Hermione glanced over her desk trying to find the quidditch tickets; Harry had given her two for her and Ron. This was the first major quidditch match to take place after the war. The ministry thought it would help bring people together. Which Hermione thought was a good idea. Most wizards and witches enjoyed quidditch and would forget their worries watching the games. The first match was the Irish against national team of Bulgaria. It was a rematch to the World Cup before Voldemort had returned. Hermione remembered going to that match and seeing how happy everyone was until the death eaters attacked. Hermione thought back to watching Viktor Krum flying and wondering why everyone was going crazy for him. He was just a man. She was surprised to find out he was actually a very nice person he had a kind smile.
Just then the clock on the wall chimed signaling that it was 6 o'clock, she was going to be late to the Burrow. Hermione started lifting more papers off her unusually messy desk. Work was getting so hectic she didn't have enough time recently to organize it all.
"I swear I had put the tickets on my desk 10 minutes ago!"
Hermione grabbed her wand
"Accio tickets!"
The tickets flew out under the file of "Elf Protection Rights". Hermione grabbed her coat and floo powder. She walked to the fireplace; she threw the floo powder down.
"The Burrow!" Hermione spoke clearly and loudly.
Hermione felt the flames engulf her; she felt the pull of magic and darkness. Then as soon as it happened she was standing the Burrow and a hand pulling her out of the fireplace.
"Oh Hermione love it's so good to see you!"
Hermione knew the voice in an instant.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley"
Mrs. Weasley gave her a bone crushing hug like always. Hermione didn't mind it, it felt so reassuring to have someone love you this much.
"So glad you could make it! Everyone is in the kitchen waiting for you!" Mrs. Weasley almost yelled.
Hermione followed Mrs. Weasley to the kitchen where Ginny was sitting with Harry and Ron. Ginny was the first to get up and hug Hermione.
"Hermione you are here finally!"
Hermione blushed and looked at her hands. A habit she did when she felt nervous.
"Sorry I got distracted at work and had trouble finding the tickets."
Hermione gave a sheepish smile to the floor. Ginny hooked her arm in Hermione and led her to the table. Harry moved to sit on Ginny's other side so Hermione could sit by Ron. Which made Hermione mad; she didn't want to sit by Ron. This lead to Hermione feeling guilty for her pervious thought.
"Finally Mione! We've been waiting!" The distaste in Ron's voice could be heard. He was annoyed she was late. Hermione scolded her emotions and turned to Ron.
"I'm so I lost track of time, I was very busy today with my work."
Ron eyes twitched at the mention of her work. She knew he didn't like that her job was higher up in the ministry than his. Harry cleared his throat to defuse the situation.
"Well now that everyone is here we can go outside to Mr. Weasley. He has the portkey to the game."
Hermione smiled at Harry, this wasn't the time to get into an argument with Ron. The 4 of them stood up, Mrs. Weasley was at the back door smiling at the 4 of them. Even though Harry and Hermione weren't legally her children she looked and treated them like they were. Hermione was gratefully for her and she knew Harry was beyond grateful for the Weasley family. Mrs. Weasley kissed them all goodbye on the cheek.
"You four have fun! I will be waiting for you guys to return in 3 days! I will have a big Sunday lunch for when you return!"
The group walked out to the chicken coup where Mr. Weasley was waiting standing by the garden ho. He smiled at the group.
"Finally you all are here! We can still make it before the teams leave for the pitch!"
Hermione felt Ron, Harry and Ginny bounce on their feet at the idea of meeting pro quidditch players. Hermione faked a smile. They all grabbed onto the garden ho and were gone before she could blink. She felt the pull of the portkey, she never liked travelling by portkey but it was the easiest way when travelling with a group. She felt her feet touch the ground; she was getting rather good at not falling after taking a portkey. She looked around to see her friends, they all seemed to not fall except for Ron. Mr. Weasley helped an annoyed Ron to his feet and started walking towards the quidditch stadium. Harry and Ron followed quickly after Mr. Weasley, Hermione watched Ron basically ignore her, which made her blood boil.
"Hermione are you okay?"
Hermione turned to see Ginny looking at her with concern
"Yeah I'm fine just a long day at work, excited for this 3 day trip though!"
Ginny gave a questioning smile and hooked her arm in Hermione's. They both began to follow after the boys.
"So how are you and Ron?"
Hermione was reminded of their last fight two nights ago in their apartment.
"I don't know why you work so hard Mione? You are never home!"
Hermione was barely hanging her coat up with Ron whining already. Hermione sighed and turned to look at Ron.
"Hi Hermione, how was your day? Oh my day was busy Ron but it was good, how was your day?"
Ron frowned at her tone and at her mocking him.
"Hermione you are never home, I see you more at work than I do at home!"
Hermione sighed and started to walk to the kitchen with Ron following her.
"I'm sorry Ron but work is really important and busy right now."
Hermione could feel Ron tense behind her. She turned to face him ready to brace his angry.
"Yes, yes saving magical creatures is important and all but Hermione isn't our relationship important too? Isn't spending time with me important?"
