Chapter 3

After their Friday morning run, Ron was on cloud nine. He could feel his body humming. The lack of sleep didn't phase him and he was more upbeat than he had been in months. The elation took him all the way through the weekend and morphed into anticipation as he thought about Monday morning.

There were many excuses he could have come up with to see her again, but he didn't want to try too hard, or get his hopes up. So, he waited patiently for Monday to arrive and found himself up and out of his flat by four in the morning.

"Hi Ron." He hadn't intended to be on the rowers again, but she was early too. He pulled himself up, gave her a sly smile, and held out his hand as if to shake hers.

She swatted it away and gave him a sharp, but joking look. "Quit teasing."

Ron grabbed her arm and pulled her into another hug. She didn't shy away. It was as if they had both been waiting for it. He leaned his cheek against her bushy mane and the smell of lavender and parchment filled him up.

Finally after another moment, Hermione stepped back. "How about the beach today, by Shell Cottage?" Hermione posed. "I assume you are coming?"

Ron tried to keep himself from looking too eager, and just nodded.

The run ended faster than the first, and both had spent the majority of the time looking out over the water and sending surreptitious looks in each other's direction. They had departed with another hug and the disappointing news that Hermione wouldn't be in the gymnasium on Wednesday or Friday due to an Elvish dignitary being in town.

Ron inwardly laughed at the excitement in her eyes. No one loved their work more than she did.


"Potter, Ringold" Director Spivey called. "You get the Knockturn Alley theft." He slid the manila folder down the conference table towards Ringold. Ron didn't need to see Harry's face to know that Ringold and Knockturn Alley were not his favorite.

"Lancaster and Avery…" Spivey continued to call out assignments to the group. Ron wasn't mentioned as it was apparent he would be knee-deep in paperwork for the foreseeable future. Every apprehended smuggler, every interaction, every strategic decision needed to be recorded. Every important memory that would lead to the trial of each of the smugglers he took down would need to be verified and reviewed with a fine tooth comb.

The next few days went by at a snail's pace and Ron's stack of parchment only grew. Every so often he would distract himself chatting with colleagues, or stopping by the food court for a snack. The next day was no different, but he was surprised to find a familiar face wandering into the department shortly after lunch.

He watched as she peered around the Tetris-like formation of Auror desks, covered in maps, parchment, chalkboards with levitating chalk, and radios. He could see the slight scrunch of her nose and knew that it took every ounce of energy for her not to want to tidy the place up.

"Hermione." Ron called over. Her eyes flitted around the department just a moment longer when she turned her head and walked over.

Ron stood slightly, but Hermione landed with a thud in the chair next to his desk. The level of frizz in her hair often gave away the level of stress she was under. Today seemed to be no different.

"You look like you could use a break." Ron said leaning back in his creaking chair.

"No time...Head Elf Engelgrew." Was all she could get out before she slumped her head on his table. He patted it and chuckled.

She lifted up slightly to look at him "You don't happen to have a snack in your desk drawer by any chance?" Her hopeful eyes burned into him.

"That would be against Ministry Office & Maintenance Guidelines, Ms. Granger."

Hermione rolled her eyes and held out her hand. "I know you...and I missed lunch."

Without looking down he opened his top drawer and pulled out his mid-afternoon snack, a bar of chocolate.

"Bless you." She said as she ripped it open and bit in. He watched her eyes roll back and close, a sigh of relief escaping her.

"Now, how can I help?" Ron asked, hoping to find another excuse to avoid his paperwork.

Hermione bit off another bite. "I wish you could. But there is someone…"

Hermione glanced around the room as a tall athletic blonde exited from the restroom.

"Him." Hermione pointed. "Jeremy!" She called across the room.

Jeremy looked over in pleasant surprise. Ron's shoulders dropped.

"You need Jeremy?" Ron asked sarcastically.

Before Hermione had the chance to respond, Jeremy was slinking his way through the maze of desks.

"It's good to see you again, Hermione."

