Chapter 7: Revelations

Ron sat bolt upright from the dream and, in spite of the fatigue that was irresistibly telling him to go back to sleep, the thoughts that were still running wildly in his head banished all thoughts of rest. So he decided to sit up and try to figure out what exactly the dream meant and what he should do about it now.

Well, it was clear that, even in the dream, the feel of her hand in his felt just perfect; as if their hands were two matching pieces from a jigsaw puzzle. Dream apart, in reality too, whenever he held her hand (un)consciously, when they were dating in their sixth year, he felt the same signs of the famous Weasley blush creep up his neck and take refuge in the tips of his ears. Now, at present, he felt the same thing. He had always known that there was something really special about her. Her strong will, her intelligence, her loyalty, her determination; her wild chestnut hair, her soft brown eyes which flashed with anger whenever they fought. The more he thought about her, the longer the list of things he loved about her grew.

Wait a minute, did he just admit to himself that he loved her?

Well Weasley, there’s no need to be surprised about that. Really, you’ve been unknowingly contemplating that since you met her in the Ministry.

Ron could not deny that now. But, what was he supposed to do now?

What do you mean by that? Tell her.

How?

Well, that’s something to think about. How about writing a letter?

A letter. Yes, now that sounded like a good idea. Forgetting about the idea of sleeping, he readied himself to write a letter…a love note….to Hermione. Many rubbish ideas and crumpled parchments later, he read through the final draft of the letter he had written:

Dear Hermione,

I had thought of so many great mushy things to write in this letter, but now everything is just slipping away. So, let me just cut to the chase, as I know you like things straightforward.

The thing is that I have always had feelings for you ever since sixth year, but now they have grown a lot over time. I guess that I would have to account the amount of time I spend with you for that. I think……no I know, I have fallen in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, I want to ask you only one question and that is…Will You Marry Me?

Love, Ron

Only after he had finished reading the letter did Ron realise that the night had fled, and the sun had risen over the horizon, a sunbeam colouring a strip of floor bright yellow. He could already hear the hustle and bustle of the house waking up, filling with sound of his family downstairs. So he got up to get himself ready for the day. As he headed to the kitchen for breakfast, his cell rang again.

“Ron here!”

“Ron, it’s Hermione. Will you please come to Gloria Fleur Park at 10 o’clock today?”

“Oh no! Hermione… Not the park again! Anyway, what is this about?”

“Oh! What do you think we have been doing for all this time? It’s a blind date, of course. Just come. I’ll meet you there.”

“Oh, okay. But, Hermione, this is the last time I am doing this. Is that clear?”

“Alright, Ron. Whatever you say.”

A click ended the conversation. The truth was that, even though Ron knew that he need not go through another blind date, he had reluctantly agreed to it since he did not have the guts to tell Hermione about his decision. Thinking so, he stepped into the kitchen only to see Ginny gazing lovingly at a bouquet of roses.

“Good Morning, Ginny!”

“Oh! Good Morning, Ron!” she said, not looking away from the flowers.

“What’s up? Wait, let me guess…Mark has sent you his third bouquet of roses this week.”

“Yeah,” Ginny sighed, causing Ron to roll his eyes. She finally unglued her eyes from the bouquet, turning to look at her brother. A look of surprise crossed her face and Ginny swiftly removed a rose from the bouquet waving it in front of Ron’s face as if to confirm her doubts. Ron caught the rose in his hand, taking it from her grip; he stared at the red blossom as if completely entranced by the rose. Looking away from the rose, he caught sight of Ginny’s shocked expression.

“What?”

“I never thought I’d see this! I don’t believe it!” she exclaimed, finally finding her voice.

“Don’t believe what?” Ron asked, puzzled.

“Don’t deny it, Ronald Weasley!”

“Deny wh-!”

“You are in love, aren’t you?” Ginny interrupted.

Ron couldn’t help but blush, and that was what gave him away.

“Oh! Finally! It’s about time! Who is it?” Ginny said triumphantly.

