Disclaimer: Only Once is a story created by me, Animagus-Steph [not my real name… Stephanie, yes, Animagus, no. ], inspired by real-life events (minus all the magic parts-All my friends are Muggles, you know…), and formulated using characters created by Jo Rowling. No profit is being made from this fic, but donations to the "Let's pay off Stephanie's VISA bill" fund are always welcome.
A/N: Mega props to the betas, Sierra and Molly. Sierra adds her technical and realistic talent to this fic. Molly is the everlasting cheerleader: always encouraging and pushing me onward.
A/N2: To the readers-thank you for your amazing praise. Please believe me when I say thank you. Your comments are my tacklin' fuel. Et donc, je vous présente:
Only Once : Chapter Three
"Well, I think that's it for this week, folks. Remember, we're not meeting next week-I have to go to a conference in Brussels. So, two weeks from today," Chief Healer Garrison said.
Hermione screwed the top back on her inkwell and placed it in her bag along with her quill and parchment. She had been stealing glances at Robin Brownbeck off and on during the meeting. He had caught her a few times, at which point she pretended to just be glancing on that side of the conference table… even though Garrison was speaking at the other end. To be caught looking! Hermione Granger! Though she couldn't really blame herself; he was looking exceptionally… ooooh, did she have a word for it? Exceptionally and remarkably well in his business robes that morning. She veritably hummed on the inside. Sometimes there were perks to working at St. Mungo's.
"Hi, Hermione," Rob said good-naturedly as he leaned against the door jam.
Oh, my. Her heart was skipping double time.
"Hello, Robin," she flashed a smile and continued on, trying avoid being stampeded in the exodus of the conference room. A medi-witch who was talking with a supervisor blocked the way.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" he asked charmingly.
Hermione tried to think of something clever, but was foundering. She was bumped from behind and she stumbled forward, which bought her a little time. Her Inner Gryffindor stepped forward.
"Why, Robin," she began, tilting her head to the side and at the same time flipping her curls, oh, yes, Hermione, you remember how to play this game. "I'm surprised you asked. You see, I'm off to my office, to work, because that's what you pay me for here," she said with a cheeky smile, and started back for her office.
"Well, maybe I should just catch you when you're not at work," Robin called after her.
Hermione stopped as she was turning the corner to her office and turned toward him. She shrugged her shoulders non-committally and gave him a mysterious smile. "Maybe you should," she called easily.
He leaned against the wall again; his hands easy in his pockets and smiled back at her.
Hermione was still smiling when she reached her office. She was surprised to see three different owls waiting on her window ledge. Well, rather, two owls waiting, and Pigwidgeon zooming around both Hedwig and what seemed to be one of Luna's many short-eared owls. Hedwig snapped disapprovingly at the tiny bird and the short-eared gave a low hoot.
"Pig, wait your turn," Hermione laughed. "Ladies first," she said as she untied the envelope from Hedwig's leg and broke the wax seal.
Hermione,
Sorry this is so short, but I have to cancel our lunch that we were supposed to have. I'm out on assignment for a while, can't give details.
Don't worry, I'll be okay.
Harry.
P.S. I guess this means I'll have to take you to dinner, too, to make up for it. Curse my bad luck. -H.
Hermione felt that familiar sudden sinking feeling of dread she often got when she linked Harry and probable danger. It was at moments like these that she questioned not going into the Academy as well, just to keep an eye on him. She smiled, however, reminding herself that those days were over and Harry was a very qualified Auror; there was nothing to worry about. She placed the hastily-written note aside. Hermione was sure to hear all the non-classified details when he got back, censored, of course, from all the risky parts. She sighed. Pig was getting dangerously close to getting caught in her curls, so she grabbed him mid-swoop and wrestled the scroll from his tiny leg. He didn't calm down until Luna's owl hooted again. Pig landed on the sill and puffed his tiny chest out with pride.
She recognized Ron's loopy scrawl:
Hermione,
You've not been around in a while. Molly Jane wants her Mimi, Louie wants what Janie wants, Luna wants some `intelligent conversation,' she says (something I guess I can't give her), and I've not been nagged in a long time. So, come over tonight. She's making some meat thing, I'm sure it's good. I've not complained yet.
And, you work too hard. Come over, we eat at 6:30.
Ron.
Hermione laughed. A few years ago, she would have been quite put out by Ron's nagging comment, but she recognized it as his way of saying he missed her. She missed him, too. He was busy with the Ministry and coordinating their security. It was a knack he discovered while on their `great adventure,' and he managed to put it to good use. While Professor McGonagall had given her a recommendation to be a researcher for St. Mungo's, Ron had gotten to where he was all on his own, without the help of his father or brothers.
