Chapter Text
You booked the night train for a reason
So you could sit there in this hurt
Bustling crowds or silent sleepers
You're not sure which is worse
Ron didn't think it was the best solution to book a late night train on Christmas Day, but that's what came to mind as he tried to escape the moment that seemed to last forever.
He was listening to the loud conversations as there was a family celebrating Christmas in front of him, the mother singing, the little girl trying to open her present, and there was a couple who looked very happy.
While on the other side there was the silence of the sleeping people with their heads resting on the cold window or on someone's shoulder.
He didn't know which was worse as he sat there trying to ignore his pain this way. Maybe it was a good way to just sit there and look at the world while your heart was torn apart but despite this wonderful distraction it wasn't working as his mind kept replaying what had happened less than an hour ago.
1 hour ago
This was the moment he had been waiting for and planning for It for so long. He watched his parents excited faces as he danced with Hermione, Harry gave him a thumbs up and Ginny held a bottle of Dom Bergeon champagne which was an expensive brand and he had brought it for such a wonderful occasion.
He looked at Hermione, there was a gentle smile on her face, although she seemed a little distant these days. She was distant from him, but it was okay. He could figure out what was wrong with her later when she agreed to his proposal.
The song had stopped and the two of them had stopped dancing but Ron just knelt on the floor and took out the ring box that had belonged to his mother and smiled at Hermione who looked very surprised and then asked the question he had wanted to ask her since the moment he saw her on that train he knew she was the one.
But Hermione was frozen in place and her eyes widened in terror and Ron was unable to ask her and make his speech because fear began to rise in him thinking that she was having a seizure or something but maybe she did not want to marry him?
Ron knelt down as if to beg her not to go and marry him, but she spoke in a trembling but certain voice, "No."
She ran away, leaving him heartbroken, kneeling on both knees like a humble person, with his mother's ring in his hand and the speech he was going to give her now completely forgotten in the middle of a black void.
He felt humiliated and was very aware of his family's severe silence and Harry's hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him but he refused it and left the place not knowing what or where to, ignoring Harry's screaming of his name.
After two weeks
He was drunk again and he knew it when he started screaming her name loudly in the middle of the bar. He expected to be thrown out but instead there stood a girl with blue eyes, curly blonde hair and a purple hair band. She had a worried look in her eyes and a scar on her cheek.
He knew it was Lavender Brown when she said his name worriedly, "Are you okay Ron?"
"Lavender?"
Lavender nodded and smiled at him and when he was about to stumble she grabbed him and said, "How about I take you home?"
Of course he didn't want to go home, he avoided being seen there, he didn't want to see the pity in his parents' eyes and their empty reassuring words or how his mother called Hermione mentally insane, he didn't want any of that.
Instead he asked Lavender, "How about you have a few drinks with me and talk about yourself a little? I haven't seen you in centuries."
"But I work here, I can't..." Lavender said, looking at the man in the bar who was gesturing for her to go back.
Ron interrupted her, "You can make and serve drinks and talk to me." He smiled at her and sat down on the high bar stool facing her as she went back to work.
Ron knew he was drunk but he felt a little out of his mind and Lavender's encounter was a good excuse to forget about his problems for a while so he wouldn't think about them, thinking that what alcohol hadn't worked for him would be helped by some conversation with an old colleague.
Lavender was handing the customer a drink and returning with one, which he drank in one gulp.
Lavender watched him anxiously then said as she pushed a blonde lock that had fallen into her eyes, "I read the papers, Ron, and I'm really sorry. I didn't see this coming. I always thought that you and Hermione were the end game."
Ron scoffed, "Yes, me too, actually everyone thought so."
Lavender sighed and went back to work. It was many hours later when the bar was empty and he was left with an old man who was sleeping on his glass and snoring.
Lavender sat in front of him looking very tired and said, "Okay, I'm done with my work."
But Ron was in another world as he stared into his glass and said, "Why didn't she agree to marry me? Why? I thought that she loved me and that I loved her and that we would build a family together and have children. We would have a girl who looked like me but had her qualities and intelligence. She would be at the top of her class and would be head girl in year seven. We would have a son too who would be clumsy like me but have my kind and brave heart. That's all I wanted. I wanted a family like mine, like Harry and Ginny. Why wasn't she brave like them? Why didn't she agree!"
Ron felt tears falling from his eyes and he began to feel more despair than anger but Lavender spoke in a gentle voice "Well what you wanted was very nice Ron and it still is but maybe Hermione didn't want that maybe she had other goals?"
Ron shrugged and said in pain, "She wanted to become head of the magical creatures department and she was working towards it and every time I mentioned children and such she would ignore it and not agree but the last time we talked she had said okay."
Lavender listened to him carefully, she didn't seem to pity him or give him the same looks as his family did, she seemed understanding and got up to make a drink for her and him and put the bottle of whiskey between them.
Ron took a sip of his drink and said, "I didn't know you worked here."
Lavender drained her glass with one gulp and twisted her face. "Yes, because no one really knows. You're probably the first to know."
"Why?"
