I hope you guys get to read this chapter and enjoy it. I wish would sort out the chapter issue. I miss hearing from you guys! If this does work, I cross-post on Archive of Our Own - just in case there are any difficulties reading this chapter here. xxx
Ron and Harry face the wrath of Head Auror Robard.
Ron got his wish and spent the rest of the evening lounging around Primrose Cottage with Hermione. It passed quickly and despite his best attempts to delay the inevitable, the working day soon came around. At 9 o'clock on the dot, Ron and Harry found themselves stood outside Robard's office.
Harry turned his head and grimaced at Ron. "Just remember what Perch said yesterday. Smile and take it and learn." Harry suddenly developed a thick North Yorkshire accent. "And get your bloody paperwork done…"
Ron laughed and lifted his hand, knocking twice on the door. His nerve started to fade with every second the Head Auror made them wait and it felt like a whole lifetime had passed before they heard the short command for them to enter the office. He gulped hard and slowly pushed open the door, letting Harry enter before him.
Robards lifted his head from the file he was reading. He raised his eyebrows as he watched the two trainee Aurors enter his office. They both looked terrified and for a moment he wondered if this was the same duo that had successfully led the Battle of Hogwarts and defeated Lord Voldemort. The door shut, but the two wizards floated nearby.
"Take a seat, will you…" He watched as the two of them nervously shuffled between the visitor seats. They really were wound tight. Eventually, they decided who was going to sit where and the Potter boy immediately started fiddling with the edge of his robes as soon as his backside made contact with the wooden chair. Robards fought back the urge to laugh – he really could have fun with this pair.
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were top of all their classes. They were studious, good at developing mission plans and performed well in all their physical exams. He knew they were going to make good Aurors once they passed the academy and he was looking forward to seeing their careers progress.
He took a sip of his cup of tea then started his tirade. Although he knew the two trainees weren't really to blame with how the house-elf mission had gone – they were under the supervision of Senior Auror Perch – he still needed them to be aware of the mistakes they had made.
His speech lasted over 15 minutes and he relished every minute of it. Around the halfway point, he got up and started pacing the small space behind his desk, just to emphasise his frustrations. It was a favourite habit of his and he'd already had the carpet replaced twice before and the current one was starting to look a little threadbare.
"Ultimately, the three of you forgot one of the first rules we teach you when you join the Auror Academy and because of your idiocy, my best Senior Auror has a missing leg. You could have put those house-elves lives at risk; you could have put Miss Granger's life at risk. What's the rule you forgot?!"
He glared at the trainees, willing one of them to be brave enough to speak up. They glanced at each other nervously; an unspoken message being shared. Their close bond was what made them such a good team. They seemed to always know what the other was thinking. Eventually, it was Potter that spoke up.
"We should always check the environment. Check once, check twice, check again. Don't walk into a situation blind…"
"Exactly!" Robards thumped his fist down on his desk to emphasise his point, biting back a grin as they both jumped a mile. "When you get down to the training centre, you're to remind yourselves of the basic principles of being an Auror. Smithson will be testing you after lunch. But don't think that's your only punishment – Miss Granger will not be allowed out on any more of your missions. Don't even think about asking me! If her department needs an Auror presence on official ministry duties, I will arrange for someone to accompany her. In fact, if I even see her in the department; I will punish the two of you severely. Do I make myself clear?" He waited for both of them to nod, which they did eagerly. He used the pause in his warning to take his seat at his desk again. "I want your paperwork on my desk by the end of next week and I don't want to see your faces for the rest of the day. Now go before I withdraw other privileges!"
Robards watched the trainee Aurors leave his office, pleased with the impression he made on them. He knew this wouldn't be the last time he'd have to have stern words with them. They had been recommended for the Auror Training Academy by Minerva McGonagall, a close friend of his, who had also sent him a warning that the two wizards had a penchant for getting into trouble. But that's how he knew they'd be good Aurors. With a small smile, he picked up the file and leaned back in his desk chair, carrying on with his reading as if nothing had happened.
Elsewhere in the Ministry Hermione was having a similar meeting with the Minister of Magic, although hers was going a lot better.
"So you see… it wasn't really anyone's fault that there was an explosion. The house was run down, he was clearly a squib and it was just a scoping mission anyway. We found the house-elves, which is the important part and Perch will recover eventually…" Hermione played with her quill nervously.
