remedialpotions

[remedialpotions]

Hello, I've been such a huge fan of your romione fanfictions! I requested fanfic to be written once in anon 'cause I was shy >w<;; But anyway, I was wondering if you might write for them again someday?

Hi and thank you! 🩷 I’m honestly not sure if/when I might get back to writing, I just haven’t really felt a draw to it for a while now and most days, I just don’t have the mental energy to spare. But never say never!

[remedialpotions]

The way you write Ron makes me fall in love with him. Wow, what a charming, funny young man. I love him. And I love how you write Hermione, too, and Harry and Ginny and everyone else. You write these characters so well! And their relationships, too. Thank you for all your work!

Thank you so much! Ron has always been my favorite to write so I’m glad you enjoy my portrayal of him ❤️

[remedialpotions]

Hope you are ok! We haven't heard from you in a while ❤️

Thanks! It’s really nice of you to think of me. I’m alive and doing okay (as much as anyone can be these days). But lately it does take up a lot of my mental/physical/emotional energy to just be a semi-functional adult in society and so fandom and writing and all that other stuff have been pushed off to the side.

But you know… my dog is really cute and I have Eras tour tickets, so it could be worse!

[remedialpotions]

Hi friend! I know this is super vague, but if you felt so inclined to write a missing moment involving Crookshanks (maybe an olive branch moment between him and Ron?)… I would not hate it. Thanks, love ya, bye!

I love Crookshanks & Ron friendship fics, and your request put a massive smile on my face RP. So here is a missing moment from early HBP, enjoy!

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Ron lifted his head from Quidditch Through the Ages and peered around the empty common room. Most of the students had already gone to bed, but his two best friends weren’t back yet. Harry was stuck in another private lesson with Dumbledore, and Hermione? Well, she and Ron still weren’t talking, but he’d put a handful of knuts on her being in the library.

He should already be asleep; he had a full day of lessons tomorrow. But he wanted to make sure both his friends got back, even if neither of them appreciated it.

With a yawn and a stretch, Ron shifted position on the sofa, stretching his legs until they pressed against the opposite arm. As he reopened his book and settled down for the long wait, Crookshanks hopped onto the coffee table and let out a loud yowl.

“What do you want?”

Crookshanks only meowed in response, before fixing his beady yellow eyes on the redhead.

“Seriously, mate, Hermione isn’t here. Shouldn’t you be off killing some poor bloke’s pet?”

But the cat didn’t shift his gaze from Ron, who watched him for a moment longer before letting out a resigned sigh.

“Bet she’s been too busy to feed you, huh? Is that what you’re after.” He waited, not sure what sort of answer he would get, but when Crookshanks licked his lips with his long pink tongue, Ron figured he’d hit the bludger with the bat. “Alright, come on.”

Ron pushed himself off the sofa, rolling his eyes as Crookshanks followed him. The cupboard next to the notice board was fully stocked and it was clear which tub belonged to the bandy-legged beast—Hermione’s pretty handwriting looped over the front.

“How much do you have mate?” He wandered over to the dishes, grimacing as most of them were empty. “Two scoops, or only one? Maybe I should only give you one for now. I don’t want to give your mum more reasons to hate me, do I?”

Pulling the lid off the top of the tub, Ron scooped out a pile of biscuits and poured them into Crookshanks’ bowl. The cat’s mood changed and a loud purr filled the common room as he twisted himself around Ron’s legs, leaving a trail of ginger fur at the bottom of his jeans.

“Calm down, buddy,” Ron placated the cat. The show of affection had taken him by surprise but wasn’t unwelcome. Maybe Crookshanks was not so bad after all, and they do have one thing in common—Hermione. “Let's keep this our little secret, yeah? Can’t have her thinking we’re getting on or she’ll gloat that she’s won.”

If she ever speaks to me again that is.

Crookshanks responded by tucking into his food, and Ron watched for a moment before returning to his book. He should wait for Hermione if only to tell her that he sorted out the cat.

#omg 🥺 #so the way to crookshanks’s heart is through his stomach #sounds like someone else we know! #I do wonder how the awkward ‘so uh I fed your cat’ convo went… #love this and you accio 😘

[remedialpotions]

This fanfic I’m never going to write is really damn good.

[remedialpotions]

Just A Walk

HPRomione Popcorn Drabble - my prompt was “I see the truth in your eyes.” Thanks for the tag, @mertronus!

Up next: @remedialpotions ! Your prompt is: Tent. 

(It can be any old tent, the tent, or even a loose definition of tent. You pick!)

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Just A Walk (#NSWF, just to be safe!)

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Ron forgot how creaky the Burrow’s stairs were, especially at half-past two in the morning when the rest of the house was asleep. It seemed that every step squeaked and sagged as if they were itching to tell the whole house his secret — that he just shagged Hermione Granger underneath the stars.

They had paused on the landing for a kiss goodnight, which immediately clouded Ron’s mind with the memory of his hands in her hair back in the gardens, her warm breath against his neck, and the way her bare legs wrapped around his waist.

