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May 10th 1998..
Hermione flew out to Australia, with Harry accompanying her, Ron had family issues to deal with. They tracked down her parents quite quickly and after a difficult couple of days following the restoration of their memories, Hermione introduced her, not my boyfriend, friend Harry Potter to her Parents. The boy that had featured in every letter home she had ever written. They decided that long term they would stay in Australia, but that they would fly home for a brief visit to settle any outstanding affairs in the UK, and have the chance to meet up with Hermione’s actual boyfriend, Ron. It took them a few weeks to organise.
July 8th 1998. Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
They had booked a table at a decent restaurant not far from their house, and Emma and Dan stood to greet the young man that accompanied their daughter to the table. Handshakes were exchanged and they sat down at the table.
“What would you like to drink, Ron?” Dan asked.
“Err, a butterbeer thanks.”
“Ron, this is a muggle restaurant, they will not have butterbeer, order something else.” Hermione whispered.
“Alright, keep your hair on Herms, I will have a cider then.”
They ordered drinks and passed the menus around, Dan looked at Ron. “So was it you who saved our girl in the first year, in that incident in the school at Halloween.”
“Yeah, that was me, levitated the club and knocked out the troll.” He smiled and looked at Hermione, who was staring at her parents.
Emma asked, “that was very brave of you at that age, and all on your own?”
“Well no Harry was there, as well.”
“Hardly surprising, he is a bit of a trouble magnet, I hear.”
“Well, it was Harry that spotted Hermione was missing, and he dragged me off to find her, we were both scared stiff and just standing and he jumped on the Troll and poked his wand up it’s nose to give Herms a chance to run.”
“Why was Hermione in that toilet in the first place?” Dan asked.
“She was upset, she was having a girlie moment about something I said in passing, and was sulking in the toilets.”
“I was not sulking Ronald, you called me names, I was crying, I had decided to leave Hogwarts, but Harry dragged you to find me and I realised I had at least one friend in the school.”
“Alright, Herms, I get it,” He drank some of his cider.
The aperitifs were served, Ron ate half the plate and drank the rest of his cider. Hermione was becoming a little unhappy, and concerned as to where this might lead, Ron asked for another pint of cider.
“What about that huge snake in the second year?” Emma enquired.
“That Basilisk, That was scary, it was huge.”
“It petrified Hermione for how long?
“Three months mother, you know all this, what are you playing at?”
“I'm just getting to know your young man, dear. So Ron, did you visit Hermione in the Hospital? When she was in a coma, for want of a better description.
“Yeah, a couple of times, she was out of it, so there wasn’t any point.”
“Did anyone visit her?”
“Well Harry, he was mental, he sat and read to her for an hour or so every night. Barking.”
“What happened to the basilisk in the end.”
“We killed it, Harry and me, saved Ginny my sister’s life.”
“That was very brave, how big was it?”
“Errm, I think it was about sixty feet, I got trapped, Harry fought it alone in the end.”
“Alone, he must be a powerful magician?”
“No, he used a sword. He got bitten as well, nearly died. He is mental.”
Hermione was staring at her mother, “Have some more wine Hermione, it’s very nice.”
The starters were placed at the table and Ron started on his immediately, having cleared his plate by the time Hermione’s seared scallops arrived, he promptly took one off her plate and ate it.
“Were you part of the Great escape in their third year?” Dan asked.
“No father, Ron was injured, it was Harry and I that rescued Sirius.”
“What about that man who was your pet, what happened to him?”
“He died at Malfoy manor, when Harry and I rescued Herms from Bellatrix.”
Was he the one behind this whole Dark Lord thing, where Harry got dragged into that ridiculous Tournament in the fourth year?”
“Yeah, I guess so. He resurrected You-know-who,”
Emma finished her starter, “You must have been surprised when Harry’s name was drawn, I bet he was scared, and needed his friends around him.”
“Yeah, he was trapped in it I guess.”
“So why did you turn against Harry and Hermione for so long, they needed their friend. You must have said something spectacular by way of apologising?”
“Nah, no need really, Harry was OK about it?”
