Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling

Playing House

Chapter 3: The Promise

It was getting dark when Ron left the Daily Prophet's building.

That was a bad idea; he scolded himself as he started to wander in the occupied street. He knew it from the beginning in fact. He knew Hermione wouldn't agree the plan however he couldn't get that why he was so upset at her reaction.

It wasn't the first time he was asking for her help, if truth be told. Whenever he had trouble she was the first person he went for aid. She had always helped him willingly in every circumstance. But this time, why had she declined? Then he bitterly realised. He couldn't even get a proper job without her help. Damn it!

Cursing under his breath, he speeded up his steps, ignoring the big wet drops hitting him on the face; he headed to the pub he used to stopover from time to time, not very far from the building.

After a fifteen minutes walk, he entered the pub, which positioned under a muggle shop at the very end of the street, with a sign that wrote 'ruin'. The pub was small and low, covered with a strange mist, giving the time of the day, it was empty.

He headed straight to the bar and sat on the high chair. Hurriedly, he called out the bartender who stood behind the bar. The man who was drying the glasses with a napkin looked up and blinked slightly, as if he was surprised to see Ron. Ron glared at him; he wasn't the bartender who had always served him. This man looked weird, Ron thought mentally but he dismissed his curiousity quickly.

"A firewhiskey," he demanded. "Double, please!"

Bartender who looked tall and dark narrowed his eyes mysteriously then started pouring down the whisky; in the meantime he stared at Ron intently, wearing an inquisitive expression.

Ron was too distracted to notice strange looks of the bartender giving him; at the moment he was still thinking about Hermione's cross manner. As he swallowed his first gulp of his drink, he swore that he would not ever beg Hermione.

The hours passed in there, drinking and thinking. When he noticed the pub getting crowded, Ron grabbed his jacket and got out of the pub, feeling deafetad and completely insecure about the situation in front of him. He desperately wanted to be disappeared.

It was very late in the night, when he finally reached his flat. His eyes caught his reflection in the mirror. His state was pathetic. It was a miracle to be able to stay wide-awake after six glass of firewhisky tough his body was used to it. He decided that he needed a shower. He tossed his jacket on the floor and made his way straight to the bathroom.

As he started to unbutton his shirt on the way of bathroom, unexpectedly he heard a thud coming out of nowhere. He frowned and grabbed his wand quickly thinking it must be a danger. But when he heard an acquaintance voice calling his name he hurried back to the living room.

"Hermione," he was stunned to see her in the middle of the night. She was standing in the fireplace, wearing a green housecoat, and looking sleepy. He blinked his eyes to believe that it wasn't a hallucination.

"Hello Ron," she greeted him nervously as she stepped out of the fireplace. "I was waiting for you to come home," she explained before her eyes spotted his unbuttoned shirt. Ron rebuttoned it at once. They both blushed slightly.

"Hello, Hermione," he greeted back, quickly recovering from the shock.

"I- I wanted to talk you about something!" Hermione blurted out.

"Don't worry, Hermione," Ron said dejectedly with a sigh, as he presumed she was talking about the plan. "I gave up," he declared. He had no desire to listen another speech from her.

"What? No! I mean why?" Hermione stuttered as she started to pace in the small room, nervously.

"I agreed that was a bad idea. And you were right about it. You always right, Aren't you?" Ron snickered as he popped himself on the coush.

"Are you drunk?" asked Hermione out of the blue, frowning.

"Yeah, a bit," answered Ron, with a shrug. "Wouldn't you drink if you were me, I've just missed the chance to be happy in my work!" he said, with a touch of sadness behind his words.

"Don't be silly, Ron!" Hermione scowled. "Alcohol is not a-"

"Hermione," snapped Ron raising his voice suddenly. Hermione seemed to be taken aback. "I have enough from you today," he said narrowing his eyes.

"But Ron," Hermione said sweetly thinking she had broken his heart. "I've rethought about it and-" she paused for a minute. She started to tidy the room absent-mindedly, picking up the jacket from the floor.

