romioneficfest · 3 years ago
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Masterpost of 2021 Fest Entries
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As of this post, all entries have been published. Yes, Gentle Readers, the Queue is now empty.
As of yet, no names will be published yet but it is coming once the voting has wrapped up and a winner chosen. (I am already working on the coding for that post and will only have to have it ready to go once the final vote is in for the overall winner.
Authors will be announced once the voting closes for the final. Once the Author Reveals go up, the Authors are free from their Non-Disclosure notice and are free to post anywhere. That will be Thursday 7pm GMT Thursday, 15 July 2021.
I hope everyone who has read and reblogged (and liked!) will give a hearty Huzzah for everyone who submitted a story. They all have my utmost respect for having the courage to submit something they worked so hard on for all of us to appreciate.
The Official start of the voting is the next post, which is queued for 5 minutes from this one. Please use this one as a reference for the stories in the polling since I cannot hotlink them in the voting.
Week 1 Digest
Bottom of the Bottle Summary:  He’s been searching for the answer in Firewhiskey but it’s never been there. And I’m in love with every colour of you Summary: He fills her rainbow. Every colour is made better because of him. Before and After Summary: It’s hard to remember before. The Curious Case of the light switch Summary: Why can’t Ron ever turn off a light switch? Theirs and Ours Summary: Who knew babysitting 4 kids would make Hermione doubt herself and the future of the Weasley-Granger household?
Week 2 Digest:
Thirty Years Summary: She’d laid it all out, beginning to end. A whole life, theirs.
Ever so Smart and Clever Summary: Hermione is visiting Grimmauld Place in her Christmas holidays and Ron has just gotten his results back from an exam at Auror Training.
Dreams Summary: the line between dreams and reality can sometimes blur in brilliant ways.
Little Unicorn Day Center Summary:  Hermione Granger runs the Little Unicorn Day Center and meets one of the Dads and is smitten. Is it so wrong to appreciate a charge’s dad?
Mine Summary:  A newborn Hugo refuses to sleep. Can Rose be the answer to the young parents finally getting some sleep?
I Need You Summary:  A Romione Ficlet inspired by the TV Show New Girl Season 2: Episode 15 “Cooler”
I Knew it would be You Summary:  Seventh Year AU when Ron and Hermione receive their final Hogwarts letters.
Week 3 Digest
Just a Snog Summary: 6th Year AU - Ron confronts Hermione immediately following his row with Ginny.
Nice to Meet You Summary: “The moment I first saw her, I knew I was in trouble.” A muggle university AU one-shot featuring Ron/Hermione.
Right Here, Right Now Summary: Ron and Hermione share a tender moment under the stars during the summer following the Battle.
Double Hazelnut Almond Milk Macchiato Summary: Muggle AU. Hermione Granger is new in town, and she has a pretty complicated coffee order.
Early Morning Light Summary: Ron and Hermione in the early hours of the morning at Shell Cottage
Warm Summary: Hermione decides to reconcile with Ron after the poisoning, and learns something interesting.
Pen-Y-Fan Summary: Hermione wakes Ron up crazily early to climb the side of a mountain. Whilst he grumbles at first, he soon discovers that the view is worth it.
Week 4 Digest:
Valeria summary: Sometimes someone steps into your life when you least expect it. Ron and Hermione had made a lot of life-changing decisions together, and this is the beginning of another.
The Promise summary: Ron goes missing and Hermione reacts
The Right Decision summary: Hermione questions her decision to return to Hogwarts for her seventh year.
Why am I so ugly? Summary: This takes place in the 6th year when Harry drinks the Felix Felicis potion and “make” Lavender broke up with Ron. He goes out for hours in his missing to pursuit Slughorn. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione got some time alone.
Sleepy (M Rated) summary: This takes place 2 years after the war. Ron and Hermione were together, but as there are not married yet, Mrs. Weasley still prefers them to sleep in separate rooms. The whole family was at the Burrow for Christmas.
Saying the Words summary: Ron works up the courage to tell Hermione something important. Then he has to do it again.
Scared of losing You summary: Hermione wakes up for the first time not knowing where she is. Fortunately, someone is there by her side.
Week 5 Digest:
A Practical Stranger summary: Hermione receives assistance from someone who may not be as much of a stranger to her as she initially thinks.
 A Little Motivation summary: Ron and Hermione share a very intimate moment after a long day of work.
Will they or won’t they summary: The last few days have been stressful, what with the recent attack on Mr Weasley. So, Sirius does the last thing he can think of to help the teens relax now that they know Mr Weasley is going to be okay.
Until the very end summary: Hermione and Ron find solace with each other in the days following Malfoy Manor.
The Beholder summary: Hermione is not happy with the way she looks in her new lingerie.
Sod It summary: Parks and Rec Crossover from the episode “Smallest Park”. Hermione and Ron are Leslie and Ben. Most of the dialogue is taken from the scene in the episode.
Tutor Girl summary: Inspired by One Tree Hill Season 1 Episode 3 - Are You True?
Defender summary: During rounds, Hermione sees something that gives hope.
The Second Gift summary: Hermione ponders Ron’s intentions after receiving perfume as her Christmas gift. She makes a hasty decision to attempt to give him something that’s more meaningful than a ridiculous homework planner.
Flutter summary: Ron can’t sleep because Hermione can’t sleep because Rose can’t sleep.
Family Ties summary: Hermione learns about the family ties between the Blacks and the Weasleys.
Common Ground summary: Ron’s first assignment as a Prefect for Hufflepuff is making him a little nervous: Rounds for the evening with Ace student and Ravenclaw’s school Know it All Hermione Granger.
The Fallen Hero summary: An account of the night of escape from Malfoy Manor by the golden trio from Ron’s POV- Reference DH
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cheesyficwriter · 3 years ago
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“Don’t be scared. I’m right here.” A Romione angsty Shell Cottage moment would be awesome. Please🙃
Hi there, anon! I apologize for the delay on this one. I've had it written for awhile, but it was submitted for the @romioneficfest and I was sworn to secrecy until results were revealed 🙂 I love writing Shell Cottage moments, and I hope you enjoy this one 💜
CW: references to nightmares, post trauma
Until the Very End
"No, take me instead. Please, take me. Not him."
"Hermione…"
"Not him, please. No!"
"Hermione, wake up!"
Her eyes snap open, and she's covered in a cold sweat. At first, she's frantic from the hauntingly inexorable vision of Bellatrix and the bright green flames shooting from the tip of her wand straight into Ron's chest.
As Hermione's mind orients herself back to her own heart-pounding reality, she finds that she has momentarily forgotten where she is in her waking life.
Ron is there, holding onto her clammy hand, and he's clearly shaken by the disturbing sight of her struggling to return to actuality.
He’s alive. He’s okay.
Hermione's eyes flicker around the room, a wave of relief flooding through her as she realizes they're alone. It looks to be just before dawn, and the room is dark with a tint of light peeking in through the windows.
Her mind returns to the grotesque image of Bellatrix's dark, heavy-lidded eyes. The woman is truly demented — Hermione can still hear her cackling laughter in her head, and a sickening feeling bubbles in her stomach knowing that the monstrous witch has the ability to make her paranoid that the horror is still there, despite being safely tucked away at Shell Cottage.
Ron at the center of her nightmare is even more frightening for Hermione than what actually occurred at Malfoy Manor. It's a recurring dream on a perpetual loop that is just as dreadfully vivid and terrifying as the night before. Until now, she’s considered the pain awful but manageable, and she hasn’t felt the need to confront her demons.
Although Ron's stroking her hair in silence, waiting with admirable patience for her to speak, she doesn't want to admit to him that she's afraid for each day to end, knowing that she has to return back to sleep.
"Ron?"
He doesn't answer, only tightens his grip around her arms.
"You're here, you're here." She repeats her verbal mantra into the cotton of his shirt, more for herself than Ron, as a way to confirm that he is real and he is alive and he is okay.
"Don't be scared," he whispers words of encouragement in her ear. "I'm right here."
Tears well up into her eyes as she buries her face into the crook of his neck. She takes three steady breaths before lifting her head. Hermione can see the worry behind his eyes. "I didn't wake anyone else up, did I?"
Ron clears his throat and nods his head towards the door. "No. I, uh, placed a silencing charm on the door. Just in case…"
Hermione winces to herself. Ron’s been with her every night since they arrived at Shell Cottage, and she only just puts together that he’s probably charmed the door for every single one of those nights.
"Have you been sleeping on the chair?"
"Yeah,” he responds with a sheepish smile on his face. “My neck is all sorts of stiff but I couldn't…" His grin is gone just as fast, revealing the shadows behind his eyes. "I couldn't sleep without knowing where you were, or if you were safe."
Hermione’s heart swells up, and she doesn’t think it’s possible to...she shakes her head, forcing back those words she’s kept hidden in her heart. He’s so protective, and wonderful, and the nagging voice inside her head tries to make her believe that she doesn’t deserve him.
"Hermione...your nightmare.” Ron is looking down at their joined hands, and she watches his finger draw circles around each of her knuckles. “You said ‘take me instead. Not him.’ Can I ask...who was him?"
Although she wants to discuss every sinister and chaotic dream she’s had just about as much as she wants to show him the ghastly scar now branding her arm, she can’t leave him thinking that it was someone else.
"It was you, Ron.” His eyes meet hers with a fierce intensity, and she can see the confusion morphing into comprehension. Hermione draws in another shaky breath. “Bellatrix. She had a knife to your throat and—"
Hermione can’t bring herself to continue, instead finding herself reduced to soft, broken sobs as Ron pulls her close again.