“The same as when you abandoned them in the tent, was he OK about that as well?”
Ron paused, “I was injured,”
“Hungry?” suggested Dan
“Frightened?” Emma.
“What are you two doing?” Hermione asked.
“Getting to know the man you have introduced Hermione. Ron, if you and Hermione become husband and wife, where will you live?”
“Probably at the Burrow to start with until we get our own place?”
“Do you have a job at the moment, or are you returning to that school again?”
“I am going to work with my brother, he has his own business, so Hermione will not need to work, she can stay home and look after our children.”
Emma looked at her daughter, “What if Hermione wants a career for herself.”
“Why, she will be a wife and a mother, what else would she want?”
The Waiter cleared their plates and Ron got another pint of cider. The mains came out, and this time Ron’s plate was last so he didn’t start early.
“Did you go to that Ball they had in the fourth year?”
“Mmm, mm.” Ron nodded as he ate.
“Did you ask Hermione to go?”
“Yeah, but she was already going with Krum.”
“Was he the sport star?”
“Yeah, he’s world famous, imagine a world-famous sports star asking Herms. Mental.”
Emma looked at her daughter, Hermione’s face was no longer angry, but sad. “You said, ‘you’re a girl Hermione’. I would have gone on my own rather than with you after that statement, Ronald.”
“Did you at least dance with Hermione?”
“You think Krum was Mental? I rather think my daughter is beautiful, Ron and Viktor still keeps in touch. I don’t remember many letters from you when she was recovering from that disaster fighting in the Ministry.” Emma said sharply.
“No, well we was told not to write, in case anything got intercepted.”
“Ah, yes, the great Dumbledore, he treated your friend Harry really well didn’t he. That family that abused him for most of his life, you saw what they did, couldn’t you help?” Dan said coldly.
“Harry was safe there, that’s what we were told.”
“The story he told me was one of almost constant neglect and abuse, and the one friend that knew said nothing? Hermione went ballistic when she discovered how he was treated, and after the last of his family died in front of him, did you call around?”
“No we were told not to.” Ron’s face was flushed.
“Hermione tried, she was too ill to travel, but she sent letters.”
“Well she would, always was a goody two shoes, Harry was fine. He is always fine.” His face was set in a stubborn mask.
Dan regarded Ron cooly, “He has PTSD, he is not fine. He does not trust people, so he says he is fine, when he is not. He might be fine one day if he gets the support he needs. Hermione is also suffering from the trauma they faced, torture, starvation, sleep deprivation. You, on the other hand, look relaxed and well fed.”
“Ere what you getting at?” His ears were red now.
Emma looked at Ron, “Have you ever apologised to either Harry or Hermione for abandoning them in the tent?”
“I don’t need to. Herms doesn’t mind, she knows it was the Horcrux, and the splinch.” Ron was spluttering.
Hermione spoke quietly. “I would like to hear a genuine apology Ron, you would have been fixed from the splinch within an hour, a day at most, and you could have brought us food. We nearly starved to death, we were frozen to the core most of the time and we got two or three hours sleep a night if we were lucky. It was endless and you sat at Shell Cottage stuffing your face.”
“Harry said it was OK.” His lips were set in a line.
“You had Godric’s sword in your hands, a basilisk venom infused blade, one touch is certain death, and you were having a temper strop because you thought we had become lovers. Harry told you he thought of me like a sister to calm you down. We were alone together for five months Ron. You abandoned us. You abandoned me, you left me crying, alone, with Harry to pick up the pieces, what do you think happened? how do you think we kept warm at night?” She glared at him.
Ron jumped to his feet sending the remaining drinks flying, “I knew it, I knew you were with him, couldn’t keep your knickers on around the great bloody Harry Potter, could you? It’s always him isn’t it? you always choose him.” He stormed out of the restaurant. Hermione did a quick bit of magic and fixed the table, before dropping her head into her hands and crying.
Emma looked at her crestfallen daughter, “Sorry love, but Ronald is not the man you should spend your life with, is he?”
Hermione sniffed into her napkin and shook her head, “Harry is with Ginny, I lost him.”
