CHAPTER FOUR

Through his Auror grade binoculars, Ron continued to sweep the building in front of him, looking for any sign of the suspected Death Eaters. Ron had asked Harry for any mission, he just wished it was something more distracting than a stakeout of some possible remnants of Riddle's followers.

He nudged the Auror next to him, a new recruit that just graduated from the academy.

"How many days again, have you been coming here?" Ron asked. I can't believe we're spending so much effort on such a low-level threat."

The new Auror Richard Jones replied, "This is our tenth straight day here. I was glad to see someone new today instead of that arsehole Williams. Nine days with him was torture."

"Yeah, Williams can be a git."

Jones looked up from his copy of the Prophet at Ron. "So, why are you here taking his place? I thought you were high enough and best mates enough with Potter to avoid these crappy missions?"

"Yeah, normally I do planning and strategy, but I just needed to do something today, to get away a bit, and this surveillance mission is the only thing happening today."

"Get away?" Jones asked. "Get away from what?"

"Not what, but who."

"Oh. Woman issues? Problems with the girlfriend?"

Ron was just starting to reply when he noticed something happening across the street from their position. Standing up with some urgency he said, "yeah, but we don't have time for that. Looks like we got some sort of meeting happening, and it looks like one of our most wanted is making an appearance. Grab your wand, call for some backup and then follow me. I think Yaxley is there and I've got an idea."

"Yaxley? Oh shit he's been wanted for years."

The two Aurors headed out the door, not wanting to wait for backup. Yaxley was too big a target to chance any delay.

A short but intense hour later they arrived at the Auror lockup area with Yaxley and three Death Eaters in tow. Chief Auror Potter was there to greet them.

"Weasley, Jones, nice work, although protocol required you to wait for backup. Yaxley is a great capture."

Ron scowled at his best mate, "Jeez, Harry, can we skip the last names and the lecture? We couldn't wait for backup in case these toe-rags wanted to leave early. We had a plan and went for it. I think our results speak for themselves. Auror Jones here executed our plan perfectly and he should get credit for the collar."

Jones then butted in, "Excuse me Chief, but it was all Ron's plan. I just did as he instructed. In fact, I think he could have brought all of them in himself if he had wanted. I'm just glad to get these four off the street, but it was Ron's plan that made it happen."

Harry smiled and clapped Ron on the shoulder and shook Jones' hand. "I don't care how you did it, but next time follow the damned protocol Ron. Hermione would have my bollocks if you had gotten hurt on this mission, and Jones, congratulations on the collar. Now why don't the two of you finish the paperwork, clean up and go have a drink at the Leaky to celebrate and to start your weekend.

Ron replied with surprise on his face. "Bugger the paperwork, Harry, really?"

"What do you think, Ron?"

Ron looked over at Jones and smirked, "ok Harry, ok, and Jonesy, since it's your collar, most of the paperwork will be yours, let's go get this shit finished."

As soon as the two left, Harry immediately cast his patronus and instructed it to give the following message to Hermione: "Hermione, Ron just returned early from a very successful mission. He's doing the paperwork now but should be going to the Leaky in about 2 hours to celebrate with his partner. I'll send another patronus when they leave. I'm sure you'll be able to find him there."

Hermione wanted to be there in the Leaky before Ron, but she was afraid that if he saw her, he would walk out before she could talk to him, so she cast her best disillusion charm and turned herself into a taller blonde with pale skin. She hoped she didn't look too much like Lavender Brown did back in the day. She found a quiet table near the bar to sit at and waited for Ron and his partner and played out in her mind how she would get Ron to talk to her. She hoped it would work.

After she was half finished with her butterbeer, Harry's patronus found her and whispered that Ron and Jones were on their way. Her heart began to pound a bit faster as she waited for them to show. A short five minutes later in walked Ron and someone Hermione had never seen before. She realized that it must be his new (at least for today) partner. She watched as they sat at the bar and ordered firewhiskey. She started to stand when she heard them talking.

"Hey Ron, before we went after those Death Eaters, you where about to tell me about your girlfriend problems. Still need to talk?"

Hermione's sat back down and her breath caught as she waited for Ron to reply. What would he say?

Ron sipped his drink and then set it down gently. He turned to his partner, and now Hermione could look into his beautiful blue eyes. As she looked she could tell those eyes held a lot of hurt and disappointment.

"It's the shits, Jonesy, the absolute shits. I bust my ass trying to take care of her and then the one time I don't do exactly as she wanted she jumps all over me and calls me worthless. I do everything I can, but it doesn't seem to be enough. Maybe it's just not worth it. Maybe I need to call it quits."

Hermione gasped, loud enough for the two Aurors to notice. They glanced over at her and Ron asked "Are you ok miss? You're not choking are you?"

Hermione was glad they didn't recognize her as she stammered out, "uh, no, I'm ok, just went down wrong. I'm fine, uh, I'm fine thanks."

Ron gave her one of his lopsided smiles and said, "Ok, then, do take care of yourself," and turned back to Jones.

Jones scratched his chin as he looked back at Hermione. "Maybe you should find yourself someone new that would appreciate you more, Ron, someone new that won't think you're worthless. I mean, come on, today's mission shows that you're anything but worthless. You're the best Auror on the force and it was an honor to work with you today. We all think you're amazing."

Ron looked down at his hands holding his drink. "Thanks Jonesy, that was good to hear. I know I'm not worthless, but sometimes it's good to hear from someone else."

Jones nudged Ron with his elbow. "Maybe you can find a girl that's better for you. Someone new. If you look around there are plenty of single birds just waiting to meet a guy like you." He nodded his head over towards where Hermione was sitting. "How about the blonde over there. She looks great and she hasn't stopped looking at you since we came in."

"Nah, I couldn't, not yet at least. It's been so long I wouldn't know how to chat up anyone."

Hermione smiled at hearing that but then looked on in horror as two beautiful girls walked up to where Ron and Jones were sitting. One was tall and redheaded, the other shorter and blonde. Both men turned towards the newcomers and were greeted by two dazzling smiles. The taller of the two held out her hand to Ron and said, "Are you Ron Weasley, the war hero and part of The Golden Trio?"

Ron grimaced and his ears turned a slight pink. He always hated when people called him that, but he took the girl's hand and replied, "yes, I'm Ron Weasley, and this is Auror Richard Jones, pleased to meet you. And you are?"

The two girls looked at each other and giggled. The redhead grinned and said, "I'm Samantha, and this is Chloe. We were wondering if you'd like to come join us at our table?"

Ron looked at his partner hesitantly, but Jonesy piped up, "Sure, we'd be happy to, right Ron? We were just talking about something new, weren't we Ron? This would be a great time to do that."

Hermione held her breath as she waited for Ron's reply. She was sure that he would refuse. He still loved her, right?

Ron again hesitated as if he were struggling with himself. Finally he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sure, why not. I've got no where else to go and no one waiting for me."

As the two Aurors got up to go with the girls, Hermione couldn't help but choke down a sob. Maybe her plan to disguise herself was all wrong, this was all wrong. Tears formed in her eyes as she watched the redhead wrap her hand around Ron's arm as she led him away.