Just a Wizard

Chapter Twenty

Hermione turned and stared up at the tall man, frowning in confusion when Ginny gasped. Then the man put a hand out and motioned for them to hold on while he spoke into his shell phone.

He chuckled as he looked down at the two girls, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Ginny.

"Yeah, right here. Mmm-hmm. Oh yeah, you are dead right about that. What do you want me to do?" He listened for a while and nodded, his eyes briefly lifting and staring at Hermione, which made her feel uncomfortable for some reason. "Okay, no problem, I'll give Jasper a call, he'll be off duty soon and he can handle the... er... package."

He disconnected from whoever he had been speaking to and held up one finger to them, indicating he wouldn't be long, then he dialled a number and had a brief conversation with someone. Hermione looked at Ginny and wondered why she looked so pale.

"Who is he?"

Ginny shook her head. "You don't want to know, believe me."

When he had finished he grabbed Hermione's wrist, making her start to panic, and then he snapped a pair of muggle handcuffs on her, attaching the other end to Ginny's wrist. Hermione's wide eyes shot up to the big mans, seeing him smile kindly at her.

"What....what are you doing?" she asked, tugging experimentally at the metal cuffs but finding them immovable.

"Just doing what my cousin asked miss, sorry about this," he replied and shrugged. He grabbed the chain between the cuffs and started tugging the two girls towards a hardware store, taking them inside despite their attempts to pull away from him.

Hermione's mouth fell open as she watched him attach another set of cuffs to a long metal bar running the length of the counter, effectively trapping them there, and she suddenly realised who he was. Well, Ron had said he had family who lived in town, he just hadn't said who. She couldn't believe her bad luck.

"You let me out of these, right now!" she demanded as stridently as she could when he had walked behind the counter, but all she got was a set of arched eyebrows and a grin.

"Can't do that Missy. You just cool your heels there for a while, then Jasper will take you home," he said, as if this was an everyday occurrence. "And you should know better Ginny!"

Ginny looked down at her feet, but she didn't say a word.

"Who's Jasper?" Hermione asked, looking from Ginny to the tall man again.

"He's my brother, and he's an Auror, so I'd behave when he gets here if I were you," he told her, starting to go about his business again as if she weren't there.

She tapped her fingers on the counter and chewed on her lip. Great. Ron was going to murder her, and his cousins were going to help him do it. She slumped against the counter as she thought about it, any false bravado she had leaving her and a shudder running through her.

"Hey, now, Missy, don't you worry. Ron's bark is far worse than his bite," the owner said, watching her worried expression. She looked up at him and frowned in confusion.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Jobe Prewett, miss, but everyone hereabouts calls me JP. Pleased to meet you," he said, smiling and grabbing her free hand to shake it enthusiastically. "And you must be Hermione. Ron told me a bit about you when we last spoke." His eyes lifted from hers when he heard the door open and a man walked in, similar in size and looks to himself.

"Hey JP, this her?" he asked, nodding to Hermione, and sending a narrow eyed look to Ginny, who was starting to feel like a parcel that had been left behind.

"Yeah, this is her. Ron's description didn't do her justice did it?"

The two men stood looking down at her and she found herself blushing at the intensity of their gazes, embarrassed that they were examining her.

"Not at all. Pretty as a picture," the one called Jasper murmured, smiling, "but also a law breaker?" Hermione's mouth fell open at his words. Oh Merlin, he was going to arrest her.

"Yeah, these two pretty much stole Harry Potter's truck," JP told him, sounding highly amused.

"Theft?" Jasper asked, staring at her with a frown. "You know I'm legally obliged to write this up?" he asked them, folding his arms over his chest and looking just like Ron did in that position. Hermione swallowed nervously and nodded, dropping her eyes. "Since I'm officially off duty and you are a good friend of my cousin's, I guess I can overlook it this once," he said, surprising her into looking up again. "But if you don't behave yourself while we're waiting for Ron, then I will arrest you. Understand?"

She nodded again and watched as he unlocked the handcuffs, freeing her wrist. He stood back and watched her for a few seconds, as if waiting to see if she'd run away or not, nodding when she didn't.

"You should be ashamed of yourself Ginny! Corrupting another witch!" he told her.

Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically. "She hardly corrupted me!" she shrieked. "I do have my own mind you know. Ronald Weasley is NOT the boss of me!"

The tall man quirked a curious eyebrow, then shook his head. "Come on, miss, and I'll see you back home. Got the keys Ginny?" He took them out of the other girls nerveless fingers as she held them out to him. "I'll apparate back," he said to his brother, grinning.

"No problem, bro, see ya later. Ginny, Miss," he said politely, nodding as Jasper dragged them both out of the store with one big hand under each elbow. Hermione found herself easily bundled into the passenger seat of the truck with Ginny whilst Jasper started the engine and drove them silently back to Ron's home.

