"You're a dear," Hermione smiled kissing Ginny's cheek.

"Don't speak too soon," Ginny replied returning Hermione's hug and cheek kiss. "You'll be regretting those words when you take ours in a week."

"Please," Hermione scoffed. "Your kids are angles."

Harry who was in the kitchen with Ron choked on the piece of treacle tart in his mouth. After being sent into his fit of couching Ron thumped Harry on the back a few times.

Giving the exchange side-glace Ginny nodded slowly. "Sure, angles."

With perfect timing, a screeching Lily ran through the kitchen holding James' broom above her head. Seconds lather James sprinted after her into the backyard.

Hermione's smile became strained as she watched James tackle his sister rather aggressively on the back lawn. "Well, we best be off!"

Ron took this as his cue to get up and walk to the door with Hermione. Harry and Ginny stood in the doorway watching the couple walk off.

"Remember to use protection!" Ginny shouted. Giving Hermione enough time to roll her eyes before they apparated away.

Landing on their own front lawn Ron sighed as they looked out their own home. "You hear that?"

"What?" Hermione asked her hand twitching to where her wand was being kept.

"Silence," Ron smiled blissfully. "We have twenty-four hours of pure silence."

Relaxing Hermione wrapped her arms around Ron's middle. "Whatever shall we do with it?"

"I have a few ideas," Ron murmured his hand inching down his wife's back.

"Touch my arse in the front yard and I hex you," Hermione whispered.

"Then I best take you inside."

"Oh stop it!" Hermione grinned as she and Ron walked inside their home.

"Don't put on that front with me!" Ron gasped in false shock. "You love it!"

"I love you," Hermione replied biting her lower lip in an attempt to hide her smile.

Reaching their kitchen Ron grabbed Hermione by and waist and pulled her towards him. Looking down at her Ron licked his lips.

"Eagar are we?" Hermione giggled looking back up at him.

Ron didn't reply, he instead pressed his lips to hers. Soon enough Hermione's hands we on either side of Ron's head, one was toying with his hair and on other on his cheek being used to pull him closer to her.

Ron's hand was wrapped around her lower back pulling Hermione as close as he could hold her. It was only kissing, but it was different. It was different than the lazy kisses they would share in the early morning when Hermione had just climbed out of the shower and Ron had finished brushing his teeth.

It wasn't like the prolonged goodnight when they were both half asleep and barely able to comprehend where the other person lay. This was different. This was filled with more passion, more urgency, and aggression.

Hermione hadn't recalled kissing like this since before Rose. This was different than the typical soft, caring, and gentle love. This was belligerent and raw. This was hot and heavy. This was vehement and it made Hermione weak in the knees.

But everyone needs oxygen. Pulling away both Ron and Hermione tried to hide their jerky breathing.

Then at the same time, they both asked. "What was that?"

Hermione breathed out a laugh as she played with the hair at the back of Ron's neck. "I don't know what it was, but I liked it."

Ron grinned and his eyes flicked the way of the staircase.

Hermioenpretened to be exasperated as she dropped her hand. "Let a lady take off her cloak, will you?"

"Well hurry up then!"

Hermione made her way back to the front door where she removed her traveling cloak and shoes, she places the shoes in an orderly fashion, as she was hanging her cloak up a pair of hands came from behind.

Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist, his face tucked into the crook of her neck, his mouth was next to her ear. Each breath he took sent tingles down Hermione's back.

"You took too long," Ron whispered, his voice so low it rasped in Hermione's ear.

Tilting her head back Hermione failed to put up a front of playful annoyance and barely turned her moan into a sigh.

"That wasn't even thirty seconds." She replied softly.

If her hair wasn't in the way Ron would have nipped at her ear. "Well pardon me but I'm not too keen on waiting."

Hermione smirked and bit her lip. "Well then let's go. Get on with it."

And in a flurry of motion, he did. Ron had Hermione turned around and pinned against a wall before she knew what was happening. One of his hands was on her throat pulling Hermione's face close to him. When their lips met they started kissing harder (which Hermione didn't think possible) than before.

Hermione found herself paralyzed by lust, the only thing she seemed able to move was her mouth. So Hermione did the one thing she knew drove her husband insane. She bit his lip.

