Just Let Me Be

Last night we went to bed not talking, 'cuz we'd already said too much.

"Ronald Weasley, I cannot believe you! I told you just this morning that Mike was forbidden to see that girl! She's no good, I tell you! When I went out to Muggle London, I saw her smoking with a couple of Muggle boys!" roared Hermione Weasley, Ron's wife of sixteen years. He looked down his long, thin nose at his tiny wife. He was surprised that such a tremendous amount of noise could come out of someone so little.

"Well, err... Hermione, dear, he just told me that she was a friend of-"

"I don't care if she was a friend of Merlin himself! I told you this morning that-"

"He's forbidden to see her. I know, and I'm sorry. But you knew I was running late for work, and the Ministry can't afford anyone being late, not with You-Know-Who's followers still running about. I was preoccupied, and you know it!" countered Ron, who was, as he'd done many times in his youth, going as red as his hair.

"Well, I'm going to bed now," Hermione stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs to their room. Ron heard the door slam behind her and winced as he heard glass shatter. 'There goes the lamp!' he thought. He heard Hermione say something that sounded like "Reparo!"

*~*~*~*

I faced the wall, you faced the window, bound and determined not to touch.

Ron climbed into bed, desperately trying to speak to Hermione, but she had refused to speak to him since their argument in the kitchen earlier that evening.

"'Mione, please, just talk to me!" he exclaimed.

Hermione, who was facing towards Ron, then rolled over, and tried to pretend she was sleeping.

"Hermione, that wall can't be anymore interesting than I am right now. Please!" he continued. He finally just gave up, and rolled over to face away from the stubborn, bushy haired woman that knew how to frustrate him to no end.

*~*~*~*

We've been married 7 years now, but some days it feels like 21.

Hermione lay there in bed next to Ron, and although she wanted nothing more than to speak to him, for the moment, she couldn't, because she was trying to prove a point. Of course, she had no clue what that was, but she had to, nonetheless. Her thoughts began to drift. She found herself thinking of how long they'd been married, but how much longer it felt. Finally, after she had pondered this awhile, she fell asleep to the steady, rhythmic sound of Ron's breathing.

*~*~*~*

I'm still mad at you this morning, coffee's ready if you want some.

Ron awoke to the sound of shower water running and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

"'Mione?" he muttered.

"Coffee's ready. Get some if you want it," she said before walking into the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

'Oh, great. She's still mad at me!' He rolled over and climbed out of bed. He went to the closet and pulled out a pair of jeans. He pulled them on and then walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs, past the family portraits and the individual portraits of his 15 year old son, Michael Joseph Weasley, his 11 year old son, Jonathan Alan Weasley, and their 8 year old sister, Annika Rose Weasley, who was named after two of Ron and Hermione's friends from Hogwarts - Annika Strumfeld, and Rose Bluereed.

"Good morning, Daddy!" Annika cheerfully said, as her brothers both muttered a quick hello, as they walked to the door.

"Where might you two be going?" Ron asked his sons.

"We're going to practice a little quidditch. Uncle Fred and Uncle George owled and asked if we wanted to play, and they got Uncle Harry and Uncle Charlie to play too!" Jon exclaimed.

"Why don't I come too, so you have a keeper?" Annika asked.

"We don't want you to get hurt," Mike answered simply.

"You can go with them, and Fred and George will make sure you don't get hurt," Ron said to his young daughter. He turned to face his sons. "And you two will watch out for her as well. You don't have to stop her from playing with you just to keep her safe. Who knows? Maybe if you guys practice with her, she'll get to be a first year quidditch player, like your Uncle Harry!"

"Okay, Dad. Thanks," Mike muttered.

"Thank you, Daddy!" Annika exclaimed.

He looked at his children, all of which had the Weasley hair, and smiled. He poured himself a cup of coffee, and sat down next to Annika.

"Daddy, will you come and play with us?" Annika asked.

"Well, sure. Lemme finish my coffee, and I'll go get a shirt and my shoes on. Go grab your brooms and fly over to Uncle Harry's house. I'll meet you all there after I'm ready. I might be awhile, because I need to speak with your mother," Ron answered.

As his children walked out the door, Ron ascended up the stairs to the bedroom. Hermione was still in the shower. He went to the dresser and pulled out a Chudley Cannons T-shirt. They had been his favorite team since he could remember. He pulled on his socks and shoes, then went back to the broom cupboard to get his Lighteningbolt, the newest broom yet, and left for Harry's.

*~*~*~*

I've been up since 5, thinking 'bout me and you and I've gotta tell you, the conclusion I've come to... I'll never leave, I'll never stray, my love for you will never change, but I ain't ready to make up, we'll get around to that. I think I'm right, I think you're wrong; I'll probably give in before long. Please don't make me smile, I just wanna be mad for awhile.

Hermione came out of the bathroom half-expecting to see Ron sitting on the bed, waiting for her to get done. She donned her robe, and wrapped her towel around her hair as she walked down the stairs to get breakfast. When she got to the refrigerator, she found a magnet picture of her and Ron at their wedding. The couple in the picture were waving at her with so much enthusiasm and happiness. Under the magnet, she found a note to her from Jon.