She hadn't seen the little ones in more than two months, and she felt that lack exceedingly. She was Louie's godmother, after all. Every time she saw him, he was saying something new and showering her with affection. He was as fascinated with her hair as she was with his. Louie had a bit of a pink tinge to his head. When he was born, he was completely bald, but Luna insisted that he'd be pink-haired. I've always thought pink-headed boys should be called Louie, she said. Hermione still didn't understand what she meant by that, but it hardly mattered.
Molly Jane, called Janie from time to time to avoid confusion with her grandmother, was Luna's practical clone, but covered with freckles. She had Ron's big laugh and Luna's mystical look, and all the imperiousness that defined a big sister. The day Molly was born, a big piece of Hermione that was so hurt from the war was soothed and mended. Seeing her boys hold Molly as though she were made of spun sugar, hearing them coo, and both admonishing the other for speaking too loudly lest they wake her-to Hermione, it was as though she had begun to finally heal after all that time.
Yes, she would go see them tonight, even if it meant she had to go in early tomorrow to catch up. Besides, Luna really was a great cook. She reached for Luna's owl.
Hello, Hermione.
I couldn't be certain that Ron's `owl' would deliver your invitation, so I thought I'd issue one myself. (Did you ever wonder if Pig were actually a pygmy-winged notnopuff? They're very hard to distinguish from owls like Ron's supposedly is. They're pretty worthless animals, so it's possible.)
We're having a roast and tatties tonight. Someday, we'll have to have you over for ootrebin steak. It's really rare, but worth it.
So rare, I've never heard of it, Hermione thought with a grin. Then the cocky part of her thought, and, if I've never heard of it, it probably doesn't exist. She continued Luna's note.
Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it can't exist, Hermione. Come visit and we can talk about it, perhaps.
LLW.
She folded that back up, gave the owls treats and tucked into her work. If she wanted to get to their house in time for dinner, she needed to get started.
~^*^~
Arriving at the Warren reminded Hermione of the Tolkien stories she read as a little girl. Ron and Luna lived in an earth-home near a village in Somerset, near where they both grew up. It was nestled into a hill, with little portholes to the inside. There were trees everywhere, so it was hard to distinguish from its surroundings. What gave it away, however, was the purple smoke that was puffing out of a suspicious-looking oak tree. Hermione wondered if perhaps Muggles couldn't see it at all.
As she approached, Janie flew out from the front door and down the flagstone path to where Hermione had Apparated. Hermione swung her up in the air and then carried her by her ankles up into the house. Janie giggled with delight, "Mimi, put me down!" but she didn't sound like she meant it. When the girl's face was red, Hermione put her down and Janie ran off, presumably to get her brother.
Louie's greeting was much the same. Though a year younger than his sister, he was already her height. He giggled as Hermione tickled and kissed him, and he squealed as Hermione presented a bag of sugar-free Bertie's for him to share with Molly Jane.
"Only after dinner, Louie!" she called as he ran off to show the spoils to his sister.
Hermione stood and dusted her robes off and saw Ron leaning against the door frame.
"You're going to spoil them rotten, you know," he said as if he cared.
"Why, Ron," Hermione said with false indignation. "I just brought them sugar-free candy! It won't spoil their teeth, and if I know Louie, it won't spoil his dinner. He'll wait till after, like I told him."
Ron thought this over for a moment. "You're right, but you've got more in that satchel, if I know anything."
Hermione arched one eyebrow and laughed as Ron wrapped her up in a bear hug. He pulled her away to arm's length and Hermione stumbled to keep her balance. He looked at her critically. "You work too hard, and you don't eat enough."
Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Ron cut her off. "Good thing I have just the remedy. Luna's been cooking all afternoon, and you're not going to want to go to work tomorrow, it'll be that good. You'll be comatose on our couch."
"Ronald!" Hermione heard Luna call from the kitchen. "My cooking will not put Hermione in a coma!" Ron shook his head and mouthed It's that good to Hermione. They walked towards the sound of her voice, and she saw now what was giving off the purple smoke. It was the fire, above which was a pewter cauldron. Hermione could smell the potatoes and beef and vegetables. Her knees went weak, and she sat down at the table. Luna walked in, brushing her hands off on her apron, which was smeared with some yellow substance Hermione couldn't name and the tell-tale ink blots that were as familiar to Hermione as anything. Luna had just stepped out of her office, obviously just answering an owl.
"Hello, Hermione," she said, giving Hermione a one-armed hug and continuing on to the counter. "I'm sorry I didn't greet you. There's always something I have to edit or approve before the late edition comes out."