Mid kiss her teeth gently scraped his bottom lip. Hermione felt Ron tense as he pulled away and looked at her with only desire in his eyes.

The only word Ron was able to utter was, "Bedroom."

They made it to the living room.

The stairs leading to their comfortable and fairly large bed mere steps from the couch where Ron and Hermione landed.

A symphony of crashes sounded as Hermione sloppily cast a charm that sends the blinds crashing down to cover the windows.

"You don't think Neville and Hannah want a show?" Ron smirked as he fiddled with the clasp at the back of Hermione's shirt.

"Oh shut up," Hermione replied as she set to work undoing his belt. "Now is not the time for sarcasm."

"You're right," Ron agreed pulling off his shirt. "It's the time for swearing."

And swear they did.

~~~

"We forgot to cast a silencing charm," Hermione said as they both stared at the ceiling.

"The kids aren't here." Ron reminded. "There was no one around to hear us."

Ron and Hermione lay in the center of their living room floor, throw pillows and cushions strewn around them. They were covered by the thin wool knit blanket Mrs. Weasley had gifted them the previous Christmas.

"Maybe not, but we're not exactly quiet."

"Well I hate to break this to you, but you're the loud one here," Ron said propping himself up on his elbow.

Hermione scoffed and turned her head to look at him. "Says you, Mr. Foul Mouth."

"Alright that's fair, I do my fair share of swearing, but I am not nearly as loud as you!" Ron countered.

"Excuse you?" Hermione gasped.

"I'm just saying, at least I say actual words. The noise you make is simply that, it's just noise. Sounds, not words."

Hermione gasped, affronted. "I am appalled at your suggestion of such a thing."

Ron sucked his teeth. "'Mione, five minutes ago you were moaning at a volume I wouldn't think possible."

This earned him a slap on the arm. "Ronald!"

"Hey, you don't have to hit me!" Ron said creating distance between them. "I never said it was a bad thing."

"Oh for the sake of Merlin, can we drop it already?" Hermione groaned burying her face in her hands and rolling onto her stomach.

"Yes, we can drop it." Ron conceded as he began to trace lazy circles over Hermione's shoulders. "You hungry?"

"Yes," Hermione said her voice muffled by the floor. "I also want to shower."

"Okay, you go shower and I'll make us some dinner," Ron said gently.

Hermine sat up and took the entire blanket with her. "Can I trust you not to burn the house down?"

"Of course!" Ron smiled.

Hermione left him sitting on the living room floor, naked as a newborn. Climbing the stairs to shower Hermione said a quick prayer, begging for her kitchen to stay intact.

After a nearly scalding shower, Hermione came back downstairs in a satin marron nightie, her hair pulled back into two neat braids.

Ron who had straightened up the living room had another blanket laid out in the middle of the floor. There was a white kitchen towel covering whatever was in the center.

He had, at some point found some sage-colored sweatpants, no shirt though, and was sitting on the blanket looking proud of himself.

Hermione gave a grin of caution as she sat down on the other side of him. "What have we here?"

"I have prepared a feast!" Ron beamed.

With a flourish of the towel being pulled away two bowls of cornflakes and glasses of white wine were revealed.

Hermione barked out a laugh. "A feast indeed." Grabbing a spoon she took her own into her lap and gratefully began spooning the cereal into her mouth.

They ate in science until Ron finished off his bowl and leaned back against the couch, sipping his wine thoughtfully.

"I have a question." He declared.

"Shoot," Hermione replied after swallowing her mouthful.

Ron paused before speaking. "Do you think, if we were still able to have kids- Would you want another one?"

Hermione shook her head as she down a sip of wine. "No."

"Really?" Ron raised his eyebrows. "That was a quick answer."

"Yeah well- I've thought about it before," Hermione explained. "As much as I love Rose and Hugo I don't think I want to do all that again. We just finished the toddler thing for a second time, and I don't want to have to potty train again."

Ron nodded. "Okay, that makes sense. But is that the only reason?"

"No," Hermione said. "There are other things. I used to want a giant family. But after a few summers with you when we were kids, seeing your family kinda put me off that idea. Not that there's anything wrong with your family, or just big families in general. I just value order and control, and kids- well kids are pretty much the exact opposite of that."

"Things did get pretty wild at my house didn't they?" Ron chuckled.

"Right," Hermione agreed. "Besides you've seen how crazy it gets over at Harry's. Even though they've only got the three."

"Well, those three were raised by Harry and Ginny." Ron added.

