George turned the music down as Fred stood on a chair, tapping his beer glass with his wand, "Everyone! We're five minutes from midnight, so if everyone will go outside on the terrace, we've put heat shields up, darling," Hermione blushed, bowing her head to sip her wine, "we'll be able to see the fireworks from Muggle London."

Leah maneuvered her way around everyone to find Charlie who was talking to George near the "music-box". She snuck her arm around his back and he turned around, grinning, "George here just told me how he had to restrain you from pummeling Oliver."

Leah's eyes widened, "Oh, you weren't supposed to find out about that," she glared briefly at George who decided it was time to find Mira, "he said you'd beat him to a bloody pulp."

Charlie shrugged and led her to the terrace, "He left, George let it slip." He wrapped his arm tighter around Leah's waist, "I wouldn't have hurt him to bad," he looked down at her and smiled, "I mean, if you wanted to have a go, I would have let you go."

Leah cocked an eyebrow, "I could have taken him."

Charlie laughed as they reached the wire fence of the terrace, "I know you could have, why do you think I'm trying to stay on your good side?"

Leah turned to face Charlie as the others started the countdown, "I've never had a real date at New Year's."

Charlie leaned down, bringing his lips closer to hers as he stared into her eyes, "Neither have I." Leah grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck as everyone else on the terrace shouted, "Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Charlie."

"Happy New Year, Leah."

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Leah rolled over the next morning, groaning as her alarm went off. She slapped the alarm and rolled back, snuggling against Charlie's bare chest again. "Work?" he mumbled, wrapping his arms around her waist, drawing her closer.

She nodded against his chest, "I don't want to go!"

Charlie laughed, causing Leah's head to bounce slightly against his chest. "You love going to work."

She groaned, trying to detach herself, "I know, but I'm tired," she sighed, "want to come in with me?"

Charlie laughed again as he watched her sit up and slip on his shirt, "I don't think so, I'm sleeping in," he grinned as Leah pouted, walking out of her bedroom and into the bathroom to take a quick shower. He closed his eyes again, and fell asleep, not noticing when Leah kissed his forehead before she left for St. Mungo's.

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Leah was sitting in her office, absentmindedly chewing her pen, absorbed in numerous files when there was a knock on her door. "It's open!" she shouted, not bothering to look up, assuming it was a brown-nosing trainee who wanted to get on her good side, or a new nurse who was unsure if they needed her approval to change a bedpan. She didn't look up until the visitor coughed.

She started to stand, her brown eyes nearly bulging, her mouth opened in shock as she tried to say something.

"Surprised to see me?" A tall, dark-haired man grinned, his dark grey-indigo eyes twinkling.

Leah stood up fully, "Well, wow, kinda, yea, Merlin, Reed?" She laughed and threw her arms around his neck, "What are you doing back? Are you done saving the poor already?"

Reed laughed and held Leah at arm's length to look at her, "Of course I'm not, I just came back for a quick vacation," he grinned again and Leah noticed his dark hair was longer than it used to be and it had started to grey slightly, something that made Reed look even more attractive than she remembered. "But look at you!" He let her go and looked around her office, "I know you're not going to tell me any of your accomplishments, so let me see you resume."

Leah tried not to blush, and brushed her shirt, trying to make herself look more presentable without Reed noticing. She opened a drawer and sheepishly handed Reed a sheet of paper. Reed cocked an eyebrow and smiled, "I'm surprised it's only one sheet." Leah refrained from sticking her tongue out at him and instead motioned for him to sit in one of the plush chairs across from her desk. She sat down again and watched Reed read from under her lashes while pretending to read her original files.

"Well, Lee, you haven't failed to surprise me, although," she watched as he looked up, grinning slyly, "you're only part of three departments? I thought you'd force yourself onto at least 4 or 5."

Leah rolled her eyes, "I see you haven't changed at all, have you?"

Reed stood up and perused the books on her shelf, "And I still you still take, read and keep any old, irrelevant, nonsensical books you can find." He turned and smiled, "Tell me about your Board."

Leah waved her hand, "I know you don't care about my Board Reed, you made it very clear that you had no interest in Boards, only in Departments."

Reed sat down in the chair again. He stared into Leah's eyes, making her slightly uncomfortable; Reed always had the ability to make her squirm, make her unsure of herself, and she didn't particularly like it. "Now, now, Leah that's not true. I know you want to hear all about my time in South America," he held up a hand before Leah could even open her mouth, "but first I want to hear about your Board. When can you take time for lunch?"