Ron had ended the call and gone back to overseeing the autograph signing, standing there for the best part of two hours, his mind going over all the inventive things he could do to teach her a lesson. He sat down and stretched as the long line of people finally ended and Carter sat next to him, grinning.

"Guess you're going to have fun when you get home, right?" he asked.

"I don't think Hermione will think so," Ron replied, still feeling furious that not only had she gone out, but she had actually stolen Harry's truck. "It's about time I showed her who's boss."

"And how are you going to do that, exactly?" Carter asked, pursing his lips as the team walked away from the signing tables finally. "I really don't think she's going to agree with you."

"Do you really need to ask?" Harry muttered, his face a study of fury.

"What would you do in my place?" Ron asked, raising one eyebrow as he stared at the man who had become a good friend over the years.

"I'd beat her rear end until it was scarlet," Carter replied, chuckling at Ron's angry expression. "Oh I see. Poor Hermione."

"Poor Hermione, my arse. Stealing his bloody truck, lying to me, cutting me off... she used to be so sweet..." Ron was still muttering when he grabbed his cloak and raced out to his bike, Harry close on his heels, both of them eager to get home and confront the two girls. He could hear Carter laughing behind him as he revved the engine and roared away from the Canon Bowl.

Hermione nervously fiddled with the gold chain hanging around her neck as she sat opposite Jasper, Ron's cousin. They had arrived home twenty minutes ago and she hadn't known whether or not to move from the room. He had conjured tea for them both and had tried to converse with her, but she was so worried about what would happen when Ron got back that she couldn't talk. Ginny had been dropped at her house with strict instructions to stay there, and she had apologized to Hermione before she scurried indoors.

"Didn't you think that Ron might get mad if he found out about your little escapade?" he asked her, sitting back comfortably in his chair.

She shrugged jerkily. "I wanted to surprise him, but in all honesty he can't simply demand that I obey him either. I am my own person," she said absently.

"I see... well, I think you sure as hell managed to surprise him, but maybe not in the way you were intending to. I brought all your stuff indoors, was that the surprise?"

"I was going to make his favourite dinner for him," she said, trying to still the overwhelming need to run away.

"I see," Jasper said, twisting his lips thoughtfully. "That's nice, I guess, but what possessed you to take Harry's truck? No one ever drives his truck but him anyway."

That just made her feel worse, although she couldn't image Harry ever getting mad at her, she was his best mate too.

"I promised I wouldn't take a cab," she said, as if that explained everything.

He seemed to understand her. "So by taking Harry's truck, you weren't breaking any promises? Didn't it occur to you that you'd be breaking Ron's trust instead? He isn't happy with you, and I can't say that I blame him."

"I know, seems like he's only happy when he's bossing me around," she said, her voice a whisper where her mouth had gone dry. She took a quick sip of the rapidly cooling tea and set her mug down. "Do you mind if I go upstairs?" she asked.

He raised an eyebrow and nodded. "I don't mind at all. As long as you don't try and run off somewhere?"

"I won't," she said and left the room. She couldn't keep her mind off what he would be like when he got home and she decided that, despite the fact that she was going to get shouted at, and she fully intended on shouting back, but in the mean time she may as well keep her mind occupied and sort out his closet for him, having noticed previously that it was in a complete state. The mind numbing monotony of the job did just what she had hoped and she started to lose some of her trepidation. Hermione was beginning to think that Ron only liked having her around because she'd been so submissive.

After an hour she had completely sorted through his clothes, everything in order and neatly put away. She glanced at the bedside clock and realised how much time had passed... and how soon Ron could be home. Her heart starting thumping in her chest again in fear, Ron wouldn't hurt her she kept repeating to herself, he hadn't before. But people change and she hadn't made him this mad before. Hermione was determined that if push came to shove she'd be shoving back with just as much force. He'd said before he'd wanted the 'old' Hermione back. All of a sudden the house felt confining and she had to get outside. She flew silently down the stairs and made her way out to the kitchen, intending to go out the back door and take a walk around the land, just to help clear her mind.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jasper asked, standing just inside the kitchen with a magazine in his hands.

"I... just... I just wanted to walk for a while," she said, one hand on the door handle, ready to go outside.

"Okay, well, judging from what you told me earlier, you don't break promises, so promise me you won't leave the grounds," he said, waiting for her to answer.

"I promise," she said dutifully and rushed out of the door at his nod, running down to what she knew would become a favourite place of hers, a spot next to the lake underneath the branches of a huge tree. She sank down to the ground with her back against the bark and watched the fish rising to catch any errant bugs that landed on the water's surface.

She had no idea how long she had been sitting there when she became aware of the sound of an engine approaching from the distance, finally recognising it as that of a motorbike. She only wished she had asked Ron if she could go with him today, then she wouldn't be in her current predicament. The bike slowed and then stopped, and she knew it was the two wizards come back.

