The Can't-Live-Without-Each-Other Kind of Love

By Sara Lynn

Chapter 2: Bosses, Assistants, Secretaries, Work.

It had been a typical Monday for Ron and Hermione. Lenny, their assistant had made many mistakes and spilled lots of things. Fiona, the office's secretary had screamed at poor Lenny more than once, and batted her eyelashes at their boss Christopher. And Christopher, had given Ron and Hermione a new task. Supposedly there was an evil suspect at the hospital Harry was staying. His behavior was rash and the doctors feel it is more than a reaction to life events. A thousand different emotions and feelings settled on the pair's shoulders when they found out that there was a huge chance they would be seeing their best friend again. They would be leaving in one week but felt they needed a year to prepare. Ron did a lot of pacing that day, but Hermione tried to keep her head sewed on. She discussed the details with Christopher in the office she shared with Ron. Ron made sure they kept the door open because Christopher had a reputation of being too friendly with the younger ladies. Once Hermione and Christopher set the specifics, Hermione set out to find Ron. She found him where she knew she would. In an old, un-used bathroom much like Moaning Myrtle's home at Hogwarts. He was sitting down against one of the walls, with his arms on his knees and his hands clasped together tightly, his head resting on them.

"Ron, what's the matter!" Hermione said, alarmed at his state. She ran over to him and knelt down beside him. She gently put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not going to be able to do this, Mione." He said quietly.

"I can't see Harry in that place, I just can't."

"Oh Ron." Hermione sighed. She didn't know what to say, she felt the exact same way Ron did. She didn't know how exactly Harry would be, but she was very worried.

"I just thought that the next time we would see our best friend would be a happy time. A reunion. But no, we are going to make sure he doesn't nearly get killed again. I can protect people Hermione, but I feel like I can't possibly do that for someone who has spent most of his life protecting me." Hermione knew words wouldn't help him right now, all he needed was comfort. He would be strong enough to go solve this case once he knew that she would be there for him as always.

"Ron, look at me." Ron lifted his head and looked right into her big, brown eyes. He dropped down his legs so they were straight on the floor giving Hermione the perfect opportunity to hug him. She rubbed his cheek with the back of her hand, whispering that everything was going to be okay, and then she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close to her.

They had a quiet evening that night. Hermione prepared them sandwiches and soup. Ron ate heartedly, which was a good sign. They were playing a silent game of wizard's chess when their buzzer rang.

"I'll go see who it is." Hermione said. She went to their door and pressed the talk button.

"Who is it?" She called.

"Hey, it's Ginny." Ginny replied from downstairs.

"Ohh yay, come on up." She looked over at Ron who had a smile on his face. He was always happy to see his little sister. Hermione silently blessed Ginny for choosing to visit on such a night. Ginny opened the door which Hermione had un-locked.

"Hi." She said brightly.

"Hey love!." Hermione said, running to greet her friend with a hug. "Ron and I just finished a game of chess, you came at the perfect time.

"Hello Gin." Ron called from the kitchen. Ginny and Hermione went to join him.

"Oh God, what's wrong?" Ginny could always tell when Ron was down, even when he was trying to hide it. It was a gift only she, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione had. When she could tell that Ron wasn't going to answer, Hermione did it for him.

"Well…" Hermione said, seating back down at the table and motioning for Ginny to do so as well.

"We got a new case today. In the states. At the hospital Harry's at." Ginny blinked. Harry and Ginny were not on good terms. He told he loved her because he "had to" supposedly the mirror of Erised told him Ginny was the one for him. Ginny was too heart-broken to realize he only acted like an arse because of the events going on at that time.

"I see. Make sure to give the bloke a good slapping while you're there." Ginny said bitterly.

"Damn it Ginny, I am so sick of this. You KNOW Harry was not in a right state of mind when he said those things to you. He loves you so much and I know he wants to come to you. But Hermione and I, we don't want to see him all depressed or hurting. That is the WORST thing you could ever see. Someone hurting like that. We have all been through tough times Gin, but Harry's had a load of it." Ron said this with the most pained look on his face that Hermione had ever seen. Even through all the grieving post war. She reached out and placed her small hand on top of his and left it there.

"Jesus, Ron. You're acting like Harry's dying or something. I mean I know Harry's considered good and that only the good die young, but he's not dying. "

"Harry's old. The amount of turbulences he has gone through is enough to make him a freaking fifty year old " Ron said with concern. Although the conversation was somewhat heated, and Ron had a good amount of anger towards his sister, he couldn't help but enjoy the fact that Hermione's hand was on top of his.

"Well I can assure you, he is most definitely NOT going to die any time soon." Ginny shot back stubbornly.

"Okay, okay. You two are both so stubborn that this is not going to end if I don't butt in." Hermione said.

"Now, we all have unfinished business with Harry but we must respect him none the less. All the other shit will be settled when he is well again. Ginny, what you have to understand is that Ron and I don't want to see our best friend like this. Ron, what you have to understand is that your sister is heart broken." Hermione's eyes darted between the two Weasleys to see their reactions. A tight grin spread on his face and he nodded, he knew she was right as always. Ginny heaved a great sigh and nodded too.

"Good." Hermione said with satisfaction. She took her hand off of Ron's.

"I actually came here to tonight for your guys' advice." Ginny said, leaning back in her chair.

"What's up?" Ron asked.

"I'm not happy anymore, and they don't need me at home anymore. I can just tell. And I don't think my future is very promising if I am to stay a waitress in Diagon Ally any longer. "

"Of course you're not, you can do so much better. That was only temporary." Hermione said comfortingly.

"Yeah I know that but what I don't know is what I DO want to do with my life. I haven't the slightest idea." The truth is, Ron and Hermione didn't have any idea of what a good job for Ginny would be either. She wasn't strong enough emotionally to be an auror or to deal with sick people at St. Mungo's or to go back to Hogwarts to teach (she missed it too much). Suddenly Hermione came up with a good idea.

"I know what you should do! In downtown London there's a sort of finishing school for young wizards and witches and it specializes in helping them figure out what to do with their lives. Lots of Hogwarts graduates are there." She said.

"Really? That sounds very promising. But how come I haven't heard of it?" Ginny asked.

"Well I only read of it but it's somewhat secretive. I know they'd accept you though."

"A book, what else." Ron said with a snort. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.

"See, this is why I came to you two. I knew Hermione would have the answer, and I knew that my dear brother would throw in a half-hearted comedic routine." Ginny said with a grin.

"And of course, there always has to be a bit of bickering as well. I'm just surprised that it wasn't you two who were bickering."

"Hey! I wasn't trying to be funny, the girl just reads a lot. I can do much better than that book comment." Ron said, defending the stand up comedian in him. Ginny shook her lead chuckling. She slid her chair back and stood up.

"I'll either write or visit, to let you know what direction my life is going in. Thanks a bunch. I love you both." And with that, Ginny aparated into thin air.

Hermione wiped her forehead and let out a "whew". Ron laughed, he felt the exact same way that his friend did- his little sister was one large piece of work. Hermione shut her eyes for a moment

"Tired?" Ron asked.

"Very."

"Go to bed, you've done your share of being kind and caring as always, along with some hard work at work. Its time for you to REST."

"Thanks, Ron. I do think I'll be hitting the hay now."

"Night Mione." Hermione smiled and started heading for her room.

"Oh, and Mione?" Ron called before she was out of the kitchen.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." He didn't mean it like that. And Hermione knew that, but she loved hearing it from him.

"I love you too Ronald." And with that, she went to bed.

AN- I feel like that chapter sucked. Sorry if you feel the same way.