The Greatest Adventure Yet

Hermione was packing up her school bag at the end of her Transfiguration class. It had been a long year of school. After the battle she had decided to return to Hogwarts to complete her 7th year of school. It was weird being back at school after having taken a year off to be with Harry hunting down the last of Volemort's horcruxes. It was also very strange this year because it was the first year for her to be at Hogwarts without Harry and Ron. Harry had decided to go ahead and begin working toward becoming an Auror. Ron had gone to work with George at Weasley Wizard Wheezes in the wake of Fred's death during the Battle of Hogwarts. George was having a tough time with the business and dealing with the grief of losing his twin brother and best friend was almost too much to bear so Ron stepped up to help his brother with the shop. It was hard for Hermione not to have her two best friends with her at school, but she knew she needed to finish and she still got to see them quite a bit. They always tried to make it for a Quidditch game here or there and they would always spend time at the Burrow during holidays from school. However, Hermione was having the hardest time missing Ron.

She and Ron had had a tumultuous relationship over the years. With the silly back and forth that they did in the first 6 years of school and then the ups and downs of their year with Harry they had just about been completely done in. Then during the battle when they had kissed everything had changed. While they were kissing in the room of requirement nothing in that moment seemed wrong, but nothing in the world outside seemed right. During that battle there were many moments when she was afraid she might lose Ron. When it was all over and she realized that they were both still there living and breathing she couldn't believe it. She could never be grateful for the Battle of Hogwarts, but it was what brought she and Ron together.

As Hermione walked down the corridor, which was still under re-construction, to the Great Hall for dinner she was struck by the fact that her last year of school would be ending in just four short months. It seemed absolutely crazy that she would be out on her own in the Wizarding World with no Hogwarts to go to. She knew she wanted to work for the Ministry, but as far as Ron went they hadn't really talked about any future plans. Hermione was very old fashioned and even though Ron was trying desperately to persuade her she was not going to live with him until or unless they were married.

The subject of marriage had come up over Christmas at The Burrow, but they both agreed they should wait until she was out of school, working, and everything before anything of that sort. However, since that conversation just a little over a month or so ago Ron had seemed pretty distant. Of course they talked over floo a few times a week when Hermione wasn't in class and able to have the common room to herself and Ron and Harry had been able to come to a few Quidditch games, but every time she saw or talked with Ron he just seemed awkward. All Hermione could think was that the marriage conversation at Christmas had scared him and now he was pulling away to make it easier on the both of them when he broke up with her. None of these feelings were put at ease and easier when Harry surprised Ginny with a proposal just a few weeks ago. Of course, some said that Harry and Ginny were too young, but Hermione knew that she had never seen two people more in love and ready for marriage as the two of them. Harry and Ginny were perfect for each other. But now, Ginny was constantly planning her wedding this July and always pestering Hermione with questions over colors, cakes, and decorations which just made Hermione feel worse about Ron, wondering if this day would ever come for them.

When Hermione entered the Great Hall she saw Ginny and Harry at the table together. "Of course Harry makes a surprise visit up here to see Ginny. Why do they have to be so blasted perfect?"

"Hermione, over here!" Harry waved to her. Hermione put her worries about Ron away and put a smile on her face.

"Harry! It's so good to see you!" She hugged her friend. "What brings you all the way up here?"

"Oh, well you know... Just wanted to see Ginny and see if there was anything...er...exciting going on." Harry said with a wave of his hand.

"Well, isn't that nice." Hermione grimaced as she sat down to eat with her friends. "How's Ron doing?" Harry and Ron had gotten a flat together above one of the shops in Diagon Alley.

"He's...doing well." Harry replied awkwardly. "The joke shop is back in business and doing pretty well...yeah everything is just great."

"Why is Harry acting this way?" Hermione wondered. Was there really something wrong?

"Oh Hermione," Ginny said as they were almost finished with their food. "I left my wedding notebook up in the common room. Would you run get it so I can show Harry some of the planning I've been doing and get his opinion?"

Hermione smiled "Sure Gin. I'll be right back."

"Take your time!" Harry winked.

"What was that about?" Hermione thought.

As she exited the Great Hall and headed for the stairs she saw a single red rose lying on the bottom step. Wondering who must have dropped it Hermione went over and picked it up. There was a card attached.

I'm sorry for making you cry on this stair

Hopefully I can make it up to you

Follow this trail with care

And take this journey I'll lead you through

"Ron?" Hermione called. She knew it had to be from him. This was the exact stair where she cried after the Yule Ball in fourth year. Maybe he did come with Harry to surprise her. Since the rose had been lying on the stairs she figured she was supposed to continue going up. When she reached the next floor she saw another rose and card down the hall to the left. She hurried over to the rose and picked up the next card.

Here is the moment I thought you'd died

But you only laid here petrified

Thankful fir the chance of another day

To tell you all that I wanted to say

Hermione smiled. Ron had put a lot of thought into this surprise visit. As she continued down the corridor she saw yet another rose and card just lying in the middle of the hallway. "I don't remember anything significant about this place." Hermione thought.

