Chapter 4

Ron sat at the table for two, sipping on a glass of pumpkin juice. His foot tapped nervously against the ground even though there was no reason for him to be nervous. It was just dinner. He, Hermione, and Harry all went to dinner together at least three or four times a week and, on the other days, the three of them were most likely eating at one of their flats. And it wasn't like this was the first time Ron and Hermione would be eating alone together. Harry left them every once in a great while to meet Ginny in Hogsmeade. After all, she was in her last year at school.

It was nearing eight thirty. Ron watched the seconds ticking away. Every second that passed, he became more worried. Hermione was never late.

Ron stood up, ready to disapparate directly into Hermione's office to find her, when he saw her approaching.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she apologized, taking off her coat.

"Are you going somewhere?" She asked, wondering why he was standing.

Hermione looked around the restaurant, trying to see if there was someone else they knew or if there was a girl he was more interested in. Most likely it was the latter of the two. Ron had a tendency to find and consequently make a fool of himself in front of the prettiest girls wherever he went. Hermione had tried to reason with herself many times before that he was allowed to see whoever he wanted. After all, he never showed any interest in her, not even after she kissed him in the middle of the war.

"No," Ron answered.

"No what?" She asked, forgetting that she had asked him a question. She had been too busy remembering the feel of his lips against hers and the way he had lifted her off her feet when he kissed her. She thought that moment would change them and their relationship, but it hadn't. They were still just friends and Hermione just had to accept it.

"No, I'm not going anywhere. You okay?"

Hermione draped her coat over the back of her chair.

"Yeah, just tired."

She and Ron both sat.

"I'll say. You look…awful," Ron remarked, taking in her appearance. Her hair was frizzier than he had seen in since first year. Her face looked drained and her eyes were all but dead.

"Thanks," Hermione mumbled.

The waiter walked over and Hermione quickly ordered a melon drop, a fruity drink that could somehow make her happy even when she was having the worst day.

"So, where's Harry?"

"We've got a new trainee coming in so he's staying late to work on some things."

"If I'd have known that, I would have sent you an owl to bring us takeout and we could both have had a working dinner."

"No working dinners for you."

"Why not?"

"You need to get out of that office, Hermione. It's running you ragged."

He wanted to reach across the table and push a piece of hair that had fallen from her messy ponytail away from her face, but he didn't. He hated seeing her so overworked.

"Well, I've got a review coming up in two weeks when they'll decide if they should expand the department and hire me some more staff. So, hopefully, I won't be running myself ragged for much longer." The waiter appeared with her drink and took their order. "But, Harold's been a great help. I don't know what I'd do without him."

"He seems a little…weird to me."

Hermione took a drink. "He's nice," she insisted.

"And he's obviously got a big crush on you."

"He's just being nice."

"That's the second time you've called him nice, you know. If I didn't know better, I'd say you have a crush on him, too."

Ron took a drink, smiling. The two of them were constantly teasing each other about possible romances and yet, neither of them ever seemed to have any true romances. Ron liked to think that he just hadn't found the right person yet, but he knew that the right person was sitting right in front of him and he was too afraid to admit it.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Oh please. He's just my assistant. But speaking of crushes, guess who I ran into the other day?"

"Who?"

"Lavender Brown."

He choked on the liquid that was in his mouth. Lavender Brown was one topic he definitely liked to avoid. Hermione was secretly happy with his reaction. She debated on whether or not she was going to tell him about the encounter at all. She didn't like to think about Lavender Brown, let alone run into her, but she wanted to see Ron's reaction. So far, she was pleased.

"Oh?" He tried to remain as calm and non-caring as possible. The truth was, he didn't care about Lavender Brown. The truth was, he never did.

"I was near Diagon Alley investigating a house elf who's being mistreated by his so-called master when I saw her outside of the Leaky Cauldron. She asked about you."

"She did?"

The waiter came back to the table and put down the mushroom, pepperoni, and pineapple pizza that they had decided on splitting.

Starving, Hermione dug in.

"She asked how you were doing and if you were seeing anyone."

"And what did you say?"

"That you were free as a bird."

It was a lie. Hermione told Lavender that Ron was taken by some girl he met at work. Hermione failed to mention that the girl at work was her and they hadn't actually starting dating and probably never would.

"Oh…well…" Ron didn't know what to say.

"You know what I was thinking about this morning?"

Ron was grateful for the change of subject.

"What's that?"

"That time the mountain troll tried to kill us in our first year."

"You mean the mountain troll that tried to kill you when you were crying in the girl's lavatory when Harry and I saved you?"

"I wouldn't have needed saving if you hadn't made fun of me."

"And what exactly made you think about that?"

"I received a letter from a troll supporter…"

"A troll supporter? That troll tried to rip your head off, Hermione!"

"And part of my job is protecting them."

Ron shook his head.

"I never will understand you, Hermione Granger."

They both laughed and reached for the same piece of pizza. Ron's fingertips brushed against the back of Hermione's hand. They both pulled their hands away and looked around as if nothing happened.

Author's Note: Well, another chapter done – this one a little longer. This was kind of a weird one to write and I can't exactly put my finger on why, but at least it's done. Happy holidays to everyone!