Hermione wasn't enjoying her date with Cormac McLaggen very much if she were being honest. There seemed to be something dodgy about him. He was quite the peculiar character. And she was pretty sure he was checking out her bum as she walked to the washroom. The thought made him shudder. It was hard enough for her as a historian to unwind and relax. When someone asked her out and she was excited, it turned out to be a perverted git of sorts.

She definitely had bad luck. Yep, that was it.

She was relieved when the dinner was over. However Cormac had other plans.

"Let me walk you home."

He said it like it was a statement, not a question.

"Uh, sure"

Hermione's train of thought was more or less linear at this point. She could only remain alert. She didn't want Cormac finding out where she lived but she had no idea what to do.

And suddenly, as they reached a secluded place, Cormac stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, anxiously.

"Nothing," Cormac said, his voice dropping an octave lower. Hermione cringed internally. "I was wondering whether you wanted to share a kiss with me…"

"You know, I usually don't do that on first dates."

"C'mon Harmonica, you cannot deny the energy between us tonight?"

"My name is Hermione. I don't kiss people who can't even remember my first name."

"God, here—" he leaned in abruptly

Hermione felt so scared, she didn't know what to do. Finally she decided to punch the bugger when—

"All right there, mate?"

A random voice asked. A voice she hadn't heard before. She looked behind her to see a redheaded man in a pinstriped suit who wore aviators over his eyes.

"Yeah, what's it to you?"

"You're Cormac, right, Cormac McLaggen?" he questioned, softly.

"Yeah, again what's it to you?"

The redhead nodded but didn't say anything

The man then picked up his phone and was dialing away. Hermione was stumped about what was going on. What was this man doing? Was he here to help? Who was he calling?

Finally, he spoke into the phone, "Fairbairn Street. In front of Starbucks."

"Oh sorry about that, that was rather rude. So, pleasant weather, we're seeing!"

This is Farebank street. We're in front of a Dunkin' Donuts, what is this man talking about? Hermione thought. She figured he was trying to get a cab to pick him up. Must be a clumsy person.

"I'd be more than grateful if you didn't interrupt our date, thank you very much." Cormac said impatiently.

"Right"

"Put your hands up when we can see them Cormac McLaggen" a voice boomed.

Hermione looked behind to see two police officers, a police car and then saw the redheaded man nodding.

"What did I do?" Cormac sputtered.

"After consulting this gentleman and acquiring some damning evidence we have now realized that you have gone home with women, slept with them and leaving in the morning without a trace"

"Yeah so I have one night sta—"

"--and also, stealing their jewelry."

"N-"

"No use arguing, just cooperate and you'll be much better off."

"Fine" Cormac resigned.

Shortly afterwards, he was handcuffed and scurried off to the police car. The redheaded man stood there still.

"Are you a police officer too?" Hermione asked after the police car had driven to the distance.

"No, I don't have much to do with the police. These were just my friends who happened to be police officers."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a criminologist."

"What does that entail?" Hermione asked curiously.

"It's the study of the minds of these criminals. Their motives. How to find them. How they got there. The likes of that."

"I see, there's some psychology involved too?"

"Yes, certainly."

She observed that the man spoke very matter-of-factly. And rather formally too.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name." Hermione tried.

"Ron. Ron Weasley. Pleased to meet you." He smiled and extended his hands to her.

As she shook his hands, unexplainable jitters went through her body.

"I'm sorry what why how—"

"Okay, okay I will explain." Ron said calmly.

"Please do so."

"Right. The police department had been getting reports of this person sleeping with women and leaving before they woke up. When they woke up, they found their jewelry missing. All of them gave similar profiles of the man but also being rather intoxicated-"

"I'm not intoxicated"

"Ah, you weren't as yet. He'd first creep you out. Then you'd be mad. Then he'd get all apologetic and own up to behaving like a prat, say something about him not getting into relationships after x event happened. Of course, you'd feel bad. You'd bring him up to your flat. You'd decide it would be a good idea for you lot to drink your problems away. Then one thing will lead to another, which I shall not get into. Come morning, you will internally scold yourself."

