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Post by hermione on Sept 9, 2010 11:45:57 GMT -5
Hermione took the cup he pushing in front of her and put it in the dish water, charming it to clean itself. Certainly it couldn't be illegal for a muggleborn to use little charms like that. If so, it would be a rather silly law indeed. Ron coughed and Hermione lifted her chin. "We're grown adults now, it's not like we're still at Hogwarts or anything." Hermione felt like she was in the spotlight, and in this sort of light she wasn't comfortable with. She would pludge through though, this wasn't anything like what could happen. Simply a small thing that while seemed slightly difficult but not that hard when you looked back. "Is there any reason why we shouldn't?" She pointed out, then put the dishes away where they needed to be.
Hermione returned to hear Ron talk about his work. "Do you like your training?" Hermione said, ignoring the comment about Percy. She wasn't sure if Ron would really be up to talking about the brother that had all but disinherited himself while working for the minister of magic. Since, she was unsure, she simply wouldn't bring it up.
"Waitressing isn't my dream job, but it certainly isn't without it's drama. You see a lot of things coming through here, and honestly I think with all the rumors I hear it might actually be a benefit to the Order." Hermione spoke very softly when she said this, filling up a mug and sending it floating to sit next to one that was nearly empty. "I have to try and do what ever I can to help, and I've found a way to do that and help pay my bills."
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 9, 2010 12:04:37 GMT -5
If at all possible, his blush deepened. "Er, no." Ron answered slowly. "No, not really." He answered quietly, feeling very much put on the spot. Unlike his older brothers, Ron had very limited dating experience- the relationship (if it could even be called that,) with Lavender had been disastrous and certainly hadn't come anywhere near the idea of sharing a bed in any form, and then there was Hermione, which was a learning lesson for them both. "Just... are you sure we're ready for that?" He asked the table more than her, studying the wood grain very closely. He could feel the heat coming off of his face, no doubt he was redder than his hair.
There were plenty of things that Ron would rush headfirst into without thought, but Ron's strategies about relationships were like the chess games he was so fond of- he thought each move through, about the potential consequences, and if he didn't find the outcome to be one worth risking, he sat and waited until it was a better move. Hermione meant too much of him to lose over something like that, and Ron wasn't certain about exactly how he could handle the situation, so it was better to wait until he was very certain about what she was thinking. Of course, being Ron, he wasn't just going to come out and ask her.
"I like it well enough. It's interesting, and there's not a lot of sitting around all the time, which is good." Ron had never been good at sitting and learning, he liked doing things and being free to move around. "Still, there's a lot of scrutiny about what we can do, what with... well, you-know-who." The aurors were feeling it nearly as bad as the muggleborns in the wizarding world, constantly watched, constantly mistrusted. They had to be very careful about every move they made.
Ron looked up when she started talking, and he tilted his head. It was true, hanging out in bars and diners offered insight into conversations that most people didn't think would be overheard- how many times had the infamous trio heard things they weren't supposed to while at the Three Broomsticks? "Anything of particular interest?" Ron asked curiously.
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Post by hermione on Sept 9, 2010 12:22:01 GMT -5
Hermione took a deep breath and straightened her back. "Well, we'll both be sleeping because you need the sleep so it's not like we're going to be doing anything else. Just tell me what time you need to be woken up and I'll set my alarm clock for you. " Hermione knew what he must be thinking, but she hadn't meant anything like that. His face was redder than she'd seen it in a while, and Hermione shook her head. "I suppose it would be sleeping together without really sleeping together. Hermione was very sure about that, considering she wasn't sure that she would even be 'good' at it. She had studied on it a bit, for curiousity's sake. If they're life was going to take a turn in that direction, Hermione might have to learn a lot more about it before jumping into it. That, and at the moment was it really the best time to do it? Voldemort had taken over and they should be very serious about staying alive, yet on the other hand there wasn't certainty that either of them would live once Voldemort had completely taken over.