"I see…" Kingsley pressed his fingers together. "You've done well to locate the missing house-elves but the way I see it, your part in all of this is over. Robards has put finding Quinn and the last elf at the top of his priority list, but you are not to get involved. You cannot afford to get distracted, especially with the launch of the new law so close. I want you to concentrate on updating the counter, your register and finalising all the tracking charms to ensure that when the law does go live, you are prepared for it to be implemented properly."
"Yes Minister, of course." Hermione nodded in agreement. "I'll get my report filed today."
"Thank you, Hermione. Robards has some of his own terms too, I'm afraid. He has banned you from working with Ron and Harry on any of their missions. If you need Auror assistance, you're to speak to him directly. I'm sure the three of you will find a way around this, but that's not for me to question or comment on…" The minister smiled, a small twinkle in his eye. "Keep your head low for a week or so."
"Thank you, Kingsley…"
"I think we're done here for today. Thank you, Miss Granger, you are dismissed."
Hermione stood up with a small smile and left the office. She knew her meeting could have gone a lot worse and her thoughts immediately went to Ron and how his meeting had gone. Automatically, her feet started drifting towards the elevators. She fully intended to go and visit him and Harry until she remembered Shacklebolt's warning. With a heavy sigh, she turned on her heel and made her way to her desk, making a mental note to send him an internal memo as soon as she got there.
"But Hermione – could you not just help me a little bit with the paperwork? I'm supposed to be the love of your life, the man of your dreams – don't you want to make my life easier?!"
Hermione raised her eyebrows, a small scowl on her face. Ron had been whinging about his looming deadline for his report about the explosion in Long Buckby for days now. He truly detested having to write reports and often struggled with the words. For the past ten minutes, since he'd found her hiding spot deep in the Ministry library, he'd been complaining about how unfair it was that he had to file a report.
Since her meeting with Kingsley, she had been working hard to try and identify a way to automatically notify the Ministry when a house-elf was being abused or if they were experiencing difficulties but so far, she hadn't been successful. Luckily, updating the counter in her office had been a lot easier and she had hoped to harness the same magic but for some reason, it just hadn't worked.
Her slow process on the theory behind the magic had been making her feel frustrated and any interruptions to her research, even from the love of her life, was only proving to be a source of irritation.
Hermione watched Ron wearily, wondering whether to deploy her usual method of nagging him into doing his work, just like when they'd been in school or whether she'd get away with pleading for him to just leave her alone. She knew it sounded mean, but he was usually in tune with when she needed space unless he had his own concerns.
"We've been back in the office for over a week now Ron. You're already on thin ice with Robards. Why have you not finished it?" She closed the book she was reading carefully and resisted the urge to cross her arms across her chest.
"You know how much I hate paperwork 'Mione…" Ron pulled out the empty chair opposite her and flopped down into it. He gave her what he thought was his cutest pout, but it didn't work.
Hermione bit her tongue, a scolding retort trying its hardest to escape her mouth. Although the occasions were rare now, he still liked to act like a petulant child; especially when he wasn't getting his own way and those moments made her wonder if she was his girlfriend or his mother.
"It's a vital part of your job. You get paid to do it and you're going to have to get used to it eventually. Just… think of it as another training opportunity…"
Ron sighed. "I guess you're right. Robards has threatened to confiscate my ball ticket from me if I don't turn it in by the end of the week. Like he can stop me from going to my own Christmas party…" His nervous laugh showed he wasn't as confident as he sounded.
The Auror Office threw a yearly ball for all its employees and their partners. They put on an elaborate feast that could rival Christmas dinner at Hogwarts as well as a free bar. Both Hermione and Ron had been looking forward to it since he had come home with the tickets last week, especially as this would be the first year she could attend. Hermione was finally looking forward to having an official event she could turn up to as Ron's date, but she was also planning on using it as an opportunity to network and spread the word about Dobby's Law.
"Your deadline is still four days away Ron. It's only Monday. You can do it! You just have to write down what happened. And before you ask, you can't copy mine. I've already turned it in and anyway, your perspective of the event is going to be completely different to mine. I think Robards would figure it out!"
"I wasn't going to ask anyway…" Ron frowned at Hermione, swinging his chair back on two legs. "You're no fun…"
"That's not what you said last night…" Hermione gave him a pointed look then returned to her book, hoping he'd take the hint and leave her in peace. However, she couldn't help but let a small smile creep across her face.
Ron watched her with a fond smile as he remembered what they'd gotten up to last night. He had finished his last dose of skele-gro and they had celebrated most of the night.
