Always

One Saturday in early December, I was laying in Ron’s bed. I was sprawled out on my stomach like a dead starfish. I had a heating pad on my back. I was in that in-between state where I wasn’t quite asleep, but I wasn’t awake either. Jynx was sleeping above my head, purring. I felt the bed shift and a warm hand go around my waist and I winced.

“There’s a kitty ‘Kat’ in my bed, and I don’t just mean Jynx”, Ron joked, moving my hair away from my face so he could see me. I sat up slowly, wincing again.

“Oh Lord. Please don’t bring that nickname back”, I groaned.

“But you used to love it”, he said in a pout. “What happened to your back?” he asked, concerned.

“Yeah, when I was five!”, I laughed. “I was putting up the Christmas decorations and just over did it. You know I have a bad back as it is”, I sighed. He slowly pushed me back on my stomach and sat on the back of my legs. He summoned my massage lotion that helps my back from our room and put his wand back down. Slowly and carefully, he rubbed the lotion into my back, massaging the soreness there.

“You should have waited for me darling”, he said. I groaned as he got a particularly rough knot out.

“I wanted to surprise you”, I pouted. My body tensed as he hit another knot.

“And why are you in my bed and not our bed?” he asked. We had been sleeping in mine, so we started calling it our bed. But his bed still remained in this room.

“You weren’t home, and I missed you”, I replied.

“You should have texted or called me love, I would have come home”, he said, moving off of me so that I could sit up again.

“I know you’re busy at work, I didn’t want to bother you… wait… why are you home? It’s still early”, I asked him.

“I will always come home for you. Always. And you never showed up for lunch. I got worried”, he said, tucking hair behind my ear. I leaned into his touch.

“I’m sorry. I was so tired and hurting. I lost track of time. Are you staying?”, I asked hopefully.

“Do you want me to stay?” he asked.

“You know that I do”, I replied, reaching for his hand. He moved so that he could grab his phone from his pocket. He dialed a number I couldn’t see.

“Hey Fred?... yeah, she was here… no, I don’t think I will be able to make it back. She’s hurt herself and can’t really move around… yeah, I’ll let her know… are you sure it’s okay… okay, I’ll call you later… love you too… okay bye”. He ended the call and placed his phone on the bedside table. “All yours beautiful”, he said leaning down to kiss me.

“Well, now that you are home… what do you want to do?” I asked, grinning.

“I don’t suppose sex is on the table?” he joked with a smirk. I shook my head no, wincing again. “Didn’t think so. How about you go sit on the couch and put on a movie. I will make you some tea and re-heat up your heating pad. Sound good?” he asked, helping me to stand up.

“Sounds perfect”, I said. After settling on the couch, I heard my phone ring from the other room. I groaned, but Ron jogged to grab it for me.

“Hermione”, he said, handing me the phone.

“Hi Hermione… Ron is actually home with me… I hurt myself decorating… just my back… let me ask, hang on”, I said, holding my phone away from my face. “Hey handsome? Hermione wants to know if we want to do lunch. She said she would bring it here for us”, I asked Ron. He came back with my tea and sat down next to me.

“Yeah, if you’re up for it, I don’t mind”, he said, taking a slow sip of his own tea.

“Hermione? Ron said it was fine… yeah Chinese sounds good… yeah, sounds good… see you soon… okay bye”. I said, hanging up my phone. Ron took it from me and leaned forward to put it on the table. I just turned on a TV show, since Hermione was coming over. She arrived about twenty minutes later. Ron got up to open the door and help her with the food. Blaise had come with Hermione as well. He helped Ron set up the food on the living room table, while Hermione went into the kitchen to grab some sodas, plates, and silverware.

“So, Katie, can I ask you something?” Blaise said, halfway through our meal.

“Sure?”, I said, confused. Hermione gave no hint on her face.

“I was wondering if you actually enjoy working for Hermione?” he asked. I looked up at Hermione, who just smiled and nodded at me. I looked over at Ron. He squeezed my hand.

“Um… no… not really. I don’t not like it, but at the same time… I don’t know, I feel like I could be doing more”, I said honestly.

“Well, I was talking with Hermione about it, and I was wondering if you would like to come work for me at the apothecary? I could really use an extra person, and you’ve always been so good with customers, especially the older folks”. He looked at me hopeful.

“I… Hermione?” I asked and she just nodded, smiling again. “I mean yes. I would. What would I be doing?” I asked.

“Well, obviously, help the customers. But we also need someone to monitor the inventory. You would be able to have off two Saturdays a month, as well as two Fridays. We are also closed on Sundays, so you would have those off as well”, he said. I grinned at him.

“Sounds lovely. And what about hours?” I asked. Looking at Ron again. I had worked retail before. I knew the hours could suck and I would never see him.

“Oh. Don’t worry about that. We are open from nine am to six pm. I’d kick you out by six thirty at the latest. You’ll still see your bae”, he said with a smile. I looked down embarrassed.

“That would be amazing Blaise. Really. I look forward to it. When would I start?” I asked.

“Consider this your resignation. It was a pleasure Ms. Greene”, Hermione said, coming over to hug me gently.

“I was hoping for Monday”, Blaise added. “I’d like to get you caught up with everything and familiar with the shop”. He said, reaching for his drink.

“Sounds Great, Blaise. I can’t wait really. Thank you. Thank you both”, I said, sincerely. My fingers tightened around Ron’s hand. He knew I had been unhappy for a while at work. I felt useless and often was bored at work. This would allow me to be more helpful as well as have time for other things.

“OH! Hermione, before I forget. I still have to work out a time, but would you be free for tea tomorrow with Narcissa and Angelle? There is something I want to work on”, I asked her, popping a piece of chicken in my mouth.

“Yeah, of course. Can’t wait to hear what you’ve got in mind”, she said, coming to sit on the couch next to me. She forced me to move over and squish Ron so she could cuddle next to me under the blanket. The boys turned on a comedy movie, and we spent our afternoon together.