#romione fanfiction

[redandbrown]

Study Break

Harry stood in front of her. “Hermione, scoot over.”

“You scoot over! I was here first.”

“You can’t take up the whole couch for the entire afternoon,” he protested.

“Sure I can. Watch me.”

Ron walked up behind Harry.“Hermione, budge over, or else.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. “Or else what?”

Ron casually flicked his wand at the books she had sprawled all over the couch. They flew into the air, flapping their pages like headless birds.

“Hey!” She protested pulling her feet onto the couch, getting ready to jump up and grab one.

But Ron was quicker than her. He sat down right on top of her, squishing her into the cushions.

“Aah! Get off!” She tried pushing him off in vain, but Ron wasn’t moving.

“I warned you, and now you’re going to have to pay the consequences.”

Ron felt her hand stop pushing him, and he immediately knew what she was doing.

“Oh no, you don’t!” He said, twisting at an angle to grab her wand before she could. “Harry, catch!”

Harry caught the wand mid-air with a grin on his face and stuffed it into his pocket.

“I’ll turn you both into frogs!!” Hermione shouted, still trying to wriggle free from under Ron.

“What are you two doing?” Asked Ginny suspiciously as she walked up behind Harry.

“Help!” Hermione yelled

“Move along, Ginny, this doesn’t concern you,” Ron said.

“We’re teaching Hermione a lesson,” Harry said.

“A lesson?!!” Hermione’s muffled voice said indignantly from behind Ron’s shoulder.

“And really, Hermione? Frogs? That’s so unoriginal. Ow!” Ron leapt off the couch. “She bit me!”

“That’s right! And I’ll do it again too!” Hermione growled lunging for him.

“And what lesson is that?” Ginny asked sounding a little irritated.

“That it’s not healthy to study all day without a break,” Harry replied.

“Aahh! Get back you barmy witch!” Ron yelled trying to escape Hermione’s wrath as she chased him around the couch.

“Run, Ron, run!” Harry shouted gleefully.

Ginny shook her head. “I hope she bites you again.”

“Aha!” Ron yelled triumphantly. He had abruptly turned around and bent low. Before Hermione could stop, she ran right into Ron’s shoulder, and he scooped her off the ground.

“Ooh!” She huffed in frustration. “Ron put me down!”

“Alright we got her. Let’s go!” Ron said, heading for the portrait hole.

“C’mon, Ginny. We’re gonna toss the quaffle around, while Hermione gets some fresh air,” Harry told her flicking his wand at Hermione’s still flapping books. They immediately stopped, and flew into Hermione’s bag. He flicked his wand again and the bag went sailing up the girls’ staircase to the dorms.

“I don’t need fresh air! I need you gits to leave me alone, so I can finish studying for this final!” Hermione complained as they walked down the stairs. Ron still had her thrown over his shoulder.

“Hermione, if you sit on that couch any longer, your arse is going to meld to the cushion. Besides, we all know you don’t need to study. I’d bet a gallleon you can recite that damn charms book from memory,” Ron told her.

“I- you don’t- I mean there’s more to learn than just the words-

“Merlin’s left tit. You do have it memorized, don’t you?” Ron asked incredulously.

Harry watched her cheeks heat up as she fell silent. He exchanged a look with Ginny, the two of them walking behind Ron.

“Maybe some fresh air will do you good,” Ginny said.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at her. “Traitor,” she accused.

“We were going to try to sit down and reason with you,” Harry told Hermione.

“But we thought we might have to take drastic measures. You get a little barmy during exams, you know,” Ron finished.

They were on the grounds now and Ron knelt to set her back on her feet. But he kept a hold of her hand as Dean handed him a broom.

“Cheers, mate,” he said turning back to Hermione. Harry and Ginny were already in the air. “Now, I’m going to let you go. Might as well make it easy on yourself and have a seat. If you try to head back to the castle, I’ll swoop down and grab you, and you can just play quidditch with us.”

Hermione knew a threat when she heard one. Ron was well aware that she hated flying.

“You wouldn’t dare!” She challenged him.

Ron leaned in uncomfortably close and gave her a lopsided grin.

“Try me,” he cheeked.

Hermione felt her cheeks heat up as she huffed indignantly and plopped onto the grass.

Ron’s grin broadened as he realized he had won the argument.

“Now watch me wipe the field with these guys.”

“Hmmph. No thanks. I’m just going to plot my revenge,” she shot back.

Ron snorted. “Fine. As long as you do it outside.”

And with that he shot up in the air before she could come up with a cheeky remark.

#romione #oneshots #fluffiness #hermione granger #ron weasley #romione fanfic #harry potter #ron and hermione fanfiction #ronald weasley #romione fanfiction #ron and hermione #cheesy

[whenihaveyouromione]

When I Have You - Chapter 102

(commissioned from @elyonblackstar.art on Instagram)

This was originally chapter 100, hence the difference, but then it changed. This is still my favourite chapter.

Lyrics from "First Times" by Ed Sheeran, a song he wrote about his wife :)

Read on ao3 or Fanfiction.net.

---

Chapter 102

~~~

Ain’t it funny how the simplest things in life can make a man,

Little moments that pass us by

~~~

“Woah!” Ron’s jaw was on the floor and he couldn’t quite pick it back up again. Hermione had told him that tonight was black-tie style dress — which, in Muggle terms, meant really fancy clothes — but she’d not informed him that what she planned to wear to the event was a very elegant — very low-cut, he noted with a grin — black dress that he never would have pictured her ever wearing. She’d curled her hair, its usual bushiness gone, and she’d even put on makeup. She looked absolutely stunning and he found it difficult to take his eyes off her. 

Hermione smiled at his reaction, but a moment later, she looked down. “Is it too much?” she asked, suddenly sounding uncertain. “It’s not something I’d usually wear, but —”

“Absolutely not!” Ron said firmly. “You look great. No… that’s not the right word. You look so, so beautiful, and that’s saying something, because I really do think you look beautiful all the time.”

Her lips curved up into a smile, her cheeks tinging pink. 

“Though,” Ron said, a smile forming on his own face, “I do think it would look better off you. If you know what I mean.”

“I always know what you mean, Ron,” Hermione answered dismissively. “And one day, you’ll have to be careful of what you say around our daughter.” She stepped closer to him, taking Rose from his arms. She was looking very drowsy, the time nearing seven-thirty in the night.

This was going to be the hardest part for them. Rose was spending her first night away from them. Well, just a few hours, really. It had been Hermione’s idea, but he knew there was some regret in her decision to have her parents look after Rose while they enjoyed a night out together. 

It was their anniversary. Four years being married, and almost eight years together. It was a special night, Ron knew that, and he wanted to make the most of it.

“She’s good to go,” he said gently. He didn’t want to show his own hesitations about leaving Rose behind, because if he did, then Hermione would probably change her mind. They’d at first contemplated bringing her parents here, so at least Rose would be somewhere familiar. But, Ron had then reasoned that they could just pick her up on the way home. They were heading into London anyway. 

Now, though, he was pretty confident that he’d be bringing Hermione home before they did anything else, because they had very little time these days to be alone, especially when Rose slept in the same room as them. They’d had to get creative. 

Hermione nodded. “I guess we should go then.”

“Yep.” Ron guided her to the fireplace, his hand on her back, which — to his delight — showed a lot of skin. He grinned. 

“Stop smiling,” Hermione said, though she wasn’t facing him.

“How’d you know I was smiling?” Ron asked, dropping his hand. 

“Because I know you,” Hermione answered. “The moment I put a nice dress on, you’re all over me.”

“I’m always all over you.”

“I’m holding our daughter,” she reminded him, though there was amusement in her voice above anything else. “Once we drop her off at Mum and Dad’s, you have me all to yourself.”

“Alright,” Ron said. He picked up a handful of Floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. “You go first.”

Hermione cast him a very amused look, but she did as he requested, her hand over Rose’s head to shield her from any ash. When she was gone, Ron followed, still grinning to himself. 

The other side was a very calm and peaceful atmosphere. Robert and Jane had known of their hesitation about leaving Rose, and so they were not showing what Ron could only imagine to be pure delight at having their granddaughter to themselves for a few hours. 

“Wow, Hermione, you’ve dressed up well,” Robert commented as Ron stepped out from the fireplace. He’d already cast anti-stain charms all over his suit, and he was pleased to see he’d performed it effectively. “As your dad, I am not sure I approve.”

“My husband approves,” Hermione said, smiling. 

Robert flashed an amused look Ron’s way, and Ron was very proud of himself at how well he hid just how much he approved. “I bet he does,” Robert muttered. 

Ron passed a bag full of Rose’s things to Jane.  

“And everything’s in there?” she asked, accepting it. 

“Yes. There’s three bottles,” Hermione said. “You hopefully will only need two, but there’s three just in case. She’ll probably sleep until about midnight, which is when we aim to get home.”

“So early?” Robert asked. 

“The show goes until eleven, so we’ll give ourselves an extra hour, just in case. We may even be back earlier.”

“Well, don’t hurry back,” Jane said. “The two of you haven’t had a night out in a long time, and it’s your anniversary. If you’ve packed an extra bottle for her, then you can probably stay out a little longer. When do we need to feed her again?”

“In about an hour,” Hermione said. “Then again when she wakes around midnight. And then… maybe again if we’re not back.”

Ron knew that wasn’t going to be the case. As much as he wanted to enjoy their night, he didn’t think they’d cope much longer than their allocated time away from their daughter. 

Jane smiled, her eyes on Rose. Her smile turned sympathetic when Hermione hesitated handing her over. 

“She’ll be well-loved here, Hermione,” Robert assured her. “You kids enjoy yourselves.”

Hermione kissed Rose’s cheek, and then with very heavy reluctance, she passed Rose over to her dad. “Bye, sweetheart,” she choked. “We’ll be back soon, I promise.”

Rose watched her, smiling. 

“See you, Rosie,” Ron said, stepping forward and tickling her under the chin. “You be good, alright?”

Rose gave him a smile, too, and before either of them could change their minds, he slid his hand into Hermione’s and led her to the door. There was a bus stop just down the road which led straight into the city. 

Ron closed the door behind them, wincing at the last sound they heard — Rose’s cries. 

“Oh,” Hermione said, pulling her hand away. “I feel so awful. She doesn’t understand. She probably thinks we’re abandoning her —”

Ron stepped toward her, a hand on each of her shoulders and kissed her. “She will be okay,” he said calmly. “Let’s enjoy our night together because we won’t get many of these moments. I want to celebrate being married to you.”

Rose could still be heard, even though they were standing out the front.

“Let’s go,” he said, taking Hermione’s hand again. “Before my resolve breaks and I go back in there again.”

Hermione seemed to appreciate his honesty. She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Let’s go,” she said. 

~~~

The first kiss, the first night, the first song that made you cry

~~~

Ron was certain he’d never set foot in such a fancy place again. This was something Hermione had organised, telling him she’d splurged considering this was the best year they’d had so far. They were attending dinner and a show — of what, Ron had no idea and didn’t really care about. He was just excited to be spending an evening with his wife, without them having to worry about a baby.

