As Hermione left young Rook quipped, "What's with you Chief?"
"What?"
"You've got a stupid look on your face. I mean, more stupid than usual," Rook said with a smirk.
"Ha ha," Ron answered. "Since you're so clever why don't you, Gabby, and Pops go practice partner defensive spells while I finish dinner. That means Pops throws the hexes and you two practice," Ron said to the curly haired man. Rook wasn't the only one with a smile on his face as he walked to the practice area on the far side of the Staging Area. As Pops passed he placed a hand on Ron's shoulder while giving him a fatherly smile.
Ron stirred on his cot. He smelled something familiar. Something delicious. Opening his eyes and sitting up he looked over at the kitchen area. Getting up and stumbling over he asked, "Harry, what are you doing?"
"I'm cooking breakfast," Harry responded.
"What? Why?"
"I heard about your little tradition of cooking dinner," Harry said while flipping some pancakes, "and I thought since you're in London I could help out and do breakfast."
Ron cocked an eyebrow while pouring himself a cup of coffee. "And what do you know about feeding half a dozen people or more?"
"More than you," Harry said while putting a plate of full English in front of Ron, "I cooked breakfast for the Durselys since I was five. That's like feeding a dozen people."
"Excellent," Ron said before digging in.
Swallowing and taking a swig of pumpkin juice Ron asked, "So why are you really here?"
"Ginny's got me on the couch," Harry replied while scrambling some eggs. "Because of you I might add." Other S.W.A.T members were arriving at the table helping themselves to plates of food.
"Hey Scarhead."
"Morning Rook."
"Bonjour 'arry."
"Morning Gabby."
"Howdy kid."
"Hi Tex."
"Good morning Harry!"
"Morning Ernie."
"This food ees too 'eavy. Eet will make me 'uge."
"You sound like your sister," Ron said to the young woman. "Eat up. You'll need your energy."
Ron turned to one of the S.W.A.T. members who also had been in the DA. "Hey Doc, what were you asking Sarge about unicorn hair for yesterday?" Ron asked before taking another bite of bacon.
"Oh, well, unicorn horn is one of the best things to stop blood loss. With you lot I figure it would come in handy. Problem is it's a Class C item, hard to find, and expensive," finished the team's Mediwizard.
"Reckon I know where I can get you some. Besides, I need to go to Hogwarts and talk to Snakekiller. Shaggy come here," called Ron while spinning in his seat on the bench. The furry dog rose excitedly from his bed and bounded over to the table. As the dog approached Ron grabbed several pieces of bacon and addressed the dog. "Do you want some bacon?" Ron asked in a babyish voice. Shaggy gave a single bark and jumped around in a circle several times thwacking Rook with his tail in the process. "Okay. Settle down. Sit," commanded Ron in a normal tone. The great red dog immediately sat and started licking his lips. "That's a good boy," Ron said in a baby voice again while feeding the dog several pieces of bacon. "You love your bacon. Yes you do," Ron continued while rubbing Shaggy's large head. Shaggy responded by licking Ron's beard under his chin. "Oh, yeah. Kisses. That's a good boy."
"Ron, you're a complete idiot when it comes to that dog," Harry said in disbelief. The rest of S.W.A.T. continued eating as if this behavior was completely normal from their commander.
"He's a growing boy," Ron said while continuing to feed bacon and receiving 'kisses'. "He needs bacon for strength."
"That's not what I meant you git."
Gabby finally looked at Ron with a mild look of disgust and said, "Eet is disgustin'. Do not let 'ermione see. She will not kiss you-"
"Good morning everyone. Harry, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked coolly. Before Harry could respond Hermione set her eyes on master and dog. "Ron! What are you doing? That's unhygienic."
"Come on Hermione," Ron said as Shaggy went over to Hermione with a bum bump, "He's just giving me sugars. Besides, everyone knows a dog's mouth is cleaner than a humans."
