A/N This is like the third time I'm uploading this story. It's definitely my favourite, and every time I re-read it

I think of a way of making it even better. So no, I haven't nicked anyone's ideas, this is all my own, for the third time.

Enjoy and review!áñ"ã

Chapter One - An Unexpected Reunion.

Ron sighed as he settled himself down again on the rough cobbled pavement. For the umpteenth time that morning he had scanned the dark alleyway he was staying in for a softer, more sheltered spot, but once again, his search was in vain. Ron pulled his knees to him and rested his chin on his folded arms, thinking of what he was doing here, in a dank side street in Muggle London, disconnected from his friends, family and the rest of the Wizarding world.

It was Malfoy, he thought bitterly. Malfoy was responsible for the loss of everything Ron valued and loved in life, and had gone so far as even to deprive Ron of his owl, Pig. Malfoy had ridded Ron of the thing that meant most to him in the world - Muggle and Wizarding - and that was Hermione. He had had so many plans, so many mental scripts of what and how he would tell her what he really felt for her, how he would expose the feelings of deepest love that had been locked and hidden in his heart for eight years.

What Ron wouldn't give now for any sign of a friendly face, a signal or sign from the Wizarding world, a note or something - anything- from his family or Harry or Hermione. But Ron knew he was wishing for the impossible (or so it seemed); he hadn't heard from or seen the rest of the Weasleys or his two best friends for four years. Four long, lonely years of poverty and struggling for survival.

Ron shivered as a chilly breeze raced down the alley. I'll get you for this, Malfoy, he swore silently to himself. You'll see, I'll get you back if it's the last thing I do....

Hermione walked down Victoria Street of London with her head and spirits held high. She had had one of the most successful days since she had been promoted from secretary of the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to the Head of the House-Elf Liberation Department, which the Ministry of Magic had let her start herself. She had succeeded in raising the Hogwarts house-elves' wages by thirteen per cent that morning, and freed an abused elf from the Flint family.

As she crossed the main road and passed through a side-street, she spotted a pathetic-looking figure, apparently a beggar, sitting with his face in his arms in a damp corner of the alley. Close to, she saw he was about her age - no older than twenty-three or twenty-four. Hermione was in such a good mood, she decided to try brightening someone else's day, too and opened her handbag in search of some loose change.

Ron looked up as a shadow fell over him. In front of him stood the most beautiful girl he had ever laid his eyes on. She looked around his age, early twenties, with long, chest-length glossy wavy brown hair, a perfect little nose, pale pink lips and heart-stopping caramel-coloured eyes, currently fixed on her handbag as she fumbled inside it, apparently searching for something. She looked maddeningly familiar, but Ron couldn't see how she could possibly be the person he thought she was. It was mad. It couldn't possibly be her.........could it? As the girl moved around the contents of her bag, a sheet of paper fell out of it and landed on the cobbled pavement, though the girl didn't appear to have noticed. As Ron gazed straight at her eyes trying to determine if they were the same, they suddenly gleamed with success as the distinct jingle of coins came from the depths of the bag. The girl grabbed the first coin she touched, tossed it to Ron, gave him an encouraging smile and turned away. Ron stared after her. What was he thinking? There must be millions of girls in London, why was he even hoping to find her? Ron looked down at the coin the girl gave him and his jaw dropped. In the palm of his dirty hand, was a large gold coin, one he hadn't seen for four years - a Galleon! Ron spotted the paper the girl had dropped, lying on the damp pavement, picked it up and gasped. At the top of the sheet were the words:

The British Ministry of Magic

Then in smaller writing were the words:

The Department for the Liberation and Rights of House-Elves.

Ron's eyes scanned the document until his eyes fell on the signature of the Head of Department at the bottom of the page, in the neatest handwriting Ron had ever seen, the unmistakable handwriting of.....

"Hermione!" he called hoarsely at the retreating back of the girl, currently halfway down the street.

The girl turned around. She spotted the beggar looking directly at her. How did HE know her name? She thought, bewildered as she retraced her steps back to him, she didn't know any beggars. She didn't know anyone in this part of the city, so who....?

Her questions were cut short as she felt her stomach plummet several inches as she recognised the document in the beggar's hand, which, judging by the look on his face, he had obviously read. Muggles weren't supposed to know about the Ministry of Magic or anything about the Wizarding world. Her spirits slipped even more as she saw the Galleon she had foolishly given him without checking the currency first. Supposing she did a Memory Charm on him? But magic was only supposed to be done in the Muggle world under urgent circumstances, and this beggar can't have any friends or family to tell or else he wouldn't be here, and if he did, who'd believe him?

