Work Text:
May 1999
It was the first graduating class from Hogwarts since the war ended. Ron couldn't quite figure out why Hermione had insisted on finishing school since they'd been offered pretty much any job they would want in helping rebuild the Ministry. But that was Hermione for you, and he wouldn't change her for the world. He hadn't told Hermione he was surprising her.
He hadn't told her about the other surprise either, but it was something they'd sort of talked about so he hoped it was all right. Mum had certainly thought it was even though she had misgivings about how young they were. He fingered the box in his robes pocket. Just for this, he had splurged on new fancy robes. They were dark red with velvet trim and the fanciest robes he had ever owned. Mum had also thought that was a good idea. Ron, however, was sure he could show up in a turnip sack and Hermione wouldn't care. He mused over as he strode down the streets of Hogsmeade to the narrow path where the boats of graduates would soon be arriving. No, he decided she might might actually care if he showed up in a turnip sack.
Patience was not his strong suit as Ron stood at the waters edge, waiting. He could hear snatches of the Hogwarts school song from the boats that had launched from the castle. Headmistress McGonagall had offered to make an exception for him and allow to him to attend the ceremony but he had declined, he wasn't ready to go into the Great Hall where he had only a year earlier seen too many die. He hadn't a clue how Hermione had managed to go back to finish school with that sort of memory in her face every day. Ginny and Luna had gone back to graduate,too, so maybe that had helped.
The first boats began to arrive and Ron could feel his heartbeat getting more and more rapid in excitement and dread and anxiety. Would she say yes? Or would she say no? Hermione wasn't on the first wave of boats to his dismay. He waved at a few people that he knew as they climbed out of the boats but didn't go over to talk to any of them. He waited for Hermione only.
He shifted his weight back and forth on his feet, the second wave of boats had begun to arrive. He scanned the passengers for Gryffindor colors and bushy hair but didn't spot Hermione in any of the arriving boats. He did spot his sister and gave her a wave but she knew why he was waiting. She squealed in excitement at him and waved frantically back as her boat hit the shores but didn't come over to him. "Next set of boats!" she shouted, pointing back towards the castle. He nodded in acknowledgement, relief that Hermione was indeed coming. He had worried a bit that she wouldn't want to cross the lake in the boats with the others.
Ron was suddenly unable to breathe as the third set of boats arrived. He immediately spotted Hermione in the boats. It was very real, what he was about to do and say.
Hermione was wearing black dress robes with a Gryffindor graduation cap. She looked beautiful, he thought. He was quite glad he had taken his mum's advice and purchased his own new dress robes.
The boat bumped against the shoreline and the graduates scrambled out, eager to start their new lives and jobs. Or at least thrilled to be done with schooling. Hermione climbed out carefully, she'd spotted Ron's bright hair long before they had reached shore and knew he was waiting for her. It had sent a thrill down her spine, to know her favorite person in the world was waiting. He was all dressed up,too, which she hadn't noticed until the boat had arrived but was rather curious. Ron didn't normally dress up unless he was forced.
Hermione took his offered hand and let him pull her into a hug. "I missed you, you know that?" he whispered into her hair.
She hugged him back, despite the growing crowd of graduates gawking at them. For once she didn't care. It'd been too long since she had seen Ron. She inhaled his scent, "It has been a long time." she whispered back.
"Let's go up into town, should we?" he asked, suddenly a bit nervous.
She nodded, never letting go of his hand. It felt so good to be with Ron again. It'd been wonderful to go back to Hogwarts with Ginny and Luna but not nearly the same as it would've been to finish the way she had started with Ron and Harry. "It'll be so nice to go home tonight. I feel like I haven't seen everyone in such a long time."
"Because you haven't. You stayed at school over Easter holidays, remember?" Ron had not been happy about that and had seriously considered sneaking onto school grounds to find her.
"Oh, yeah." she squeezed his hand a bit tighter in apology.
They continued up the path in silence for a few moments, just enjoying each other's company. It was a pleasant day and the sun was shining for once. They were happy together, ignoring the ever growing crowd of graduates and students eager to get to the train to go home. Ron and Hermione were in no rush.
Ron broke the silence. "So, I, uh, I got us dinner reservations at the Three Broomsticks. Unless you'd prefer the tea room, we could try there if you'd rather."
