This idea stems from xxgothamrosexx on Tumblr, asking to recommend a fic where Ron is a player, but he falls for Hermione. I'm aware that this type of fic already exists, but I was inspired to make my own version.

The story is rated M for later chapters, which include adult language and sexual situations.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry or his friends.

Impedimenta

Chapter 1: Unbeknownst

Making lists of lists, and even more lists about when to make lists.

Books and articles, articles about books, and books about books.

Writing and editing then more editing; crossing out and rewriting, and onto the next.

Schedules and keeping appointments.

Being punctual, prepared and looking the part.

This was her life.

She worked extremely hard to get to this point in her career. At twenty-one years old some might say she was too young to be this far ahead in her life. Some might say that she should be grateful to have had the opportunities she was given in order to achieve her goals at such a young age.

The truth was it wasn't as easy as some may think. Where it seemed like knowing all the right answers in class came easily to her, she actually poured over many books, did extra credit on almost every assignment, and studied ahead to the next one in order to appear as if her being smart came naturally. She supposed to some extent it did, but she was especially tenacious when it came to her work ethic, and that is what got her to where she was today: Senior Editor for the French wizarding newspaper, La Tribune Magie.

However, the path she took to get there wasn't everything she had hoped for. With all the knowledge in her brain, and her innate ability to properly manage her time, money and professional life, she also had her own set of passions that she never got to explore. She cared about the world, people and creatures. More specifically, the unlawful and inhumane way they were treated. She thought being in a position where she got to showcase these injustices through journalism would be enough, but it wasn't. She needed to be part of the change.

It was a Tuesday morning and as she sat at her desk, surrounded by highlighted and heavily edited piles of articles about enslaved elves, murdered muggles and dark wizards doing terrible things she wondered how she let herself become trapped by this life of rigid solitude.

Hermione sat back with a sigh and pushed away the frizzy brown tendrils that seemed to always find their way out of her tight bun. Normally mail was sent through interoffice magical flying paper swans, so when a small owl was suddenly tapping at her window, clutching a roll of parchment papers, she jumped to her feet. She opened the window and shrieked as it barreled into the room. It flew haphazardly in wide circles and knocked over her frame holding a photo of her and her parents in front of Big Ben. The glass shattered on the floor as the owl made a beeline for Hermione's desk, scattering papers everywhere.

"Oh my!" Hermione exclaimed with a hand to her heart. "You are quite the energetic one, aren't you?" She used her wand to repair the glass and righted the frame back onto its shelf, then set the papers right on her desk before tending to the owl that was pecking her lightly on her arm.

"Oh, alright," she said gently, shaking her head as she and pried the rolled layers of parchment from its tiny claw. "Let's see if this is what I think it is."

As she read the little owl hopped to the top of her lamp and perched there, making small hooting noises and bristling its feathers.

Dear Hermione,

Hello! I hope this letter finds you alright. I had to use my brother's barmy owl as mine is off doing God knows what and where. I seriously need to find a new one.

I'm writing about the job opening you asked about the last time we wrote. I asked my brother to take the resume you had sent me into work and ask around because he has clout, but mostly because he does whatever I say. It must have been one hell of a resume because you got it! They gave the acceptance letter and form to Ron since he works there. I included them with this letter. Just fill it out and send it to the Ministry, Department of Magical Creatures, or something like that. You know more about it than I do, obviously. You'd start off as an intern, but you're super smart so I'm sure you'll level up in no time.

I'm so excited! I admit I'm all for you moving back to London! I know Harry and the rest would love to meet you! Let me know as soon as possible what you decide. Harry and I are happy to have you stay with us until you get a flat and everything.

Seriously, you're incredibly brave to make such a leap and try something new. I will help you in any way I can!