Lavender smiled and circled her finger around the mouth of the cup. "No one asked about me after the war. I was alone all these years. You know that my only friend was Parvati. She died and I had no one left. My last boyfriend broke up with me because he said I was ugly." She pointed to her scar with disregard.
Ron grabbed her hand that was on the table and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, lav."
Lavender laughed as she squeezed his hand, "I missed that nickname but there's no need to be sorry, I'm fine and happy and I don't care what a fool says."
"You've changed." Ron smiled.
Lavender was surprised and pulled her hand out of his and asked, "Really?"
Ron nodded, "The Lav I knew wouldn't work in a place like this, put up with drunk people talking, wouldn't go out in regular clothes, wouldn't bother with makeup, and of course she would try to hide her scar."
Lavender smiled as she stared at her nails which had an old pink polish that was already half gone. "I guess you're right Ron. I probably needed to hear this from someone who knew me from the old days but yes I'm not the old Lav. There was a moment when I felt like none of that mattered, it didn't matter if people thought I was pretty. What mattered was that I was happy and even though I'm not quite that way but I'm trying."
The two poured more whiskey as Ron asked, "Do you miss the old lav?"
A sad look crossed Lavender's blue eyes but she smiled and said "Sometimes I do when I remember how happy I was I sing a song and Parvati sings with me when we put on makeup and talk about boys everything was fine I was so happy with my friend I never thought that one day this would change that I would sing the same song alone and remember those beautiful moments."
A tear fell from Lavender's eyes and she quickly wiped it away and pulled out the bottle of whiskey and drank half of it and handed it to Ron who also drank half and they continued to exchange the bottle and talk about the past.
"I'm glad I saw you, lav," Ron said with difficulty.
Lavender's sleepy eyes looked at Ron and she smiled at him and at that moment Ron knew that it was wrong and he shouldn't do it but he leaned down and kissed her and soon that kiss turned into a strong kiss and the two of them started to tear each other's clothes but Lavender put her hand on Ron's chest and whispered in a trembling voice "Let's go to my place a block away."
Ron agreed and the two of them walked to Lavender's small apartment. Meanwhile, when he looked at her cute smile, her curly hair and the pink tint on her cheeks, for a moment he remembered the old Love from sixth year, his first girlfriend. He didn't feel anything while kissing her and having sex with her that night because she was still in the corner of his mind. He regretted doing this with Lavender. He slept with her to get rid of his pain. He had Hermione in mind, so he left in the morning, leaving her naked on the bed without a note or a goodbye.
After two years
Ron was surprised when Hermione burst into Harry's office and interrupted the two's conversation about a Quidditch date with the boys.
Hermione looked angry and her brown eyes were about to tear them apart. Ron grabbed his daughter and was on his way to find Lavender and hand her over to her when Hermione asked him to stay too since it was his business as the head of the Auror department.
It turns out Hermione's problem was with the Wolfsbane Potion being cancelled and she was angry because she had no idea about the rule.
Ron sighed, holding Rosie tightly. He knew it wouldn't be easy. He told Harry that.
"Who told you this?" Ron asked curiously, knowing that they had warned everyone not to tell her.
"Draco of course."
"Malfoy, you mean since when have you been friends?" Ron dug.
Hermione ignored him and turned back to Harry, "You know this is very wrong, Harry. I don't understand why you made such a decision."
Ron was lost in his thoughts, ignoring the two's conversation. So Draco Malfoy was the one who told Hermione. He was seeing her with him and didn't know they were this close. Now Hermione will trust him more because he told her about the potion.
Of course it couldn't get any worse when Lavender stormed in, got into an argument with Hermione, took Rosie and left angrily.
Hermione returned to them, threatened them, and then proudly left.
Harry sighed, removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes and looked tired as Ron sat in front of him and said, "You know that she will do everything in her power to get this law repealed?"
Harry nodded and smiled, "It's Hermione Granger."
Ron sighed and said, "Maybe you should tell her what happened. Why are you doing this? I know why and I understand you and I'm sure Hermione will too."
Harry shook his head and said in frustration, "She won't. Hermione loves helping everyone and I can't talk to her when she hasn't spoken to me in two years."
The two were silent for a few minutes with nothing to discuss as Ron stood up and said, "If you need my help I'm always here and I'll see you tonight at the Burrow."
"Thanks Ron."
2 years ago
Ron was standing next to Lavender talking to Bill and Fleur when he saw her enter the room wearing a blue dress. She was confused and looked tired as she looked around. Ron didn't expect that she would come to Teddy's birthday, that Andromeda would invite her.
That was the first time he saw her since she left him on his knees. He knew he had moved on with Lavender and that he was fine with her, but he still remembered their moments together. He couldn't forget their years together so easily. There were moments he missed the old Ron and Hermione, how happy and content they were. There were simple moments like dancing in the moonlight, eating ice cream, making lasagna and him helping her. When he messed it up, she would laugh at him and throw him out of the kitchen. But that was the one memory that would erase all their good memories. It was the fact that painful memories are stronger than happy ones and you will remember them forever.
