Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. JK Rowling owns all things related to Harry Potter. This is not intended to be copyright infringement.

Author's Note: There are mentions of Fred in this chapter. He is still alive in my story. George still married Angelina, but Fred is still a bachelor.

Chapter Two: Coffee Revelations

"HERMIONE!" Ron yelled as he frantically searched through the rooms in their shared flat. He ran his hands through his hair as he realized she was not there. He checked the closet to make sure her clothes and shoes were still in place. He let out a small sigh as he ran a hand across her perfectly pressed and hung clothes that were color coordinated. Her shoes lined the wall, with only the pair on her feet missing. When they had first moved in together years ago, Ron loved to come in to the closet and compare his messy side of the closet with her neat side. His clothes were always carelessly thrown on the floor, a dirty pile building in the corner. Ron usually waited for Hermione to get tired of the mess and clean up his side. Thinking about it now, he felt like a selfish bastard.

Maybe she's at Harry's. Ginny is her closest girlfriend.

Ron apparated to the front door of Grimmauld Place and banged on the door. "GIN! LET ME IN!" He had to get to Hermione and apologize. The look in her eyes…he had to get to her. "GIN! HARRY!" He continued to bang.

Harry opened the door with a scowl. "Hermione's not here. And honestly, I wouldn't recommend facing Ginny right now. I already told her what happened." Ron slumped his shoulders and leaned against the door frame. Harry looked at his best friend and stepped back with a sigh. "Come on in for some coffee, mate."

"Has she been here Harry?"

"Not yet. And before you think about, I already checked her parent's place. She's not there either." Harry closed the door behind Ron and walked him to the kitchen. He started to brew some coffee as Ron slumped down into a chair, cradling his head in his hands.

"I can't tell if I have a headache from the drinks or the worry." He massaged his temples. They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Ron groaned. "Well," Harry said with a small smile, "Seems like that headache is about to get a lot worse."

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! YOU COMPLETE ARSE!" Ginny waddled into the kitchen and smacked Ron hard on the back of the head. "I told you that you were getting too haughty for your own good. I TOLD you! How DARE you do this to Hermione! Who knows where she is right now at this hour of the night!" She rubbed her baby bump absentmindedly with one hand as she continued to rant, motioning with her other hand. "And to THINK I've been sticking up for you for MONTHS! Telling Hermione this was just a phase. That you needed to have your moment in the spotlight and everything would go back to norm–"

"Wait, what?" Ron looked up at Ginny, utterly confused. What phase? What moment?

"What do you mean 'what'? You haven't noticed that you've become an arse?!" Ginny fixed him with a harsh stare waiting on his response. Ron looked back and forth between Ginny and Harry. Harry sheepishly concentrated on pouring coffee into two mugs and preparing a tea for Gin.

"What are you even talking about Ginny?" Maybe it was the second shot of firewhiskey. Or maybe the third pint of butterbeer, but Ron couldn't seem to think straight. Ginny sighed and sunk into a chair near him. "Ron, you've let this whole fame thing get to your head. You barely come to Sunday dinners at the Burrow anymore. You haven't visited the twins' shop to see the new products in Merlin knows how long, and you keep standing Hermione up for dates! I mean, really Ron, her birthday?" Ginny shook her head in disgust as Harry handed her her tea and sat down at the table with the coffees.

"I've got that Auror Quidditch team practice on Sundays and Fred and George don't need me at the shop. They know I've been busy on my missions! And I didn't stand Hermione up for her birthday! That's not until–"

"Today." Harry cut off Ron's rant. "Her birthday was today."

"Technically, it was yesterday. It's after midnight." Ginny mutterd.

"She waited for you at her parent's house and you never showed." Harry continued, ignoring Ginny's jab. "She came to the office looking for you. We thought something had happened. Then we got to the Leaky…What were you thinking Ron?" Harry folded his arms across his chest and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Ron sat there looking shocked and confused. Did he really forget Hermione's birthday? That wasn't until tomorrow night! He groaned and put his head in his hands once again. Not only had he forgotten her birthday and stood her and her parents up for dinner, she had caught him accepting a kiss from some random bird at the pub! Okay, so, Cassandra wasn't some random bird. She had been a waitress at the Leaky for well over 7 months now and was used to the rowdy Aurors coming in after missions. She flirted with lots of her customers and had kissed her fair share of them too. She'd kissed him a few times on the cheek. They had been flirting back and forth over the past couple of months. A wink here, a touch there. This was her first time actually kissing Ron on the lips. But it was harmless! She knew he had Hermione. Right? Everyone knew!

