Chapter 3. The Quarrel Overheard

The party was going well. Quidditch players, DA members and some of the younger Weasleys were dancing in the middle of the marquee. Seamus who was now a reporter of the Prophet's Sports Section was discussing something with Katie Bell. The latter like Ginny also played for the Harpies but unlike Ginny, who after giving birth to Severus lost her form and now was a substitute Chaser, remained in the main squad. To Ron's eye Seamus and Katie were closer to each other than it was required. Ron reminded himself to ask Seamus about it. Molly with a champagne glass in her hand was talking with Minerva and recently arrived Andromeda Tonks. Bet they discuss how insufferable the young generation is.

Noticing Andromeda Ron immediately looked for Teddy and found him with Harry at the far end of the marquee. Harry put his hand on Teddy's shoulder and judging by his exposure he was explaining something to Teddy who was rather blushed. Ron chuckled. Victoire again. Everybody long noticed that even at the age of seven Teddy fancied Victoire. Ron personally did not miss the opportunity to crack jokes about it with Harry.

Ginny was greeting John and Daphne and after some pleasantries dragged them to the dance floor. Ron always wondered what made Ginny so amicable to these two, but his sister always loved the lost course. Harry included. Personally Ron could not wish for the better brother-in-law, but for Ginny it meant a lot of problems as Harry Potter was not the simplest person to live with. He hated public scrutiny and even did not attend most of her games because of the insufferable reporters ambushing him on the stands to make a photo of Harry or Harry and Ginny after the game. It did not help either that Harry worked a lot in his attempts to make the country a more safe place than he once found it. With Ginny's training and game schedule their time together was limited to a fault. Unlike me, Ginny can't tolerate her spouse to be absent.

Ron did not even mention the fact the everybody looked at Ginny as mere Mrs Potter. When they made public appearances Ron always had a feeling that everybody looked through Ginny as though she was transparent and saw only the great Harry Potter. Harry tried his best to diminish these side effects of living with him, but Ginny still had her battles. Hopefully, she'll get what she wants. Yes, Ginny started giving interviews and drawing attention to herself. Now Ron suspected that the sole purpose of this grand party was to prove her importance. Tha't why she was so worried about Kingsley's absence. When the Minister himself attends the party, the birthday girl must really be important.

Ron noticed Hermione coming to Minerva, Molly and Andromeda. While Andromeda and especially Minerva were very glad to see Hermione, Ron noticed pursed lips of his mother. And here we go again.

Ron went to the bar for another butterbeer. Something never changes. Molly Weasley had her reservations towards Hermione, there was no point in denying it. Harry was the first to notice it and engaged Ron's attention to the problem. Children are always ignorant of their parents' flaws.

Expectations. This was the word Ron learnt the hard way. While being a child or even a teen he never faced much of the pressure. Especially after Fred and George there was nothing Molly could wait from him. But being an adult brought a very different attitude. Weasleys did not expect their children to earn thousands, make the difference in the world or build a tremendous career. Funny that Hermione is all of these things. What Weasleys expected from their children was happiness and the very precise kind of happiness. Paradise can only remain paradise when all of its dwellers sing in unison. And after the war this singing became more and more discordant.

The loss of Fred and being left alone in the house with all the children grown up was a hard blow for Molly. It became even harder when it turned out that neither Fleur nor Angelina wished to transfer control over their children to Molly. Fleur and Molly did not agree on a lot of things and Molly took it hard but still accepted it. She's Bill's wife after all. Angelina was another thing. She had a large family of her own and although she did not do anything to make Ron's mother irritated, the time Molly spent with little Fred was limited to once a month. Still, Molly accepted even this. She always said that it was for the parents to decide what is best for the child. And left it be. However Ron knew better. He knew that Molly would forgive George (and that expanded to his wife) everything.

Penelope and Ginny were Molly's life vest. Both Percy and Penelope craved career and little Molly - their three year old daughter - spent so much time at the Burrow that some would say that she lived there. The same went for Sev as with Ginny's games and Harry's work parents did not spend much time at home. While Harry did not have family of his own, Sev's upbringing was left mostly on Molly's grateful shoulders. Why is it always about children?