Dan reached across the table and took her hand, “No pumpkin, he is not. They did not get back together. I asked him straight out. He thinks you want Ronald rather than him and the silly boy is stepping aside for your happiness. The pair of you are ’mental’ as your, I hope, now ex-boyfriend would say. Call Harry, be honest with him, he loves you.”
“Does he?”
“He followed you to the other side of the world Hermione, he is devoted to you. Call him.”
“I don’t know how? I don’t know where he is?” her tears came hot and wet rolling down her cheeks
He waved the waiter over and as the girls collected their things he settled the bill, Emma wrapped her daughter in a hug and the three of them slipped out of the restaurant and Dan drove them home. Hermione ran upstairs and disappeared into her room.
Dan pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, and scrolling through the contacts set it ringing, “Harry, yeah, it’s Dan. Ron blew up, yeah.”
“No. He is not the man for my daughter, I cannot stand by and watch her wreck her life.”........ “She needs you kiddo.”.......“Let her sleep on it, we are going to bed now, we will see you in the morning.”.......“Yeah.”.......“Good. See you then.”
Hermione laid in her bed, her mind in turmoil. Her parents clearly did not approve of Ron, no they clearly did not like Ron, they did not think he was good enough for her. They did not think he was right for her. She thought of all the times Ron made her cry, took her for granted, never did anything just for her. Never put her needs above his own, and how he never genuinely apologised, or showed any regret for hurting her. She thought of all the times she followed Harry, supported him, helped him, put him first above everyone and everything. She knew she loved him, but she didn’t think he loved her, Harry had never told her that he loved her. Was her father right, was he being noble. It was exactly the sort of thing he would do. Maybe it was time for her to be brave, and ask him if he loved her. If he could love her. She eventually fell asleep having cried herself out.
The following morning her mother called her down to breakfast, sat her down and poured her a cup of tea. “It will be alright, darling. Just you see, it will be alright.” Hermione sat and numbly chewed a piece of toast.
A little while later as she sat watching a random film on the TV, curled up on the sofa hugging a cushion, the doorbell rang, “Can you get that Hermione?” Emma shouted from the kitchen. Hermione walked into the hall and opened the door on auto-pilot. Standing in front of her, concern written over his face, was Harry.
Hermione flew into his arms and broke into sobs, Emma walked into the hallway and ushered everyone into the lounge. Harry sat on the couch with Hermione crying into his shoulder, Emma looked in on them, “We are going for a walk. You two need to talk, and be honest with each other. Everyone can see how much you both love each other, do not sacrifice your own lives for people that do not deserve it. I will see you both later.”
“Was it bad?” Harry asked softly as she cried into his chest. She nodded. “What did he say?”
“It was my parents, they just kept asking Ron about all the times he abandoned one of us.”
Harry stroked her back, “well there is plenty of that to go at, loyalty is not his best attribute, is it?”
Hermione shook her head, face still buried on Harry’s shirt, “I might have told him we slept together in the tent.”
Harry laughed, “That would set him off, I imagine. Did he believe it was just for warmth?”
“I didn’t tell him that bit. I am horrible, I deliberately pushed his buttons.” Hermione curled her fingers into Harry’s shirt.
“Do you still want to marry him?”
“No.” shaking her head into his shoulder.
“Do you still love him?”
“I don’t think I ever really did.”
“Why go out with him then?”
“Because I, I don’t know. Are you going to marry Ginny?”
“No, I am not with Ginny. She keeps telling people we are getting back together, but I don’t feel anything for her. She kissed me after the battle, I felt nothing.”
“Why don’t you love her anymore?”
“Because I think I am madly in love with someone else.”
“Do I know her?” she sniffed. Her stroked her hair and held her to his chest. He took a deep breath.
“I think so, she is called Hermione Granger. It took her father talking me through things to realise that I cannot imagine my life without her by my side. That my feelings for her are way stronger than friendship. I mean, Luna is my friend, I am very fond of Luna. In a way I love her. My feelings for Hermione are on a completely different level, If I love Luna, then I am in love with Hermione Granger. I just hope she feels the same way.
“She does. She loves you. She always has. Ever since that Troll. She doesn't think she is good enough for you.”
