Chapter 2
It was still dark when Hermione's alarm went off. Same as every other morning, she pulled herself out of bed, begrudgingly got her t-shirt, athletic shorts, and her running shoes on. She grabbed a banana, her pre-packed bag of work clothes, and glanced at the clock (4:30am) before heading into the fireplace to Floo to the Ministry.
This was the best time to enter the Ministry, because there was no one there. Only a few magicked bins and brooms cleaning in the corridor. She took her normal route, the long way to the Auror gymnasium. It was available to all non-Aurors as long as it was not in use for training and she had been going there for the past five months in the early morning hours before anyone arrived. It also gave her an opportunity after her workout to do some light reading in her office before her day began.
Her footsteps echoed across the hallway as she made her way into the Auror wing and towards the locker rooms. She walked in, threw her bag into her regular locker on the left and magicked it locked. She quickly used the rubber band around her wrist to tie her hair back into a ponytail, and put on her headphones, selected her favorite playlist, and clipped her music player on the side of her shorts. It was like clockwork, and she knew if she completed her run by 6am, she would be leaving just as the early rising Aurors would be coming in for their morning workout and training class.
She never got tired of opening the doors to the expansive gymnasium. There were stairs up to the second level which was an endless track that circled the entire space. It was nearly half a mile to run one full circle around the track. From up there you could pass the rock climbing wall, the boxing ring, the magicked rowers, followed by the weights and weight lifting areas, and so much more. Whatever you could imagine to build up muscle, reflexes, and speed, you could do here. Even the track could be magicked into running anywhere you want.
Climbing the stairs, Hermione prepared herself for her 10-kilometer run through Hogwarts. The track would naturally mold itself so she could run the track but see and feel like she was running through the early morning light of the Hogwarts grounds. It was one of her favorite and least-favorite runs. It reminded her of the good-old days, but it also had the steepest hills.
Her music thrummed in her ears as she reached the top of the stairs. She bent over and stretched her legs, twisting and turning to get herself warmed up. Just as she was about to cast the spell to encase her in the Hogwarts illusion, something caught her eye. Down in the center of the room, there was someone on the rower. Hermione's eyes shot up in surprise.
In the past five months, not one person had come here this early, and that was the way she preferred it. Her body tensed as she squinted to get a better look. The wide-set shoulders pulled the oars back with an even pattern and she was surprised to see that the hair on top of this person's head was none other than a familiar Weasley red.
"Ron?" Hermione called down loudly.
Though it was a bit of a distance, and the splashing water did filter her voice a bit, she could tell the person slowed down and craned cautiously over his shoulder to see where the noise had come from.
"Up here!" She called again.
He put the oars down and magicked the water away from under the single person boat, pulling himself up in a standing position to look up at her.
She gave her trademark small wave and his face broke out into a brilliant smile. She felt her body warm.
"What are you doing here?" He called up to her.
"I'm going for a run. What are you doing here?" She called back down.
He made to say something, but thought better of it and jogged to the staircase. He climbed the stairs two at a time and jogged his way around to her side of the track.
She turned off her music. When he got close, they both stopped and stared. She could feel the silly grin on her face as they both looked one another over uninterrupted.
She could see his old Chudley Cannons t-shirt was damp with sweat and stuck to his stomach. The broad shoulders were even more pronounced up close. His jaw was set, but there was a colorful glint in his eye.
"Well, hello." He said slowly.
"Hi." She squeaked back.
And before either of them knew what was happening, like magnets, they had stepped naturally forward into one another's embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head into the crick, remembering that it fit perfectly there. He grabbed her tight around the waist and pulled her close, the tips of her running shoes lifting just off the ground.
They let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.
The feeling was something Hermione couldn't describe. It was like coming home. Like living in a desolate and cold wilderness for so long, then finding a nice cabin with hot chocolate and a warm blanket.
Hermione was surprised when Ron reflexively pulled back after another moment, separating them back into their original positions.
"S'rry, I'm all sweaty." He said waving down. "And now you are." He said wrinkling his nose apologetically.
"I was about to be anyway." Hermione smiled back, tilting her head just slightly.
"Right." Ron chuckled self-consciously, rubbing his hand down the back of his neck.
"What are you doing here, Ron?" Hermione smiled. "I would have expected you would be sleeping off your fifteen shots in bliss this early in the morning."
Ron was already shaking his head. "Something I learned while on assignment. Get the bartender to magic your shots into water. I'm not much of a partier these days."
"Hmm." Hermione nodded. "Very crafty."
Ron put his hands in his pockets. Not sure what to do next.
The silence between them filled with everything they knew they wanted to say to each other, but not yet having strength or energy to go into it.
"I was about to head off…" Hermione angled her nose in the direction of the track. Ron backed up a step, ready to leave her in peace. "I was going to run the Hogwarts grounds today." Ron paused for the briefest of moments. "Would you...like to join me?" She shifted just enough for Ron to notice she was unsure of his answer.
"Sounds great." He responded.
Without another word, they started off down the track.
"Currere Creditis Hogwarts" Hermione called pointing her wand on the track in front of them. Within seconds they ran through what looked like an image of Hogwarts in front of them. With her next step, she landed on a gravel path heading towards Hagrid's hut, Ron slowing his pace slightly to match hers.
Neither spoke a word. It was like taking a Time Turner back to a moment in time where they were both closer than ever.
After passing Hagrid's, they headed down toward the Great Lake. Hermione had run this route multiple times and knew the grounds by heart anyway.