"Shhh, it's okay. It was just a nightmare. I'm here. She doesn't have me. I'm here."
All at once, Hermione is overwhelmed with the realization that while she is now under protection, there was a time just a few days ago that she wasn’t, and there were others who had to cope with that fear.
"But it was real for you, wasn't it? When she had me."
Ron lifts up Hermione’s chin, meeting her gaze with a vulnerability that she has never seen from him before. He takes a moment to study her face, and he trails the pad of his thumb down her cheek before tracing the outline of her lips. The action takes her breath away, and she has zero doubt now that what he feels for her goes beyond the barrier of friendship.
When he speaks, his voice is hoarse, reminding her of how she heard him screaming her name from the cellar. "There are no words to describe — I've never felt so helpless, and scared, and enraged all at the same time. I know we're in the middle of a bloody war, and we're all fighting to stay alive. The probability of one of us having to use the killing curse…" His voice trails off, and Hermione can see the large lump in his throat that he tries to swallow down.
"I've never imagined myself being someone who could kill.” He spits out the word with all of its vile intention. “But, Hermione. In that moment, seeing Bellatrix with a blade against your neck...” He pauses to place his finger against his throat then slowly clenches his fist together, like he’s reducing the blade to the same consistency as floo powder. Ron grits his teeth, and snarls out, “I wanted to kill her."
The arrhythmic beating in her chest speeds up, and Hermione’s eyes go blurry from the wetness pooling within them. Ron’s fingers travel down her arm, raising the small hairs on her skin along their path. He intertwines their hands together once more before speaking again.
"I just remember thinking, ‘this can't be it.’ This can't be — there's so much I want…” Ron lets out a frustrated breath. “I need to say to you."
A whimper escapes Hermione’s mouth, and she can see the rose-pink light of dawn filtering through the drapes, clearing away any remaining darkness. "You've just said it all."
"What?” Ron’s eyebrows knit together, looking puzzled by the way the smile creeps up her cheeks like the rising sun.
"You've told me everything, Ron. Without even having to say it. You've told me in the way you fought for me at Malfoy Manor. You've told me in the way that you've sat by my bedside every night since then. The way you've taken care of me, and the way you're looking at me now...I know."
The outpouring of love she has for the ginger-haired man next to her takes over, and without hesitation he’s crushing her to his chest, burying his wet face deep into her curls.
"Hermione.” Ron says her name like he never has before, and memories of their first meeting on the train to Hogwarts run through her mind, followed by a series of flashes of moments together over the years. It’s always been him, and now she sees that she’s always been it for him, too.
He’s crying now, and Hermione holds him in her unyielding arms as he rasps, "I will never leave you again."
She knows what he is referring to and she wants him to know that it’s okay — that whatever hardships they’ve faced in the past are now just faint bumps on a winding path to each other. What matters most is this moment right now, and she wouldn’t trade this moment for all the spellbooks in the world. "We're in this together. Until the very end, whenever that may be.”
Their foreheads meet, and Hermione finds comfort in the patch of freckles on Ron’s nose. They share a moment of stillness, taking comfort in the peaceful solitude. The only sound is that of their synchronized breaths.
“Until the very end, and beyond that.”
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voldemorts-tap-shoes · 3 years ago
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Entry #2 for @romioneficfest
Dreams
“For the thousandth time, Ron, you can’t give Adam Davies detention just so he can’t play in the match Saturday.”
“Oh really?” Ron throws a challenging smirk her way as he turns around to walk backwards down the hallway that leads to their quarters and tugs at his robes. “What does this badge say?”
Hermione rolls her eyes, fighting back a grin as she retorts, “Just because you’re Head Boy does not give you carte blanche to assign detention to everyone on the Ravenclaw quidditch team.”
“Not everyone,” Ron protests, unlocking the door to their private common room with a casual flick of his wrist, neither of them breaking stride as they enter and toss their bags aside. “Just Davies.”
“No.”
“C’mon, it’s criminal for a third-year to be that good at seeker.” Ron flops onto the couch, tugging at Hermione’s hand until she’s standing between his knees.
“Oh, really?” It’s her turn to raise an eyebrow at him as her hands settle on his shoulders. “And is that the same stance that you took when Harry was winning Quidditch Cups for Gryffindor in our early years?”
Ron’s arms slide around her back and pull her closer, but she resists the impulse to entangle herself with him on the couch. “Of course not, but Gryffindor is the superior house in every way.” Hermione scoffs.
“That’s not a very diplomatic way of thinking.”
“And yet, here sit the Head Boy and Girl, both of Gryffindor. So explain that, brightest witch of our age.” He’s grinning at her now, and what’s left of her resolve is sure to crumble at any moment.
“You are absolutely insufferable,” she says, more to remind herself than to berate him. “You know that, right?”
“It’s part of my charm.” He leans up the miniscule amount required to brush his lips against her neck. “And you know you love it,” he adds, his voice low and husky against her ear. Involuntarily, a soft moan escapes Hermione as his hands find the gap between the hem of her shirt and the waistband of her skirt, his fingers just brushing the edge of her knickers.
“How much time do we have before dinner?” she asks breathily, her fingers digging into the knot of his tie and pulling to loosen it.
“Enough.” The way Ron nearly growls the word at her is her undoing, and Hermione hurries to close the gap between them, crashing her lips down to his. His tie hits the floor first, but the subsequent movement to undo the buttons of his uniform shirt is halted by his hands under her skirt, his fingers moving skillfully and distractingly against her—
Hermione woke with a gasp, sitting up as she frantically tried to make sense of her surroundings in the dark. The lingering pain against her throat and the sound of the crashing waves outside quickly reminded her where they were, and more importantly, why.
“ ‘ermione?” Ron’s sleepy voice sounded from somewhere to her left. “You alright?”
“Yes,” she sighed. She could feel her cheeks reddening at the memory of what she had been dreaming about and was suddenly grateful for the darkness of the room. “Yes, I’m fine. It was—just a dream.”
The chair creaked as Ron stood, and she could see him moving towards her, his tall frame dimly illuminated by the moonlight from the room’s only window. “Nightmare?” he asked softly as he sat down at the edge of her bed and reached for her hand.
“No, actually. We were...um.” She hesitated before revealing a true, but incomplete, account of her dream. “We were Head Boy and Girl. You and I.”
Ron laughed softly, his thumb brushing gently against the back of her hand. “Well, I believe half of that.”
“It’s silly. Sorry I woke you,” she said sheepishly.
“Don’t be sorry. Honestly, just happy to hear that you were dreaming about anything besides…” He trailed off, but he didn’t need to finish the sentence to make his meaning clear. She had been having nightmares about her torture since they arrived at Shell Cottage nearly a week ago now. “Well, was I a good Head Boy?” he asked teasingly.
She rolled her eyes at him as she had in her dream. “We were arguing about the validity of you giving detention to Ravenclaw’s best Quidditch player to keep him out of a match.”
“Let me guess, you weren’t in favor?” Hermione shook her head with a chuckle. “You must have really been giving me what-for, as flushed as your cheeks are,” Ron noted. Hermione reflexively pulled her hand from his to cover her face.
“Are they?” she asked, though she could feel the tell-tale heat under her palm. “Must have been madder at you than I thought.”
Ron smiled at her. “Sounds about right. Who won? The row, I mean.”
“Well, er…” Despite their growing closeness over the last week—closeness was an understatement, really; Ron had barely left her side—Hermione was hesitant to tell him what had really gotten her so worked up. After all, there had as yet been no kisses, certainly no wandering hands, and the feelings that she had long suspected, and harbored herself, were still no more than implied. But after what had happened, and what was still to come, how many chances were they really going to have? “Actually, I believe it was a tie. We got a bit...distracted.”
Ron’s eyes widened just slightly enough for her to realize that he understood what she hadn’t said. “Did we?” Hermione nodded.
“Do you think that...if there weren’t a war, that…” She trailed off and focused her eyes on the knit blanket that covered her, unable to meet his suddenly burning gaze. “Maybe this year would have been something like that?”
“I think that…” Ron scooted closer to her, and she felt her heart picking up speed. “War or no war, we could still have...something. Like that.”
Hermione nodded, and he was so close to her now that she could feel his breath against her lips. “Please,” she whispered.
Ron leaned forward to close the last of the distance between them, and his lips met hers for a long-awaited kiss. It was so gentle, compared to what they had been up to in her dream, but it still sent shivers all the way down to her toes. This, this one was perfect.
This one was real.
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acnelli · 3 years ago
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The Beholder
This is one of my entries for the @romioneficfest 2021. Please check out all of the submitted stories; you can find them HERE.
A huge shout-out to @divagonzo for hosting this fest again. Just like last year it provided me with so many lovely ficlets to read, written by talented and creative authors.
Thank you, @curlyy-hair-dont-care, for beta-reading this story! <3
Rating: T
Warnings: implied sexual content, body image
Prompt: Ron catches Hermione in a moment of self-doubt
Summary: Hermione is not happy with the way she looks in her new lingerie.
You can also read this story on AO3 and FFN.
*** *** *** ***
Hermione stood in front of the large mirror in their bedroom, a prominent frown on her face. She let her hands glide over the black lace of the undergarments she bought today. It was a spontaneous decision, one she already regretted as the flimsy material showed in painful obviousness how her body had changed over the last couple of years. 
She never had been a person who spent much time caring for her appearance. Her mother had not used make-up and Hermione figured this was the reason she never picked up an interest in using it every day, save for some special occasions where she put on some mascara and lipstick.