Ron neither was a first-born nor lost a twin and therefore he and his wife could not be excused for the lack of common Weasley lifestyle. No children, rare visits to the Burrow, Hermione's long hours at the Ministry made Molly think that her little boy was unhappy. Molly made her opinion and nothing could move her from this standpoint. She knows better what is best for her child. Ron sipped his butterbeer bitterly.

Somebody clapped him on his back and Ron saw Harry standing near him. Ron smiled nervously.

'How's Teddy?'

Harry sat next to him.

'Moons after Victoire, you know. Asked me to talk with Bill.'

'Don't you think it's a bit early for the fathers' talk?'

Harry grinned.

'He wants me to persuade Bill to invite him for a weekend.'

Ron laughed.

'When I was seven, the only thing I asked was to fly on the Charlie's broom.'

'Well, someone has a broader emotional range.'

They laughed to the memory. Then Harry became serious and turned to face Ron.

'Why did you react so odd to my proposal?' Ron knew very well what Harry was talking about. 'I thought you wanted it. The pay rise, separate office, you would lead the whole team.'

Ron did not avert his eyes this time. He looked straight in Harry's green eyes.

'I know, Harry. Merlin's beard, Senior Auror at twenty five! It's cool, you know… But I've made a lot of thinking recently…' he paused to see Harry's reaction and finding his attentive gaze Ron continued. 'We've put them all behind the bars… There is no pressing need for Aurors any more. You said it yourself,' Ron mentioned their talk a week ago when Harry complained about lack of interesting cases. 'And that made me think about the future. I don't want to be an Auror for life. I'd like to leave something after me.'

'So, you've already got an offer?' Harry was serious but Ron did not see any trace of anger.

'Yes. Two weeks ago George told me that WWW are expanding abroad. He found some partners in France and he wishes to spend a couple of years there developing a new branch. He wants to leave the WWW here in family hands. He offered good money, not like Senior Auror, though, but still decent. More than I earn today. And I made my thinking….' Ron paused again, swallowed and said it. 'I agreed.'

Ron raised his eyes to Harry and was surprised to see a smile on his lips.

'Cool! As their first loaner, I completely approve George's choice' Harry clapped him again. 'You're a perfect Auror, I never doubted it. But perhaps it's not yours for life.'

'Yes, this is precisely what I was thinking. It's hard to leave something you're really good at but my soul lies otherwhere. I really thought that now I won't leave your back unprotected. With all this scum whose knees are trembling at the mere thought that the very same Harry I-killed-Voldemort Potter is after them. They don't even put up a fight nowadays. Where's the fun?'

Harry laughed at the memory of Mundungus's partner caught red-handed. Darren was a short bald wizard who smuggled some dark artefacts and was caught in Knockturn Alley trying to bring his goods into Borgin and Burke. When he saw Harry in his crimson Auror cloak, Darren dropped his wand and fell to the ground with cries 'Please, I have a wife and children'. After the incident Ron went as far as to propose placing posters with Harry and 'I'm watching you' all over the Knockturn Alley.

'So when do you want to announce this?'

'Tomorrow. Hermione already knows.'

'Good. We need to arrange a proper farewell at the quarters.'

'Sure.'

Ron and Harry went to the served tables and took the menus in hands.

'Wow! Harry, it must have cost hills of money!'

The menus were charmed the way that the guest just needed to name the dish and it would appear on the plate. In a moment Ron's mouth was full of mashed potato.

'Three hundred Galleons,' answered Harry absentmindedly while looking through the dance floor in search for his wive.

'How come you ever agreed to this?'

'Ginny asked to make this birthday special. And you saw it for yourself how we are now,' Harry grimaced. 'I thought that this would make up for the past mistakes. But somehow I manage to create more problems that I can deal with.'

And with that he continued his target monitoring. For the past years Harry really became good at closing his mind and emotions from others. Ron respected his privacy and left him to his vigilance. When he finished his meal, he went to Hermione. Everybody was enjoying themselves. While some went to eat or enjoy a perfect summer evening outside, the others remained on the floor like Nevill and Hannah. Ron was surprised at this previously hidden part of Nevill. He was a passionate dancer and while Ron himself enjoyed only slow dances with Hermione, Nevill took his time with fast songs. Alongside Nevill George and Angelina were dancing so vigorously that it could be dangerous to stay close to them. Seamus was now dancing with Katie Bell and Ron did not have questions anymore. He knew for certain that something was happening between the two of them.