"That is the stupidest thing. Shaggy licks his. . ." Hermione looked down at Shaggy while rubbing the special spot above his tail ". . .you know. How clean is that?"
"Well, I can't say that I know. What makes you an expert anyway? You don't even own a dog," Ron said testily.
"My parents are dentists," Hermione said matter of factly. "I know oral hygiene."
"You know ora-"
"Right. So, Hermione what can we do for you? Seeing as you're in a secret location with a group of people that don't exist." Harry had seen the familiar signs of a discussion turning into a row.
"I am here because they took over my department because of you," Hermione said sarcastically.
"Erm, yeah, well-"
"Ms. Granger," Tex interrupted standing up from the table, "why don't you have my seat. I'm finished."
"Oh, um, thank you Tex," Hermione said while taking the empty seat next to Ron. "So, what are we doing today?" the bushy haired woman said while helping herself to breakfast. Several faces turned towards Hermione with questioning expressions.
"What's she mean we Chief?" asked Rook.
"What she means," Ron answered irritably, "is what is S.W.A.T. doing today. Which is none of her business. What she is doing is going back to her office and making sure the Equal Magic Rights Act passes."
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here Ron," Hermione said crossly. Harry started to fidget as the Ron and Hermione Show picked up steam. Hermione turned towards Ron continuing, "First, you would know that I've already submitted it if you had been around at all. Second, you made it my business when you took over my office and, third, I think I ha-"
"Top o' the mornin' to ya!" A voice cut across. Everyone looked over at cheerful Irishman with dark hair and twinkling green eyes. Several expressions changed. Rook looked from the newcomer to the Chief and back again before muttering, "Oh shit."
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked tersely with his face darkening.
"I thought I-"
"NO YOU DIDN'T THINK!" Ron bellowed turning bright red as he stood and leaned across the table. "If you were thinking you'd be at your post with your partner!"
"Come on Chief. Nothin's happen' or 'bout to anyway," hedged the man.
"Shut up Ace. I'm about to boot your Irish ass back to County Cork I'm so pissed," Ron said in a low, menacing voice. "Tell me, what's one of my fundamental rules?"
"Well, which-"
"I'll tell you since you've obviously forgotten," Ron cut-in. Hermione sat quietly while noticing that the younger S.W.A.T. members looked nervous. Tex and Pops were giving the Irish Auror called Ace very severe looks of their own. Standing up and taking a deep breath Ron continued, "It's the partner rule. NEVER LEAVE YOUR FUCKING PARTNER! EVER! Get your ass out of my sight until I decide what to do with you."
Ace took off in hopes of keeping what remained of his backside. Ron took a few steadying breaths and looked around the table. Settling on a tall frame he said in a controlled tone, "Tex, grab up a plate for QB and head over to the stake-out. Make sure she eats and gets some rest. She's been working this one too hard. You two," Chief said while turning to Gabby and Rook,"head up to Ops and work on that map of yours. Post sightings of The Bastard for the last three years prior to his fleeing England. Look for patterns. I know we've been down this road before, but The Son Of A Bitch has to be hiding somewhere. Doc, get in touch with your St. Mungo's contacts. I want a fully functional field hospital here by the end of the week."
The team dispersed leaving Pops and the Golden Trio. "So, Pops, what should I do with our wayward Irishman?" Ron asked looking at the Senior Auror.
"I understand you're angry with him Chief. I do," Pops answered. "Ace can be a wild card. No pun intended. He knows he screwed up. Put him under Sarge for a week. He'll be begging to go back to a stake-out. You also might consider what he did to be here to begin with."
"Right. KP and whatever else Sarge wants to dish out for the next week," agreed Ron. "Could you head over and check on QB. I know Tex will try to get her to rest but she can be stubborn. QB feels this could be a big break for us. If she argues too much just stun her."
"Sure Chief," Pops said before walking over to the Apparation Grid and disappearing with a pop.
"So," Ron began wiping his large hand down his face, "Who wants to go to Hogwarts? Come on Shaggy. You'll like Hagrid."