And the battle with her bushy hair had been given up a long time ago. Something Ron was vocally happy about since he kept on insisting he preferred her hair in its wild, curly state.
It was their wedding anniversary today, meaning they would go out for some fancy dinner. A real treat when parenting two kids, who were six- and four years old. The little dragons were at Ginny and Harry's tonight and Hermione wanted to make the most out of having the house all to themselves. And what better way to spice up their much-needed alone time with some sexy, rather uncomfortable lingerie?
Again, she examined her thighs showing above the stockings, her hands brushing over her hips and down to her bum, gripping the cheeks. Her once petite body wasn't petite anymore. Instead of the small, round arse she used to show off in tight jeans or a nice pencil skirt, there were wide hips and stretch marks. Where there had been a flat belly, her tummy now hid some of the knicker's waistband at the front.
Why she chose today to acknowledge this was beyond her, but Hermione shook her head and decided to put on a lace nightgown instead later, hoping her mood would brighten again by the time Ron would come home from work.
Sighing in defeat she gave her reflection one last sad look before quickly reaching for the bra clasp, determined to get out of the flimsy underwear to dress for their night out.
"Not so fast."
Hermione stopped in her tracks and whipped around towards the bedroom door where Ron was leaning against the door frame.
"Ron! I did not hear you coming home." Hermione stammered, her eyes wide and her hands trying to find a position that would provide the most cover to her half naked body.
She could already feel the heat of the oncoming blush flushing her cheeks as Ron smirked at her, still standing at the door with his arms crossed in front of him.
"I'd rather you leave this task to me," Ron said, pointing at Hermione's black lace bra.
"I just-," Hermione's voice faltered a bit and she took a second to clear her throat, trying to appear slightly more dignified than she felt, "This doesn't fit."
"It seems to fit rather fine," Ron objected as he slowly walked towards her, "These are new, aren't they?"
Hermione nodded and turned back to the mirror as Ron walked up behind her. Watching the reflection of her husband and herself she couldn't help but complain about the unfairness. "How can you eat more than everyone else, but still be so skinny? I just have to look at a piece of chocolate nowadays and it immediately adds to my midriff."
Automatically, her arms slung around said body section but Ron caught her wrists, uncovering her waist and belly again. He stepped even closer until he stood flush against Hermione's back and wrapped her into his arms from behind. A soft moan escaped her lips at the feeling of Ron's hard body pressed up against her.
She usually loved the sight of his pale, freckled skin standing out starkly against her bronze complexion and usually, she would take her time admiring them for a minute. The only thing she could focus on today though was the way her body hid Ron's mid-section, so much slimmer than hers.
Still, she closed her eyes as Ron's hands started to glide down her sides and rested on her thighs, stroking the skin right above the lace of her stockings. His big hands always felt so good.
"So, you'll ditch me should I get fat?"
Her eyes snapped open and found Ron's blue ones looking back at her, a mischievous glint in them. "Of course, not!" She rolled her eyes at him.
"Because," Ron placed a soft kiss on her shoulder, "You apparently think a little body fat makes one less attractive. And since I don't plan to reduce my sugar intake, it's not entirely impossible that you'll have to deal with a bigger version of me someday."
"Like that will ever happen," Hermione raised an eyebrow at him but couldn't suppress a smirk, "Your arse will be skinny and tiny forever. A bean pole for eternity. Plus, I didn't marry you for your stellar body."
Ron barked out a laugh but a second later he continued roaming his hands all over Hermione's body. His touch made her tingle all over and combined with his intense gaze meeting her in the mirror, she almost forgot about her imperfect body parts.
"Hermione," Ron said with a hint of demand lacing his voice, making sure Hermione was looking him into his eyes, "you know I think you're fucking gorgeous, right?" He gave her tummy a light squeeze.
"As my husband, you have to say that." Hermione put her own hands over Ron's.
"As your husband, it's my duty to tell you when you're being mental," he told her, sweeping Hermione's curls to one side and started to kiss the now exposed side of her neck, "And if you think my mouth didn't go completely dry the second I saw you in these," He traced one of her bra straps to emphasize his words, "I sure as hell need to remind you how beautiful you are."
"I'm having a hard time finding myself beautiful nowadays," Hermione admitted as she lowered her head to the side to give Ron easier access for his kisses and nibbles on her soft skin.
"Well, they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Ron said and when he squeezed her breasts through the bra, Hermione couldn't help but be happy about one positive side effect of gaining weight; her boobs filled out more and especially wrapped in black lace, they looked mouth-watering, even to herself.
"So, let this beholder show you exactly how damn sexy he thinks you are," Ron whispered as he let one of her bra straps glide down over her shoulder and captured her lips in a deep kiss.
Unsurprisingly, they missed their anniversary dinner, as Ron took his time, showing in great detail how much he loved every inch of Hermione Granger-Weasley.
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arianatwycross · 3 years ago
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My submission for the @romioneficfest 2021 :)
Ever so smart and clever
Prompt/Day: Ron Celebrates a Success / Day 11
Rating: T
Brief summary: Hermione is visiting Grimmauld Place in her Christmas holidays and Ron has just gotten his results back from an exam at Auror Training.
“Mione!”
Ron stumbles excitedly into number 12 Grimmauld Place’s kitchen. It was eight in the morning, which meant Hermione would be reliably sitting in her usual seat, eating a steaming bowl of oatmeal, sprinkled with sweet cinnamon. Ron had just gotten an owl regarding his latest exam results for Auror training, something Hermione knew had been playing on his mind since she arrived a few days ago.
Ron smiled warmly as he watched Hermione raise her head to greet him, her eyes still drowsy with sleep.
“What’s got you so peppy this morning?” she grins, picking up her glass of pumpkin juice and sipping on it.
“Got my results back from my Concealment and Disguise exam” he grins widely.
She picks herself up from the table, sensing good news. Ron immediately rushes forward to grab her forearms.  Always needing to be touching Hermione, no matter the situation, one of the many reasons she was enjoying spending her Christmas break from Hogwarts with him.
“I got the best marks in our team!” he grins, his blue eyes twinkling.
Before Hermione could respond, he pulls her towards him and wraps his arms around her waist.
“I even beat Harry; I can’t believe it!”
Hermione frowns.
“Why wouldn’t you believe it?”
Ron leans back to take in Hermione’s expression. Confusion flitters across his face.
“Because it’s Harry?”
“You shouldn’t compare yourself to him. You two are completely different.”
Her hands have laid to rest on his chest, and to look at Ron properly she tilts her head up. She hate’s how often he puts himself down, like it’s an automatic thought in his brain before believing in himself.
“You know what I mean, ‘Mione! Everyone thinks Harry will be the best Auror since Mad Eye Moody!”
“I don’t know who said that, but they obviously haven’t met you!” Hermione scolded.
Ron frowns again.
“Ron, I’ve been so impressed with how you’ve worked for this. You’ve been studying every day; you’ve been training every morning. Of course, you would get top marks!”
Ron’s face turns into a red, blotchy mess at Hermione’s words, making her giggle.
“You are great, and so clever. You work so hard at everything you love, and don’t get me started on how fit you’ve gotten” Hermione blushes at her own words but she loves telling Ron about how proud she is of him. He never seems to believe her but as she watches his eyes take in her face, over-filled with love and wonder, she has a deep feeling that he’s finally listening.
“You really think that?” His voice is soft and it makes her melt.
“Of course, I do! I keep telling you so!” She teases, pushing her hands to his chest.
He chuckles warmly, making her skin tingle.
“And you think I’m really fit?” He smirks.
This makes her laugh and she pushes herself up on her toes to reach her arms around his neck.
“Very much. I’m quite enjoying these grueling Auror training schedules” she grins, grabbing his now well-defined shoulders.
Ron smirks before gripping her waist tighter and pressing his lips to hers. The kiss is sweet and soft, making her body relax into his.
“I love you, you know that, right?” Hermione says between languish kisses.
“You just love me for my body” Ron teases back, biting her lip in jest.
Hermione slaps her hands against his chest.
“Ron! What was I just saying?!” she chastises, pulling her head away from his, to give him a scolding look.
“I know, I know. You love me because I’m ever so smart and clever, as well as insanely handsome and fit” he teases, giving her a wink before pulling her closer again.
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big-ronnev-fan · 3 years ago
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This fic is for this romione writing prompt. Hope y'all enjoy it
"Hermione, why are you dressed like that?" The bushy haired girl looked down at her dress. It was a flowy, dark blue dress with matching earring and high heeled shoes. It was actually very similar to her yule ball gown. Her hair was also done into a stailed bun.
She however didn't get the memo, because Ron was standing next to her in skinny jeans and a hand me down orange shirt. Apparently, when Ron asked her out to "date night", Hermione thought they would be going to a fancy restaurant. Ron, on the other hand, had clearly thought of something a lot more casual. 
Which makes sense. They never really did something to fancy, unless it was their anniversary or birthday or something. But still, Hermione was surprised when she realised that they were going to the usual place for tuesday dates. And, obiaslly, Ron was surprised when Hermione came out dressed like a princess (to be fair, she was Ron's princess). 
Lucky for the two of them, they were at Hermione's house. After a lot of explaining and clearing of confusion, they decided to just order sushi to the apartment. 
They spend the night curled up to each other, watching a movie and feeding each other food. And they jokingly promised to make sure they told each other about the date plans they made. 
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livingonfanficseyra · 3 years ago
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How not to miss a fic posted for a Ficfest
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ao3feed-romione · 3 years ago
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Valeria
Valeria by AC nelli
Sometimes someone steps into your life when you least expect it. Ron and Hermione had made a lot of life-changing decisions together, and this is the beginning of another.
