These Days

It had been five years since he had seen her. After Voldemort had killed her parents, she had withdrawn from the wizarding world and returned to the Muggle world. He had searched, using Muggle sources, until he found out where she lived.

Now, he boarded a Muggle train, and found a seat. He folded and unfolded the yellow paper in his hand, which had her address on it, wondering how she would react upon seeing him again.

"You know, if you keep folding and refolding that piece of paper, it's gonna fall apart," pointed out the girl beside him.

"Um... thanks," he said, slipping the paper in his duffel bag, which he had left on the floor. He looked out the window, watching the landscape fly by. He ran his hand through his flaming red hair and sighed to himself, then turned to observe the girl next to him. She was a Muggle, about college age, with rainbow colored hair, black eyes, and various piercings covering most of her face. She noticed him looking at her.

"I'm Miranda. Miranda Foul."

"Oh, right - uh, Ron Weasley."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Ron."

"Yeah. You too."

There was a pause before Miranda asked, "Where are you headed? Are you visiting family?"

"No," Ron replied, taking the piece of yellow paper from his bag. He handed it to her. "I found a long-lost friend, and I'm visiting her."

"Oh." She gave him back the paper.

~~*~~

Ron got off the train, and made his way out of the station. A long line of taxis was parked along the curb. Ron went to the last taxi, which seemed to have been forgotten, and fished out the piece of paper with the address on it.

"Where you off to?" the driver asked. Ron handed him the piece of paper. The taxi driver read it and gave it back to him. "All righty then," he said, climbing into the drivers seat. Ron threw his duffel bag into the back seat then got in himself.

The taxi driver stopped in front of a red brick building on a hill and Ron got out. It took him a few minutes to figure out the Muggle money, but eventually he managed to pay the driver. He walked up the small path to the front steps of the house. Taking a deep breath, he climbed the steps, set down his bag, and knocked on the door. As he waited, his stomach was doing flip-flops; after all, he was 22, and he hadn't seen her since they were both 17.

Then the door opened. The woman who answered the door had brown eyes framed by dark lashes, and thick, wavy brown hair that reached her waist. She was wearing Muggle clothes: a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a pink jumper. She seemed shocked to see the man in front of her, and just stared at him.

"Um, Hermione?" Ron prompted.

She nodded. Then, over the shock: "Ron? What are you doing here?" she asked. Not waiting for an answer, she flung her arms around him, and hugged him almost as tightly as Mrs. Weasley usually did. Ron patted Hermione's back. "But what are you doing here?" She let him go and stepped back, puzzled.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing," Ron said.

"Well, you just have to tell me what I've missed," she said. "Inside, though." She walked into her house; Ron followed with his duffel bag.

Once inside, Hermione motioned Ron to sit on the couch. She asked if he needed anything to drink or eat, but he assured her that he was fine. At that, she sat down next to him on the couch.

"So what's going on?" Hermione enquired.

"Well, I uh, I actually came here to tell you something," he started.

"Okay."

"Ginny and Harry are getting married in a few weeks and, well, you know we're best friends and all, and they sort of wanted you to be there," Ron explained.

"Oh! Really?" Hermione exclaimed. "Well, that's wonderful! I always thought they would be a good couple."

"Uh, so Mione, you coming?"

"Well, don't I need an invitation and a dress and-"

"Hermione, calm down! Ginny said that she wanted you to be one of her bridesmaids and she's got your dress already. She told me to tell you to call her and talk to her about it."

"Really? I'm going to be a bridesmaid for Harry and Ginny. That should be like the biggest wedding since Dumbledore and McGonagall!" Hermione enthused.

"They're just our friends, Mione. They're not famous. Okay, well, maybe they are famous cause they defeated Voldemort and everything, but they're still our friends."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, you're right."

They were silent for a moment. Hermione bit her lip, and Ron stared at his hands.

"So what about you, Mione?" Ron asked.

"Right. Um, well, I've been working in an office, and that's about it," she replied.

"Right. Just work?"

"Well, I have hung out with some of my Muggle friends too."

"Have you gone clubbing?"

"Yes I have. Why?"

"It's nice to see you live a little! Gosh, you didn't even want to go to the Wizard Punx concert with Harry, Ginny, and me in seventh year. I remember you: 'I can't go, I need to study.' But weren't you glad you went with us?"

Hermione blushed. "Oh, alright! All right! I admit. It was fun. And yes I do live a little sometimes, Mr. Weasley."

"Well. How's tonight, Miss. Granger?"

"What tonight?" Hermione felt her heart thumping. Why was it thumping? It was only Ron.

"Do you want to go out tonight?" Ron had never had much success with the opposite sex when he was younger, but he had had three girlfriends since Hogwarts and now felt more comfortable around girls.

"Um, well, I'm not doing anything, so yes."

"So do you know any good places to go?" Ron asked.

"Clubbing?" Hermione suggested. "That's simple. Just go down Main Street."

"Alright. Oh, and... um... I don't suppose I'd be able to stay here?" Ron prayed that she would say yes.

"Yeah! Of course," Hermione said. She looked at her watch. "Well, it's already 6:30. I should get ready. If you want to take a shower, just... erm - go ahead." This is awkward, she thought... No! It shouldn't be. Don't be daft, Ron's just a friend.

"Yeah, maybe I should," Ron said, standing up.

"The guest room has its own shower, so..." Hermione got up and started walking. Up the stairs and to the right, she stopped in front of an off-white door. "Here it is."

"Oh, okay. Thanks." Ron went inside. Putting his duffle bag on the window seat, he flopped down on the bed. This is too much. He sighed. Why did I have to ask her out? I'm never gonna be able to live this down!