“I’m not telling you!”

“Why not? Please tell me, Ron. Please, please, pretty please!”

“Okay, okay…don’t grovel! Just promise that you won’t tell anybody.”

“Okay, I promise.” Ron stood and bent to whisper one word in Ginny’s ear.

“Hermione.”

Ron just walked away, leaving his breakfast and a completely shocked and speechless Ginny in the kitchen of his home.

~*~

“Hello, Ron! I am sorry I won’t be able to make it there.”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t be upset. I’m kind of held up here. Anyway, the girl I have arranged for you to meet will be there in a few minutes. Her name is Ashley Emberstone.”

“Ashley?” repeated Ron.

A voice behind Ron said, “Well, that would be me!”

Ron mumbled an, “Okay, she’s here. See you later, bye”, and turned around.

Well, she was pretty, Ron could not deny that. But now, since Ron had his heart fixed on a brown-haired beauty, he could not help but try to ruin this date. Ashley’s eyes were fixed on the rose that was being twirled between Ron’s fingers.

“You know, you should give the rose to its rightful owner,” she said shyly, twisting a strand of her hair between her fingers.

“Don’t worry, I will,” said Ron, absently.

Confused for a moment, Ashley broke the silence by saying, “Are you the same Ron Weasley, who helped Harry Potter defeat Voldemort?”

“Yes, I am,” Ron said curtly. He did not have even the slightest idea as to why he was being so rude to the girl. Under different circumstances, he was sure he would have appreciated her saying the name of the Dark Lord, as even now, after his defeat, very few people had the nerve to speak the name. Seeing the hurt look on her face, obviously caused by his rudeness, he decided to do just that.

“You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard anybody say Voldemort’s name without half-fainting. I really appreciate that.” Ashley’s face relaxed slightly.

“Thank you…It’s just that my Dad always says that it’s no good living in a Voldemort-free world if we can’t even gather the courage to say his name. You know, he always says…”

Ron had long back stopped listening to her. Instead, he was watching a small kid about six or seven years old playing on his own near the pond in the park. Ron was so engrossed in watching the kid that he could only hear Ashley tell him something about her Dad.

“Er... Ashley. I am sorry to interrupt, but let me get straight to the point. Do you have any idea as to why we are on a date?”

“Yes, sort of. Hermione told me that you were looking for a steady relationship.”

“Yeah, well, that’s true. But…boy, this is awkward…..I have something to tell you. Ashley, you are a very nice girl. Very pretty and understanding. But I have already chosen……”

“Oh….then why did you have Hermione call me here?” Ashley sounded hurt.

Ron took a deep breath. “Ashley, I know this will sound very irresponsible of me, but the truth is that Hermione doesn’t know about this at all. There was no time to tell her about it. If I would have met her today, I would have informed her so. I really didn’t mean to hurt you at all. I am really, really sorry about how this has turned out.”

Ashley softened up. “Well, I am sorry too. But it was really nice of you to be honest. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t hurt, but it’s alright. Well I must be leaving now.”

“Wait, I know that this is not enough, but can I make it up with you by buying you lunch. Please?”

“Um, okay.”
~*~

Hermione was free this morning and she was enjoying it to the fullest. You would think that now she must be curled up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. After all, that is what Hermione was known to do. But over the years, Hermione had learnt various other ways of keeping herself occupied.

Like cooking.

Mrs. Weasley had told her that cooking, that too the Muggle way, was very therapeutic for her. It helped keep her sanity intact when the Weasley children were little, especially after Fred and George started becoming difficult to handle. She had tried it on her ever-Muggle-crazy husband, Arthur’s suggestion. She had even confessed to Hermione that, at first, she had scoffed at the suggestion. But now she was used to it and enjoyed finding new ways of cooking. Mrs. Weasley had suggested to Hermione that she should try cooking. She did, and was amazed how much she enjoyed it.

Humming a tune, she reached the cabinet and opened it, reaching for some salt.

“BOO!”