Talk soon,

Ginny

Hermione took a deep breath and let it out in a laugh. She covered her mouth in mild shock, unable to believe that it had worked. She could potentially change her life with just one owl post. She knew she should take more time to consider it, but this change was a long time in the making. She was unhappy in her current situation: a job she felt she had outgrown and a nonexistent social life. She was ready to finally live.

She had met Ginny two years ago through a mutual friend who is now Ginny's sister-in-law, Fleur Delacour. She and Hermione went to school together and even though they weren't in the same year they became friends. And when Fleur had came back from the Triwizard Tournament, telling her all about Hogwarts and the dangerous things she had to do, and about Harry Potter, whom everyone already knew about from the papers (By this time Hermione had already written and published many articles about this wizard and his friends), she wondered: had her parents let her stay at home and not sent her to France, what would her life had been like?

Hermione couldn't attend the Fleur's wedding, and then soon after her friend went into hiding so they lost touch for a while. But two years ago she brought Ginny along on a visit and Hermione felt an instant connection with the red-haired, loud-mouthed, quick-witted, younger girl who had a passion for Quidditch Hermione had never heard before. They also had working for a newspaper in common, as Ginny wrote about Quidditch for The Daily Prophet. They exchanged letters and Ginny even visited her on her own last summer. Hermione didn't have many friends, and the closest people she could give that label to were so far away, a fact that only aided in her decision to leave.

She also missed her parents and going to all the places around London that she grew up in. She loved France, but her heart, and mind, wasn't here anymore.

Dear Ginny,

Please make sure to thank your brother for all his help. That was very generous of him, regardless of his fear of your wrath. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to start fresh, so I gladly accept! I will fill out the necessary paperwork and send it to the Ministry today.

Thank you so much for your help! You are truly a great friend. As for the offer to stay with you and Harry I wouldn't want to intrude. However, my savings will go towards a new flat so I will be in need of a place to stay temporarily. I'm sure Fleur would offer, but with the baby I would be more of an inconvenience.

I will be giving my notice today and will need a few days to make arrangement, but I should arrive on Saturday, noon at the latest. I am quite excited as well! I'm also nervous, but with friends like you it makes me feel more at ease to make this transition.

Take care and thank you again!

Sincerely,

Hermione

After completing the form and drafting a letter thanking them for their job offer she addressed it to the Ministry. Then she rolled Ginny's letter, tied it with a string and held both out for the impatient tiny owl to snatch away. She smiled broadly, her heart pounding in her chest, and felt a nervous sense of relief as she watched it bob up and down from the added weight. Then it flew outside, departing in the direction in which it came.

XXXX

"Oi, Harry!"

Ron picked up the pace of his walking to a jog when he saw the back of his best mate's head, the messy black hair and slouched shoulders being a dead giveaway.

Harry turned at his name and waved once before stepping to one side of the corridor, letting witches and wizards pass by on their way to the lifts. The majority of the Ministry employees were heading home. Ron for one was happy to finally leave this place, but home was the last place he wanted to be.

"Hey, Ron," Harry said warily when they met up. He was at least an entire head shorter than Ron, the mop of hair on his head helping give him the illusion of being taller than he actually was, but only slightly. Where Ron was tall with muscle on a thin frame, Harry was stocky with broad shoulders. When they caught up Ron towered over him and he resisted the urge to mess Harry's hair, knowing it would only annoy him when he needed him in a good mood.

Ron was full to bursting with energy brought on by the end of a mind numbingly boring Friday at his desk writing up forms, filing papers and listening to testimonies to the least stimulating cases he's had to deal with yet in his three years as an Auror. He loved his career. His partner was his best mate and he felt great satisfaction putting away the worst the world had to offer. But on days like this he would rather be out there in the action than stuck inside writing bloody paperwork. If he wanted to do that he'd have went back to finish his 7th year of Hogwarts.

Because they didn't return to school and get their NEWTS, he was grateful to land the career he wanted anyway. He reckoned helping save the whole wizarding world from an evil wizard earned him and Harry some privileges, and he was more than happy to accept them.