“Then she is being silly, when you talk to her next, tell her she is the most beautiful person that I know, inside and out. Tell her that I love her, that I always have.”
“I will, she might not believe me.”
“What will it take to convince her?”
“Maybe if you kissed her?”
“If you think that would work?”
“I do.”
Hermione looked up into his face and he leaned forward, their lips met and Harry could taste the saltiness of her tears, he felt the softness of her lips. He didn’t push, but her lips parted and her hand reached around his head and pulled him into her. He sucked gently on her bottom lip and kissed her longingly. Hermione let out a long shuddering breath. “Mmmm, tell me you love me again, Harry.”
“Hermione Granger. I love you. I always have. I always will. Some distant day I will marry you, if you will have me, and we will have a family and a home together.”
She huffed, “Harry James Potter. You are such a monumental prat. I have been waiting for years to hear you say those words. I had completely given up on ever hearing them from you. All this time together wasted.” She kissed him again, softly and tenderly. “I love you. Of course I will marry you. Not this week, not this year, but a family with you sounds like a dream come true. We deserve a little happiness.”
“Did you just say yes to getting married?”
“Yes. After I get my degree.”
“Engaged then?”
“I suppose so. Mum will be happy. I should tell her.”
“When she gets back?”
“I am surprised she isn’t listening at the door.”
Harry wriggled around on the sofa and pulled a small box out of his jeans’ pocket. “You had better put this on then, if you like it?”
Hermione’s eyes went wide, “Harree! You have a ring? How long? When did you get it.” She sat back looking concerned, “Who did you buy it for?”
Harry smiled and opened the box. “It was my mother’s, I picked it up from the vault before we left for Australia, but you were still fixated on Ron, so I didn’t dare ask. Your dad saw the box in my case one day when you were out with your mother, it started the whole conversation, and he made me see the truth. If I was happy for you to be with Ron, why had I brought a ring with me. This ring is for you, and only you.” She lifted the ring and inspected it, a large sapphire, surrounded by diamonds on a white metal band, it was exquisite.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I can get you a new one of you prefer?”
“No, this is perfect,” a tear ran down her cheek. Harry took her hand and slipped it onto her finger. They kissed.
Behind them a champagne cork popped, and Emma shakily said, “That is exactly what I prayed for. Well done Harry. Welcome to the family.”
“Mother!” Hermione shrieked. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to hear that you two have finally figured out what the world already knew.” She walked around the sofa and pulled her daughter into a hug. “Thank you Harry, for saving my daughter, one last time.”
“She saved my sorry life more than once, I would not be alive without Hermione. I am pretty much useless without her.”
“Nevertheless, the idiot we encountered last night was not fit for my girl.” Dan spoke as he handed out the champagne flutes. “Well done Harry, thank you for stepping up again.”
“It is no hardship, burying my feelings was hard, this is easy.”
Emma had Hermione’s hand in hers, “Harry, where did this ring come from?”
“It’s a family heirloom, it was my mothers, but I don’t think it was new for her. It is goblin made, quite old.”
“It is magnificent. It must be worth a fortune.”
“She’s worth it.” Harry shrugged and grinned.
Emma looked at her daughter’s tear-stained face, “Sorry about last night, but we could not sit back and let you ruin your life with that idiot because you two were both too noble to tell each other how you really feel.”
“I know, I am not angry with you. I feel a bit foolish.”
“Don’t. Be happy. You are wearing the ring of the man you have talked to me about since the first time you came home from that school. I always expected to welcome Harry into our life as our son-in-law. Either that or console you at the idiot’s funeral.” She laughed. “Sorry.”
They chinked glasses and took a small sip of champagne.
Hermione settled back onto the sofa and curled into Harry’s side. “How do I tell Ron?”
Dan spoke up, “Don’t. Come back to Australia with us, finish your schooling there, let these idiots sort their own lives, you two have done enough. Let the adults finish it off. Make a fresh start, without having to look over your shoulder every minute.”
Emma smiled, “Is there really anything keeping you here Harry?”
