Hermione watched Harry stride across the Burrow’s backyard and sit down next to Ginny, their heads bent very close together. She herself was aware of two very disparate things at the moment “ Ron’s hand resting lightly on her back and something that Ginny had shouted at them moments before:
“”aren’t going back to Hogwarts next term?”
She had known that, of course, in theory. That this was it, as far as she, Ron and Harry were concerned, school was a thing of the past. But, hearing Ginny ask it so baldly like that suddenly made it very real to her. No N.E.W.T.S. exams for her, no graduation at the top of the class, none of it. Everything she’d been working for the past six years, didn’t matter anymore. She found herself ridiculously close to tears.
“Hermione?” Ron was looking at her, concerned. “What’s “ what’s wrong?”
“Oh, Ron!” She flung herself at him and he encircled her in his arms. Although she was still upset and the thought of leaving school, she couldn’t help but relish in being where she was. She sniffled a bit, then breathed deeper. Yes, she smiled to herself, thinking of that morning last year in Slughorn’s classroom, fresh-cut grass, new parchment, and this. She looked up at her best friend, who had a mixture of happiness and concern on his face. He leaned down a bit - Gosh he was tall! - and her heart jumped a little. His face was very, very close to hers.
“It’s just…just that…well, Ginny just made me realize that we’re “we’re not going back to school. And, well, it just got me thinking, no N.E.W.T.s or graduation or anything “” but Ron had straightened up a bit and was laughing down at her.
“I should have known! Never mind that we’re about to take on the most evil wizard of all time and we may never see our families again! What is Hermione Granger worried about? Her N.E.W.T.s! I suppose you figured you’d squeak another 112% out of Flitwick this year, huh?” Hurt, she escaped the circle of his arms and took a few steps away from him.
“Well, Ronald, I know that grades don’t concern you nearly as much as they do me, but I would think you’d be a bit upset about it and “” her huffy admonition was abruptly cut off by the presence of his hand on her face. He was smiling at her sweetly, and also, a little nervously.
“N.E.W.T.s!” He shook his head, muttered to himself, “There really isn’t anyone quite like you, you know that, don’t you Hermione?”
He shuffled his feet a little and moved closer to her. All thoughts of N.E.W.T.s, Hogwarts, and pretty much, well, everything else, left her head. She’d been waiting for this very moment for almost three years now, and she damn well was going to enjoy it. She wondered if his stomach was churning like hers was, or if he could feel her heart beating in her throat under his sweaty palm. His face was inches away from hers and “
“Ron!! Ginny!! Harry! Can you lot come over here for a mo’?” Mrs. Weasley’s voice ran through the back yard. “Hermione, dear, I need your help with this charm…”
Ron stepped hastily away from her. “Bloody hell, mum, grand timing,” he said, almost to himself. His ears were scarlet again and he seemed a bit deflated.
Hermione sighed internally. Well, she had waited three years, she supposed she could wait a bit longer. She looked over at the stout, loveable form of Mrs. Weasley, who was standing on the Burrow’s back porch, a frown of concentration creasing her face, surrounded by wisps of dancing, floating white and silver ribbon, clouds of tulle and the fairy lanterns Hermione had noticed tied to the kitchen rafters earlier in the morning.
“Of course Mrs. Weasley! I’ll be right over!” Harry and Ginny, Hermione saw, were emerging from under the shade of the big maple. Ginny was flushed and Hermione noted with a grin, she was grasping Harry’s hand tightly. As she watched, they smirked at each other and broke into a run to assist Mrs. Weasley.
“Mum! I’m not sure doing the decorating ourselves was such a great idea…” Ginny laughed as the bewitched ribbons started winding themselves around Harry, binding him to the porch’s railing. Hermione smiled and looked over at Ron.
“Well, Ronald, I suppose we better go help your mum,” she nudged him. He had his hands crossed over his chest sulkily.
“Right, I suppose so,” he grumbled. Hermione impulsively stepped over to him and put her hand in his.
“You know, Ron, there’s more than one chance for everything “ well most things, at least,” she finished logically. “You just need to pay attention to these opportunities when they arise.” She let go of his hand and started walking towards the porch. The ribbons, she could see, were turning out to be dangerous, if not outright murderous. They needed her help. She heard Ron muttering to himself and clearing his throat behind her.
“Hermione?”
“Yes, Ron?” She turned around to face him.
“About what you just said? All that mad stuff about opportunities and such?” She waited. “Well, I was just thinking, Bill and Fleur’s wedding? Will you go?”
“What are you talking about? Of course I’m going! I’m here, Ron, aren’t I?” As much as she adored him, there were times where he made very little sense to her.
“No, erm, that’s not exactly what I meant. I was just thinking, well, you always said, I mean, this is last minute and all, but certainly not as a last resort, or anything “” Hermione briefly thought of saving him from himself, but then let him flounder on, “I guess, what I am trying to say, is will you, erm, accompany me, as my guest, to Bill’s wedding? I mean I know you are already going, as you pointed out, but I was specifically wondering “” this was getting a bit painful to witness. Hermione put him out of his misery.
She walked swiftly back to him and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth. It was gratifying to know she wasn’t the only one who’d learned something in the past few years.
“Yes, please,” she whispered into his ear. Then she set across the lawn towards where Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were beckoning her. She’d help them as best as she knew how, but Hermione knew that, charms, bewitched decorations, and fairy lights aside, this was going to be one magical wedding.
The Time is Now by Hermione816
Chapter Notes: While Ginny and Harry have a much-needed chat, Ron gets himself a wedding date - and Hermione, much to her pleasure, realizes she's not the only one who's learned a thing or two in the past few years...