Words: 1271, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: F/M, Gen
Characters: Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Original Child Character(s)
Relationships: Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley
Additional Tags: Family Fluff, Romione FicFest 2021, Established Relationship
Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32611543
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
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Double Hazelnut Almond Milk Macchiato
Title: Double Hazlenut Almond Milk Macchiato
Prompt: Day 2/Meet-Cute
Tumblr Name: 
Rating: General
Summary: Muggle AU. Hermione Granger is new in town, and she has a pretty complicated coffee order.
Trigger Warnings: N/A
xxx
It’s seven o’clock on a Monday, and the morning rush is in full swing at The Burrow. Forming a line out the door and around the block are dozens of important, yet fidgety business people with complicated coffee orders, and little patience.
Ron Weasley opens every morning, Monday through Friday, and he handles it well. Most customers are regulars, and he’s already memorized their morning joe specifications.
The majority of the morning crowd has been forgiving of the occasional slip-up. Seven years of working the first shift at the family-owned coffee shop means a history of accidental extra-whipped cream, almond milk instead of soy, and finger-slips on the espresso machine, and the customers always return.
Maybe it’s because they’re too tired to notice their Americanos are actually Flat-Whites. Or maybe it’s the hospitable vibe of The Burrow that makes complaining about bad latte art seem as petty as telling Grandma her muffins are dry.
Every now and then, there’s a new customer, and Ron has to whip out his earnest, people-pleasing attitude to assure that the newbie sticks around. He’ll do what it takes to turn them into a regular, and make them thankful that they chose the local joint over the cookie-cutter corporate shop across the street.
‘Take an interest in their day!’ his Mum would say. ‘Validate their order! Then make sure to ask their name, and use it!’
Monday morning, at seven o’clock, is one of those times.
“Double Hazelnut Almond Milk Macchiato.”
“Size?”
“Medium.”
The customer is about Ron’s age, and probably new in town. She doesn’t yet know that at The Burrow, ‘Double Macchiatos’ are simply called ‘Tall Macchiatos’, and instead of ‘small’, ‘medium’, and ‘large’, The Burrow’s sizes go by their family pets in order of mass: Pig, Errol, and Chudley.
“Great,” he says, grinning, “coming right up.”
“Make sure it’s almond milk,” she reminds him.
“Yup.”
“And hazelnut,” she adds.
“Yup.”
“Double-shot—”
“I heard you,” says Ron impatiently. Have a little trust, lady.
“Okay, just making sure!”
“Can I get a name for the order?”
“Hermione.”
Ron stares at the girl. Her brown eyes are round and drowsy, her hair is unkempt and wild, which contradicts the clean lines of the business suit she’s wearing. She looks so normal. “Can you repeat that?”
“Hermione. H-E-R-M-I-O-N-E.”
He hadn’t asked her to spell it, and the way she emphasizes each syllable reminds Ron of how adults would read to him when he was a kid. It’s condescending.
“Coming right up, Hermione.”
“Great.”
Ron resists rolling his eyes. He can handle a double hazelnut almond milk macchiato, and if he screws it up, she probably wouldn’t even know the difference. Most customers wouldn’t.
As Hermione paces by the counter checking her watch, he whips up a medium, double, hazelnut, almond milk ...cappuccino. Just to test his theory, of course.
“Here you go!”
He hands the drink to Hermione and watches as she takes a sip. Her eyes narrow, and for a moment, he’s convinced she can tell…
Then her face melts back to a polite grin. “Thank you!”
Maybe she can’t. Ron shakes his head as she turns and leaves, turning his attention to the next customer’s order.
Hermione returns on Tuesday morning at 7 am sharp. Her hair is pulled back into a stiff, tight ponytail that just barely lassos her wild mane, and she probably checks her watch fifteen times while in line. Ron suppresses a scoff—she can just make coffee at home if she’s in such a rush.
“Morning, Hermione!” he says with a forced smile. “Same as yesterday?”
She looks taken aback at first, clearly not expecting him to remember her name. “Um, yes, same as yesterday.”
“Coming right up.”
“Medium, Double, Hazelnut—“
“Almond Milk Macchiato,” he says. “I got it.”
“Okay,” shrugs Hermione, eyebrows raised. “Then do it.”
What’s her problem? “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she snaps. “I need coffee, not a counseling session.”
Wow. He wants to retort back, but his mother’s nagging voice in his head stops him.  ‘Always be extra-polite to grumpy customers; remember they haven’t had their coffee fix yet.’
“Of course,” Ron says through gritted teeth, in as polite a tone as he can manage. To satisfy his desire to argue, he whips her up a medium, double, hazelnut soy macchiato, only half-hoping she doesn’t notice.
He doesn’t get a chance to see if she does, because she’s out the door before a single sip.
Her Wednesday return is accompanied by a looming dread in the pit of Ron’s stomach. He hates rude people, especially at 7am. Ron spots her impatiently tapping her foot in line, as usual, and prepares himself for their interaction.
“Hello,” he says politely, stopping himself before the natural ‘how are you?’ escapes his lips. “What can I get for you today?”
“Hi,” she says with a sheepish smile. “The same as yesterday.”
“Which is?”
“Erm,” she stammers, her expression confused, “a medium—“
“I’m kidding,” he laughs, “I know your order.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
She pays, and Ron fixes her a medium double caramel almond milk macchiato.
“Sorry about yesterday,” she says when she picks up her drink. “You were just trying to be nice, and I was rude.”
“Oh,” starts Ron, who isn’t expecting an apology. “That’s okay. Happens a lot during the morning shift.”
She smiles and nods before turning around to leave, taking a sip on her way out the door. Ron watches for her reaction, but doesn’t catch it.
She seems to be in a better mood by Thursday.
“The usual,” is all she says when she arrives at the counter, but this time she’s smiling. She looks different when she smiles—pretty. Something else unidentifiable replaces the dread in his stomach. Ron wonders if it’s the first time he’s seen her smile or if it’s just the first time he’s noticed.
But based on the tired circles under her eyes, she’s exhausted, so Ron prepares her a medium triple hazelnut almond milk macchiato. An extra shot of espresso never hurt anyone, and maybe it’ll help her get through the day. Or maybe, she’ll experience a coffee crash and have to return to The Burrow later.
Both good things.
“Just so you know,” she says as Ron hands over her cup, “it’s been a stressful week. I started a new job, and it’s not going well.”
“I’m—I’m sorry to hear that,” says Ron. He looks into her eyes, and for a moment, they soften. There’s more to her tough and professional exterior.
“These have made the week just a little better,” she adds, holding up her macchiato, before smiling softly and turning to leave.
Of course, Hermione requests her usual on Friday, and Ron is quickly running out of ideas for ways to screw with her order.
In celebration of the weekend, he might be able to pass a large off as a special treat. Other than that, he has to stick to the request—a double hazelnut almond milk macchiato. The first of the week. Better not mess it up.
As soon as he pops the cap onto her cup, it looks empty. He reaches for his marker again and scribbles something else—his phone number.
He’s not sure what compels him to do it. Maybe it’s because the larger size leaves so much white space. It could be because the grumpy brunette has been occupying his thoughts all week — he’s never purposely tried to fuck up someone’s coffee five days in a row.
Or maybe, it’s because when she walked in this morning, he smiled, and he just wants to learn more about the woman who thinks she knows what a double hazelnut almond milk macchiato tastes like.
She’ll probably ignore it anyway.
But later that day, his phone buzzes on the counter, and he scrambles for it faster than he’d run away from a mob of spiders.
The text is from an unknown number, but there’s no mystery. It only took five days, but you finally got my order correct!
Ron scowls at his phone. She knew? She was duping him?
Well, Hermione, why’d you keep coming back?
As soon as the message sends, he’s impatient, tapping his foot, pacing, and jittery. Just like Hermione every morning.
His phone flashes and buzzes, and Ron almost drops it by checking too quickly.
It wasn’t for the coffee…
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
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Little Unicorn Day Center
Title: Little Unicorns Daycare Center
Prompt: day 2 - meet cute
Rating: G
Author:
Brief Summary
Any Content warnings: 
Hermione had cared for many children in the three years since she had opened the Little Unicorns Daycare Center, and she had always been careful to be impartial and fair to every little boy and girl that walked through her doors.
But she couldn’t deny that Lily was one of her favorites.
The vivacious red-headed girl had been in her care for around six months, and it had been obvious from the start that she was different from the other kids. She was well ahead of the group on her reading comprehension, and she had a highly developed sense of humor for her age. She also loved to tell detailed, fantastical stories about magical creatures, and people flying around on broomsticks, and Hermione was amazed at the depth of her imagination.
Hermione had only ever met Lily’s mother, Ginny, who shared her daughter’s long red hair and quick wit. Ginny was always in and out of the cottage in a hurry when she came to drop Lily off or pick her up, but she was always friendly enough. She knew that Ginny was in publishing, and her husband in law enforcement, jobs that surely kept them both very busy, so Hermione didn’t think anything of the quick visits.
It never struck her as odd, either, that she had never met Lily’s father; it was common for her to deal with one parent more than the other. She finally met him on a cold, snowy day, when the front door opened and Lily burst in, shedding her hat and gloves before she had even made it past Hermione’s desk, and a tall, gorgeous red-headed man trailing behind her.
He smiled apologetically as he bent to pick up Lily’s things to hand to her. “Sorry about that. Is she always like this?”
