Work Text:
Hermione arrived early at the station, wanting to experience every single second of her journey into the world of magic. The instructions she’d received in the letter were clear—platform nine and three-quarters was what the ink detailed out. She’d memorized the letter, and had spent weeks pouring over her magical textbooks in order to be ready for this day.
She’d bid goodbye to her busy parents already, and was now staring up at the wayfinding signs above her, amidst the hustle and bustle of the hectic September morning at the station. She could see platforms nine and ten respectively, but nothing in-between.
Puzzled, she furiously looked around for anything indicating where she was supposed to go. She even asked a station employee for help. He simply scoffed and stalked away, complaining loudly about kids and their stupid pranks all morning.
Miffed at the lack of assistance, she stuck her nose in the air and pushed her cart to the side and away from the foot traffic. She stared with narrowed eyes at the area between the platforms for an answer to be revealed. This allowed her to study the people in the vicinity. She was great at studying.
Her eyes were drawn to a family of redheads, with carts and trunks, just like hers. Her spirits raised as she observed them. They seemed to know what to do! She watched as two of the boys, who looked identical, suddenly ran forward and disappeared from view.
Where had they gone? Hermione kept watching.
A black-haired boy who looked just as lost as she felt was receiving instruction from the older lady, likely the mother of the brood. He took off at a run, and much like the other redheaded boys she’d seen, he was there one second, and gone the next. She wouldn’t have even noticed if she hadn’t been keenly staring at them.
Based on her observations, running toward that wall seemed to be the key. She hoped there wasn’t some kind of magic word or spell that needed to be said, but she decided to try. Gathering her wits, she pushed her cart forward at a dead run, passing the remaining redheaded boy and girl, still on the platform.
The wall loomed large, and Hermione panicked, steering away at the last second and crashing into a nearby rubbish bin, sending her sprawling and upending her cart.
Passers-by scowled and fired dirty looks her way, her cheeks burning from the unwanted attention. A freckled arm blocked her vision, leading to an equally freckled face and wide, bright blue eyes.
“Are you alright?”
She stared at him for a moment, mesmerized, before taking the proffered hand of the ginger-haired boy she’d seen earlier. She pulled herself up, quickly letting go of him to brush the dust off her clothes and pat down her bushy hair. The boy dragged her trunk back onto her cart in the meantime.
“I’m Ron.”
She was in a daze, but spotted the wand sticking out of his pants pocket. “Ron… Wizard?”
He chuckled and flashed her a crooked grin. “Weasley, actually. Ron Weasley.”
She couldn’t help but smile, feeling at ease for the first time that morning. “I’m Hermione.”
“Hermione Witch?” he teased.
She rolled her eyes. “Hermione Granger.”
“You must be a Muggleborn.”
She nodded, recognizing the term from her reading and from the whirlwind of information Professor McGonagall had given her a few weeks prior.
Ron’s mum had bustled over with her daughter in tow. “Are you alright dear? Trouble getting onto the platform?”
Hermione nodded, and the girl looked at her curiously. Ron interjected. “This is my mum and my only sister, Ginny. I’m sure you’ll meet some of my other brothers soon, there are three of them at Hogwarts currently, and six of us boys in total.”
She introduced herself as people swirled around them, overwhelming her with everything going on. She tried to maintain her composure. “I-I saw you help that other student with black hair, but I’m a little worried about running through a wall.”
“It’s painless,” Molly reassured her. “My Ronnie can help you, won’t you?”
Ron nodded. “C’mon then, don’t want to be late or the good spots will be taken.”
She looked aghast. She never planned to be late for anything, though she wrung her hands with indecision. “Y-Yes, we should go.”
“Why don’t I take your cart first,” Ron offered, “and then I can help you through? My mum can bring my stuff.”
Before she could say a word, the lanky boy grabbed her cart and ran for the wall. She visibly cringed as he was about to collide with the cement, but then he vanished. A minute later, he reappeared.
“Easy peasy.” He grinned at her and held out his hand once again. She felt a slight tremble as she grasped his grip. He gave her a gentle squeeze and she felt her nerves calm. Perhaps it was a spell or something.
“Ready?”
Hermione nodded, and they took off in a run toward the wall. She closed her eyes at the last second and held him tightly, but he never let go as he pulled her through. She felt a whooshing sensation, then a slight breeze of entering a much larger area. Hearing the noise of a thousand voices, she opened her eyes and was greeted with a packed platform, full of sights and wonders foreign to her. People in all sorts of wild outfits, kids and adults alike, animals in cages, and trunks everywhere.
