Chapter 14: A Lunch Date
A/N: Hi All! I just wanted to give a quick update that I've changed the rating from T to M on this story for later chapters. I had a feeling this might happen but you never know where a story will take itself sometimes and I knew it would be a slow burn before we got to this point. That said, this is your warning that there are some M rated scenes coming up in the future, if that impacts your interest in the story.
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Hermione was finishing up her interview request form for another interview with Goyle as Ron knocked on her office door. She looked up and smiled, "Hi Ron, sorry just give me one second, I need to get this request form out today."
"Sure, of course," he said, leaning against the doorway as she dipped her quill in the ink pot and signed her name at the bottom of the parchment.
She folded it up and sent it off to its destination, grabbing her bag and joining him.
"How've you been?" Ron asked as they made their way out of the Ministry.
"Good, everything is going well, it's just been so busy with this case," she shook her head, "I keep hoping we'll find the answer somewhere and it'll all be over but it's certainly running its course right now."
"I heard you've been getting bombarded with opinions after the Prophet statement," he looked at her apologetically, "You must really believe Malfoy to go to the Prophet."
"I do," she said, not meeting his eye, "People will have their opinions, but my job is to find the truth and I don't think we have yet."
"I overheard a few blokes talking about it a few days ago and told 'em you're the best witch to have on the case," he said, "It'll blow over soon enough."
"Thanks," she gave him a small smile and grabbed his arm that he'd held out for her. They apparated to the Three Broomsticks and found a table by the window to enjoy the rare sunshine that proved summer was on its way.
"How have you been Ron?" She asked as they put their butterbeer orders in and scanned the menus.
"Busy now that your case is on our radars," he told her, "We've been doing more dark artifact raids and trying to place some Aurors undercover in the Hogs Head and the Leaky Cauldron, see if we pick anything up."
"Glad I'm able to keep you busy," she laughed, "Doing my best to get it wrapped up for all of us."
"I know, I know. Other than that, I've been spending some time with Harry and Ginny. I think they might be a little sick of me by now," he joked, "We're hoping you'll come over soon for another dinner, felt good to be all back together last time."
"It's been too long again, hasn't it?" She furrowed her brows, "I'm sorry, Ron, I've been so entangled in this thing that time's gotten away from me. Yes of course we should do another dinner soon."
"Maybe we could do a dinner, just, uh, you and me sometime too," he cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Hermione felt the guilt creep in again and she looked at him sadly, "Ron you can say whatever's on your mind. We're adults and we can have these conversations. Was that your way of asking me on a date or did I totally misinterpret that?"
Ron gave her a sheepish grin, "That was my attempt at asking you on a date," he said, "I know you're focused on your work, but I've been thinking about you a lot lately and missing you and us and, yeah, all that. We can keep things casual, of course, if that's still your main focus, but I was hoping we could spend some more time together, you and me. I think being around Harry and Ginny so much has probably made me miss our relationship even more."
The barmaid put their drinks down in front of them, "Orders?" She asked. They put their orders in and she walked away.
Hermione pulled her butterbeer to her, looking down at it for a moment to collect her thoughts, "Ronald, you know I care about you very much. But when we broke things off in our relationship, I knew we both had a lot of growing to do. And with growth sometimes comes change," she could tell by the look on his face that he saw where the conversation was going, "You are one of my very best friends and you mean the world to me, but my heart isn't in it."
Ron leaned back, looking bummed and taking a sip of his butterbeer, "You know what's funny is that over the last few years I find myself going in and out of how I feel too," he told her, "Sometimes I miss you so much I can't think straight and other times I'm just fine with life how it is and our friendship how it is. Work and friends and family and whatnot, it's all great. And I have gone on a few dates in the last few years, don't get me wrong, it's just at the end of the day its always you I see for some reason. I don't know why the timing felt right to me this time."
"Honestly I've felt very similarly over the last few years, Ron," it was true, she missed him so much sometimes, but it had been a long time now since she'd felt that, "But I know for certain right now that I can't be with you."
"Now, or ever?" He asked.
"I… don't know," she said honestly, "I think it's hard to speak to the future. Which isn't fair of me to say since three years ago I told you I saw us together in the end. I think I was young and I didn't know what the world held for us as we grew up. But I think one thing I've learned is that you can only decide on what you want right now, in this moment and go with it and the future is just a big black hole of possibilities from there. Things happen that you'd never expect."
"You love planning!" He joked, trying to lighten the tension he felt, "But yes I understand that, Hermione, and of course I respect it, I just didn't know if you still felt that you saw us together when you're ready."
"I just don't think we'll know what the future holds til it's here," she paused, "But I will be honest and tell you that I don't see it like I used to," it hurt to say it out loud, but she had to.
They were silent for a moment as he took in what she was saying.
"Is there someone else?" He asked.
She hesitated a moment, "Yes," she couldn't' lie to him.
"Is it serious?" He asked, "I didn't get the impression you were dating anyone a few months ago when you came for dinner."
"It's not... serious," she said somewhat uncertainly, "It's new and there's a lot to figure out."
"Would I know them?" He couldn't help his curiosity.
She thought for a moment of how to word her response, "Not personally."
"How did you meet?"
"Work," she said evasively, "Look, Ron, I know I told you I wasn't ready for a relationship because I was focused on work and that was, and still is, true. Even now work is my priority, this thing just sort of happened and my gut is telling me to give it a shot. I don't want you to think that I was just telling you that to break things off. Especially at 18, I needed to be on my own to start my career, and my career is still in the forefront of my life." She knew she didn't have to be apologizing or explaining herself, but she did feel she owed him and explanation because he had always been incredibly important to her and she would never want him to think she was insincere. Time had just changed things.
Ron gave his best attempt at a grin, "Hermione I know your intentions were good. You're too honest and blunt to brush me off with an 'It's not you, it's me' excuse and I know how important your career is to you. Things do change with time and a lot of time has passed, but hey maybe they will change again. It's certainly not the outcome I was hoping for today, but I want you to be happy. I guess we still never know what the future might hold, right? Black hole of possibilities?"
"Black hole of possibilities," she gave a small laugh.
The barmaid returned, setting down their plates of food and hurrying on to the next table.
"Alright, that's enough of the real talk," Ron waived his hand, "Tell me something new. How are your parents getting on?"
Hermione was relieved at his change in subject, "They're well," she smiled, "They're actually back in Australia on Holiday, they seem to think it feels like a second home now."
"That's great," he said, "Are you going to visit them at all?"
"I will eventually this summer, yes, once I have a lull at work... if that ever happens."
"Well you should make time for it, even if work doesn't lull. Mum would kill me if I'd gone six months without a visit."
"I know you're right," Hermione sighed, "I let my work take control of everything sometimes. I'll make a point to visit them this summer no matter what."
"Book the portkey ahead of time, then you'll have to go," Ron suggested.
"You know what, I will," she said with determination, "That's a great idea, Ron."
They finished up lunch before they left the pub and apparated back in front of the Ministry. They walked towards the entrance, chatting between themselves until a voice cut into their conversation.
"Afternoon, Granger."
Hermione looked up, more than surprised to see Draco leaning on the fountain outside the Ministry entrance.
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