"Since when do we need reservations at the Three Broomsticks?" Hermione asked, laughing a bit.
"Well, uh, I told Aberforth I really wanted a table today and he said he'd save us one if we wanted." he was getting nervous as the moments ticked by. He did not want to ask her with everyone around them.
"All right then. Should be fairly quiet with everyone going back home. That'll be nice. The dorms have been so noisy as of late."
"And you think the Burrow tonight will be quiet?"
"No, it won't be, of course. Not with everyone there. But it'll be a different noise and it's home so it'll be a good noisy just for that." she answered.
Ron almost burst out with his question. He knew why the Burrow would be so noisy tonight and the anxiety over wanting to ask was almost too much for him to bear anymore. He almost wished he had had Aberforth keep the ring box at the bar so the temptation wouldn't be as strong.
Hermione stared at him. "Ronald, are you quite all right? You seem a bit strange today."
"I'm... fine. I'm fine. Just a bit hungry and excited to see you again. It's been a rather long time, Hermione." he stumbled over his words.
"It is nearing dinnertime. Maybe we should go eat now." she said, slowly, still studying him.
"Yeah, yeah, good idea." he nodded.
They made their way into the main part of Hogsmeade. Just like Hermione had said, it was quiet, with most people heading towards the train station for home. "I will need to pick up my luggage at the station. I know that's where it was sent so we'll need to get it sent to the Burrow." Hermione pushed open the door of the Three Broomsticks. "I didn't know you were coming to pick me up so I didn't arrange otherwise."
"Should I apologize?" Ron asked, taking the door from her to hold open as she went through.
"Absolutely not. It was a wonderful surprise to find you on the shore! Much preferable then getting onto Hogwarts Express and heading into London alone."
"Well, you wouldn't have been alone exactly." he pointed out.
"I wouldn't have been with you." she retorted back.
They met eyes and laughed together. "Really, Ron, this is great. I'm glad you surprised me." she told him.
Ron felt rather bashful as he answered, "Couldn't resist. It's been too long since I've seen my girl."
Hermione gave him a small smile. "It has been a long time. I should've come home over the holidays."
"It's all right, wasn't that big of a deal." he mumbled, leading her to the back corner. He had to smile back at her when he realized Aberforth had stuck flowers on the table.
"Oh, look what Madam Rosmerta did with the table!" Hermione exclaimed, "How pretty!"
Ron was glad he hadn't said anything. Of course it had been Madam Rosmerta, Aberforth probably didn't know flowers from weeds. Not that he much did either, but he did wish it'd been his idea to decorate the table. He never thought of things like that until it was too late.
"So what can I get the two of you tonight?" Aberforth called out from behind the bar.
"Two butterbeers, please!" Hermione called back. "Are we staying for dinner? Or does your mum have something planned?" she asked Ron.
Ron suddenly realized he had no idea. Mum would certainly have food if they wanted it and she would want to celebrate, they were going to celebrate he was sure of that, but did she have anything planned? He hadn't thought to ask.
"Why don't we get something small here and then I'm sure your mum will have something ready for us when we get there, too? I'm quite hungry, the ceremony took ages." Hermione told him.
He simply nodded in agreement. Life went easier when he agreed with Hermione.
"I'm thinking," she started to say. Her eyes lit up as a waitress walked by with a tray. "I'm thinking I want a chocolate trifle. We're celebrating today, so why not start with dessert?"
Ron goggled at her for a minute. "Who are you and what did you do with Hermione, who doesn't break the order of things?"
"Today I do. Today is a special day after all, and I want a chocolate trifle." she leaned back in her chair, satisfied.
"Then, two chocolate trifles, Aberforth, please!" Ron shouted to him. If Hermione wanted chocolate trifles, then that was what he would get her.
___________________________________________
After their impromptu dessert, the duo left the Three Broomsticks to stroll the streets of Hogsmeade before heading to the Burrow. Ron could feel his heart beating as he took Hermione's hand. He hadn't managed to figure out yet what the perfect timing would be. He had known it wouldn't be in the Three Broomsticks, too many people, Hermione wouldn't have wanted so many people around for a proposal. Honestly, he didn't much like the idea either, it should be the two of them. He wondered if he should've planned it a bit more.