Her eyes landed on a deep scarlet steam engine, which stood gleaming on the platform, filling up with students. She stared all around her in astonishment. “Wow!”
Ron’s voice cut through the noise. “It’s pretty neat, eh? I’ve been here loads of times with my brothers. It’s finally my turn to go to Hogwarts.”
She realized that they were still holding hands, and she blushed. He glanced down and let go, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
“Thank you, Ron.”
“It was no trouble.”
Mrs. Weasley appeared pushing Ron’s cart, with Ginny in tow. “Don’t forget your things, Ron.”
“I won’t, Mum.”
Ron bid goodbye to his sister, before giving his mother a quick hug. His mum weepily kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair.
Hermione stifled a giggle as Ron’s face wrinkled in disgust, before he turned to her.
“Wanna go find a seat?”
She nodded, her excitement building as she entered this world, already having made her first friend.
Hermione saw a lot of new things that day; she experienced magic and felt a sense of belonging that she didn’t know she’d been searching for. But the thing she remembered the most was the reassuring squeeze of Ron’s hand.
~*~
From that day on, they were inseparable. They made fast friends with Harry on the train, and surviving the adventures they had growing up only brought them closer. Their relationship had its fair share of misunderstandings, arguments, fights, and jealousies, but despite that, they made it through the war, together.
“What are you thinking about, darling?”
Hermione looked at her father, a knowing smile on his face. She returned it, even though her cheeks had already started hurting from smiling so much. She couldn’t help it.
“Just everything that brought us to this day.”
He chuckled. “When you wrote to tell us about your new best friends, I never thought you’d end up marrying one of them.”
She shrugged. “You know it’s always been Ron, ever since that first day.”
“Indeed, dear. I know how much he means to you… and you to him. Speaking of which, my soon-to-be son-in-law has made a request. He wants you to close your eyes when I walk you down the aisle.”
She flashed her father a suspicious look, but complied, slipping her arm through his as music floated in their direction. “Lead the way.”
They stepped forward slowly, Hermione followed her father’s lead as her white dress flowed around her ankles from the breeze in the garden. It was a beautiful summer afternoon at the Burrow.
They finally came to a stop. “Open your eyes, Hermione.”
Rather than meeting him at the end of the aisle, her redheaded, tuxedo-clad fiancé was awaiting her at the start of the aisle. Behind him, a shimmering wall stood, blocking off their guests. A perfect replica of the barrier at King’s Cross where they’d first met.
She laughed in delight, instantly recognizing the spells he’d used to create the illusion. A far cry from the first time she’d seen said wall.
Ron shook his head in disbelief and beamed at her. “You look bloody incredible. I can’t wait to marry you, love.”
Hermione could feel herself starting to tear up as reality caught up to her. She thought it would happen during the vows, but seeing her best friend and love of her life there, ready for the next phase of their life together, brought it on.
Her father pressed his handkerchief into her hands and she quickly dabbed away the beads of liquid, before returning the cloth to him. “Thanks, Dad.”
Mr. Granger pulled her into a gentle hug and kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy for you. For both of you.”
She nodded, and watched as Ron and her dad embraced.
After they broke apart, Ron held out his hand to her, like he had many times before. Flashes of memories ran through her mind's eye.
That first time at King’s Cross.
Too many hospital visits to count.
When they entered the Yule Ball together, finally acknowledging what was building between them.
When they shared their first kiss after Slughorn’s party.
When he held her after being tortured.
When he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
Now, on their wedding day.
“Ready?”
She broke out of her recollections and grasped his larger hand, feeling the comfortable safety and warmth he always provided, that spark of something so magical. Their fingers intertwined naturally.
Rather than running, they strode purposely toward the wall. As they passed through it, Ron squeezed her hand again. The illusion dissolved around them, revealing rows of friends and family cheering, hollering, and clapping as they walked down the aisle.
They waved and nodded at their loved ones, before taking their place in front of the officiant. Their bridesmaids and groomsmen, headed by Harry and Ginny, stood to the side as they turned to each other. She reached for his other hand and this time, she squeezed it.
“I love you,” Hermione mouthed to him.
“I love you,” Ron mouthed back and smiled.