"That sounds like something I would do!" Hermione said.

"Yeah, that's just a sliver of what I do."

"Sounds fun."

"Oh, I'm sorry, what's your name, then?"

"Hermione Granger. I'm a history professor."

"That's pretty interesting."

"Really?" she asked skeptically.

"I sure would find it a lot boring if I was ten years younger but I can come to respect history now, I'm not like sixteen, thank you very much."

"Okay, okay, no need to get defensive." Hermione said playfully.

"Yeah okay then." He said in mock annoyance.

"What was with the wrong street name and restaurant chain?"

"Come on, Ms. Granger, give McLaggen some credit. If I said the exact name of where we were situated, won't he suspect something. He is a prat, but he's not all that stupid. He's quite the plotter."

"I'm sorry, are you defending him?" she laughed

"Christ, no! He's still a deplorable human being. He's just not that dumb"

"Yeah I get what you mean."

"Oh, would you look at the time, Ms. Granger! It's awfully late. You should be getting home."

"You don't need to be all that formal, Mr. Weasley, you can call me Hermione."

"Right, you can call me Ron, then" he said with a smile. "I trust you can walk home yourself?"

"I'm not quite sure, I should after this. Could you walk me?"

"Sure, as long as you don't mind me knowing your address."

"I'd rather give you my credit card information than give McLaggen my email address."

"Blimey!" he exclaimed. "Though, yeah, I get where you're coming from." He resumed normally.

"So yeah, let's go, then." Hermione said.

So they started walking. And started walking, they did.

"Have you ever met another guy who was this weird?"

"There was this Bulgarian guy, Viktor Krum. Quite a lot into younger women for his own age. Of course, now he's a certified pedophile. Just got finished with therapy last month. He's fine now. I hope he doesn't relapse."

Hermione shuddered. "Oh he sounds awful!"

"He was quite the prick."

"So, how'd you get here? You know becoming a criminologist?"

"Well, I took psychology in high school which really spoke to me. The strategic part of it and the human part of it, both really spoke to me. I'm much more practical than I am theoretical, so that helps. Also it pays very well, so there's that!"

Hermione hit his arm playfully, He chuckled.

She wondered why it was Cormac she went out with tonight rather than this guy. Ron wouldn't even have to ask her twice before kissing her, she'd ask first.

She scolded herself. This was so unlike her. She simply wasn't the kind to do any of this. She thought she was just startled. Nothing else. She had just had quite the experience.

"What're ya thinking so hard about?" Ron asked.

"Nothing much. You have a friend at work?"

"Yeah, he's my partner in Criminology. His name is Harry Potter. We're good friends and colleagues. It's really fun."

"Oh that's quite nice. Any ex-girlfriends?"

"Huh?"

"Sorry!" she turned red, "I have been told I ask too many questions."

"It's fine. I have had some. Off the top of her head I remember this girl Lavender Brown. She was a good person but she was the clingy kind. And she had a rather repugnant nickname for me"

"And that was?"

"I'm sorry, I do not wish to be made fun of."

"C'mon, I won't make fun of you, I'm not that kind of person."

"No matter."

"Please…"

"Alright, if that gets you off my case! It was won-won."

Hermione chuckled rather loudly.

"Oh yes, why don't you have the entirety of England hear about it?"

"I'm sorry, that was quite a good laugh. I needed it after what all happened."

"Well, you're welcome then. How much farther is your home?"

"We're here actually. We just need to climb the elevator of this building."

"Oh, this is a pretty place."

"Thank you!"

They got on the elevator. Hermione pressed the button that read "5".

The bell dinged, they got out.

"Goodbye Hermione, take care."

"You too, Ron. Thanks for helping me!"

"It was nothing."

"And Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Feel free to drop by if there are any updates on the McLaggen case. I'm quite a sucker for true crime."

"Uh sure."

When Hermione closed her door, she giggled happily. Forgetting everything about McLaggen.