"I'm so glad you're here." Hermione breathed, standing up and resting her hand on his shoulder. "I could use your help."

Ron could see Jeremy's posture raise confidently.

"Do you have time to go through the Auror apprehension procedures with me again? Specifically related to the items we drafted a few months ago around handling Elves from traditional households?"

"Sure." Jeremy exclaimed. "Did we miss something?"

"Yes, about a million things according to Head Elf Engelgrew. I really want us to check everything off the list before she leaves." Hermione breathed.

Ron watched the exchange with disgust. They were two perfect peas in a pod. Ron imagined if Jeremy had been just a few years younger, he would have been a SPEW co-founder. Ron couldn't even find fault in him. He was a genuinely good guy.

"Looks like another late night then." Jeremy said far too pleasantly for Ron's comfort.

"Probably." Hermione answered. "I'll order the Chinese this time. I think it's my turn." She said appreciatively.

Ron clutched the quill on his desk and began refocusing on his paperwork. Anything to avoid the putrid display in front of him.

"I'll see you tonight." Hermione said as she backed towards the exit.

Jeremy nodded.

Hermione held up the half eaten chocolate. "Ron, thank you for this. You're a lifesaver." He felt her warm gaze on him, but he waved her off.

Even after she left, Jeremy still hadn't left his desk. Ron sneered at the thought that he might look like that when she was near him.

"It's like the universe is telling me to go for it." Jeremy said more to himself then to Ron.

Ron ignored him and spent the rest of his day completing his paperwork, and going through a few broken quills in the process.


"I swear Hermione, if you don't stand still." Ginny snapped.

"Well, maybe if your wand didn't treat me like a pin cushion." Hermione retorted, shifting to avoid Ginny's adjustments to her makeshift bridesmaids dress.

"That's because you keep moving!" Ginny threw up her hands and walked around to the other side of Hermione.

They had been at it for the last half-hour and Hermione was getting restless.

"So…" Ginny's eyes rose to meet Hermione's. Hermione looked down at her crouching friend as she silently tried to avoid the next pin taking in her sheer teal bridesmaids dress. "How's it going?"

"Fine. Work is busy, but I think I might be on top of it for once." Hermione was about to start rambling, but was cut short.

"Ouch!" Hermione shifted.

"I meant, how is it going with Ron...now that he is back. Have you seen him?"

Hermione pretended to look busy picking at her cuticles.

"A bit." Hermione responded lightly.

"And?" Ginny pushed.

"And what? We're friends."

Ginny stood back up and shifted Hermione so she was standing in front of her waving her wand towards Hermione's chest.

"Did you say you wanted a halter?" Ginny asked.

"No, just across to one shoulder." Ginny nodded and flicked her wand. The weightless fabric lifted through the air and began sliding across her left shoulder and down her back.

"I don't know why you both can't just admit that you were both jealous arseholes and remember how much you mean to one another. Don't you want to give it another chance?"

Hermione didn't respond. The summer after the war had been hectic. They had finally shared their feelings and spent every free moment together. In between the pain and the funerals, they had been exactly what each other had needed. It was perfect, and Hermione was sure they were meant to last. Of course, that all changed when it was time for Hermione to return to Hogwarts and Ron and Harry to leave for training.

Ginny hummed along as she continued to evaluate, unpin and re-pin Hermione's dress to her liking.

Hermione's mind had returned to that horrendous year. It started out just as any year had, except for the blatant gap that was Harry and Ron. She had Ginny and Luna there, and had made friends quickly. Even some of her previous year had returned, but many had not. She wrote to Ron and Harry nearly every day, hoping it would keep up the closeness they had, but both were engulfed in their training. After a while, her letters slowed, and Ron's when he was able to write did as well.

