Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. If I did, Harry and Hermione would have been together. ; P (Runs away from Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny fans).

Oh man, this might be even shorter than the previous...

Chapter 3:

Ron sat, waiting, in the corner of the crowded Leaky Cauldron. He didn't know why, but he felt nervous. He had already ordered five glasses of mead in the last half hour, and still he wasn't contented.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Feeling another jolt in the back of his mind, Ron turned around to see Ella sitting down opposite him. "About half an hour."

"Sorry," Ella said, a red tinge appearing in her cheeks. "I had to send a letter to my boss. Something about the article I'm writing about."

"Is that the article about me?" Ron said jokingly.

"What do you care? I'm still angry," Ella crossed her arms across her chest.

"I didn't mean to read the poem!" he blurted out. A few people sitting near their table looked around in alarm.

"Don't you dare mention it to anyone." Ella threatened. "I'm sorry, you're a really nice guy but when it comes to my personal stuff…it gets complicated."

"Then let's not talk about your personal stuff! So, have you decided what to eat yet? I fancy a bacon sandwich."

Ella stifled a laugh as Ron belched. "That must've been the mead…"


The door opened quietly. Ron quickly entered the house he shared with Hermione. It was only 8:30 in the evening, but there stood Hermione, glowering at Ron like a hawk waiting for its prey.

"Where have you been? It's late." her foot tapped impatiently on the hardwood floor.

"Late? I told you I'd be home by 8."

"You're 30 minutes late. What are you up to?"

"There's this interview with the reporter again…"

"Don't lie to me, Ron!" Hermione screamed. "Where have you been?"

Ron opened and closed his mouth a few times before he could reply. "I told you, the interview wasn't finished yet. You don't have to go all crazy about it, Hermione."

"Why didn't you bring me along? I could've contributed to her report too! Or did you forget about me?" Hermione blinked her eyes rapidly to stop the tears that formed at the corner of her eyes from falling. "You promised to be home by 8. I thought after nine years together you would be keeping your word. If you want this relationship to work, you should be willing to make commitments and sacrifices. The world does not revolve around you!"

"Hermione---" Ron started, but received a slap to the cheek. Hermione ran up the stairs angrily. Ron heard her door slam and the lock click. Ron slid down to the floor with his back to the wall. "What just happened?" he whispered into the empty corridor.