Of course he didn’t remember which stairs to avoid for a quiet climb, or where the floor buckled in the hallway, or that his bedroom door creaked when opened too wide, and at night, the sound would echo through the house.

He shouldn’t have been surprised when he re-entered the attic, and Harry was lying there awake, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. Ron’s eyes traveled to the open window, and he wondered if that patch of soft grass that he and Hermione had just defiled was hidden enough. For the first time he could remember, he resented the expansive view from the attic window.

“Fancy seeing you here,” said Harry, his tone lightened with a smirk.

“Hey mate,” said Ron as he quietly closed the bedroom door. “Thought you’d be asleep.”

“Ha. Good one.”

Neither Ron nor Harry had slept for the first few nights after the battle, and even now, Ron’s mind still jolted him awake at every sound, interpreting every whistle from the wind as a threat.

It was a good thing there were distractions at night — but over the last few weeks, late-night living room chess matches with Harry had turned to excursions to the treehouse with Hermione.

And soon enough, ‘excursions’ became snogging sessions, and then much more. It was behind an oak tree after midnight when Hermione first let him slide his hand underneath her shirt. The far side of the pond was where their pants came off for the first time. And tonight, in a grassy clearing, underneath the stars, they finally made love.

Sleep was easy after nights like these.

“I’m sorry,” said Ron. “I just went on a walk with Hermione. I should have stayed back. We could have played chess or something.”

Ron braced himself for an angry retort, and he would have deserved one. When was the last time he had spent a sleepless night just talking with his best friend?

He could be more supportive. Harry needed him too, not just Hermione — she was too damn distracting.

To Ron’s relief, Harry laughed. “A walk? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

Ron could feel his neck getting flushed as he confirmed, “just a walk,” but his tone was far from convincing.

“You two just shagged, didn’t you?”

Ron paused. Was it that obvious? 

His hesitation in denying it might as well have been confirmation. “First time?”

Ron narrowed his eyes at his best friend. “How did you know?”

“The truth is in your eyes.” Harry turned onto his side, facing his back Ron. “And your red face, your stupid smile, and the grass stains on your clothes.”

Ron, now changing into pajamas, looked down at his trousers in a pile on the floor. Harry was right; they were covered with evidence of an outdoor romp. “Oh.”

Harry chuckled as Ron slipped into his bed and turned off the light. “I’m happy for you.”

Ron grinned. “Thank you.”

“But I don’t want to hear about it,” continued Harry, his voice muffled with a yawn.

“Fair enough,” he said as he settled under his blankets.

Ron turned away from Harry to shield him from the goofy smile that Ron still couldn’t shake.  He made a mental note to run a few cleaning charms on his trousers tomorrow, then let his mind drift back to the gardens.

Soon enough, he was distracted by thoughts of Hermione’s soft voice in his ear, the smell of her hair as he buried his face init, and the way her fingertips dug into his back when he pressed into her, and it wasn’t long before he drifted off to sleep, lopsided smile and all.

#I love brotp moments like this and this one is particularly 👌 #be11a’s writing is always a delight #and I AM going to revive this popcorn fic business #JUST YOU WAIIIIIIT #(alexander hamilton)

[remedialpotions]

THANK YOU to @remedialpotions for organizing another spectacular Secret Santa Exchange for the HPRomione Discord. Genuinely love and appreciate all of you for the support, fics provided, and amazing conversation we've had this year. This gift was written for @adenei, another fabulous Romione writer, beta, and beautiful friend of mine. I was so happy to draw your name and even happier that you enjoy 6th year AU as much as I do!

AO3

FFN

Hogwarts for Christmas

The roaring whistle of the Hogwarts Express signals its impending departure from Hogsmeade Station. The scarlet steam engine is preparing to transport students home for the holidays, and Ron can’t imagine better timing.

Sixth year has been tumultuous thus far for him, having experienced a roller coaster few months that would make anyone’s head spin like an hourglass on a Time Turner. The high of the first half of the year has undoubtedly been his role as Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

And the low? Well, although his unexpected relationship with Lavender Brown was new and exciting at first, it ultimately led to his worst row ever with Hermione. The start of the holiday marks the longest they’ve gone without speaking to each other. He couldn’t stomach leaving the school without breaking things off with Lav. Not only was the guilt of his feud with Hermione too much to bear, but he knows that Lavender was far more committed to him, than he was to her. She was angry, of course, and he couldn’t have run from her fast enough, afraid that he would be hexed into oblivion.

Ron sighs to himself as he walks down the too small train passageway, even uncharacteristically bypassing the Honeydukes Express witch who pushes the trolley packed with sweets, the thought of eating making him feel ill. He's due inside the Prefect carriage at the front of the train, and he'd be lying if he didn’t admit to being nervous to see Hermione — although, she'll likely ignore him as she's done in most of their recent meetings, unless it's to tell him that she's switched shifts again so that she doesn't have to patrol the corridors with him.

