Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Fifteen: Firewhiskey

Chapter 15: Firewhiskey

"Married?" Ron said once he swallowed. "What? Now?"

"Yes," Hermione said. She didn't move.

"But, we've only kissed a couple of times. Don't you think—"

"Weren't you the one that was telling me that we know each other well enough? Isn't that what you said?" Hermione leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, yeah, I suppose." Ron stared at her for a few seconds. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I mean, are you quite sure you want to get married? Now? I thought you were going back to Hogwarts?"

"I am. That doesn't mean we can't be engaged. I think it'd be quite proper to set a date in June after I graduate. Of course there will be N.E.W.T.s to think of, but how hard could planning a wedding be?"

"Right," Ron said. Hermione watched at his face went pale and then turned a light shade of green.

"Oh, Ron, have I frightened you? I don't mean to be so blunt."

"It just seems so much more real when you propose than when I do. That's all."

"Don't you want to marry me?"

"Of course I do." He chugged down the rest of his butterbeer. He could feel Hermione watching him. "I've got to be getting back. Fred—I mean George—right, I'll see you at home."

Ron stood and kissed Hermione's cheek. Then, he left. Hermione waited a few minutes. She was surprised that she wasn't more disappointed than she was by Ron's reaction. If she'd thought about it for five minutes, she would have realized that he'd react this way.

She took another sip of her butterbeer, picked up Olliavander's book from where she'd set it down on the table and then went out to the alleyway. From there, she Disapparated back to Grimmauld Place.

As she went inside, she heard a popping noise from the back of the house like a gunshot. She'd thought she would be alone and she shrieked upon hearing it.

"Hermione?" came Harry's voice from the stairway. Then came thudding footsteps and Harry appeared through the doorway to the stairs.

"Oh, Harry, what was that?" She laid a hand over her chest as she willed her heart to slow.

"Firewhiskey. Want some?" He held up the bottle.

"Oh." Since when did Harry drink alcohol in the middle of the day? "Sure I suppose. What's the occasion?" She walked toward him.

"Um, I failed my entrance exam."

"Oh no!" She followed him into the sitting room.

"Accio firewhiskey glasses," Harry said, pointing his wand to the door to the basement kitchen. They sat down on a sofa.

"Does this mean you can't be an Auror now?" The firewhiskey glasses floated lazily up to Harry and Hermione. They each picked their glass out of the air.

"No," Harry said as he poured them each some alcohol by hand, "I have to try again tomorrow."

"Oh. That's alright then. Just study tonight. You'll be fine. I can help you if you'd like."

"It's not like that. It's more of a personality test."

"I see," Hermione said, though really she was confused. He downed his glass of firewhiskey. She took a sip of hers and tried not to make a sour face.