The Devil's Tears by ShaliaDarkness
A/N: This is the first chapter of this fic so there won't be much going on, but eventually the story will build up and there will be lots of suspense, etc. - I would also like to point out that the story's title is derived from the song of the same name, but I am unsure whether or not that counts as a songfic. You won't be seeing lyrics popping up so I don't think so.
Hello to all! I figured that since I have received I tremendous amount of support from my previous story The Freedom Fighters, I should continue writing. This story, however, is completely different from that. There are really many beautifully told tales about what happened between that 19 year gap, or after the battle, and I wanted to do my take on it. It might not turn out as good as planned but I will try.
Summary: Three years after the final battle, Ron Weasley, along with Harry Potter, find themselves finished with training and part of the Auror Department. Hermione is part of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, although she is applying for a position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and finds out she has unfriendly competition that plans to squander her dreams of promotion. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron deal with a dangerous case of broken out Death Eaters who plan on seeking revenge.
Characters: Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, and a few new others.
Rating: Ah, yes, the rating. For now it will be a T rated story. But later on, this rating might change to an M. It's a possibility. The rating is for violence and sexual themes. If this proves much more than a "T" rating, I will change it, but will inform my readers.
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
"I'll taste the Devil's tears, drink from his soul, but I'll never give up you." – The Devil's Tears by Angus & Julia Stone
The bright morning sun seeped through her eyes and she awoke with a start. Yawning, she swung her petite legs off the white king sized bed she shared with Ron and ran her fingers through her hair, rearranging it slightly. "Ron," she said, walking to her sleeping partner's side of the bed. His vivid red hair was just as messy as hers was, his mouth was half open, and he only wore boxers on his fit and now muscular legs. She smiled, acknowledging how lucky she was to be the girlfriend of somebody so fortunate looking. Moving into the cute, two-bedroom flat they owned had resulted bouts of late night sex.
"Ronald, it's time to get up," she said softly, nudging him with her fingers.
He shook them off. "Two more minutes, mum."
"Ha ha," Hermione said sarcastically, folding her arms. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, you are twenty-one years old, not twelve. Get up now before I have to drag you out of bed."
"I'm up," Ron teased, though he did not move.
"Really?" Hermione said loftily. "Prove to me that you're awake."
"I – I just am," Ron said, shifting slightly before finding a comfier position.
Hermione tried to keep a stern face, but it was already breaking into a smile as she spoke again. "Ron, I'm going to be late."
Ron's eyes briefly opened and his head turned to look at her –her hands were on her hips and she wore nothing but a very short white nightgown. "You look sexy in the morning."
Hermione's eyebrows raised. "Really?" she said, even though Ron's compliment had not fooled her. "That's very nice of you. Now get up before I hex you."
Ron finally sprung up, dazed in only his boxers. He wore a smirk and grabbed Hermione by her arms and pinned her to the bed playfully.
"Ron!" Hermione said, although she was smiling as well, "Ron, there's no time for this childish nonsense!"
"Oh, so you're saying kids pin each other to a bed and do what I'm about to do?" he demanded, before he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. Hermione opened her mouth to him, and after he released her arms they went around his neck, and up his hair as she ran her fingers through it. As she pulled away, Ron muttered, "One more, one more" and she collided her lips to his again, licking his tongue with hers.
As they pulled away a second time, Hermione smiled, with one hand still in his hair. "We're both going to be late. I promised Harry and Ginny we'd meet them for breakfast."
"Hmph," Ron said, getting off of her. As he shuffled to the bathroom, one hand on his head, he said, "Just remember, you're all mine when you get home!"
Hermione smiled and went to the closet to pick out her best clothes. Ron came out of the bathroom, now with a toothbrush in his mouth and a towel instead of boxers. "Hey love, do you mind – "
"No," Hermione said, cutting him off. "You're picking out your own clothes today Ron, I'm pretty busy picking out mine."
"Oh come off it," Ron said. "Why are girls so intent on looking pretty all the time? You look fine, love. More than fine, actually," he said, eyeing her up and down.
Hermione raised her eyesbrows at him. "Well unfortunately, today's not about looking pretty. It's about looking professional."
Ron sighed. "Fine. I'm just going to go take my shower now. Do you, er…care to join me?" he said, indicating his loose towel.
"As tempting as that offer is," Hermione said, "I do night showers, Ronald. You should know that by now. And I've got to get the coffee ready, and choose the right clothes. You go on without me."
Ron smirked. "Alright."
She slid her nightgown off, now only in her knickers and bra in front of him.