Lavender was asking him a question but he was watching Malfoy who stood next to Hermione talking and joking with her she was laughing with him and her eyes were lighting up Hermione wasn't the type to laugh easily after the war after her parents died it took effort from him and them to make her laugh and when she did it was for their sake so they wouldn't get upset he knew that from the light dimmed in her brown eyes but now she looked fine and her eyes were lighting up as she talked to the ferret.
"I'm going to the bathroom." Lavender said and quickly left.
He knew that she noticed that he was watching Hermione but she didn't do anything, she didn't say anything. He was waiting for her one day to explode and tell him to stop being so pathetic for thinking of her because she left him and humiliated him in front of his family and in front of the magical world but she didn't. Despite the pain in her blue eyes, she forced a smile when she came back from the bathroom and her eyes looked a little red and her nose as well but she didn't tell him what was wrong when he asked her wishing she would talk and tell him but she just smiled, took his hand and went back to talking to Fleur.
He didn't deserve her, he knew that, especially when he thought about Hermione and how close she was to the ferret. Lavender didn't deserve this treatment, but he was trying. He was trying not to think about her, trying to be better for Lavender.
•••
Ron was waiting for the elevator to go to Harry's office to discuss some matters with him when the elevator stopped and there was laughter in it. Ron looked and saw Hermione and Malfoy looking very happy but the laughter of the two stopped when he entered the elevator.
Ron couldn't stand the silence and wanted to provoke them, so he smiled at them sarcastically and said, "Are you having a good day?"
Malfoy gave a cold nod and said, "till now."
There was silence in the place and Ron thought of different ways to pluck the blond ferret's hair. He hated him intensely. He did not understand what he was doing with Hermione. Was he an idiot? Why was he next to her? What did he want from her?
Ron's eyes went to Malfoy and he noticed how close he was to Hermione and he felt angry again and said "I advise you to stay away from her Malfoy as you can see she is not your type and besides you don't want to be left standing like an idiot with a ring."
"Just because I didn't want to marry you doesn't mean you have the right to talk about me that way Ronald," Hermione said angrily. "Besides, two years have passed and you now have a wife and a daughter and you haven't forgotten what happened?"
Ron opened his mouth to say something but Draco cut him off. "I appreciate your warning Weasley but maybe because she was with the wrong man she left you standing there?"
Before Ron could reply with anything harsh, a female voice broke in announcing the arrival of the magical creatures section and the two quickly exited.
Ron was furious at what had happened and threatened, "You'll really regret this, Hermione."
But she didn't even look at him and left with Malfoy. He knew she was right when she told him after all this time he didn't forget and he wanted to ask her at that moment did you do it Hermione did you forget us that easily did Malfoy make you forget our relationship? That ferret didn't mean the wrong man he was the perfect man for Hermione and he was sure she would never find anyone like him.
2 years ago
"Please stop walking, Ron, and tell us what happened!"
Ginny said as she watched her brother pace back and forth.
Finally Ron stopped and looked at her and Harry and said with an excited smile, "I'm proposing to Hermione on Christmas Eve in two weeks."
Harry laughed and clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Yes, it's finally happening."
Ginny smiled and said, "That's great, Ron, but are you sure Hermione wants this?" She asked doubtfully.
Ron nodded and sat beside her where he picked up Albus from her lap and hugged him and said "Yes last night after we got back from you we discussed the children and I told her I wanted children of course she agreed too but after marriage so here I am."
"Of course you picked the right ring," said Jenny, now ignoring her doubt. "If you don't, we can go together and I can help you."
"No need for that, Ginny ." Ron said, pulling a box out of his pocket, opening it and showing it to them.
Ginny gasped, "This is...my mother's ring."
Ron nodded, his blue eyes sparkling as he brushed his red hair away from his forehead. "Yes, I know. She gave it to me when I told her. I didn't expect her to give it to me, but she said that Hermione was like her daughter and that she deserved to have this ring on her finger."
Harry smiled and hugged James tightly. "That's sweet Ron. I'm sure Hermione would approve."
Ron smiled as he looked at the ring. He was so excited he couldn't eat. He only remembered feeling this excited twice. The first was during his first match as a Gryffindor Quidditch keeper and the second was when he kissed Hermione for the first time in the Chamber of Secrets.
He imagined her smile as she said yes and how her eyes would light up brighter than the stars in the sky when she heard his speech to her and how an excited smile would form on her lips as she watched him place the ring in her hand and then she would tuck her hair behind her ear and when she recognized the ring as his mother's she would tell him she love him and kiss him and he would be the happiest man in the universe.
After two months
"I got your message so what do you want to talk about?"
Ron asked Lavender as soon as he arrived at the bar where they had first met. Lavender had pulled him outside into a dark street and she looked pale, tired and nervous as well.
Ron was surprised when he saw her message and she told him that it was very urgent and that he had to come. He had not spoken to her since that night but he came because he was worried.
"Are you okay? I know we haven't spoken since that night which I'm so sorry for. I was an idiot and a drunk. You don't deserve someone like me to sleep with you to forget his pain. I'm sorry about that. When I left it was because I was disgusted with myself and when I did I couldn't look you in the face and say that."