Upon arrival at the Prefect carriage, he does a quick scan of the compartment and its inhabitants, taking note of who is missing.

"Where's Hermione?"

It's Ernie Macmillan who responds first, his brows furrowing as if it was an odd question for Ron to ask. "I thought you knew. She's staying at Hogwarts for Christmas. Turns out her parents decided at the last minute to vacation in France instead."

"And Hermione didn't want to go with them?"

"I suppose not."

Ron’s heart sinks to the pit of his stomach. Hogwarts? For Christmas?

Yes, he's stayed for the holidays before during First Year and it wasn't terrible. But he also had Harry. The thought of Hermione being alone makes his gut twist in the worst possible way.

Granted, she won't be completely alone, as there are always a few of the professors who stay to look over the castle, but that's not really the point, is it? All Ron can do is think about how he must have truly mucked up their friendship if she felt she couldn't come to him about going to the Burrow for Christmas.

"Excuse me." Ron storms out of the carriage and stomps through the train towards one compartment in particular.

He knows he has only minutes before the train departs. If he's going to make a move, he has to act fast. Sliding a door open with excessive force, he finds Harry and Ginny, who appear startled by the look of blazing determination in his eyes.

"Harry, mate, I'm staying at Hogwarts. Ginny, tell Mum and Dad they should expect an owl from me explaining everything soon."

"What's going on?" Harry's posture stiffens as he makes a move to stand up. "I'll stay with you-"

"Nah." Ron waves him off. "You and Ginny go on ahead. Have a great time."

Harry slowly lowers himself back back onto the seat, raising an eyebrow. "If you're sure…"

If Ron is completely honest with himself, he'd realize that sending Harry and Ginny home — together — without him there opens up the opportunity for them to establish an even deeper connection than they've already formed this year. But he can't think too much about it right now.

He's out the door before his best mate and sister have a chance to utter any parting words, finding himself breaking into a sprint towards the castle. The train chugs away from the platform as he veers in the opposite direction, the roaring whistle growing quieter and quieter as the distance to home grows larger.

Ron reaches the base of the cliff leading up to the school as he’s stopped by Professor Flitwick, who holds a long scroll and a quill.

“Name please.”

“It’s Ron Weasley, Professor. Don’t you know?”

The part-goblin wizard peers up at him with a raised eyebrow before releasing an exasperated sigh. “Mr. Weasley. You do realize that the train has already departed?”

“Yes, I do.” Ron grits his teeth, his gaze flickering in the direction of the castle. “Is Hermione Granger still here?”

Without responding, Flitwick’s eyes scan over the list of names on the parchment. He presses his lips together as he intently studies the written words as Ron waits with bated breath. She has to still be here, right?

Finally, after what seems like ages for Ron — who already lacks any patience — Flitwick confirms, "Yes, Miss Granger will be remaining at Hogwarts for the holidays."

Ron releases the breath he had been holding before lifting his chin and standing up straight. "Then so will I."

"I don't see your name on the list…" Professor Flitwick casts his eyes back over the names, prominent wrinkles etched on his forehead.

“That’s, er — well it was a last minute decision.”

“I’m afraid that’s not-”

"Please.” Ron clasps his hands together, shaking them in front of his chest. “I'm her best friend." He hates the way his stomach twists at those words. He should've been a better one. "She can't be alone on Christmas."

"Mr. Weasley,” Flitwick lowers his voice with a rigid expression on his face. “Now you know-"

"It's Christmas."

The sentiment seems to make the professor rethink his course of action. Clucking his tongue, he studies Ron for a moment longer as if trying to discern his true intentions. Then he withdraws his wand before tapping it against the scroll, erasing Ron's name off the list of students accounted for.

"If anyone asks, you've simply missed the train and I had no idea you were still here."

"Thank you."

Ron takes off, jogging up the hill towards the castle entrance. Behind him, he can make out Flitwick’s quiet muttering to himself. "It just has to be Weasley and Granger."

The first thing Ron does once he's retreated back to the castle is head to the owlery to send a quick letter to his parents, explaining the situation. He chooses the speediest owl available, who should be able to make the trip there and back in a matter of hours and beat the Hogwarts Express. He doesn't fancy receiving another Howler from his mum expressing her disapproval over him missing the train. He only hopes that his family understands why.

He needs to do this.

Worry sits at the bottom of his stomach as he strolls down the empty corridors. It is quite eerie being alone in the castle, however he knows he's not truly alone.

The Fat Lady is skeptical of Ron's presence as he approaches the portrait hole. Despite her best attempt to screech 0ut a rendition of "O Come, All Ye Faithful", Ron states the password and expresses his urgency for getting inside. The haughty witch gives a small tut of annoyance before opening the guarded entrance.

Stumbling into the Gryffindor common room, his heart lifts when he spots Hermione sitting by the fireplace, curled up in one of the squashy chairs, doing what he knows her to do best.

Schoolwork.

Her head snaps up with a loud yelp at the sound of someone entering the room before stunning herself into silence once she recognizes who the intruder is. The quill drops out of her hand and lands on the book on her lap with a dull thud.