Ron put his bike away in the garage and strode into the house with Harry, seeing his cousin Jasper sitting in the kitchen reading a magazine on charming muggle cars.

"Hey Jasper, how are you doing?"

"Just fine, mate, just fine. Seems you two have a little problem?" he said, grinning at them as they shook hands.

"Yeah we sure do. It's a little problem I can't wait to straighten out," Ron grumbled, raising his eyebrows questioningly. "Thanks for bringing them back. Where are they?"

"Your little lady is out the back somewhere. Don't worry," he said, seeing the look on Ron's face, "I made her promise not to leave the grounds. Seems she can keep a promise, even if she has a strange way of going about it." He stood up and stretched, throwing the magazine back on the kitchen table as he looked at Harry. "I don't know which one you want to get your hands on, but I'm pretty much betting it's Ginny?"

Harry nodded, smiling grimly. "Oh, yeah, she's the one I need to have a talk with. Where is she, with Hermione?"

Jasper shook his head. "She's in her house, with strict instructions not to even attempt setting foot outside her door. Now, I am starving for my dinner, so I'll be off. Oh, and just one thing," he said turning back to face Ron, "go easy on them both, they're a lot smaller than you and they're scared."

"They're scared? Good, they should be scared!" Harry snapped, frowning fiercely as he thought about his truck.

"Yeah, maybe they should. That doesn't mean you should give them reason to justify that fear, okay?"

"Ah hell, we won't beat them up or anything! Why is everyone so goddamn protective of those two?" Ron muttered.

"Because, having met Hermione, I know that she's too sweet a little thing to be going with a monster like you, that's why!" Jasper shot at him, grinning. "Well, what are you going to do then? Slap her on the wrist and tell her not to do it again?" Jasper asked, grinning at the image that popped into his head.

"Oh, I'll be using a spanking hex, but it won't be on the damn wrist, I was thinking of somewhere a little more southerly!" Ron growled, and Harry echoed his sentiment, not waiting around any longer and leaving the house.

Jasper laughed and clapped Ron on the shoulder. "Alright, mate. Well, I'll see you soon okay? Maybe I can bring Chloe over to meet you, you haven't met her yet."

"Chloe huh? That your new girl?" Ron asked, a smile reluctantly pulling at his lips.

"Yeah, and she's real cute, so keep your eyes off her!" Jasper said.

"Strange thing, but I have a precious Greek goddess all my own," Ron explained, then frowned. "Now get the hell out of my house so I can get on with business!"

Jasper laughed and left, not in the least bit insulted, and Ron stood patiently waiting until he was sure the man had apparated. His anger had only abated slightly since he had found out about her disobeying him, and now he would finally have a chance to vent it. He walked out of the back door, slamming it hard behind him, his narrowed eyes scanning the surrounding land for any sign of her. He shouted her name and waited, but no sound returned. Damn it, he thought, she would pay even more for making him come after her! He strode out of the garden and down through the land until he saw her sitting curled up against a tree on the other side of the lake. He saw her raise her eyes and jump when she saw him and she shakily pulled herself up, her hands resting against the tree as if it could save her. Well, it can't, he thought grimly, marching around the expanse of water and watching her back up rapidly as he closed in on her. Her fear got the better of her and she turned tail and ran.

Ron would have laughed at her antics had he not been so furious. He caught up with her in two strides and spun her around to face him, glowering down at her from his superior height.

"You want to explain what the hell you think you were doing?" he yelled as she tried to draw away from him, his temper getting the better of him.

Hermione flinched when he yelled, her mouth drying out in fear and her body starting to really quake as she waited for him to vent his formidable anger on her. She couldn't answer him and she saw his eyes narrow at her continued silence, his hands releasing her to clench into fists.

"No answer huh?" he said through gritted teeth, glaring at her as she backed up again. "Get over here!" he bellowed, pointing in front of him and waiting. When she hesitantly, and quite obviously reluctantly, did as she was told, he grabbed her arm and hauled her along next to him as he marched back to the house. "I told you not to leave, and not only do you disobey me but you have the nerve steal Harry's truck and then lie about it! You will learn a hard lesson Hermione," he said, dragging her through the house and into his study, where he stood breathing heavily as he finally looked down at her, suddenly really seeing her fear.

He loosened his grip on her arm and watched as she backed quickly away from him, heading for the corner of the room. His anger was still in partial control and he walked slowly forwards, stalking her and making her back up even more until the wall stopped her. Her eyes wouldn't meet his and she looked down, staring at her feet, her bottom lip trembling.

She knew from past experience that begging didn't help, nothing she said would steer him from his course of action and so she stayed silent, seeing the floor shimmer as her eyes filled with tears. She had never imagined that he would ever make her feel this way, but she quickly resigned herself to it, so it was something of a shock when his hand lifted and gently nudged her chin up.

