Chapter 4: A Surprise Dinnerguest

Whatever it was that Parvati Patil was going to tell her, it must have been big news. Hermione had never heard her voice sound so shrill and excited, and after nine years of knowing her--and seven of those nine sharing a dormitory with her--Hermione had most definitely seen Parvati get excited about a lot of things.

"Hermione!! Hermione!!!"

She could hear her all the way down the hall, Parvati's voice echoing against the marble walls as she repeatedly called out Hermione's name (no doubt annoying Percy Weasley, whose office was just two doors down), her urgent footsteps coming closer until at last, the double doors burst open and Parvati ran inside, heading straight for Hermione's desk and nearly spilling the bottle of ink on Hermione's half-done report on Muggle-wizard relations.

"Something tells me you're bursting with news," Hermione quipped, grabbing hold of the bottle before it tipped over all the way. And just for extra precaution, she placed it all the way on the other side of the desk, as far away from Parvati as possible. "You had a good weekend, I take it?"

Parvati shoved a stack of papers on Hermione's desk out of the way and sat down. Hermione, in turn, instinctively leaned back in her chair--after all, Parvati was likely to spontaneously combust at any moment. This could get a little messy.

"The best, Hermione," she said breathlessly. "The absolute best!!!"

Hermione tucked away a smile. "Good, I'm glad," she said. "Mr. Grey was in here earlier. He told me to tell you that he'll need your report today instead of tomorrow-"

"Oh, who cares about the bloody report!" Parvati finally said in exasperation. "Don't you want to know why my weekend was so fantastic?"

In her mind, the answer was a firm no, but Hermione said nothing; she thought it would probably be extremely rude to tell Parvati so. And besides, she had a feeling she wouldn't be able to stop Parvati from saying anything anyway--especially not when Parvati was like this.

Parvati seemed completely oblivious to Hermione's less-than-enthusiastic facial expression, because she had now summoned a chair over to Hermione's desk and plopped herself down, still brimming with what Hermione considered to be an unnatural amount of giddiness.

Realizing that there really was no way out of this now, Hermione said, "Jean-Luc was in town?"

"Of course," Parvati said.

Of course. What else could possibly send Parvati's heart aflutter, besides Jean-Luc Giguerre, her beau of almost six years, a Beauxbatons graduate whom she had met at the Hogwarts Yule Ball during their fourth year. Hermione remembered she had been awfully cool and aloof towards Harry for sometime afterwards, after Harry had not exactly showered attention towards her on their date, but she did not remain so for very long, as not too long after, she and Jean-Luc were an official couple.

"Well that explains it all then," Hermione said, hoping that would be the end of that. She still had her report to finish, after all.

"No, that's not even the half of it!!"

Oh no, she's actually giggling, Hermione thought. Heaven help me...

"It's so wonderful, Hermione, just wonderful!!" She shoved her left hand in front of Hermione's face. "Look!! Just look, isn't it incredible?!"

Hermione thought she had been blinded for a few seconds. Parvati was sporting a ring with a gigantic diamond, almost as big as a quail egg, which sparkled in all kinds of directions, most notably in Hermione's eyes. And all Hermione could do was gawk at it, dumbstruck.

Parvati let out a triumphant laugh. "I thought that might get your attention..." She drew back her hand and began to inspect her ring again, holding up her hand to the window so it could catch the sunlight streaming in. Hermione blinked as more of the light bounced right back into her eyes again.

"Congratulations, Parvati," she said at last, finally recovering her voice. "You had a good weekend indeed."

"Ooh, I did, didn't I?" she squealed, then she sighed dramatically, a dreamy grin spreading on her mouth. "Oh, Hermione... I've waited so long for this--I didn't think he'd ever pop the question!"

Hermione just smiled, not really knowing what to say to that. It was common knowledge that she and Ron weren't exactly heading down the aisle anytime soon, and they had been together almost as long as Parvati and Jean-Luc had.

"I thought he would get the hint after Padma and Guy got married last year," Parvati went on. She was practically chirping by now. "But he didn't, can you believe it? And I told myself, after Lavender's wedding two weeks ago, I was not going to keep waiting for him to get a clue. If he wasn't going to ask me this year, I was going to walk. I really was, Hermione!"

Hermione had turned her attention back to her report, which Parvati didn't seem to have noticed--or if she did, this certainly didn't seem to bother her, for she kept on talking, unperturbed by Hermione's lack of reply.