"What about my job? You know I am really bussy," she asked anxiously, without making an eye contact at all. Ron rolled his eyes at these words.

"Why would your job be effected?" he asked matter of factly. However, he felt a hope rise in his heart in the meantime.

"I don't know," Hermione shrugged.

"Do you want coffee?" he asked abruptly, sensing what was coming. He knew that was just a beginning of her endless questions. Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Don't they already know that if you're married or not?" Ron heard she was asking him, as he made his way to the kitchen. He knew she was going to ask this. He knew her too well. He smiled to himself before answering.

"Well, Aurors have the right to keep their private life in secret. It's an option, don't you know?" he exclaimed from the kitchen. When he turned back to the room he saw Hermione seemed impressed.

"What if people find out?" asked Hermione after a moment, before she sipped her hot coffee. "I mean, how on earth we're going to explain this? Are we going to say; oh no we're just pretending, we're misleading the Ministry?" she asked with a worried expression on her face.

"Of course not!" Ron assured her as he settled back to the couch, his mug in his hand. "How could they find out? We won't say anybody, just Harry and Ginny maybe. People can't find out. We'll be at work whole day. And if someone see you here we can tell you're just visiting!"

"Don't you ever visit me?" he asked in a completely different voice, giving her a hurt expression.

"Okay but," she shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"You always stay at Harry's, why not in my house?" Ron reminded her as he realised the fact that she had never passed the night in his house.

He saw Hermione blushed. "That's not the point," she commented, staring into her mug.

"Well," she muttered. Ron tried to stay patient.

"How is the president going to be convinced that you're married?" she asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"Well," Ron started feeling relieved, "Kingsley told us that the President would be visiting each of us, but he said he didn't know when." He explained patiently.

"But Ron, it could be the next month."

Ron shook his head. "No it couldn't. Today Kingsley told me that I would be the first. They would start searching from me!" he clarified.

Hermione lapsed into silence and toyed with her mug. Ron knew she was thinking hard to find any other problems. But he was tranquil because he had answers.

Seeing that she was still unconvinced, Ron continued his explanation. "It can't be that long Hermione, just a week or two. Once the president visited us, you can leave for your house." He spoke carefully, choosing his words. He prayed it sounded resonable to her.

"Okay, then," Hermione said after a moment with a smile on her face. " I Hermione Granger promise you to pretend to be your wife," she said playfully. She was apparently satisfied.

Ron supressed the urge to scream, instead he grinned wildly. "Thank you, Hermione. You know how appreaciate this!"

"I am just doing this because I really know what does this job mean to you, Ron. I know you hate your current job," she said with a warning tone.

"Yes," Ron approved. "You know the guy, Scott who always bullied me at work. He is so sure of himself. Just because he is married, he thinks he will get the job. He makes me crazy." He complained her, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, yeah I know that guy, her wife works in our building as a reporter. I can't say I adore her, either."

They laughed.

"Okay, I have better get going then," exclaimed Hermione after an awkward silence. "I have an important meeting tomorrow."

Ron felt crestfallen. It was nice to sit with her in the middle of the night, just two of them.She had beenvery busy for the last month; she hadn't visited him at home for a long time. However he nodded in agreement for fear that she could back out of it.

"Do I have to move in?" asked Hermione out of the blue giving him a look over the shoulder as she led her way into the fireplace. Ron grinned behind her back. It sounded too good to be true.

"Oh, that would be better," he answered trying not to let his joy show in his voice. "You know, we never know when the president would show up," he explained quickly. That wasn't a lie; he wouldn't want to risk it.

"We need a good plan," Hermione stated excitedly as she stepped inside the fireplace. "All we need to do to convice the president then."

Ron smiled at her reaction, how she considered that important. Here it was his Hermione. He scowled himself. His Hermione what was he thinking?

"Don't exaggerate Hermione, have fun," he said grinning as she grabbed some floo powder. "We will be playing house!" he exclaimed cheerfully before Hermione disappeared with a worried look on her face.

AN: That was a bit short. But I had to cut it at this point. Next chapter is on the way. All I need is MORE reviews! (but no flame!) :)