Chapter Text
Chapter One - Winter to Spring.
2002 - the year of 2002 was a complicated one for Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger to say the least. Will they make it to the end of the year together or alone?
It had started like any other New Year. Since the war, George had insisted that the whole family spend New Year's Eve at his. The year previously he had married Angelina Johnson so they had moved into a house not far from London so he could still commute to the joke shop.
Looking back to that night, Hermione concluded her doubts started that night. She was watching Ron set up the fireworks with George and Charlie. She stood clutching a glass of champagne and she started to glance at everyone.
Bill and Fleur would be married for five years that summer. Their first daughter would be two in May and was currently pregnant with their second child - who was due in weeks.
Percy, who after a long time, was warmly welcomed back into the family and had met his girlfriend, Audrey, on a family holiday two years ago.
Hermione’s eyes then fell on Harry and Ginny - who to her were the true definition of soulmates. Harry had proposed to Ginny on the day she received her NEWTs results and shocked most of the family when they married the following year on their second anniversary of being a couple. Ginny caught Hermione’s gaze and mouthed ‘are you okay?’. Hermione smiled and nodded. She then turned away.
She had learnt a long time ago not to compare herself to her sister. Ginny had made a beautiful bride at eighteen, nearly nineteen. It felt right for her. Hermione was not ready to be married. Not then anyways. And she was happy Ron felt the same.
She turned to her best friend of over eleven years and partner of nearly four years. She knew better than to think they needed to be something else. If marriage and children were going to happen, it would happen if it was meant to be.
All her thoughts disappeared as Ron walked over to her. He smiled at her and put an arm around her and kissed her.
‘You have your serious face on, what are you thinking about?’ he asked, looking down at her.
‘Nothing, I’m fine’ she replied and kissed him again.
***
Hermione did not have the thoughts again until the 1st February. Ginny had sent her a message to come over and help with Teddy and Victoire as Fleur had gone into labour. Ginny had a rare day off so agreed to take her niece as she already had Teddy. But with Teddy, being nearly four and Victoire nearly two, it was not a case of having two cute babies anymore. They were running a riot.
‘Hermione, is that you? I’m in the kitchen, ' Ginny called as she heard Hermione floo in. Hermione walked in to see the redhead making food.
‘Are you okay? She asked, half laughing and took off her coat.
‘No, I’ve let them in the garden though Ted was complaining it was too cold. They are less trouble out there’ Ginny sighed, stood for a moment and rubbed her head.
‘That bad, eh?’
‘Well Teddy was chasing Victoire up and down the stairs that she fell over and hit her head. She’s fine. One toddler is hard enough, two, urgh’
There was a taping on the window and I saw Bill and Fleur’s owl. Puck. Ginny squealed and jumped up. She went over and grabbed the letter the owl was carrying.
Another baby girl! Dominique Cedrella Weasley - born 01.02.2002. Weighing 7 pounds, 4 pounds. Could you please keep Victoire overnight? I’ll collect her in the morning. Love, Bill
‘It is a girl!’ Ginny said and passed Hermione the letter before grabbing a quill. Hermione passed the letter back and Ginny scribbled Congratulations! Sure thing. Get all the rest you can. I’m so happy for you. See you soon. Ginny x. The owl left as quickly as it came.
‘So exciting. This calls for a celebration’ she said and headed into the back of the kitchen. She returned with two bottles of firewhiskey.
As Hermione took the bottle from Ginny, the thoughts returned and sighed. Ginny called the kids in with a ‘I have some good news for you, Vic but you need to eat first’. She sat Teddy and Victoire down at the kitchen table and walked into the living room, leaving the kitchen door open.
‘Alright, what is eating away at you?’ Ginny asked as she sat down and took a sip of the alcohol.
Hermione did not know where to start. She knew what she should say but could not so instead asked ‘Have you and Harry spoken about when you’ll have kids?’
Ginny thought about the question for a moment ‘I mean, I have known I’ve always wanted kids young. I don’t want one tomorrow but I would like one in the next two years. After the war, we both agreed that we wanted kids within 5 years or so, so I think we are still on track’
‘But what about your career? You are doing so well!’
‘Oh come on, you are the last person who I thought would think that children would mean end of career’
‘No, I don’t mean that, I just thought you would put your career first’
‘Why can’t I have both? I don’t plan to be like my mum. God love her, but I am not becoming a stay at home wife and mother’
‘I suppose,’ Hermione said quietly.