This is where on Prefect rounds

I was smitten by the sounds

Of your silly laughter at my horrible jokes

You laughed so hard I thought you'd choked

Hermione laughed. She remembered that night. It was their fifth year and first year as Prefects. They were doing their nightly round of the school when Ron was in rare form. Everything he said that night made her double over with laughter. Now that he'd reminded her she remembered having to lean up against this wall to catch her breath. Her stomach muscles were sore the next morning from how much she had laughed that night.

As she continued on her journey there were several roses and cards and memories all throughout the school. So many reminders of years past and memories they had together. So many of them she did not even expect him to remember and many she did not remember herself. When she came to the final rose it was at the front entrance of the school. The card read:

Here is the place

Where I touched your face

And whispered those three words

However, I was very awkward.

One more moment you won't want to miss

Head now to where we shared our first kiss

When you get there think of me

And inside the room I will be

Hermione smiled. Ron was here. She ran, giggling the whole way, to the entrance of the Room of Requirement. It was thought that the magical room might not work after the fire that blazed inside during the battle, but when Harry tried it one more time he was still able to get in. Only the room of lost and hidden things was gone. The room would still change into other places. When Hermione reached the wall she smiled, closed her eyes, and passed the wall 3 times thinking of Ron and all of the memories she had of him. On her third pass a door appeared. She walked over, took a deep breath and pushed it open.

Inside was the most beautiful room Hermione had ever seen. Beautiful crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, gorgeous fabric hung from the center of the room making a canopy that draped the fabric down the walls. Beautiful rose petals lined the path to the center of the room where Ron stood. Hermione lost her breath at the sight of him. He was standing in his finest suit and was beaming at the sight of her. When Hermione got to him they embraced for a long moment.

"Hey" Ron said. "I've been waiting for you."

"I can see that" Hermione giggled looking up at him. "The roses and cards were so sweet. Thank you so much."

Ron smiled "You're welcome. I'm glad you knew where to find me." He joked.

"Really? You thought I wouldn't remember where our first kiss was? It's not exactly hard to forget. That is one moment I don't think I could forget if I tried." Hermione laughed.

"Me either." Ron said. He broke the embrace and took a step back, still holding her hands. As Hermione looked at him she saw his ears turning pink and she noticed how sweaty and shakey his hands were. "Ron, what is all of this for?"

"Hermione, I love you. I think I have for a long time now. The first time I remember looking at you differently was back in fourth year at the Yule Ball. When you came in in that blue dress I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. As the years passed my feelings for you grew stronger and stronger. With each moment you came across tonight with the roses I fell harder and harder. I want you to know that when we kissed here in this room during the battle that night, I never wanted it to end. To this day I still have a hard time not kissing you when you walk into a room. Sometimes I can' t help myself I'm sure you've noticed.

"I can't imagine doing life without you. I want you beside me every day for the rest of time. I want to have children with you. To have grandchildren with you. And to be with you every second of every day. There is no one else in this world for me."

Ron dropped to one knee and Hermione felt the tears she had been trying to blink back spill over onto her cheeks as she realized what was happening.

"Hermione Jean Granger, will you make me the happiest man on this entire earth and marry me?" As he said this he pulled out and opened a black velvet box with the most gorgeous diamond ring Hermione had ever seen.

"Yes, of course!" Hermione said as she bent down to kiss him. Ron stood and they embraced, Ron wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning her around as they both laughed in their happiness. "You'd been so distant the last few weeks that I thought you were breaking up with me." Hermione laughed when Ron set her down.

"Breaking up with you?" Ron said, "No, I bought the ring right after Christmas and I've been so nervous planning everything I was afraid you'd find out! I wanted to surprise you!"

"Well, that explains it!" Hermione giggled and they kissed again.

After spending a few quiet moments together just the two of them they left the Room of Requirement to head back to the Great Hall where Harry and Ginny were quickly preparing an engagement party with all of their friends and family who had come to the school for the occasion.

As they walked down the corridors hand in hand Hermione looked at her left ring finger and gazed at the ring. It gave her goosebumps to think of all that that little ring meant for her and Ron. That they would never have to be apart, that they loved each other forever, and that out of all of the girls in the world Ron had chosen Hermione.

They stopped outside of the doors to the Great Hall and kissed once more. Before pushing the doors open Ron looked down at her and said, "Here's to the start of our greatest adventure yet." Then the doors to the Great Hall were opened to the sound of loud cheers and congratulations and the faces of all of their family and friends. Hermione could not have asked for a more perfect moment.

A/N: So I just can't seem to stay away from Ron/Hermione stories. It's been about 7 years since I started "Becoming Ron and Hermione" and sometimes I still have to come back. I hope you enjoyed a missing moment from my missing moments! Ron and Hermione are so close to my heart and this has been on my mind for quite some time. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading and please drop me a review.