Hey, Mom,

Dad, Mike, Annie, and I went to Uncle Harry's to play quidditch. We need 6 more players to play a real game, and we were going to get Uncle Percy, Aunt Penny, Aunt Ginny, Uncle Bill, Aunt Angelina, and you to play! Please come and join us. Bye!

Jon

P.S. Make up with Dad. Mike, Annie, and I all heard you yelling last night, and I know you're still mad at him. Besides, teammates shouldn't be mad at each other. That's right, you're on Dad's team.

Jon.

'Oh great, looks like I have to come!' Hermione thought. She poured a cup of coffee and drank it down quickly. She went back upstairs, put on something she could easily fly in, and went back downstairs and grabbed her broom. She never had been too fond of flying, but Ron taught her how to fly and how to play quidditch. She walked outside, mounted her broom, and flew off, not worrying about being seen by Muggles, since the closest ones lived 5 miles away anyway.

*~*~*~*

"Mommy! Now we can play!" Annie squealed joyfully.

"Hold on, sweetie. I have to talk to your father," Hermione said, trying to get Ron's attention.

"Well, these new quaffles are pretty cool-looking, but how do we know they're as easy to lay with? I mean-" said Harry, being interrupted by Ron.

"Hold on, Harry. Hermione's here, and I need to talk to her," Ron explained.

"Hermione's here? OH! Hermione's here! Hey, 'Mione!" Harry said waving. "Guess we can have that game now."

"Not quite yet, just hold on," Ron told his best friend and brother-in-law.

Ron walked up to Hermione. "We need to talk. Wanna go inside?"

*~*~*~*

For now you might as well forget it, don't run your fingers through my hair.

"Yes, Ron, let's go inside," Hermione muttered coldly.

Ron wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist, but she wriggled away.

"I'm a big girl, and I don't need help going inside!" she said, angrily.

"All right, all right. Sheesh!" Ron exclaimed.

They walked into Harry's and Ginny's house to see their nephew Sirius James Potter, and their nieces, Lily Anne, Jessica Molly, and Kristine Ariana Potter. They were all talking while Kristine and Lily played Wizard Chess and Sirius and Jessica played Exploding Snap.

Ron walked over to his sister and hugged her, while all the kids shouted their greetings which were jumbled together and impossible to understand.

"Ginny, it's a bit loud in here. You wouldn't mind if Hermione and I went upstairs to talk, would you?" Ron asked.

"Oh, sure! Go on up!" Ginny said.

*~*~*~*

Yeah that's right, I'm being stubborn, no, I don't wanna go back upstairs. I'm gonna leave for work without a goodbye kiss, but as I'm driving off, just remember this:

"Hermione, please!" Ron pleaded.

"No! I- I have to go get some... err...MILK! We're out of milk! I'm going to go get some! Bye!" Hermione said before running out. Ron watched her mount her broom and fly off.

"Ginny, do you think you could get Sirius and Lily to play in for me and 'Mione?" Ron asked his younger sister.

"Oh, sure thing! Sirius! Lily! Wanna play quidditch with your cousins?"

"Which ones?" Sirius asked, sounding bored.

"Mike, Jon, and Annie," replied their mother.

"Oh, of course! Let's go get our brooms, Lil!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I'm reserve seeker for either team!" yelled Jessica.

"I'll be reserve beater!" yelled Kristine, almost twice as loud.

"Alright, kids, go help your father organize teams, and I'll be out in a moment. Remind him that I'm not going to go easy on him!" Ginny said, winking.

Ron watched his nephew and nieces all walk out to help their dad. He couldn't help but chuckle at his little sister's comment. He followed them out, and mounted his broom, following Hermione.

*~*~*~*

Hermione got back as quickly as she could. She knew Ron would follow her. She just did. She wanted to talk to him, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She ran into the house and put her broom away. She needed to think. She went into the kitchen, and instead of turning on the Wizard radio that Mrs. Weasley had given to her, she pulled out the Muggle radio Ron had given to her instead. She particularly liked the country station, and immediately tuned the radio to it.

"I'll never leave, I'll never stray, my love for you will never change, but I ain't ready to make up, we'll get around to that. I think I'm right, I think you're wrong; I'll probably give in before long. Please don't make me smile, I just wanna be mad for awhile."

'That's exactly how I feel!' thought Hermione. 'I really need to talk to Ron now.'

Just at that moment, Ron threw open the door, looking exhausted. "'Mione, please. We need to talk."

Trying to hold back a smile, she mumbled, "I just wanna be mad for awhile."

"Well, 'Mione, I don't want you to be mad. Will you forgive me?" asked Ron, with a slight puppy-dog pout.

"No," said Hermione firmly. "I still want to be-"

Ron cut her off and pulled her into a deep kiss. Afterwards, he took her hand and led her into the living room. They sat down on the couch.

"Now do you want to be mad?" Ron asked, sounding slightly amused.

"No," she said, running her hand through his thick, red hair. She kissed him very deeply, all the while thinking, 'I should do this again, if this is what I get from it! Hmmm...That song had the word "ain't" in it... That's so not grammatically correct!'