Leah shook her head, "No, no, not today, I'm leaving here as early as I possibly can, which is going to be later than I would have liked since you are preventing me from getting my work done."

There was a knock on the door, but this time Leah turned to see who was coming in now. "Charlie! What are you doing here?"

Charlie grinned, "I thought I'd surprise you and take you for," he turned towards Reed who was making his presence known by standing up. He looked at Leah, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Oh, Charlie, no, please, this is Reed Stanton, he used to be a Healer here," she tried to keep her composure at this increasingly awkward situation, "he was actually one of my mentors." Reed stuck his hand out. "And this is Charlie Weasley, he's a Dragon Keeper."

Reed nodded, "And I'm assuming brother of Leah's old bosses?"

"Oh, I still work there, Reed," she turned to Charlie, feeling the need to explain everything to him, knowing how upset he had gotten over Oliver only the night before. "Reed left St. Mungo's right as I got my license."

Reed smiled at Leah, "She was practically my mentor! And I knew that she'd knock me out of my Plants or Magical Creatures seats some day. So it was the perfect time for me to go to South America."

"Oh? Do you heal there?"

Reed nodded, "I help train healers in poorer areas, I was just actually in Brazil, in the Amazon, training some of the younger generations of the tribe to heal."

Leah tucked her hair behind her ear, trying not to stress about the current situation. Could anything get more awkward?

Charlie sighed, "Well, I didn't mean to interrupt your reunion, so I'll just head down to the cottage, see how Bill and Fleur celebrated the New Year," he avoided Leah's eyes and put his hand out again. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Reed," he turned to Leah, his eyes hard, causing her to wince slightly, "I'll see you later?"

Leah did not get to answer however, because Charlie had already left before she could say anything. Reed let out a low whistle, "Am I missing something?"

Leah shook her head, "No, no, it's fine," she smiled, "you want to hear about my Board or what?"

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Leah and Reed had walked to Fran's Tea Shoppe in relative silence. She should have known that he would want to eat at "their" place, "their" own little Muggle café. She thought about Charlie as they walked. She hadn't told anyone about Reed: not even Mira knew. It wasn't that Leah was embarrassed of him. But their relationship, if you could call it that, had been all about work and sex: he was her mentor, her advisor, and she slept with him. On numerous occasions. St. Mungo's wouldn't have fired them, but it would have been frowned upon. Both of their Healing reputation could have been tarnished, no matter how blatantly intelligent they were. What could she tell Charlie? If he knew the truth, he'd be understanding, but furious that she was seeing him. And what could she tell Reed? She didn't know if he wanted to pick up where they had left off. And anyway, she and Charlie weren't actually dating, were they? They had never said explicitly that they were exclusive, so what could she tell Reed if she asked?

They sat down in "their" booth, in the far corner of the dimly-lit café. Reed took off his coat, his grey-indigo eyes twinkling. "You look fantastic, by the way."

Leah blushed, "You don't look so bad yourself. Brazil must have agreed with you."

"Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru too."

Leah laughed as she opened her menu, "Are we bragging now?"

Reed pushed her menu down, forcing her to look up at him. "Leah."

Leah cocked an eyebrow, terribly confused. "Reed."

His face was serious, his eyes somber and Leah noticed how worn and tired he looked. "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye."

Leah tore her eyes away from his. "Reed, come on. That's in the past, you did what you thought was best. For both of us."

"Leah, just look at me, please," he pleaded, making Leah turn back, "I was afraid someone was going to find out. I didn't want your reputation to get ruined. It wouldn't be fair to you, or St. Mungo's, or all the patients that you would save," he sighed heavily and put his hand on the table.

Leah put her hand on top of his to comfort him, "I know, Reed. I'm not upset, really. It's in the past now. We both have our dream jobs," she smiled, "you're helping the poor in South America, and I've got my departments and my Board."

Reed smiled weakly, squeezing her hand. "Thanks, Leah," he sighed. "Are you getting your usual?"

Leah laughed, "Please, Reed, do you still think I'm that predictable?"

"I never said you were, Lee," he paused, "so that Charlie guy…"

Leah rolled her eyes and looked up from her menu again, "You're relentless, aren't you? What do you want the full story?"

Reed leaned back in his chair, "I just want to hear all about your life since I've been gone, that's all. It's been a few years."