"I screwed up. First thing tomorrow, I'll make her a nice breakfast in bed. I'll go out and get her a nice present. Maybe that charm bracelet she's been eyeing in the jewelry store." Ron gulped down half his coffee and winced as the hot liquid burned his throat. "Yeah," he grunted. "I'll get her that bracelet and that new book on magical beings in America."

"Oh Ron." Ginny sighed as she listened to him talk to himself. She reached over and touched his hand to get his attention. "I don't think it's going to be that simple. Hermione, well, she's been unhappy for months now. She's been feeling neglected. And then she finds you, like that, on her birthday. What's a girl supposed to think?"

The tip of Ron's ears turned red with embarrassment and anger. "We weren't unhappy! I forgot a date here and there, but we weren't unhappy!" At least he wasn't. This past year, becoming an Auror and completing some high-profile successful missions, had been one of the best years of his life. People loved him! He was keeping the wizarding world safe! So what he forgot dates here and there. Hermione understood. Didn't she? "She told you we were unhappy?" His voice cracked as he searched Ginny's eyes for the truth.

Ginny bit her lip and looked at Harry. They seemed to be having a silent conversation. She slumped her shoulders and turned back to Ron. "Hermione told me she was unhappy Ron, not you." Ron sank deeper into his chair, blown away as Ginny kept talking. "You've been so caught up in everything else, Ron. You missed dinners with her parents. You stopped meeting her for lunch at the ministry. You haven't been to one of her boring hearings on the rights of magical beings in months! We all hate sitting through those, but you know Hermione loves seeing your face in the crowd at those hearings!" Ron was speechless. It couldn't have been that long since he and Hermione had had lunch together. When was the last time? Hermione had tried to buy a salad and he'd ordered her a burger while she was in the loo. She'd moaned when she took her first bite and he'd been about to suggest they head back to her office for a quick snog or more. But then he'd gotten distracted by his boss's patronus calling him in on a mission. But that was last month, right? No wait, maybe three months ago? Damn. He couldn't remember.

"I think what Ginny is trying to say, Ron," Harry interrupted his thoughts, "is that Hermione may not be going back to your place tonight. Or any night in the near future."

Ron abruptly got up from the table, knocking his chair over in the process. "Hermione wouldn't just leave me!" He angrily yelled at Harry and Ginny. What the hell did they know? What he and Hermione had, no one could possibly understand. Sure, they weren't usually good at communicating like other people. It was hard for them to express their feelings. But they just needed a good row. She'd yell and scream at him for forgetting her birthday. He'd get to explain that pesky little kiss, and they'd make up in the sheets. Just like always. Harry and Ginny had no clue what they were talking about. "She wouldn't just leave." With that, he walked back to the front door, preparing to apparate back home and wait for Hermione. She just needed time to cool off. He'd find her at work tomorrow morning and bring her the charm bracelet and the book and they'd fight it out. Yeah.

Ginny sniffled and leaned her back into Harry's chest as they watched Ron leave. "I don't know if he'll be able to survive this Harry. He loves Hermione so much, but he's been such a prat!" She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "And poor Hermione. I don't know what I would do if I saw you kissing another woman."

Harry wrapped his arms around his pregnant wife and hugged her close. "Gin, we all have seen your infamous Bat-Bogey Hex. So you never have to worry about me even looking at another woman!" He kissed the side of her neck as she laughed out loud. She turned around in his arms and kissed him solidly on the lips. "Good." She said as she kissed him again. "Try to keep Ron away from Hermione for a while, okay?" Harry looked unsure and opened his mouth to decline. Ginny put a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Please? She's going to need some time and I know he'll just make it worse if he sees her right now." Harry closed his eyes and deeply sighed. If only he hadn't had worked late and suggested they go to that stupid pub.

Four days later…

Ron paced back and forth in front of Hermione's office door. He had gotten to work bright and early, hoping to catch her when she came in. She'd been missing from work on Friday. A "personal day" is what her assistant Ian had called it. He took one too after that. He still didn't hear from her all weekend. He sent Pig out with a message to try and find her and the owl came back hours later with the message untouched. He'd even gone to her parent's house. That had been awkward. He made up some excuse, said he was over to apologize to them for missing Hermione's birthday. Mrs. Granger asked if they had picked a date for their Paris vacation yet. Ron was confused. Mrs. Granger looked sympathetic. Mr. Granger looked slightly upset. Ron promised them that he'd be present at the next family dinner. "I'll bring dessert," he'd smiled brightly and said before he left.

