**In a restaurant, at lunchtime**

Garth

Garth had chosen a nice restaurant. It was a restaurant, because of the occasion, and a nice one, because of Ron and Dani, who were both obsessed with food. They were having a nice lunch. There were wineglasses, and the cutlery had both shine and heft. The plates were white; the food, multicoloured, carefully plated, and half eaten. Despite the happy hum that swirled around the room, silence held table seven on pause.

And Garth had no idea why.

"What?" he scanned their faces for explanation.

Ron put his cutlery down gently and averted his gaze. Dani kept her curious eyes on Hermione and Garth, one arm folded under her ample bust, wine glass held loosely in her other hand. Hermione looked… not how Garth wanted her to look.

"Well, it's just that, that's the kind of thing we should probably discuss first," Hermione said cautiously, "So let's talk about it later, ok?"

This was distinctly ominous. Talking about things later with Hermione invariably led to an argument. Why couldn't he just have good news and celebrate it? Why did it have to be a discussion?

What was there to discuss?

"I… don't see why,"

More silence.

Dani took a sip of her wine. Ron wasn't moving at all. No restless fingers, or tapping, or knee jogging. He seemed to be pondering the thread count of the tablecloth. Hermione had that wary look on her face, the one she got when she was about to start being tactful.

This was not how this lunch was supposed to go.

"It's a great opportunity, I thought you'd be excited. Hermione, it's Kolkata. They have arguably the best memory research facility in the world."

The mysteries of magic and memory. Garth had never met anyone who loved it as much as he did. No-one had cared. Until she turned up, and suddenly, he wasn't alone with the neurons and synapses any more. She was there and she got it. She got him.

What's happening?

Hermione closed her eyes. That patient expression felt like a gentle knife in the stomach.

"I know. But I can't move. You know that already. I don't want to get into it now; let's discuss it later."

It would have been humiliating if it wasn't so stupid.

Dani failed to adequately smother a huff of derisive amusement. Garth felt a flicker of anger run through him like a little bolt of lightning, just as Ron flinched and Hermione flashed with annoyance.

At least she was pissing everyone off.

More silence. More stillness.

So, so still…

It was Ron, Garth realised, that was why everything felt so frozen. He was so still. He was never still…

He was an immovable fixture in her life.

"This is about you, isn't it," He said slowly, understanding slipping through him like oil. "Christ, I can't believe I've been so stupid."

Dani put her glass down, and rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, I can't believe it either. You know their bedrooms are connected right?"

Garth felt peculiar. His stomach and chest felt paralysed.

"What are you talking about?"

"You've never disillusioned the bedroom? Seriously? It's the ol' master and mistress wing."

Oh god.

It was.

Of course it was. How had he not noticed?

Or… had he just not wanted to notice…?

…she's the only one who understands me…

Garth tried to unclench his jaw.

"Oh, but you're fine with it, are you?"

Dani blinked at him, nonplussed. She seemed incapable of being uncomfortable. It was one of the things that drove him up the wall.

"Well, I wouldn't be, if this was serious, but me and Weasley aren't exactly a couple couple, so to speak. It's mostly just sex, quidditch, and seriously good food."

Ron's ears went red, but he still said nothing.

Garth stared at Dani, who stared right back, all full-figure curves and glittery resin earrings, and short practical hair. He couldn't assemble an articulate thought.

Kolkata.

Garth turned back to Hermione.

"Move to Kolkata with me."

"No."

Why not? I know you're not with him.

"Are you having sex with him?"

"No."

See?

"Then move."

"No."

To his supreme irritation, Dani intervened again.

"She won't budge. Neither of them. How have you been dating her two years and not noticed this? It's a one-night-maximum-separation. I thought you were supposed to be some kind of data analyst? How did you miss that?"

Garth tried to swallow the bile and fear that was rising in his chest.

"Your manners are appalling."

"I know, but I'm not the one who just tried to use an audience to bully my girlfriend into moving to Kolkata, so I think I can live with myself." Dani gave him a big fake smile.

Panic surged through him.

No!

What the hell is happening?

This was supposed to be a surprise. This was supposed to be good news. This IS good news.

How is this not good news?

Hermione put her napkin down on the table.

"Excuse me- no, I just. I need a minute." She threw up a hand to ward him off, and walked out, straight backed.

Ron glanced up briefly, eyes boring holes in Hermione's shoulder blades, then went back to staring at the tablecloth.

It was him.

"This is bullshit. This is bullshit."

Dani placidly returned to eating what was ostensibly a pumpkin salad, but was so glamorously presented, it looked like modern art.

Garth felt the rage diffuse through him, like blood in water.

"You think, just because you went to school together and got tangled up in a war, the rules of normal social interaction don't apply to you-"

Ron got up abruptly and left.

"Fuck'ssake."