Hermione leaned against the counter and sighed. "Well, you did want to be an auror in Hogwarts, at least your doing something you want. You will get properly trained in how to fight, and the order could really use that as well. You could help us learn how to fight better, since most of the others have died we'll need any edge we can get." Hermione was still speaking very softly, looking around to see if anyone might be trying to hear their conversation. Spies or people wanted to get on Voldemort's good side were everywhere, and Hermione had to be very careful.
"Well, these are only rumors so I'm not sure, but there is some talk about where Voldemort might be trying to do next. Some say he's going to go across to America, some say he's after China next. Nothing is really concrete but there is always to be a little truth in every rumor, right?" Hermione had never put much faith in rumors, but this was the only way she could help. She would try and patch the facts together, finding out which rumor was talked about most and try and find other facts to try and confirm the rumors. It was something she was rather good at.
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 9, 2010 12:46:33 GMT -5
"I mean, it's not like I don't want to." Ron continued on as if she hadn't said anything. "I'm sure it will be quite instructional and nice and all, but really, I mean, with the timing and everything I'm just not so sure that it would be a good idea." Ron was so mortified and out of his element that he was incapable of stopping, and he probably wasn't even listening to himself or else he would have been even more traumatized. "I mean, I... I really do want to." Ron's eyes were huge as he stared at Hermione, stammering out absolutely nothing as if his life depended on it. "I mean, don't... don't you? I mean, if you do, then I do, and that would mean we both do." The truth of the matter was, Ron wasn't sure he would know what to do when the time came, and Hermione was so, well, worldly, that the whole experience could do nothing but crash and burn.
Or it might just be the best thing to ever happen to either of them. Still, there were couples that didn't have sex and got along just fine, right? Right? Ron wasn't quite decided, but Hermione's comment about alarms brought him back to reality, and he ungracefully tried to segue back. "Oh, six. Need to go home and get dressed before going in." He ran a hand through his red hair absently.
Ron raised a shoulder in a half shrug, not really sure what to say to that. He wasn't the best at comforting people or figuring out what needed to be said, and he knew that the new regulations that had been placed after Harry's defeat was really hard on Hermione, who was by far the smartest of them all. Ron knew that being forced to be a waitress at best was hurting Hermione, and he felt another pang of anger at Voldemort. One day, Hermione would have a chance to achieve what he knew she could- even if Ron had to die to kill Voldemort in order to get there. "I suppose so." Talking about teaching defense brought back memories of the D.A., which Ron quickly wiped out of his head. In his own way, it seemed Harry was literally haunting him.
Ron looked grim as he listened to Hermione's recountings. "Sooner or later, he'll simply take it all over." He said darkly. "It doesn't really matter where he starts."
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Post by hermione on Sept 9, 2010 13:06:57 GMT -5
Hermione stared at Ron for a moment, and shook her head. Laughter threatened to spill from her lips and she doubted that would help this. Ron was stammering, and very uncomfortable at the moment. Hermione laid a hand on one of Ron's hands and squeezed it. "Ron." She said, trying to make sure he heard it this time. "You do know two people can sleep in the same bed without...well without having sex." It had taken a little out of Hermione to say it, mostly because it wasn't an everyday thing that she went around talking about sex. In fact, this is the first real time that she had talked about sex with someone else. Her father had tried to talk about it when she was fifteen but he had confused her more than anything and she didn't count that. Her mother had been asleep and Hermione had a question, so she had asked her father. That hadn't been the wisest thing to do. Her father had stumbled just like Ron had, which is how Hermione knew how to respond to what Ron was doing. "Unless you really want to have sex at least, then we could think about it but shouldn't the first time be special and all that? Then we both have to get up early in the morning so tonight wouldn't exactly be the best time to do that." Or in her case, try to do that. She was going to hit the library as soon as she could tomorrow. She wasn't sure what Ron expected in their coupling in bed, but she would have to learn everything she could.
"Can't you floo to your flat, that'll allow you some extra time to sleep in won't it?' Hermione asked, knowing how important sleep could be to someone. That, and she wanted to be awake to make him some breakfast. Some eggs, toast, and bacon would have to do, since it was all she had in her kitchen that could be eaten as a traditional breakfast. If she had ham, she might think of making him an omelet or something else like that, but it would be a simple and basic breakfast instead.