Hermione’s fingers brushed against his as she took the gloves, and she was surely imagining the spark that ignited her skin at the contact. “Oh, it’s um…” Hermione unconsciously raised her hand to flatten her bushy hair before scolding herself. This man was married, and it surely did not matter how her hair looked. “It’s finger paint day. I’m sure she’s just excited.”
“Oh, that explains it, then. Can’t say I blame her.”
He gave her another brilliant smile, and she melted as she looked up into his vibrant blue eyes. Lily had bright eyes, too, but hers were an almost unnatural shade of green. Ginny’s, if Hermione remembered correctly, were brown, and for a fleeting moment, she hoped that maybe the man was a family friend or something. But then she saw the shiny gold detective's badge pinned to his trousers, and the hair color, of course, was unmistakable. Even so, Hermione couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Will you be picking Lily up this afternoon?”
“Nah, Gin just had an early meeting this morning. She’ll get her later, like normal.”
Hermione hoped that her disappointment wasn’t glaringly obvious. Her instant attraction to this man was undeniable, but it was also incredibly inappropriate. He was a parent of one of her charges, for goodness sake! Hermione put on the most neutral smile she could muster and then motioned to a pile of papers that she was certain were nothing more than coloring sheets. “Okay, I hope you have a lovely day. If you’ll excuse me, I really should get back to work.”
“Oh, yeah, me too.” He leaned to the side to look through the open doorway into the playroom beyond the lobby. “Bye, Lil! Be good!” Hermione heard no response from the adjacent room, but he turned without one and gave a slight wave of goodbye to Hermione before heading back out into the cold.
It was several weeks before she saw him again. Lily again raced through the door while her father ambled in behind her and smiled at Hermione. “Must be finger-paint day again,” he said teasingly as he approached the desk. “I realize I didn’t properly introduce myself before. I’m Ron.” He held out his hand for Hermione to shake and she took it, trying to ignore the warmth of his palm.
“Hermione.” Their hands remained linked for just an instant longer than was probably proper, and Hermione forced herself to break their gaze. “Lily’s a wonderful child,” she said, determined to focus on the little girl.
“Yeah, she’s a hoot. She—“ Ron cut himself off with a frown and fished a buzzing pager from his coat pocket. “Sorry, duty calls.” She caught another glimpse of his badge and nodded in understanding. “Nice to see you again.”
“You, too.” Hermione lifted her hand in farewell, and she was so distracted by the view of him from behind, that it completely slipped her mind that Ron was not the name of the other parent on Lily’s paperwork.
She saw Ron several more times over the following months, and he was always so charming with her. Hermione was horribly embarrassed by her attraction to another woman’s husband—though she had noticed that he didn’t wear a ring—and even worse, the fact that the feeling seemed to be mutual. She wanted to believe that it was just his personality, that he was the outgoing type, and not that he was a man who would shamelessly flirt with other women. He didn’t seem to be the sort who would do such a thing. Or maybe she just didn’t want to admit to herself how unseemly her behavior was. Either way, Lily would be moving on to kindergarten soon, and she could forget all about Ron.
Usually if she saw Ron, it was at Lily’s morning drop-off, so Hermione was surprised when he appeared one afternoon at pick-up time. He was quieter than usual, not his typical cheery self. “Lily!” Hermione called to the other room. “Time to go!”
“Coming!” the little girl hollered back as Ron approached her desk.
“Hi,” he said, his tone soft. She didn’t know him all that well, even now, but he actually sounded nervous. “So, I um...wanted to ask you something?”
Hermione’s heart started pounding, and she rubbed her palms against her jeans anxiously. “Sure,” she replied, and she hoped he couldn’t hear the tremor in her voice.
He hesitated, and then blurted out, “Are you free for dinner tonight?” He must have registered the look of shock on her face at his overt invitation, and he began to ramble. “I’ve got to take Lily home, but after that, or—or maybe this weekend we could—“
Hermione gave a vehement shake of her head and lowered her voice to hiss at him, “That is wildly inappropriate!” As much as she couldn’t deny that there was a chemistry between them, acting on it was a whole different matter.
“I—“ He seemed taken aback by the severity of her response. “I can take the rejection, but...inappropriate?”
She looked at him incredulously. “Yes. I don’t make it a habit to fraternize with—“
“Uncle Ron!” Lily’s exclamation and pounding footsteps cut her off and stopped her cold. The little girl threw her arms around one of Ron’s long legs, and he reached down to pat her head.
“Hey, kiddo. Have a good day today?”
Lily nodded. “Where’s mummy?”
“Waiting at home, and your dad is picking up your brothers.”
She then glanced at Hermione before gazing up at Ron with a knowing look beyond her years. “Did you come just to say hi to Miss Hermione?” Lily half-covered her mouth to whisper loudly to Hermione, “My mummy says he fancies you.”
Hermione couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Here she had been berating herself all these months for nothing. She wracked her brain, but she couldn’t recall Lily ever mentioning her father or Ron by name, and she had never addressed him directly until now. She had just been assuming that Ron was off-limits, and couldn’t remember ever being so pleased to be wrong.
Ron’s face was red with embarrassment, but he was still smiling shyly at her, and the look was incredibly endearing. “Did you really think I was her dad? Haven’t you ever met Harry?” Hermione shook her head.
“No, I haven’t, actually. I saw your badge and, well, your hair—I just assumed.”
“So...any chance that changes your mind about dinner?” he asked hopefully.
Hermione crouched down to the ground and motioned Lily over. “Maybe you could tell your Uncle Ron,” she said in a stage whisper, “that I fancy him, too?”
Lily nodded eagerly before scampering back over to Ron. “Uncle Ron! Miss Hermione said she fancies you.”
Hermione straightened and beamed at Ron. “Seven okay?”
“Tonight?” Hermione nodded; she didn’t want to wait any longer to get to know him better. “Brilliant. Seven it is.” He took Lily’s hand and led her toward the door, glancing back over his shoulder at Hermione with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
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Ever So Smart and Clever
Title: Ever so smart and clever
Prompt/Day: Ron Celebrates a Success / Day 11
Tumblr name: 
Rating: T
Brief summary: Hermione is visiting Grimmauld Place in her Christmas holidays and Ron has just gotten his results back from an exam at Auror Training.
Any possible triggering/warning tags: None
 “Mione!”
Ron stumbles excitedly into number 12 Grimmauld Place’s kitchen. It was eight in the morning, which meant Hermione would be reliably sitting in her usual seat, eating a steaming bowl of oatmeal, sprinkled with sweet cinnamon. Ron had just gotten an owl regarding his latest exam results for Auror training, something Hermione knew had been playing on his mind since she arrived a few days ago.
Ron smiled warmly as he watched Hermione raise her head to greet him, her eyes still drowsy with sleep.
“What’s got you so peppy this morning?” she grins, picking up her glass of pumpkin juice and sipping on it.
“Got my results back from my Concealment and Disguise exam” he grins widely.
She picks herself up from the table, sensing good news. Ron immediately rushes forward to grab her forearms.  Always needing to be touching Hermione, no matter the situation, one of the many reasons she was enjoying spending her Christmas break from Hogwarts with him.  
“I got the best marks in our team!” he grins, his blue eyes twinkling.
Before Hermione could respond, he pulls her towards him and wraps his arms around her waist.
“I even beat Harry; I can’t believe it!”
Hermione frowns.
“Why wouldn’t you believe it?”
Ron leans back to take in Hermione’s expression. Confusion flitters across his face.
“Because it’s Harry?”
“You shouldn’t compare yourself to him. You two are completely different.”
Her hands have laid to rest on his chest, and to look at Ron properly she tilts her head up. She hate’s how often he puts himself down, like it's an automatic thought in his brain before believing in himself.  
“You know what I mean, ‘Mione! Everyone thinks Harry will be the best Auror since Mad Eye Moody!”
“I don’t know who said that, but they obviously haven’t met you!” Hermione scolded.
Ron frowns again.
“Ron, I’ve been so impressed with how you’ve worked for this. You’ve been studying every day; you’ve been training every morning. Of course, you would get top marks!”
Ron’s face turns into a red, blotchy mess at Hermione’s words, making her giggle.
“You are great, and so clever. You work so hard at everything you love, and don’t get me started on how fit you’ve gotten” Hermione blushes at her own words but she loves telling Ron about how proud she is of him. He never seems to believe her but as she watches his eyes take in her face, over-filled with love and wonder, she has a deep feeling that he’s finally listening.  
“You really think that?” His voice is soft and it makes her melt.
“Of course, I do! I keep telling you so!” She teases, pushing her hands to his chest.
He chuckles warmly, making her skin tingle.
“And you think I’m really fit?” He smirks.
This makes her laugh and she pushes herself up on her toes to reach her arms around his neck.
“Very much. I’m quite enjoying these grueling Auror training schedules” she grins, grabbing his now well-defined shoulders.
Ron smirks before gripping her waist tighter and pressing his lips to hers. The kiss is sweet and soft, making her body relax into his.
“I love you, you know that, right?” Hermione says between languish kisses.
“You just love me for my body” Ron teases back, biting her lip in jest.
Hermione slaps her hands against his chest.
“Ron! What was I just saying?!” she chastises, pulling her head away from his, to give him a scolding look.
“I know, I know. You love me because I’m ever so smart and clever, as well as insanely handsome and fit” he teases, giving her a wink before pulling her closer again.
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
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Theirs and Ours
Title: Theirs and Ours
Prompt: Day 4 - post-war, kitchen, doll, Ron catches Hermione in a moment of self doubt
Author: 
Summary: Who knew babysitting 4 kids would make Hermione doubt herself and the future of the Weasley-Granger household?