"That's fine, Luna," said Hermione, trying to figure out what vegetables-or whatever they were-that Luna was putting into the cauldron. She didn't chop them up or anything. They were square and orange and the size of her hand, and she'd never seen anything like them before in her life. She shook her head and decided she didn't want to know. "Thank you for inviting me. You know I always love coming over here."
"Any time," said Ron, as he flicked his wand to start slicing a loaf of crusty bread.
"Well, not any time, Hermione," said Luna, as if this was obvious. "Really, you shouldn't come over if we're not here, or if Ron and I are-" Ron coughed loudly.
"Busy, Hermione, if we're busy," he said with a blush.
"Not if you're busy, Luna, of course," said Hermione slowly. Hermione certainly knew the wisdom of that advice. Ron had the decency to look embarrassed, while Luna hummed away at the sink. The last time she had dropped by while they were "busy," Hermione got more than an eyeful of her best friend, and she didn't want to repeat it.
"So, how's work, Ron?" Hermione asked to break the silence, and the three of them settled into conversation until the children were called for dinner.
As they sat down, Hermione helped Louie to settle into his booster seat. (He had shyly taken to mimicking every move she was making.) Ron cleared his throat. "How's the love life, Mimi?" Ron asked with a grin. He knew Hermione tolerated the nickname from his children, but she couldn't very well tell him not to use it in front of Molly Jane or Louie; they'd get confused.
"Oh, you know," she said, passing a dish to Luna, "It's not bad. Picking up, I think."
"Yeah?" asked Ron, genuinely interested.
Hermione pushed her hair behind her ears and cleared her throat. "Yeah, there are prospects," she said, searching the table for the peppermill.
"Like who?" Ron asked with a touch of suspicion.
"Roah! Rowr!" Louie yelled, banging his hands on the table and laughing.
"That's right, Louie, it's none of Papa's business," Luna said, passing Hermione the bread.
Hermione shot her a grateful look and buttered the slice.
"You know," said Luna quietly, "I think it's good you're getting out there. Some women in Eastern Europe and North Africa who wait too long to have babies have infestation problems with llerups in their ovaries and become sterile. There are a few cases in Great Britain, and I would hate to have it happen to you. You've got Ravenclaw genes, and Merlin knows we need more of that."
Hermione didn't quite know what to make of Luna's declaration. "You know I'm Muggle-born, Luna. I can't have any of Ravenclaw's genes in me."
Luna sighed. "Obviously, Hermione, it was more a figure of speech than anything. I know you're Muggle-born. You really have to stop taking me seriously all the time." Ron gave Hermione a look that said I certainly don't.
Hermione gave Luna an apologetic smile and tucked in. Luna asked Ron about Ministry gossip, and that carried conversation for a while. Ron was trying to wipe Louie's face, and Louie was trying to worm out of his chair while continuing to roah, rowr! like a lion.
"I don't get it, Lune," Ron said. "He only does this roaring thing when Hermione's here." Ron stopped trying to clean his son's face and turned to Hermione. "What have you done to my boy?" he teased. Louie, who had been smacking his hands on the table, switched mediums and began to smack Ron's face with his pudgy hands.
Hermione just shrugged. She wasn't complaining; she thought it was charming. She was just about to start clearing the plates when the back door in the kitchen swung open.
"Hello!" a voice called into the house.
"Annini!" Molly Jane cried happily, climbing down from her chair and running to Ginny. "Fly me, fly me, Annini!"
"She just ate, be careful, Gin," Ron said.
"You spoil all the fun, Ron," Ginny said as she swung her back into her seat and found her own next to Luna.
"Just in time for dessert, Ginny, good timing!" Luna said admirably.
She smiled and said, "I know! It's this great watch that Fred and George gave me for my birthday this year. I was just trying it out today because I wasn't sure if I trusted it. Now I never have to miss dessert in this family again!" She showed off a wrist watch which had various Weasley family members in place of numbers, and there was a hand marked "dessert," and a hand marked "dinner."
"What if Mum and Dad are having dessert, and so are we?" Ron asked, thinking of the possibilities.
"It points to the best one… So, always Mum's. Sorry, Luna."
Ron looked doubtful. "I dunno… I think Luna always puts something special in her desserts. I don't know what, but it's like I can't get enough." Ron turned to his wife and waggled his eyebrows. Luna looked back at him quite seriously.
"That's because I do put something in it, Ronald. That's half the secret."
Ginny, who had grown to really like Luna over the years, was still skeptical of her. "What's the other half?"
