"What do you mean no?"
"I mean no Ronald" She sighed. "I will not see you this or any other Friday night. At least not in a romantic setting."
The first time he asked her on a date had been over a year ago, shortly after the final battle. Ever since he had been badgering her constantly. She should have known better than to think a nice Tuesday lunch at their favorite pub would go by without another offer for romance beyond her wildest dreams. As if.
"Give me two good reasons why we shouldn't"
"One, I have no romantic interest in you. Two, I have other plans."
"The first one is up for debate and you made the second one up. You have always been a lousy liar."
The problem with having an argument with Ron is that he knows her far too well.
"Fine, but the fact that I do not have romantic interest in you is not up for debate."
"We kissed! Now we are supposed to move on and live happily ever after! That's how it works; the hero always gets the girl. Harry has Ginny and I get you."
Again she sighed; there were only so many responses to Ron and his delusional theories.
"I kissed you in the heat of battle, I am terribly glad that you helped saved us. Yes, at the time I thought I was interested in you. But we could clearly never be together, we fight far too much. Besides what if I want more than happily ever after? I want more than this provincial life"
Hermione watched in awe at the four different colors his face turned as he wrapped his head around her comment. It was quite comical.
"What more is there than happily ever after, we deserve happily ever after. We fought the battle, we beat the villain. Now we get to sit back and have our happily ever after."
There really should be a punishment for using the same phrase so many times in a singular statement.
"Ron, please."
"Okay, not this week. But don't think I'm done trying." He smiled and stroked her hand.
"Ron" she said tersely pulling her hand away.
"Fine, fine, let's just finish our lunch"
"You should have known better than to come here Mr. Potter"
Harry forced himself to remain stoic, no matter the history they had Harry refused to give in to the fear he experienced as a child.
"I am fulfilling my duty as an Auror."
"Invading the privacy of members of the wizarding community?"
"Listen. No matter how much you would like to pretend otherwise you were a Death Eater. Spending all of your time locked up here has not helped your case any. You are considered a suspicious person, and will be for the rest of your life."
"I have my reasons"
"Believe me I know the public scrutiny that comes with being a popular figure…"
"Crucio!" Harry was reduced to the floor, his body writhing in pain. "You dare compare my situation to yours Potter?"
"No… No." Harry stammered as the man released the curse.
"I do not think you have quite learned your lesson. I suppose you will simply have to stay here until you do. Kippy!"
In a soft pop appeared a small house elf draped in what appeared to be old bed clothes from a muggle toddler's room with tiny ships and stars all over them. "Yes master?"
"Take Mr. Potter to the carcer. I cannot bring myself to look at him any longer."
"Yes master" She took hold of Harry's arm and disapparated.
The man left alone in the room sat down and began contemplating what he would do with the great Harry Potter. Surely the Aurors would come looking for him, but there were plenty of wards in place for that. Harry had only managed entrance by setting off the alarm, the master of the house found it too hard to resist playing with The- Boy- Who-Lived. Potter needed to pay for the pain he caused, and oh, how he would pay.