him with a strange face and repeated "Ravage me…" closing her eyes quickly after she mumbled "Take me anyway you want, I'm yours…"
Ron shook his head and opened one of her dresser drawers, pulling a pair of floral pyjamas out. He watched her as she writhed on the bed. She really was absolutely beautiful, even when sprawled out underpants on show drunk he couldn't believe he was here with her. Ron walked over to the bed still chuckling to himself. "You are a menace, you know that…"
He stood at the bottom of the bed wondering how best to undress her and redress her without seeming like a pervert.
She shuffled herself towards him, positioning her legs so they fell open ready for him. The black lace pants that she had shown him earlier covered her as the dress hitched up around her waist. "I don't really want bum stuff but I am yours to do with as you please."
She had silenced both his mouth and his mind with the comment, Ron wondered briefly if she may have been considering wanting that but shook the thought away with a laugh. "Unfortunately for you, I'm only really in the mood for bum stuff tonight so let's go to sleep instead." Ron removed her knickers, closing her legs so they fell to the side closed.
"Ohhh here we go…" She giggled, making him laugh more, drunk Hermione's thoughts seemed to be easily voiced. "Go on then but if you hurt me a get to kick you in the testicles…" Ron hooked her pyjama trousers on to her legs and pulled them up. As he began to remove her dress with great difficulty she recognised what he was trying to do and tried to remove her pants. "Boo you whore." She hissed, her head lulled as she tried to force herself to lock onto his eyes.
"Excuse me, who are you calling a whore…" Ron kissed her gently, on the lips. She grabbed his chin and kissed desperately. "Hey, I'm going to play a game," Ron whispered "You want to try?"
"Is it a sexy game?" Hermione slurred her eyes wide.
"Very sexy… but also very secret… so we have to be quiet when we are doing it" Ron raised his eyebrows at her, she smelled of citrius fruit and a potent sweet alcohol. "There's two parts…"
"I'm liking this very much…" Hermione sat up on the bed, crossing her legs in front of her and immediately tumbling backwards off the bed. "I'm great at games…"
Ron pulled her up from the floor "First we brush our teeth because you've had a lot of sugar tonight."
Hermione looked at him for a moment and Ron was sure the jig was up and she was going to protest but instead she launched herself at him, kissing with sloppy sweet kisses. "You are so fucking sexy you know that…"
"Hermione Granger swearing?" Ron raised his eyebrows.
"My parents are dentits you know, they tend to people's teeth" She whispered "They would love that you want me to brush my teeth."
"Dentits?" Ron questioned.
"Dem titties" Hermione grabbed her boobs, pushing them together in front of him.
"Ok drunky don't abuse them."
"Do you like my boobs?" Hermione husked,
"No" Ron said "I love them." He pulled her very tight hands from her chest and began to guide her towards the door.
"You do things to me Ronaldo"
"I'll do more things to you, if you brush your teeth… and stop calling me Ronaldo" Ron said as he held her hand. They walked to the bathroom across the way. He felt the wall for a switch like the one in her bedroom but found nothing, Hermione watched him with a cheeky smile. "You are so cute…" She reached forward and grabbed a white string before the light sprung on. "Teeth now before you wake the whole house,"
"Do I have sexy teeth now." She said biting her bottom lip before slowly brushing her teeth. Ron ignored her, brushing his own teeth. Muggle drinks were so sugary it made his mouth feel sticky and funny.
He swilled his mouth and looked at her in the mirror. She was practically asleep on her feet holding the brush in her cheek, swaying on the spot.
"You've not done the back teeth Mione, what was it you once said brush the teeth you want to keep?" Ron said taking the toothbrush from her mouth and brushing her back teeth for her and she laughed manically. She kept gargling phrases Ron could only assume where rude and seductive, but she just looked ridiculous with toothpaste dripping down her chin.
After he had finished he instructed her to spit. However she looked at him again. "Do I look like you've just spunked on my face?" Hermione said as she allowed another glob of toothpaste to drip down her chin.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry." Jean exclaimed behind them, Ron locked eyes with her in the mirror and Ron felt himself dying inside.
He wiped Hermione's face with toilet roll, "Get to bed now…" Ron hissed.
"Yes sir…" Hermione said bouncing off the walls.
Jean gave Ron a sympathetic smile and rubbed his arm. Ron said with exasperation. He rubbed his temples, his ears were on fire. "I always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time… I was just listening to you making her brush her teeth and the dentist in me did a little cheer."
"She's never like this," Ron chuckled weakly.
"She needed a little blow out after everything that has happened. I'm just glad that she's able to do it safe in your hands. Good night Ron, sleep well."
When he returned to the room, Hermione was sprawled over the bed, her dress still on her top half and Pyjamas on the bottom.
"Are you awake?" Ron asked gently, touching her face. She remained silent, breathing gently. Ron breathed a sigh of relief. She remained fast asleep as he finished dressing her and pulling her into the bed under the cover.
The house was silent now except for the sound of a slight wind outside. Ron placed her clothes in the laundry basket next to the drawers, changed into his pyjamas and stopped to look out of the window. The domesticity of it all hit him all at once and brought a smile to his face.
Now on the other side of the war, THIS is what life looked like and how fucking beautiful a life it was. Ron stood for a moment, picturing their future, his Mione sleeping soundly behind him, their own home, a place that was neither hers nor his but made by them together and for once in his life Ron felt he had everything he could ever want. No amount of money could improve this moment and this feeling.
He breathed in the slightly cool night air, and exhaled deeply. Rose was sleeping safely in her grandparents room tonight. He wasn't sure he liked it too much, Ron wanted her nearby but he wasn't going to disturb her this late at night. She was with two people who doted on her, they kept her safe in a war, so they would keep her safe for a single night in one of the safest places Ron had ever been. In their home… it still felt so odd to think that… In their home … she would have her own bedroom, maybe it would be pink, maybe white, maybe but it would be perfect for her.
"Ron…" A small voice came from behind him as Hermione stirred. "... I'm cold"
Ron smiled, climbing into the bed felt like climbing into a furness, Hermione's duvet was so thick and deep there was no way she could have been cold. "Did you just tell me a little lie, Mione?" Ron whispered as she placed her head on his chest, linked her legs around one side of his body, and her arms snaked his waist to cling to his body like a limpet.
"My heart was cold without you here." She was slurring her words still, barely awake but the sentiment brought a lump to Ron's throat. My heart was cold without you. There had been a version of himself who at this moment in time faced another twenty three years without the woman who lay next to him now and the mere thought of that made him grip her tighter to him.
This was the beginning, this was the very start of their lives together. Ron smiled to himself, closing his eyes as sleep came quickly to him, what a fucking wonderful life it was going to be.