Ginny was now dancing near Dean and Michael and if it was her revenge to Harry, she truly struck the nerve. Harry who was not a huge fan of dancing made his way to the dance floor and appeared near his wife but Ginny did not notice him at all. She continued dancing with her eyes on Dean. Girls can go really low to get revenge. Ron remembered Hermione going to Slughorn party with McLaggen and shivered a little. Perhaps it's better not to tickle the sleeping dragon. At that moment Hermione appeared near Ron and they eloped to the blissful dance. For a couple of songs Ron saw only brown eyes, flying hair and her cheekbone and completely forgot about Ginny, Harry and their problems.

Ron and Hermione went to the bar holding hands to get drinks and then Ron noticed Harry leaving the dance floor and heading to children running near the marquee in the dying sun. Ron felt sympathy for his best friend but could not do anything about it. Ron's life made a huge progress today. And this progress was absolutely for the better. And with all this happiness he did not have enough resources to think about someone else's misery. That's life.

'Perhaps we could find a more… private place? I wanted to talk to you,' asked Hermione looking around nervously.

'To talk, yeah…' smirked Ron, and he was absolutely delighted by the look of her cheeks stained with a pinky blush. Seven years and she is still blushing. Ron meaningfully looked at the empty Burrow. Hermione caught his gaze and shook her head.

'If somebody finds us there, there would be jokes till we're dead.'

So they moved to the stone outhouse where Weasleys once kept their broomsticks and where now Arthur kept his Muggle stuff. Not looking behind whether someone was watching them, Ron and Hermione entered the building and closed the door behind. Hermione pulled out her wand and with a quiet 'Muffliato' she ensured that they would not be overheard. Ron looked around the dusty outhouse. In the middle stood a great motorbike under shabby cover - remnants of Sirius's bike which were put together by his dad. The walls were lined with shelves full of old radios, TVs and microwaves. In one of the corners stood a small table covered with old Muggle books and electronic manuals. Near it Ron found a stand with fishing rods and some tackle - evidence of the close relationship between Mr Weasley and Mr Granger. In the distant part of the outhouse behind the door was a small room where Weasleys kept old cloaks and some other ancient stuff which was useless enough to put it there and memorable enough not to be thrown away. Ron turned around and looked at Hermione questioningly.

'You wanted to talk. What about?'

'Have you noticed Ginny's behaviour?'

'It's hard to miss. Still others are oblivious, I suppose. Her behaviour is odd, yes, but nothing eye-catching.'

Still Ron did not understand all this secrecy. Truly, Hermione was acting strangely today. It did not escape Ron that Hermione was avoiding Harry the whole party. She managed to talk to everybody but not to her best friend. And Ron neither missed these strange looks Harry threw at Hermione at the entrance.

'I think it's mean to act like this. To flirt with others? It's low.'

Ron did not want to make this talk serious so he faked the cough in which Hermione could hear something similar to 'Mc-Lag-gen'.

'Stop this. It's different. We did not even date back then. Harry is her husband! Father of her son!' Hermione was truly outraged. When Hermione was in this 'spew' mood Ron learnt not to stand in her way. He overcame almost irresistible desire to laugh at her cute fury and faced her seriously.

'I know. Personally I don't understand what's her problem with this. She puts it as though being a Head Auror is worth a trip to Azkaban.'

Ron sat in the desk chair and eyed his wife who was nervously pacing across the outhouse.

'Yes! She flirts with other men but your mother only smiles at her! 'She is such a lively child!' And it's me who everybody thinks to be a bad wife!'

Ron lowered his eyes. Please, not again.

'Hermione, nobody thinks so,' Ron tried to reassure her weakly, but she looked at him as though telling him with this gaze 'You don't need to lie to me'. Still Ron tried to quit this talk. 'Let's not talk about it today. It's such a good day!'

Hermione looked at him in disbelief.