Lavender was quiet as she listened to him and didn't respond with anything until Ron thought she didn't hear him and was about to ask her if she was okay when she said, "I'm pregnant."
Ron froze in place, of course he didn't expect such a response and said, "Wow... I mean, are you sure?"
Lavender nodded and sighed, "Yes I do and he's yours because I haven't slept with anyone but you since that night and I know you're going through a lot right now and this isn't the right time for you to be a father but I want to keep the baby I want it I've always wanted to be a mother and I'm not going to abort him or give him up for adoption or anything like that I want him to be mine."
This was what Ron had always wanted a child but he never expected it to be this way. He had always imagined it would be after his marriage to Hermione and her telling him in a surprise in the Burrow that she was pregnant and his family and friends would be surprised and overjoyed and blessed. Their child would be planned as a result of their love and wonderful relationship with each other.
But now Lavender Brown, the last girl he expected to say those words to him, was telling him on a dark street, on high alert after a drunken night none of them had planned. For the second time, Ron felt his world crashing down on his head and there he was, under the rubble.
He looked at Lavender who was looking worried and took a deep breath as he did the right thing, "I want this baby too Lavender and we'll talk about what we're going to do later. I need to go now."
He said that while he appeared from the place quickly and in his head was one idea, he wants this child no matter who his mother is, he is his father and that is what is important, he will stand behind what he did and also Lavender is not bad at all from what he remembers on that drunken night she has changed a lot in addition to the fact that he lost a long relationship and a girl he loved half his life, he will not lose his child also even if he is broken and does not know what to do.
2 years ago
Ron came home late after he and Harry celebrated completing the Auror mission. He was very tired and just wanted to hug Hermione and sleep. She knew he would be late and of course she was asleep now.
But when Ron entered the living room and heard the sounds of sighs and sobs and saw curly brown hair that belonged to none other than his beloved Hermione.
"Bloody hell."
He immediately ran to her worriedly, sat beside her and held her hand. He didn't know what was happening to her as he tried to help her, talk to her and touch her. She looked like she was having trouble breathing, her eyes widening in terror and her hand reaching for her chest as she tried to breathe. He said as he held her hand, "Look at me Mione."
She looked into his eyes and Ron met her brown eyes that were looking at him with terror, those eyes that always looked at him with love and care, was looking with terror and this made him catch his breath as he helped her breathe and his hand squeezed her hand more to make her feel safe to tell her that he was here and he would make all of this go away.
"Breathe Mione, you're okay, I'm here, okay, everything will be okay, just breathe."
She was breathing and doing what he said until her breathing returned to normal and her brown eyes returned to their warm color and she looked tired as she put her head on his shoulder and Ron kissed her head and ran his hand through her hair trying to comb it after what happened and kept telling her that it was okay and that she was fine. She looked like she fell asleep then he carried her to their room and laid her on the bed and held her hand and kissed her while he noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the tension wrinkles around her eyes.
"What's wrong with you, Mione?"
After nine months
"I want to take you on a date."
Ron said to Lavender after finishing his third drink as he sat across from her at the bar.
"What?"
Ron ran a hand through his hair. "I couldn't ask you out on a date via a letter, could I?"
Lavender put her elbows on the table and raised an eyebrow. "But you didn't ask me now. You said what you were going to do and didn't ask me at all."
Ron furrowed his brow as he realized that was true, cleared his throat and asked with a gentle smile, "Would you go on a date with me, please?"
Lavender smiled and replied as she walked away from the table, "Yes, just because you're nice."
The two left the bar and went to eat at a nice muggle restaurant and Lavender was eating enthusiastically.
Ron smiled at her and Lavender stopped eating and looked at him and said with a mouth full of food, "What? I'm pregnant."
Ron smiled and said, "You're cute, Lav." He resumed eating as he watched Lavender's smile and the pink spot on her cheeks.
At the end of their date, after eating ice cream in all of Lavender's favorite flavors, Ron leaned over and kissed her.
•••
This was probably the hardest thing Ron had ever seen as he watched Hermione dance with Malfoy at the Halloween party.
Ron Weasley was one of the people who knew Hermione best, and the second was Harry who was busy with his problems and did not pay attention to what was really happening with Hermione, but Ron does. It is true that he moved on and married Lavender and they have a beautiful girl, but he always finds himself looking for Hermione to reassure herself. He does not know the reason for that, he just does it.
And that look in her eyes as she danced with him, she had never looked at him that way before, it was like she was focused on him alone and not paying attention to the others talking about them and looking at them, as if she only cared about him. The way her body flowed in his hands and how comfortable she was there, it was like she belonged there and nowhere else.
Even after their dance was over and they returned to their table with Luna distributing the prophet's newspapers to everyone and revealing the potion to everyone present and the photographers attacking them with questions and eye-sore camera shots with Lavender's hand around him as she appeared him to their house, he still thought about her look at him and wondered.
Why didn't you look at me like that?
2 years ago
When Hermione returned from wherever she had been he didn't really know but she looked very tired and sad in her black clothes.
Ron walked over to her, grabbed her arms and asked gently, "Are you okay, love?"
