a/n So, this is my first venture into fanfiction for a good long while, and I'm sorry that I never got around to finishing my other stories. However, this story is much better than all of those combined, and I've got much better ideas about how to finish it. I hope you enjoy! If you review, I will post more chapters faster:)
"So, how was your day, honey?" Ron cooed as he leaned in to brush his lips against Hermione's.
"It was wonderful, thanks for asking." Hermione answered. Ron had been exceptionally nice lately. Thankfully, his emotional range had increased from that of a teaspoon (it was now bordering an expensive cheese slicer), and he had really been an excellent boyfriend for the past few months. Hermione wondered if something big was up.
"What was the best part?"
"Well, I found out something very cool about Scandinavian Sweethorns."
"What are those again?"
Hermione heaved a slightly exasperated sigh. She'd only been working on this research for 7 months. "Well, you know that for my healer training for the Creature Damage ward, I have to research a magical creature, right?" Ron nodded. "Well, I'm researching the Scandinavian Sweethorn, which is a very rare dragon. Not much is known on them, so every bit of information I can glean is actually very important."
"Right. I remember now. So what's new today?"
"Well, I'm not sure because it's hard to do proper tests on the old samples we have. They're from old dragons that died over a century ago. If I could research some samples from a younger dragon, then I could be sure." Hermione was kind of going off on a tangent. "Anyway, it has been widely assumed that Sweethorn venom is incurable, but I'm on the verge of creating a spell that can contain it. It's very exciting!"
"Well, what happens after the venom is contained?" asked Ron.
"I'm not sure. This is just the first step. Sweethorns are becoming more common, although not in Britain, and incidents are occurring more frequently, so I'm trying to finish my research as fast as I can. It's very difficult to get any recent samples because the area they live in is blocked from apparition. They were considered too much of a threat to justify studying them until just a few years ago."
"Well, I hope that you find a cure someday, darling. Shall I walk you back to your apartment?" asked Ron gallantly as he offered Hermione his arm. Hermione giggled.
"It's on the way to yours, you know!" Hermione and Ron, along with many young witches and wizards, lived in this small, run down apartment building. Rent was cheap, and it was easy enough to rig the appliances to run on magic instead of electricity. The Muggle landlords didn't have a clue! The couple walked in comfortable silence down the hall.
Outside of Hermione's flat, there was a large stack of moving boxes. "You're moving?" asked Ron dumbly.
"Of course not, silly! I would have told you! No, this must be my new neighbour. Katie Bell moved out ages ago!" Just then, a head popped out from behind the propped-open door.
"Hermione?"
"Charlie?"
"So you're living here too! And so is my prat of a brother!" Charlie and Hermione laughed, while Ron just looked slightly bemused.
"But, why are you even here, Charlie?" asked Ron.
"Well, I've been asked to come back to England for a bit as the head dragon worker just retired at the British reserve. I'm taking his position." added Charlie proudly.
"Well, why didn't we hear about it yet?" asked Ron. "Mum's going to freak!"
"I really only found out this week, and then I had to pack and get ready to come here, and I haven't had the time. I had no idea this was going to happen! This is the breakthrough I've been waiting for."
"Well, why don't we help you unpack, then we'll show you around a bit." Hermione offered.
a/n And...we're off to a nice, rolicking start. I promise that the next chapter gets much more exciting, I just had to lay some ground work/context first!