Though, worry they still did, even if neither of them mentioned it. Ron had set that rule on the bus ride over. He wanted tonight to be about them. Every other day of their lives was about Rose. 

The foyer was crowded with other couples, all dressed up like them. Hermione didn’t look out of place at all, though she was still the most beautiful. Ron couldn’t take his eyes off of her, or remove the smile from his face. People dressed in tuxedos came around offering free drinks, and Ron accepted a glass of wine, regretting it the moment he had the first sip. 

“You have it,” he said, choking down the bitter taste and handing it to Hermione.

“I can’t,” Hermione said. “I’m not comfortable drinking alcohol while breastfeeding.”

“Oh, right.” Ron looked around for a place to subtly dispose of the glass, but couldn’t find any. Everyone else was drinking slowly from their glasses. “I don’t know why I always think it’s going to be better the next time,” he told Hermione. “Goblin-made wine is much better.”

“Well, unfortunately they don’t sell that to Muggles,” Hermione replied. She smiled so brightly, and Ron’s heart swelled. 

“You are so bloody amazing, you know that right?” he said to her.

“That’s just because you like what I’m wearing.”

Ron chuckled. “I will freely admit that what you’re wearing is doing amazing things to me right now, but I really didn’t mean it like that. You know I love you no matter what you’re wearing. You know I love you.”

“I know.” Hermione stepped forward, her body pressing against his, arms around his neck and she kissed him. Her lips were so soft and tender and he was pleasantly reminded of their very first kiss and the thrill he’d felt at having her finally. It felt so long ago now, and so many kisses ago, but it would always remain his favourite.

He held her waist, ensuring she didn’t pull away too soon, but his hands slowly crept up her sides, reveling in the silky smoothness of her dress. He moved them to her back, feeling her exposed skin, but that was too much for him. He groaned, breaking the kiss before he got too carried away in a very public place. 

Hermione stepped back, seeming rather pleased with herself, and to his utter relief, an announcement sounded from somewhere that the doors were now open. 

Hermione dug into her small bag and pulled out two tickets. “Ready to go in?” she asked. 

“Please,” Ron replied, his voice strained. 

Hermione was laughing silently at him, he could tell, but she turned and walked toward the door, offering her hand for him to take. 

They were led to a beautiful table set for two, somewhere in the middle of the room. It was dark in there, but each table had a candle in the centre, creating a romantic atmosphere. 

Once seated, Ron immediately reached for Hermione’s hands. “Do you remember the first time you kissed me?” he asked. 

Hermione’s eyes widened at the sudden question, but she soon relaxed and nodded. “It’s hard to forget.”

“It’s hard to imagine just how far we’ve come since then,” Ron said. “All the things we’ve done together, all the things we’ve achieved… it all started there, didn’t it?”

Hermione gave a small smile. “I think it would have happened after that, if it didn’t then.”

Ron laughed quietly. “You’re probably right. I was quite in love with you at that point. I’m glad you made the first move, though.”

“Would you have? Made a move if I hadn’t, I mean?”

Ron paused before answering. This was something he’d thought about occasionally over the years. His answer always changed, but he nodded. “Yeah,” he said finally. “I think I eventually would have. It just would have been after I went through every possible scenario in my head to figure out what the best move would be and it may have taken me years to work it out.”

Hermione laughed. 

You find that funny?” Ron questioned, grinning at her. 

“Well… yeah,” she said. “Because aren’t I usually the one to run through every scenario in my head and you the one to act without thinking?”

“Which is why I’m glad you decided to do it that way for once,” Ron replied. 

Hermione smiled. “Tell me, have you thought about it? Did you reach a conclusion on what your preferred method of winning me over would have been? I’m curious.”

“Does it matter?” Ron asked. “It didn’t happen that way.”

“I want to know.”

“I dunno. How much would I have had to win you over?”

“You probably would have just had to have held my hand and I would have thrown myself at you.”

Ron returned her smile. “So, it wouldn’t have been all that different.”

“Tell me.”

“Alright, well, if it reached a point where nothing was happening with us and I felt I needed to make the move, I think I would have asked you out. While stammering over the question in sheer terror of what your answer might be.”

“You mean out on a date?”

“Yeah. You sound disappointed. It’s not as fun as throwing yourself at someone in the middle of the war, is it?”

“I think it’s a very Ron thing to do. I would have been flattered. And I, of course, would have said yes.”

“I like the way it happened better. I think back on that moment very fondly.”

Hermione’s eyes drifted to their entwined hands. She didn’t speak for a long time. Ron relished in the peacefulness, tuning out the chatter surrounding them and focusing solely on the woman next to him. 

“I think that was the moment I knew.” When she spoke again, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Knew what?” Ron asked, though he could guess. He’d had the same feelings in the same moment. That kiss — their first kiss — had erased every doubt in his mind and he’d never been more certain of anything when she’d been in his arms. 

She looked up, a look of complete joy on her face. “That we’d end up here. Married. With a child. Just… happy. It just felt —”

“Right,” Ron finished. 

“I knew in that moment, that if we survived the war, then we weren’t going to look back, we weren’t going to question anything. I could feel it in you, too. You just knew as well.”

“I knew it without a doubt,” Ron confirmed. “Our friendship was over.”

Hermione laughed. “Yeah, we ruined that, didn’t we?”

“But I will admit,” Ron said, “I did have some doubts.”

Hermione looked at him curiously, so he hurried on to explain. “Not about you, not about… us… not really. They came around the time you said you wanted to have sex with me. That panicked me more than I let on.”

“I know,” Hermione said. “You were pretty nervous that night. But you lost those nerves pretty quickly, though, if I remember correctly. I recall you being on me pretty quickly again after that first time.”

“Ha! Yeah. Yeah, I was…” He paused, thoughtful, trying to figure out how to word what he wanted to say. “That just felt like the point of no going back for us. I worried that if we did that together, we’d find it was actually awkward moving from friends to lovers, but then being friends would feel awkward after being so intimate.” He looked up, noticing her amused expression. “That makes sense, right?”

“It does,” she assured him gently. She frowned slightly. “Can you believe I didn’t actually think about that? I never even contemplated that it might be awkward, or weird —��

“And it definitely wasn’t,” Ron assured her. “And once I realised that, then I never looked back. But… at the time, I just thought if it didn’t work out for whatever reason, then I’d lose you entirely — as my girlfriend, but also as my friend.”

By the look on Hermione’s face, it was obvious that she was only now just realising that what he said could have been a real possibility. Thankfully, it hadn’t worked out that way, but the thoughts hadn’t seemed to cross her mind until this very moment. She confirmed that by saying, “I’m so glad you’re only telling me this now.”

Ron laughed. “Yeah, well… my mind might have been telling me that, but the rest of me was pretty keen, so I wasn’t going to think too hard on it in the end. I knew that if I said anything, you would have taken the high road and said we should wait, and I didn’t want that either.” 

“Sounds like a confusing time for you,” Hermione said, amused.

“Oh, it was,” Ron assured her. “I both wanted to be with you in a sex way, and didn’t want to ruin anything between us.”

Hermione flashed another smile before her expression turned serious. “Ron, I do hope you know just how much I love you.”

“Of course I know.” He squeezed her hands in assurance. 

“No, but… I know I’m not always the best at expressing my feelings. You’re so open, and I’m just a little more guarded. I know sometimes it can come across to you — and maybe others — that my feelings for you don’t always match your feelings for me. That’s not true at all, you know that, right? I’m just not as good as expressing them openly like you are.”

Ron nodded, sensing she felt a little saddened by her confession. Though, he’d never thought he was great at expressing how he felt, he just had a terrible time at hiding it, too. “Yeah, I know that. And don’t worry about it, I have no filter. You know that. I say things without thinking. It’s a curse.”

“You’re my happy place, my safe place, my everything and I’m so very appreciative of it all. It just… I guess it overwhelms me a lot of the time, to feel so much for one person that it leaves me with no words to express it. But… I fell in love so young, and I just never fell out, and… I just love you, Ron. So much.”

Ron’s heart just about leapt out of his chest. “Please stop talking,” he begged. “Because if you don’t, well, I might just do something I shouldn’t do with so many people around. 

Hermione laughed. 

He leaned down to kiss her, deepening the kiss enough to let her know that he loved her, too, but not enough to draw attention to them. “And don’t forget,” he said, his lips near her ear, “you were the one to say you loved me first. I’ll never forget that.”

That had her cheeks turning red, her hands tightening around his. He extracted one hand and rested it on her knee. She melted at his touch, which pleased him. 

“It’s amazing to discover the things that have made me happiest in life,” he said to her. “Growing up, I wanted the glory. I wanted to be Quidditch captain, to be Head Boy, to… be an Auror. I wanted to be recognised. It was my dream.

“But, you know what I think of when someone asks me what my happiest memories are? The things I think of when I conjure a Patronus? Asking you to marry me, actually marrying you, the birth of our daughter. Those are the best moments of my life, my greatest achievements. I wish I could go back and tell my eleven year old self to not worry about all those things I worried about — to tell him that none of what you want is going to make you happy, but you’ll find happiness in the simpler things. That the best job in the world is being a dad to a little girl that you will love more than your own life itself. And that that girl you met on the train, the one that annoys the pants off you, that maybe you need to be nicer to her, because one day she is going to make you happier than winning any Quidditch Cup ever could.”

“Not that you’re going to fall hopelessly in love with that girl?” Hermione teased. 

“Eleven-year-old Ron wouldn’t have been able to handle such information,” Ron said. “He was far too immature for that.”

Hermione smiled. 

“But I do wish I could just tell myself that it’s the simple things that will end up making me the happiest. I wish someone had.”

Hermione laid her head on his shoulder. “And maybe if you’d known all that, we wouldn’t be here now.”

“No, maybe not. Not sure I would have believed it, to tell you the truth, though.”

The lights dimmed after that and all talking ceased. Ron moved his arm to fold around her waist, drawing her even closer to him. 

And somehow, as he sat there with her, he realised that his heart really did have the space to love her just that little bit more than he did yesterday.

~~~

The greatest thing that I have achieved

Is four little words, down on one knee

~~~

Ron felt at peace when the show ended. He’d enjoyed it, and the food had been delicious. And to his surprise, neither of them had mentioned Rose. They truly had enjoyed their time together, it being just the two of them. Rose was probably sound asleep in the small portable cot Hermione’s parents had gotten, happy to have some new people to play with. 

They left the theatre hand-in-hand, smiling. 

“I really enjoyed tonight,” Hermione said as they made their way down the street. 

“Me too,” Ron said. “Another moment to add to my bank of growing favourite memories.”

Hermione smiled. “I almost don’t want it to be over.”

“It’s not,” Ron said, and he stopped — the place deliberate — and turned to face her, grinning at her.

“I’m not sure I like that look on your face, Ron,” she said warily. 

“There’s one more memory I have from our life together. And I’m very fond of it.”

That didn’t abate Hermione’s wariness at all. It increased it, if anything.

“And what might that be?” she asked.

Ron’s grin broadened and he nodded to his right. Hermione turned her head, both of them now staring down a dark alley. 

Hermione frowned. “It’s a rubbish alley,” she said. 