Ron folds his arms over his chest, offering her a cordial smile. "Aren't we supposed to be taking a break from revising over the holidays?"

Instead of answering his question, she states with a matter-of-fact tone, "The Hogwarts Express should have departed by now."

"I imagine it has."

"You're not on it."

"Neither are you."

Blinking her eyes at him, she purses her lips. "Well-spotted. Is Harry still here?"

"No. I told him to go on to the Burrow. My question is, why aren't you heading there too?"

Hermione shuts her book with significant force before standing up, clutching the text close to her chest. "I could ask you the same question."

"I asked you first."

"Mature." Her eyes roll upward, a gesture that is so typically Hermione that it makes Ron's lip curl up in amusement. "My parents-"

"Yeah I know. Ernie told me."

"I see."

"I wish you would have told me." He takes a large stride forward into the room, rolling up the sleeves of his jumper to his elbows after growing toasty from the warmth of the nearby fire. "You know you're always welcome at the Burrow."

"Am I?” Hermione snaps, maintaining a stoic expression that makes it almost impossible for Ron to guess what she must be feeling. “Didn't figure Lavender would really want me around."

There's the Erumpent in the room.

Ron winces at the mention of his ex-girlfriend. Although he figures this topic of conversation would have to come up in order for them to work past their issues, he still doesn’t feel prepared to tackle the unfortunate state of their relationship — especially given the intimidating glare Hermione is sending him.

"I never invited her. Besides I-” Ron scratches the back of his neck, feeling the heat on his skin. “I broke up with Lavender. I'm a real dodgy bloke for doing that right before Christmas, I reckon."

Hermione’s stern face relaxes the slightest amount and she loosens her grip on the textbook in her hands. He notices the wrinkles around her eyes, which irks him to his core when he realizes that there is no way she’s getting proper sleep.

"Why-why did you break up with her?" she manages after a short pause in a slow, shaky voice.

"Lav and I, we had fun I guess.” Ron lifts his shoulders up and down while looking at his feet, shifting his hands around in his pockets, unable to ignore the awkward tension in the room. “But it-”

His voice catches in his throat, losing all courage to continue. Come on, you wanker. Stop hiding.

“But what?”

Lifting his head, Ron meets Hermione’s eyes straight on, which seem to sparkle just the tiniest bit from the glow of the fire despite the dull light in the room.

“It wasn't worth losing my best friend."

Tears well up in her eyes, and Ron can only hope that it’s a positive sign. When a hint of a smile invades her lips, he knows that it is and he’s hit with a wave of relief to be taking a step towards normalcy again — well, what is considered normal for them, anyway.

He allows himself to take in the scenery of the room, and it’s a magnificent sight to behold. Tinsel and Christmas cards hang from the burgundy and gold walls and there is a large, decorated evergreen tree in the corner of the room with evidence of presents underneath. On some level, he does feel like he’s at home.

The evening wind swirls against the windows, bringing his attention to the glass pane. From the view overlooking the grounds below, Ron can see snow pouring out of the sky, wiping out any image of the surrounding lake.

"It's snowing!"

"What?" Hermione chews on her bottom lip as she stares off at a spot behind Ron’s head, presumably lost in her own thoughts.

"Let’s go outside!" Ron is unable to contain his giddy excitement over the change in weather.

Hermione snaps out of her daze, her eyes widening as she looks out the window. "Ron, it's freezing!"

"Aw, come on. It’s almost Christmas, Hermione!"

Hermione doesn’t appear convinced by his statement, making no move to stand out of her chair. The ticking of a clock somewhere in the room drives Ron mental after a minute passes, and he determines he’ll have to go to greater lengths.

"Look, you can either stay inside and do the work you know you’ll complete on time anyway-” Ron holds up a hand as Hermione’s mouth opens to protest his statement. “Or you can come outside and explore the grounds with me."

She wraps her arms around herself, looking throughout the room with uncertainty. “I don’t know…”

Well, she's mental if she thinks he is going to wait for her to talk herself out of joining him.

“Accio Hermione’s coat!”

The winter jacket comes flying down the spiral staircase and straight into Ron’s open hand. He tosses the coat at Hermione, who fumbles to catch it before it falls to the ground.

“Hey!”

Ron strolls to the portrait hole, craning his head to view the shocked expression on Hermione’s face. “Ya comin’, or what?”

He exits the common room, deciding to lean against the wall in the corridor with one foot propped up on the stone. His knee bounces in nervous anticipation, waiting to see if Hermione will take him up on his offer.

She exits through the portrait hole just moments later, pulling her curls from underneath her coat and straightening the earband on her head that she must have sought out before releasing a deep, aggravated sigh. Ron smirks at her, more than pleased by her decision, and she responds to the look on his face with a few choice words.

“Oh, shut it.”

