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Chapter Sixteen: Oreo

"It's surprising how much dogs can feel our emotions."

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Ron Weasley woke up to the pleasant sound of chirping birds. Today was the day he would have fun and he was very much looking forward to it.

He had told Hermione to take a day off. Although she was reluctant at first, she agreed. Rose was excited and she kept hopping on Ron's feet when he told her he'd get ice cream.

Hence, with a cheerful mood, Ron ate his breakfast. Hermione had made them some toast and eggs and that was enough for the hungry redhead as he gobbled them up in an hurry.

"Ron, that's not table manners!" Hermione chided.

"'o 'ime lef 'se ate!" he mumbled in between chewing. Rose was giggling silently from her position on the table.

"We won't be late! Eat slow lest Rose learns your bad table manners," Hermione protested, feeding Rose a spoon of porridge. Ron paid no heed, causing his wife to huff in annoyance although a small smile was cracking her lips.

After breakfast, Ron left for the garage, telling Hermione that he was going to make sure the car was in shape for the ride. Hermione agreed and while he 'inspected' the car, she packed things and got ready.

The garage was filled with a faint music and as Ron approached the car, the music got louder.

"Just me and you,
No matter the hurdles we will get through;
Weakness is for the weak,
I ain't caring, not a tweak;
Coz it's just me and you,
You and me, we will get through. . ."

"Ginny?" Ron asked slowly, worried about the lyrics of the song. Songs were played only when Ginny wanted her mood to cool off. A light shuffling was heard and the door clicked open. Ron locked the garage so that Hermione would not intrude their privacy and got into the car. He was greeted with a sad smile on his sister's face. "What's wrong?"

"I have got a new weakness, Ron. . ." she whispered. Her head hung low, letting her red hair fall down her shoulders and cover her face.

Deeply worried, Ron managed to croak out the question. "W-what is i-it?"

"An element. I don't know which. Mr Potter didn't either. He just told me I had a new weakness as I set my foot into limbo again. It is an element of nature which I cannot touch. If I do touch it, I will leave the mortal world eternally," she explained. "As usual, I remember the events of the limbo period after a while. . ."

"It's just a weakness, isn't it?" Ron asked, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "'Just me and you. No matter the hurdles we will get through.' We are in this together. We will face it, Ginny. Don't you worry!" even though Ron felt deeply concerned, he would be brave. The Gryffindor in him was driving him to be brave, what come may. He nodded when Ginny looked at him.

"Why is it that I get you into some trouble?" Ginny asked bitterly.

"Believe me, this isn't the first time I got myself into trouble and I would gladly do it over and over again if it meant being loyal to the ones I love."

With a smile, Ginny hugged her brother. He returned the embrace warmly before breaking it off. "It is going to be a grand day so brace yourself up, Gin-Gin!"

"Oh, you dare call me that again!" Ginny threatened mockingly. Ron snickered in response.

"Little Gin-Gin!"

"Won-Won!"

"Oh no you don't!"

"Won-Won, can we go on a date? Please my Won-Won!"

"Shut it, Ginny. It's sounds terrible."

"Won-Won!"

Their fun ended when Hermione knocked on the garage's shutter. Ron was relieved and immediately bolted out of the car to open the garage for his wife and daughter.

"Why would you lock the garage? Anyways, ready Ron?" Hermione asked. Rose was giggling in her arms. Ron nodded with a smile and led them to the car. The front door clicked open on its own and Ron swore to himself. Ginny was taking revenge. "Huh? Did you open the door, Ron?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I-yeah," Ron stuttered. Hermione smiled at him.

"That is very gentlemanly of you. Thank you," Hermione thanked. With a nervous smile, he took the driver's seat. He glared at the mirror which showed his sister's mischievous expression. "Is anything wrong?" she asked again.

"Nothing. Blimey, nothing."

The car zoomed past the blurs of cars and buildings, driving invisibly to all the non magical folks called muggles. Rose's cheerful giggles filled the atmosphere and the song playing on the radio was drowned by the little girl's joy. Hermione was cuddling her and through the mirror, Ron saw Ginny smiling at the mother and daughter.

Pushing himself off the seat, he sat up straight and concentrated on driving. This new weakness worried him, especially since they did not know what it was but Ron wasn't going to let that worry make their trip any less enjoyable than he had planned.

Soon enough, the greenish blue model of the magical car was under the shade of a tree. The green grass beneath them provide a cushioning effect to Ron's aching feet. Stomping the break and accelerator, sometimes in succession, for a long time wasn't something he was accustomed to but seeing the happy smiles of his family was more than enough for the pain.

A red cloth was laid out on the lush grass. Atop it was Rose, clapping her chubby hands. Her red, bushy hair was falling over her eyes and Ron kept brushing it away so that Hermione could feed her. He changed a glance at the car and found Ginny sitting on top of the roof, looking elsewhere. Her face seemed to be glowing, yet it was shaded. Ron could spot a smile on it so he turned back to his hyperactive daughter.