“Teddy. I can ask Andromeda if she fancies a move. She has nothing here. No family.”
“You have a teddy?”
“My godson. His parents died in the last battle. Andromeda is his grandmother, I promised to be there for him so he has a father figure.”
“I am his godmother, I have the same obligation, honestly.” Hermione added
“I should really tell Ron to his face,” Harry said.
Dan answered. “Why? You are being noble again. He is a fair-weather friend, send him a letter from Australia, let him have his temper tantrums, and his strops. If he grows up and still wants to be your friends, he can visit. If you are coming back with us, why put yourself through it, for someone you may never see again?”
“It feels like the coward’s way out.”
“No, there is no upside to telling him to his face. From what we know and saw, he is selfish, and jealous. He has a temper and little restraint. If you tell him to his face, that Hermione is going to marry you not him, and you have no interest in his sister, what will the outcome be? He isn’t going to shake your hand and congratulate you is he?”
Harry shook his head. “No you are right.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, “If we leave, I will send him an owl the day we fly.”
Hermione rubbed her head on Harry’s shoulder. “I think Australia sounds like a good idea. You could learn to surf. You could teach Teddy when he is older. No one there will know his dad was a werewolf, and they won’t care.”
“Australia then. When do you fly back?”
“Next Wednesday. Can you be ready by then?”
“I can be ready in an hour. I don’t have anything to bring.”
“You need to tell Andi. That has to be face to face.”
“We need to tell her. We should go see her this afternoon, I imagine she will need a little time to get sorted if she decides to come with us.” Hermione nodded.
December 26th 2006. Burleigh Pavillion, Gold Coast, Australia.
The family sat on the beach watching Harry and eight-year-old Teddy surfing in kids corner. Andi sat with Emma and Dan, Hermione was rubbing sun tan lotion into her daughter’s legs and arms, three year old Violet was squirming and wanted to run into the surf. Emma had the Potter’s one year old son James laid next to her in the shade of their umbrella. Sat under their umbrella Neville and his family were visiting, Parvati was having the same wrestle with her son Henry, four weeks older than Violet. As soon as they were released the pair of youngsters ran for the waves, Neville stood and walked down to the water to watch over them.
Parva smiled across at Hermione. “I can see why you and Harry stayed here. It’s beautiful.”
Hermione smiled, “We did actually pop back for two weeks, but we decided to make our lives here.”
Parva slipped her big sunglasses on, “How can I persuade Nev to make the same choice?”
“I am sure you can think of some reward?” she smiled.
“We saw Ginny last month, she still plays for the Harpies, and is soooo embarrassed if you mention Ron. She disowned him you know. She actually sent her best wishes,” she shrugged, “He is still going on about how Harry and you betrayed him, how you should be his. Did you know George kicked him out of the business a couple of years ago, for stealing form the takings.” Hermione’s eyes registered some surprise, “It’s true, he works at the Chudley Cannons, looks after their kit I think, he looks like a tramp. Who else, ooh, Luna is married, Rolf Scamander, I got a letter.”
“We went to the wedding, he is as spacey as she is. I was her maid of Honour, Harry walked her to the alter. It was a brilliant day and we love them both dearly, daft as bats both of them.”
“Neville tells me Minerva is looking for staff, she wants to retire. She sends her regards. She wanted you and Harry at Hogwarts, but accepts the weather out here is difficult to compete with.”
“What is more important to both of us, is almost no-one has a clue about our past. Harry has a bit of a local accent now, and Teddy sounds like he was born here. We are just a couple of people in the crowd. I love my job at the university library, and I am working on a PhD in literary studies, in my spare time. Harry just had a promotion, he has moved up a grade, he loves his healer position at the local Hospital, he works with Andromeda some days, and my parents have an orthodontics clinic once a week in the mundane side of the practice. We have very happy lives here.”
“You both look so happy. I am so glad you realised that you two were right for each other, we girls worried Harry would never ask you out and you would go off with Ron in desperation.”
“I nearly did. My parents staged an intervention and basically made me realise what life with Ron would be like and got Harry and I to say out loud how we felt about each other. I dread to think where we would be if they hadn’t acted.