Hermione looked at him, her brown eyes dimmed as she forced a half smile on her face. "I'm fine Ron."
She turned to leave and Ron went back to the fridge to look for food and said "Why are you so sad today? Dressed in black and I saw you buying Lillie's . How about we go to Harry and Ginny's?"
He heard Hermione's muffled voice, "I don't want anything Ron, I think I'm going to sleep, I'm tired."
Ron shrugged and microwaved some Chinese food and screamed as that ugly orange cat bit his leg.
He looked at the cat who looked angry and said in pain while holding his injured leg, "What's wrong with you, Crookshanks?" But the cat turned and gave him his back with his tail wagging and went to where Hermione was.
After eight months
Ron and Lavender came out of the ice cream shop and the two were enjoying eating ice cream.
"This is so good." Lavender said as she tasted his own, which was vanilla and strawberry flavored.
Ron pulled his cone away and said, "Hey, you eat yours and leave mine."
Lavender who had just finished her cone grumbled and frowned at him, Ron smiled and handed her his and said, "Here."
Lavender jumped up and took the cone from him and printed a chocolate kiss on his cheek which made him laugh. sometimes he was happy and made him feel happy and forget himself as if he was six years old playing pranks with Fred and George.
His attention was caught by the sound of a female laugh that he would recognize anywhere, it was Hermione and Malfoy walking out of the Malfoy Pharmacy which was next to them.
Hermione seemed comfortable with Malfoy telling her something apparently funny as she continued to laugh and listen to him and they didn't seem to notice he was there as they just walked past them.
Ron sighed and turned back to Lavender who now looked angry as she looked at him with her arms crossed.
"What?" Ron asked her.
"I'm just tired of you keeping looking at her and your looks at her and all of this. When will this all end? I'm tired." Lavender said frustrated.
Ron had no answer because he himself didn't know when he would stop.
Lavender pushed him away and shouted "You are pathetic Ronald Weasley you ignore me all the time I am pregnant with your child you care about me a little and when you see Hermione you forget me and forget everything damn and look at her why can't you see that she doesn't want you she doesn't care about you hell she didn't even look at you when she walked past us her attention was only on him."
"Stop."
"No Ron I won't stop I've stopped too much and I'm tired of stopping from continuing to ignore all this I'm sick of you and I'm sure you still have her picture in your wallet now and if you do then I'm leaving and you won't see me until your damn mind comes back into your head."
"What are you talking about?"
Lavender reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and before Ron could stop her she opened it and of course there was that picture of Hermione that he had taken on her camera when they graduated from Hogwarts and it had been in his wallet pocket ever since that day.
"I was right, of course." Lavender said, curling her lip in disappointment, throwing the wallet at him and turning around.
Ron grabbed her arm and said, "Stop, Lav. It's really hard. I'm trying and..."
Lavender interrupted him, pulling her arm away from him. "Stop, Ron. Don't you know that it's hard for me too, watching you ignore me every time you see her? You don't even see or hear me when you see her. It's so painful. I'm facing this pregnancy alone, dealing with all the complicated emotions I'm going through, and you just keep looking for her. You have to move on, Ron."
"It's very difficult." Ron said in a broken voice.
Lavender breathed as she placed her hand on his cheek, "I know it is, but do it for her." She placed his hand on her stomach.
"For Her?" Ron's blue eyes widened.
Lavender smiled, her eyes welling up. "Yes, it's a girl."
Ron laughed. He had always wanted a little girl and this was happening.
"Think carefully about what I said, Ron, and come talk to me," Lavender said seriously.
Before she left she kissed the side of his lips and said, "I hope this will be quick because I'm afraid that I like you Ron."
After two years
It was the second time Ron had bumped into Hermione and Malfoy in the elevator but this time the two were holding hands.
Ron walked in and looked at their intertwined hands and sneered with a smile, "So you're together huh? Death Eater and Crazy Girl is a great title."
Of course Ron said that to provoke them into talking because he wanted to know if they were together or not.
"Shut the hell up, Weasley," Malfoy said impatiently.
Before Ron could say anything, the elevator opened and Malfoy pulled Hermione out.
There must be something going on with the two of them, Ron thought as he made his way to Harry's office, who when he saw him he didn't even notice him, he was far away and tired sitting in his office.
Ron walked over to him and put his hand on his shoulder, which made Harry flinch and look at him. Ron asked worriedly, "Are you okay, Harry?"
"No, I'm not okay at all! This bastard is threatening me and I can't do anything." Harry cried in resignation.
Of course Harry was talking about Greyback.
"What happened this time?" Ron asked.
Harry got up from his desk and walked quickly, "He knew about the trial and he knows very well that Hermione will be able to cancel the potion and he..."
"What is it?"
Harry stood in front of Ron and said in a trembling voice, "He said... he would make James disappear... forever."
"Damn it." Ron cursed as he grabbed Harry's shoulders and tried to reassure him. "It'll be okay. We'll protect James. We've got wards and everything so he can't get to them."
Harry moved away from him and said hysterically, "He's a bloody werewolf, Ron. You know how strong he is. No one can stop him, not even me, the Chosen One. I... I succeeded in becoming a hero, but I failed at being a father."