He ignored Harry's rolling eyes as he slapped him on the shoulder, bouncing on his feet and grinning. He was set on convincing Harry to go out tonight because he could already tell he was thinking of drinking some tea and going to bed early. Ron took his role as Harry's best mate very seriously; After ten years of friendship he could tell when Harry was about to close himself off and risk turning into a hermit crab. It's happened a few times after the war, and even with his own sister's help, it was hard as hell to get him back to normal again.

"It's Friday, mate, cheer up!" he nudged Harry with his elbow. "We deserve to have some fun once in a while."

"I'm tired, Ron. I just want to go home, eat and sleep. Besides, we go out every week, twice sometimes." Harry leaned against the wall, dropping his head back and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Come on, Harry," Ron pleaded and moved to stand in front of him. "Don't be a crotchety old man already. You didn't go out last week and you know it. I'll buy this time. Just a few pints and Ginny can even come. I think I could stand her for one night." He chuckled, thinking how Ginny would kick his shin for saying that. Honestly, he loved his sister and enjoyed hanging out with her. She was loud and funny and he saw a lot of him in her, and not only because they shared the trademark Weasley Red-As-Fuck hair. At the mention of Ginny's name Harry opened his eyes and sighed.

"She did mention doing something tonight…"

Ron clapped his hands once and pointed at Harry. "See? Even she knows you need to get out and have some fun!" He wiggled his brows at Harry and watched the wariness turn to surrender. He clapped Harry on the shoulder again and, now that he no longer had to be polite, rubbed his hand quickly through Harry's hair.

"Piss off, Ron," Harry said with a laugh. He may be shorter, but he was definitely stronger than he looked, so with one push he sent Ron backwards into an older witch who smacked her teeth at them.

"Sorry!" Harry yelled after her and groaned. "They hate us here."

"They do not," Ron replied and fell into step alongside Harry as they walked toward the lifts again. "You're Head Auror, Harry. They love us. We are the saviors of the wizarding world and all that."

Harry, embarrassed, looked around at the remaining people milling about the circular lobby, waiting for the lifts. "You can't keep saying that, Ron. Jesus, you're such a prat."

"Nah, I'm only joking. No one even heard me,' Ron said and pushed the red button to call their lift. "But you are wrong. Well, they love you at least. Everyone does."

He meant it as a compliment, but felt the familiar tug of jealousy, because it was true, and they knew it. There was an awkward silence as they waited and Ron tried to act nonchalant, hoping it didn't show through in his voice.

He had worked hard over the years to divest himself of his old insecurities. They were a major hindrance while he and Harry were on the run, searching and destroying horcruxes. Harry saw the effect the locket had on him so was let in on all of Ron's innermost thoughts and fears. It was a turning point in their friendship, one that made them closer, but was also the most embarrassing moment of his life. Since then he knew he didn't have to hide anything from Harry, but he also wanted to show that he didn't hold any resentment toward him, that he never blamed him for being The Chosen One. However, even though that was true, he still had moments where the old Ron would creep up and make him feel inferior, mediocre and looked over.

Their lift finally arrived and Ron was thankful Harry hadn't said anything like 'Oh, they love you too', or some mushy shit like that. He'd have to throttle the specky git if he tried.

"I'll tell Ginny when I get home," Harry said as they filed in with about ten other people. "I don't think she had the three of us in mind when she suggested a night out, but I'm sure it'll be fine."

Ron let out a short laugh. "Yeah, right. She'll get over it. Just tell her I'm buying. She'll buy extra just to fuck with me, but that's alright. I reckon I miss her too… don't tell her I said that."

Harry snorted and then apologized to the wizard next to him when Ron pushed him sideways.

Two hours later Ron sat waiting for Harry and Ginny at a muggle pub, getting a head start as he sipped on his lager, eyeing the crowd with what he felt was a casual slouch against the bar.