“It’s not a rubbish alley. It’s an alley, and I have very fond memories of you pulling me into one once.”

“Oh, Ron,” Hermione said, finally catching on. “We don’t… we’re a lot older now. I’m not as… well, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

But she didn’t protest too hard when Ron tugged on her hand and pulled her into it. The benefit this time, was it was dark and no one would see them, even if they walked past. 

He backed her up against the wall, enclosed in the dark entirely, and by the time he brought his mouth to hers, she was kissing him back. She flung her arms around his neck, forcing his body against hers. 

This was going to be the last time in many more months before they got to be so close for such a long time again, and he wanted to savour every moment with her. But he also wanted to tear that dress from her body, because as good as it looked on her, he knew it looked better on the floor. 

He settled for dropping one strap down her arm, just to see how far he could get with her before she stopped him. He trailed his lips along her jaw, down her neck and to her shoulder. She, surprisingly, held him tighter, allowing him to kiss her. 

So, he tried the other strap, and kissed her there, too. He did that for a long while before her hands slid away from his neck and he thought that this was it. As much as she was enjoying it, the knowledge that there were people nearby had gotten to her and she didn’t want to go further. 

But her hands didn’t push him away. They moved to his waist, and then to the belt buckle of his suit pants. He slid the straps of her dress down further, fingers trailing her skin. 

“I’ve missed you,” he murmured against her neck. “Merlin, I’ve missed you.” He pressed against her, suddenly even more desperate than he’d been before. 

He was surprised just how far she was taking this. She’d managed to get his buckle open, though she didn’t go any further than that, instead allowing him to kiss every part of her exposed skin. 

After a while, he reached behind her, feeling for the zip of her dress, and finally, he felt the hands that he’d expected long ago, push him away. 

“Stop, Ron,” she said, her voice filled with apologies. 

He dropped his hands, pressing his forehead against hers. 

“I thought I could do it, but —”

“Let’s go home,” he said gently. 

She nodded, and he held her tightly, reaching with one hand to take out his wand. He Apparated them both home, where Hermione was much more willing to allow him to unzip her dress and have it fall to the floor. 

~~~

The first look in your eyes when I said, "I love you.”

~~~

It was well after midnight, nearing one, when they Floo’d back to Hermione’s parents’ place. Both of them were awake, the lights in the living room on and the television going at a low level. 

Both looked surprised to see them come through the fireplace rather than the door. 

“Didn’t get the bus back?” Robert asked with a knowing look. He then looked them over. “That’s not what you were wearing when you left.” They’d changed into something more comfortable after they’d pulled themselves out of bed. 

Hermione flushed, but didn’t bother giving a response. 

Ron grinned. 

“How was she?” Hermione then asked, changing the subject quickly. 

“Oh, perfect,” Jane said. “Cried a little after you left, but she settled pretty quickly and was all smiles after that.” She smiled herself, as if reliving a very fond memory. “We had no issues getting her to sleep. Was out like a light after we gave her a bottle, changed her… oh, she was a delight.”

“That’s our Rosie,” Ron said proudly, noticing the smile forming on Hermione’s lips too. She’d done a lot of smiling tonight as they remembered how they’d reached this moment, the best part of their lives, but it never got old. 

“Did you two have fun?” Jane then asked. “How was the show?”

“Tonight was amazing,” Hermione answered. “The show was great, but it was just nice to actually spend some quality time together. We did a lot of reflecting, thinking back to the moment that got us here. It was lovely.”

Ron nudged Hermione affectionately, and her eyes glistened with love. 

“Where is she?” Ron then said. “I’ll go and get her.”

“We put her in the spare room upstairs,” Jane said. “We fed her at midnight, and she went straight back down.”

While Hermione began to explain to her parents about the show, which really had been the least thrilling part of their night, but the safest one to talk to her parents about, Ron went to get Rose. He entered the room quietly, smiling at the sound of her even breathing. 

He bent down to pick her up, begging her to stay asleep. She did, her only sign of disturbance being a grunt.

He carried her back downstairs, treasuring her tiny body against his, so warm and fragile and perfect.

Hermione smiled at him and then she came over to peer at Rose.

“Thank you,” she said to her parents. “We really appreciate it.”

“Our absolute pleasure,” Jane said. “She was a delight.”

Hermione smiled again and then, with Ron still holding Rose close to him, she set up the Floo connection. 

Ron indicated that she should go first, that he was okay to follow. 

She obliged. For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at the space she’d been a moment ago. And then Rose stirred against him and he was reminded again of just how simple his life was now, and that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

~~~

I can't wait to see everything that's yet to be

Our first child, and then a million more first times

~~~

#romione #hermione and ron #ron and hermione #ron weasley #ron and hermione fanfiction #hermione granger #harry potter fanfiction #hermione and ron fanfiction #romione fanfiction #harry potter

[heavensquill]

The Prefect & The Moonchild

---- Ron Weasley has somehow, once again, pissed off Hermione Granger. When Ron receives glowing praise for his work as a prefect, the one person who should have been happiest for him wasn't. Can Ron figure out why Hermione's cold and distant? Can their friendship and Christmas recover from the jealousy threatening to tear them apart? Written for @taurusmoonchild as part of the 2023 HPRomione Discord Secret Santa Exchange. I hope this keeps you entertained this Christmas.

Hogwarts, December 1995 (5th Year)

Ron Weasley trudged through the frigid corridors of Hogwarts alone. The echoes of laughter and excited chatter from his fellow prefects faded into a distant hum as they rushed towards the warmth of their dormitories, leaving him behind. He was often the first to escape Professor McGonagall’s office following their weekly prefect meetings. Today, however, he hung back, rooted in place by the weight of what had just occurred.

The end of term was looming, and despite Dolores Umbridge’s best efforts, the atmosphere around the school buzzed with the promise of the impending Christmas holidays. Yet, for Ron, the festive cheer had suddenly lost its allure. Instead, a singular, unnerving certainty now consumed his thoughts—he had somehow, once again, pissed off Hermione Granger.

Following the meeting, his usually steadfast companion had left him behind without a word of warning, her retreating figure a silent testament to the chasm that had opened between them. As it typically did during times of hardship, his mind raced with speculation and scenarios, each more bewildering than the last.

----

Read the full story on FFN | AO3

#romione #romione fanfic #secret santa #romione fanfiction #ron x hermione #ron weasley x hermione granger #hermione x ron #ron and hermione #fluff #romance #christmas

[voldemorts-tap-shoes]

Year 2 of @cruelsummer-ficfest here we goooo

on the outside, looking in

“Viktor,” Ron mutters over a game of chess in what has become a nightly refrain over the past few weeks. The common room has emptied save the two of us, and this is Ron’s cue to begin this conversation for what must be the hundredth time since the Yule Ball. “Viktor fucking Krum.”

His knight slices one of my pawns in half, but he’s not even looking at the board, his eyes drifting instead to the dormitory stairs where Hermione disappeared not long ago. I ponder my next move as I ask, “What about him?”

I know what comes next. We’ve been over this time and time again, and although I figured out why Ron’s knickers are in such a twist over Viktor and Hermione after about five of these late-night chats, Ron still seems to be in the dark. Maybe tonight will be the night it hits him.

“Just, y’know…” Ron watches me reach for a knight and gives a tiny shake of his head. I pull my hand back and try to formulate a different plan, though Ron has probably already got me beat no matter what move I make next. “What does she see in him?”

“Same thing you saw in him until about four weeks ago, I reckon.”

“Somehow I don’t think Hermione’s cozying up to him for Quidditch tips and box seats at the next World Cup.”

“You never know. Maybe we’ve rubbed off on her.”

Ron snorts. “Yeah. Maybe.”

It takes me another five minutes to move my next piece on the chess board, and Ron exactly ten seconds to move his. He’s going to have me checkmated in two more moves at this rate. Forgoing chess strategy, I decide to try a distraction instead.

“You never ask me what Viktor sees in Hermione.”

“Huh?” Ron’s gaze had shifted back to the stairs again. “What do you mean?”

“You always ask me what Hermione sees in Viktor. You don’t ask me what Viktor sees in Hermione.”

“Well…” Ron stalls, and I’m sure his ears are burning under his too-long hair. It’s a wonder Mrs. Weasley hasn’t taken a severing charm to both our heads this year. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? She’s our best friend. She’s a good person. Of course he would want to spend time with her.”

“Oh, sure. Yeah. But I mean, what is it about her that makes him want to snog her?”

Ron sits up so fast he nearly falls out of his chair. “You think they’re snogging?”

“I have no idea, but I assumed that was the intent.” I slide my knight into position, preparing for victory. “Check.”

“Well, bugger if I know. It’s not like I want to snog Hermione.”

Or maybe tonight will be the night that I hit Ron.

I just keep from rolling my eyes as I reply, “No, of course not.” If he hears the sarcasm in my voice, Ron doesn’t mention it.

“I’m just worried about her.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I mean, he’s older. And he’s not from here. What happens when he leaves if she really does…fancy him?” Ron looks ill at the thought. “I just don’t want to see her get hurt, that’s all.”

“That’s nice of you. What are friends for, right?”

“Exactly. Checkmate.”

“Wha—?” Ron swipes my king from the board and grins at me. “How did you—?”

Ron laughs as he waves his wand and the board packs itself away. “Better luck next time, mate. I’m heading up to bed. You coming?”

I follow him up the winding stairs to the dormitory, noting the lingering glance he gives the girls’ side as we go. For someone as brilliant as Ron is at chess, he sure is blind about Hermione. I wonder if I should tell him?

As we each settle into our four-posters, Ron says, “It’s Hogsmeade coming up next weekend. You think Hermione wants to go?”

Nah. He’ll figure it out.

***

The portrait hole closes with a click and I hurry to stuff my potions text under a sofa cushion. At this hour, there’s only one other person who’s not yet gone to bed in Gryffindor Tower, and I don’t need her giving me another lecture about the Half-Blood Prince’s book.

“Hey,” I greet Hermione as she shuffles into the room. “What are you doing out so late?”

She shoots me a wry smile as she settles into the armchair across from me. “You have to ask?”

Her eyes flit around the common room, so I spare her the trouble. “They’re upstairs.”

“Who?”

Oh, for Merlin’s sake.

“Who?” I scoff back at her. “The bloody Spice Girls, Hermione, who do you think?”

Hermione rolls her eyes as she folds her legs up into the chair. She glosses over my quip and echoes with a grimace, “Upstairs?”

“Yeah, they both went up to bed a while ago. Separately.”

“Oh.” She nods and relaxes a little. “Doesn’t it bother you? The two of them flouncing about all the time, snogging under everyone’s noses?”

“Sure, a bit, but I don’t think it’s for the same reason it bothers you.”

I level my gaze at her, and she averts her eyes, fiddling with one of the buttons on her cardigan. She’s never come out and said it—hell, neither of them have, they’re both too bloody stubborn—but I know how she feels about Ron. Hermione tends to ignore the subject anytime I try to bring it up, while Ron favors outright denial of his own feelings, but it’s gotten obvious to the point of ridiculous, and I need them to do something about it before I go completely mental.