Ron shook his head vigorously as he grabbed Harry's shoulder and shook him. "Don't say that Harry, you are a very good father. In fact, I am very jealous of you. It's just that evil is present in places you don't expect."
2 years ago
"So you came, have you thought about what you said?" Lavender asked as she handed Ron a glass of whiskey sitting in front of her.
Ron took a sip from the glass and returned it to her. "I thought, yes I know I want this. I like you too, lav."
"But?" She raised an eyebrow.
Damn she knew him so well. Ron breathed and said, "I'm trying, believe me, I definitely don't want to keep thinking about her forever, but it's so hard and every time I see her I forget what happened, that we're not together, that she left me, and that I'm with you now."
Lavender sat beside him after telling the owner that she was going to take a break. Her blue eyes looked at him with understanding "Well you know I've changed, I'm not the old Lavender, I mean if I was I would have killed you and Hermione the moment I found you watching her." Ron laughed and she smiled at him and continued "But I'm not, I understand you Ron, I know that getting out of a long relationship, a relationship that you devoted your life to and expected to be your first and last, is very hard, but it's hard for me and her too." She put his hand on her swollen belly then smiled and said "You can tell her and me all about your relationship with Hermione, why is it so hard for you, I mean sometimes talking is very helpful and I'm willing to listen."
The way his hand was there on their child he could feel it just a tiny little spark but it was there beside him and so was Lavender who never judged him if it had been another woman she would have cursed him and left him alone but she didn't she understood him she stood by him and she deserved for him to talk for her to try to explain himself he never did even with Harry and Ginny and his family he couldn't see the pity on their faces unlike Lavender who waited patiently for him to speak.
"She was the only one I could imagine my future with." Ron began with a smile. "From the moment I first saw her on the train I knew she was special to me. I was jealous of her and teased her because she knew so much and I was like an idiot in front of her. It was strange how smart and wonderful she was, full of knowledge about everything in magic, things even I didn't know about." Ron laughed and ran his hand over Lavender's stomach. "When I first dated your mother, she was the first girl I ever dated, the first girl I ever kissed. I found her wonderful because she loved me when no one else did, but I knew I liked Hermione so I don't remember how, but we broke up." Lavender smiled and said, "I'll never tell you." Ron laughed and continued, "Everything was fine after the war. I was dating Hermione and Harry was dating Ginny and everyone was happy and fine. I thought so but she wasn't fine especially after her parents died. When I went to bring them back it was hard for her I know and I tried to be there for her but she wouldn't tell me what was wrong. She would smile and ignore it and tell me she was fine at first. I didn't believe it because I was there when she broke down when she couldn't sleep because of the nightmares and I was in pain because I couldn't help her because she didn't want help. She kept telling me she was fine until I believed it and everything that happened to her became normal to me. I became blind."
Ron pulled his hand away from Lavender's stomach to wipe away his tears and said bitterly, "I didn't care enough about her... She was my best friend before she was the love of my life and I didn't pay enough attention and I hate myself for that."
Lavender grabbed his hands and pulled them away from his face and said, "You did what you could Ron, you didn't know it was so bad."
He shook his head. "I knew and I didn't do anything. Sometimes I think I didn't love her enough because if I did I would have tried to help her forever. But I didn't. I gave up at first. I wasn't who I told her I would be. I wasn't her sunshine forever."
"And maybe she was the midnight rain and you know that sunshine and midnight rain don't mix very well because the two think differently. They both want something different. You would show up in the morning when she would be so far away you wouldn't be able to reach her and she would show up in the middle of the night raining alone because you weren't there at the time and that's okay. Neither you nor she could fix her. She needed someone who would be there for her. It would be the sunshine and the midnight rain and even her weatherman because that's what she needed."
"But." Ron bit his lip and said as he looked into her bright blue eyes as they stared into his, "If I'm not her sunshine, who am I?"
Lavender smiled and replied, "Mine." Then she leaned in and kissed his lips, her fingers running through his hair and Ron's hands holding her jaw.
She whispered to him with a wink, "For me, because I am the sunshine, and if necessary, I will be the midnight rain, depending on what you want, my dear, and the mood you are in, I will change to whatever suits you, just stay by my side, hold my hand and never let go."
After two years
"Where have you been Lav and you took Rosie with you?"
Ron said as he watched Lavender enter carrying Rosie in her arms.
Ron got up and took his daughter into his arms who laughed excitedly and her fingers shot out to grab his face. Ron made faces at her which made her laugh even more and put her hands behind his neck.
"I was at Hermione's house." Lavender said as she sat on the sofa and took off her coat.
"What!" Ron said in disbelief as he went to sit next to her. "Why?"
"Because I did what I should have done from the start. I made her meet Rose and get to know her. I also apologized to her and explained myself to her."
Ron took her hand and kissed it, then said, "There's nothing you need to apologize for, lav."
Lavender smiled as she squeezed his hand, "I know, but I felt I had to do it and explain myself to her. She also has the right to know what happened."
Ron cleared his throat and said, "And what was her reaction to Rose?"