They walk through the castle together in sustained silence. Hermione doesn’t speak a word the entire journey, and Ron can’t help but hyper-fixate on the way she keeps tugging at the sleeve of her jumper. He knows her mind must be moving at high speed, like a Chaser’s broom during a Quidditch match. His only hope is that their outing will alleviate at least a small amount of her stress, giving her unspoken permission to be as silly as she wants to be. He desires nothing more than to break Hermione out of her stubborn shell, to see her let her massive hair down and just be spontaneous for once.

By the time they make it to the set of double doors at the front entrance, Ron is bouncing on his heels, eager to get outside. Hermione checks over her shoulder as if she’s afraid of getting caught. The hesitance written all over her face almost makes Ron laugh, finding it hilarious given the amount of actual school rules they’ve broken in the past.

The blast of cold air washes over Ron as soon as the doors open, making his skin tingle with appreciation. A landscape of frosted whiteness invades his vision, a sight so welcoming and full of wonder that it steals all the air straight out of his lungs. Blimey, the season has barely begun and it’s already the largest snowfall he’s experienced in years.

The exterior of the castle adorns itself with twinkling white lights, and along with the white snow covering the peaks and arches of the entire structure, it makes it look as if they've been planted in the midst of a legitimate winter wonderland.

Ron finds himself gaping at the sky in awe as he allows individual snowflakes to fall into his open, glove-covered hand. He's always amazed at water's ability to turn into icy sprinkles. Even though his tattered boots are filling up with freezing water, he doesn't care. The sight almost brings tears to his eyes as he recalls the many winters of his childhood at the Burrow, evoking a particular emotional state that he can't quite pinpoint. It’s sad to not be home for Christmas, but he’s determined to still make it a truly special holiday even if it takes all of the Chocolate Frogs in the world.

He glances over at Hermione to gauge her reaction. He thinks for certain that she will complain about the snow — that she will find it too frigid, too juvenile, too wet. But in true Hermione form, she manages to surprise him when he least expects it.

"It's perfect."

Hermione’s eyes sparkle as she gawks at the sky with a pleasant flush coloring her cheeks. Never before has he seen such a joyful expression on her face — he quite likes it.

As if sensing him staring at her, she snaps her gaze towards him and he forces himself to look away as fast as possible, not fancying the idea of her spotting the redness on his face.

Piles upon piles of snow lay in wait of people making their willful reversion to childishness. Ron bends down to cup two handfuls of snow together, shaping them into perfect snowballs. Hermione is too busy inspecting a large bush covered with ice to notice what he’s doing. His cheeks burn from grinning so wide, already plotting his plan of attack with the snowball. Pulling his hand back before swinging it forward, he releases the snowball from his grip, sending it flying before landing with a soft smack on the center of her back.

A sharp gasp leaves her lips as she remains frozen in place, and for a brief few seconds, Ron regrets his decision.

Fuck. She's gonna hex me with those bloody birds again, isn't she?

Before Ron can fully comprehend it, Hermione leans over to pick up a clump of snow and hurls it with perfect aim at Ron's face.

Smack!

The impact of the pillowy white ice against his forehead sends a chill down his spine. His mouth hangs open, flabbergasted that Hermione managed to pull a fast one on him.

"Oh, now you've done it!" Ron's refilled his hands with plenty of snow before he can even finish his sentence.

Squealing, Hermione breaks out into a frenzied run, and soon they're chasing each other around the castle grounds with innocent weaponry, fighting a different kind of war with each other than they're used to.

They spend hours outside, leaving endless trails of footprints along covered paths and making sculptures out of snow. The rest of their lives seem to have ground to a halt, with no obligated busyness, giving them both a sense of what true leisure time should be like.

This day is the perfect gift in and of itself, because it's removed any pressure they have to be productive. For once, they don't need to worry about classes, or the impending war with He-who-must-not-be-named. They’ve gone on an adventurous journey without even having to ride the Hogwarts Express.

Ron also realizes as he stares at the colossal grin on Hermione’s face that the misfortunate circumstances leading up to them both staying at Hogwarts for the holidays isn’t such a misfortune at all. It allows extra time alone together they normally wouldn't have had, even if they were at the Burrow.

Hermione stumbles over her two feet, face planting into a large pile of snow. Ron keels over with laughter, hearing her aggravated snarl as she sits up with a mass of wet curls sticking out at lopsided angles from underneath her burgundy-colored earband.

Deciding to join in on the fun, Ron relishes the sensation of absolute security as he falls into a blanket of snow beside her. The world feels softer than it did before from his new vantage point. He allows himself to close his eyes, taking the chance to pause and breathe in and out several times.

“Ron?”

Pivoting his head to look at Hermione, Ron can see the nervous energy in her eyes. Despite the fun they’ve had today, a bout of unresolved issues sits at the forefront of his mind, and he can imagine Hermione is thinking the same as well.

A shared, undefinable mood sets it as the snowfall begins to dwindle. Hermione’s lips part as she’s prepared to say more-

"Mr. Weasley! Miss Granger!"