“Because overt public displays of affection are a violation of school rules?” Hermione suggests with a chuckle.

I shake my head. “Try again.”

She groans. “Harry…”

“Come on, Hermione, you two have been dancing around this for years. What’s it going to take for one of you to finally admit it, someone on their deathbed in the hospital wing?”

“Don’t say things like that, it’s not funny,” Hermione scolds.

“I’m serious. I’m on the outside, and even I can see it.”

Hermione stands up and slings her bag over her shoulder. “Maybe that's the best view, then, because from here, he seems perfectly content with Lavender.” She tugs the beat-up copy of Advanced Potion Making out from under the sofa cushion and hands it back to me with a roll of her eyes. “Goodnight, Harry.”

As her footsteps fade away up the dormitory stairs, I flop back against the sofa and open the potions book, but all I can think about is my two best friends. My two stupid, stubborn, head-over-heels-in-love best friends, who would rather torture me and each other than just admit how they feel.

Fuck. They’re never going to figure this out.

#ron x hermione #harry potter #romione fanfiction #fanfic #romione #ron weasley #hermione granger #cruel summer fic fest

[sophias-spellbook]

hello!

my name is Sophia, and I am a Harry Potter fanatic, Ron Weasley Stan, and Romione shipper.

I am currently writing a Romione fan fiction, and I want to spread the word to gain some readers :) It is called “Before It Ends” and is available on Wattpad.

I just want to geek out about Harry Potter, but I may also post regarding mental health occasionally.

#romione #harry potter #ron weasley #hermione granger #harry potter series #ronald weasley #jk rowling #wizarding world #fanfiction #wattpad #enemies to lovers #romione fanfiction #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fandom #hp fandom #hp fanfic

[delumineight]

heyyy after 10+ years of literally not thinking of HP at all I’ve accidentally reactivated my romione heart… I found you and you read fic! so I thought I’d shoot my shot on what I’m looking for specifically- just good, devastating post-battle fic, the “we’re both traumatized, but I love you so desperately” type of fic- I’ve found (refound) some of the more iconic longer fics, but wondering what’s new out there in the last few years?

i… i reactivated your romione heart? shut up i’m going to cry omg??? i am trying my BESTEST to find this but i also have two of these in my drafts… no clue when they’ll be finished… do you want a one-hot, a few chapters, or a longggg multi-chap? i can tell you rn mine will only be one-shots because i cannot carry a plot oops ! hopefully these should occupy you for a moment while i find more one-shots and/or finish writing my own (you people need to write more angsty post-war one shots please i beg).

waking up by @hillnerd, 15/? chapters, nearly 170k words, also an australia fic but it is unfinished and i personally haven’t read all of it yet but if hillnerd wrote it, i’m sure it’s great.

what winning looks like series by chanel19, there’s four works in here and they’re all multi-chapter and insanely long, combined 405k words, i haven’t read anything except the first one but i trust that the rest is just as good i promise i’d never rec something that i had any doubts about

waves by sm_jl, one-shot, 1.4k words, listen the first part has the angst you asked for and the second part has the post-war you asked for !!!, i’ll never make a rec list without a shell cottage fic and i am soooooo not sorry about that

#isa asks ! #you haven’t thought about hp in ten years… i read the books for the first time ten years ago… sobbing… #romione #ron and hermione #harry potter #hermione granger #ron weasley #fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction reccomendations #ron and hermione fanfic #ron and hermione fanfiction #romione fanfic recs #romione fanfiction #romione fanfic

[taurusmoonchild]

tent angst but make it Ron’s POV

submission #2 for Era 4 (Fearless/Reputation) @cruelsummer-ficfest

Ship: Romione (shocker I know)

Song: Bye Bye Baby (Taylors Version ofc)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48493063

#ROMIONE #Ron and Hermione #Ron Weasley #Hermione Granger #ronmione #hermione x ron #ron x hermione #romione fanfic #romione fanfiction #cruel summer fic fest: the eras tour

[mertronus]

Forget Me Not is COMPLETE!

I absolutely loved this fic and the lil journey it took me on with Ron and Hermione. It's only 14 chapters but it's already one of my faves.

And it's all done!

Go have at it friends!

Read Forget Me Not on AO3

#ron x hermione #romione #romione fic #romione fanfiction #romione fanfic writer #harry potter fanfiction

[nena-96]

Song: Jump Then Fall

Era: Fearless

Pairing: Romione (OTP)

Word count: 831

Hey, here’s another Taylor Swift Inspired song! I’ll be honest I haven’t heard the song but I read the lyrics and I 😍😍 love it, so ofc I had to write a little AU about Ron and Hermione because we need more stories on these two ❤️

Jump Then Fall <—- here is the link for A03 or read below.

I love each freckle on your face, oh

I've never been so wrapped up,

It’s a little after two in the afternoon and Hermione is doing her absolute best to not stare at the boy beside her. The freckles that pepper his face in such a beautiful way, always causes her to stop her reading. Peering over the pages as her eyes settle on the way Ron brings a glass of pumpkin juice to his lips, as he closes his eyes and basks in the sweetness of the juice.

A single drop trickles down his lips the moment he moves the cup from his soft lips. A warm sensation spreads across Hermione’s cheeks as she imagines crossing the small space between them. How would Ron react if she were to tell him to come closer so she could taste the juice off of his lips.

Before she could act out on her imagination, Ron licks his bottom lip, ruining her opportunity. Sensing that he’s being watched Ron lifts his head and turns to Hermione. He’s confused at first at the dazed look that’s on her face. Until she notices one side of his lip turn up, into his signature lopsided smile that he reserves only for her, or so she hopes.

Biting her lip Hermione looks away shyly as she turns her attention back on her book, Quidditch Through The Ages.

Yes, yes I know but in her defense, she wants to learn more on why the entire wizarding world loves Quidditch. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Gryffindor Keeper is a guy that she fancies, who is also sitting beside her.

It’s ridiculous really, no matter how much she tries she can’t hide the smile that is surely on her face, because every time that he smiles she can’t help but do the same. Faking a small cough, Hermione turns the page and licks her parched lips. She knows he’s watching her, she always does it’s like second nature.

She wishes she could blame the years that she’s been best friends with the tall redhead but that would be a lie. Since she’s also best friends with Harry and she doesn’t think of how pumpkin juice would taste off of his lips. Matter of fact, just the thought of Harry in that way makes Hermione’s skin crawl. Definitely not the same way she thinks about Ron.

This isn’t fair, she shouldn’t be lusting over her Ron when he doesn’t feel the same about her. Pretending to skim through each paragraph, Hermione tries not to dwell on her feelings of not being the girl Ron would fancy.

They’re so different, yet deep down she knows that they have many things in common. It doesn’t take a chemist to see that the chemistry between them isn’t just a theory of opposites attract.

Why couldn’t she just summon up some Gryffindor courage and jump-

“Well, you can but wouldn’t that be a bit odd?” Ron questioned as his eyebrows crinkle in confusion.

“What… erm I didn’t mean to say that”, Hermione

“Oh, really what did you mean then?” Ron challenges her as he flips his shaggy auburn hair from his eyes. Which was useless since it fell back over his eyes, blocking her from seeing his soft blue eyes. Hermione licks her lips and wonders if she tells him that she meant to say he needed a haircut. Which isn’t true, but if his hair prevents her from seeing those blue orbs then by all means go ahead.

Before she could mutter her excuse, she noticed how she moved a bit closer to him, or did he move closer? Either way, the way she can smell the heavenly scent of his cologne causes her to close her eyes and indulge in the familiar scent.

When Hermione opens her eyes, she realizes that she wouldn’t throw away her chance. She was sorted into Gryffindor for a reason and damn it if she isn’t going to prove it.

Hermione brings her hand up and pushes Ron’s auburn hair away from his eyes. His breath hitches and his face begins to rival the color of his fiery hair. Loving the way his hair feels like silk against her fingers, Hermione licks her lips once more before closing the distance between them and finally tasting his soft lips. Ron lets out a gasp, and that causes Hermione to freeze against his lips.

Pulling away gently, the once courageous witch stumbles over an excuse, but not before Ron pulls her back into a deeper and passionate kiss. Soon enough they managed to find their rhythm after accidentally hitting each other's lip a bit too hard.

Yet, she wouldn’t have it any other way, “if you want to jump, then I’ll make sure I’ll catch you”, Ron whispers in between kisses. Smiling into the kiss, Hermione pulls away, only mere inches from his lips and whispers, “it’s too late, I fell a long time ago.”

#hp cruel summer fic fest 2023 #romione fanfiction #ron x hermione #ron weasley #hermione granger #HP fanfic #taylor swift inspired #Romione

[edie-k]

Title: Crossfire

Pairing: Romione

Rating: General Audiences

Summary: Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived Through Ron and Hermione Planning a Wedding

🔹🔹🔹🔹

“Dorian with the save! The score remains 30-20.”

“Good,” mumbled Harry from his seat on the couch. If the Arrows lost today, the Harpies would be in the playoffs with a win tomorrow.

His peaceful afternoon of Quidditch on the wireless was interrupted by the whoosh of the Floo.

“Harry!”

“Mate, we need you.”

Harry groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. “What is it this time?”

When Ron and Hermione had announced their engagement, Harry had been thrilled that after all these years his two best friends were together and happy. At the same time, it was a little unsettling for him to officially become their eternal third wheel (at least when Ginny was away).

Unfortunately, their engagement meant Harry found himself reluctantly thrust into the role of Ron and Hermione wedding mediator. Last week, he had moderated a forty five minute fight about the salad they were serving even though Harry was fairly certain he had never seen Ron eat a salad.

Read the rest here!

#romione #romione fanfic #ron weasley #hermione granger #ron x hermione #hp fanfic #romione fanfiction #ron weasley x hermione granger #fanfic writing #harry potter fanfiction #third wheel Harry

[vjintv]

au romione where

where Ron and Hermione's parents are blacklisted, and thanks to this the two grew up hating each other without even knowing each other

or, where Ron and Hermione later entered the same university for the same degree, where they truly know each other.

#romione #ron weasley #romione fanfiction #hermione granger #romione fanfic #harry potter #ron and hermione fanfiction #ron x hermione

[redandbrown]

Cold

Hermione was shaking violently as Ron watched her cast yet another warming charm over her body. He knew she was wearing about three sweaters and two pairs of pants. It was cold out here, but not that cold.

She sneezed loudly and immediately stomped her foot, almost like she was highly inconvenienced by getting sick.

Ron smirked to himself. That’s exactly what she was thinking. Typical Hermione.

She was still furious with him about leaving, but had finally started speaking to him again two days ago. Even if only in short, one word sentences. He thought he would try to thaw her cold shoulder towards him a little more.

“That doesn’t seem to be working,” he quipped as he walked closer to her.

She looked up at him noticing him for the first time in a while.

“Wh-what do you kn-know about it?” She sneered as her teeth chattered.

“I know a warming spell won’t work on a cold,” Ron told her calmly as he leaned against the kitchen counter.

He saw her blink rapidly, and knew this was new information to her. Sometimes growing up in the wizarding world had its advantages.