Fortunately for Ron and Harry, they were hidden away from the spotlight after the war. They had two years of covert training and fewer tabloids chasing after them. Hermione on the other hand couldn't go to Hogsmeade without ending up on the front of the newspaper. Frank Donello was the worst paparazzi of all. He was relentless. At first she tried to be polite, but he never let up. He always had to get his story, the one that readers hadn't heard about yet. He was a more devious Rita Skeeter and that was saying something. He spent his days finding ways to knock Hermione off the golden pedestal. Tabloids were notoriously harsh on witches, questioning everything they did and the way they looked. For a while, he would even post romantic happenings between her and fellow classmate, Cameron Freeland. Once that made it in the paper, tensions started to rise with Ron. He would question what she was doing and who she was with. Their long distance relationship had barely made it a year and their bickering had gone long distance, with Hermione finding ways to pick and criticize at every opportunity. Towards the end of the year, Ron and Harry had taken special leave to see Hermione and Ginny at their graduation ceremony. It was supposed to be a momentous day where they finally could be together again. Instead, it turned into a horrid row that they never quite recovered from.

Jealousy, it always seemed to get between them. Hermione's response was to hide from the tabloids, make herself invisible. She hated being famous, and hated the attention. Ron on the other hand used the newfound fame to grow his confidence and stand out in Auror training. He always had it in him, but it just shone through so bright after the war.

They decided to end things by letter, and the letters were polite, emphasizing the need to remain friends for Harry's sake, but things were never the same after that.

They continued to write every so often, but it somehow lacked the depth and honesty that they had once shared. It no longer felt like she was writing to Ron. The connection was gone.

Soon after, she accepted a position working for Firenze, and then received the grant to go do six-month live-in research stints with the Centaurs, Elves, Werewolves and Goblins. Two years of being away from the limelight. Just what she needed. And it was amazing, terrifying (especially at the Werewolf Commune), and she learned and grew so much during that time.

Of course, by then Ron had moved on - well, at least from what she had seen in the newspaper. He never mentioned his relationship with Avery in his letters, but they had been quite close according to the papers. He had even brought her home for Christmas one year to spend it with his family. Seeing the way he looked at her, the repeating loop of him looking at her then slowly drawing in for a kiss nearly broke her. That was when she knew it was over. That was when she decided it was time to let go. That maybe they weren't meant to be together after all. Perhaps Ron had found his perfect partner.

"You're done!" Ginny clapped looking at her handiwork.

Hermione walked over to the mirror and gave herself a look. Ginny was talented.

"Now undress and don't rip anything." Ginny ordered.

"Yes, mum." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"And don't forget…" Ginny started.

"I know, Hen Party next Friday night. Don't be late."

Ginny smiled. "That's right. And wear something naughty. I don't want Hermione 'the work-aholic' with me on my last big night of fun and freedom."

"Not sure I have anything...naughty." Hermione said skeptically.

"Well, then I'll find you something before you head home." Ginny squared, climbing the stairs.

Ginny's departure gave Hermione another moment to think. Maybe she could try again with Ron. They seemed to be getting on better. Maybe it was time for her to be courageous. Maybe she should try again?

After another moment Ginny returned with a pile of clothes.

"You'll find something in here." Ginny deposited the pile into Hermione's arms who looked unsure.

"Now go! I've got stuff to do."

"See you next Friday, Gin." Hermione smiled.

Ginny tilted her head and smiled back, and Hermione apparated back to her flat.

Hermione ignored the pile of 'naughty' clothes Ginny had given her all Saturday, opting to leave them in a heaping pile on her nearby lounge chair. Instead, she immersed herself in her favorite muggle romance novel, choosing escapist bliss rather than thinking about how she would tell Ron about how she felt.


Sunday morning was bright and beautiful, and just as Hermione opened her flat door to walk to the neighborhood market, she stopped.

Sitting perfectly centered on her doormat were a bouquet of flowers in a slender glass vase. Hermione caught her breath. She bent over and picked them up. A dozen Calla Lilies, her favorite, and the exact flowers Ron had given her before he left for training.

No longer interested in going out, she grabbed the vase and brought it inside.

Pulling the note out from it's clip on the side, Hermione held her breath as she read it.

"I've missed you. It's time."