Ginny cocked her head ‘Where is this coming from, Hermione?’
‘I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know where me and Ron are going. You’re married and you’re younger than us. Having children is definitely on the cards for you. We haven’t even had the conversation for ages’
‘Stop comparing yourself. You are on your own path. If you don’t want to get married or have kids yet, that is fine. You’re 22. Live your life if you want. Get married if that’s what you want. Or just carry on as you are. You and Ron are good. Why fix something if it isn’t broken?’
If only Hermione knew the conversation that Ron was having at that very moment with Harry.
It was a busy day at the auror office. Ron had left the year previously to help George with the shop but both him and Harry always made the effort to meet up at least once a week for lunch.
Harry noted Ron looked very nervous. He tried to ignore it as long as he could until Ron started tapping his foot on the table.
‘Alright, out with it. What is wrong?’ Harry asked him. They were in the Leaky Cauldron and had a private booth.
Ron looked around and leaned in. He went in his pocket and pulled out a small box. He placed it on the table and opened it.
Harry raised an eyebrow ‘I’m flattered, Ron, I am but you know I’m married to your sister right?’
‘Shut up! It is for Hermione obviously’
‘When did you have time to go ring shopping?’
‘I didn’t. When we were over at Hermione’s parents at Christmas, I wanted to do the right thing and ask her Dad. I was bricking it. Anyways, he said yes and then her mum came in and offered hers. I remembered that Ginny loves having your mum’s and George gave my mum’s to Angelina. It felt right when she offered me it. I am usually shit at this stuff so I wanted to get that right’ Ron replied and exhaled deeply.
‘I think that is great, mate, I really do. How do you plan to propose?’ Harry replied with a small smile and leaned across the table to place a hand on Ron’s shoulder.
‘I think just at the flat. I wanna go to that muggle champagne store she likes in Covent Garden and get the bottles she likes. I want to do it right’
‘You will. I believe in you’
‘Thanks, mate’
A few moments later, Ginny’s patronus came through the room to tell them about Dominique's arrival and how Victoire would be staying the night.
‘Come on, let's get you that champagne so I can get back to work and hopefully finish work early. Ginny is gonna need me tonight with them two.’
The scene was perfect at Ron and Hermione’s flat. They had moved in together after Hermione finished resitting seventh year despite both their mothers' protests about ‘living in sin’. They really did build the perfect life.
He placed the bucket of ice with the champagne down on the coffee table. It was next to a photo of them two years ago at Harry and Ginny’s wedding. They were happy and laughing. He picked it up and looked at it. Then looked up at the collage on the wall that Hermione had put together on their last anniversary.
The summer after the war was tough for them but they had gone to Australia to find her parents and lift the memory charm. They had a few nights in Sydney that were perfect and had slept together for the first time there. There was a photo of them outside the Opera house. Photos from the family holiday they took to Saint Tropez. The double date travel trip - as Ginny called it and made Harry and Hermione roll their eyes but smile at the time - to Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome and more after the girls had graduated. So many memories. This all feels so fucking right Ron thought to himself.
He still was not sure what he was going to do. Half an hour later, Hermione came through the door and she seemed annoyed. Great, this is not good Ron thought to himself.
‘We are not and I stress, we are not having kids for the longest time. Teddy was sick all over me then so was Victoire. I need the longest bath’ Hermione sighed and took off her jacket. She sighed and took off her shoes. She did not take in her surroundings and headed straight to the bathroom.
‘No kids for a while okay but what about… other things?’ Ron called out. Now, he was worried and scared.
‘I think we are good aren’t we?’ Hermione popped her head around the door of the living room. She then noticed the champagne ‘oh, you went to Covent garden? I do love you’ she walked over the bucket and took the bottle before walking back to the bathroom.
Ron had never felt so stupid in his life and he had done some pretty stupid in his life.
‘Are you joining me?’ Hermione called from the bathroom.
Ron did not think about proposing again and winter turned to Spring. The couple grew more apart. Hermione was spending more time at the ministry as she started to work in law enforcement. She was coming home later and later and Ron did not know whether he was coming or going. She had also taken to sleeping on the sofa if she came home late. Ron felt like they were heading to the end.