Luna calmly dished out the dessert. "If I told you the other half, it wouldn't be a secret anymore, now would it?"
Hermione, who politely ignored Ron's waggling eyebrows, was not concerned in the least about what Luna's secret was. All she knew was that the pie almost seemed to be calling her name, and that getting a watch that told her when Luna was serving dessert sounded like a very good idea. Maybe she'd ask Fred and George the next time she saw them… She'd had Luna's desserts before, and she was never disappointed.
Luna passed her a slice that was thick with caramelized apples and topped with flaky crust. Hermione's mouth started to water. Upon the first bite, she was sold. She had to get a watch like that.
As they progressed through dessert, Hermione mused, on some level, that Luna and Ron really were a good match; Ron loved good food and he loved a good laugh. He got both of those from Luna, and, from Hermione's shrewd observations, he got a lot else besides.
Dessert had ended, which was good. Janie was getting restless, trying to pull Ginny from her seat to play, and Louie had recommenced his animal noises. Ron got up and tapped his son on both shoulders with his wand, and Louie went from being smeared with sugary apple and stew bits to being a properly cleaned, rosy-cheeked English boy. Janie was less easy to corral.
"But I wanna baff! I wanna baff! I wanna play in the water!" she cried. "Annini, gimme a baff!"
"Some other time, love. Your papa says not tonight."
Janie started to cry, which made Louie suspicious. He looked like he was going to start the waterworks, too. Though she loved Janie and her godson, she hated it when they cried.
"Now, now, let's not cry! I can't have crying babies when there are Liger stories to read!" Hermione said slyly. Janie stopped crying immediately and tried to pull Hermione from the table. Louie started banging his hands to be let down.
"Here," Hermione said, gently tapping Janie on her shoulders and again on her forehead. Janie's hair plaited itself down both sides. "Now, go and get into your pajamas, and you and me and Louie will read, okay?" Janie nodded solemnly and bolted down the hall. Luna picked Louie up and followed her daughter to the nursery.
"Looks like you two have the dishes covered, there's no reason for me to intervene," said Ron with a quick exit.
Ginny tutted. "Figures."
They settled into a pattern of wand waving, Hermione washing, Ginny drying and putting away. Hermione got to hear the latest at the Gaming Commission, where Ginny worked in the Quidditch department. She got to travel all over the world scouting and reporting and the like. Her job, added with Harry's, meant that the two of them didn't see each other on a regular basis. Sometimes they had a week in each other's company, others, they'd have a few hours before one had to Apparate off to work. Hermione thought that it made for an equally unstable relationship, but that wasn't her business at all.
Hermione heard Janie squeal off in the direction of the nursery, and Ron's hearty laugh. Ginny Leviosa-ed the last of the silverware into a drawer and the two of them walked to the living room, where the fire was low and warm and cozy-the perfect atmosphere for getting the little ones to bed.
Louie toddled in, followed by Luna, who looked as excited to hear about Liger adventures as her children, and Ron, who was carrying his girl caveman style over his shoulder. Her dirty blonde braids were swaying in the air and her face was flushed. Ron plopped her down on the couch next to Hermione and sat down on the loveseat with his wife, pulling her close to his side. Ginny tried holding Louie in the rocking chair, but he kept squirming and reaching for Hermione. "Pitchers!" Ginny let him go and he climbed into Hermione's lap.
Liger, Liger! was the third book in a series of seven for children; this one, Hermione knew, was modeled after William Blake's poetry. Most wizarding folk didn't know that, so she felt as though she was giving them culture and educating them. The series took magical animals and explained their properties and dangers through stories. The next book in the series was modeled after Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.
Before long, Louie was heavy with sleep in her lap, Janie drooling and leaning on Hermione's arm, Ron and Luna were cozy on the couch, watching the fire, and Ginny was sitting with her eyes closed, though Hermione knew she wasn't asleep. She placed a page marker in the book and closed it. Luna separated herself from Ron and picked up Louie, while Ron folded little Janie up in his arms and followed his wife. Hermione was feeling warm from the babies, so she set the book aside and walked through the kitchen to the back yard to wake up. She was looking at the sky, reciting the constellations in her head when she heard Ginny come outside.
"Hey," Ginny said, bumping Hermione in a friendly hello. Hermione smiled at her in return.
"That was a good children's story, Hermione. I feel like I've heard it before, but I can't place it. I was trying to figure it out."
Hermione laughed. "Did you take Muggle Studies at Hogwarts?"
"Not after my O.W.L.s, but yes," Ginny said, looking puzzled.
"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright in the forests of the night, what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?" Hermione recited, reaching back to when believing in magic was just blind faith for her.