Hermione sighed and walked around the counter to retrieve some dishes and money for their meal, then took another families' order. She walked back and put the meal up for the cook to make. "Well, there are others in the Order that could give us tips I suppose. People even you could learn from, since they are already aurors. It'll even help you with your training." Hermione knew what he must be thinking, about back in Hogwarts when the ministry had taken over. Harry had been the one to teach them Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"But if we make a plan to stop him before he does, it might be beneficial to know where he'll be. We don't have to let him take over the world, we just aren't ready to stand up against yet." Hermione said, not willing to accept that they should just accept their fate. Harry would have kept fighting, and she wasn't going to let him down. She couldn't, when he had died trying to save them all. Hermione hands her tightened, and she knew she must look like a stubborn child. She had been through too much to just let it go in vain.
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 9, 2010 13:31:53 GMT -5
The minute Hermione's hand touched his, Ron shut up, still blushing, and stared at her. This was disasterous, even he had to admit to that, and if Harry really were haunting him, he had to be sitting somewhere behind the veil with Fred laughing his ass off right then. "Of course." He mumbled in response, forcing the words out even though he would rather just muzzle himself until he regained some control of the situation. Unfortunately, the bar offered very few options for muzzles, so he would simply have to wait for the floor to swallow him instead. "Right," He said, finally relaxing a little as her words sunk in. "When the time... is right." That was an idea he could hold on to, and some of the pressures of performance were off his shoulders.
"I could." He admitted, but the truth of the matter was, just like apparating, it was possible that someone would be watching the network. He didn't want anything traced back to Hermione, not so much for his sake, but for hers. While his family was seen as scum by a lot of the higher ups, they wouldn't mess with the Weasleys overmuch because they were still purebloods. Hermione wasn't, and Ron didn't want to bring anything onto her doorstep. "Walking's good for me."
"I don't mind teaching." Ron said quietly. "It's just strange, is all." He looked away from her again, carefully keeping his mind blank. Thinking about Harry too much bothered him, and in turn upset Hermione. He had come here to keep her company, not to depress her. "Besides, I'm not so sure I'd make a good teacher." While Hermione had the patience to make a good professor, if that was what she had wanted to do, Ron didn't see himself as much of a teacher.
"I suppose." He said vaguely, running his fingers absently in circles on the counter. Ron wanted to avenge his brother and of course Harry, but he was weary of the fighting. He had already lost a lot of people in his life, particularly during the last battle, and he wasn't that eager to lose any more. He would never tell Hermione, but there were times when he didn't think fighting was worth it- but then he remembered her face when he had left her and Harry in the forest, and Ron knew that it would probably destroy her. Instead, he kept his words to himself, trying to come up with a way that he could change things, a way that he could destroy Voldemort himself so that no one else would suffer. Then again, that was what Harry had tried to do- and failed. Yet another stalemate on Ron's long list that deserved more contemplation.
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Post by hermione on Sept 9, 2010 13:47:07 GMT -5
Hermione smiled at him, and wished she wasn't working. She could just wrap her arms around Ron and hold him close to her for a while. He seemed to relax after a while, and Hermione hoped he wouldn't dwell on it overmuch. Not until she was more confident in herself, then she wouldn't mind him bringing the subject again. She pulled back her hand hesitantly when she heard her bosses door open, and had the many plates of food that the cook has just finished float over to the family sitting nearest to the entrance to Diagon Alley. She had about fifteen minutes left on her shift, fourteen now actually. She made sure everything behind the counter was perfect before watching her boss go back into his office.
"It's really no problem, not like it's illegal that you floo from my apartment to yours." Hermione said leaning against the bar once more. "Sleep is also good for you, Ron. You need as much as you can, don't you?" Hermione asked, trying to convince him to sleep in a little more. Hermione was acting like his mother, at least in the sense of trying to convince him to do what's best for him.