“You have a fever,” he told her.

“I know that!” She snapped at him.

“Then why would you want to make your body warmer?” He reasoned with her.

Hermione stared at him, her nose red and irritated from sneezing. He could see the wheels turning behind those warm brown eyes as she rocked back and forth, trying in vain to dispel the chills racking her body.

“I- You’re right,” she reluctantly admitted. “Why didn’t I th-think of that? I’m so stupid. I j-just f-feel so c-cold. That’s all I can think about.”

“You’re not stupid, Hermione,” he told her as he pushed off the counter and stood in front of her. “You’re just sick. Take that jumper off.”

Her eyes became large at his closeness and she took a step back.

“Wh-what?” She looked like she couldn’t believe what he had just said. He noticed the blush creeping up her cheeks from her neck.

He had to play this calm if this was going to work. He rolled his eyes at her.

“I know you have two more under that one. C’mon get rid of it.”

She looked alarmed. “Well what am I supposed to do? I can’t brew anything for a cold! I don’t have the ingredients and I’m freezing. My teeth feel like they’re going to shake out of my head!”

“I’m trying to help you, ‘Mione. Would you just trust me?” He soothed.

“No!” She stomped her foot stubbornly. “And don’t call me that! I’ll figure it out on my own! I don’t need you!” She yelled over her shoulder as she ran to her beaded bag looking desperately for something to help.

Ron sighed and jumped back onto his bunk.

“Have it your way then. If you change your mind, I’m right here.”

Hermione gave a loud huff in response to his offer and continued calling various objects out of her bag for examination.

Ron heard a soft sobbing and sat bolt upright in his bed. He must have dozed off. His eyes landed on Hermione. She was sitting on the floor now wearing one of his jumpers as well, weeping quietly into her hands. Random objects were sprawled out around her in a large mess.

He looked towards the tent flap. It would be time for Harry to come in soon. Ron had had enough of this.

He jumped off his bunk and swung his wand in the air as he walked towards her. The objects started flying back into her beaded bag, and she looked up just in time to see him scoop her off the ground.

“Ron! What are you-

“Enough of this, Hermione!” He sat her on his bunk and now they were almost eye-level. “I know you’re angry with me, but I won’t have you hurt yourself over your ego. Sometimes you need help, Hermione, whether you like it or not!”

“You don’t tell me what- She started, but Ron cut her off by raising his wand and pointing it at her chest.

She looked down to see not one, but two, three, all four of her jumpers disappear, leaving her in only her camisole.

Her arms flew across her chest, even though nothing was technically exposed.

“How dare you-

“Shutup,” Ron cut her off. He pushed her back on the bed by her shoulders, and she was so weak she didn’t even put up a fight.

“What are you-

“Would you shut up for minute?”

Ron grabbed his blanket and covered her with it, tucking it in tightly and casting a warming charm on it.

“When you have a fever you have to cast the warning charm on a blanket, not yourself,” he explained to her as her features went from realization to relaxed. Hermione took a deep sigh of relief, keeping her eyes trained on Ron.

“But you still need to break that fever. We can’t do that right now, so we’ll just have lower your body temp,” he continued, conjuring a cold cloth and placing it on her forehead. He conjured two more and instructed her to place them on her neck and stomach. This time she didn’t question him. She did as he told her.

He watched as her body finally stopped shaking. Those big brown eyes were watching him with gratitude and- was that admiration? His stomach did a flip.

“I know it doesn’t make sense to be covered in a warming blanket and cold cloths at the same time, but trust me it works. This is how my mum treats a fever while her fever potion is brewing.”

To his surprise, Hermione smiled at him. “Remind me to thank your mum. And-and you. Thank you, Ron.”

She squeezed his hand.

“Hermione, what’s wrong?” Harry sounded concerned walking into the tent.

“I have a cold.”

“And a fever,” Ron added.

“And a fever,” she confirmed.

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothi-

“She needs to rest and then eat. Make sure she gets some food in her, yeah? I’m taking next shift.”

“No!” Hermione tried to yell. Ron had already headed towards the door, but turned around at her shout.

“It’s my turn. It’s not fair to you-

Ron walked back, and to her shock leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

“I’m taking next shift,” he repeated more firmly. “Rest. Eat. I’m right outside if you need me.”

Hermione was staring at him slack-jawed. All she could do was nod.

Ron didn’t dare look at Harry as he walked out the tent flap.

#ron weasley #hermione granger #romione #harry potter #romione fanfic #ron and hermione fanfiction #ronald weasley #romione fanfiction #ron and hermione #oneshots #little drabble #love these guys

[whenihaveyouromione]

When I Have You - Chapter 101

Read on Fanfiction.net or ao3 as well.

---

Chapter 101

Rose’s smile filled Ron with so much joy. It was something he was unable to find the right words for. It was just a feeling that made his heart swell and for him to feel things that he didn’t even know he was capable of feeling. 

Over the years, Hermione had already pushed those boundaries, his love for her growing every day. But Rose… Rose had completely broken down and disintegrated all those barriers of what he thought he could feel. She’d completely and utterly changed the definition of love for him from the moment she’d entered this world.

And every day, it was something new. Every day, she’d grow and change. She’d do something they hadn’t seen before, learn a new skill. At three-and-a-half months old, she was already showing that she was desperate to be on the move. She wriggled and rolled so much now it was almost difficult to keep up with her. She’d be in one place one moment, and then the next she’d be at the other end of the room. 

“She’s going to start crawling soon,” Hermione had said one afternoon as they watched her attempt to wriggle herself towards a toy. There was a brief moment where it looked as if she was trying to push herself onto her knees. 

“No, she’s far too little,” Ron had answered, ignoring what he was seeing with his own eyes. 

There was a baby book Hermione kept in the living room, picking it up every so often to refer to one thing or another. She did that then, flipping to a page. “Well, it says here they can start crawling from as young as four months.”

Ron watched his daughter, feeling a mix of pride and worry. He was thrilled to see that she was thriving. She was such a happy baby, she ate well, she was active. Sleep was still an issue, but nothing out of the ordinary, he thought. At the same time, the last three and a half months had been the best of his life, and the fastest. He’d watched his nieces and nephew grow, watched how big they’d gotten. James really did crawl around now at tenth months old and he got into everything. Ron had witnessed with his own eyes how nothing in Harry and Ginny’s house was safe from his curious little hands. 

But James hadn’t crawled until a month ago. He’d been perfectly stationary and happy to be so. 

Rose could at least give them a few more months. 

Now, he watched her on her play mat by the breakfast table as he made himself a coffee. She’d long since grown unsatisfied with the restraints of the bouncer that kept her safe, insisting that they put her on the ground.

She smiled at one of the many toys she’d collected in the two weeks since her dad had started working at the joke shop. It moved around the floor, singing, and she turned on her tummy, following it with her eyes. 

Her little face warmed him more than any coffee could and he smiled, watching her.

“You’ll make a great Quidditch player one day, Rosie,” he said. 

At the mention of her name (or the sound of his voice, Ron hadn’t quite worked it out), her eyes drifted towards him, grin widening. 

“Maybe I can teach you how to play young. That way, when you get to Hogwarts you’ll be a superstar.” He smiled at the thought, though he was disinclined to think too far into the future considering he was already bothered by the fact that the first three and a bit months with her were already over. But he’d be incredibly proud if his little girl was to make the Quidditch team in her first year. No one had done that since Harry. 

Rose’s attention drifted back to the toy.

“On second thoughts,” he said, “you’ll probably do much better if your Aunt Ginny was to teach you. You’d probably get free lessons and have much better success.”

The thought of his daughter being a great Quidditch player in the future brought another smile to his lips. She was part Weasley, which meant she’d probably be decent, though she’d unfortunately lucked out in the area of having him for her dad. Aside from Percy, who flat out refused to get on a broom, he was probably the least skilled of all his siblings. Hermione insisted he was good and he just let his lack of confidence get in the way, but Ron knew that wasn’t entirely true. 

Part of being a great Quidditch player meant you needed to have a lot of confidence. And he didn’t.

James, Ron thought, would walk his way onto the team when his time came. And with any luck, Rosie would not inherit Ron’s lack of confidence and join her cousin (or play against him if that were to be the case). 

But he had many years to go before that happened and Ron hoped that time would just slow down a little so his wish didn’t come into fruition too quickly. 

She was perfectly happy to play on the floor of their kitchen for the time being. 

His watch said ten minutes to five o’clock, which meant Hermione would be home in about twenty. Over the few weeks that Ron had been with Rose and Hermione had been at the Ministry, she’d made a big effort to get home on time. Ron had joked at the time, telling her that she just didn’t trust him to take care of Rose without her supervision. Though, he knew it was more because she didn’t want to miss any time with Rose. 

She was incredible, and Ron made a point of telling her that when he could. She seemed so on top of managing parenthood and working and he admired her for it. She gave Rose so much time and attention when at home, and gave her all to her job between nine and five, five days a week. 

How she did it, he’d never know. 

Ron’s eyes flicked to Rose again, who was still being entertained by the toy. “I think she’ll be surprised to see us home early today,” he commented to his daughter (who he was well aware could not respond to him). 

After working tirelessly for two weeks at the shop, he’d — for the first time — taken advantage of being the boss and left at four-thirty. Oswald was proving to be a reliable employee and Ron trusted him and the other girl — Isla — to set up for the weekend. 

It gave himself time to actually sit down, drink a cup of coffee, and it gave Rose some additional time to move. 

And then Hermione would come home and they’d need to get ready for dinner with Harry and Ginny. What had once been a common gathering had dropped off significantly since they each had children. These days, it was all about routine and being home in time for bed. 

He savoured the coffee, drinking it in small sips and reheating it with his wand whenever it got too cold. 

He’d just about finished when he heard Hermione arrive via the Floo. He was hoping to surprise her, but there was no way she would not have heard the loud squeal of delight from Rose as the toy nudged her nose.

“Ron?”

“Nice one, Rosie,” Ron said cheerfully. “Remind me not to take you to any surprise parties. In the kitchen!” he called.

A moment later, Hermione came into the kitchen, her eyes flittering from Ron to Rose on the floor. “You’re home,” she said, sounding surprised.

“Yes,” Ron said brightly. “The benefit of being the boss, right?” He grinned as she came over to kiss him. 

Her mouth turned up into a small smile. “Yes, very. How was your day?”

Ron shrugged. “Busy. Never isn’t busy. You’d think people would get sick of buying stuff, but nope. Seamus came in today.”

“Oh, that would have been nice,” Hermione answered. “It must be getting close to the baby being born now.”

“Yeah,” Ron said. “Seamus said only a few more weeks.”

“That’s so exciting.” But Hermione didn’t sound excited. She frowned, and Ron realised her attention wasn’t on him. 

“What is it?” Ron asked. 

Hermione jumped, looking back at him. “Oh, nothing, I just… it’s funny that you ran into Seamus today, and he’s about to have a baby…”

“Why?” Ron questioned, confused as to where she was going with this. He didn’t think it was funny that Seamus had come into the shop, or that he was about to become a dad. 

“Well… did you ever hear that Malfoy had a baby?”

