Authors: - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z
Author: guruvee
Story: A Wish Fulfilled
Rating: Teens
Setting: AU
Status: Completed
Reviews: 8
Words: 22,529
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Stepping off the Tube, clutching Hermione’s hand, Ron seemed terrified. “Oh, come ON, Ron!” exclaimed Hermione. “You’ve ridden the train before. My parents are waiting. Look!” Hermione had spotted her parents just a few feet ahead, smiling and waving.
“Hello, Ron. It is so good of you to join Hermione for a few days,” greeted Hermione’s mother.
Ron smiled awkwardly. “Anything for Hermione. I just wish we could have, you know, Apparated or something.”
“Ron,” Hermione replied, “you know we can’t use magic in public in Muggle London.”
Her parents chuckled. By now they were used to their daughter bickering with her beau – it didn’t mean they were aggravating each other; it was just the way they talked.
“Well,” said Hermione’s father, “now that you’re here, your mother and I were thinking we’d grab a bite to eat. There’s a good pub up the road and I think they are known for those chips you fell in love with last time you were here, Ron.”
Ron cheered. “Absolutely. Let’s go.”
The walk to The Stout Yard was uneventful. Ron noted, as he always did, that Muggles really weren’t all that different from wizards. Their clothing was a bit daft, but these jeans he was wearing were really quite comfortable. Maybe they’d catch on in the wizarding world as well.
They arrived at the pub, and entered the dark room. It was a bit smoky but the noise of existing chatter did not stop with their entry. Mr. Granger escorted his wife, daughter and Ron to an empty table where they sank into the soft leather benches and finally began to relax.
“So, what’s the news, my dear? How’s your friend Harry? Are he and Ginny enjoying married life?” Only questions a mother could ask, but Hermione and Ron just looked at each other, wondering how to answer. “Oh come now, it can’t be that bad. Tell Mum what’s new.”
“Well,” began Hermione, “Harry and Ginny had a grand time on their honeymoon. They were well rested and looked alive with love when I saw them.”
“Oh, that’s just smashing. I’m so glad. That poor boy has been through so much.” And then turning to Ron, “It’s a good thing your sister has been there for him. I don’t know what would have happened had she not.”
Ron simply nodded.
Dinner was absolutely delicious. Ron always liked eating the Muggle food that Hermione’s parents introduced him to, and fish and chips was no exception. This time, he was brave enough to add the malt vinegar and it really brought out the flavor of the meal. Smacking his lips, he sat back and, resting his arm around Hermione, sighed in contentment.
Sipping her cider, Hermione was happy. It was hard not to be when surrounded by her three favorite people. That made it all the more difficult to tell them what she thought they had a right to know. “Mum, Dad,” she began, “there’s something we need to tell you about Harry.”
Her parents looked a bit apprehensive. Hermione had a tendency to start off heavy discussions somewhat lightly, and then dive into intense topics. “Everything is all right with him, dear, isn’t it?” her mother asked.
“Yeah, super,” said Ron, sarcastically. “Malfoy’s just blaming him for the death of his parents.”
Hermione’s father looked incredulous. “You’re joking.” It was not a question, but more a statement of disbelief. “Isn’t Malfoy the young man at school who always gave you a hard time, Hermione?”
“Yes, he is. And I think Ron’s summation was a bit lacking in its explanation.” She glanced at Ron, who rolled his eyes. “Draco Malfoy seems to feel that, if it weren’t for Harry, both his parents would be alive right now. He’s taken it upon himself to avenge their deaths. Since Voldemort, the one responsible for their deaths, is gone, he’s going after Harry. The biggest problem right now is he’s found a way to infiltrate the Burrow and is getting information about Harry’s whereabouts without anyone knowing how. At least he WAS getting information. There has been nothing new to indicate he’s been spying since the wedding.”
“And no one knows how he is getting this information?”
“Unfortunately, no, Mum. But we’re all working on it to find out.”
“It’s not dangerous, is it?”
Ron chuckled. “Whenever Harry is involved, it’s dangerous. But we’re all right. We’ve got Hermione on our side, and that’s a lot more than Malfoy’s got.”
* * *
Draco sat in his flat. He had written to Pansy three days ago, and still had not heard anything from her. It’s just as well, he thought. And really, he had not been expecting a response. Still, he was feeling restless. He began to pace his sitting room, glancing out the window every now and again. His London flat looked out over a cobblestone street. There was not a tremendous amount of traffic, but every now and again, passers-by could be heard, their laughter tinkling up through the window.
At the corner of his street was a popular pub, The Stout Yard by name. The Muggles seemed to really enjoy the fish and chips served there. He’d eaten there once or twice, but found it difficult to enjoy the food that was not prepared by wand. Even so, their chips were delicious. He would never admit to enjoying Muggle food to anyone; he had a hard enough time admitting it to himself. And he was feeling a bit hungry. Unfortunately, he was also feeling that until he knew for sure whether Pansy would reject him, he would not be able to keep any food down, and he had no desire to clean up that mess.
Instead, he conjured a fire and sat reading the Daily Prophet. It was the issue with his Rita Skeeter interview. The old bat had let loose that he had been at the Potter wedding. Oh, not in so many words, but he’d given her details that no one could have known unless they were there. How had he been so stupid?
Once again, Draco thought of his parents. The blank look in his father’s eyes just before Draco fled only angered him toward Potter all over again. And now, seeing Potter and the red-head, smiling on the cover of the Prophet just made him even angrier. He tore his eyes from the photo in the paper when suddenly the glass windowpane in his sitting room shattered. Without a thought, he waved his wand and, with a quick Reparo, the window was whole again.
* * *
After enjoying a few days with the Grangers, Ron and Hermione headed back to the Tube. They passed The Stout Yard, and Ron looked longingly at the door as it opened and closed for the patrons coming and going, the smell of fish and chips wafting out into the street.
“No, Ron. We have to go. Harry will want our help. We should be there.”
The pair continued past the pub and up the street toward the Tube.
Hermione suddenly stopped; her magic-detecting antennae had been tickled. They hadn’t been looking for any magic, but that familiar feeling from the hunt of the Horcruxes had returned. Glancing up and down the street, she noticed a shattered window in an upper storey. The magic felt like it was coming from there. She nudged Ron, pointing up to the window, but by the time Ron’s eyes found it, the window was intact.
Hermione felt frustrated, not being able to show Ron what she had felt. Ron never had been very good at detecting magic without the help of devices from Dervish and Banges. As they reached the entrance to the Tube, she tucked this bit of magic information away to research later.
A/N: I can’t thank Ladybug enough for her suggestions and assistance with this chapter. It was the toughest one written yet. I can only imagine it’s going to get harder!
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