Ron smiled and took the toothbrush out of his mouth as he stared his girlfriend up and down. "Ni-i-ice. Tell me how I'm the luckiest man on Earth?"
Hermione smirked at him and said, "Well, you survived the Second Wizarding War, for starters."
"Right," Ron said, before retreating to the bathroom to take his shower.
Hermione rolled her eyes playfully and took out a bout of Slekeazy's Ginny has lent to her. It was really needed, as over the years her bushy hair had grown into nice, smooth curls that cascaded down her back, but it was a big day, and she had to look her best.
After the war, Hermione and Ginny had returned to Hogwarts and finished their education together, Hermione, against Ron's wishes, intent to get her studies done. Harry and Ron took this time to look for open Auror jobs at the Ministry, and Kingsley had fixed them up some Auror training before they could actually work at the Ministry. Hermione worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and even if she had one of the best positions in there, she had her eyes set on a job at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, something she knew would not be easy. Encouraging rights for house elves was one thing, but reforming the Wizarding World by getting rid of the muggle-born prejudice – that was another.
After she had washed her face, brushed her teeth and hair, applied deodorant and a few bits of makeup, she pulled on a black waist-high skirt, with a white spaghetti-sleeved shirt on top of it, and a matching unbuttoned beige cardigan-sweater. She pulled on black pumps and after grabbing her favorite black bag and wand, headed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
She fixed up some coffee in the coffee maker and heated some breadsticks for a brief start, as Harry and Ginny would meet them up for breakfast in a nearby restaurant.
She heard a familiar beep from her bag and took out her cell phone, where it read "1 New Message". Graduating from Hogwarts and living in the Muggle World meant adapting to some new muggle devices, including driving and technology, something Ron was still not very keen of, and resulted in him using his wand a few times in public. After Muggles had reported strange sightings, Kingsley let him off with a warning, saying that just because they were familiar with each other didn't mean he could favorite Ron over the other workers.
Hermione squinted at the text, seeing it was from Ginny, who had also adapted into Muggle devices, and said, Harry and I are ready, about to leave our flat. We'll be there at about 7:45.
Hermione shoved her phone back into her bag and glances at the clock; 7:30. She shouted over her shoulder. "Ron! You better be ready by now! I don't want us to be late!"
"Relax, love, I'm here," Ron said, emerging from their bedroom wearing a dress shirt with rolled up sleeves and black pants; he held a casual looking jacket in his right hand. "Besides, we're going to see my sister and her boyfriend, not the Queen."
Hermione ignored the comment, and went across the room to get the coffee. As she held her hand out to reach for the kettle, she knocked over a china mug; the second it hit the floor, she thrust out her wand and said, "Reparo!" the mug brought itself back to its original form and she picked it up and handed it to Ron. "Coffee?"
Ron marveled at her work. "You were always better at magic. And yes, please."
Hermione beamed at him as she poured mocha-colored coffee into his mug. "Are you and Harry on any cases yet?" she said, as she pocketed her wand again and went to the counter to get the breadsticks.
"No," Ron sighed, staring into his coffee. He took a sip, then continued, "Harry and I are thinking about suggesting to Kingsley if we could actually be assigned one. We only got out of Auror training months ago and he still thinks we're unprepared."
Hermione took a bite of her bread stick and lifted herself up on the counter. "How come?
"I don't know," Ron replied, sighing as he drained the mug. "Harry and I reckon it's because it hasn't been that long since the battle, and there are rumors going around that some Death Eaters are still out and about, dressing up as Muggles here in London…"
Hermione finished her breadstick and crossed her arms. "Well, you always know that safety comes first, Ronald."
"Right," Ron said, getting up from his stool and walking over to Hermione, who was still sitting on the counter, and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Are you nervous about today?"
Hermione sighed. "I do enjoy freeing house elves, Ron," she said, putting her arms around his neck. "I just want a bit of a change, that's all. I'm determined to prove to Kingsley I belong in Magical Law Enforcement."
"Yeah, the same department as me and Harry," Ron said, kissing her neck.
Hermione laughed, pulled away and said, "Not because of that." she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips against his, kissing him, trying to be in control this time. Their tongues collided and she ran her fingers through his hair before she pulled away, saying, "We should go now."
Ron still wore a satisfied smirk. "I can't wait to get home."
Hermione rolled her eyes and walked towards the door.
Thirty minutes later, the pair had found themselves in the busy streets of Lewisham, London. Hermione spotted two prominent spots, one jet black and the other vivid red, like Ron's. "Ginny!" Hermione called, racing up to the couple, "Harry! We're here!"