Lavender smiled, "she really liked her and so did Rosie, she's nice to everyone you know."
"Of course." Ron kissed Rosie's curly hair and looked gratefully at Lavender. "Thank you."
"Why?"
"Because you're always there for me, making my life better without me even asking."
"Well, you're welcome then." She kissed him on the lips and then took Rose and got up. "She should take her nap now, little Rosie."
Ron watched them go and he knew he was getting used to this sight by now and maybe he didn't care about Hermione as much as he did before?
After weeks
"You're the one who changed the trial time, right?"
Ron asked Harry as he arrived in front of the Wizengamot building and Harry was very nervous and at the same time a little relaxed.
"Of course I did, I mean I have no other choice Ron!"
"He's still threatening you then?"
Harry sighed, "His threats are getting worse as the trial approaches and this plan has to work now or something bad will happen."
The clicking of heels caught Ron's attention and he turned around. Hermione was walking towards them, her eyes shooting fire, he already knew Harry's plan wouldn't work.
Ron stepped back and stood to the side watching the argument between Harry and Hermione. Hermione was angry with him of course she knew he was the one who changed the trial date. Ron didn't know when exactly it happened but Harry and Hermione's friendship was beautiful he never wanted it to be broken maybe at first when Hermione rejected him but then he thought and knew that Hermione like him would need her best friend Harry but unfortunately she didn't she pushed him away too.
When Hermione turned away from Harry Ron turned back to him and said, "Sorry mate."
Harry shrugged and smiled. "I knew she would come and I knew she would win this trial and part of me wants her to."
Ron didn't know what to say to him because there was nothing to say. It was very difficult for Harry to go against what he once believed, to betray Remus' memory by withholding this potion. At the same time, he knew that Remus would understand that Harry did it to protect his son. Remus had always been wise, understanding, and loving to Harry. He still remembered when Harry had yelled at him at Grimmauld House when they were on their way to hunt Horcruxes. After a while, Remus had made Harry Teddy's godfather, so Ron hoped that everything would be okay.
The names were being called to begin the trial and when Ron looked up he saw Hermione running to Malfoy and hugging him, the way she hugged him and looked at him as if he had done the impossible for her and then kissed him without caring about anyone and with him standing there she was so happy and her brown eyes were shining, he had never seen Hermione happy with anyone but Malfoy.
And when he entered the Wizengamot Hall he didn't care about what happened in the trial and the fact that Hermione won because only one thought was in his head Hermione had fallen in love and this time he had a deep feeling inside that it was the real love for her.
After three hours
Ron was standing outside Harry and Ginny's house after trying to find out where Greyback was and tried everything he knew and after nothing worked he returned to their house his plan was to talk to the Aurors and search with them for his nephew.
That was when he saw Hermione running out of the house looking choked up and not knowing what to do or where to go. Ron of course was still thinking about her kiss with Malfoy and no matter how hard he tried to forget that scene he couldn't and he was feeling so desperate in addition to James's kidnapping and suddenly he felt his feet carrying him to her and his hand reaching out and pulling her arm making her face him.
Her eyes were red and her hair was a mess and she was looking at him with her eyes begging him to let her go so she could escape but no not this time either Mione.
He was angry with himself, not her. He hated himself because she was still in his thoughts. He shouted in despair, "Just leave me alone, Hermione. I don't want to see your face or hear your voice or anything. Don't you understand that this is very painful? Ever since that day when you rejected me, I just wanted to never see you again. It hurts."
He meant it well, maybe if he didn't see her or hear her voice for a while, maybe he would succeed in forgetting about her completely and everything would be okay?
"Now is not the time at all, Ronald!" Hermione shouted angrily as well.
Ron laughed sarcastically as he thought, there was never a good time for him that she hadn't made for him, she had never done so, and here she was, pushing him away again.
"It was never the right time Hermione but I hope you feel the same way I do then. I hope your heart breaks like mine did then you'll know when it's time."
He didn't mean what he said in that moment of anger. He regretted saying those words as soon as he saw the pain on her face. He didn't want her to suffer because of him and because of what he said, but his words always killed when he was angry and he couldn't control that and he couldn't take his words back either because he didn't know how.
"Trust me Ronald, I felt the same way," Hermione whispered with a bitter smile.
The pain in her voice as she said that made him stop and feel extremely confused. What did Hermione mean by that? Did he... break her heart too? But before he could say anything, Hermione pulled away and appeared in the distance, leaving him standing there confused not knowing what to do.
After three weeks
"Sir, you dropped your wallet."
A man said as he handed Ron his wallet and Ron immediately opened it and confirmed that there was a picture of Lavender in it and smiled reassuringly.
Lavender smiled beside him as the two stood in front of the Wizengamot Hall after Mr. Greengrass' trial had ended. Ron and Lavender had attended the trial to support Hermione in her case.
"I didn't realize you had that picture, Ron." Lavender said, leaning into him.
"Of course you didn't. You only noticed when I put up Hermione's picture." Ron teased her with a smile.
Lavender laughed and pushed him away. Ron kissed her cheek and said, "It was after that night at the pub when you asked me to talk about my relationship with Hermione and everything and I told you I liked you that I knew I was starting to fall in love with you."