"It's almost nightfall." Hermione remarked. "We should fetch my luggage soon, send it to your place."
"My place? You want to come to my place?" Ron was a bit shocked.
"Aren't we going to the Burrow later?" she asked, confused.
"Oh! Well, yes. But I don't live there anymore so when you said my place, " he trailed off.
Hermione giggled. "Tonight it's the Burrow. We'll see about your place later." she gave his hand a squeeze. "I forget sometimes we're all grown up with actual jobs now and you have a place of your own, I haven't even seen it yet!"
"It's not much, really. Just rather small." Ron was pleased she wanted to see it.
"I'm sure it's quite nice, Ron." She didn't say she was also sure it was somewhat messy, but she was proud of him with his job as an Auror and having his own place already.
The Hogsmeade station loomed ahead of them. Ron wondered if that should be the place for the question, he had initially thought the pub would be the place but it had never felt right. It had to be just right, he wouldn't settle for less.
"Yes, my luggage is still here. I'm glad, I wouldn't want to go after it into London tonight. I just want to go to the Burrow and sleep." Hermione walked ahead a bit.
"Let's not go yet." Ron said, hurriedly. He had to ask her before they went home, it wouldn't be much of a party if he hadn't yet asked.
"All right. Maybe we could walk a bit. The weather is so nice tonight." Hermione didn't know what to think of his strange behavior. She pulled her wand from her robes pocket and pointed it towards the luggage. The luggage disappeared. "There, it'll go to the Burrow now." she put the wand away and took Ron's hand again. Tucking herself up to his side, she said, "I'm just so glad it's all over and we can get on with our lives and being grown ups at last."
Ron knew the moment was coming. He put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm glad,too. It was a long year, waiting for you."
"You know I had to finish school. I would never have felt right if I hadn't."
"I sure didn't mind. I feel fine." he teased her.
"Of course you didn't. But, well, I didn't want to explain to my parents why I wasn't graduating for one thing." Hermione told him.
"That would be a difficult conversation." Ron had to agree. He had finally met her parents when they went to unoblivate them in Australia. Her parents were definitely the sort to not understand dropping out of school without graduating.
"Let's just be together tonight."
Ron wasn't going to argue about that at all. He couldn't think of anyone he'd rather be with. He wondered if the right time would present itself anytime soon or it should be spur of the moment pull the ring out and hope for the best sort of time.
"You're quiet tonight." Hermione remarked as they headed back along the path by the water.
He scuffed his shoe as they walked along. "Just a lot on my mind I guess. Being an Auror, it's just different then I thought it'd be."
"At least now we'll be able to work together at the Ministry. Remus and Shacklebolt have asked me to join their team." Hermione had been thrilled with the honor.
"That'll be great. We'll be able to see each other every day now." It was getting close to the right time, Ron thought.
"I know! That'll be wonderful, after not seeing each other for so long. I don't want to do that again, Ron." she sighed. "It was too long of a year, after everything we'd been through."
This was it. Ron was sure. His heart was pounding with anxiety and excitement. He was rather certain what her answer would be but he couldn't be quite sure.
They'd come back into the small clearing by the water where the boats had come in. They were in sight of the castle, which Ron felt was rather fitting.
"Hermione, uh, Hermione, I wanted to ask you something." Ron took a deep breath. He hadn't planned on how to ask her, he suddenly realized and went with the only way he could think of.
Hermione looked a bit confused as he started to pull away but her eyes widened and filled with tears as he knelt before her. "Oh!" she gasped.
He felt a burst of confidence and kept going. "Hermione, we've been through so much together. You've always been there, right at my side. I know I wouldn't have made it through any of the absolute insane things we've done without you.I can't imagine my life without you. The truth is, I love you Hermione Granger and I want everyone else to know that,too." Deep breath and he pulled out the ring from his robes pocket. "Would you marry me?"
She wiped her eyes and took a breath. "Yes! Of course I will." She laughed and threw her arms around his neck. "I love you, Ronald Weasley. I can't imagine life without you either." She kissed him.
He laughed with her and pulled himself to his feet, never letting go of her. They kissed again and again as across the lake, the end of year fireworks began, so it seemed all of Hogwarts, where their story started, was celebrating with them.