He had already gone home, taken a shower and dressed in dark jeans, grey shirt, red and blue plaid button down and, since it was November and finally cold enough outside to warrant him wearing it, his black leather jacket. The jacket was a Christmas gift from Charlie, and given that his older brother was infinitely cooler than Ron, he felt it brought him good luck. However, as he thought about his love life lately he wondered if Charlie's choice to remain single for so long had somehow rubbed off on the jacket…

"Wotcher, Ron!" A hand suddenly slapped the back of his head and he momentarily lost all of his coolness, rubbing his skull and scowling at his sister who slid onto the barstool next to him.

"Remind me, Harry, why I said she could come,' Ron said as Harry sat next on her other side.

"Are you joking?" Ginny guffawed. "You let me come? Need I remind you that you are interrupting what is supposed to be mine and Harry's date."

"Sod that," he said, waving his hand at her. "Harry, what drink would you like?"

"Whatever you got," Harry said, rubbing his temples. Ron frowned at him and, forgetting to pretend to be annoyed, gave Ginny an inquiring look.

She merely shook her head telling him to forget it and said to the bartender, "I'll have a pint of your finest ale, please," flashing a smile at Ron.

"Didn't I tell you, Harry?" Ron tried again to engage him in conversation.

Harry chuckled and nodded his head at the bartender. "Thanks," he said when he got his drink and drank half of it at once.

"Oi! I'm not made of galleons, mate! Jesus."

"It's been a long week," Harry said across Ginny who was sipping from her tall mug, trying no to spill it. "Cheers, Ron."

"Cheers to that, mate,' Ron said, raising his bottle and draining it. "Get a table, I'll order more drinks and meet you."

Moments later, balancing a jug of ale and three mugs in his hands, Ron made his way to the back of the pub where Harry and Ginny sat together on one side of a booth.

"So what's new in your world, Gin?" Ron asked, pouring himself a drink and settling back against the torn leather cushion.

"Well… I heard there's an opening for Chaser with the Holyhead Harpies I might try out for." She shrugged and took a long sip.

"Might try out? Ginny, you have to."

"That's what I told her,' Harry said and sat up to pour himself a drink. "You have to come over and practice with us, Ron. She's brilliant."

"I believe it," Ron said enthusiastically. "When are tryouts?"

"Next month. It's not a big deal."

"Well, let me know. I'll come and practice with you guys so you're ready. You're gonna try out and make it, Gin. No excuses."

Ginny smirked and shrugged again. "Anyway," she said, changing the subject. "Ron, do you remember that witch I told you about, the one I had you give her resume to the Minstry? Hermione?"

Ron nodded as he drank and peered out the corner of his eye at a woman who was staring at him from across the pub. "Yeah… I remember." He cleared his throat and focused back on Ginny. "Did she get the job then? I didn't play bloody owl for nothing."

"Very funny. And yes, she did. She arrives tomorrow. Harry and I are letting her stay with us for a bit before she gets settled."

Ron looked at Harry who nodded then said, "We have an extra bedroom so it's not a big deal."

"You barely know her." He was all for helping Ginny by running papers back and forth, but having someone he doesn't know live with his best mate and sister made him very uncomfortable.

"Well, I do," Ginny said. "I've met her and she's lovely. Besides, Fleur has been friends with her for years, so she's obviously not a criminal. She's looking for a change and I want to help her."

Ron narrowed his eyes at Ginny, and noticed Harry sit back with a sigh.

"So, wait. She suddenly wants to move here all the way from France where I'm assuming she already has a decent living… What's her angle?"

"It's fine, Ron," Harry said and leaned on the table. "Look, I wouldn't let some stranger come live with us if I didn't think it was safe. Ginny and Fleur trust her, and that's enough for me to give her a chance."

"She wants a new life, Ron," Ginny said, her face turning pink from frustration. "Just because you don't know her doesn't automatically turn her into a villain."

