Hermione sighed and made her way through the ever mounting piles of paper work that had grown on her desk, it had barely been three weeks since they had started working for the ministry, and already they had so much work it made their newts look like a walk in the park.

Hermione had started taking her work home with her and spreading it out across the kitchen table whilst Ron would use a counter, Ron was working hard on the Gringots case, he would have long discussions with Flur then come home and ask Hermione's opinions on things, Hermione wished he wouldn't. it didn't matter that Flur was bill's girlfriend before he died, somewhere deep down Hermione knew that Ron used to like Flur, and that annoyed her. it didn't help matters that Ron seemed to look more and more like his older brother every day. Hermione tried not to think about it told herself that her mind was playing tricks on her, it was the late nights and the junk food.

Even so , she couldn't help but feel sad at the thought that Ron hadn't made anymore late night wanderings in to her bed, his nightmares seamed to have subsided in to nothing.

Yet they still hadn't talked about it.

In fact the only thing they seemed to talk about was work, Ron finally getting off his crutches and Ginny's first match as team captain which they were due to watch on Saturday.

"come on Hermione we have to get you something to wear" said Hydiki said swallowing the half of a donut that she was holding.

" what's wrong with what I'm wearing?" she said looking down at her black trousers and light blue buttoned shirt.

" you look like someone's mum" said Tonks joining Hydiki in watching Hermione's disgust.

Hermione thought it was a little harsh.

" but why do I need a change of clothes?"

" if were going under cover you need to blend in, your going to stick out like a sore thumb dressed like that." said Tonks .

"have you got anything that will fit her?" Tonks asked Hydiki.

" I recon so, somewhere." she smiled.

"where's Ron?" Hermione asked noticing that Ron wasn't in Tonk's shadow like normal.

" he's interviewing a lead. But we need you to help us undercover." Hermione was defiantly uncomfortable with the evil look that Tonks was exchanging with Hydiki.

" where is this undercover work?"

"you'll see" said Tonk's pulling her in the general direction of the lift.

Ron sat at the table, with his head in a book about goblin behaviour, he couldn't help wondering if Hermione had ever read this book, if she had she would definitely give second thoughts to the work she did for spew.

When he heard the door open he thought nothing of it , it was just Hermione back from work, he turned the pages and said nothing but nodded a hello, he didn't want to talk about work today, he had been talking to Flur and he hated to see that look that Hermione tried so hard not to pull when he talked about Flur.

It wasn't till he caught a glimpse of Hermione out of the corner of his eye as he turned the page did Ron look up.

" what are you wearing?"

" their Tonk's, we went undercover to a concert" said Hermione shrugging of the apprising look that Ron was giving her.

She pulled at the weird sisters t-shirt self consciously, Ron watched her as she tried to pull it down over her bum.

" I didn't think that ripped jeans and sneakers were your thing."

" their not"

" shame you look good, almost like Tonk's little sister."

Hermione leaned on the bench and took a drink of his tea.

" you think?"

Ron wasn't lying, Hermione did look good in what she was wearing. To good if truth be told.

"you look really good" he said taking his drink back of her.

" Hydiki says it's a good look for me."

Ron smiled and turned his attention back to his work.

"how is Flur? I'm presuming that was the lead you were interrogating?" said Hermione sitting down on the bench beside him, she rested her head on the table and lifted the book cover that Ron was reading so she could see the title.

" yeah it was, and she's fine."

"good" said Hermione pulling the face that Ron hated so much.

" why ask if you don't want to know?" he asked pushing the book out of Hermione's hand.

Hermione looked at him hurt.

" I'm trying to make conversation Ronald, since we don't seam to be able to talk about anything but work."

"it's not my fault that things got weird Hermione" said Ron in a low tone, he was determined that he was not going to lose his temper, not this time.

" so it's mine then?"

Ron made no response.

" whatever I'm going to bed, night Ron."

That night the nightmares returned to Ron, but he didn't go to Hermione for comfort, he just lay awake and watched the shadows dancing across the walls.

Ginny appreciated Ron and Hermione coming to watch the first match of the season, they sat high up in the teachers section of the stands with Neville, who sat between the two acting as referee, neither of them had spoken to the other since the night before.

Ginny wished she could just smack the both of them with a bludger, the thought was soon taken out of her mind when they took to the air.

When the final whistle blew gryfindor had won by 160 to 20, hufflepuff were gracious in defeat.

Ron hugged his little sister.

" you put together a great team" said Ron as they walked around the grounds in the light that remained of the day.

"it's just building on your work last year" said Ginny.

"shame Harry couldn't get here" said Hermione.

"he had to work, I don't mind."

" it's not like Ginny hasn't seen him every weekend since we got back anyway" said Neville, he knew as soon as he said it, it was the wrong thing to say.

" thanks Neville"

" Harry's been here?" asked Ron.

" yeah he comes up to talk with Mcgonagal. He stops and has tea with me and Neville." said Ginny going a little red in the face.

" yeah right" said Ron .

"he never comes to see us" said Hermione looking a little hurt.

"we'll you have each other" said Neville grinning.

Ron and Hermione both looked at each other, then away.

" anyway …" side Luna changing the subject

" are you coming to this Halloween ball or what?"

Ron looked down at Hermione who was curled up like a cat on the sofa next to him , her head rested on a pillow propped up against his side, she had fallen asleep reading a book about stealth , it lay open on the floor where it had fallen from her grasp.

Her long wavy hair fell over the cushion and he had found himself playing absent minded with a strand of it as he read up for their concealment exam they were to take on Friday. He wrapped it around his fingers, felling it's softness against his skin.