Ron winced when he saw her face, saw the tears she couldn't contain and the way she was shuddering. "Nothing to say?" he asked, his voice soft now but still with a slight edge, indicating he could be pushed over it easily. He almost pulled her close to him and cuddled her, but he fought the impulse. What she had done was wrong, he reminded himself, and it didn't matter whom she was or how much she meant to him, she wasn't going to get away with it. He was convinced of that until she spoke.

She took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking on the word as a tear ran down her cheek and she shrank back against the wall, trying to make herself as small a target as possible.

He grimaced and hauled her up against him, tucking her head on his shoulder as he carried her over to his big chair and sat down in it.

"Dammit, love, I'm not going to hurt you!"

"You're mad at me," she said in a small voice, unable to still her shaking or stop her tears.

"Of course I'm mad at you, but that doesn't mean I'm going to beat on you. Not all men hit. What you did was wrong. No, not just wrong, it was also illegal. If you'd been caught the muggle police would have arrested you, and there's nothing I could have done to help you, plus Merlin knows what else could have happened! You should count yourself lucky that I thought to have Jobe and Jasper keep hold of you!" He was talking sharply now, angry at her still. "What if you'd had an accident?"

Hermione sniffed and wiped at her eyes, not looking at him. "I'd...I'd have paid for Harry's truck to be fixed," she said, thinking logically.

"I don't give a damn about the truck!" he said, his voice getting louder as he pulled her face away from his shoulder so he could glare at her. "The truck could have blown up for all I care, it's you I'm worried about! You could have been hurt, you stupid, irresponsible, child!"

Hermione felt her mouth dry out again at his visible anger, but she managed to whisper, "I'm not a child."

"If you act like one, I'll treat you like one!" he snapped, his eyes narrowing again. "Do you admit that what you did was wrong?" She nodded dumbly, finding it difficult to breathe. "And do you think that you should be punished for it?" She sat with her mouth hanging open dumbly. How did she answer that one? He grabbed her chin and made her look at him. "Well?"

"I...no. Harry's my friend too... Why couldn't I - " she intoned fiercely, swallowing the huge lump in her throat.

"Why? One, you don't have a driver's license and two, you didn't even ask permission. You just assumed it wouldn't matter." he said and lifted her up as his anger at her question got the better of him. One minute she was on his lap the next she was face down over his legs, her rump in the air and his hand pressing on her back.

"What...?" she gasped and then went stiff when a spell was spoken and yelped as she felt that invisible hand come down on her backside. Pain and heat bloomed out on her soft flesh as it happened again, and she struggled violently, unable to move herself off his legs because of the big hand holding her down. The spell slapped again, and then again, not stopping until he had counted out twelve strokes and then pulled her up. Her face was red and she had more tears on it, her eyes looking hurt and angry at the same time as she glared at him.

"Anything to say now?" he asked her, watching as she moved quickly away from him, one small hand moving to her backside to rub it gingerly.

"You said you wouldn't beat me. You're a bully!" she said, her voice trembling.

"I didn't lay a hand on you Hermione, but you damn well deserved that and you know it! Tell me it didn't teach you a lesson, tell me you'll disobey me again," he demanded, coming to his feet to stalk her again. "Which reminds me, I'll be looking at Harry's truck soon and if it has a mark on it, I'll be doing that again. Don't say I didn't warn you! Merlin, even Lavender never pushed me this far!"

Her mouth dropped open at the hurtful comment and she reacted without thinking, her hand shooting up to hit him hard across his face as she snapped out, "don't you dare compare me to her!" Her slap had enough force and anger behind it to whip his head sideways, not having expected the move. He didn't give her time to worry about his reaction, or even to get scared at all by her own behaviour, his hands shooting out and grabbing her shoulders so he could give her a hard shake.

"Believe me, there's absolutely no comparison! She behaved better than you do!" he shouted, hauling her back over to the chair and intending to pull her across his lap again.

Hermione's eyes nearly bugged out of her head and she struggled furiously.

"Let me go! You... you bastard...!" she shrieked.

"Watch your language, you little shrew!" he snapped, still trying to gain control over her. "I told you that I wouldn't let you get away with slapping me again!"

Suddenly Hermione overcame her fear and growled, lashing out violently, she hit in the stomach hard enough to bend him double, what happened next was so quick he didn't have time to react; a sharp kick to the shin and his legs being swept out from under him so that he landed with a hard thud on his back smacking his head on the hard wood floor where it made a loud cracking sound causing a burst of light in front of his eyes. Ron shook his head, trying to regain focus, blinking a few times before the image of this small woman came into view above him, her wand fixed on his chest.

"I wish Lavender was still here giving you fits! No wonder she went off with someone else if this is how you treat people!" she snapped, glaring dangerously.