Vague recognition dawned on Ginny's face and she laughed. "Well, Molly Jane and Louie seemed to like it, so I'm all for it."
Hermione nodded and paused before replying. It wasn't always that Ginny rubbed her the wrong way, but she felt like tonight had the potential to be bad for them. It wasn't what she said just now, but how she said it that made the difference… Almost like she was surprised that Hermione could be entertaining to a couple of little kids.
"I think it was the roaring pages as much as the story or my ability, Gin," Hermione said. The moon was new tonight, and so she could just see the lights of the closest town in the distant valley.
Ginny smiled at her and twined her arm through Hermione's, steering her back into the house. "Let's put some tea on-if I know anything, Ron and Luna will be a while. They love putting their kids to bed. And then Ron sets all those security spells… They'll be a while."
Hermione let herself be led back into the glowing house, where the kitchen was warm, the worn cutting block gleamed and embers gave off their cindery perfume on the hearth. Hermione liked her apartment very much-it was cozy and just the right size for her and Crookshanks-however, Ron's house was a home, and she was jealous of him for the first time in a very long while. She very much wished she could stay the night and help Luna with the babies tomorrow and not deal with the rush-rush stress that was her life.
Ginny flicked her wand at the fireplace and the flames regained their purple vibrancy. She swung the kettle over the fire and settled herself in a chair close to the fire. Her hair seemed to blaze in the firelight. Hermione self-consciously touched her own hair. She knew the red wouldn't suit her, but ever since she could remember, she'd felt plain with her brown eyes and ordinary hair. Part of her wondered if she had tried to compensate for that with books and cleverness.
Hermione shook those thoughts out of her head; Ginny was saying something.
"…wondering if a baby girl would look like me or Harry, like how Molly Jane looks like Luna… I'd like our girl to look like me, though Harry is so handsome. If she could have his green eyes and my red hair-maybe she'd look like his mother. I think that'd be wonderful!" she sighed.
Hermione tried to hide the look of surprise she was sure was on her face. She must have done a good job of it because Ginny was staring into the fire thoughtfully. The kettle started to whistle, so Ginny got some cups, giving Hermione the time to collect a suitable answer.
As Ginny set the tea service down on the table, Hermione replied, "I didn't know you were talking about kids, Gin."
Ginny laughed lightly as she poured Hermione a cup. "Well, not a lot lately, but we have before. I think a little girl would be really nice, and Harry agrees," she paused.
"And?" Hermione asked, thinking she knew where this was going.
"Well, he wants so many children! He won't even put a number on it! I think two would be pushing it," she said matter-of-factly.
"You do see where he's coming from, right, Ginny?" Hermione said, blowing on her tea.
"Well, yes, the more the merrier, I guess he's thinking-but it's not up to us to make another Weasley family! I think that Ron and Luna might have that covered eventually!"
If Ginny meant for that to be funny, Hermione didn't see it. "I think you're missing the point, Ginny. You don't know what it was like to grow up all alone. Harry didn't have a soul to experience anything with until he met Ron-"
"There was Dudley-sometimes I think he and Percy fell from the same tree-always getting people in trouble and tattling," she said.
"Dudley spent his time making Harry's life hell. Harry was virtually ignored by that entire house except to yell at him. He's always longed for what Ron had. It's only natural to guess that he'd want a large family, too. Harry's spent all his life thinking he was alone," Hermione explained.
"Well, he's not anymore," Ginny sighed. "He's got me, and Ron and you. Harry shouldn't want to compensate for his past by repeating mine."
Hermione was thoroughly confused. "What do you mean by that? Repeating yours?"
Ginny raised her eyebrow, as if this were painfully obvious. "Well, he may have `grown up alone' but has no idea what it's like to be the Weasley Girl-like it was such an anomaly or something. The seventh in a string of sons… And, I guess maybe it was, but just the same. I was Number Seven, the Weasley Girl, the butt of jokes. `Mum and Dad kept having kids until they got what they wanted. Mum'd still be having kids if it weren't for you, Gin,'" she said, imitating George's voice. "I still get teased like that."
Hermione simply did not see what the big deal was. "Well, that was just irresponsible of him, Ginny. Each and every one of you is here for a reason. You're telling me you'd trade six of your siblings to be the center of it all? An only child risks these three things: growing up spoiled, growing up ignored, and growing up alone," Hermione said sadly. "I'd give anything for a sibling. I watched my parents' disappointment for years as they tried to conceive after me. There's nothing sadder in this world than people who want children but can't, and people who don't but have so many. You're wanted, Ginny. My parents and I had such a disconnect after years of trying and failing… As if one child couldn't make up for what they wanted. So, I strove to be the best example of an only child that I could be--to try to make them not regret only having me." Hermione felt tired all of the sudden. She hadn't thought about that in such a long time.