Leah sighed dramatically, "Let me order my sandwich and soup first please?"

They ordered their food and than Leah took a deep breath, "So you saw my resume, so you know all about my departments and my Board, and I assume you realize the tantrums I had to throw in order to get some of the new laws and things implemented around the hospital."

Reed laughed, "You didn't throw any tantrums, please. The administration loves you and your progressive ways and they would do anything you ask."

"Oh, please! They won't integrate the Non-Magical Beings Department: I've been making statements and holding meetings to get it integrated since I've been heading it."

"Did you make Head as soon as you got your license?"

Leah blushed and looked down at her hands, "Practically."

Reed let out a whistle, "Merlin, I guess none of my accomplishments and records have been left intact, have they?"

Leah laughed and swatted at his arm, "Quiet. But no, probably not," she laughed as he pouted. "Do you want me to continue or do you want to pout?"

"Fine, fine, I'll sulk later, continue."

"I kept my job at WWW, mainly to help train the new employees, and to take my mind off St. Mungo's every once in a while. And I played matchmaker a few times too," she smile ruefully, "got one of the twins to date my best friend-"

"And they're still together?"

Leah huffed, "Yes! What you doubt my skills as a matchmaker? I'll have you know that all those that I have introduced to each other during Hogwarts, in my Muggle neighborhood, at St. Mungo's, with my friends, that have all gone on to either get married, move-in together, or date for a very long period of time and only amicably split."

Reed nodded, his eyes twinkling, "I never doubted you, just wanted clarification, but please continue."

"So both my bosses are happily dating, I helped their younger sister get through training here. I'm what you could say a rather good mentor: my reputation has apparently gotten many trainees to try to bribe or brown-nose their way to become one of my protégés." She groaned, "It's like a competition."

"How many protégés have you had?"

"Just Mira and Ginny - my best friend and the youngest Weasley. And it's not like I did it on purpose. I just introduced them to Healer Lang. They really are very intelligent, very apt Healers, so I really didn't do anything."

Reed shook his head and tried not to laugh, "Course, course. But this Charlie guy?"

Leah cocked an eyebrow, "Why are you so interested in my love life all of a sudden, Reed? You are going back to Brazil, aren't you?"

Reed nodded, "I am, and yes, I have a, what I suppose could count as a girlfriend of sorts down there," he sighed, knowing Leah was going to press, "she went home for the holidays, to America, and I got lonely and bored, and since she's not coming back until February, I decided to find a cheap Portkey and come back to rainy ol' England for a few weeks." He stared at her, "Now continue?"

Leah laughed, holding on to her stomach, "Who would have thought that the two workaholic Healers would finally get some sort of romance?" She sighed, "Well, Charlie's not really my boyfriend. We've just been having a bit of fun while he's in England."

"Oh?"

Leah took a sip of her tea, "He's a Dragon Keeper in Romania, and he also gets shite for not having a girlfriend from his whole family. And since all the Weasleys give me shite too, and since we're both workaholics, and we were the only single ones over the holidays-"

"And I know how much you enjoy the holidays."

Leah grimaced, "Well, we really get along, you know?" She smiled to herself, "He gets me, Reed, and I get him, and it's just-"

"Nice?" He sighed. "I completely understand. I didn't have a social life for a long time either, Leah, I understand."

Leah chuckled, "I still don't, Reed."

She looked at her watch, "Oh, bollocks, Charlie is probably thinking that I'm going to have sex with you or something," she paused, "Merlin. Reed, can we catch up soon? And just so you know?" She paused and looked into his deep grey-indigo eyes and tried not to think about their tumultuous past, "No one knows about you. So, just, if you visit St. Mungo's, let's be professional okay? You're going to be here for the Fundraiser?"

Reed grimaced, "I'm sure Healer Lang and Murphy will corral me into going, yes. Giving some sort of speech or update or something."

Leah nodded, "Good. I better run, but I want to hear all about your work soon, okay?"

Leah left quickly, afraid that if she didn't talk to Charlie soon, he might either get the wrong idea, or worse, ask someone about who Reed was. And she couldn't have that - she knew it wasn't a big deal, and she didn't think anyone would judge her any differently, but she couldn't risk it. They'd be more mad at her for not telling them, especially Mira.

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A/N: Reviews? Read "How Things Began" to see who Reed is - I've just begun their "relationship". Thoughts? Complaints? PLEASE REVIEW!