Rating: G
CW: mentions of pregnancy
* * *
The house was a mess. It always was after they had one of the kids over, but today there had been four. Through a comically coincidental series of events, Ron and Hermione had somehow found themselves watching two of Bill and Fleur’s three children, along with Fred the second, and their godson James, all in the same afternoon.
Hermione loved the children, of course, but she didn’t have the same boundless energy and youthful enthusiasm that made Ron everyone’s favorite uncle. And looking after four of them at once made her very glad that Ron had assured her he had no interest in a brood the size of his parents’. She was already nervous enough about the one they were expecting.
It would have been faster to wash the dishes left behind from lunch with magic, but the warmth of the water and the rhythmic scrubbing of doing it the muggle way helped slow Hermione’s racing mind as she replayed the afternoon in her head. Ginny had dropped James off first, on her way to the Daily Prophet to give an interview on the upcoming Quidditch World Cup. He and Fred had been their scheduled charges for the day, and George arrived with him soon after. Then Fleur had burst through the Floo with Victoire and Louis, so distraught about Dominique falling from her toy broom and having to be taken to St. Mungo’s that she explained what had happened in French. Fortunately, Hermione knew enough to get by, and she had sent Fleur on her way to catch up with Bill at the hospital, promising their care of the two blonde-haired children.
Four kids.
Ron had taken it all in stride, of course. He entertained the kids, helped Hermione fix lunch, changed several very stinky diapers of James’ without even blinking...all of it came so naturally to him. Hermione was exhausted even on her best days, the early effects of pregnancy frequently taking their toll. So after spending the day chasing four kids around the house, it was a wonder she was even still standing, really.
She set the last plate in the rack to dry and turned off the water. Ron sauntered into the kitchen then, looking no worse for the wear as he tossed a doll onto the dining table and then poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice. “Victoire left that here, remind me to grab it when we head to the Burrow tomorrow.”
Hermione picked it up, toying with the doll’s hair. “Sure thing.”
Ron leaned back against the counter and cocked an eyebrow at her as she sat down, still holding their niece’s doll. “You okay? Want to go have a kip? I know it was a lot today.”
Hermione shook her head. “No, that’s alright. I’m fine. Let’s order in tonight, though, yeah?”
“Whatever you want.” Ron sat down beside her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He waited a moment and then put his hand over hers, stilling her motions. She knew he could tell something was bothering her but was trying not to press her.
“How do you do it?” she asked softly.
“Do what?”
“It’s so easy for you, with the kids.”
Ron shrugged, trying to play it off. “Sometimes.” When she didn’t say anything else, he added, “It’ll be different with ours.”
Hermione scoffed. “So everyone says.”
“I mean, the good and bad. It’ll all be different. It’s easy to be the fun uncle, hosting tea parties and teaching them to ride a broom. Doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be a good dad.”
“Yes, you will,” Hermione said firmly. “Me, on the other hand…”
“Hermione—“
“Ron, I wasn’t good with kids when I was a kid. Some might have even called me a nightmare.” She nudged him playfully with her shoulder, and Ron chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her.
“What kind of bloody idiot would do that?” he teased in return. “Look,” he continued, turning serious, “the truth is that I don’t know if it’ll be easier for you with our baby.”
There was nothing comforting about his statement, aside from its honesty. She had heard the same platitude repeatedly—from her mum, Molly, Fleur, Ginny, everyone: wait until it’s yours. Hermione desperately wanted to believe them, but it was just so difficult to fathom. She didn’t take to the many Weasley children the way the others had, didn’t instinctively know how to hold them, or what to do when they cried. Truthfully, she was just waiting for them all to start attending Hogwarts so that at least she would be the go-to resource for homework help. She wasn’t sure what she really had to offer, until then.
“What I do know,” Ron went on, pulling her attention back to him. “Is that we’re doing this together. We’ll be a team, like always.”
Hermione leaned into his side with a content sigh. Ron always knew the right thing to say to her, and she was grateful for his support. “Thank you,” she whispered, tilting her head up to kiss his cheek before resting against his shoulder. Her eyelids were starting to feel heavy, and she thought it might be nice to lie down for a bit, after all. “Maybe we should go have that kip,” she murmured around a yawn. “While we still can, before the baby comes.”
She felt Ron’s lips against her hair as his hand drifted down to her stomach, which was just barely starting to bulge. “I promise to let you have all the naps you need. Even when she comes.”
Hermione lifted her head to look at him curiously. “She?” They weren’t meant to find out for several weeks yet what they were having, and they had only referred to the baby in generic terms so far.
Ron shrugged again and gave her the lopsided smile she could never resist. “Just a feeling.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “C’mon. There’s a couch and a blanket in the other room with your name on it.”
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
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Early Morning Light
Title: Early Morning Light
Prompt/Day: day 9, Shell Cottage
Tumblr name: 
Rating: G
Brief summary: Ron and Hermione in the early hours of the morning at Shell Cottage
Any warnings: vague mentions of canon torture (Malfoy Manor scene), a deviation from canon (most likely)
The morning air was crisp and cool, but after being kept within the four walls of the tiny room at Bill and Fleur's, being outside was refreshing.
Hermione watched the gentle waves in the distance as the sky moved from dark, to purple, to a pale blue under the morning light.
Two days ago and she'd been of the belief that she would never get the chance to see something so beautiful and peaceful again.
She shivered, and it wasn't from the cold. The memory of Bellatrix's hands on her still haunted her, terrified her. Was it something she would ever get over, she wondered, or would it be something she still thought about three, for, five years from now?
Everyone else was still asleep when she'd crept out that morning for some time to herself. She expected the others to sleep for a few more hours, but the sun had barely risen over the water when she felt a presence behind her.
She turned, seeing Ron standing only a few paces from where she sat in the sand, her back against one of the cottage's walls.
Rather than telling him to leave her alone, or to go away, she smiled.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice groggy with sleep.
She patted a space beside her and he sat down, drawing his knees to his chest and staring out at the water she'd just been observing.
"I used to like coming here as a kid," he said, perhaps to no one in particular. "I have good memories. They were simpler times."
"Everything was simpler when we were kids," Hermione said softly.
Ron didn't respond to that and for a while they just watched the waves, listening to it's peaceful lull in the early morning.
Over the two days since reaching this place, Ron had been nothing but a support to her. Where Harry was quiet and contemplative, lost in his plans to continue their quest, Ron was in her room every hour, checking she was okay, asking if she needed anything. He brought her food, glasses of water, anything he thought she might need. He seemed to have some innate desire to look after her, and too weak to do much else, she accepted his help. Most of the time it was just the two of them, alone.
Him leaving had devastated her more than she'd ever care to admit, but he was back now and in times like this, where they didn't know what day might be their last, the past no longer mattered. Holding on to anger after all that had happened since seemed like a waste of time and energy; something neither of them could afford to do.
They were all alive and that counted for something.
When the silence between them changed from peaceful to almost unbearable, she looked at him. His fingers twirled in front of his knees, and he shifted, like he wished to say something but didn't know what.
She'd come to understand her feelings towards him better than she ever had before: the longing looks, the averted gazes, and the tenderness in the way he spoke to her and opened something within her that she was no longer afraid to admit. And she was now also certain how he felt about her. But what benefit would acting on those feelings bring them? It was a war, and they could die. Talking about their feelings out loud would just give them one more thing to worry about when they already had so much.
"Thank you," she said after a moment, feeling the words slip out before she could stop them.
He turned to look at her, surprise on his face. "What for?"
She shook her head. For everything. For being you. "Just… thank you."
He didn't say anything in response, but continued to watch her, something on his face changing the longer he looked at her.
She returned his gaze, holding it for longer than was comfortable. She noticed every freckle on his face, a small scar on the side of his cheek from some years ago, maybe. But most of all she saw his eyes, the way they looked bluer in the morning light.
Her chest tightened, and she was consumed by a desire to act on her feelings, because she knew that whatever she did, her gesture would be returned.
They were alone, sitting in the sand on a near deserted place. It would just be once, a comfort, and then they could go back to focusing on finding Horcruxes.
Still keeping her eyes on him, she inched her face towards his. His breath caught as he realised what she was doing, but he didn't back away. He drew his face nearer, too, until their lips met.
The kiss was gentle to start with — both uncertain, both a little nervous. But as their lips lingered, as they got more comfortable, it deepened. His hand came up to her cheek, kissing her back now with an enthusiasm they both shared.
They'd both wanted this for so long, and finally, in the early morning light at Shell Cottage, they'd gotten their wish.
The kiss didn't last long, but the taste of his lips would forever be etched into her memory. It was as if they'd been designed just for her, fitting perfectly against her own to create some kind of spark that she'd never experienced until now.
When they pulled away the waves could no longer be heard over the roar in Hermione's ears — the thumping of her heart, the heavy breathing from both of them as they relished in the finally.
They didn't speak, for there was no need to speak. Hermione knew, and she knew that Ron did, too. They had shared a moment out here where it was peaceful. But it could be the only moment they shared. At least until this war was over.
Their feelings couldn't — didn't — matter when people around them were dying every day.
She laid her head on his shoulder and he brought an arm across hers. There they sat, watching the waves roll in, lapping against the sand, in a silence that would soon be disturbed by everyone else waking up.
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
Text
I knew it would be you
Title: I Knew It'd Be You
Prompt/Day: 9 - Head Boy/Head Girl
Tumblr Name:
Rating: K+ / PG
Brief Summary: Seventh Year AU when Ron and Hermione receive their final Hogwarts letters.