Hermione's heart went out to him; Ron looked heartbroken as he spoke to her. So broke the distance between them and held Ron's hand.
"Of course our relationship is important, but Ron you have to help out as well. I can't be the sole problem for our relationship troubles."
Ron pulled his hand away from her grasp. Hermione knew he wouldn't like what she would say.
"How is this my fault? You work constantly! Nonstop you pay no attention to me at all! I am not your shadow Hermione I won't follow you like a dog! I am just as good as you are!"
With that Ron stormed out of the apartment. Hermione figured he'd go to a bar and come back drunk the next morning. But he did not return until this morning, he barely even looked at her in the apartment.
"Hermione? Hello?"
Hermione zoned back to see Ginny standing with her. She somehow had stopped walking remembering the fight with Ron. She sighed.
"Sorry Gin, I have so much going on in my life. With the expanding of my department of care of magical creatures and with Ron…He doesn't understand why I am working so much. He wishes I paid more attention to him."
Ginny's face immediately turned red.
"That bloody git! He always needs approval and constant gratification!"
Hermione laughed to see Ginny agitated.
"It's just who is he, the war changed him. He was used to it just being me him and Harry for so long. He isn't used to being a part from us."
Ginny glared at Hermione.
"Don't give him excuses; he is still around you two all the time! You all bloody work at the ministry!"
Hermione looked down at her feet.
"It's different Gin; Harry is a famous Auror now. We all knew he would be and Ron is just… kind of trying to find his way. He's still in his shadow; and well I have a pretty busy job so he doesn't know how to act."
Ginny still was extremely upset that her brother was being a git.
"Come on Gin, we need to catch up with them."
With reluctance Gin allowed Hermione to lead her through the crowd to find the boys and her father standing by rather big tent. They all looked as if they didn't realize we were missing. Ginny went to stand next to Harry and Hermione stood by Ron.
"Oh here they come!" Ron yelled.
Ron couldn't hide the excitement; he looked like he did in 4th year. Harry and Ginny leaned over to Ron and saw where he was looking. Coming into the tent in front of them was the Irish team, Hermione noticed that they all looked pretty tall, except for their seeker. He was barely taller than her.
"Do you think we could get their autographs?"
Ron asked Harry.
"I'm sure we could, we are Aurors." Harry smiled.
Ron, Harry and Ginny made their way into the tent following the Irish team. Hermione stayed back with Mr. Weasley.
"How is work going Hermione?"
Hermione turned to smile at Mr. Weasley. He was always so kind to her. He looked healthier since the war had ended. His eyes held more joy in them, he was beginning to heal from losing Fred.
"It is going great, busy but it's so much fun!"
Mr. Weasley laughed at her excitement.
"Well I'm glad, it's about time the Ministry treated all magical creatures with more respect and laws to protect them."
"I agree, how is it heading the department of Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts and being on the Minster of Magic special counsel?"
Mr. Weasley face light up with a smile. She knew he was proud to be in such an important position. For too long he was treated as a nobody but now everyone knew how much he risked with the Order and how he helped defeat Voldemort.
"It's amazing trying to get wizards to understand muggle artifacts, how to use them and to understand how much they have to offer!"
Hermione smiled, she loved how this wizard loved muggle gadgets more than any other muggle she knew.
"I agree the Ministry for too long has ignored muggle achievements."
"Right so Hermione."
Just than Mr. Weasley and Hermione were approached by the Minister of Magic himself; Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mr. Weasley shook Kingsley hands like old friends do.
"Arthur glad you could make it!"
"Thank you for the extra ticket, I am happy to be here it's been so long since a good quidditch match has happened."
They both nodded. Kingsley turned to Hermione.
"Ah Miss. Granger glad to see you are, hopefully enjoying yourself so far."
Hermione nodded her head.
"Oh yes it's good to have a lot of people together again. Thank you for putting this together."
Kingsley waved his hand
"It was nothing I am a fan and wanted to see a good match."
Kingsley winked jokingly at Hermione.
"Excuse me Minister?"
All three looked to see a reporter for the daily prophet.
"Do you mind to take a couple minutes for some questioning for the daily prophet?"
Kingsley smiled
"Of course not, come on Arthur I need the help of my special counsel."
Mr. Weasley beamed at the chance of being in the prophet, and followed Kingsley and the reporter.
Hermione looked to the tent; she knew all her friends would be in there. It bothered her that Ron had left her by herself, barely even noticed she was here? She entered the seemingly small tent, she knew it was charmed and was not surprised to when she got inside that it was as big as Hogwarts dining hall. It was beautiful inside actually; candles hovering above everything gave a nice warm glow to the already bright tent. There was numerous tables, most of the tables held families of the quidditch players. Children running around having fun, everyone seemed so happy not tense from a looming war the atmosphere relaxed Hermione. Hermione turned to see Harry and Ginny talking to a couple of quidditch players and she saw Ron trying to impress a couple Irish quidditch players and some young witches. She sighed and headed over to an empty table away from all the quidditch players and their fans. Hermione sat down and retrieved a book from her bag and began to read. She didn't realize that while she was admiring the tent that someone was watching her from the other side of the tent.