"Well, you could just give us the tips that your trainer gives you. Show us how we are supposed to hold our wands. Just the little stuff, but if you don't want to, it's fine. There are people who support the order that are some of the top aurors." Hermione said, smiling at him. She wasn't going to put him in that spot, even more so if he didn't feel like he could do it. "It's just...I want to try and make everything right. I see how much people are suffering around me, and it shouldn't be like this. The light is supposed to win, not be covered with darkness." Hermione charmed the broom to begin sweeping the floors absentmindedly, stepping out from behind the counter so she wouldn't be in it's way. "Everything has to turn out right in the end, shouldn't it?"
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 9, 2010 14:02:06 GMT -5
Ron also glanced up when the door opened, and he had to admit he was a little sorry for the interruption. Ron was glad she was getting off soon, that way he could actually touch more than just her hand. It may have taken him six years to act on it, but Ron really did like Hermione, more than like even. He missed her during the week when he was too busy to drop in, and he was looking forward to just relaxing with her, without having the demands of their jobs butting in.
"No," He agreed, "it's not. But I still don't want to bring any attention to you." Ron had nightmares about losing Hermione, of it being all his fault- it was part of the reason he was so persistent in his auror training. He might not be able to defeat Voldemort, but he would protect the woman he loved to the best of his ability. "And I really don't mind walking- besides, it's only a few minutes of walking." He knew Hermione was trying to look out for him, but Ron was not going to risk her safety for a few more minutes of sleep, no matter how much his body might disagree later.
"I guess I can." Ron agreed, mulling it over. There wasn't much to parroting what his instructor was telling him, after all, there were days that Ron spent hours just doing the same spell, over and over until it became second nature and he didn't have to think about it. Those wouldn't be that hard to teach, surely? His blue eyes slid to hers when she mentioned darkness and light, it was a concept that Ron had been struggling with for a year now. Harry should have won, by that philosophy. Harry was the chosen one, no one else. What did it mean for the rest of them that the chosen one had been defeated? Was there any reason to even hope anymore? Ron shook his head, clearing away the dark thoughts that were leading to a road he didn't want to take. Hermione didn't need to hear such things, and Ron didn't like thinking them. "Of course it should. I just don't like sitting and waiting for it." He forced a smile in return.
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Post by hermione on Sept 9, 2010 14:15:47 GMT -5
Hermione smiled at Ron. "I don't have a fireplace in my apartment, it's actually downstairs for those how have to floo their jobs. It's not directly linked to my name, so it shouldn't bring attention to me. People use it all the time. Besides, what have I done wrong that they should come after me now?" Hermione said, warmth filling her body now. She knew Ron's reasons now, and it just made her feel loved. She wanted to kiss him at the moment, to hold him in her arms. She loved him very much, and really it nearly hurt. She didn't want him getting hurt in his auror training, or even after he was an auror. She didn't want to know how Ginny felt when she lost Harry. Ginny was stronger than her, she could get through. Hermione didn't think she was nearly as strong. Judging from how she had reacted when Harry died, she didn't think she could handle it. The two people who she had actually gotten along with dead, the man she loved destroyed. She would be driven insane with the need for vengeance of those she cared about.
Hermione smiled at him as he finally agreed. In truth, she was eager to be learning something. If Voldemort hadn't won, she would have gone back to Hogwarts to finish her schooling. Instead, she had done the NEWTS without the school, and gotten very high scores. There were always loop holes in the system so it was really no surprise that Hermione had found them. Yet, she still wished she could have gone back. She knew it would be all too easy for Voldemort to find her though, if she had returned. At least now she could run if she heard Voldemort was looking for her. She was already working on very advanced charms for changing her appearance in case she had to go into hiding. You could never be too prepared, and Ron would likely see the stack of books she had in a corner of her apartment.