They had come to silent resolve again and although their remained an awkwardness between them their was much less tension.

Hermione moved slightly on the sofa. Ron broke his gaze on his book aware for the first time that he had read the same line four times.

Hermione made a moaning noise.

"H?" said Ron looking down in to her face.

"mmh?" questioned Hermione half asleep.

" you want to go to bed?"

Hermione nodded half asleep and dragged herself up. Ron helped her, Hermione seemed to be taking the excessive work load pretty hard, something that surprised Ron a great deal, Hermione was so good with her school work.

Hermione leaned in to Ron as he lay her down on her bed.

"stay" she said softly looking up at him.

"I don't think that would be a good idea do you" he said softly pulling a blue blanket across her.

He knew he was going to hate himself for missing an opportunity like that, but he just couldn't do it , he didn't want to cross the line, he didn't want to lose the friendship bond that he and Hermione had.

As he lay on the sofa reading up on how to blend in ( not that easy with bright red hair) Ron found it difficult to concentrate, his mind focused in on Hermione and where they were in their relationship. It hurt to think about it to much, he resolved to throw himself in to his work.

Their was to much at stake for him to follow his heart.

"your working with us today Hermione" said Tonks smiling at her. She had been late for work this morning. Ron had never known Hermione be late for anything.

"where's Hydiki?" he asked Tonks .

"she's not well" said Tonk's offhandedly.

"that's the second time in two months" said Ron looking at Tonks, he was glad to have a reason not to look at Hermione .

Hermione made aloud tisking noise next to him as she sat down,

"honestly Ron" she said looking through the paper's on her desk.

" honestly Ron what?"

"you haven't figured it out yet?"

Ron knew that Hermione was only having a go at him to make herself feel better, he was willing to let her get on with it.

"figured out what?"

"have a look around the office and tell me who else is missing?" said Hermione not once looking up from her papers. Ron stared at the neck of her pink t-shirt ( she had started dressing more like a 19year old now) but grudgingly looked around the office. The only person other than Hydiki not accounted for was Lupin.

"Lupin but what has that got to do with…." Ron cut himself short as his mouth caught up with his brain.

"is Hydiki a werewolf?" he asked Tonks.

Tonk's nodded.

" that explains a lot, like why she likes Lupin so bad"

" you cant help who you find attractive" said Tonks. " isn't that right Hermione?"

"couldn't possibly comment" said Hermione looking at Tonks with a warning look in her eye.

Ron felt Hermione tensing in her chair, she knew he was looking at her. He felt awful he should have just told her how he felt about last night, things were going to get really weird, nothing he could do about it now though they were in it for the duration.

" right were going to go back to Gringots and examine the vault that they tried to break in to last night, hopefully we'll get who this is sooner rather than later , theirs only so many times your Charlie's stunning spells will work on thoughts dragons…" started Tonks as the three of them headed for the lift.

"you love it…" said Hermione grinning at Tonks as they got in to the lift.

" what having to go to Gringots every day?"

" no having to take Charlie with you …( she glanced over at Ron as she spoke) can't help what you find attractive right?"

"are you insinuating that I like Charlie?" said Tonks going almost a s red as her hair.

"do you deny it?"

" hell no." she laughed as they wandered out of the lift to collect Charlie.

"what is it with the women in this place" Ron muttered to himself as Charlie met them looking slightly confused at the fit of giggles that had erupted between Tonks and Hermione.

"what's up with them?" he said looking at Ron for help.

" there discussing the Weasley family charms, I don't get it either" he said sympathetically .

Flur smiled at them from behind the counter when they walked in to the entrance to Gringots.

Ron felt Hermione tense up beside him, why couldn't Hermione see that Ron found no interest in Flur at all?

"ermione" said flur smiling at her. "ow are you ?" Hermione forced herself to answer as Flur lead them towards the carts.

Soon Flur had struck up conversation with Ron , it was evedently to much for Hermione , who darted out of the room and out of the front doors.

" what ?" said Ron as the other three staired at him.

"you want to go after her?"

Ron shook his head.

" she'll be fine she just doesn't like the carts that's all" Ron lied, he knew they knew he was lying but he didn't care, Hermione was going to have to live with it. It wasn't nice being on the receiving end, he had to put up with it with her and vicky.

His brother shrugged. " up to you little bro" he said helping Tonks in to the cart.

Ron couldn't help but feel a horrible pang of guilt in his stomach though.

They found Hermione on the steps outside the bank , she had found time to compose herself and she greeted them half smiling.

"you ok?" asked Charlie placing a hand on her arm.

Ron had a overwhelming urge to knock it away, but he stopped himself , after all it was only Charlie.

"I just feel a little sick that's all is it ok if I take the afternoon of?" she asked Tonks.

" yeah whatever as long as you'll be ok for you're exam tomorrow."

Hermione nodded and headed towards the flat.

" I know " said Ron before either of them could have ago at him " but it's got nothing to do with either of you so don't start. "

"what did you do?"

" stopped her from making a big mistake" said Ron staring at the floor.

Charlie sighed.

"really?"

"I don't know anymore, but this isn't the place to discuss it ok." he said starting to walk back towards the leaky cauldron.

The other two walked behind him talking about the case.

"they wanted to put that sort of dragon at the gates of hog warts when Sirius was on the lose, could you imagine what Hagrid would have done with one of thoughts for a pet?" said Charlie.

" it's armless" said Tonks impersonating Hagrid.

They both laughed, Ron sighed, Hermione would have gone spare worrying about Hagrid.

"listen talking of Hogwarts, do you want to go to this ball on Saturday with me?" asked Tonks.

"yeah, that would be nice." said Charlie.