Hermione was startled but regained herself quickly.

“Matthew Christopher Granger! What are you doing in the cabinet?”

“Sorry, Mum! I just came back from the park.”

“It’s okay. Why don’t you set the plates for breakfast? Aunt Ginny should be here soon. Then you and I have to attend to Phil and Prissy.”

“Oh! Are they coming? Cool. I love playing with them. At least they don’t tease me.”

Hermione could understand the hurt he faced. Not having a father around had already made him a target of all bullies at his school. Now, having the occasional bursts of magic within him, had made him more scared of everything. So he really enjoyed playing with the Weasley children, even if he was much older than them.

Matthew was a very bubbly six-year-old. Truly speaking, he was all Hermione lived for. If it weren’t for him growing in her womb, she didn’t know what she would have done. When she met the Weasleys, with little Matthew in her arms, they immediately took her in. She got a job in the Ministry under Mr. Weasley, which was not very difficult given her marks in the OWLs and NEWTs, and her contribution to the Final War. If she hadn’t needed to stabilize her life to make it worth living for Matthew, she would have never kept him at a residential school away from herself. Long working hours were meant for keeping herself away from missing her son and wallowing in her past.

Now looking at him setting the table and helping her about at home, she realised the special relationship she shared with her son, of a mother, father, sister and a friend.

“Mum, what are these pictures all about?”

“Oh, Matt, leave them alone, would you? They are important for Mummy’s job.”

Just then, the doorbell rang. Hermione answered it to find Ginny with the two adorable Weasley kids, Phil and Prissy.

“Hey, Hermione! What’s up?”

“Hey, Ginny! Just cooking some breakfast. Matt’s here.”

“Hey, Matt! How’re you?”

Matt loved Ginny. Although he called her Aunt Ginny, he considered her more like a friend. She did the kind of guy stuff that a six-year old could do. Of course, there was nobody else suitable for the job, other than Ginny, who was raised with six boys herself.

“Hi Aunt Ginny! Are you going to stay for some breakfast with us?”

“Sorry buddy! Got to go. I have a date.”

Hermione, who was busy arranging the table, looked up.

“A date? Now? This early?”

“No, silly. I have a luncheon with Mark and his cousin’s family. Very close to Mark, they are. Although, I am getting a little tempted to stay and eat here.”

Ginny dipped her fingertip in the food that was kept on the table and licked it.

“Mmmmmmm! This is so delicious. Wow, Hermione you are going to give Mum a run for her money. Believe me, if it weren’t for the luncheon, I would have stayed right here.”

Hermione blushed at this praise. Just then, Ginny noticed the pictures, which Hermione had taken away from Matt, on the counter.

“Hey pictures! What are they for, Hermione?”

“Oh, those? They are for your dear darling brother, Ron.”

“Oh, matchmaker duty! But…didn’t Ron talk to you yet? I think he has found his match.”

“No- What? He didn’t tell me! Great!” she said with mock sarcasm. “Here I am selecting prospective brides for him, and he goes and selects one without even informing me about it. Wait, on second thought, he did sound a little upset this morning when I called him to tell him about his date,” she said thoughtfully, her mind returning to the call. “He told me that he wasn’t interested in seeing any more girls. I wonder who he could have picked…? Ginny, did he tell you anything about the girl?”

Ginny was about to tell her when she remembered the promise she had made to Ron, and instead she said, “Nah...I think that’s for Ron to know, and you to find out.”

Saying this, Ginny left (after taking one more taste of the food), leaving Hermione thinking about who that girl could be.

Actually, while on one hand Hermione was glad that Ron had found a suitable bride and she was now free to enjoy the rest of her ‘sabbatical’… on the other hand, she felt a tug of sadness at her heart. She felt that she was going to…lose him.

Lose him? She thought to herself. How can I lose him when I never had him? He was never mine.

Oh yes, he was. Think about it.

No use. It’s too late for that.

Hermione decided to ask Ron about his decision when she got a chance.

~*~