"Here, Hermione," said the man. "You dropped this."

He handed her the paper, then tossed the Galleon to her and added, "and this won't be much use outside Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, and I'm nowhere near either place. Thanks, anyway. It's the thought that counts...."

Hogsmeade? Diagon Alley? How would HE know about these places? Unless he was a.....

"Do I know you?" Hermione asked, before she could stop herself.

"You could say that," came the reply, with a small smile. "Or you did. So...." his eyes fell on the document Hermione was holding, half in half out of her handbag. "....finally got 'Spew' into power, then, eh?"

"It's not spew, it's S. P. - " Hermione began automatically, then gasped and said "RON?!"

"Knew we'd get there in the end," said Ron, grinning.

Hermione stared. It WAS Ron, but he looked nothing like the Ron she remembered. His face was thin, sunken and starved-looking. His freckles were hidden under all of the dirt on his face. His hair was messy and only in a few places was the original Weasley red hair visible, as the most of it was so filthy it turned the brownish-grey colour of dust. Over his sunken cheeks and thin chin was a thin layer of short brownish orange bristles. He was wearing a set of wizard robes, but they were so frayed and filthy that no Muggle was in any danger of spotting the outlandish clothing. These robes were ripped enough to show some extremely bony arms and legs, and a very thin chest. Yet under all the obvious starvation, mucky fringe, unshaven face and dirty skin, were the same eyes and the same smile Hermione recalled only too well- it was the smile that had captured her heart at Hogwarts, though no one knew at the time (or did now) except Ginny, to whom Hermione generally told everything.

"Ron, you look terrible!" said Hermione, voicing the first thing that came to mind.

Ron's grin grew wider. "Unlike you, Hermione. You're looking as beautiful and as glamorous as ever."

Hermione didn't return the smile. She was too shocked and anxious to smile.

"What are you doing here, in Muggle London in this state?" she asked, horrified. "You were an Auror for the Ministry when you last wrote to me."

Ron's smile faded. "Yeah, well, that was four years ago," he sighed. "A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, I can tell you."

"What happened to you?"

Ron sighed again. "Long story."

"I've got time," lied Hermione. In fact, she had to be back at the Ministry office soon, but she was determined to make time for this. After four years of constantly beating herself down for not revealing her feelings for him when she had the chance and after all those years of being sick with apprehension about what could have happened to him, there was no way she would turn this opportunity down, even if it meant she lost a pay rise for being late for work.

A low rumble rent the chilly early afternoon air. It may well have been thunder, as the clouds were rapidly conquering the sky, but the rumble sounded much closer....

"Ron, is that your stomach?"

Ron stared down at his skinny, noisy belly. "Yep. I don't know why it keeps growling like that. I keep it pretty well fed."

Judging by the starved look on his face and the increase in the volume of his stomach's roars, it was rather obvious he wasn't being entirely truthful.

"When did you last eat?" Hermione inquired.

"I found some cold chips outside a fish-and-chips shop on Monday night," replied Ron, shrugging.

"Monday night?" gasped Hermione. "Ron, it's Thursday!!!!"

"I know that."

"You - you mean to tell me you haven't eaten for three days?"

Ron faked a contented smile full of fake satisfaction that didn't fool Hermione in the slightest. "I'm not complaining."

"Oh, Ron, this is ridiculous!" snapped Hermione, shocked that a few cold chips in three days was considered satisfactory. "Look, let me get you some lunch - a proper meal. Then you can tell me everything that happened."

Ron felt rather uncomfortable about this. In eight years of being insanely in love with Hermione - three in Hogwarts, five out (four of which he had gone without seeing or hearing from her) - he had wanted nothing more than to take Hermione out for a meal or a date, and here she was taking him out. However, with another growl, his stomach reminded him that unless he swallows his pride and takes up the offer, he won't be swallowing anything for a while.

Hermione extended a small, delicate, graceful hand and Ron took it with his large, dirty scabbed one and Hermione pulled him to his feet. Neither Ron nor Hermione really wanted to release the grip on each other's hand, but since the feelings were yet to be exposed, the hands parted as they both headed for the nearest restaurant.

A/N There WILL be a continuation to this! Please review!!!!