Still thinking of what he had done, he went through to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

~~*~~

Hermione got out of her shower, and was looking for her 'clubbing' dress. Slinky and black, her friends made jokes of her in it, calling it the 'slutty Mione dress' and such. It didn't bother her much; it was all in good fun.

~~*~~

Ron was sitting on the couch in the living room, waiting for Hermione. When he heard the sound of heels on the hardwood floor, he turned. Almost choking on his own breath, he managed to get out a few words.

"Wow, you look wonderful!"

'Wonderful' was an understatement. Slivery, strappy heels complemented the dress, which had thin spaghetti straps, and a slight slit up the very short skirt. It had earned the title of 'slutty Mione dress'! Her hair was pulled back, held by a red ribbon.

"So you think I look okay?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Yeah. Yeah. You look great," Ron reassured her, standing up.

"Thanks. Um, I think we can walk. It's not that far."

"Alright, let's go," Ron said, offering her his arm.

~~*~~

The rest of the night was spent going to clubs, dancing, and having a few drinks. When they had been to all the clubs on Main Street, they went to the square. There was a large fountain in the middle of the grassy area.

They sat down on the lip of the fountain, and Ron gently placed his jacket across Hermione's shoulders, then put an arm around her.

"I'm going to have such a bad hangover tomorrow," Hermione said, rubbing her temples.

"That'll make two of us."

"Well at least I won't be alone." Hermione smiled at him.

They were silent for a few minutes, until suddenly Hermione spoke again:

"I really like you, Ron."

"I like you too, Mione."

"You're not just saying that, are you?"

"Of course not!"

She looked up at his face, trying to see if he was lying; seizing the opportunity, he kissed her.

"That was nice. I never knew you could kiss so well," Hermione said, smiling. Ron looked pleased with himself

~~*~~

Hermione had changed into her favorite pyjama bottoms and a T-shirt. She was curled up on her couch, drinking some tea. Ron came down from his room and sat down with her. She moved closer to him, and he put an arm around her.

" Why don't you do magic anymore?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed. "It just brings back too many bad memories. Not that it doesn't bring back good memories, too."

"I guess that would be sort of hard to live with," Ron said.

~~*~~

The next day, Hermione got up early. She went into Ron's room to see if he was awake so that she could get Ginny's number and call her about the wedding. He was far from awake; he was lying on his back, the sheets twisted around his waist. Hermione couldn't help but notice how toned his chest muscles were. She walked over to the bed, sat down and just watched him for a few moments. Then she did something she knew was guaranteed to wake any guy - she kissed him. His eyes flew open, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Smiling, he pretended to grumble, "Morning. What do you want?"

"Ginny's number"

"Number?"

"Yeah... Her telephone number?"

"Oh. Right." He got up (thankfully, he was wearing boxers) and dug through his duffel bag. "Here," he said, walking over to her and handing her the paper.

"Thanks. I'll call her and see what's going on." She turned and left the room, then walked down the stairs, picked up the phone and sat down on the couch, dialing Ginny's number.

"Hello?" Ginny answered the phone.

"Hi, Ginny! It's Hermione."

"Oh! How are you doing? Is Ron there? Are you coming to the wedding?"

Hermione laughed. "Lots of questions Ginny. First, I'm doing fine thank you. Ron is here, and I am coming to the wedding."

"Oooh! Yay! I'm so glad. I've missed you so much! I sent Ron with two return tickets, so I was thinking maybe you could come back today? The train leaves at 12, will that be okay? I really want you guys here. I just hope you'll like the bridesmaid dress I got for you."

"Who else are the bridesmaids?"

"Parvati, Padma, Cho, Lavender, and you," Ginny said.

"Great. Yeah, we can leave today." Ron came down the stairs as Hermione said this, and added, "I don't care."

"I heard Ron. I'm so glad!!" Ginny sounded like she was going to burst with excitement.

~~*~~

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

Ginny and Harry turned to each other and kissed. The crowd applauded; Hermione, dressed in her scarlet and gold dress, had tears coming down her cheeks, and Ron (Harry's best man) was gleaming with pride in his little sister.

~~*~~

"James Sirius Potter! Come here right now young man!" Hermione and Ron were visiting the Potter. Ginny and Hermione were on the couch in the living room and Ginny was calling her oldest child, who had slapped his little sister, Lily Molly, and was currently hiding in his room. Lily was crying, sitting in Ginny's lap.

"Ssshh! Ssshh! It's okay. Why don't you go play with your dolls," Ginny said, and her daughter ran upstairs. James came down, extra slowly. "Come here!" Ginny said sharply. He edged forward, and Ginny scolded him. "You should know better than to hit your sister. Now I want you to go upstairs, say you're sorry, and play with her. And no buts!" She tapped him lightly on the bum when he turned to go upstairs.

"Sorry about that," said Ginny, turning to Hermione.

"Oh, it's alright. I understand."

"Can I ask you something without you getting... offended?" Ginny asked.

"Sure."

"How come you and Ron aren't married yet?"

Hermione was shocked. It wasn't that she had never thought about it, but to hear Ginny actually say that was shocking. "It's not like I've never thought of it before, but...We're just taking it slow."

"Eight years is very slow," Ginny said.

~~*~~

Harry and Ron were outside, drinking Firewhiskey and talking.

"So, I'm guessing things aren't going to change with you and my sister," Ron said, taking a swig of his Firewhiskey.

"Two kids kind of makes it solid," he replied. "What about you and Hermione? What's going on there?"

"Yeah. Well, we are living together and everything, but we're taking it slow. Hermione wants to."

"Eight years is very slow," Harry said.

~~*~~

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

Hermione and Ron turned to each other and kissed.

"Eight years was almost too long," Hermione whispered in his ear.

THE END