Lavender smiled and her eyes lit up. "I think it's a cute picture."
"Yes I took it for you while you were eating ice cream and you weren't really paying attention which made it perfect."
Ron looked ahead and saw Ginny and Harry talking to Hermione and then Malfoy who hugged her from behind and kissed her which made her laugh as she watched his interaction with her friends.
He felt happy for her to see her so happy and finally after years Hermione deserved this happiness from the beginning and even if Malfoy was the one giving it to her it didn't really matter what was important was Hermione only.
He watched Malfoy whisper something into Hermione's ear as she paused for a moment then walked over to him and stood in front of him. It was clear that she wanted to have a conversation with him and Ron was feeling guilty about his words to her in front of Harry's house the last time he spoke to her and he wanted to explain himself to her so he spoke. "You're right Hermione I've realized that recently we weren't quite right for each other. We didn't love each other enough. We were selfish in our own ways and it was never going to work."
Hermione took a breath and looked at him with respect and love the same way she had looked at him when they were friends and said "You know I have always loved you but my love for you was not enough to build a family with you. I did not love you enough to be able to forget my problems and I tried hard but I could not but I am glad that I did not. Don't you see Lavender was always the girl for you. She agreed to marry you and gave you a beautiful child and loved you without any dark thoughts in her head. She would not have left you hanging and frustrated with a ring on your hand like me."
He knew very well that what she said was very true he had been doing it from the beginning but he was angry when he saw her with Malfoy how happy and in love she was and he wished he could made her feel the same way.
Ron smiled sadly and said as he tried to explain his feelings, "I know that now and I am happy with how things have reached. I was like that about a year ago, but when I saw you with him and how happy and comfortable you were, I felt very angry with myself because I was not able to make you happy like him, but my anger appeared in a way that provoked you and I am sorry for that."
"I'm sorry too, Ron," Hermione said sincerely.
Then she went back to where Malfoy was standing and hugged his chest and he kissed her forehead and went back to continue talking with his friends with his hand around her waist.
Ron smiled as he watched her talk excitedly with Harry and lean on Malfoy and said to Lavender who had returned to his side, "I'm happy for her, you know? I think she did the right thing that day when she rejected my proposal because we weren't really right for each other. I didn't love her and her problems like Malfoy did and she didn't love me enough to agree to my proposal and be my wife." He looked at Lavender and continued, "All this time I know I was over her. I was just angry that she rejected me and angry with myself for not being good to her, but now I'm happy for her. I feel like Malfoy loves her very much and she does too and I'm reassured about that."
"I love you Ron Weasley you are a wonderful man." Lavender said squeezing his hand.
Ron smiled and leaned over and kissed her lips and whispered to her, "I love you Lavender Weasley. Thank you for saving me from my pain."
A year ago
And hold your hand while dancing
Never leave you standing
Your mom's ring in your pocket
Her picture in your wallet
You won't remember all my
Champagne problems
You won't remember all my
Champagne problems
Ron was so nervous as he checked everything for the hundredth time, the champagne bottle, the ring, and the song they were going to dance to.
He had invited his family and some of his friends and Harry was reassuring him and telling him that everything was fine and not to worry but he was still nervous what if she rejected him what if she left him and did not accept his proposal I mean this is not his first time.
But when Lavender appeared in a blue dress with her curly blonde hair flowing around her, his heart skipped a beat and he found himself saying to her, "You look so beautiful."
She smiled at him and he extended his hand to her. "Will you dance with me, Lav?"
"Of course." She immediately took his hand and Ron took her to dance as Harry played the song and they continued dancing until Lavender spoke up "Everyone seems strange today in the Burrow and why is Ginny carrying a bottle of champagne? Wow it's Dom Perignon. It's for special occasions. I think I saw it at Padma's wedding last summer?"
Ron smiled nervously of course Lavender would find out all the details around him that was something he loved about her she cared and loved to explore the little details.
Ron knew this was the moment but he was so nervous and for a moment he thought about forgetting the matter and not proposing , afraid that there would be a deja vu of the same scene but when he pulled away from her and saw the way she was watching him with intense interest and focusing on him only.
That made him kneel down bravely and pull out the ring while avoiding looking into her eyes because he was afraid of seeing rejection there and said his speech "I want you to be my wife Lav I love you so much and I want to love you forever because you deserve love because you are the kindest, most caring and most wonderful woman I have ever met in my life... Will you marry me Lavender Brown?"
When he dared to look into her eyes, he found them shining brighter than the stars above them as she listened to his speech. Then she smiled when he finished and answered his question with a yes. She extended her hand to him and Ron took the ring out of the box and put it on her finger while watching her excited smile. Then she tucked her hair behind her ear. When she looked at the ring more, she whispered with realization, "Your mother's ring."
She looked at him, her eyes dancing over every feature of his face. "I love you." She pulled him in for a kiss.
At the same moment, Ginny opened the bottle of champagne and everyone applauded to them.
Ron was the happiest man in the universe because he knew she would be by his side forever, holding his hand as they danced and never letting him stand alone.