'Such a good day? Seriously? Haven't you ever paid attention to how they all look at me? Or how they talk? Of course, not. You had something more important to do. 'Oh, as you know, Fleur, boys at this age are so cute… Oh, sorry, Hermione, I forgot,' with that parody of Ginny Hermione made a face. 'Forgot what, I would like to ask. Forgot that I don't have children? Forgot that everybody thinks that it's their fucking business to comment on it?' Ron raised his eyes to say something but Hermione abruptly silenced him with the wave of her hand. 'Don't start again, Ron! They don't say it in front of you. They say it behind the closed doors with nobody except me and themselves to hear it. They gaze at how I speak with Sev! It seems like as if I'm a rare species that parents take their children to look at. And all will close their eyes at the woman who flirts with her ex-boyfriends to get revenge on her husband for getting the promotion he absolutely deserves!'

Ron was speechless. He always feared that he did not know something about these only-for-girls talks but he was completely shocked about what they actually discuss in Hermione's presence. In his shame of his family Ron remained silent. Hermione took a breath and continued.

'I'm tired of being the only problem in this paradise! Everything is fine, they say. But this is ridiculous!' Hermione was standing with her back to Ron. He suspected that she was a bit worried to say all these things about his family face-to-face. But her emotions were finding their way out and nothing could stand in their way. 'You see, I seem to work a lot. I don't want to leave London for the time being. I don't come here every weekend. I don't make great friends with Ginny!'

Hermione's relationship with Ginny was another issue. After the war Hermione unlike them decided to go back to Hogwarts for her seventh year and they spent the whole year at school with Ginny together. At first Harry was very enthusiastic about it, as Ron could recall. Harry always wanted Ginny to become the part of their trio, and for the first months things did really go well, but some time after for no evident reason Hermione and Ginny started to become more and more distant with each other. Ron did not want to know anything and therefore had never questioned Hermione about her friendship with Ginny. The less I know the better. Knowing would have led to taking sides and it was the thing Ron wanted to do in the last place. He stood and came to Hermione taking her in a tight embrace. But after a couple of seconds Hermione freed herself from his grip and now looked him in the eyes.

'I understand her grief over Fred. I even sympathise with her loneliness. I understand why she always thinks that even the length of my husband's hair is of her busine…'

'Hermione, please…' Ron's voice cracked. 'I've got it. I'll speak with her. I promise.'

Hermione blushed and looked at the floor.

'I don't want you to fight this battle for me. She's your mother after all. But I'm tired, Ron.'

Ron pursed his lips and hugged her again.

'I know… I know…' his hands patted her back. 'I'll speak to her. You're my wife. And she's my mother.'

Hermione raised the happy eyes at him. 'Thank you…' she said silently and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. They stood there for what looked like eternity. Peace of the dusty outhouse with all these forgotten things made both of them desire to be forgotten there.

But their hopes were in vain as they heard an angry voice.

'In here, now!'

Ron and Hermione immediately recognised Harry.

'Don't hurry. Guests will notice.'

It was Ginny.

Ron was perplexed. Making their presence notable could go nasty. But Ron did not see any place in there to hide. Hermione was faster. She took his hand and they ran into the small room and closed the door behind them. The moment the closed the door behind them the entrance door to the outhouse burst open and they could hear hurried steps of Harry and Ginny. Then they heard Harry whispered 'Muffliato'. Harry must have cast it only on the entrance door as Ron could still hear their breaths even in the room. Hermione noticed it and with the wave of her wand and non-verbal 'Muffliato' she made it impossible to hear their moves from outside. The room was completely black. Ron couldn't see Hermione at all and after some rummaging in his pockets he extracted an old Dumbledore's deluminator. With a flick one ball of light appeared in the air and illuminated a cluttered room. Wherever Ron looked he was old school books, cloaks, brooms and other stuff that belonged to him and his siblings. He even noticed some of his old orange Chudley Cannons' posters.

'What's this about?' they heard Ginny's irritated voice.

'Don't play dumb! Why are you doing it?' Harry sounded very angry.

Ron did not want to hear the quarrel between his sister and his best friend. Especially without their knowing. He looked at Hermione and whispered.

'Perhaps we can disapparate from here? To the house perhaps?'

Hermione took her time for the answer. But her chain of thoughts were disturbed by Ginny's voice.

'Guests are waiting for us. We shall talk home.'

'They can wait.'

