A/N: Hello and welcome to my most recent Dramione fic! I've had this story in my head for a while and I'm glad it finally came together. This thing is both complete and edited so expect updates a couple times a week. I'd like to commit to specific days, but life has been a bit hectic as of late. I am a regular poster though so I promise to never leave you hanging more than a few days! Comments and feedback are welcomed!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or any of the fabulous things referenced by the world created by JK Rowling. I simply like to play with her wonderful creation.
I sat in my position outside a shady, abandoned warehouse on the very outskirts of Diagon Alley. My eyes drifted from the front door to the other two aurors, Sam McGrady and Becky Branson, who were stationed on the other side of the building.
Becky looked back at me and made a gesture. I shook my head and looked at my watch before holding up two fingers and then making a slicing motion across my neck. Then, I waited.
The two minutes passed by and the temptation to wait longer was strong. My partner was supposed to have arrived with me now more than thirty minutes ago and there was still no sign of him.
Temper flaring, I motioned for the other two aurors to abort the mission before heading back to the Ministry of Magic myself.
As I stomped through the halls toward my boss' office, I wouldn't have been surprised if others could actually see the tendrils of steam coming from me ears in anger. My now tamed curls were flying ferociously behind me. Without knocking, I threw the door open.
A man with disheveled black hair, green eyes and a lightning scar on his forehead jumped in surprise. "Hermione! What are you doing here? I thought your team was leading the raid on that warehouse looking for illegal goods?"
"I had every intention of leading McGrady and Branson on that raid. If only my partner," I said the word with clear distaste and bitterness. "Thought the mission was important enough to actually show up for."
Harry Potter stared at me, mouth agape, as I crossed my arms and dropped into the chair opposite him.
"Ron just didn't show up?"
"Of course he didn't show up! Harry, I know he is your friend, but I absolutely can't work with him anymore. You said there is no one else. If my only option is to work with Ron or to leave the department, I'll leave. I have plenty of other offers on the table."
I hated to give him an ultimatum, but I was at the end of my rope. Ron and I had tried desperately to make our relationship work and I thought we were doing pretty well. We began dating right after the final battle and stayed strong through our auror training and our placement as partners. For six years I thought things were going smoothly, but it was apparently all a façade. About a year ago, I came home late from work (after Ron had left early no less), and found Ron, pants around his ankles spilling his seed into a screaming blonde that I recognized as Melissa from evidence.
That moment was the biggest slap in the face I've ever had. My mind flashed with all the ways that Ron had wronged me and I had ignorantly ignored. The missed birthdays and anniversaries, cancelled dates, and general regard that I was there to pick up after him both at home and at the office was just the tip of the iceberg.
Our relationship was over in that moment and there was no going back. While time had helped heal the hurt he had caused and hindsight made me realize how awful we were together and unhappy I was with him, we still had a problem. I begged Harry for a new partner, but was repeatedly denied. He claimed that even as department head, he was bound by a set of rules. No partner, no job. And there just wasn't anyone else to pair me with.
I felt for the position Harry was in. His two best friends had just had their relationship implode and he was stuck trying to placate us both on a professional level.
As far as Ron was concerned, his performance was continuing to slip and this latest mishap wasn't surprising. In our jobs we are faced with dangerous situations on a daily basis. We are partnered up so that we always know someone has our back. Our partner should be a person we can trust with our life.
Harry grabbed handfuls of his hair as he tried to decide how to handle this. "I can't believe he just didn't show up. What has gotten into that man!"
I felt for my best friend and the awful position I had placed him in. No, scratch that. This was Ron's fault. I was simply the messenger. "Harry, I know it is ultimately your decision what happens with Ron, but this is me coming to you as one of your team with a concern. My professional opinion is that the behavior shown by Ron over the last several months has been worsening steadily. At this rate I no longer feel safe with him as my partner."
"You're right Hermione. I know you are. I just never imagined being in this position. We all joined the aurors to make a difference. We were supposed to be in this together just like we've always been, but now..." His voice trailed off.
"This isn't a fairytale, Harry. This is life and unfortunately it doesn't always go as planned. We have all changed a lot over the years and I think it's time we accept that Ron isn't the same person we grew up with. I don't know what's changed him over the years, but his heart isn't in it at all. I've tried my hardest to be professional and courteous while we are working together, you know that, but he just doesn't value the job anymore. That was made clear when he simply didn't show up today."
Before Harry answer, the door opened again and Ron sauntered in with a paper bag in his hand.
"Hey ya, Harry. Brought us some lunch." He finally looked up and noticed my presence. "Oi. What are you doing here?"
I glared at the oblivious man before me. "How nice of you to join us, Ronald. It would have been even nicer if you had joined the raid this morning like you were supposed to."
His face fell and I realized he truly just couldn't be bothered to remember such an important thing. "That was today? I thought it was next week."
I let out an exasperated huff, but Harry stepped in before I could remark.
"Hermione, can you give Ron and I a minute?"
"Of course. I'll be in my office." I took my leave and headed a few doors down to my own office.
The yelling from Ron started almost instantly and I poked my head out my door to see everyone staring in the direction of Harry's office.
"Nothing you lot need to hear. Back to work!" I said sternly before casting a muffliato charm to give Harry the privacy to do his job properly.
About fifteen minutes later, Harry was knocking at my door.
"Clearly whatever you had to say went over well."
Harry closed the door behind him and sat down heavily. "This has got to be one of the worst days I've ever had on the job. Firing your best friend feels awful, even when it's the right thing to do. His head just isn't in the game and I can't put the rest of my team at risk."
My pulse raced. After a year of hell, I would no longer be forced to work with my ex-boyfriend. However, I had no idea what that meant for me.
"Shall I go brush up on my resume skills, or did you find someone to partner me with?"
I knew this wasn't easy for Harry and the way he ran his hand down the front of his face made me want to hug him, but the planner side of me needed to know what happens next.
"Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of options. I can't send you out in the field without a partner. Period. My only option is to assign you desk duty if we can't work something out."
I had known Harry for well over a decade. It was clear to me that he had a solution and it was likely one that I wasn't going to like. "Spit it out, Potter."
"I received a transfer request this morning. I was just about to sign the denial when you walked in."
"Harry! Why would you do that? You know how unhappy I've been. If there's an option of anyone else, why would you turn it away?"
"This isn't easy Hermione!" He got up and began to pace. "I know Ron was a crap partner, but I didn't think this would be a much better choice. Now, after everything that's gone on today, I'm beginning to think it would be better than what you've been through this last year. You don't deserve to lose your job on top of everything else Ron has taken from you, so I'll let you decide. The transfer request was made by Draco Malfoy."