Ron sits up faster than a Phoenix rising at the sound of Professor McGonagall. Hermione mimics his actions, and together they’re fumbling to mutual standing positions, dusting off the freckles of snow that have overrun their clothing.

The professor’s brows rise high above the thin gray fringe on her forehead without even a hint of a smile on her face, although that is a rare feat for her. "Might you come inside? There's a feast in the Great Hall."

On cue, Ron’s stomach rumbles deep in his belly, and he can’t believe it’s already supper time, having been so absorbed in their snow day that he even missed lunch.

"Coming, Professor."

"Yes, Professor. Thank you."

With a sharp nod, McGonagall turns to head towards the castle. She doesn’t get very far before second-guessing her decision, and retracing her steps to offer a few additional words.

"And may I just say, on behalf of all of Hogwarts, it really is nice to see you two on speaking terms again."

The older witch doesn’t wait for a response as her emerald green robes sashay around her moving form, making a swift disappearance into the castle.

Ron’s lips fall open, and he doesn’t know whether to feel shocked or embarrassed by his professor’s perceptiveness.

Hermione’s wide eyes and gaping mouth indicate that she’s feeling the same. "Are we really that intolerable to be around when we're-"

"Rowing? Unleashing a flock of birds on the other person?" Ron teases, receiving a scathing look almost capable of shooting daggers from her eyes.

"Don't laugh!"

"I'm not!"

She points at the uncontrollable tremors on his face. "You're laughing right now."

“Well, I-”

A screech echoes from the sky, interrupting their spat.

Squinting her eyes, Hermione angles her head towards the clouds. "Is that an owl I hear?"

Sure enough, the owl that Ron had sent off earlier that day is flying towards them, a piece of parchment and a parcel attached to its leg. The bird dives deep into the snow in front of them, lacking any sense of grace, before popping its head back up and shaking the icy sprinkles from its feathers.

Ron pets the owl before freeing the parcel from its legs. "It's a letter from Mum and Dad! And they've sent presents for us, Hermione!"

"For both of us?" A quizzical smile appears on her face.

Ron unrolls the scroll, finding the letter response short and to the point.

Ron,

We are so very proud of you, son. Have a wonderful Christmas with Hermione.

All our love,

Mum & Dad

A lump of emotion lodges itself in his throat, and Ron tries to clear it with significant force once he spots Hermione reading the letter over his shoulder. In a haste, he rolls up the piece of parchment, experiencing a desperate need to change the topic of conversation.

“So, maybe we should head back up to the castle-”

“I can't believe you stayed back from the Burrow.” Hermione’s timid voice interrupts his suggestion, and he feels the heat creep up on his face despite the chilly air. “I know how important your family is to you."

"Ah, well…erm...you're important to me too, y'know."

Ron’s muscles tense up as he surveys the entire spectrum of emotion that passes through Hermione’s face until she settles on reaching for his hand, interlacing their fingers together.

Even though they’re both wearing gloves, the simple gesture ignites a flurry of flobberworms in his stomach that are difficult to contain. Once again, they’ve reinstated their friendship, maybe even on the precipice of something more.

He's had many wonderful Christmases, but he's quite certain this one at Hogwarts will remain at the top of that list.

"Happy Christmas, Ron." He feels a gentle squeeze on his hand that sends his heart pounding.

"A very happy Christmas indeed, Hermione Granger."

#snowball fight 😍😍😍 #romione #rhr

[remedialpotions]

The Quiet

Ron & Hugo's annual shopping trip turns into an understated moment of bonding. Written for @thedistantdusk for the 2021 HPRomione Discord Secret Santa Exchange! <3

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The Quiet

Entering Flourish and Blotts in the few weeks prior to Christmas always gives Ron a jolt of deja vu. The smell of ink and old parchment unleashes memories of cozy December evenings, Hermione reading by the fire, her feet shoved into woolen socks, and a mug of tea steaming from a nearby table. She could sit in silence for hours, lost in a book, listening to nothing but the crackling flames.

In the past, Ron always preferred to spend cold winter evenings on the Quidditch pitch to revel in the solitude — it was the only way he could appreciate the quiet. Growing up with six siblings meant silence was rare, and as a result, he couldn't help but talk when in the presence of others.

They passed these preferences onto their children. Rosie is a lot like him — she can't sit next to someone without talking to them, and she wouldn't be caught dead cozying up by a fire if there's an empty Quidditch pitch nearby. But Hugo? He's his mother's son, through and through. He developed the same flaming red hair, freckled face, and lanky frame as Ron, but has no idea how to hold a broomstick, let alone ride one.

Both Hermione and Rosie are working odd hours this holiday season, so the Annual Granger-Weasley Christmas Shopping Event has turned into a party of two. Ron is grateful for the extra time with Hugo, as it's been way too long since they've really talked. Luckily, the benefit of being both a dad and former Auror is that Ron's observation skills are top-notch, so they don't really need to talk. But it would be nice.

"So," says Ron, breaking the silence between them. "Who's on your Christmas list this year?"