"But then he did, he actually did... And it was about time, too, I mean, five and a half years!" She suddenly stopped, looking horrified, then said, "Oh my God, me and my big mouth..."

Keep on working, Hermione thought. Just keep on working and don't even look at her... Eye contact is evil...

But then she said it. She actually came out and said it.

"That's about how long you and Ron have been together too, hasn't it?"

If Hermione didn't know any better, she would have sworn that a heat lamp had just turned on full blast inches away from her face.

"Er... yeah," she muttered. She was staring so hard at the piece of parchment on her desk, that she was surprised she hadn't burned a hole through it with her intense gaze. "Just about."

"Oh, well... I'm sure he'll be asking you really soon, too, Hermione," Parvati said, as if to offer some consolation to her, which she didn't even ask for. "I mean, you were the couple at Hogwarts. Everyone knew about you two. At the end of fifth year, we were all taking bets on whether you and Ron or Lavender and Seamus would be the first to tie the knot..."

She seemed to be amused by her own ramblings, which was a good thing, because Hermione was trying her best to tune her out now. One more annoying word out of her mouth, and Hermione wasn't sure she'd be able to resist screaming.

With a deep breath to compose herself, she said, "Mr. Grey said he would come back at three-thirty to pick up that report you're supposed to finish today. You should probably finish it up before he gets here."

Parvati must have gotten the hint, because she got up from the chair and walked over to her own desk in silence, leaving Hermione to stew on her own in peace. And after a few more minutes trying to get out this last sentence she had been trying to write for the last little while, she finally set her quill down.

Just why in the world was she so upset?

When she came home, there was a fire glowing in the fireplace, and the sounds of pots and pans were coming from the kitchen. She smiled and tossed her bag onto the couch, readying to go into the kitchen, when Ron walked out a few seconds later, wearing a stained apron over his robes.

"Ron!" she exclaimed. She flew over to him and leapt in his arms, causing him to laugh as he lifted her off the floor. "I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow..."

He set her down and kissed the tip of her nose. "What, you're not happy to see me?"

She pulled him close again, giving him a long and passionate kiss that she hoped would answer that question. "Oh, I've missed you," she breathed.

"Me too," he whispered back, still holding her face. "So... does this mean we're okay now? Have we officially made up?"

She laughed softly; so did he. "Who says I was ever mad at you in the first place?"

"Oh, my mistake then..." He smiled devilishly, tilting his head in that irresistible way that sent delicious shivers up her spine. "Well," he said in a low murmur, leaving no doubt in her mind what he was thinking, "if you were never mad at me to begin with, then you won't mind if..."

He never did finish the sentence, instead letting his voice trail off purposely as he began to nuzzle her neck. She giggled, pulling him closer and resting her head on his collarbone as her arms slid up to his shoulder blades.

"Ron..."

"Mmm?"

"I'm glad you're back early."

He pulled away slightly to look at her, and she could see the genuine surprise in his eyes. She didn't say things like this very often, not even in the beginning of their relationship, somehow taking for granted that he already knew exactly how she felt. He wasn't just her lover, after all, he was her best friend too. Still, she knew she must not say it nearly as often as she should, judging by the look in his eyes at that moment. It was as if he still couldn't believe she had just admitted something like that to him.

"I am, you know," she said softly. "And you're right, I guess lately I have been a little..."

"Cranky?"

She smiled, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. She hated that she had somehow made him feel defensive and ambushed; there had been no reason for it, and she knew it. "All right, yes, cranky," she said. "I'm sorry, Ron. I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with sometimes-"

"Well, that's okay. I reckon I'm not either, half the time..."

"But I do love you. You know that, don't you?"

He nodded, then brushed a stray lock from her forehead. "Sometimes it still feels so unbelievable to me," he said.

"What?"

"You, loving me. Ron Weasley, ordinary wizard."

It broke her heart that after all these years, he still thought this of himself. He was so much more and she knew no matter how much time went by that she would never be able to find all the right words to tell him so--she only wished she could somehow make him believe that.

As if embarrassed, he pulled away from her and untied his apron.

"My assignment ended early," he said. "Caught the bastard in Bulgaria. Tried to bite me, he did, but luckily I've handled my fair share of vampires before..." He turned and gave her an impish grin. "I got him to give me names, too, but alas, Krum didn't seem to be one of them..."