"And no wonder Castleton did that to you if you acted like this!" he shot right back, enraged beyond belief at what she had said, but grimacing at the pain in his now throbbing head. He was impressed with what she'd done despite the fact that he was at the receiving end of it. It was clear to Ron now, that Hermione had been holding back all this time. She was not the weak and fragile girl he'd believed her to be.

Ron watched as her face went stark white at his words as she pulled herself up to her full height "I never should've taken you back... I should've... When Lavender told me what you two did... I didn't believe her but now..." Hermione watched in horror as Ron's face drained of all colour at her words. Her eyes grew wide. "It's true." She whispered, her heart shattering in her chest before bellowing two hexes at him. Between the shock of being spanked repeatedly, and having his ear twisted painfully, he noticed through watery eyes a second later she was turning and running out of the room and leaving him with the spells to continue their work.

She went straight to their bedroom and slammed and locked the door, throwing herself on the bed and laying there, crying her eyes out, as she felt the pain from the spanking hex throb in her muscles, the pain from his words, and guilty expression much worse to endure. She hated him, she decided, trying not to feel guilty at what she had said and done, knowing that she had hurt his feelings and he was being consumed by the very spell he'd used at this very moment. She hadn't meant it, but he wouldn't know that. Now she was left to wonder if he meant the nasty words he had said to her as well, and her mind muddled around trying to work it all out as she tried to get comfortable.

This was the first time she had felt unwelcome in his house or in his company, and she hated the feeling. It made her want to leave and, before she gave it any more thought, she pulled her suitcase out from the wardrobe and started throwing her clothes in it. When she had finished she sat down on the bed and bit her lip, thinking about the meal she had wanted to start earlier. She couldn't even go and do that now, not with him in such a temper, and it wasn't like he would come looking for her to see what she was doing, not now that she'd broken his trust in her. Sure he'd broken hers as well, but Hermione had a feeling she didn't know the whole truth about what had really happened between Ron and Lavender. She would wait a while and then she would just call a cab and leave, she reasoned. She was sure now that he wouldn't mind her riding in a cab. He didn't care anymore.

The spells Hermione had cast only lasted a few minutes to Ron's great relief. He never realized either was so painful, and... demeaning. Now he knew why Hermione had acted the way she did, and resolved that he had deserved it as he sat in his study pondering what had just taken place.

He tried the bedroom door a couple of hours later and found it unlocked, and he walked into the room, one quick glance telling him that she wasn't there. His breath caught when he saw her suitcase on the bed, the lid open and her clothes filling it. He didn't want her to leave. Bollocks! He bellowed inwardly, he hadn't even thought that this might be a consequence of his actions. Then he frowned. She had been up here a long time, and she would probably have packed straight away, so why hadn't she left already?

He looked in the en-suite bathroom, but she wasn't there either, so he stood silently and listened, not hearing a thing. Maybe she had gone outside again, he thought, and he went in search of her with a troubled frown. What if she had run off because of the way he had treated her? A search of the estate later and he still couldn't find her and he looked inside the house again, checking all the rooms, his heart heavy. The one place he hadn't looked was the main bathroom and he doubted she'd be in there, but he looked anyway.

She was laying asleep in the bath, her eyelids still puffy from where she had been crying and he winced as he crouched down near the tub, letting her sleep while he studied her, allowing his relief to course through him as he looked at her small form. She managed to surprise him at every turn and, even though it could be infuriating, it was also exciting. She would keep him on his toes, he thought.

He reached out and gently shook her shoulder, watching as she woke up reluctantly and then scooted up in the bath when she saw him sitting there, her hands covering her chest as she tried to hide the wince when her backside took her weight.

"I made dinner," he said, hating the feelings of guilt he had creeping through him.

"Oh...I...er...I'm not really very hungry," she said quietly, not looking at him.

"Maybe not, but you will eat," he said, his voice harsher than he meant it to be and she flinched.

Hermione was tired of fighting. "Okay...thank you," she said softly, her eyes constantly darting from him to the water. She looked so nervous that he knew he was going to cave in and end up apologizing to her, just to see her smile again if nothing else.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly before he could speak. "I didn't mean..." she swallowed and tried again, her voice failing her.

Ron sighed when he saw her bottom lip tremble and leaned over the tub, pulling her up against him and rocking her.

"Hermione..."

"I'm so sorry," she said, starting to cry. "I know it's too late, but I didn't mean what I said or what I did. Please don't hate me."

Ron groaned and kissed the top of her head. "I couldn't hate you if I tried. Stop crying now, come on, it's okay," he murmured, continuing to whisper softly to her as he tried to calm her down. It took a long time and he felt like rubbish when she finally stopped howling into his shoulder, knowing it was him who had made her like that. Eventually she gave a soft hiccoughing sigh and relaxed against him with one final shudder, worn out from her bout of crying and enjoying his warmth and strength.