******
Hermione’s hands shook as she held the Hogwarts letter in her hands. Her nerves were bubbling up, threatening a wave of nausea that would empty her stomach of the light breakfast she’d just consumed.
Just open it, Hermione. What’s the worst that can happen?
Sitting on the camp bed in Ginny’s room, she tried her best to summon her Gryffindor courage to open the letter. She could hear shouts from the garden as the massive tent was raised for Bill and Fleur’s wedding. Giggles filtered through the wall as Fleur and her family were getting ready for the impending nuptials later that day. It was ironic that Professor McGonagall chose today to send out the materials lists and assignments for the upcoming school year.
The whole thing was a miracle, really; the fact that the trio were able to return to Hogwarts. Sure, Dumbledore had perished in the final battle with Voldemort, but it was all so Harry could defeat him once and for all. It was pure luck that they could recover and destroy the locket, cup and diadem, but they had.
So, after all the material Horcruxes had been destroyed, Dumbledore lured Voldemort to the castle, sacrificing himself to kill the snake so that Harry could face Voldemort one-on-one. The details were still murky, but Hermione promised Ron she wouldn’t push Harry to tell them until he was ready.
“You know, I should be the one who’s nervous, considering my O.W.L. results are in my letter,” Ginny’s voice brought Hermione out of her reverie.
Hermione sighed heavily. “I know, I know, but what if—”
“You won’t know until you open it, but if you ask me, McGonagall would be mental not to give you Head Girl.”
Hermione felt her face flush red with embarrassment at Ginny’s words. She knew she was being ridiculous over the whole thing. With a deep inhale, she slid her finger into the opening above the wax seal and pulled, tearing it open. Hermione extracted the letter and carefully unfolded it, when a large badge unceremoniously appeared and fell out of the parchment.
“I knew it!” Ginny exclaimed with glee as Hermione stared wide-eyed at the badge in her hands. “Congratulations, Hermione!”
“Th-thanks,” she responded, her voice barely a whisper.
She’d done it. Six years of hard work, and she’d earned the distinction of Head Girl. An excited cry escaped Hermione’s lips as she tucked the badge into her pocket and turned her attention to the letter. Part of her hoped that the letter would reveal who the head boy was but wasn’t surprised when it didn’t. After all, the fifth year prefect letter hadn’t.
There was a tiny sliver of hope bubbling up in her chest as she wondered if Ron had been given the Head Boy badge. She needed to find him. Setting the letter down on the camp bed, Hermione stood up and headed for the door.
“Where are you going? We have to start getting ready soon.” Ginny asked as Hermione’s hand turned the doorknob.
“Just want to check in on Harry and Ron,” Hermione attempted casually, but Ginny wasn’t fooled.
“You just want to know if Ron got Head Boy,” Ginny sniggered. “Don’t make the same mistake from fifth year.”
“I won’t,” Hermione said as she shut the door behind her.
She climbed the stairs as fast as her legs would allow, and when she reached Ron’s room, she gave a brisk knock. To her surprise, it was Harry’s voice who let out an excited, ‘Come in!’
Hermione did as she was directed and looked around only to find the room absent of Ron's presence.
“Oh, hey, Hermione. I thought you were Ginny,” Harry sounded crestfallen.
Hermione eyed the captain’s badge next to his bed and smirked. “What, were you hoping to show off your Quidditch captain status?”
“Nah, I wanted to see if McGonagall named her reserve captain, given I received a warning that my ‘captainship will be revoked if I don’t stay out of trouble.”
“And you better, especially since there’s no more Voldemort threat,” Hermione said as she rolled her eyes. “Where’s Ron?”
“Er, he was out helping with the tent. Surprised he’s not back by now…”
Harry continued speaking, but Hermione didn’t hear the rest as she hurtled down the stairs toward the garden. Luckily no one was in the kitchen to stop her as she exited out the door and looked around. She saw several other Weasley brothers, but Ron wasn’t in sight.
“Everything alright, Hermione? Or should I say Head Girl?” George asked, a knowing glint in his eye.
Hermione was taken aback by George’s comment. How could he know? “How did you—Have you seen Ron?”
“He’s over by the oak tree,” Fred chimed in.
Hermione nodded in thanks as she made her way across the garden. She hoped the twins weren’t lying to her, but she didn’t bother to question their motives as she set her sights firmly on the large oak tree ahead — the one she’d taken to lounging under as her friends trained on the makeshift quidditch pitch. As she approached the tree, she saw Ron leaning against it, his letter in hand.
“There you are! I’ve been looking for you,” Hermione said as she sidled up next to him.
He startled, looking around to the source of her voice as he tried to hide the parchment quickly. “Oh, er, hey.”
“What’s wrong?” Hermione frowned.
Things may have been better between them, but that didn’t diminish the sense of awkwardness that still hovered whenever they were alone.
“Nothing. Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”
Hermione waved him off. “There’ll be plenty of time for that. It’s not like I’m involved in the wedding party or anything.”
“Er, yeah, right. I just thought—I didn’t mean—never mind. Did you come out here to share the news of your Head Girl badge with me, then?”
Hermione felt her cheeks flush. She hadn’t just come out here for that. It wasn’t like she was going to gloat or anything. “No, not exactly…”
“But you did get Head Girl, didn’t you?” Ron pressed.
“Er, yes, and Harry earned captain again! Although it sounds like McGonagall is keeping him on a tight leash…that’s a muggle expression, in case you didn’t know,” Hermione knew she was rambling as her eyes fixed on the ground.
It was then that her eyes caught a glimpse of Ron’s letter that lay open and forgotten on the ground next to his feet. The parchment was partially folded, but Hermione could make out the words, Congratulations, you’ve been appointed—
Her heart fluttered in her chest as hope surged throughout her body.
“Er, Ron, you wouldn’t happen to know who earned the Head Boy position, would you?” she asked tentatively.
Hermione took a chance and glanced up at him. His ears were burning red, and she was certain it wasn’t from too much sun exposure.
“Er, yeah,” he kicked the ground as he dug into his pocket to show her a badge of his own. “Not sure why they’d pick me, but—”
Hermione cut Ron off as she lunged forward and threw her arms around his neck, wrapping him in a tight hug. She was so elated that she couldn’t help herself.
“I knew it’d be you! I just knew it!”
“Well, that makes one of us,” he said through an uncomfortable chuckle.
“Will you stop it? You’re the most deserving of it, and you know McGonagall chose the person she thinks is best suited! I’m so glad it’s you.”
Hermione pulled back slightly to admonish him for his self-deprecation, realizing the implication of her words after the fact. That was when she became hyper-aware that his hands were gripping her firmly around the waist, and his face was close to hers. She felt breathless as she froze, all thoughts fleeing her mind as she noticed his eyes drift to her lips.
 She felt her mouth part slightly in response to his gaze. It wouldn’t be so hard to just lean in and...and then she felt her lips graze his cautiously and time seemed to stand still. When he didn’t move or reciprocate the gesture, Hermione was about to pull away in mortification.
But then, she felt him pull her closer, and he was kissing her back. Hermione wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, nor did she care. She was kissing Ron Weasley! Eventually, they pulled apart, and Ron broke the silence first.
“Think McGonagall will care if her Head Boy and Girl are dating?” Ron sounded hesitant as Hermione’s heart melted at his question.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” she answered breathlessly, thinking of Harry’s parents.
Ron broke out in a wide grin at her response as Hermione matched it with her own. “Brilliant,” he said as he leaned in for another kiss.
Yes, brilliant indeed.
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
Text
Right Here, Right Now
Title: Right Here, Right Now
Prompt/Day: Rooftop (Day 10)
Tumblr Name: 
Rating: T
Brief Summary: Ron and Hermione share a tender moment under the stars during the summer following the Battle.
Any possible triggering/warning tags: Mild language
Word Count: 1,229
--
It was a dry, clear summer night and just chilly enough for Hermione to remember to pull on a jumper before she went outside. The jumper itself was thick and cozy, maroon in color, and had a large “R” printed on the front.
She sat with her knees tucked up against her chest, body tilted forward from the precariously steep angle she was sitting. She left the window to her bedroom unlatched, always fearful that she'd unintentionally lock herself out on the roof without her wand in tow. For good measure, she patted the back pocket of her jeans to ensure that her wand was still in place.
Hermione relaxed her muscles and tightened her hold on the wool blanket that was draped around her shoulders. She was grateful that she had conjured up a second blanket to provide a cushion of warmth between her bum and the coarse shingles on the slanted roof.
The sun dipped below the horizon, and the city darkened, taking on a blue hue as the world exploded into a plethora of stars that looked like scattered moondust across the sky.
Hermione basked in the peace and quiet, appreciating that her parents lived far enough out of the city to avoid the massive light pollution.
It had been a little over two weeks since her family had returned from Australia, and she had spent the majority of that time earning their trust back and making up for what they had lost. They worked hard to restore her childhood home to its former glory, removing all traces of destruction from the last year.
She wasn't sure if the restoration would've been possible without Ron.
Ron. Her boyfriend.
"Ron," she whispered aloud.
She couldn't get enough of saying his name, and she closed her eyes, picturing her ginger-haired best friend turned romantic partner with his deep azure eyes and lazy grin that she adored so much.
"Hey, you."
Hermione's eyes snapped open, her head turning sharp in the direction of the familiar voice. Ron was perched on her windowsill, poking his head out through the small opening.
"Ron." There she goes, saying his name again. "What are you — how are you here?"
Ron held up a small device in his hands that resembled a silver cigarette lighter, and comprehension dawned on her.