For a moment Ron didn’t speak, but then he said, “What?”

“Last November,” Hermione said. “Before Rose. And he never said anything. I mean… we don’t exactly talk, but he didn’t even mention it or anything. Never asked for time off…”

Ron shrugged. “Did you ask?”

“No. I didn’t even know. Not until today, when he mentioned his son in passing. Said that was why he was late. ‘Sorry, my son was sick.’ And that was it.”

Ron shrugged again. “How’d you know it was last November?”

“Because Maia asked him and he told her. I overheard. It just seems strange, doesn’t it? That he didn’t even bother to mention that his wife had a baby. Or didn’t ask for any time off? Wouldn’t he want to spend time with his child?”

At that, Ron laughed. “It’s Malfoy you’re talking about, Hermione. He’s probably hired someone to look after the kid and goes about his business like it doesn’t exist. Isn’t that what Malfoy’s parents did with him? The saddest part in all this is that our Rosie is going to have to put up with a Malfoy when she goes to Hogwarts. He’ll be in her classes and everything.”

Hermione didn’t speak for a moment, apparently incredibly bothered by the fact that Malfoy didn’t feel the need to tell her about his own child. If Ron was being honest, he didn’t actually blame Malfoy. Why would he? It wasn’t like she had told him anything about Rose. 

“Come on,” Ron said, “let’s get ready for this dinner and talk about kids we actually care about.”

Hermione seemed to snap out of whatever she was thinking, smiling again. “You know,” she began, “tonight just might take today’s baby count up to three.”

“What do you mean?” Ron said quickly, worried. He tried to do a quick calculation in his head, but nothing came to him. Hermione couldn’t be pregnant again, could she? It had taken them forever to get Rose. And he loved her with all his heart, but he wasn’t quite ready for another kid. Not now. “Are you —” he said, hesitant.

“What?” Hermione almost laughed. “No!” She laughed again. “No, I was talking about Harry and Ginny.”

“What?”

Hermione shrugged. “Well, last year, Ginny was talking about her return to Quidditch this year. She was incredibly excited about going back. She is meant to be going back in March, and March is only a few weeks away. She hasn’t gone to a single training session. She hasn’t been away… only one thing kept her away from Quidditch last time, and that was James.”

For a moment, Ron stared at her, his mouth slightly open. Then he shook his head, partly impressed at how perceptive Hermione was and how ridiculous her comment sounded. She was right, of course. Ginny hadn’t made mention once this year about going back to playing Quidditch, when last year it was all she talked about. She hadn’t been to any practices and Harry hadn’t said anything about her being away. Ron knew that he would have, if she had, because he would have been left looking after James on his own.

But, she couldn’t be pregnant again. 

“James is only ten months old,” he blurted out. 

Hermione shrugged. “You and Ginny aren’t that far apart in age,” she reminded him. “It’s possible.”

“Yes, but…” 

“Well, I could be wrong,” Hermione said. 

“But you don’t think so?” Ron replied. He glanced back down at Rose, imagining her at James’ age. She was already showing signs of wanting to move more and the thought of having another baby so soon almost horrified him. He adored his daughter, but he was happy with just her. At least for the time being. A very long time being, he thought. 

Hermione seemed to know what he was thinking, for she said, a smile on her face, “Don’t worry, if that’s the case, I’m not going to get any ideas for us.”

Ron looked back at her. “Thank Merlin.”

Hermione laughed.

“Well, I suppose we should go over then. Let them break the news to us…”

Hermione bent down to pick up Rose. “Hello, sweetheart,” she said, kissing Rose’s cheek. “Did you have a good day today?”

“As always,” Ron replied. “She flashes a smile and the customers just hand over their money.”

“So, you’re using her as a sales pitch, then?”

“No. They just see her and they can’t resist.” 

Hermione bit back a smile, which meant she wasn’t too upset by it. “When did you last change her? Maybe we should change her before we go.”

Ron thought back to his day. They’d been quite busy, and he remembered at around three o’clock telling Oswald he just needed to tend to Rose for a moment and if he could watch things. But then that kid had knocked over the Skiving Snackboxes, and then Rose had fallen asleep, and then… and then he’d gone home. And not changed her. The last time had been around midday.

Guilt swept over him in a way that he’d never felt before. “Oh, Merlin, Hermione… not since midday. She’s been…”

Rose flashed him a smile, which he probably didn’t deserve right now. How had he forgotten such basic care for his daughter?

“It’s alright,” Hermione said. “I’ll go and do it now.” She left the room, talking to Rose all the way down the hall, leaving Ron to wonder if she was angry with him for forgetting. 

He’d never forgotten before. In fact, he’d slid into his routine with her so easily that it had become habit. At busy times, she was strapped to his chest, during quieter periods she was out the back with the toys where Ron could keep watch of her. Every two hours, he routinely fed and changed her. But that kid… he’d caused Ron to forget. After he’d cleaned up the mess and told the apologetic father not to worry, he’d gone back to feed her, because forgetting to feed a hungry baby wasn’t possible, but he’d then just put her back on the charmed playmat while he went to help another customer. 

He shook his head, running his hands over his face. He knew Hermione had her misgivings about Rose being at the shop every day, but until today, it had worked well. Now, this just proved that he couldn’t do it. 

When Hermione returned with Rose a few moments later, she found Ron sitting on a chair at the kitchen table. She stopped, looking at him, frowning. “Everything okay?”

Ron shrugged, his previous cheerful mood gone now. “I messed up,” he said.

Her frown deepened. “What do you mean? Did something happen today?”

Ron lifted his head to look at her, slightly surprised by that question. What did she mean by ‘did something happen’? Hadn’t she just heard what he’d said about not changing Rose since midday?

He felt lost for words for a moment, before regathering himself. “I forgot to change her,” he said. “I just… I just forgot.”

Hermione was silent, and if Ron hadn’t been watching her, waiting for her anger to set in, he would have thought that her silence was due to being furious with him. But that was not the emotion on her face at all. She looked more confused than anything.

Before speaking, she came to sit opposite him. “Okay, you forgot,” she said calmly. 

Ron was completely taken aback by Hermione’s response. Was this the same Hermione who had fussed over every bottle just two weeks ago, he was talking to, or had someone taken her place? His mouth opened, but no words came out. 

Seeming to sense his surprise, Hermione continued, “Ron, if I’ve learnt anything since we’ve become parents, it’s that we need to throw out the notion that we need to be perfect for her at all times. She’s fine, isn’t she?” 

Ron looked at Rose, nodding. “So, you forgot to change her once. I’m assuming you got busy today and it slipped your mind.”

“It shouldn’t have,” Ron mumbled. 

“And you’ve never forgotten before, have you?”

Ron shook his head. “Some idiot kid destroyed the place, and I had to deal with that.”

“So, it’s fine. Honestly. Did you think I’d be upset?”

The truth was, yes, but he was mostly upset with himself for forgetting to do it. Wasn’t that what he’d promised Hermione when they made this arrangement? That he would be the perfect person to take care of their daughter?

Hermione’s voice cut through his thoughts, seeming to understand what he was thinking. “Don’t beat yourself up,” she said gently. “Things like this are going to happen sometimes. And she’s fine. I promise.”

Ron nodded, not wanting to continue the conversation anymore. “Should we go? Don’t want to be late. And maybe you’re right; maybe they do have news to tell us.”

…

Ron knew immediately, the moment he stepped into Harry and Ginny’s house, that Hermione was definitely right. It was obvious the second he laid eyes on his sister that she was pregnant again. He didn’t know how he knew, because she wasn’t showing all that much, and he wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been looking, but he now couldn’t help but notice the small bump she carried. 

And she was rather cheerful, too. So was Harry. They greeted them brightly, ushering them into their living room as if they hadn’t seen each other in months, not just weeks. 

Which was still a long time, Ron reasoned. Longer than what they were used to. It wasn’t until he left the Aurors did Ron realise just how much of his time spent with Harry had been at work. If there was one thing he did miss about that job, it was going in and seeing his best mate every day. The laughs, the talks, and the company. 

Now, with a kid each and working separate jobs, they actually had to schedule catch-ups such as these, and that was hard. 

And it looked like Harry and Ginny were going to have their hands full even more so than what they currently did. 

The living room was larger than Ron and Hermione’s, and more open. But even so, it was crowded and filled with many toys, both magical and Muggle, that Ron could guess James never played with. 

Harry, much like Ron, had been determined to ensure that his son didn’t miss out on anything like he had. The only difference was, Ginny had not been there to convince Harry that James didn’t need all that stuff like Hermione had for Ron. She’d agreed with him. 

Looking at the space, Ron felt grateful for Hermione. Rose had everything she needed and a little bit more, but she didn’t have everything like James did. But, Ron reasoned, James was probably going to have to share his things in a few months, so that was something. 

Upon seeing his visitors, James crawled over to Ron and Hermione, grabbing onto Hermione’s leg and using it as leverage to pull himself up. Hermione bent down to pick him up, allowing the boy to nuzzle into her. 

Ron beamed at her, feeling a rush of love for his wife and nephew. Hermione had always been good with James, even before Rose was born, and over the ten months of James’ life, they’d developed quite a bond. James adored Hermione and Ron knew without question that Hermione loved the son of her best friends. 

It had Ron thinking back to almost a year ago now, when Harry had showed up at their place under the pretense of returning a pen, just to express his fear that his son was going to be left alone if anything were to happen to him or Ginny. They’d assured him then that that wouldn’t be the case, but Ron knew now with the utmost certainty that if anything was to happen to either of them, he and Hermione would take James in, in a heartbeat. And he’d be loved and cared for as if he was their child. Because that was how they both felt about the kid, his tantrums and all. 

While Hermione cooed at James, talking to him and making him giggle, Ron extracted a blanket from Rose’s bag — something they carried everywhere — and with Harry’s help, laid it on the carpet of the living room. Things looked different these days on their dinner dates, where their main priority was making sure their kids were set up before they looked after themselves. 

Harry brought over some toys and laid them on the mat, and Ron placed Rose on it. She immediately rolled over onto her tummy, stretching out her hand to reach for one of the toys. Harry and Ginny got to witness first-hand her attempt to briefly get onto her knees before collapsing back onto her tummy.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said she was close to crawling,” Ginny said, sounding impressed. 

“What are you going to do when she actually moves?” Harry asked.

“Put everything up on the shelves,” Ron answered, grinning. “Isn’t that what you had to do?”

“Yeah, luckily for us we had many more months before we were forced to do that,” Ginny answered. 

Hermione put a bubbly James back on the ground and he immediately crawled over to where Rose was playing. He sat on the mat alongside her, picking up a block with some letters on it and shoving it into his mouth. 

Rose didn’t pay him any mind, more interested in the small bear she’d managed to grasp in her little hands. 

“Friends for life!” Harry said brightly. “Just like we always said they would be.”

They watched the two kids play for a few moments, Ron feeling a sense of calm wash over him. Oh, how he loved this life he’d chosen for himself, where the simple joy of watching his daughter and nephew play beside each other made him feel at peace. 

It was Ginny who broke the silence. “Anyone care for a drink?”

