Hermione fiddles with the sleeve of her jacket. She was standing outside of the address that Ronan had given her. The place was huge. It was two stories and painted a light shade of blue. She clears her throat and knocks on the front door.
The door opens an a small house elf with bright green eyes greets. "Dobby is to show Ms. Granger into the parlor. Ronan said to wait there for him." He scurries back inside.
Hermione's eyes widen. Dobby? That was Harry's elf. Why did Ronan have him? She shrugs and follows the small elf into a very large, expensively decorated parlor. She sits down on one of the large leather chairs. "Dobby, how have you been?"
Dobby smiles. "Dobby has been fine. Ronan takes care of Dobby and Winky, Herminnie. He doesn't try to pay us like others have." He says disgustedly.
Hermione shakes her head. "Dobby, why are you and Winky serving the O'Reilly's and not James?"
Dobby looks down at his hands as large tears well up in his eyes. "Dobby and Winky only serve Ronan. James told Dobby that if anything happened to him I was stay with Ronan. And since James is no longer right in the mind...Dobby stays here."
Hermione don't know what to say. She had expected the story that Ronan told her last night to be some kind of made up trust. But here was Dobby confirming it. Dobby wouldn't lie. He cared for James to much. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." She tries to comfort the small creature.
"Dobby needs to go Herminnie. I have to help Winky with dinner and make sure that she stays out of trouble." With a pop he disappears.
Hermione looks around with sigh. She leans back in the chair. It was rather comfortable but looked very expensive. "What are you hiding Ronan O'Reilly?" She mumbles to herself.
Ronan stands in the doorway watching Hermione. A glass of brandy in his hand. He takes a sip of the amber liquid and moves silently into the room. "I can assure you that I am not hiding anything, Hermione. May I call you that?"
Hermione jumps slightly and places her hand over her heart. "You scared me. I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. And yes. You may call me Hermione. Ms. Granger makes me feel old." She smiles softly as she eyes him.
He was dressed in light blue robe which had the golden leprechaun on the pocket. It was open in the front to show off a pair of black pants and a white button up shirt. He also had very expensive dress shoes on. "Like anything you see?" He asks teasingly as he takes another sip of his drink. He holds his free hand out. "May I escort you to dinner?"Hermione blushes but takes his out stretched hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. Blue looks nice on you." Once their hands touch her face burns with blush.
Ronan smiles and leads her into a very large dinning room. It had a chandelier on the ceiling. He pulls out her chair for her. "I suspect that you've met Dobby. He is something, isn't he?" He then sits down right beside her.
Hermione sits down. "Thank you. Yes. I've met Dobby. I know him from when I was in school. Har...James saved him from a cruel master." She looks sadly down at her plate.
Ronan watches Hermione with interest. She seemed sad. "You cared for James. Didn't you? He mentioned you once..near the end. He told me that you called him immature. Is that true?" His voice his soft.
Hermione nods. "Yes. Him and Luke had just played a prank and I told him that it was very immature. I also told him that he was very selfish." She felt bad.
Ronan shakes his head. "No one understood James. He was going through so much. All he wanted was to be a normal boy. Is that so much to ask? Is asking not to have the weight of the world on you shoulders to much to ask? James was not liked in school. He was bitter and withdrawn. And yet no one ever tried to get close to him. He wasn't even worth their time." He says sadly.
Hermione looks down at the plate which was now full of steaming food. She blinks in surprise. "No one understood James. I guess that we were the ones being selfish. We didn't even notice that he used to be one of our best friends."
Ronan smiles sadly. "Yes. Harry Potter. He couldn't even escape his fate as another. He has the dark mark. I saw it with my own eyes. Everyone turned against him for it. But he payed greatly for it. That's one of the reason's that he is in such poor health. He killed Voldemort last year. No one knows how. He isn't one bit sane. I guess its one of the worlds mysteries. The mark had a direct connection with the dark lord. James somehow sent a very powerful bolt of magic through the bond. I hope the bastard suffered just as my cousin is." He looks angerly at his plate of food.
Hermione blinks. Ronan cared greatly for James. She would do him a favor and get off the subject. "What's it like being the Minister of Magic's only son?"
Ronan looks up from his plate. "It's very demanding but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Ever since mom's death last fall...dad is all I have. I'm afraid that I will be losing him soon. To stress."
Hermione lays a hand on his arm. "You said at the restaurant that your going to be the next Minister. How can that be? Don't the people get to elect whoever they wish?"
Ronan shakes his head. "The Ministry here is passed from father to son. Or father to daughter. If the Minister has no family then a new one will be elected. It hasn't happened in hundreds of years." He stands not feeling very hungry anymore. He walks over and lifts a plaque off the wall and walks back. "I took James's place at Salem Center. I graduated top of my class a month ago." He hands the plaque to Hermione so she can read it.
She takes the plaque which was surrounded in gold. It had a moving picture in the center of the degree. It was of Ronan and his father. She scans over the words. In the corner is a small seal and underneath it a couple words. "In Memory of James O'Reilly who saved the world even with all against him" She reads out loud. She can't help but smile. "We never knew of James's defeat of Voldemort. We just figured that he was laying low. Waiting to strike."