The deluminator.
"I heard you — your voice. In here.”
Hermione couldn't mask the smile that spread across her lips. "I should’ve known.”
Ron crawled fully onto the roughly arched tile, taking the open spot next to Hermione on the blanket after she scooted over to make room. She held one end of her blanket out for Ron, inviting him into her warmth. Although she wanted him to be comfortable on this cool night, she also wanted him closer for her own selfish reasons.
"Nice jumper," he remarked with a smirk.
Hermione’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red, almost matching said clothing item. In an effort to retain some composure, she kept her eyes trained on the pattern of stars in the unobstructed sky. The distant, glittering sparks spoke to her in different ways over the years, providing a sense of calm during her summers at home in between the chaos of her years at Hogwarts.
Hermione loved stargazing. No singular experience was the same, and this one was the best because she finally got to share it with Ron.
“What were you thinking about when you said my name?”  Ron questioned, tossing the device once into the air and catching it.
Hermione laughed and gave him a funny look. “I would’ve thought that was obvious.”
He nudged his shoulder with hers. “Doesn’t mean I still don’t want to hear it from you.”
Her eyes gleamed up at him, his own shining with the ambient sky glow, before leaning her head against his shoulder. She felt him wrap the blanket tighter around their connected bodies. "I was thinking about how much I wished you were here with me right now."
"How come you never mentioned that you liked to, quite literally, live on the edge out here?" Ron teased.
"You didn't ask."
"It's hard to ask about something you didn't know existed."
After all of these years of knowing each other, it was amazing that they still had things to learn about each other.
"I don't think you have any idea what this spot has meant to me over the years.”
In the next moment, Ron hooked a finger under her chin and lifted her head. His eyes flickered at her with a different emotion, and a serious expression crossed his face. "Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?"
Happiness streaked through Hermione like a shooting star, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. "If it's anywhere near as much as you mean to me, then...yeah. I do."
He leaned closer, almost so close that she could taste his lips. "Can you promise me something?"
Hermione’s eyelids were already fluttering closed. "Anything.”
"Next time you feel the urge to whisper my name, send me a Patronus, yeah? I'll be here faster than a Firebolt."
Hermione barely had time to nod before pressing her lips against his, surrendering herself to bliss. His hands were sliding up her shoulders, cupping her cheeks, before finally tangling in her mass of curls. He felt so warm and gentle, and this moment was perfect. It was as if all of the previous moments she spent out here on this rooftop had served a greater purpose — to allow her to unearth a joy unlike any she had ever known.
Right here, right now.
When Hermione pulled back from his embrace, a set of words escaped her lips, with so much ease that she wasn’t quite sure why she had never said them before. "I love you, Ron."
The look of pure adoration he sent back to her was enough to make her heart melt. His eyes glistened with tears, and she could see him visibly gulp as he processed her words.
Ron furiously wiped his tear-stained cheeks, ducking his head before speaking roughly. "Fuck, I don't know why I'm crying."
"Ron Weasley..." she quipped, astounded by the vulnerability she was witnessing.  
"Oh, shut it."
Hermione only grinned in response, her eyes once again finding the awe-inspiring constellations, soothed by the silence that surrounded them.
"Hey." Ron’s whispered voice diverted her attention back to her ginger-haired man.
He brushed a single curl from her face, his mouth curving up into a brilliant smile. "I love you too, you know."
A thrill of joy rippled through her, and she made an incredulous ask before she could stop herself. "Really?"
Ron harrumphed, looking mildly dissatisfied with her response. "Always the tone of surprise."
To avoid Ron seeing her flushed cheeks, Hermione flattened her palm against the back of his neck and crashed her lips to his, allowing nothing but happiness to consume them.
When they broke apart for a second time, Ron chuckled with a candid smile. "Do you realize how mental we are? We spent how much time not doing this?"
Hermione giggled, only snuggling closer to him as they settled in for a night under the stars, sharing mutual moon-kissed faces.
Nothing meant more to her than sitting on a rooftop with her best friend, her lover, her forever.
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romioneficfest · 3 years ago
Text
Dreams
Title: Dreams
Prompt: Day 9 - head boy Ron/head girl Hermione, Shell Cottage
Author: 
Rating: T
Brief Summary: the line between dreams and reality can sometimes blur in brilliant ways
Any Trigger/Content warnings: brief mentions of nightmares from torture at Malfoy Manor, nightmares
“For the thousandth time, Ron, you can’t give Adam Davies detention just so he can’t play in the match Saturday.”
“Oh really?” Ron throws a challenging smirk her way as he turns around to walk backwards down the hallway that leads to their quarters and tugs at his robes. “What does this badge say?”
Hermione rolls her eyes, fighting back a grin as she retorts, “Just because you’re Head Boy does not give you carte blanche to assign detention to everyone on the Ravenclaw quidditch team.”
“Not everyone,” Ron protests, unlocking the door to their private common room with a casual flick of his wrist, neither of them breaking stride as they enter and toss their bags aside. “Just Davies.”
“No.”
“C’mon, it’s criminal for a third-year to be that good at seeker.” Ron flops onto the couch, tugging at Hermione’s hand until she’s standing between his knees.
“Oh, really?” It’s her turn to raise an eyebrow at him as her hands settle on his shoulders. “And is that the same stance that you took when Harry was winning Quidditch Cups for Gryffindor in our early years?”
Ron’s arms slide around her back and pull her closer, but she resists the impulse to entangle herself with him on the couch. “Of course not, but Gryffindor is the superior house in every way.” Hermione scoffs.
“That’s not a very diplomatic way of thinking.”
“And yet, here sit the Head Boy and Girl, both of Gryffindor. So explain that, brightest witch of our age.” He’s grinning at her now, and what’s left of her resolve is sure to crumble at any moment.
“You are absolutely insufferable,” she says, more to remind herself than to berate him. “You know that, right?”
“It’s part of my charm.” He leans up the miniscule amount required to brush his lips against her neck. “And you know you love it,” he adds, his voice low and husky against her ear. Involuntarily, a soft moan escapes Hermione as his hands find the gap between the hem of her shirt and the waistband of her skirt, his fingers just brushing the edge of her knickers.
“How much time do we have before dinner?” she asks breathily, her fingers digging into the knot of his tie and pulling to loosen it.
“Enough.” The way Ron nearly growls the word at her is her undoing, and Hermione hurries to close the gap between them, crashing her lips down to his. His tie hits the floor first, but the subsequent movement to undo the buttons of his uniform shirt is halted by his hands under her skirt, his fingers moving skillfully and distractingly against her—
Hermione woke with a gasp, sitting up as she frantically tried to make sense of her surroundings in the dark. The lingering pain against her throat and the sound of the crashing waves outside quickly reminded her where they were, and more importantly, why.
“ ‘ermione?” Ron’s sleepy voice sounded from somewhere to her left. “You alright?”
“Yes,” she sighed. She could feel her cheeks reddening at the memory of what she had been dreaming about and was suddenly grateful for the darkness of the room. “Yes, I’m fine. It was—just a dream.”
The chair creaked as Ron stood, and she could see him moving towards her, his tall frame dimly illuminated by the moonlight from the room’s only window. “Nightmare?” he asked softly as he sat down at the edge of her bed and reached for her hand.
“No, actually. We were...um.” She hesitated before revealing a true, but incomplete, account of her dream. “We were Head Boy and Girl. You and I.”
Ron laughed softly, his thumb brushing gently against the back of her hand. “Well, I believe half of that.”
“It’s silly. Sorry I woke you,” she said sheepishly.
“Don’t be sorry. Honestly, just happy to hear that you were dreaming about anything besides…” He trailed off, but he didn’t need to finish the sentence to make his meaning clear. She had been having nightmares about her torture since they arrived at Shell Cottage nearly a week ago now. “Well, was I a good Head Boy?” he asked teasingly.
She rolled her eyes at him as she had in her dream. “We were arguing about the validity of you giving detention to Ravenclaw’s best Quidditch player to keep him out of a match.”
“Let me guess, you weren’t in favor?” Hermione shook her head with a chuckle. “You must have really been giving me what-for, as flushed as your cheeks are,” Ron noted. Hermione reflexively pulled her hand from his to cover her face.
“Are they?” she asked, though she could feel the tell-tale heat under her palm. “Must have been madder at you than I thought.”
Ron smiled at her. “Sounds about right. Who won? The row, I mean.”
“Well, er…” Despite their growing closeness over the last week—closeness was an understatement, really; Ron had barely left her side—Hermione was hesitant to tell him what had really gotten her so worked up. After all, there had as yet been no kisses, certainly no wandering hands, and the feelings that she had long suspected, and harbored herself, were still no more than implied. But after what had happened, and what was still to come, how many chances were they really going to have? “Actually, I believe it was a tie. We got a bit...distracted.”
Ron’s eyes widened just slightly enough for her to realize that he understood what she hadn’t said. “Did we?” Hermione nodded.
“Do you think that...if there weren’t a war, that…” She trailed off and focused her eyes on the knit blanket that covered her, unable to meet his suddenly burning gaze. “Maybe this year would have been something like that?”
“I think that…” Ron scooted closer to her, and she felt her heart picking up speed. “War or no war, we could still have...something. Like that.”
Hermione nodded, and he was so close to her now that she could feel his breath against her lips. “Please,” she whispered.
Ron leaned forward to close the last of the distance between them, and his lips met hers for a long-awaited kiss. It was so gentle, compared to what they had been up to in her dream, but it still sent shivers all the way down to her toes. This, this one was perfect.
This one was real.
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