They answered in turn, and Ginny — looking rather pleased with herself — hurried from the living room to fetch them. 

“So,” Ron said, once they were all settled on the sofas, their chosen drinks in hand. He decided he was going to get straight to the point, even if Harry and Ginny wanted to do it differently, “how’s Quidditch practice going, Gin?”

He felt Hermione’s reprimanding gaze on him, but he ignored her. He knew his sister was pregnant, so they may as well have it out in the open now. 

“Haven’t been going!” Ginny answered cheerily. “In fact, I’ll be missing another season all together.”

“Oh, and why might that be?” Ron asked, not at all trying to disguise his mock surprise. Hermione whacked his arm gently, but he again ignored her, instead focusing on his sister. 

Ginny’s eyes narrowed. “I saw you staring at me when you got here, you know. So you obviously know. How’d you find out?”

“I’m married to someone who notices everything,” Ron said in response, and all eyes flickered to Hermione. She gave Ron an unimpressed look. 

“Hermione noticed you weren’t talking about Quidditch anymore,” Ron answered on behalf of his wife when she didn’t say anything. “And concluded that only one thing kept you away from Quidditch last time, so that same thing would be keeping you away this time.” He paused, looking his sister over. “You don’t sound too upset about it, though. Last time you were murderous at not being able to play.”

Ginny shrugged. “Not much I can do about it. It’s happened, we didn’t plan for it, so I just have to deal.”

Ron winced at the admission. “Huh, so another surprise.” He tried his best to control the bitterness that was threatening to escape, though he wasn’t sure he was successful. He didn’t want to be upset with either of them for seeming to be able to have a baby so easily, especially because he had Rose now and having another baby wasn’t on his mind, but he supposed some residue of his and Hermione’s struggles still lingered at the back of his mind. 

“Yes, and that bothers you, doesn’t it?” Ginny asked spitefully. She opened her mouth to continue, but to Ron’s utter surprise, it was Hermione who interrupted. 

“You remember how hard it was for us, don’t you?” She didn’t say it in a mean way, but Ron was grateful. He saw Ginny close her mouth and go a little red — something that Ginny never did.

“I’m sorry,” she said after a moment. “I did forget for a moment.”

“But, Ron is being rude, too,” Hermione continued, and Ron’s gratefulness vanished. “We’re happy for you both. Aren’t we, Ron?” She nudged him in the ribs.

“Of course we are!” Ron replied, meaning it. “Of course I’m happy. When’s it due?”

“Well…” Harry began, “somewhere towards the end of August or early September. The official date is the twenty-ninth of August, so if that is what happens, Rosie will have a friend at Hogwarts. But who knows.”

“James was early, so this one probably will be, too,” Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Oh, it'll be so good for Rose to have a friend when the time comes!"

"Yeah," Ron added, "otherwise she might be forced to make friends with Malfoy's kid."

"What?" Harry and Ginny said together, looking at Ron with wide eyes.

"When did that happen?" Harry then added.

Ron shrugged, looking at Hermione. "Last November, apparently. Hermione only found out today. He never even asked for a day off or anything."

"Do you think he's hired someone to raise his child?" Ginny asked.

"Most likely," Ron replied with a nod. "That's what I think, too."

"I can't believe it wasn't even in the papers or anything," Harry said. 

Ron shrugged. "Probably didn't want to draw attention to himself. The papers haven't been kind to the Malfoys in recent years."

"That's so strange," Harry murmured thoughtfully.

"You said it," Ron replied.

A cry distracted them, and Harry immediately jumped up, pulling a much larger James from Rose. He'd decided that lying across her was the answer to taking the toy she was playing with from her.

Hermione moved to check on Rose, but the cry had been from James, not from his cousin whom he was crushing. 

Once it was established that Rose was okay, and Harry gave James a different toy to distract him, Ginny beamed. 

"They even fight like best friends. Siblings, even."

"And just think," Ron said, "soon James will have a real sibling to bully. Is he getting a little brother or sister."

"Brother," Harry and Ginny answered in unison, both of them smiling. 

Ron looked at Hermione, who was also smiling. It made Ron's own mouth curl up, too. 

"Well," he said, "let's hope this one learns to stand up for himself. Because he's certainly going to need it."

Both Harry and Hermione jumped up again, just as James tried to take Rose's toy from her for the second time. 

“He’ll be older by then,” Harry said, sounding hopeful. 

“And more prone to jealousy,” Ron added helpfully. 

Harry picked James up and carried him to a completely different part of the room. He set James on the floor and put some toys around him. “Well,” he said, shoving a toy into James’ hand. The boy took it and put it in his mouth. “Let’s hope that it’s different when his little brother is here.”

#romione #hermione and ron #ron and hermione #ron weasley #ron and hermione fanfiction #hermione granger #harry potter fanfiction #hermione and ron fanfiction #romione fanfiction #harry potter

[canttouchthis87]

The Man in Toulouse (E) Ron/Hermione, Grindelwald Wins AU. Amazing cover art by @keerthi-draws

When Grindelwald defeated Dumbledore in 1945, a totalitarian regime rose in Magical Europe and Sang Law ruled.

Hermione Granger has been hunted her entire life, living amongst the other unregistered Muggleborns and half-bloods in the Underground. After an incident in a Muggle shop, Hermione must run, reliant on a curious Sangless Runner who saves her from the Viribus dedicated to upholding Sang Law.

Chased by ruthless Hunters, Hermione has to decide if she can trust Ron Weasley as they make their way to the legendary Man in Toulouse.

Inspired by the television show “The Man in the High Castle”, as well as the book “1984” and other dystopian works of fiction, this story explores a world where the Axis powers won World War II and Grindelwald proved victorious.

Now Complete!

Read it on Ao3

#ronmione #ronmione fanfiction #romione #romione fanfiction #romione fanart #ron x hermione #hermione x ron #grindelwald wins au #dystopian fanfic #harry potter fanfic #the man in toulouse

[voldemorts-tap-shoes]

For era #2 (1989/evermore) of @cruelsummer-ficfest 💕

✨ Gold Rush ✨

My mind turns your life into folklore

I can't dare to dream about you anymore

~

“There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Anything you want.”

“You say that every day.”

“It’s true every day. I’m all yours. So what’s on the agenda?”

“You and Lavender.”

“Ugh. Pass.”

“Ron.”

“Why don’t I just throw myself off a bluff into the ocean instead?”

“Ron.”

“Okay, okay. What about me and Lavender?”

“Well, I suppose it’s more so about me and Lavender…”

“Were you snogging her, too?”

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake. I’m going to push you off a bluff into the ocean.”

“Honestly, Hermione, out with it, then. What about me and you and Lavender?”

“I never apologized to you.”

“You did, actually, about a hundred times.”

“For the birds, yes. Not for the rest of it.”

“I think the rest of it was more my doing, so…”

“I should’ve been more clear about my intentions for Slughorn’s Christmas party. And about my feelings for you in general.”

“You really don’t have to apologize for that.”

“I do. You’ve said plenty of sorry’s over the past few weeks, and I owe you some, too. Maybe if I had told you how I felt last year, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time.”

“If you’d told me how you felt, I probably would have snogged you right there in the greenhouse, and we’d have both wound up in detention. Besides, you could say that about a lot of things in the past year—hell, the past few years—but that doesn’t make it your fault that we missed out on that time.”

“I should’ve fought for you.”

“Fought for me? You make it sound like I’m the last of Mum’s Christmas biscuits around nine hungry Weasleys.”

“Well, that’s sort of how it felt last year, with everybody wondering what it would be like to love you.”

“Who’s everybody?”

“Okay, maybe not everyone. But Lavender and I, obviously. Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones both thought you were quite fit. And I do believe Anthony Goldstein would have been interested if you were so inclined.”

“Huh. Always wondered why he wanted my help with homework instead of yours. Suppose Wingardium Leviosa wasn’t the only one of my charms that caught his eye.”

“You are so lame. Why do I love you, again?”

“You just said it, I’m good with my wand.”

“Anyway…I didn’t like the Ron Weasley gold rush that seemed to be taking place. Selfishly, I hated the idea that I was going to have to compete for your attention.”

“You had it already, you know.”

“Until I didn’t. I didn’t make it clear that my hat was in the ring, and when Lavender kissed you, I folded. You had every right to carry on with her, even though I hated every second of it. I always wondered what it must be like to grow up that beautiful, and then she had you, too…”

“Hermione—”

“I was jealous, and I acted foolishly, and I took you for granted. You had to nearly die for me to see how horrible I was to you. So I’m sorry.”

“Apology still not necessary, but accepted.”

“Thank you.”

“For what it’s worth? You wouldn’t have had to fight that hard, if you had. It’s always been you. No contest.”

“For me, too. No contest.”

“But…do you ever think maybe it’s a good thing I had that little detour with Lavender?”

“You know, the wind really is quite strong out here on the coast. I could make your death look like an accident.”

“I’m serious. We don’t know what would have happened if you and I got together sooner. I do know we’re here now. I wouldn’t trade the path we took, because I wouldn’t want to end up somewhere else.”

“That’s actually very sweet.”

“Always the—”

“—tone of surprise, yes, yes, I know. I should stop being surprised by you by now, but it keeps things exciting, doesn’t it?”

“Good save.”

“Speaking of surprises, do you think Harry realizes anything has changed between us?”

“Hermione, the man has got more important things to think about than if you and I have finally got our heads out of our arses. We’re trying to save the world here.”

“So definitely yes?”

“Definitely yes.”

“I suppose it’s not exactly subtle that you’ve been sleeping in my room every night.”

“We don’t sleep every night…”

“That’s beside the point.”

“I think that’s exactly the point, and—are you blushing?”

“We should get back, Fleur will have dinner on soon.”

“I can’t believe you’re blushing. Especially after last night…”

“Ronald!”

“Wow, two weeks together, and you’re already embarrassed of our relationship. That cliff is looking better and better every minute.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, you love me.”

“Alas. Yes, I do. And you love me.”

“Yep. I reckon you’re stuck with me now.”

~

And the coastal town

We wandered 'round had never

Seen a love as pure as it

#romione #ron weasley #hermione granger #ron x hermione #harry potter #romione fanfiction #cruel summer fic fest #shell cottage

[headcanonsandmore]

“A Thousand Times”

Summary: Big city dentist Hermione Granger arrives in the small village of Ottery St Catchpole. There, she meets the handy man/odd job man for the entire village, a certain redhead named Ron Weasley...

Based on the K-Drama "Hometown Cha Cha Cha".

~~~~~~~~~~

                  Read on FFN.                                   Read on AO3.

~~~~~~~~~~

‘Oh, the beach is always nice regardless of the air temperature, you say, Luna?  I won’t even notice the cold wind, you say?...’

Hermione Granger was not in a good mood.

Firstly, she was several hundred miles away from home for a Dental Hygiene Symposium in Devon. Secondly, she had been forced to drive down with her “eccentric” dental assistant who was apparently a local to the area. Thirdly, the previously-mentioned dental assistant had insisted on Hermione driving them to her childhood village. Fourthly, the car had broken down upon reaching the village. Fifthly, this place had no mobile phone coverage and Hermione had used up all her data earlier trying to find the damned village in the first place.