Hugo's had the same core group of friends since year one — Chloe, Ruby, and Ethan — which renders the question unnecessary. Ron asks anyway.

"Same as last year," confirms Hugo.

Although his social circle has remained relatively unchanged, there have been minor shifts, but only in the way he speaks of his friends, not in the friends themselves. Ron and Hermione always notice these changes, remembering the fluidity of their own friendship over the years. It would be a lie to say they've never made assumptions about their son's relationships, always wondering if any bonds were strengthening into something more.

They observed closely when Hugo would invite Chloe and Ruby over for the holidays, watching with even more interest when it was just one of the girls. They took note of the gifts Hugo would purchase for them, listened to the way he'd talk about them, and looked for a sparkle in his eye when they reunited after summer holidays. As Hugo entered his teenage years, they expected something to happen.

It was a few factors — Hugo's uncontrolled blushing, the increased frequency of dinner invitations, and the extra time he spent on his letters — that they recognized as signs of a budding romance, but it wasn't with either of the girls.

Hugo had never confirmed anything, but neither Ron nor Hermione had ever asked. There's no point in doing so now — Hugo's a man of a few words, and it's just one of those things that parents already know.

Ron follows Hugo deeper into the store. Like his mother, he seems to know Flourish and Blotts like the back of his hand. He pauses at an aisle of fancy writing implements, leather bound journals, and inkwells. As usual, they've set a strict budget for each gift, so when Ron finds Hugo eyeing an expensive quill set he approaches the topic gently.

"Those are really nice," says Ron.

"Aren't they?"

Hugo examines the collection of five quills, each of a different color. There's room for a custom engraving, which is hopefully included in the price. It's a beautiful set — something he might purchase for Hermione.

"We can't get a set for all three of your friends," says Ron, pointing to the ten galleon price tag.

"I know."

"Then maybe we should look at a few other options," he suggests, with a twist of guilt in his stomach. Sure, they could afford a set for every friend — technically — but it's never too early to teach kids how to manage money. Ron had to learn that by necessity growing up, and now that they live more comfortably, he worries his kids will miss out on that important knowledge.

"I only want to buy one. I'll still have enough money left over for Chloe and Ruby's gifts," says Hugo as he continues to examine the quill set.

Ron tries to mask the smile tugging at his lips — he always hated his own father's knowing grin whenever Ron would mention Hermione. He would have loved to pretend his dad was ignorant of Ron's budding romantic feelings, but that simply wasn't the case. "So these are for Ethan, then?"

Hugo nods.

"Well, it's a very nice gift for a friend," says Ron, instantly regretting his suggestive tone when Hugo looks away.

"Well, we've been friends for six years," says Hugo with an air of defensiveness that reminds Ron of himself trying to explain purchasing a bottle of perfume for Hermione back in year five.

He can't help but wonder if Hugo's trying to lure a certain question. Ron would love for Hugo to simply tell him, but that's not his style. Unfortunately, there's no guidebook on fishing information you already know from your children.

Ron never had to communicate these things — somehow, his dad already seemed to know everything. If he had learned to verbalize it, he might have saved himself some heartache with Hermione. He was always a talker, but not necessarily an effective one.

"Six years, huh?" says Ron, trying to catch Hugo's eye. "You know, your mum and I were friends for seven."

The silence that follows is thick, but doesn't altogether take Ron by surprise. He waits, watching his son from the corner of his eye. The way the color spreads into Hugo's ears, causing them to blend in with his fiery hair, is so familiar. And when Hugo turns away from him, ever so slightly, Ron knows it's only to cover up a smile — the same one Ron would try to hide whenever his own father would subtly suggest he and Hermione were more than friends with an eyebrow raise or a wink.

Eventually, he stopped hiding it — there was no reason to mask his smile when he showed his father the sparkling engagement ring he'd purchased, or asked him to read over his wedding vows, or watched him tear up upon seeing Hermione's first pregnancy scans.

To Ron's delight, Hugo offers him even more than a smile. "Seven years?"

Ron nods. "Yeah. It took us a while to figure it all out."

"Well. Maybe you should have got her a really nice quill set," laughs Hugo before moving on to search for the remaining gifts, his shoulders bouncing with the weightlessness of having the first gift, the main one, already sorted.

It's not exactly a confirmation, but it's not a denial either. It's as though Hugo — very much his mother's son — is treading the line between the two with caution, daring Ron to ask. He never would have guessed that as a father, asking the right questions would turn out to be just as difficult as answering them.

"Have you told him how you feel?" he asks, unsure if the bold question would give him the information he's looking for.

"He already knows."

In typical Hugo fashion, his response is vague, but Ron doesn't push it. Hugo says it with confidence — enough to suggest the two boys have either talked about it, or they don't need to. Maybe Ethan is a man of a few words as well.

"Good," says Ron, before wrapping an arm around Hugo's shoulders and pulling him in. His son groans at the contact but hugs him back anyway.