Hermione looked at him and whispered back. 'Impossible. They put all these protection charms on the Burrow after the war. No way to apparate or disapparate on the grounds.'

Ron sweared. Hermione shrugged and covered her face with the palm. Somehow it always turned out that they could not run from their problems even if the problems they faced were not theirs directly.

'So I'm waiting,' continued Harry.

'I'm really surprised you even noticed. Sometimes I think that even if I get naked in front of you, you won't notice.'

Ron was very uncomfortable about the way the quarrel was moving. I don't want to know about this. He almost groaned in despair. Ron knew that Harry would hate to be overheard. Hermione looked at him sympathetically.

'You flirted with Dean! You danced with Michael! How am I supposed not to notice?' exclaimed Harry.

'Nobody found it strange, you know. So there is no problem.'

'Well, I find it disgusting. It must be enough for you!'

'Why? You don't bother to think about me. Why should I be any different?'

'Is it about this Head Auror thing?' Ron could hear that Harry became less emotional. He wants to take this seriously. Unfortunately for Harry, Ron was not there to tell him that this is the lost course. When Ginny is pissed, it's almost like mum. She won't hear reason.

'You're unusually brilliant today! We have been discussing this for months and here you are, coming innocently and announcing that you get this shitty promotion! You couldn't be more transparent in your 'I-do-not-care' attitude!'

'It won't change anything. Robards always worked little,' answered Harry sternly.

'But you're not Robards! You're Harry everything-is-my-fucking-business Potter!' mocked Ginny angrily. 'Everybody would say that the Head Auror at twenty five is a challenge. And you'll work seven days a week to prove that you deserve this! Only to get praise!'

Wow. This was a low blow. Ron pitied Harry as Ginny perfectly knew how to make him painful. He is not like this. But a lot of people seemed to think so and it was painful for Harry with others let alone his wife.

'Do you want me to feel pain? Or what? I thought that you knew better than this.'

'Then why did you agree? You always said that you wanted a simple life. And we were getting there! Finally you started to come home at six! That I don't understand completely! Head Auror means everything but simple life! Why, Harry? Why did you do this to us?'

'Why did I do what? It's the job, good job, Gin. Nothing will change. I will sit only in another office,' Harry said desperately. 'Do you hear me? Robards worked little. And I'll work little. I don't see how it affects us at all.'

For a very brief moment Ron had a tiny hope that Ginny heard Harry and that the quarrel would end. But then he heard her quiet yet venomous voice.

'You didn't answer my question. Why did you do it?' then Ron heard some steps. 'Stand where you stood. Don't come to me!'

Another moment of heavy silence was getting on Ron's nerves. Hermione herself was blushing and was massaging her head nervously.

'I did it to give support of the Head Auror to the new Minister.'

Ron, in spite of himself, raised his head and now was listening with interest. Hermione gasped and turned pale.

'New Minister? Kingsley is stepping down?' asked Ginny surprised.

'No. He will run for the Minister in November. But in some years he would really step down. His words, not mine. And the new Minister would need my support. Not the support of Harry Potter. But the support of the Head Auror or of a potential Head of the DMLE if Tiberius resigns.'

'And who is this mysterious future Minister? Hermione, I suppose?'

Ron looked at Hermione. Hermione hid her face in her hands. This is the answer. Ron was shocked. That's what they discussed with Kingsley on Friday. He wanted to become angry but he remembered his silence over WWW and calmed down a little. I'm not in the position to judge.

'Yes,' Harry almost whispered his answer.

Ron still lingered on Hermione and was thinking very fast. In seven years she would be thirty two. Still young but she is Hermione. She'll do fine. Hermione found courage to face Ron and the latter was surprised to see tears running down her face.

Ginny laughed madly.

'Let's make it straight. Kingsley says that Hermione will become Minister in seven years. He says that she will need support. And you agree?' Ginny laughed again. 'You always despised being the poster boy. And now they will make you the poster boy for their course! You see, Harry, I thought that you do this to me on purpose. But now I see that you have been played out.'

'I won't be the poster boy. Quite the opposite. They don't need Harry Potter. They need the Head Auror. It's all I wanted! To be judged not on my name but on my position and the role I play!'