Hermione giggled. "You've got a point there, but I am perfectly happy with just Rose and Hugo. Even if just one of them inherits both my brains and your sense of mischief, then we're going to have our hands full."

"Cheers, I'll drink to that." Ron grinned clinking their glasses.

After drinking a couple more glasses, the couple made their way to their bed. Stumbling a bit before they collapsed onto the mattress. Once under the sheets, they fell asleep in each other arms, peacefully and happily.

Some might call a night like this simple or plain, but Ron and Hermione had already been through their share of complex and zealous when it came to their lives.

So they were content to be happy with just each other. Because at the end of each day, when it really came down to it, their love was just the same as it has always been.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(meanwhile at the Potter's)

"Hey so, all the kids are asleep," Ginny said taking Harry's arm and resting her chin on his shoulder. "Do you maybe want to watch a movie or do something?"

"Sorry Gin," Harry said removing himself from her grasp. "but I'm absolutely wiped. That tea party I had with Lily and Rose used up a lot of my energy."

"Oh," Ginny said. Crossing her arms across her chest she nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. Gossiping takes it out of you."

"Thank you for understanding. You're the sweetest." Kissing Ginny's nose Harry climbed the stairs to turn in.

"I'll be up in a bit," Ginny called after him. "I'm going to wind down a for a little."

"Okay!" Harry replied.

Flicking off all the lights on the main floor Ginny poured herself a drink before wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. Sitting under the light of a small lamp Ginny stared at the stairs through the slats of the railing.

She didn't touch the drink she poured. Instead, she chewed on her lip and became lost in her own thoughts, doubts, and worries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Ron and Hermione walked into the Potter household, Rose and Hugo let out cries of delight upon the sight of their parents. After quick hello hugs, the two siblings went off to collect their things.

"Ron!" Harry cried his voice edging on hysteria.

"What?" Ron replied.

"As friends!" HArry shouted.

"You're not still on this are you?" Ginny groaned, rolling her eyes.

"As friends!" Harry repeated. "And yes I am still on this."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "I'm sorry but what is he still on?"

Ginny sighed. "Last night Harry was telling the kids a story and James pointed something out to him. Harry's been in shambles having an existential crisis ever since."

"We could have gone as friends," Harry said.

Ron shook his head. "I'm still lost mate."

"To the Yule Ball!" Harry cried. "We could have gone together as friends. No one would have even cared."

Ron stood in silence for a moment.

"OH MY GOD!"

"I KNOW!" Harry screamed in reply.

"As friends?"

"As friends!"

Hermione shook her head and grumbled. "And I could have married Viktor Krum."

Ginny dissolved into laughter at her comment and the boys pretended not to hear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKK!

Y'all it has been a sec!

I am so sorry for the infrequent update son her. I'm not going to lie, school kicked m in the ass this year. I didn't have a lot of time for writing this year, and this story was the entirety of my focus either.

BUT FEAR NOT!

For I have 5 chapters planned out and those should be released within the month.
(pls don't hold me to that, I'll do my best)

I'm also really sorry that this chapter is so short, it's a bit of a filler, used only for foreshadowing, parallels, and allusions.

I'm not entirely happy with the quality of this chapter so I may eventually rewrite it but I really wanted to get an update out to all you lovely people.

I wanted to say a big thanks to all the old and the new people who seem to love this book as much as I do. I hope you enjoyed this, please vote and comment.

Also, the main reason I have been less attentive to this book is being I am writing a trilogy! I hope all you wonderfully supportive people would please go give my new books a read. It is a piece of original fantasy and I am very attached to the characters and I hope whoever gives the story a shot will grow to love them as much as I do.

Here's a link to the first (completed) book: https://www.wattpad.com/story/222862660-ascending

And the second which is still a WIP: https://www.wattpad.com/story/253769749-enamored

lmk if those links don't work pls. you can also always just go to my profile and find the books there.

ANYWAYS!

Sorry for the long rambling A/N.

I love you all so so much and I hope you enjoyed, and maybe, just maybe you'll stick around for the next chapter.

See you next time Loves!

<3 <3 <3 <3