"Is food the only thing that gets the dad and the daughter hyped up?" Hermione joked. Ron laughed and Rose giggled.

"Mumma, more!" she asked, flailing her arms around. Ron tightened his grip on her so as to not let her fall down. With a smile Hermione fed her another spoon. After a while, Rose was well fed and fast asleep on Ron's lap. His smile never left the face as he saw a mini version of Hermione sleeping peacefully on his lap. Although she had red hair, she inherited most of Hermione's traits which included the bookworm part too but Ron wasn't complaining. He loved his daughter way too much. As if on cue, Hermione voiced it out.

"She's got you wrapped around her tiny finger, Ron," Hermione reprimanded although she was smiling. Ron grinned at her.

"Father's baby girl. You know that right?" Ron smirked. Hermione laughed lightly. Ron was the only person who could make her laugh instead of chuckle or giggle.

Ron smiled then looked at the car only to find a puppy climbing into the back seat. His eyes widened and he quickly got up and rushed to the car. Hermione followed suit in confusion. When they got there, Ron found Ginny holding it with a huge grin on her face. He let out a sigh of relief before tensing again as Hermione tried to look over his shoulder. Hermione would not be able to see Ginny which meant that she would see the puppy floating! He quickly turned around and blocked the view with his body.

"Ron, what's in there that got you so tensed up?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Err nothing! I just thought I left the key in the keyhole," Ron stuttered.

"But then, why would you view the keyhole from the backseat?"

"Err, Hermione! You know? The view from the backseat is so good that you can see a PUP FLOATING!" Ron shouted the last part for Ginny to hear. Hermione shushed him.

"Shush, Ronald! Rose is asleep! Do you want her to wake up?" Hermione hissed. She then pushed him aside. "What is in there?!" Ron was about to shove her out of the way but her reaction stopped him. His heart skipped a beat by watching her gasp then coo over the pup. "Aww, that's so cute! Isn't it Ron? But I think we should let it out."

"Ron, please! I want to keep him!" Ginny pleaded just as Hermione looked at him.

"Err, well," Ron stuttered, unsure of what and who to reply. Ginny as well as the puppy looked at him with puppy eyes which made his heart melt. "Hermione, I think we could. . .you know, take care of this pup. . .?"

Hermione frowned then looked at the puppy which showed its eyes again. She cooed over it again then a thoughtful look came over her face. "But we have Crookshanks and he's a cat."

"Oreo can stay with me in the garage," Ginny suggested. Ron blinked.

"Who?"

"Crookshanks, my cat. Honestly Ronald, you forgot him?!"

"Oreo, my pup. Honestly Ronald, he's right here!"

"Err, right. Hermione, Oreo can stay in the garage or something. Crookshanks mopes around in the house so it shouldn't matter much," Ron blurted out after a wave of thought-processing passed.

"Who?"

"Oreo, my pup!"

"Oreo, this pup!"

Hermione looked thoughtful again before smiling and nodding. "That seems like a good idea but," she jabbed her finger at his face. "you should take care of him."

"I will!"

"Ginny will! Err. . . I mean Ginny will love this pup. . ." Hermione looked at him oddly. "I mean I will take care of it!" She smiled then pecked his lips.

"Ugh, get a room!" Ginny snorted before Ron could reciprocate the kiss. He gritted his teeth so as to not retort. When Hermione left, he sat in and closed the door, applying a quick silencing charm around them.

"Ginny!"

"Ron!"

"Oh shut it. You and Harry eat each other's faces off," Ron grunted, making a face before continuing. "Why on ruddy hell do you want this pup?" he asked, motioning towards Oreo which was practically stomping his shoes.

"Can't you see his cute face? And for Merlin's sake, he has a name! It's Oreo."

"Where did that come from?" Ron asked. Ginny shrugged in response.

"Harry once got me some muggle cookies which were super sweet and delicious. Oreo is so sweet and he can see me! That's pretty much it," she explained. Ron nodded in understanding. "I can't forever be alone, Ron. Do you know how much I miss you in the night when it's all dark but the moon's light?" Ron shook his head.

"Do you want me to bunk with you then?" Ron joked then laughed. Ginny snorted.

"Can I please have Oreo?" Ginny pleaded again, the pup barking in agreement. "Merlin's pretty please?"

Ron sighed. He could never see Ginny begging. Hermione had approved so why not him? He smiled then nodded in approval. Ginny beamed at him before he got squeezed by the infamous Weasley hug. He embraced her back and the sibling duo seemed to calm down just being there for each other. No words would ever express the feeling that they were experiencing and no words were needed at all. . .

That's a big chapter! Finally ended.

Oreo is a real pup and it belongs to my sis, dream_rxses. So shout out to her for giving me the permission to use the name!

I have decided to update Hiraeth every weekend. If possible, I'll update twice; once on Wednesday and once on either Saturday or Sunday. I'm having two books to write so I hope you understand!

Your thoughts on this chapter? Comment!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x