'That's how they call it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Hermione who told Kingsley how to put it to make you agree. Smart girl, our Hermione.'

Ron could hear that Hermione whispered 'no' still crying. He stood there perplexed and could not find words or actions that could console her.

'Hermione would never do this.'

'Never? She already has Ron wrapped around her finger. Fortunately he found courage to defy her and leave the Aurors for good. Or don't you know?'

'How come you know about it?'

Ginny laughed again.

'It was mum's idea, you know. She said that it would be the only chance to bring Ron back to his family.'

Hermione managed to grasp Ron's hand before he smashed the door open. She whispered, 'let's listen'.

'Perhaps, if you and your mother had more to do, you would not spend so much time plotting. That's madness! I thought better of you.'

Ginny laughed again. Ron was on the verge of opening the door and shouting at his younger sister. How dares she?

'We are all a family, Harry. We care about each other. Sometimes one black sheep is enough to bring the whole house down. Don't you see that she causes problem for all of us? And now her ambition leaves me without the husband for countless long evenings.'

Hermione grasped Ron's hand again as he was trying to reach the door. She looked at him pleadingly. Her eyes told him 'No, it will make everything worse.' And later words proved that she was right.

'I don't see how it even comes to Hermione again. It was my decision. And mine only… But the way, you asked me not to spend time with her. I did it. You said that you wouldn't tolerate another woman's presence in my life. I got it. You said that it was humiliating to you that another woman was closer to me than my own wife. It's not the case anymore. You said that you don't want her in our home. I don't invite them. What do you want, Ginny? I don't understand you now. You got everything you wanted.'

Ron was left speechless. He did not know that this recent shift in Harry's attitude to him and Hermione was Ginny's doing. In fact, Harry had really become more restraint to Ron and Hermione in the past months. He declined all Ron's invitations to spend time with him and Hermione after work. Harry stopped inviting them for dinner. Harry stopped going to lunch with them. Ron always thought that Harry tried to spend more time with Ginny alone. And the reality hit Ron hard. He does not want it. He was made do it. He stood with his mouth open and thoughts chaotic. He looked at Hermione to get the lead from her to how he should assess the news but she was neither surprised, nor enraged. Ron could find only sorrow in her brown eyes. Has she known this already?

'I wanted? Don't you want all of these things?'

'I do. And that is the reason I did all of those things. For you. For us.'

It was a long pause. Ron heard Ginny's steps and for a moment he got frightened that she would enter the small room he and Hermione were now hiding in. But steps died in a foot to the door.

'You still didn't answer. Why did you do it? What do you want to protect? And more importantly, Harry, from whom?'

'Don't start this again, Gin. Please,' Ron was a bit shocked by the pleading tone in Harry's voice. 'I'm tired of fighting. Let's get back to the party. You wanted this party, didn't you? Let's dance. Let's celebrate. Cake, Gin. Don't you want the cake?'

One of the few things Ron knew about his sister was that she never gave up. And even before she answered he had a feeling that this pleading would return to the sender without an answer.

'You're tired of fighting with me, Harry. But when it's not me, when it's about other people, you're always there. 'The great Harry Potter will fight every battle for you.' Offer this motto to Hermione. With this one she will become the Minister in a day.'

'This is how friendship works, Gin. This is two-way road. They bled for me, Gin. I won't turn my back on them.'

'I got it. Funny, it really is. Once I found it charming. You're always there for everybody else… but what about me?'

'And what about you? The problems I'm not aware of? Threats? Or, perhaps, a 'Mudblood' carved on your arm?'

'Never in my life I thought that there would be a day when staying well would be reproachful. Thank you, Harry. But just to be sure. When I want your attention, should I get an injury first? Or a scratch would be enough? You know, I even can have a scar on my palm as these fans of yours do.'

And this was the moment Ron knew that Ginny crossed the red line. Harry would tolerate everything, even the greatest insults, but one mentioning of these crazy people who started carving a lightning on the palms was enough to make Harry quit every discussion. So Ron was not surprised to hear the noise of a shutting door.

For a second there was a silence and then he again heard the icy voice of his sister.

'I suppose eavesdropping in the dusty cupboard does not fit the future Minister, Hermione.'

And with that Ginny left the outhouse.