"Hermione, I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean what I said or did either," he said, stroking her damp hair with one hand, the other holding her pressed against him.

"S'okay," she murmured, her voice sounding husky from her tears.

"No it isn't, I had no right to say what I did. I should never have brought her name into it. You're nothing like her at all, and that's a really good thing. As far as what she told you... I will tell you what happened, but right now, we need to work through this. You hurt me with what you said, I guess I was hitting back," he admitted, sounding disgusted with himself.

"So was I," she confessed, still snuggled against him. "You hurt me."

Ron ran his hand down her back and cupped her bottom in his palm, kneading the tense muscles even as she tried to squirm away from the touch, her flesh too sensitive.

"I'm sorry it hurt you so much, and I'm sorry I did it. I never knew it was so demeaning, and I won't use it again," he told her, watching as she drew her flushed, wet face away from his shoulder and stared at him. "Ah, don't look at me like that! You knew you were teaching me a lesson and I learned it but that doesn't change how all of this started. I want to be with you, Hermione, and if you want to be with me you have to know that I will not put up with the sort of behaviour you displayed today. You got me?"

"So you expect me to obey your orders like I'm some servant, or worse a soldier in the Legion." It wasn't a question. "I had a feeling you only liked me because I was being subservient," she said, trying to identify the feelings coursing through her.

"Of course not. Is that what you think I was doing?" he raised his eyebrows and waited for her answer.

"Yes. It seems the only time you're pleased with me is when I'm doing what you want. Like you don't want me to be my own person," she said quickly.

"That's not it at all Hermione." He put his finger over her lips to silence her when she opened her mouth to speak. "You have to understand how my heart nearly broke when I almost lost you. Now, I really have a hard time with not knowing where you are, and my biggest fear is not being there when you need me. I'm sorry if you felt I was suffocating you. I just worry is all, and couldn't bear it if anything happened to you that I could prevent. I suppose I'll have to learn to give you more freedom hmmm?" he said reasonably, putting more pressure on her backside and pulling her closer to his larger frame. He released the pressure when she moaned, rubbing his palm lightly over the soft curves. "Want to explain why you stole Harry's truck?"

"I wanted to surprise you," she started to explain and he burst out laughing.

"Well, hell, it worked!" he said, placing her in front of him and grabbing a towel to dry her with. He quickly accomplished that task and carried her through to the bedroom, selecting some clothes and dressing her, then staring down at her. "So, are we okay now?" he asked and smiled at her confident nod. "Let's go and eat, then we can spend the rest of the evening cuddling, and snogging what do you say?"

"I'd like that," she said quietly, taking his hand and holding it securely when he offered it, looking forward to getting back to normal if that was possible.

While they sat eating, Hermione glanced around and frowned. "Where's Harry?"

"He went off to find Ginny, I assume he's still there. I'll go and look when we've finished, okay?"

"Okay," she nodded, concentrating on her meal once more.

As soon as Ron took the last mouthful of his food he leaned across and kissed her, looking vaguely guilty, then going out the back door to find Harry.

When he did find him he dissolved in hysterics at the sight that greeted him. Harry was standing at the bottom of a big tree near Ginny's house, his hair matted with what looked like syrup, and he was staring up furiously at Ginny, who was sitting precariously halfway up it on a slim branch.

"Don't fucking laugh, Weasley," Harry spat out, his eyes sparking as he looked at the girl in the tree.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"She happened!" Harry growled, glaring up at Ginny again. "But she can't stay up there all day, and when she comes down I'm going to teach her a lesson she won't ever forget!"

"Well, why don't you go up and get her?" Ron asked, staring up and seeing that Ginny wasn't wearing a coat and it was starting to get chilly outside now.

"I tried that," the other man muttered, pointing to a broken branch that had snapped under his immense weight. "I can wait."

"Shame, I made you some dinner which is getting cold, too," Ron mused, raising his eyebrows.

Harry frowned and rubbed his stomach, never one to pass up a meal. "Well, I guess I could come and eat."

"Of course you could, she isn't going anywhere for a while. Well, she might come down the tree, but she lives here doesn't she? Where else could she go?"

"Don't you go thinking you've got away with this," Harry shouted up at her, glaring. "I'll make sure you pay, so don't relax anytime soon!"

"Ooh, I'm so scared!" she shouted down at him with false bravado, and he gritted his teeth.

"Bloody buggering Hell!"

"Harry, come on, let's go," Ron said, grabbing his friend's shoulder and forcibly dragging him away from the tree. As they walked back to his house he studied the other mans face. "What's gotten into you? You never lose your temper that easily."

"She got into me, she's a damn brat. It's about time someone took a belt to her," he muttered, walking into the house and smiling tightly at Hermione as he sat down and dragged his lukewarm dinner towards him.