The pair had been spending an increasing amount of time together; there was barely an evening where they were apart. Although neither of them felt ready enough to broach the subject of moving in together, they'd slowly started moving in a supply of their toiletries and other essentials to each other's places. They'd never discussed it, but they were both happy with this arrangement – having their own space was useful, should they ever need it.
"Have you bought your dress for the ball yet?!" He picked at the table edge.
Hermione sighed. She knew Ron was trying his hardest to extend the conversation so that he could avoid going back to his desk and doing some actual work. She closed her book again and made a show of putting it down on the table in front of her before speaking.
"No, not yet. Ginny doesn't have a game this week so we'll probably head into London. We've both decided to wear something muggle rather than dress robes." She regarded Ron for a moment. "Although it'll be a shame you won't get to see it. You know, when you don't get your paperwork turned in and you have your ticket taken from you. I'll have to third-wheel with Ginny and Harry…" She almost added that she might write to Viktor to see if he was available, but she bit the words back. She knew how much it would hurt Ron to bring the Bulgarian Quidditch star up. No matter how frustrated she was, she didn't want to do that to him.
Ron matched Hermione's sigh. "Fine… I'll go and finish my report. If I get it handed in, will you show me tonight on your laptop what you're thinking of buying?"
Hermione shook her head, a smile on her face as she remembered the first day she showed him how to use an online shopping website and how amazed he had been when it arrived at the cottage the next day. You would think the boy hadn't spent all his life living among magic.
"Absolutely not, but I'm sure I can find some way to treat you if you get your paperwork done…" She picked up her book once more, hoping the third time was a charm.
"Alright…" He let his chair swing back onto all four feet and got up, moving around the table to get closer to her. "Hermione?"
"Yes, Ron?" This time, she didn't lift her eyes from her book.
"I love you…" Ron pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll see you later…"
Hermione waited until he was away from her table before lifting her head, watching him with a small smile as he wandered away slowly, running his fingers over every empty desk in his path as he moved.
When Ron turned up at Primrose Cottage later that day, he could hear Hermione having a heated discussion with someone in her study. He dumped his bag in its usual spot next to the coat stand and toed off his shoes before slowly heading upstairs. He rounded the corner into the room just in time to witness her slamming down the lid of her small laptop. She only used it for the internet and talking to her parents over Skip, or whatever it was called, so for her to use such an abrupt way of terminating the conversation probably meant it wasn't good news.
"Hey, sweetheart. Are you okay?" He draped himself casually against the doorframe, his hands shoved into his pockets.
Hermione swung around quickly in her desk chair, looking startled. "Oh hey, I didn't hear you come in!" She wiped a finger quickly under each eye before getting up. She closed the gap between them at speed, sliding her arms around his waist and cuddling into him.
"You were too busy chatting away. How are Jean and Malcolm?" He pulled his hands out of his pockets and wrapped one around Hermione's small frame. The other slid up her back and started playing with the end of her braid. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"They're fine…" Her voice was muffled by his t-shirt. "They are thinking of opening another surgery in the next village over. They'll be busy getting everything set up, so they've decided not to book a flight home for Christmas." She let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes.
"Oh sweetheart, you were hoping to host them here for Christmas…"
"Yeah… they've not even seen the cottage yet and I really want the three of you to get to know each other better. I don't know what to do with myself for Christmas now!"
"Well, I reckon I can solve that problem. Mum is finally up to throwing a big family bash. She's been pestering me for weeks to let her know if we're coming or not. Everyone else will be there – apparently, even Percy is bringing someone!"
Hermione lifted her head up from under his chest, looking a bit more cheerful. "A proper Weasley Christmas?"
"Yeah! If you fancy it, we can do Christmas Eve and Boxing Day there too? We can stay in my old room. I know you live close and it's not exactly hard work to apparate over, but I think it will really add to your experience!"
"That sounds perfect. Thank you, Ron!"
"You're welcome! I don't think we would have heard the end of it if we had stayed here alone or with your parents!" Ron pressed a kiss against Hermione's lips then started to unwrap his arms from around her. He took her hand, pulling her away from her study.
"Where are you taking me?" Hermione followed him with a smile.
"I reckon we should order takeaway. I'm starving and I can't be bothered to wait for either of us to cook…" He tightened his grip on her hand. "I did as I was told and turned in my report today – and you promised me a treat!"
"That I did…" Hermione smiled and followed him down the stairs eagerly. "Come on then Weasley, let's see what we can do for you!"