Request #16--For jocap

[ficsbydeenas]

Requested by JoCap

1--pairing (you know which ones I write)/; Ron/Hermione
2--setting (place, era, etc.): One year after the end of DH
3--situation: Muggle shopping for food.
4--rating request: PG

I love Hermione a lot. I mean, I love her more than anything in the world and would do anything for her. And that's why I am here, standing in the middle of a Muggle grocery, finding food to bring back to her parents' house and cook for her.

My mother just about had a coronary when I told her I wanted to cook for Hermione. She gave me a menu and wanted to take me to the store. I declined, telling her that I wanted to do it all myself, from the shopping to the prep work to the cooking and the serving.

Why am I doing this?

Well, I'm going to ask her to marry me.

I know we're young. I know we've just started out in our careers.

We don't have to get married right away. I know she wants to have a career and in fact, I wouldn't expect anything less from her.

But she's made my life richer, if not in money, but in love. She's given me hope for the future and has been a constant rock n my past. I can't imagine life without her.

I check my shopping basket and stroll over to the produce section, determined to find the best, firmest and tastiest aubergines in the place. They're her favourite vegetable and I know for a fact that ratatouille is one of her favourites. I've made it before, with Mum hovering over my shoulder, and proud to say that I didn't kill anyone. I select two deep purple ones and then head over to find some courgette. The yellow ones look better than the green, so I add two to my basket. Satisfied with all the items I've placed in the basket, I pay for my purchases, proud that I was able to hand the clerk the correct amount of Muggle money and left the place with a spring in my step.

I ring the bell at the Grangers' house and Mrs. Granger answers the door. She knows why I'm here; I spoke with them last week and received their blessing.

"Hello, Ron. What're you making for my little Minnie?"

I don't think I'll ever get used to them calling Hermione 'Minnie.'

She steps aside and lets me into the house, leading me to the kitchen.

"Well, I'm making ratatouille and braised lamb with cranberry chutney."

I could tell by the look on her face that she was impressed.

"Goodness, Ron, she's sure to love it. Would you like any help? I mean, with the cooker and oven."

"Oh, sure. And if you could show me where the knives and stuff are, that'd be brilliant." I smile as she opens drawers and retrieves all sorts of do-dads that I have suddenly come to realize that that I have no clue as to how to use them.

"Something wrong, Ron?"

"Er, well, Mrs. Granger—"

"Sylvia. My name is Sylvia, Ron."

"Yeah, okay. I have no idea what to do with these things."

Over the next twenty minutes, she teaches me how to use something called a mandolin, which is a really cool gadget for slicing the aubergine and courgette thin. It's cool until I manage to cut my finger and then admit that I should have used the food holder.

"Sylvie, we'd better be going," Mr. Granger says, popping his head into the kitchen. "Smells good, Ron. Minnie should be home soon." He steps over to me and pats me on the shoulder. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Mr. Grang—Michael. Have a good time tonight."

"You, too, Ron." Sylvia gives me a peck on the cheek and I watch as they leave the kitchen and hear the door shut behind them.

I retrieve a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and use my wand to open it, placing it on the table that Sylvia had set for us. I smile as I picture the two of us sitting there in the candlelight with soft music floating around the room.

The click of the door makes me turn around and I hastily remove the apron from my body. I take a step into the hallway and just as places her satchel on the hall table, she looks up and sees me.

"Surprise."