He started munching on the food without saying another word and Ron had to hide his smile. He couldn't remember a time when a woman had ever gotten under Harry's skin the way Ginny did, and he had to wonder if it was just hatred they felt for each other.

No one saw Ginny until the day of the barbecue, when she popped round to help out with the food. Harry spotted her straight away and narrowed his eyes, but instead of rushing towards her to attack her as she had expected, he just sent her a cold, calculating smile. It had the ability to make her worry more than if he had actually started hexing her and she looked quickly away from him.

Hermione smiled and pulled her into the kitchen where she was busily preparing different dishes.

"I'm so glad you came, I didn't think you would," she said.

"I wasn't sure if I should, actually, but I'm not going to be scared away by that big idiot, no matter what I did," Ginny said, looking around the kitchen. "So, what can I help you with?"

Hermione gave her some things to be getting on with and they spent the next couple of hours making bowls of green, pasta and potato salad. Then she started on wedges and jacket potatoes, knowing how much Ron and Harry could put away and thinking of the agents that would be coming there that afternoon, and she only hoped she had done enough food. Still, with all the steaks and burgers that Ron had bought, there should be enough to feed a small army.

The time was passing incredibly quickly because there was so much to do and before she knew it people had started arriving.

"I haven't even put my dress on yet!" Hermione grumbled, staring down at her jeans and T-shirt and thinking of the nice dress she had put out on the bed. Okay, she thought, so the weather wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold outside really, so she would be fine.

Daphne came in and gave her a hug, her eyes flicking to where Neville was standing and then quickly looking away when he caught her staring.

"Hey sis, how's everything?"

"Just great," Hermione answered, grinning.

"Well, you certainly look good, I must say," the older girl said, studying her. "I'm looking forward to my stay here, it's a lovely place."

"I'm looking forward to you being here," Hermione said, almost bouncing around with excitement. She reacquainted Daphne with Ginny and the three of them rushed off to get themselves ready, Ginny having to run back home to get changed. By the time Hermione and Daphne were ready, most of the guests had arrived and several people greeted them on their way to the kitchen. Ron turned to look at Hermione as she came back downstairs and he had an odd sparkle in his eyes, a smile curving his lips when he saw her. He excused himself from where he was talking to Carter, and Dennis Creevy, and came over to her, drawing her close to him so he could give her a gentle kiss.

"You look stunning," he whispered, grinning at her pleased expression.

"It's only an ordinary dress," she murmured, looking down at herself.

"Yeah, but on you it looks stunning." He framed her face in his big hands and stared at her strangely. "Yes, I think it's time," he murmured and then kissed the tip of her nose, turning and walking away before she could ask what he had meant by that. She shook off the confusion and went straight into the kitchen, finding Daphne, Tabitha, Emmeline and Ginny all in there setting bowls of food out on the big wooden table.

"Hey, sweetie," Emmeline said, giving her a quick hug and then returning to what she was doing. "This all looks fantastic. It's a good thing Remus hasn't seen it yet, or half of it would be gone. We've had a problem keeping them lot out of here as it is. You know what they can be like when they smell food!"

Hermione frowned. "Has anyone started the barbecue yet?"

Emmeline nodded and gave her a smile. "Ron's already got everything going, don't worry. I guess you've been too busy to notice?"

"Yeah, I have a bit," Hermione murmured and looked over at Ginny, her eyebrows going up when she saw her. She had only seen the other girl in jeans and T-shirts as of late, and knew she was always a bit of a tomboy. But today she was wearing a gypsy style blouse and skirt with a fringed sash hanging around her hips and her hair cascading down her back like a crimson stream of gentle waves. She had even put on a touch of makeup. Hermione smiled at her. "You look really pretty," she said honestly, watching as the other girl shifted with discomfort. "I love the outfit."

"It belongs to Rebecca, but she can't fit into it right now so she said I could borrow it. I wanted to wear jeans," Ginny said, looking plainly disgusted with her attire.

"Well, I'm glad she did. I tell you what, I bet a few of these agents will be looking at you today!" Hermione laughed at the other girl's expression and then started helping put the food out.

In no time Ron was bellowing to her to bring some plates, as the meat was cooked, and she rushed outside to take it from him, laughing uncontrollably as the food was instantly taken from the plate she was holding and eaten. It was like being in the midst of a herd of Thestrals.

Emmeline came out with a mixed plate for Hermione, grinning and rolling her eyes. "Here, I managed to get this before they tried to eat me too. I knew we'd have a problem as soon as they sensed the food was done!"

Hermione took the plate and added a burger to it before finding a spot to sit down with the other girls. She had been right about one thing, there were some men giving Ginny a few appreciative looks, and the other girl was constantly blushing under the scrutiny. What was surprising though, was that Harry hadn't taken his eyes off her since she had emerged from the house, and he looked dazed. Hermione looked at him and then back at Ginny, seeing her try and avoid that heated look, and she smiled. She just knew things were going to get really interesting in the near future.