She started to groan, but somehow ended up laughing instead. "Don't you start that again-"

"Gotcha," he said with a wink. "My parents don't know I came home early. I haven't even apparated there--came straight here so I could surprise you with dinner, and..." He grinned mischievously, and Hermione felt her cheeks get hot. He must have noticed it too, because he added, "Yeah, I thought you might like that idea..."

She smiled, letting him scoop her up in his arms. She was hoping he might stay tonight, or at least longer than he usually did, before he apparated back at The Burrow. He had lived there for the last two years, having moved back after they left Hogwarts. He had wanted to help his parents out with Ginny's tuition in her last year at school, but he stayed on even after she herself had finished school. Hermione had suspected that he had done so rather than move in with her and give her a reputation as a 'scarlet woman.' She chuckled just thinking about it; Ron was so old-fashioned sometimes, and it was one of the many things she loved about him.

He looked down at her in curiosity. "Hey," he said, "you're laughing at me..."

"No, love, not at you, I was just... thinking."

"About what?"

"About you cooking."

"Oh, is that doubt I detect in your voice?"

He grinned, then pulled her into the kitchen, where he had set the table, complete with candles and her fine china that she used only on special occasions. He pulled out his wand and aimed it at the candles. "Inflamare," he said, before he went to the oven and pulled out a magnificent roast that made Hermione's mouth water.

"Oh, Ron," she whispered in amazement. "You did all this?"

"Aren't you glad Mum made sure to teach all her boys to cook?"

She felt tears gathering in her eyes. "You're wonderful, Ron Weasley."

"Yeah, I know," he said, a cocky grin planted firmly on his face. "Now..." He took her hand, leading her to the table, then pulled out her chair for her. "I do believe a certain Miss Granger is entitled to a night of romance with her dashing, handsome, exciting boyfriend."

"Don't forget modest," she quipped.

He raised an eyebrow. "Modesty, milady, is highly overrated."

She laughed, and forgot all about her troubles as she dined with the man she loved.

They sat by the fire sometime after, with both of them cuddling on the couch, Ron's arms wrapped tightly around her. It might have been hours that they had sat like this; Hermione hadn't really kept track of the time anymore. All she had been aware of in all this time was the incredible feeling of warmth and contentment sitting here in his arms.

She wanted to stay like this for as long as humanly possible.

"You'll never guess what happened today," she said.

"Mmm... what?"

"Parvati and Jean-Luc--they got engaged..."

He didn't say anything, but she felt his arms squeeze her just a little bit tighter, pulling her close to him.

"Isn't it amazing?" she said. "First Padma, then Lavender, now Parvati..." Inside, she finished the thought, Will I be next? But perhaps this wasn't the right way to bring it up, or at least not the right time. Deep down, she knew it wouldn't be fair to just spring this on Ron out of the blue, although part of her wondered why this should be out of the blue in the first place.

They had been together for five years--and probably loved each other for longer than that, now that she looked back on it. In a way, it seemed to be inevitable, something neither she, nor Ron, nor anyone else had ever questioned.

So why had it never really been brought up between them?

"Ron?"

When he didn't answer, she turned to look at him, and saw that he had fallen asleep. It was only now that she noticed how exhausted he must have been all the time he had been away. His breathing was heavy, but even; fatigue had finally overtaken him.

She watched him sleeping for a long time, running her fingers lightly through his hair. It had grown a little darker over the years, now a deeper red than the bright orange it had been when they first met on the Hogwarts Express. He was already adorable then as an eleven year old, but he had grown even more handsome in the years since then: his jawline becoming more defined, his shoulders broadening, and his eyes deepening into a dark sapphire color.

His robes had shifted as he had been holding her, and part of his collarbone was exposed, showing a scar he had gotten from a dangerous encounter with a werewolf in his first year as an Auror. Gingerly, she touched it, careful not to wake him, and as she did, she winced inside, remembering the absolute dread and fear that had paralyzed her when she had heard he was in the hospital, and the agonizing hours she spent at his bedside, waiting for him to wake up.

"What would I ever do without you," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

She watched him a little longer, then at last, placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, then snuggled up to him and pulled the blanket up to cover the both of them. She fell asleep as she listened to his rhythmic breathing, knowing there was absolutely no other place she would rather be at that very moment.