Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ron quietly cracked open the door to Hermione's room at Shell Cottage. He wasn't supposed to go in the room but he was worried about his friend. He swore He had heard her screaming. He cracked the door enough for him to stick his head inside the room.

Ron silently thanked Merlin when he saw the bushy hair that had to belong to Hermione get blown as she breathed softly. He'd been so scared that he had lost her  just days ago that just seeing her breath made his heart skip.

He took a step back and slowly began to pull the door shut. He must've been hearing things.

"Wait," came a soft voice. Ron froze in place. He figured it was Hermione who spoke but his hand still instinctively dropped to his wand pocket.

"Ron?" Said the voice again. This time, Ron knew for sure it was Hermione. He slowly reopened the door to see Hermione sitting up slightly in her bed. Ron took a step into the room then shut the door behind him.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione questioned, her voice was stronger but she still whispered.

"I thought I heard you screaming or something. You aren't having nightmares are you?" Ron stepped closer to her bed, as he asked, something in Hermione seemed to break. He sat down on her bed and Hermione jumped into his arms, wrapping hers around his neck in softly weeping into his jumper with a large R on it.

Ron was never good at comforting people, but with Hermione it seemed to come naturally. He softly stroked her bushy hair, letting her cry herself out.

After a few moments Hermione looked up at Ron, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Please don't leave me." Hermione spoke so quietly Ron barely heard it.

Ron felt tears in his own eyes, he knew the word again was unspoken, he still felt the weight of it. He had left her once and it was the biggest mistake of his life. He could never do it again. "Of course I'll stay," Ron replied in a whisper. Bill and Fluer would be angry with him but he couldn't leave Hermione like this.

"Do you want to tell me about them?" Ron asked, softly rubbing her back. Hermione's head was buried in his shoulder, he could feel her shake her head. "Ah, alright."

Hermione lifted her head, her fingers messing with a lose thread on Ron's jumper. "Thank you." She whispered back, her eyes trained on the thread.

Ron smiled down at Hermione. "You're really always prepared. This is my favorite jumper, mostly because my mum made it just for me. It wasn't something handed down, its mine, y'know?" Ron said as he watched Hermione twist her small finger around the thread.

"It isn't the only thing that's yours." Hermione said, her and Ron's eyes met for a moment before she dropped hers back to the thread.

Ron wanted to question what Hermione ment. He thought it might not be the best time and instead changed the subject. He didn't want a row with her while she was in this state.

"Why don't you lay down, I can sit on the ground till you fall back asleep." Ron asked as he loosened his arms that had been wrapped tightly around Hermione. She nodded, slowly removing herself from Ron. Ron stood up, pulling the covers over Hermione. He backed up and sat with his back against the wall.

Ron almost nodded off a few times but was determined to stay awake. He squinted at his watch, trying to figure out what time it was. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the covers moving. He then saw Hermione's small frame curl up next to him. He put an arm around her.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked, he felt Hermione shiver next to him. "You're freezing!" He quickly pulled his jumper over his head, handing it to Hermione. She put it on, leaning on Ron's shoulder.

"I'm afraid to go back to sleep." She said softly.

"I'm right here, I'll keep you safe." Ron whispered back to her.

***

Harry shoved his glasses onto his face the next morning. He looked around the room and was immediately on edge when he saw Ron's bed empty. He grabbed his wand, racing into Hermione's room to see if she was still there. Harry pushed open the door just to sigh in relief. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the ground. Ron's back was to the wall, Hermione curled in his lap with his arms around her. The most shocking part was that Hermione was wearing Ron's sweater that his mother had made for him. Ron was always overly protective of them, barely letting anyone touch them, nevertheless wear them. Harry shook his head as he stepped out of the room.

"It's about time."

Chapter Text

Hermione apparated silently into a small alley with practiced ease. She trudged along the alley, irritably flicking snowflakes away from her face with her wand. People at the Ministry has heavily angered her. All she wanted to do was see Ron.

It didn't take long with her brisk pace for Hermione to arrive at the door to their home. She reached for the knob, thanking Merlin when it opened without her having to find her key.

Hermione went inside the small cottage. Her took her shoes off by the door and silently cursed the coat rack that was too high for her to reach. She laid her coat on the table then started to her and Ron's bedroom.

Ron suddenly walked into the kitchen where Hermione was. He was muttering to himself while he buttoned a suit jacket. The jacket went well with the rest of what he was wearing. He had in a dark blue suit and a black tie. Hermione's eyes drifted down his body to his feet, which were strangely bare.

"Where could you be going that you need to wear a suit and no shoes?" Hermione asked hotly.

Ron looked up and smiled at his wife's hotheadedness. "The living room." He said coolly. Ron stretched his hand out to Hermione. She took to and have him a small smile.

He lead them into the living room. Hermione gasped softly, the room was empty except for a floating record player. It was softly lit with floating balls of lights. "Ron! You really didn't have to do this."

Ron smiled and shook his head. "Of course I didn't have to, I wanted to. Besides, I had help from our two lovely, amazing children."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "Since when do you call them 'lovely' and 'amazing '?"

"It was in the fine print of our agreement."

"Agreement?"