Hermione could tell that Ginny was struggling with how to respond to that. She looked apologetic and then shook her head. "Harry and I wouldn't be like that. His only concern, he jokes, is that he doesn't know how he could love them all. I think he needs to worry about loving me, quite frankly."
Hermione sputtered hot tea back into her cup as Ron and Luna reentered the room. Luna had her head buried in the evening edition of the Daily Prophet. Ron whacked Hermione on the back and Ginny shot her a concerned look.
"What'd you say to shock her this time, Ginny?" Ron scolded as only brothers could.
Ginny wrapped a lock of hair around her finger. "Hermione and I were just talking about the benefits of being an only child versus being one of many," she said casually, as always a smooth liar. Hermione could tell from her tone that she didn't want Ron to know the details of their discussion.
"Oh, well, it'd be right boring all alone, what do you think, Lune?" Ron asked, reaching for the left-over pie. Hermione's stomach growled-she couldn't possibly eat more pie, but her body obviously thought differently. She instead focused on Luna.
Luna pulled the paper down in front of her face, to where her big eyes were just visible. She focused on Ginny and didn't blink. "I was very lonely after my mother died. I didn't have anyone besides my father. Having siblings might have been nice." Luna paused. "Or it might not have been." She slowly pulled the paper back up to its original position. Ron, who was satisfied with that answer, popped a piece of crust into his mouth.
"See, Ginny? It's like I said," he began, and suddenly Luna folded up the paper and passed it to him.
"I'm done, Ronald. There was nothing noteworthy in there tonight." Ron flipped it immediately to the sports page. Hermione was of the same opinion about the Prophet being not noteworthy everyday, though she was certain that Luna's definition and her own of the term `noteworthy' were completely different.
"Cannons lost again. I can't read any more," Ron said dejectedly around a mouth of pie. Ron shot a look at Luna. He swallowed before continuing. It seems Luna's having some influence on him! Amazing!
"Ginny, why can't you do something about it?" he asked, as if the fate of his team rested in his sister's hands.
Ginny rolled her eyes and picked up the rejected paper in question. "Ron, I only scout. I can't force the Cannons to take on better players. Until they have an opening on their abysmal roster, they're pretty much doomed." She flipped past the front page, which featured a picture of Fudge, who was trying to get back in the public's good graces. Too bad he didn't have a clue how much of a joke people thought he was.
Ron grunted noncommittally.
"Oh, Hermione, there's a fall sale at Madam Malkin's. We should go and get fitted for holiday robes," Ginny commented, flipping the page.
Hermione nodded as she swallowed her tea.
"The National Quidditch League's gone up 25 points today. I think that's because of the new Chaser that signed to the Holyhead Harpies yesterday. She's showing a lot of promise."
"Twenty-five what?" Ron asked, looking confused.
"In stock, Ron. It's called part of my retirement plan," Ginny said with irritation, as she turned to the society pages. There was a pause as Ginny read an article; Hermione was thinking about gathering her stuff to go home. She had a feeling Ginny was just itching to pick a fight with someone. Better it wasn't her. She was about to carry her tea cup to the sink when Ginny stopped her.
"Hermione?"
Upon hearing the pitch in her voice, Hermione braced herself. "Ginny?" she replied, trying to play down whatever was coming.
Ginny closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She folded the paper and placed it on the table in front of her cup with deliberation.
"Just what was it that you were doing with Harry this weekend?"
What? "Excuse me? That's not your business."
"What are you talking about, Ginny?" Ron asked, pie forgotten. He grabbed the paper and opened it up to where his sister was.
"I didn't even know he was back! Why were you with him at that place?"
Hermione wasn't going to take the bait. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ginny."
"Don't play coy with me, Hermione! You're always sneaking around! It's in the bloody paper this time! You can't hide it!"
Ron laughed out loud. "Oh, Ginny! You can't be serious! You think this is what you should be upset about! Oh, this is funny! Listen to this!" Ron tried to start reading twice but couldn't manage. Ginny was fuming. Luna pulled the paper away and read in a conspiratorial voice:
"Spotted yet again, The One Who Conquered and his Amazing Heroine, Hermione Granger, were seen stepping out of the inconspicuous Bandy, Borks & Tuttle. A beaming Miss Granger certainly looks pleased as she clings to her Chosen One's arm. The only thing we have to say is, `Get on with it, already!'