But he wasn't so sure if he'd even be invited to the next dinner. It was getting to be 9am and Hermione had yet to show. Although most ministry workers started to trickle in to the building at this time, Hermione was usually in her office at 7:30am on the dot. She liked getting a head start on her work while the office was quiet. She especially loved to read up on legislation without being disturbed by others. Sometimes Ron would convince her to stay in bed with him and go in at 9am. All he had to do was run his fingers through her hair and nuzzle that spot on her neck. When was the last time he did that?

He looked up and saw Hermione's assistant Ian walking in through the door to the department. He had a stack of papers in one hand and was flipping through them, reading. Ron rushed forward and startled the little man with his presence. "Ian! Have you seen Hermione?" Ian clutched the papers to his chest and tried to catch his breath. "I'm afraid she won't be in this week, Mr. Weasley. She took an international assignment from Minister Shacklebolt and will be gone until at least next Tuesday."

"Where?"

"I'm not sure Mr. Weasley. Ms. Granger said it was classified and did not give me details. Must be above my pay grade," Ian nervously chuckled and pulled on his shirt collar as he circled around Ron to sit at the front desk. "I can give her a message from you if she calls in today if you'd like?"

Ron ran a hand over his face in frustration. A week? Special assignment? What the hell was Hermione playing at. She never took an out-of-office assignment without telling Ron. Didn't she want to fix this thing between them? They hadn't gone this long without speaking since that bloody horcrux adventure! He needed to speak with Kingsley. Maybe he could tell him where Hermione had gone. Ron turned and walked purposely out the door – smack into Harry.

"Whoa. Slow down there Ron! Where are you going?"

"Gotta go talk to Kingsley and find out where Hermione is," Ron grunted as he kept moving towards the lifts.

Harry followed closely behind at a jog. Ron's legs were much longer and his determination made his strides even more impressive. Harry tried to keep up without drawing attention to themselves. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, Ron. Hermione obviously just needs some space–"

Ron spun around quickly and Harry knocked in to his chest. "Space?!" Ron choked out. "It's been three days. Anymore space and it'll be like we…" He stopped talking and headed for the lifts with even more determination. He was avoiding the possibility that Hermione had broken up with him and that was why she had neglected to tell him about this international business. Ron pressed the lift button hard a couple of times and shuffled from foot-to-foot, impatiently waiting.

Harry watched his friend standing there with a look of wild desperation in his eyes. He could tell Ron had not slept by the bags underneath his red, tired eyes. His hair was disheveled, along with his wrinkled robes. His five o' clock shadow meant he hadn't shaved in days. Ron was already pale, but today skin looked sallow. Gin would kill him if he let Ron continue to walk around the ministry like this. People were already whispering about the scene they had caused at the Leaky. He knew they'd be watching for Ron and Hermione to spread more gossip. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. He hated lying to his friend, but he needed to get him somewhere private. "Ron. I'm pretty sure Hermione left you something in your office. I think we should check there first, before we get Kingsley involved." Ron looked up at Hermione's name, but gave Harry a skeptical look. "Besides," Harry continued and gave Ron a friendly pat on the back, "You know Hermione wouldn't like it if you messed up her pristine image with the Minister!" He forced a laugh for Ron's benefit and Ron cracked a small smile. Yes, Hermione would be very upset if he barged into her boss's office demanding to know where she was. And, of course, she left him something in his office before she left. He knew Hermione. She wouldn't just leave him. With a nod, he pressed the button for the Auror Department on level 2.

. . .

Ron noticed the box on his chair and immediately rushed in to his office to pick it up. Harry discretely closed the door and put a locking spell on it. What he had to say wouldn't be easy for Ron to hear. Ron sat down and admired the still picture of him and Hermione. "LOVE". Yes, that's exactly what they had. He smiled to himself and felt a moment of relief and then confusion as he saw the plane tickets and read the note. Realization hit him. This was the present from Hermione's parents that they had been talking about.

"They gave her that at the dinner you missed." Harry stood in front of the door with his arms crossed. "She's been telling them you've been hard at work for months and that's why you haven't come around. I'm pretty sure her dad thinks you've ditched her."

"I would never!" Ron growled as he stood up from his chair. "I was just…"

"Busy?" Harry snorted. "Yeah, Hermione's been using that line a lot lately. Last month, her department threw a party in her honor, to celebrate that centaur bill she helped pass. Even your mom came. Hermione said you were busy." He shook his head.