"Wha – there you are!" Ginny said. She wore jeans, a long sleeved striped shirt and a black cardigan. "Harry and I have been waiting forever."
Hermione panted as Ron caught up with her. "Sorry. Greenwich was pretty busy today. Ron and I had an argument on whether to apparate or not."
"Good thing you didn't. There are tons of people her. Lewisham has the best breakfast in the entire city," Harry said. He wore something similar to Ron, and smiled as he spotted his best friend catching up with him. "Slept it this morning, didn't we?"
"Shut up, Harry," Ron said, putting an arm around Hermione.
"Hermione, you look nice," Ginny commented. "I love the color. Much better than what I'm wearing anyway."
"Nonsense, you look fantastic!" Hermione said. "So, shall we get breakfast?"
Harry nodded and Ron led the way; being the tallest out of all of them, he could see the restaurant easier.
"Where exactly are we going?" Hermione hissed at Ginny.
"Oh, a place called Oscar's. It just opened and it's got a tone of great food."
Hermione only nodded, before grabbing Ron's hand so it made it easier to not get separated. She glanced and saw that Harry had put his arm around Ginny's waist, his eyes focused on finding the restaurant just like Ron.
"I think this is it," Ron said moments later, stopping before a small and black café. Hermione squinted through the blinds and saw that it was much darker then outside, with a few booths and a bar on the right side. "Nice, Ginny. Where'd you find this place?"
"Oh, the girls and I have lunch here some days," Ginny said, rubbing her forehead. After graduating and winning several matches at Hogwarts, she had been offered many positions in all-female Quidditch teams, before finally settling for the Holyhead Harpies and practiced with them four times a week.
All four of them walked into the restaurant. As Hermione rubbed her pumps on the welcome rug, a blond waitress walked up to them and said, "Hey, Ginny. Breakfast for four, I suppose?"
Ginny nodded.
She looked at Harry and Ron suddenly and smiled, biting her lip. Hermione tried not to roll her eyes. "Who are your friends?" she asked.
"This happens to be Ron, my brother. And that's Harry, Gina. He's my boyfriend," Ginny spat, her eyebrows raise at the waitress.
She stepped back. "Very well. You can follow me to your booth."
Harry and Ginny slipped into the left side of the booth, and Ron and Hermione slipped on the right, opposite of them. Hermione smiled as she felt Ron's arm move across her shoulders. She quickly kissed him before blushing furiously at Harry and Ginny.
"Aw, look at you too!" Ginny said. "You can't get enough of each other."
"Don't be so shallow, Ginny," Ron said, avoiding his sister's eyes.
"Shes right you know," Harry said, winking at his girlfriend. "You two are inseparable."
"Well, we have a reason to be if we're not together most of the time at work," Hermione said, pulling a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
"Oh come off it," Harry said. "Ginny's at some stadium most times and I'm at the ministry with your prat boyfriend."
Ron just rolled his eyes and Hermione raised one eyebrow at Harry.
"So, what will it be?" a different, cranky looking waitress had appeared before them.
"Er – four coffees please," said Hermione, then looked at Harry, Ginny and Ron.
"I'll have the breakfast special," Harry said.
"Me too," Ginny said, then turned to Ron.
"I'll have the egg sandwich," Ron said. "Oh, and a glass of pumpkin juice please."
The waitress stared at Ron. "I'm sorry?"
"Pumpkin juice," Ron repeated.
A mixture of confusion and annoyance flooded her face as Hermione face-palmed. "We don't have pumpkin juice. We've got orange, apple, grape and peach. That's it."
As Ron opened his mouth to speak again, Hermione lifted her face from her hand and said, "We'll just have the coffee, three specials and the sandwich, thanks."
The waitress, still looking annoyed, shuffled over to the counter to report their orders.
"Pumpkin juice, Ron?" Ginny begun saying. "Really?"
"At least I didn't order Fizzing Whizbees!" Ron argued across the table.
"That's enough," Harry said, the same look Hermione had splattered on his face. "They don't have that in most Muggle places, Ron."
Ron shrugged. "They should."
The next moment, the four sat in silence, each waiting for their orders. Ginny drummed her fingers on the table while Harry stared into thin air. Ron was tapping his foot on the floor and Hermione was staring at her skirt.
"How's everything going at your department, Hermione?" Harry said, still staring into nothingness.
"Swell," Hermione said. "How's the whole Auror business?"
