A/N: The sequel is here! I am very excited about this fic, especially as people were really wanting to see it happen! :)

"I'm off to meet with the DG, make sure Lucas is kept up to date on your findings of Ishmael Khan," Harry called out across the grid as he made his way from his office towards the pods. He didn't look up to make sure Ruth had got his message; instead he increased his determination to win the battle against his leather gloves. Once he was satisfied with their fit, he walked into the pods and disappeared from view.

Ruth watched him emerge on the other side of the pods before emitting a loud sigh. It had been three weeks since she had given him the final brush off and he had finally reached the end of his tether. He no longer engaged her in lengthy conversation when she entered his office, he no longer flirted with her after hours after everybody had gone home for the evening, in fact he didn't even stay late in the evening's like he used to. She often found herself staring through the walls of a blacked out office, cold and unoccupied.

Rationally, she knew she had made the right decision. She told herself this every time Harry walked past her without sparing her a look, or every time when Harry spoke at her rather than to her. She had done the right thing, and he was still dealing with the consequences of his behaviour.

Harry sat outside the DG's office. He'd arrived slightly earlier, and the secretary had offered for somebody to make him a cup of coffee. He'd smiled, offered his thanks and made his way up to his waiting area. He fiddled with one of his new gadgets as he waited patiently for the tea-lady. He'd congratulated himself on his ability to detach himself from work on a more regular basis. Granted, his heart ached more than ever to spend time with her, to simply be in her company, but he'd finally come to admit defeat where she was concerned, and had set about making a new daily routine to help himself rid of any possibility it might ever work out.

The creaking of the hinges on the doors pulled Harry's eyes away from his phone, and he watched as the tea-lady approached with his drink. He smiled genuinely at her as he took the steaming mug and watched in mild amusement as she blushed furiously when he gave her his thanks. He'd expected her to keep on walking and take the remaining mug to the DG in his office, and so he was rather surprised when she sat herself down next to him and mumbled that the tea was for herself as she turned herself away from him, embarrassed.

"So what are you here for?" The tea lady asked eventually, desperate to engage the rather handsome figure to her left in conversation.

"I'm here for a meeting," Harry explained. "I'm a civil servant," he added hastily.

"Oh right," she smiled. "I'm Moira."

"Harry," he smiled back.

She blushed once more. Harry smiled to himself as he watched her try to hide her embarrassment. Truth be told, he was enjoying the attention, and if he really wanted to admit it, he would probably have told himself that she was actually rather attractive.

"So are you actually tea lady?" Harry smirked. "Or has the DG just got you fulfilling the most boring of tasks while it's quiet?"

Moira laughed and clasped her hands together.

"Oh, I'm actually one of the secretary's, but my shift doesn't start for another half hour. I came in early just to sign off some of my left over paperwork."

The door of the DG's office creaked open and the man himself appeared in the doorway, a frown evident on his features as he drunk in the sight of the two most contrasting figures on the bench.

"Harry," he smiled. "Do come on through."

Harry nodded his thanks and turned to face the woman next to him. He held out his hand.

"It was nice to meet you Moira," he smiled, glancing down briefly at their hands as she accepted and shook it hesitantly.

"You too," she stammered.

"I'll make sure to head out the main exit and say goodbye while you're hard at work."

Moira laughed again, the laughter dying down when she realised he was actually serious.

"I'd like that."

He smiled one last time at her before rising from his seat and walking into the office. Part of him relished in the fact he was still able to get attention from the opposite sex, yet part of him was angry that he would even think to allow himself happiness when he knew that Ruth would still be alone.

Ruth watched in anticipation as the pods swirled and the man she had been secretly waiting to see emerged. For a moment she thought he was going to turn and acknowledge her at her desk, but when he strode determinedly into his office she knew she had been kidding herself to even think that he might have thought to spare her a glance.

She grabbed the nearest files from her desk and walked quickly towards his office. She knocked on the door and waited until she heard the grumble of welcome. She no longer stormed in without permission, it was a pleasure she could no longer allow herself. She pulled the door to one side and walked hesitantly towards his desk, stopping just short and waiting until he looked up to acknowledge her to speak.

"Yes?" Harry asked expectantly, finally drawing his eyes away from the files the DG had handed him.

"The files you asked for." She held the files out for him to talk, and felt a pang of hurt when he moved some papers on his desk and gestured for her to place them in the space he had provided rather than take them directly.

"Thank you."

She watched, tears filling in her eyes, as he turned his attentions back to his files, no longer caring whether Ruth was going to stand by his desk all day or whether she was going to turn and leave. She opted for the latter; not because she didn't want to stay and tell him how much of an idiot he was being, but because she didn't him to see the amount of pain she was actually in.

You know what to do ! :P