"Yet again, Harry Potter has led us into a Feint for the Golden Snitch. Just four weeks ago, he was spotted with his supposed flame, Ginny Weasley, Quidditch scout and all-around hot pepper. Things supposedly got too hot, however, at Chez Colza, famous for fine dining, if not a tad on the trendy side. Though the Prophet was unable to discern the nature of their argument, it is clear that The Boy Who Lived would rather have been living somewhere else at the moment. As you see below, Miss Weasley, sister to the Master Tactician, must have checked her tact at the door.
"With a circulation of more than ten million, we're sure Miss Weasley will catch a gander at this picture, and perhaps we'll get our answer to Britain's most burning questions: When will Europe's Most Eligible Bachelor catch the Snitch? And which one will she be?"
By this time, Ron had tears rolling down his cheeks. "Harry is not going to like this!" Ron sniggered. At Ginny's glare, he switched tracks and tried to comfort his sister, "Ginny, you have to be mad to take this seriously! I mean really! You remember the love triangle story they tried after Louie was born! It wasn't until after we pressed charges that they left us alone!"
"Ron! This is completely different!" Ginny said with a shrill in her voice.
"I think it just bothers you that Hermione's picture is so much nicer than yours, Ginny," Luna said kindly. "It's okay to be jealous."
Ginny glared at her, but Luna looked back placidly. Ginny turned her ire to Hermione, who raised an eyebrow in challenge.
"What were you doing there with Harry?" she asked again.
"That is not your business, and I don't see why it ever would be."
"Harry is my business," Ginny challenged, pointing a finger at her chest.
"But I am not!" Hermione replied, shaking her head. "I don't report to you, and before you even think it, I am not about to give a report on Harry!"
"There are pictures like this in the paper at least once a month, Hermione! I am sick of it! What were you doing there?"
Hermione was about to retort when Ron jumped in. "You're going to have to ask Harry that, and good bloody luck, little sister. He hasn't taken kindly to having his actions challenged in the past, and he's not likely to start," Ron said, shaking his head.
"You don't know him like I do, Ron," Ginny replied with confidence that Hermione thought was misplaced. She turned to Hermione again. "Couldn't you just manage not to hang out with Harry for a while until the gossip dies down? Things like this hurt my relationship with him," she said with frustration.
Hermione was indignant. "No. I am not going to quit seeing my best friend just because you're insecure."
"I am not insecure, Hermione!" Ginny shrieked. Ron snorted.
It was going to take a lot more to convince Hermione, but she wasn't quite done with Ginny yet. She'd put up with these accusations a little too long. "Don't you get it? This is the reason why I moved out of Number 12. I couldn't have a private conversation with Harry without being served a bloody guilt trip on a silver platter from you!"
"I did no such thing!" she replied resentfully. "You are always looking to be offended!"
It was Hermione's turn to snort. She knew she shouldn't bring Ron into it, but he was a first-hand character witness. He lived there with them, after all. "Ron, do you remember Michaelmas the year we defeated Voldemort?" she asked with a gleam in her eye.
"I sure do, Hermione," Ron said, nodding his head enthusiastically.
Hermione smiled; she knew she could count on him, even if his only motive was to take the mickey out of his sister.
"If I recall correctly, Gin, you ended up being Petrified by Harry because you almost cursed Hermione." Ron smirked and rubbed his chin in fake thought. "But, Mimi," he started, turning to Hermione with twinkling eyes. She let this one slide considering the situation. The worst part was, Ron knew he was going to get away with it. "Mimi, I don't recall what you had done wrong…"
Hermione was not going to use this to tease Ginny-she was going to let her have it. She was going to get it through to her once and for all. "I, Ronald, had made the grave mistake of calling Harry into the library for his opinion on something and taking too long, which, of course, aroused suspicion in your sister! When I walked into the kitchen before Harry, she was ready to … I don't even know what!"
"That's ridiculous, Hermione! I did not almost curse you!" Ginny exclaimed, her voice dangerously shrill for a house with sleeping babies.
"Did you get Obliviated, then? Why would Harry have Petrified you, Ginny?" Hermione retorted. Ginny struggled for an answer. Hermione continued. "That sort of thing happened all the time! You didn't even live there! He was my housemate! My best friend! We didn't have some illicit affair to hide from you! We don't now! Your insecurity hurts this relationship, Ginny." Ginny's jaw dropped. "You're trying to make me choose, and I won't have it. What I do is not your business." Hermione sat in quiet triumph at her outburst, but Ginny seemed not to notice, finally finding a response.
"I am not insecure!" she screeched.