Both Harry and Ginny had noticed the tenison and had agreed it was time to stage an intervention. If they were being honest, they did not have the time. It was nearly Teddy’s fourth birthday and they had agreed to plan the party. Harry was working overtime and Ginny was training for the new season but they agreed that their siblings needed their help.
Ginny had claimed she needed help with a girls issue at her house whilst Harry said he wanted some help with the final touches to Teddy’s party. Ginny was pacing up and down the kitchen.
‘Please sit down, darling. It is going to be okay. We will help them,’ Harry told her and walked over to her. He pulled her into a hug. She nodded then sat down.
Hermione arrived first and a few moments later, Harry walked in with Ron.
Hermione tutted and sighed ‘What is this?’
‘This is an intervention. I mean, me and Harry used to joke when we were teenagers we were going to have to lock you in a room until you admit your feelings for each other but this is a little different and more complicated. We wanna help’ Ginny said
‘There is nothing wrong!’ Hermione exclaimed.
‘Bullshit!’ Ron scoffed. They were all now sitting. Harry and Ginny on one side then Ron and Hermione on another.
‘Okay, Ron, why don’t you tell Hermione what you are feeling?’ Harry said, calmly.
‘Fine. Hermione, you have been acting differently. You have been working more which is fine. We are all making our way and our careers but you come in and sleep on the sofa’
‘Because I have been working late and I don’t want to wake you’ Hermione replied
‘I don’t care! I want you to!’ Ron told her and gestured his frustration.
‘Fine, Harry, when you come in late from a mission, do you sleep downstairs or go upstairs to Ginny?’ Hermione turned to her best friend.
‘I am really not the best person to answer that question’ Harry quickly replied.
‘Just answer the question’
He sighed ‘Well, I just sleep better with Ginny than I do… alone’
‘And Ginny does it bother you that Harry wakes you?’ Ron asked desperately.
‘Not really’ his sister replied, quietly. He clapped his hands together then leaned back in his chair.
‘Thanks, sis. But that isn’t the only thing. She doesn’t talk to me. I know she is a driven woman, that is one of the reasons I love her but it is like she is in a relationship with her job, not me. I can’t remember the last time we hung out just us or the last time we had sex or-’
‘Of course, you would bring that up. Sex doesn’t define a relationship’
‘We haven’t had sex since the start of March! We aren’t married or have kids. There is no reason we haven’t done it in nearly two months if you’re pulling away from me’
‘Harry, Ginny, does sex define your marriage?’ Hermione suddenly turned to them.
They both went red and shared a look of discomfort.
Ginny replied after a moment ‘We are different. We are both Leos. Passionate people. Just different’
Ron had also started to look uncomfortable at the direction it was going. Harry turned to Ginny and mouthed ‘ You’re using our star signs right now?’. She shrugged.
‘Okay, when did you last have sex then?’ Hermione questioned and raised an eyebrow.
‘Hermione, we don’t need to know that!’ Ron exclaimed and pulled a face of disgust.
‘No, clearly it does. If you think us not having sex defines our relationship, it is a reasonable question’
‘Hermione….’
‘No, Ginny, go on, tell us’
‘This morning’ Ginny said after a moment and then sighed.
‘And it is regular?’ Hermione then asked. Ginny and Harry both nodded.
‘See! They are busy people and still have time to… do it’ Ron said. Ginny could tell it took him a lot to admit that in a sentence.
‘Your morning shower. That is a good way…. To fit it in. And it saves water,’ She then said. Harry gave his wife a look of disbelief and she shrugged.
‘Hermione hates shower sex’ Ron muttered and crossed his arms.
‘Right, can we get off the topic of sex please? There is obviously more going on here’ Harry sighed. He was starting to think the whole thing was a bad idea.
‘Yeah, the only thing Hermione wants to commit to is her job and I am not going to take it anymore’ Ron replied and stood up.
‘And what does that mean, Ronald Weasley?’ Hermione exclaimed and stood up too.
‘Well, it is clear you don’t want to be together anymore so why are we?’
‘Woah, woah, calm down’ Ginny said in a panic tone.
‘Fine. I should have known a bit of trouble and you’ll be running. Maybe it is better if we break up!’ Hermione said and then stormed off. She apparated out of the Potter household.
Ron stared at the spot she had just left. Ginny and Harry were both left speechless over what had just happened.