"Right, a new life living with Harry bloody Potter," Ron scoffed. "How convenient." He didn't like this, not one bit. Who decides to uproot their life, a life that seemed just fine, and move far away on a whim, just like that? It smelled suspicious on all counts, and he was surprised Harry didn't share his doubts.

"It doesn't matter what you think, Ron, because she's my friend and I'm going to help her." Ginny slammed her mug down and stood up. "Thanks for your help, but I don't need your permission." Then she stormed off in the direction of the bathrooms.

Ron was taken aback. "The fuck just happened?" He turned to Harry who was rubbing his temples again. "Don't tell me you agree with her."

"Ron, I understand why you're worried, but they really are friends. We just haven't met her yet. You don't have to be so damn protective all the time."

Ron shook his head, feeling as if he were the only one with any sense in the entire room. "Constant vigilance, Harry," Ron muttered and finished off his drink.

Eventually Ginny returned to the table and sat down, avoiding Ron's eyes. He tried to apologize, and she waved it off saying to forget it.

"I don't want you to worry, Ron," she sighed. "But I also don't want to be treated as if I don't have good judgment of character. I'm not eleven…"

Ron gulped and exchanged a glance with Harry. "I didn't mean to say you don't… I'm sorry. I do trust you."

He felt awful, remembering how Riddle's diary tricked her into trusting it and how she told it everything. He knew she was under the control of the diary, and never once blamed her for opening the Chamber of Secrets. But he knew, and from talking to Harry, that she partially blamed herself.

"Look,' he said. "I'll come over tomorrow and meet her. I'm sure she's fine and I'm overreacting. I just get-"

"Pig headed? Overprotective? Git-like?"

Ron snorted. "Yeah, all those things."

There was pause and then, "I have a headache."

Harry's flat tone made Ginny and Ron turned to him simultaneously, and after a second they all started laughing. Harry groaned and put his head on the table.

"I think it's time we head home," Ginny said, pulling on Harry's arm. "Thanks for the drinks, Ron. Come over whenever tomorrow."

"Do you need any help?" He directed the question at Ginny, hoping she knew what he meant.

"No," she said as Harry stood next to her, looking ready to bolt. She smirked at Ron and added, "Just try to remember the name of the girl you pull tonight. I hear they like that kind of thing."

He grinned and rolled his eyes. "Right, whatever." He stood and slapped Harry on the shoulder. "Thanks for coming out. Get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow. We can have a fly and help Ginny practice."

"Sounds good," Harry said, smiling. He looked pale, but Ron figured he was just tired. Now he felt bad for forcing him to come out. He told him as much, but Harry shook his head. "It's fine. Like I said, rough week."

Ron nodded, even though he didn't entirely buy the excuse, but watched the two most important people in his life leave with a heaviness in his gut that he couldn't quite explain. Was it instinct? Bad shrimp at lunch?

"Is this seat taken?"

He turned to see the fit blonde woman who had been eyeing him earlier. She looked about his age, and was staring up at him through long black lashes and a smile was playing on her lips. He smiled back at her. He could read that look, and knew what she was really asking. Somehow he had gained a reputation as a 'player' from his friends and family, mostly due to the fact that he had become quite adept at talking to females; he enjoyed the flirting and getting to know them, but the truth was, despite his encounters, he never felt anything past physical attraction or friendship, and more often than not nothing more than snogging or heavy petting took place. He was habitually single, and often wondered if he'd stay that way…

"No," Ron said with a sigh, not up for the game tonight, and too worried about Harry and this mystery woman set on infiltrating his inner circle. "It's all yours."

He then made his way out the door, walked to an empty alley and Disapparated back home to an empty flat and bed.

XXXXX

I hope you like the beginning to what will become a multi-chapter story! I have never written an AU story before so I'm kinda pumped about it…

Thank you for reading and please leave a review. I'd really like some feedback!

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