Ron decided to change tracks, now seemingly interested in calming her down. Hermione felt ashamed at thinking how she spoke out of turn. This certainly wasn't going to make Harry's relationship, or Ron's, any better with Ginny. Ron decided to calm his sister. Hermione could see that he had a careful ear trained down the hall, listening for his babies. "It's just a picture, Ginny. They've done this with me and Hermione at least a dozen times, and Luna never gets upset. Luna knows I love her. Don't you know that Harry loves you?" Ginny looked stricken. "Hermione is my best friend, and yet Luna hasn't asked me to stop seeing her. The same should be true for Harry and Hermione."
Ginny took a deep breath, her chest rising. "Don't you even try to lecture me on relationships, Ron! It's not like you and Luna are especially average!" She took another deep breath. "And, of course you're going to take her side! I should expect no less!"
"Gin, you're being ridiculous."
"I am NOT being ridiculous!!"
Luna stood, blue eyes suddenly clear and flashing like waves of water, "Ginny, you are going to have to leave. You will not be welcomed back if you raise your voice again. I cannot have you waking my babies." She sat back down in her seat, eyes once again with a far-away look. "As a matter of opinion, I think you are being ridiculous. Just look at the source. I never believe anything I read in the Prophet. If it were in the Quibbler, it would be a different story. Good night."
Ginny sat there, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. She glared at Hermione; she glared at Ron, gathered her things and stalked out the door. A few moments later, a loud BANG! like a backfiring lorry sounded through the house and yard. Hermione heard Louie's tell-tale cry. Ginny had done that on purpose.
Luna smiled serenely, as if nothing were amiss. She kissed Ron on the head and walked to the nursery. Hermione felt too embarrassed to stay and started to gather her things. She didn't want to have a conversation with Ron, and she knew one was coming.
"This was just Saturday?"
Hermione looked up from her satchel. "Yeah. I don't know why they waited to print the story. It's been a few days."
"The Wednesday Prophet has the Society section. It was an ideal time to print." Ron turned his attention back to the pie, which was now almost gone. He was quiet for a few moments. Hermione let him eat in silence.
"Yeah," he muffled around a bite of pie. He swallowed. "You know she's only like that with you. She regrets letting him go face Voldemort alone-staying behind, you know? I think she thinks you could have stayed behind instead."
Hermione shook her head vehemently. "I could have no more done that than cut off my right arm."
"I know," Ron said simply. He sighed. "She knows there're things he'll never talk about, never discuss. They're not for her ears-well you know what I mean, `Mione."
Hermione nodded, her mind flashing a million bad dreams in an instant. "She's jealous because, though Harry might never mention them again, he could tell you. It doesn't matter that he could tell me-Gin's okay with that. You can offer him that kind of release that she will never be able to. She can't accept that."
"Ron, I don't know what I am supposed to do. It's not my intention to make her suspicious. It's not my intention to do anything!" She sighed, suddenly very tired. "I didn't mean to get into a fight, Ron. I'm sorry."
"There's no reason to be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong," Ron said seriously. "This is a conversation my sister needs to have with Harry, but she'd hardly admit to being jealous of you." There was a pause as Ron took the plate to the sink. Hermione picked up her satchel. She needed to get home. Ron made his way back across the kitchen, stopping to drop a kiss on Hermione's head. He stopped at the door. "Goodnight, Hermione. Thanks for stopping by."
Hermione smiled. She could almost hear the `I miss you' at the end of Ron's statement. "Thanks for dinner, Ron. Goodnight." She had her hand on the door out of the kitchen when she heard:
"'Mione?"
She turned back to Ron expectantly.
"You were helping Harry pick out an engagement ring, weren't you?"
Hermione felt her stomach drop. "Yeah. Did he talk to you?"
"Yeah, he did. Came by the afternoon he asked you to help him with the ring. Asked my permission and everything."
Hermione swallowed, her grip tightening on the doorknob. "Oh?"
"Yeah. So, you guys found one?"
"Uh huh. He picks it up in a couple of weeks," she replied, resisting the urge to bolt out the door. Ron said nothing, but stared at Hermione for a few moments, lost in serious thought from the look on his face. Hermione doubted he saw her at all. She was about to say goodnight again, when he gave her a half-smile, his blue eyes clear.
"The poor dumb bastard," Ron said with sympathy. For what, Hermione had no idea. He shook his head, as if to clear it of some idea. "G'night, Hermione."
She smiled, though confused. "'Night, Ron," she said, taking her cue to open the door. The crisp air did nothing to clear her head. She walked about a quarter mile down the path before she Apparated home. She hoped that Luna got Louie back to sleep alright…
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