" He is gone. Everything was checked out. All death eaters of been captured and placed in several newly built wizarding prisons. They aren't getting out for a very long time." He takes the plaque back and hangs it back on the wall. He turns to face her. There was something on his mind. "I was wondering..."
Hermione blinks. "Don't wonder to far. You might get lost. What were you wondering, Ronan?" She has a smile on her face.
"In exactly one month my father is having a banquet to announce me as his successor. It's required that I bring a date and seeing how I'm currently single, it might be a problem. I was wondering if you would accompany me as my date?" A faint blush was creeping up his face.
Hermione is speechless. She had just met the man and he was inviting her to go on a date. She felt drawn to him. "I would love to accompany someone as handsome and charming as yourself to the banquet." She smiles
He grins. "Wonderful! Spectacular! You've made me the happiest guy around." His grin fades just a bit. "I will be out of town until the day before the banquet. The Spanish Ministry is requesting a meeting and my father is sending me to handle it all. I'm glad he has faith in me. He is the only one."
She frowns just a bit. She liked being around him. "I'm sure I can entertain myself until you return. And I am certain that you will do fine with the Spanish Minister. You're a charmer."
A faint blush graces his face. "Would you like some tea?" He looks to the table and notices that all the previous uneaten food had been cleared away. Two tea cups and a steaming tea pot were now in front of them.
She smirks. "I thought all you American's liked coffee over tea? I can't stand the stuff. Way to strong and bitter."
He shakes his head and pours her a cup, adding a bit of cream to it. "I love coffee. But tea is equally as good." He pushes the cup over to her and pours himself a cup, adding a little bit of cream and sugar. "Tea is relaxing. Coffee is more of a formal drink. I don't think we need to be formal. Do you?"
She picks the tea cup up and sips it. "No. I don't believe that we should formal. I would say that we are more closer to friends."
Ronan smiles. "Tell me about yourself Hermione. I don't get to meet a lot of people. Where do you work? What do you like to do? What schools have you attended?"
She chuckles. "Well...I attended Hogwarts for seven years where I graduated top of my class. I then attended a small magical school, for two years, in London where I majored in Charms. After that I was invited to be the new Charms Professor at Hogwarts since Professor Flitwick decided it was time for him to retire. So I've been teaching two years and I love it. And I love to read."
Ronan's smile fades just a bit. He couldn't stop the dull aching that once again was shooting through his chest. He had missed so much. "You like to read. Hmm. I may have something that will interest you." He stands and enters a room off to their right.
Hermione follows him. Her eyes widen once she enters the room. It was a large library with all sorts of books.
He smiles at her reaction and points to a display case in the center of the room. Inside was one of two original copies of Hogwarts: A History. It even had the golden signature of the original author.
Hermione places a hand over her mouth when she see's the book. "How did you get that? There are only two originals left in the entire world. It's a rare treasure."
He walks over to another shelf and pulls off a old looking book and hands it to her. "Here. If you like it so much. Have the second copy."
She stares at the book in her hands. It was an exact copy of the one in the case. It even had the signature. "Where did you find these? Many people have looked but have never come close to finding them."
He walks over to a scarlet colored arm chair and plops down. "My father was traveling last year and come across them in a small magical town outside of Ireland, Dubla. I believe was it's name. He, of course, bought them at a very reasonable price and brought them home to me. I collect rare and valuable books. I read then first then place them on the shelves of my personal Library. If anyone wishes to read them all they have to do is ask and I will let them."
She runs a slim finger over the very old book then rushes forward, sliding onto his lap and hugging him. "Thank you. It's the most thoughtful present that I've ever received." She places a kiss on his cheek then slides off his lap and into another chair.
He smiles but this time stops himself from blushing. "I figured that you would like it. Since you went to Hogwarts and all." He looks up at the magical clock on the wall. "Look at the time. It's almost midnight. I'll have one of my drivers drop you off wherever your staying." He stands and walks out of the room a moment then returns. "Whenever your ready."
She smiles and stands, holding the book to her chest. "I look forward to seeing you in a month, Ronan. And again thanks for the book." She exits the room, following the driver.
Once they are out of sight Ronan drops down into one the chairs again. He lets out a sigh and places his head in his hands. He remembers how bitter he was those four years ago. He had changed. He no longer let most of his emotions show. He hide them away from prying eyes until he had a chance to vent or cry out in anguish. He didn't know how to handle the many emotions that were bombarding his heart at this very moment. There was love, hatred, sadness, fear, longing and loneliness.
Dobby pokes his head into the room then scurries over to Ronan. "Can Dobby get Harry anything?" Dobby was allowed to use Ronan's real name as long as there was not one around to over hear him.
Ronan shakes his head. "No Dobby. I'm just tired. I should get to bed. Long day tomorrow and the rest of the month. Very long." He stands and stretches heading for the door.
Dobby watches him with knowing eyes. "Harry looks at Ms. Granger the way Dobby looks at Winky. But Harry Potter is sad." He shakes his head and scurries out before Ronan can reply.
Ronan shakes his head chuckling. Dobby was smarter than he let on. And sometimes it was bloody scary. He trudges up the stairs and into his overly large room, falling onto the bed fully clothed. He lets the sound of crickets lull him to sleep.