"You left early last night." Ron started after a few minutes in.
"Yeah, I had an early start." Hermione said waving her hand towards them running. "Besides, it seemed like you had a lot of people to catch up with." She added.
"Yeah." He said quietly. After a moment he seemed to make a decision. "Would've been nice to see you though. I've...missed you."
Hermione glanced over at Ron who continued looking ahead. His features seemed to crease slightly, focusing.
"I've missed you too...I...I'm glad you're back safe." Hermione said quietly.
After passing by the Great Lake, they made their way around the grounds and through the bridge connecting the cliffs with the castle.
"You know, I still don't get what you are doing here." Ron said, shifting his tone and their conversation to pleasant sarcasm.
Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to keep her heaving breath from getting too loud. While she had been running for a while, it definitely wasn't natural to her.
"I tried running at my apartment in the mornings before work, but you know how Frank is." She tapered off.
Ron stopped in his tracks, then after a moment caught back up to Hermione. "Are you kidding me?" He guffawed.
Hermione ignored him.
"He is still at it? I thought we took care of this?"
"It's legal and he keeps his distance. Don't make it worse." She sighed.
Ron didn't respond. She knew he was debating whether to stay or leave the illusion to chase after Frank.
"He made your life a living hell." Ron complained.
"And I've dealt with it. Hence why my photos haven't been in the tabloids recently."
"Fine." Ron clipped his lips shut. Hermione knew they were both trying very hard not to bring old wounds to the surface so soon.
After another few minutes passing through different hallways of Hogwarts, soaking up the memories together, Ron continued.
"And running then? I've never seen you run a day in your life when Snatchers weren't chasing you."
Hermione glared over at him with a genuine smile. Even his sarcastic tone brought back fond memories.
"Helps with anxiety." She answered simply.
Ron nodded.
"Well, you must've been doing it for a while. We've gone a good way and you aren't even winded yet." Ron complimented.
Hermione's face warmed. "Well, I've been training about...six months or so."
They continued on in silence, Hermione hoping he wouldn't question further.
"Besides, enough about me." She scoffed. "What about you? How are you?"
"Good." Ron answered and started to pick up his pace a bit. Hermione grumbled a little and doubled her pace to catch up.
"Ron?" She offered. They may not have been the closest of friends for the past few years, but she knew when he was troubled.
"Good…" he started, "just...having trouble sleeping." He said. Hermione kept silent as they made their way out of the castle. She caught a small smile on his face as the Quidditch Pitch came into view.
"The...assignment...it was pretty rough." He added.
"Did something happen?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"Lots of things happened." He answered vaguely. Neither stopped running, but Hermione was starting to get out of breath. "I guess I just realized the value of how short life can be. How much I value having my family and friends safe."
"Yeah." Hermione offered quietly.
Ron looked over at her as if to say something, then quickly realized she was working hard to keep up with him.
"S'rry. I run when I'm anxious too." He slowed his pace to a slow jog.
"Not to worry. It gives me a bit of a challenge." She chuckled.
There was another silence. She knew they only had another five minutes before they rounded the last stretch of the run. For the first time in her life, she was upset that she was reaching the finish line.
"Well, it sounds like whatever you did...and sacrificed...you made a big difference for the safety of the Wizarding World." She tried to lay her hand on his arm, but it slid off.
"Except for one." Ron huffed. She could tell he was wearing down as well.
"One what?" Hermione asked curiously.
"One bad guy…a very bad guy got away." Hermione noticed him shake his head in frustration. He was taking this hard.
"You'll get him." She said confidently. She knew he would.
"Maybe. I've got no leads other than the fact that his family origin is in the Balkans." He complained as the Hogwarts illusion started to fade away.
Jogging to a stop on the track, Hermione stopped in front of Ron and held up her finger as an idea sprung to life in her mind's eye.
"I've got a good friend in the Balkans, Vanya, we met during my time with the Goblins. She's a potions genius and would be no help to you, but her dad is an executive in Balkan Wizard business dealings down there and has a lot of connections, both above and below board...not that I approve." She added.
"Of course you don't." He smiled gently.
I can give you her information and she might be able to get something from her dad." She pulled out a piece of parchment from her pocket and magicked Vanya's information on it.
"You bring parchment with you on your run?" Ron laughed.
"For this very reason." She chastised. She handed the parchment to him. "Before I change my mind."
"Thanks. I'll reach out to her today." He said, reading over the information.
"You're welcome." She said glancing over at the few individuals who had just entered the gymnasium.
Ron followed her gaze and they both recognized that their time together was coming to an end.
"So…" Ron started. "Do you workout every morning?"
"4:30am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday." She offered.
Ron nodded in a nonchalant manner.
"Well, I guess I will see you later." Hermione wasn't sure what to do next, so making a timely exit made the most sense, despite her body doing everything in its power to keep her firmly rooted in place.
"See you later." Ron said.
Hermione went in for a handshake, while Ron went in for a hug and suddenly they felt awkward, and tried to switch. Their natural rhythm was suddenly out of whack again.
"Okay, bye." Hermione squeaked as she backed away and headed for the stairs. Her face was a brilliant red as she shook it in embarrassment all the way down and into the women's locker room.
"You're such a wimp." Hermione muttered to herself as she unceremoniously plopped down on the bench and pulled her shoes off. Hoping she could wash away her embarrassing departure, she disrobed and climbed into the shower to prepare for another full day of work.