And now, to top everything off, one of her shoes had been swept out to sea.

She sank down on the sand and groaned. It wasn’t like she had a massive attachment to the shoe, but it was the straw that broke the camel’s proverbial back. She’d just wanted to sit on the beech and air her feet in the cool air. Was that too much to ask?

Granted, Ottery St Catchpole wasn’t the worst of places to be. It did have a relaxed, quiet atmosphere to it; Hermione would have never felt this able to just sit still back in London. The pace of life was certainly slower in rural Devon, that was for sure.

There were a few shops dotted along the road that ran beside the beach, including a few cafes, a small village shop and the parish hall.

Thunk.

Hermione looked up. Her shoe had appeared on the sand beside her.

‘I’m guessing that’s yours?’

She turned her head.

A man was stood nearby. He was tall, with striking blue eyes and a mop of red hair. He had clearly just been in the sea, as he was wearing a wetsuit and had a surfboard under one arm.

‘I-yes, thank you!’

Hermione grabbed the shoe and quickly put it on.

‘Seems a strange thing to wear to the beach,’ said the man. ‘Most people wear sandals, not black high-heels.’

‘Well, I didn’t plan on being here,’ Hermione exclaimed. ‘I was supposed to be driving back to London now!’

‘Ah, big city type; say no more. Bye, then.’

And, before Hermione could respond, the man walked off.

Hermione stared after him, her mouth hanging open. What did he mean… “big city type”? How rude!

Gritting her teeth, she headed across the beach and up onto the street, tapping her shoes to get the sand out. As if to add insult to injury, the shoe that had been in the sea was now squeaking with every step she made. Hermione felt heat rise in her cheeks as she strode along.

As she walked along, she couldn’t help but notice an old building just across the road. It was at least a few decades old, and the wooden gate leading up to the front door was rotting slightly.

Ottery St Catchpole Dental Practice.

Hermione frowned. It was always sad seeing old dental practices like this, in places where the population was shrinking and there weren’t enough patients to keep a place open. Often, rural practices cost more money to keep going, despite a populace that still wanted to use them.

Sighing, Hermione continued up the road.

Deciding that what she probably needed was a nice coffee and a bite to eat, she entered the café.

It was fairly quiet, with only a few teenagers sitting around on the tables, as well as a couple of pensioners reading the paper.

Hermione walked over to the barista station.

‘One cappuccino, please,’ she said, bending over and rooting in her bag for her debit card. ‘No sugar.’

‘I thought I could hear squeaking; shoe hasn’t dried out yet, eh?’

Hermione’s head snapped up.

One familiar, redheaded face stared across the counter at her.

‘I… you!’ Hermione exclaimed. ‘What are you doing in here?’

‘Getting you a cappuccino, apparently,’ said the man, raising an eyebrow. ‘And my name is “Ron”, actually. Hang on a mo…’

He bustled around the counter, getting a mug and adjusting the settings on the coffee machine. Hermione stared at his back as he worked, her mouth hanging open slightly. She had never met someone so… straightforward. So relaxed and yet so utterly confident. Most people would have quailed under the look she had given, but this… Ron had taken it in his stride.

‘Er… thank you,’ Hermione said, feeling very awkward as Ron placed the cappuccino on the counter and she handed him the money. ‘For finding my shoe. It was very kind of you.’

‘Actually, it washed up on my board,’ Ron said, wiping his hands on a towel and leaning against the counter. ‘But… thanks.’

‘I… I don’t find it easy talking to people.’

‘Really? I never would have guessed.’

‘Look, I’m trying to be nice here and you’re just-’

But Ron had started chuckling.

‘You talk easier when you’re not overthinking what you say,’ he grinned. ‘My brother Percy is much the same.’

Hermione stared at him for a second, before bursting into laughter herself. Maybe it was just the relief from the stress that had been present throughout her entire time in Devon thus far but, once she started laughing, she couldn’t stop.

‘I take it you needed a laugh.’

‘Yes,’ Hermione said, smiling. ‘I’ve had a pretty rough day; I was supposed to just drive to Plymouth and then back.’

‘Our small village not exactly what you were hoping for?’

Hermione paused.

‘I… I thought so, but now I’m starting to have second thoughts. It’s… well, it’s a very peaceful place, isn’t it.’

Ron nodded.

‘Er… I’m Hermione, by the way,’ she continued. ‘I know your name, it makes sense for you to know mine.’

‘Hermione, eh…’ Ron said, slowly. ‘Why does that name sound familiar?’

‘Er… my parents loved Shakespeare,’ Hermione said, feeling heat rise in her cheeks again. ‘There’s a character in “A Winter’s Tale”-’

‘Queen Hermione!’ Ron exclaimed, before letting out a bark for laughter. ‘It suits you!’

‘What… you think I’m prissy?’

‘What?’ Ron said, looking concerned at her sudden change of tone. ‘No; I mean… well, it’s the chess piece.’

‘Chess?’

‘Yeah; the queens the most important piece on the chessboard, after all.’

‘You… you think I’m important?’

‘Everyone’s important.’

‘That… that was from Doctor Who.’

‘And it’s very true.’

Ron smiled, his mouth quirking into a lop-sided grin.

Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat.

‘I… I suppose it is. Er… bye, then.’

‘See you round,’ Ron said, smiling. ‘Queen Hermione.’

Biting down on her lip to prevent herself giggling, Hermione smiled at him one last time and walked out the door.

What a sweet young man, she thought, smiling to herself as she waited for her cappuccino to cool to a drinking temperature. It wasn’t often that she met people that she could talk to so easily, and certainly not men her own age. And… well, certainly not men so attractive. There was no denying it. After all, it wasn’t as if she’d ever see him again.

Wrapped in her thoughts, Hermione came to find herself stood in front of the old dental practice. She stood there for a good while, sipping her cappuccino.

‘No good, my dear; it’s closing down soon.’

Hermione turned. A lady was stood a few feet away; she looked about seventy and had a distinct Devon accent.

‘It’s closing down?’

‘Yes,’ replied the lady. ‘We’re a small village, you see. Most youngsters have to move to Plymouth for work. Or up country. Including the dentist who used to work here; they moved out earlier this week. Shame, really.’

Hermione nodded in understanding. She had heard that this was becoming commonplace in many rural areas across Britain.

Then… a thought struck her.

‘Well… I am a dentist,’ she said, without thinking. ‘I’ll take it over.’

‘Oh, really?’

Hermione jumped slightly.

Luna Lovegood had appeared nearby, jumping up and down in apparent excitement.

‘That’s wonderful; I’ve always wanted to move back home!’ she exclaimed, clapping her hands. ‘Dad will be so pleased!’

Hermione didn’t have the heart to tell Luna that she hadn’t planned on employing her as an assistant, but Luna seemed to have already decided on this herself.

But… well, as Hermione found Luna frustrating, she couldn’t find it in her heart to actually dislike the younger woman. She was kind, and sweet. She wasn’t the easiest person to understand, but Hermione appreciated her nonetheless.

So… maybe it wasn’t the worst idea to have Luna as a dental assistant here. After all, she was a local. And it wasn’t as if Hermione made friends very easily.

‘You’re really going to take the practice over?’

The old lady was smiling widely.

‘Er… yes,’ Hermione replied. ‘People need a dentist, after all.’

‘You’re not wrong.’

Hermione turned.

Ron was walking over from the café. He was wearing a pair of work overalls and a white t-shirt. Hermione tried not to think about how his smile seemed to reflect the sunlight, or how the t-shirt seemed to fit him very well.

‘Although the practice needs a lot of work done to it,’ he continued, not seeming to notice Hermione’s staring. ‘The front gate and fence for a start, the woodworm, the doorways, the disabled access…’

‘Do you have a contractor here?’ Hermione asked. ‘It would probably cost a lot to have people come to the village from Plymouth-’

‘You’re looking at him,’ Ron said.

‘You?’

Ron turned to look at her.

‘Always the tone of surprise with you, isn’t it?’

‘I… sorry,’ Hermione mumbled. ‘But, it is a big job and you’re hardly qualified as a contractor for all the skills needed-’

Thwop.

A long chain of registration cards tumbled out of Ron’s wallet. Hermione goggled, leaning in closer.

‘Interior decorating, electrician, carpenter… even plumbing?’

Ron retracted the chain of cards and popped his wallet back into the pocket of his work trousers.

‘I’ll consider myself hired, then.’

Ron opened the rotting gate and walked up the path, pulling out a notebook from his pocket as he did so. A short click of the door (he apparently had the key) and he was walking inside. Hermione stared after him, mouth hanging open.

‘I best be off,’ said the elderly lady, patting Hermione on the arm and then smiling at Luna. ‘Nice to see you again, Luna; I’ll let the village council know about the dental practice. They’ll be thrilled!’

As the lady doddered away, Hermione leaned in and spoke to Luna.

‘Luna… I know I seemed confident earlier, but… are you sure we’ll be able to run a clinic all by ourselves?’

‘Of course,’ Luna replied, smiling. ‘Besides… you’re got Ron to rely on.’

The look that appeared in Luna’s eyes was entirely too knowing for Hermione’s liking. She felt her cheeks flush.

‘I’m… I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,’ she stammered. ‘Besides, I’ve only just met him-’

‘Oy!’ Ron called, from inside the practice. ‘This is your practice, aren’t you gonna look at what needs fixing?’

‘Er… yes; hang on!’

Trying to stop her brain overthinking what Luna had just implied, Hermione hurried up the path and up to the door.

Which was when her foot slipped on a loose paving slab.

She began to tumble forward, but was stopped halfway by-

Ron’s chest.

The redhead steadied her against himself, putting his arms around her to prevent her slipping down any further.

‘Whoa,’ he said. ‘You okay?’

Thump

Hermione felt her breath hitch in her throat and heat rise in her cheeks. She could hear Ron’s heartbeat through his chest, and his scent -a curious mix of pumpkin, aftershave and pin- filled her nostrils.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh no.

Unbeknownst to Hermione, Luna smiled, her eyes filling with a knowing look as she turned and walked away, leaving a flustered Ron and Hermione well alone. They would work it out soon enough.

~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading, everyone! This will be the last drabble I will add to this collection, as I've found myself losing interest in writing HP fanfic. This concept was based on the K-Drama "Hometown Cha Cha Cha", so -if you think that you like this idea- I'd highly recommend the show out. The title of this fic is a reference to the song by The Spitfires (a band that I adore but who sadly broke up earlier this year due to reduced ticket sales during the Covid pandemic) and I'd highly recommend checking both the song and the band out.

I will still be posting fics; they just won't be for HP anymore (at least, not after I finish my Discworld-HP crossover fic). Thanks again for all the wonderful comments this drabble collection has recieved over the years; it means so much to me.

Love,

H&M

#romione #ronmione #ron/hermione #hermione/ron #ron x hermione #hermione x ron #harry potter fanfiction #a hp post? from h&m? in this economy? #romione fanfiction #romione fanfic #hermione granger #ron weasley #luna lovegood #romione drabble #drabble #hometown cha cha cha