"Your daughter refused to do anything unless we all had written terms." Ron chuckled.

"Smart girl." Hermione remarked.

"Isn't she?" Ron lead her farther into the room. Hermione felt something like grass under her feet. "Just like you." Ron pulled his wand out of his suit jacket and flicked it at the record player. It began playing a song.

Ron stuck his wand back into his jacket. He pulled Hermione close to him, putting on hand on her hip and intertwining his other hand with hers. "I heard this beautiful muggle song on the radio the other day."

The song began, Hermione could see Ron's lips pull into a smile before he started singing along.

"I found a love, for me. Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead." Ron sang as he and Hermione danced slowly. "Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet. Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me."

"'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love. Not knowing what it was." Hermione laughed softly, remembering all the years in Hogwarts they were both to stubborn to admit their feelings. "I will not give you up this time. But darling, just kiss me slow. Your heart is all I own. And in your eyes, you're holding mine."

"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark. With you between my arms. Barefoot on the grass. Listening to our favourite song. When you said you looked a mess." Ron lifted his hand over Hermione's head and spun her around. "I whispered underneath my breath. But you heard it. Darling, you look perfect tonight."

"Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know." Ron raised her eyebrows pointedly at Hermione. "She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home. I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets. To carry love, to carry children of our own."

"We are still kids, but we're so in love. Fighting against all odds. I know we'll be alright this time." Hermione sighed and smiled widely. "Darling, just hold my hand. Be my girl, I'll be your man. I see my future in your eyes."

"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark. With you between my arms. Barefoot on the grass. Listening to our favourite song. When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful." Ron lifted his hand over Hermione's head and spun her around again, pulling her closer to him this time. "I don't deserve this. Darling, you look perfect tonight."

There was a pause in the music, Hermione pulled Ron in and kissed him.

The parted just in time for Ron to finish the song. The two continued to sway with the music. "Baby, I'm dancing in the dark. With you between my arms. Barefoot on the grass. Listening to our favorite song. I have faith in what I see. Now I know I have met an angel in person. And she looks perfect."

Ron dipped Hermione back slowly. "I don't deserve this. You look perfect tonight." He pulled his wife back on her feet.I

"I love you Ron." Hermione said, touching her palm to Ron's face.

"I love you too 'Mione." Ron said before catching her lips.

Chapter Text

A/N: I always love a seasonal fic.

"Knight to E6." Hermione said her voice wavering a bit as she squinted at the pieces.

It was Christmas day and somehow Ron had convinced Hermione to play chess with him. Of course, Ron only wanted to because he knew how much it got to her that he was better at something that takes brains. They sat in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place, both quietly focused on the game while the rest of Ron's family - and Harry - talked around the fireplace.

"Pawn to E6, come on Hermione that was clear as day!" Ron playfully poked fun at his friend. He realized how concentrated she was on the game by the fact she didn't retaliate. Ron's eyes bounced between the board and Hermione's face. Her eyes were squinted and she was softly chewing her lip. The sound of her fingers drumming on the table filled the room.

"Rook to D3." Hermione said smugly. "Check."

Ron had been so focused on Hermione he hadn't planned his next move. "Err King to uh B4." His King have him a glaring look before taking its newfound place on the chess board. When he looked up from the board his and Hermione's eyes met for a moment, he had never noticed before how she hand a ring of light brown surrounding her pupil, distinguishing it from her dark brown iris. It was the kind of difference that you wouldn't notice from far away. Her eyes wrinkled up as she smiled at him.

"Are to sure you want to move there?" She asked, a hint of mocking in her voice.

"Yeah, yeah, your turn." Ron brushed off Hermione's comment.

"Bishop to E7." She leaned over the board with a huge grin on her face. "Check again Ronald."

"That's rubbish!" Ron muttered as he assessed the board. His King was jumping around madly, swearing in protest. "Ah king to C5." His King crosses its arms, shaking it head and refusing to move. "Go on!" Ron says, gesturing with his hand to the space he indicated. His king slowly sauntered over to the square. Ron looked back up at Hermione who was now wearing a mad grin. Her smile was much nicer now that her teeth were fixed.

"Maybe you should listen to your king." Hermione said cheekily. "Rook to C7, Checkmate."

"What?" Ron exclaimed, he drew his eyes away from Hermione and down to the board. Hermione had indeed won the game. "I let you win. It's gentlemen thing to do after all." He quickly stated. Hermione sarcastically nodded, the grin not leaving her face.

"Oh bugger off!" Ron scowled as he threw his hands in the air. Hermione stood up from the table, checking her watch. Ron took the moment to look around the room, during their match it seems everyone had left, off to bed supposedly. He too stood up, beginning to pick up the chess pieces.

"I'd better get to bed, you too." Hermione stated, she walked closer to Ron and standing on her tip-toes, kissed his cheek softly. "Happy Christmas Ron."

Ron stood completely still for a moment, unsure of what had just happened. This must be a dream, there's no way Hermione beat him in chess and kissed him again. "Err happy Christmas to you too 'Mione." He stuttered before shaking his head and returning to setting his chess pieces in their case. Hermione have him a soft smile as she put Bill's pieces in their case.