Ron tried to remember that party. Hermione was always being acknowledged for her work. She was bloody brilliant! Of course they would want to acknowledge her! But for the life of him, he couldn't remember that event. "Well where was I?" He asked himself.

"That was the day you were doing that newspaper interview." Harry answered.

"Well see, I was busy then! Briefing the public after a mission!" Ron responded defiantly.

Harry shook his head and rummaged through Ron's desk drawer. "Ron. The interview was about the Auror Quidditch team!" He found the article that Ron had saved and threw it at his friend's chest. "You could have declined!" Ron caught the paper and looked at the cocky photo of himself on a broomstick, floating in the air. Auror Weasley Soars Off and On the Pitch the headline read. He groaned to himself. He'd been asked to do lots of interviews as Keeper on the Auror quidditch team. They were good for a non-professional team!

"That's just one party, Harry. I've been to plenty!"

"Just one?!" Harry gave an incredulous snort. "What about three months ago? The Ministry ball?"

"I was there!"

"Yeah, Ron, and you spent the whole time talking about yourself in the middle of the crowd while Hermione sat at your table alone! She spent most of the night talking with Lucas as a distraction–"

"Lucas? Daniel Lucas?!" Ron clenched his fist, crumpling the paper in his hands. Lucas worked around the corner of his office in Wizengamot Administration Services. That paper pusher was always trying to impress Hermione with his knowledge about laws and such. "Lucas is a bloody git." Ron growled.

"Well you did not even notice, Ron. Shacklebolt's been talking about promoting Hermione to Magical Law Enforcement. Lucas has been helping her make the decision." Everyone saw how much Lucas admired Hermione. He had that same look in his eye when he looked at her that Harry had seen in Ron's all throughout school. He'd been surprised when Ron hadn't noticed. Of course, Hermione was also oblivious to Lucas's interest. She was never good about reading men's feelings toward her.

"How can he help? Why didn't she come to me?!" Ron wanted to go find Lucas right now and hex his bullocks off. How dare he try and get close to Hermione while Ron was…well, busy.

"You just weren't there, Ron. And Ginny and I have been preoccupied with the baby coming. Hermione needed you and you weren't there." Ron sank back in his chair as Harry's words rang true in his ears. "She stopped coming around to the Burrow. Didn't want to get you in trouble with your mum. She's basically had to cut the family off. Fred and George have saw her a couple times at our place. I'm surprised they haven't barged in here to smack you upside the head yet." Ron remembered an owl from Fred asking him to stop by the shop a month or so ago. He'd ignored it. The twins were always luring him to the shop to test out some new product. Did they really want to discuss his dwindling relationship with Hermione?

Dwindling.

Tears sprang to Ron's eyes as it hit him. He had been an arse and Hermione had been unhappy. This wasn't a regular row after a pub scene. This was just the tip of the dungheap.

"Maybe you should take the day off, mate." Harry suggested after seeing realization hit Ron hard. "Go visit your mum at the Burrow. She should have George's kids now. They'd love to see you."

"I…I can't go there Harry. She'd ask about Hermione and…" Ron cut off his words with a sob.

Harry panicked a bit, seeing his friend about to break down. "Well then let's head to Grimmauld Place, yeah? I left my lunch and Ginny could use the company now that she's on leave from the Harpies. She gets depressed there all alone. Popular woman, misses the crowds." Harry winced at his choice of words. Ron did too. After a long pause of silence, Ron nodded his head. "Yeah. Let's go to Gin."

Harry took the charms off of the door and told Ron he'd be right back. He had to let their superior know that Ron was leaving for the day and that he'd be escorting him home. He ignored the looks his coworkers were giving him as he walked pass their offices and cubicles.

Ron stood in the office waiting for Harry to get back. He'd have to side-along with Harry, he couldn't concentrate enough not to splinch himself. He clutched the present to his chest and stood in a daze. Hermione would want her gifts when she came home. He could make up for the time they had lost in Paris. They could go back to how it was.

Ron vaguely acknowledged Harry coming back in to the office and grabbing his hand. He felt a tug as Harry apparated them to the doorstep of Grimmauld Place. Once inside, Ginny came down the stairs, curious as to why Harry was home so early. She saw her brother, disheveled hair and robes and tired eyes. "Oh Ron." She tiredly sighed. He deserved this feeling, she knew. But she still sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to her for Ron to sit down. He stumbled over to her and she wrapped her arms around him while he cried on her shoulder. Ginny looked up at Harry standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. She hoped that Hermione was okay.