"No one does, but waiting for the right moment is essential. Maybe if we had waited before, He might have lived. We all could have lived to fight another day."She should have known it wasn't the right time, that they should have waited. She was supposed to be the cleverest girl of her generation, yet that cleverness hadn't been enough to save her best friend.. "We have to wait be prepare until we have enough forces to take down Voldemort. We can't stop now, after all we've lost. It wouldn't be right for their death to be in vain."
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 9, 2010 22:18:34 GMT -5
Ron nodded, looking immensely relieved. If it wasn't directly linked to Hermione, then they both got their way- he didn't endanger her, and he could sleep in. "All right, I'll use the Floo network then." It wasn't that Hermione had done anything wrong, but muggleborns just had to breathe anymore to bring unwanted attention to themselves. The less Ron had to worry about Hermione being in the eye of Voldemort and his minions, the happier he would be.
"If he had lived, we wouldn't have to fight at all." He glanced around to see Hermione's coworker looking at them, then at the clock. "I'm going to wait for you outside." He said, nodding to the clock's hands. Five minutes, they could survive five minutes apart. After all, as hard as it was for her to get this job, Ron didn't want to jinx it for her. "See you in a minute."
He got off the bar stool and went outside, staring up at the sky. It was cold enough that the predicted rain might turn into snow, but it was still early enough that it could go either way. Ron didn't mind the cold, some of the best times of the year to be at the Burrow were during the winter months when everyone was home and there was all sorts of fun holiday foods around. Not to mention Christmas, Christmas was always great. He was still contemplating the holidays happily when Hermione rejoined him, and he smiled at her, pulling her close to give her a proper kiss before asking, "Ready to go?"
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Post by hermione on Sept 9, 2010 22:41:03 GMT -5
Hermione could tell Ron was relieved, it was visible in all his features. "Ok, so now what's the deadline that I have to have you up?" Hermione asked, smiling at him. "If I can get you up at all." She said jokingly, smiling wider. He needed to smile more, to relax a bit more. Honestly though, there wasn't any room in her apartment for a fireplace big enough to fit in. Three rooms, and one of those just being a bathroom, didn't give her enough room to really personalize it. It was a inside joke, calling her place 'Apartment De La Granger'. It made it sound so grand and spectacular, yet it was just some small shabby place that she had piled with junk.
Hermione tried her best to ignore his statement about not having to fight at all, mostly because he continued that with going to wait outside.She smiled at him and nodded, smiling apologetically at her co worker. As soon as wrong was gone, Hermione went and picked up several plates and charmed them to wash and put themselves up, and refilled a couple of drinks. Her co worker took orders from the new people since Hermione wouldn't be there to give them their food and then take the money for their food. Finishing up as much as she could, the minute she saw it was the end of her shift,
Hermione collected her tips and pocketed them. She hugged her co worker good bye and clocked out, smiling when she saw Ron standing outside. She hugged him tight, much like she had wanted to inside, and kissed him back when his lips descended upon hers. "Of course." She said, but it took a while for her to get moving. She had laid her head on his chest and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Sighing, she began to walk to her apartment.
"Things are a bit messy, I don't have much space right now but it worked while I was jobless. I'm going to have return a loan though, so as soon as I'm done with that I might consider getting something bigger." Hermione said, one arm still arm Ron as she began to try and explain why her house would seem cluttered, but it was more organized that people thought. She had her books stacked up neatly in one area, pictures and picture frames still in their boxes that she hadn't been able to put around the house. She still had her last picture of Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all laughing and enjoying themselves before the trio had gone off in search of horcruz's. She wasn't sure why she kept it there, because each time she looked at it she would cry. Yet, she still couldn't find it in herself to remove it. At the same time, it gave her hope for a better tomorrow.
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 10, 2010 19:10:50 GMT -5
"If I don't have to walk home, that saves me about twenty extra minutes." Ron calculated, thinking it over. He made a face and turned a tiny bit pink underneath his freckles at her comment- he was notorious for being a deep sleeper, it had always been sort of a running joke in the guys' dorm at Hogwarts. Naturally, Hermione had heard some of these stories- and witnessed a few cases firsthand. It wasn't exactly Ron's best talent. Then again, at least she wouldn't think to do what George had one morning he found Ron's sleeping a particularly difficult topic- Ron didn't think there were enough anti-spider charms on his pillow, despite the fact he had spent a good four hours on it.