The party progressed well, and when Ron put music on she found herself dancing with Remus.

"Do you like it here, Ninny?" he asked her suddenly, looking serious about something.

She studied him for a second and then nodded. "I love it here. Why?"

"Oh, just wondering, that's all. I only want you to be happy, Merlin knows you deserve it," he said, swinging her around to the music and then lightening up and grinning. "Ron doesn't know how lucky he is."

She frowned with confusion, but didn't say anything. It was probably just Remus being Remus, he was always picking at Ron in jest, so she chose to ignore it and just enjoy the dance. When the song finished, Harry tapped Remus' shoulder and she had to dance with him next, looking around for Ron and wondering where he had got to. She didn't see him for another four dances and then he finally broke in, pulling her gently against him and wrapping his arms around her.

"It's about ruddy time," he murmured, smiling down at her with wicked eyes. "I've had to sit there watching you being held by all those other men. It was killing me!"

"Then why didn't you come and get me sooner? I couldn't see you anywhere," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck when he bent down. "Where were you?"

"I had to go and get something out of the study," he said, pursing his lips.

She stopped moving and stared up at him suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. "What?"

"You really want to know?"

"Yes, I really want to know! What have you been doing?" she asked him, folding her arms across her chest and staring up at him with amusement.

"Well, if you really want to know," he said and grabbed her hand, pulling something out of his pocket as he did so. "I was getting this." He straightened her fingers out and then slipped a ring onto the ring finger of her left hand, running his thumb over it before kissing her hand and releasing it.

Hermione looked down in shock at the delicate platinum ring she was now wearing. It had an intricate lace design with tiny diamonds and emeralds all surrounding a bigger Emerald cut Diamond stone that sparkled up at her, and it was a perfect fit. Her breath caught in her throat and she stared up at him, waiting for him to say something.

"You might consider us engaged now," he said, raising his eyebrows and shrugging, almost as if he were embarrassed.

"What?" she asked in a hushed voice, still shocked.

"Hmm, I guess I didn't go about that the right way, did I? Okay then, how about this," he said, grinning suddenly and then dropping to one knee in front of everybody and grabbing her hand. "Hermione Jane Granger, I love you with all my heart and I've come to realise that I can't live without you. Will you please marry me?"

Hermione's lips fell open and she felt her eyes fill with tears as her hand came up to cover her mouth, unable to believe what he had just said, or that he had announced it in front of all his friends and family. Ron frowned when Hermione remained silent.

"Come on, love, you have to answer me one way or another, but I'll tell you right now, if you say no I'm going to throw myself in front of the Hogwarts express!"

Hermione pulled herself together with some effort and nodded. "Of course I'll marry you, I love you," she whispered and he closed his eyes in relief, pulling her hard against him and squeezing the breath out of her.

"Oh thank Merlin," he murmured into her neck, and a shudder passed through him. "I thought you were going to say no."

"I couldn't say no to you, I love you too much," she said softly, stroking his hair. She looked up as people started to approach them and smiled when she saw Remus and Emmeline.

"Congratulations Ninny," Remus said, tapping Ron to make him let go of her and then pulling her into an embrace. "I hope you'll be very happy together. I just wish I'd had you with us for a bit longer."

"Well she isn't leaving this house," Ron said, frowning at Remus when he let her go. Emmeline instantly hugged her then, and Daphne, Tabitha and Ginny crowded her, blocking her from Ron's view.

Remus put his hands in his pockets and grinned at the bigger man. "Don't worry, I'm not taking her away. I don't think she'd go with me anyway, do you? You just make sure you treat her well," he warned.

"I love her, Remus, I couldn't treat her any other way," Ron admitted, his face softening when he caught sight of her again. He received well wishes from his friends and had to almost fight his way back to her, waiting until everyone had started partying again before he picked her up and started dancing with her again.

Hermione stared into his face and leaned in to kiss him, dropping small kisses all over his eyes and cheeks before settling on his mouth.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Hermione," he murmured, staring into her eyes from an inch away. "Are you sure you want to marry me?"

"More than anything in the world," she said, still staring at him in the same warm way.

He smiled at the look and nuzzled her neck. "I only hope I can make you happy," he said, his worry evident in his voice.

"Hey, you've already made me happy. I love it here, I love being with you. You're the most perfect man I've ever met," she said softly, stroking a hand down his face.

"I don't know about perfect, I'm just a wizard," he said, laughing at her rapt expression.

"Yeah, well you're just my wizard now," she told him, grinning and then hugging him to her as he covered her mouth with his, kissing her with all the love he felt for her.

Remus watched them as he and his wife danced together and he smiled, happy in the knowledge that Hermione would always be safe and protected from now on, and more importantly she would be loved.

THE END