"Could be better," Harry said. "I've been meaning to tell you, Ron. Kingsley has some new reports on a Death Eater – we don't know his name yet but he's asked us and a few others to do all the paperwork –"
"Three specials," said the waitress, who appeared holding a large tray. She took three of the plates and placed them in front of Hermione, Ginny and Harry. "An egg sandwich, and four fresh coffees. Enjoy your meal, I suppose."
Hermione stared down at her plate of eggs and sausages, and began eating. After she swallowed the first few bits of egg, she dabbed her chin with a napkin and said, "Harry, I know you and Ron are so intent on getting to all the physical stuff, but this is what happens during the first few bits of being an Auror."
"Yeah, but we've done way more 'physical stuff' during the training," Ron said through a mouthful of egg. "That doesn't seem too right."
"Kingsley knows what he's doing," Ginny said, reaching for a napkin. "I mean, he's Kingsley. He'll know what's best."
They continued eating in silence, except for Ron's swallowing, which very audible. Hermione took her mug and had a few sips of fresh coffee before resuming to her plate.
A couple of minutes later, Harry had stopped eating his sausages and took out a large, silver coin with a firm A out of his pocket as it began glowing. "Damn," he said, hitching it out of site before turning to Ron. "Ron, we have to go, there's an emergency at the Auror department."
"Oh," Ron said, after taking a sip of coffee. "What is it?"
"I don't know, but we better get there fast, it's glowing more than usual," he said, dabbing his chin with a napkin and rising from the booth. "Sorry, Hermione, sorry, Ginny. Kingsley needs us. We'll see you later."
Ron rose from his booth too, looking annoyed. Harry swept down and kissed Ginny, whispering, "I love you," and Hermione rose from the booth as well to hug Ron and then give him a long kiss on the lips. Nothing else was needed, and Ron and Harry departed from the café, turning right as soon as they were out.
"It's nice to have an Auror boyfriend," Ginny commented later, as it was only her and Hermione left. "What time do you have to go to work?"
"8:45," Hermione said, staring down at her watch, which read 8:35. "Then it's back to rearranging papers and looking up elf abuse. What about you?"
Ginny took a sip of coffee then said, "2:00. I'll be heading back to the apartment and probably go get food, then I'll be off to training."
Hermione cut up her remaining sausages. "How's all this going for you?" she said. "I mean, you know…being on one of the best teams ever and dating "the boy who lived"…"
"It's great to be with the Harpies," Ginny said, looking down at her plate as she took a piece of egg. "The other, I'm not so sure about. Harry's been getting large bouts of fan mail from fourth years back at Hogwarts, it's so annoying. But I cope with it."
Hermione laughed. "Fourth years?"
Ginny nodded. "Believe it or not. How are things been going on with Ron? You've been shagging lately, haven't you?"
Hermione choked on her sausage and spat out a piece on her napkin. "Ginny!"
Ginny looked unfazed. "Oh come off it, it's not that bad of a question. I can just tell. You're all lovey-dovey more around him lately. It's quite obvious, if you ask me."
Hermione sighed. "Ha ha. What about you, and er…Harry?"
"Last time was probably last week," Ginny said. "Although we've been getting some complaints seeing as Harry's a huge prat when it comes to silencing spells."
Hermione laughed again. She stared at her watch, which read 8:43, and took one last sip of coffee. "Well, I best be off to the Ministry, they expect me soon."
"Right," said Ginny. "I'll walk you out – excuse me!" she said to the nearest waitress, then gestured for the check.
The waitress came over, holding a black check book to Ginny, and as Hermione picked up her bag it collided with a girl running past, who was holding some books. "Oh, gosh!" Hermione said, staring at the mess. "I'm so sorry, here, let me help you."
"It's fine," said the girl, grabbing all her books quickly. She dark and straight hair and wore a green sweatshirt and sweatpants. "I'm fine."
"Here, you dropped this," Hermione said, picking up a book which fell on the table and handing it to her. "You wouldn't want to forget it!"
As she trust the book at the girl, her face had grown full of paranoia and shock. "Just leave me alone," she said quickly, forgetting to get the book from Hermione's grip and rushing out of the store.
Hermione looked taken aback and appalled and followed the girl outside the restaurant. "Excuse me? What – wait!"
By the time she had reached the outside, the girl was gone.
Sorry for a long first chapter! I know there's not a lot of action but that one bit of suspense at the end was nice to write. Please tell me what you think. I will complete the Freedom Fighters before this, but that doesn't mean I won't update. Please Rate & Review!