Ron just smiled as she said "of course," and then didn't proceed to move. He held her close, his fingers playing with the bushy hair he had at times teased her about, and he let his eyes close peacefully. A breeze stirred their cloaks, but Ron barely noticed, lost in his own world for the moment. When she finally pulled away slightly he blinked a few times, but still kept his arm around her as they walked.
Ron smirked when Hermione said that it was cluttered- her idea of cluttered was way different than his. If things were cluttered in Hermione's world, it simply meant that things weren't labelled and on the proper shelf. "Is it really?" Ron asked, trying hard not to laugh. He turned his chuckle into a cough instead. His own apartment with George right now would be Hermione's idea of hell, then- the floor couldn't be seen between tester products and ingredients for things in the store, and Ron's own comics and miscellaneous items. It made finding anything nearly impossible. "I'm sure it's fine."
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Post by hermione on Sept 10, 2010 19:34:25 GMT -5
Hermione took into account the time, then subtracted the amount of time it would take to make Ron some breakfast. With the amount he usually ate, perhaps twenty minutes for her to make it then five of those minutes would be what it would take for Ron to eat it. Hermione smiled mentally, and the very tips of her lips went up. "Ok then, I'll get you up at six fifteen, or at least I'll start trying to get you up at that time." Hermione said, laughing softly and holding Ron tighter. She was only teasing him.
With Ron's arm still around her, Hermione was sure they made quite a couple. His red hair, her bushy hair, there was that then the fact everyone would know that they were none other than Ron Wealsey and Hermione Granger. "Hmm maybe, but don't worry. It's never really gotten in my way before. " Hermione arrived at the apartment and went inside. There was a faint smell of cigarettes, but that was normal for Hermione. She went up the stairs with Ron, and stopped at her door about three doors after she left the stairs. She pulled out her key and opened the door, then motioned for Ron to go in before her so she could lock it when they were both inside. Always had to keep her door locked.
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Post by ronald bilius weasley on Sept 10, 2010 20:00:59 GMT -5
Ron couldn't help but smile in return to her smile, and the somewhat mischievous look on her face. "All right, sounds like a plan." He agreed. For the most part, their walk home was uneventful- Ron only counted two other people that he actually saw, but even he knew that didn't mean much. Still, no one bothered them, and Ron was content not to worry about it.
He followed Hermione into the building, sneezing only once when the stale smell of smoke hit him, but he shook it off and followed her upstairs. He flipped on the light as he went in ahead of her, looking around curiously. He hadn't seen her place since she had moved- he had been taking his auror exam on disguises when she had moved in.
He had to admit- it really was cramped. He knew Hermione would rather be in something more spacious, and he didn't want her to feel bad, so he kept his commentary to himself (quite wisely,) and continued to walk around.
"This is, uh, really great, Hermione."
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Post by hermione on Sept 10, 2010 20:12:48 GMT -5
Hermione laughed softly and walked inside the room herself. She turned around and locked the door. "No it's not, and you know it." Hermione turned around and glanced around. It was home for now. Hermione walked up to Ron and once again wrapped her arms around his tall frame. There were times she honestly felt like a midget compared to him. She began to lead him around a bit, since he was doing his own bit of adventuring himself. "This, as you see, is the living room slash kitchen. I usually just eat on the couch instead of at a table." Hermione let him to her room, which lead to the loo. "This is my room." She had stayed true to gryffindor and had red covers with a sort of gold colored pillow cases, though the shade was a bit off. Really, she had bought them from someone else for a low price so she had no room to complain. After straightening some of the covers that had gained a wrinkle from Crookshanks jumping on it and taking a nap while she was at work, Hermione opened the door to the bathroom. "There is the loo, for when ever you need it. If you take a shower in the morning or at night, just help yourself." Hermione smiled at him, actually quite proud that she had found ways to keep this place even through the hard times.
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