In a perfect world, Hugo would share every single thought, unprompted. Yet, on the other hand, Ron is growing to appreciate the fact that he doesn't have to. For the first time in a while, the quiet between them no longer feels empty or awkward. Maybe it never was.

#ron is such a good dad 😭 #read this it’s lovely #hpromione discord #dad ron #romione #rhr

[remedialpotions]

This is everything, OMG I’m blown away. No words for how much I adore this and what a wonderful surprise it was! Thank you 🥺

I recently read All My Best Lies by @remedialpotions and I just couldn't stop thinking about Ron with the Liverpool's jersey!

#I feel like when the grinch’s heart grew three times and broke that measuring device #ron weasley #fanart

[remedialpotions]

How crinkly?

I assume this question is for my dog, regarding his preferred crinkle level in his stuffed toys. He has advised that the more crinkly, the better.

#james?

[remedialpotions]

hi! i was just wondering, what are some of your favorite romione moments in the books?

Hi! Hmm, I have a few…

I really love the attempted Slug Club ask-out in HBP. It’s just… so awkward. They’re both such idiots. Open your mouths and communicate, you fools (I know, I know, they were teenagers. But you get it.)

“I’ll tell everyone Hermione’s my cousin” 😭😭😭 He loves her so much.

“Come and dance” I can’t imagine that Ron had even the slightest interest in dancing, ever, at all - he’s a teenager, he’s tall and lanky and probably all elbows - but he wanted to dance with her 😭 I’m emotional.

Anytime he’s all “where’s Hermione?” in POA. U worried, bb?

“Hermione, you packed my old jeans, they’re too tight” 😏 Girlfriend knew what she was doing.

I’m sure there are more that I’m forgetting but those are the ones that come to mind!

[remedialpotions]

Will you answer a few questions for a little anonymous bird like me? What's your favorite romione "era"? Do you like fluff or angst best? Do you have any favorite fanfic tropes? How do you feel about holiday themed stories? There is no reason at all for any these questions. None.

WELL. Just curious, huh?

Either way, I will answer because I am a kind and benevolent soul (usually). I’m not sure I have a favorite era - immediately post-DH comes to mind though I do love the mutual pining that comes with HBP and DH. I like both fluff and angst but lean toward fluff… my hands-down favorite trope is fake-dating but I also just like couples being cute and domestic, missing moments… I don’t know! And while I am a very Grinchy-Grinch, I do like holiday stories!

👀

#WHO IS BEING SUS

[remedialpotions]

Hi! I saw a post on r/HarryandGinny about The Craig Clarke Collection and I read it and instantly fell in love with it. It was hilarious and is one of the best, if not THE best outside pov fics I've ever read. I wanna really show my appreciation for the fics but sadly Tumblr Asks have a word limit. Do you plan on writing more Craig stories, or outside pov of any other character ? Because I think you are very talented in writing them and honestly I would love more outside pov fics from you.

Hi! You’re the first person who has ever sent me an ask about my writing, so I’m very excited here! First, thank you so much for your kind words 🥰 I’m so glad you enjoyed Craig’s stories ❤️

As for your question, yes, I do plan to write more Craig! If you’d asked me a couple weeks ago, I would have said probably not, because I was happy with how it ended and just hadn’t found the right idea for another story for him, despite wanting to write more Craig (he’s like my fictional child and I will always love writing him ❤️). But recently, the wonderfully creative @remedialpotions gave me the most amazing idea for a story concept. I’ve got to finish another fic for the Hinny discord Incognito Elf holiday exchange first, but once I’ve finished, I plan to write a new story involving Craig, and hopefully, it’ll be ready after New Years.

As for whether, I’d ever write other outside POVs aside from Craig, I’ve got a couple WIPs from other canon characters’ POV, but nothing has felt quite right yet. Maybe one day with the right idea, something will come together ❤️ And thank you again, you’ve really made my day!

#craig clarke fan club #can’t wait to read it

[remedialpotions]

Chapter 3 is up

#phenomenal #nanse is so talented

[remedialpotions]

This is now a Chris Rankin stan account.

I will not be taking questions at this time.

#iykyk

[remedialpotions]

Yes it is that fanfic!! Thank you and the discord sooo much! I've been trying to find this for ages!! It's been a rough week but this helps. Thanks again! ❤❤❤❤

Happy I could help! Really @romioneb should get all the credit, I’m just the messenger, lol

I’m sorry to hear about the difficult week but I hope things continue to turn around ❤️

[remedialpotions]

Hi! I was just wondering if you may have read this fanfic I'm trying find. It may be a bit old. It's Hinny & Romione. Right after the final battle Ron & Hermione are kidnapped & obliviated & are sent to live somewhere else. No one will say where they are. Harry & Ginny keep looking for them even though some years pass & Ron & Hermione eventually meet again by chance and fall in love again as different ppl. Ginny & Harry eventually find them and try to repair their memories. Thank you either way!

So my lovelies over on the HPRomione discord (lmk if you want a link!) have pointed me in the direction of Memory Dust by elishadowy! Hope that’s the one you’re looking for ☺️