QLFC - Round 2 - Captain: Write about a character who is heavily relied on by someone else or others.

Summary: Hermione works so much that sometimes she forgets to eat. Luckily, Ron is there to remind her.

WC. 3000 (some serious editing was done lol) Excludes a/n and title.

Don't Forget to Eat

The clock struck twelve, the sound echoing throughout the empty Ministry. It was midnight, and everyone had gone home for the day. The lights had been extinguished, the fireplaces closed, and all office doors shut. The cleaners had done their rounds to prepare it for the influx of workers the next morning.

Only one small light flickered down in the courtrooms, unnoticed by anyone who passed. Behind a desk sat Hermione, scratching away on a twelve-inch parchment. She'd been there since four, not having stopped to eat or use the bathroom, and ignoring everyone who attempted to engage in conversation.

She didn't even hear the light footsteps making their way to her tiny office beside the courtrooms. Nor did she notice the door being pushed open. The only thing that alerted her to the fact she was no longer alone was the gentle, "Hey," that followed.

She jumped, dropping her quill and spinning in her chair.

"Oh, you frightened me, Ron," she said.

"Sorry. I just came to see if you were coming home soon."

Hermione indicated her work. "I've just got to get this finished. Then I will."

Ron moved further into the room and set a container down beside her. "I thought so. I brought you dinner. Have you eaten?"

"I had lunch today," Hermione said, once again taken up by the case. She picked up the quill and continued to write.

Ron stood back, as if waiting for something more, but when she said nothing, he said, "Well, I'll see you at home. Don't forget to eat. I love you." He waited again for a response, but when nothing happened, he turned and left, closing the door softly behind him.

…

One o'clock came, the chiming of the clock finally drawing Hermione from her work. She sat back, tired, but pleased. She'd finished, and she was confident she would win the case for her client tomorrow. Or, today.

Feeling her stomach growl — when had she last eaten? — she stood. She was about to leave the office when she spotted a small container sitting beside her.

Ron. It wasn't the first time he'd brought her something to eat late at night. In fact, he'd been doing it more and more frequently over the past few weeks as she spent nearly every day locked away until all hours.

She wondered if he'd cooked it himself. It wouldn't surprise her. He would have gotten home hours ago.

She smiled slightly, unsure what she'd do if he didn't remind her to eat. She got so invested in all her cases that — like tonight — she lost track of time. She'd lost count of how many times she'd Apparated home, snuck upstairs, climbed into bed and then gotten up a few hours later, ready to start her day over again. She barely saw Ron unless it was a day off, or it was work related. Such was the life of a Majical Lawyer, right?

She placed the container in her bag and made her way to the lifts. The fireplaces would be closed so she'd have to Disapparate from the street, which would take slightly longer.

Reaching Muggle London, which was always bustling no matter the time of day, she dipped into an empty alleyway and Disapparated.

She landed on her doorstep, right where the protective enchantments started, and as quietly as she could, unlocked the door. It was dark. Ron was in bed, of course. He used to wait up for her, but after her nights had become later and later, he'd taken to delivering food to ensure she ate and then went home to bed. Most nights, he was asleep by the time she crawled in beside him.

She placed her bag on the kitchen bench and was about to head to bed when she remembered the food. Ron had gone to a lot of effort to ensure she had something, but she no longer felt hungry and just wanted to sleep.

So, she placed the container in the refrigerator and tiptoed upstairs. As she'd expected, Ron was asleep. She changed out of her work robes and into more comfortable pyjamas and climbed in. He didn't even stir, and she was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

…

"Good morning."

Hermione woke to a kiss on her temple and arms snaking around her waist. "Good morning," she sighed, smiling through half-closed eyes. "What time is it?"

"Seven," Ron answered. "You slept in. By your standards, that is."

Hermione pulled away, scrambling out of bed. "Why didn't you wake me?" she shrieked as she sifted through her wardrobe for fresh work robes.

"Because you didn't get home until nearly one-thirty, and I thought you needed sleep," Ron said, sitting up in the bed. "Besides, you normally set an alarm, and you didn't, so I slept in too."

"You normally remind me!" Hermione cried. "Or do it for me if I'm working late." She threw on identical robes to the ones she'd worn yesterday and went into the bathroom.

"Sorry, I forgot." Ron watched her from where he still sat in the bed. "Did you eat last night?"

"I wasn't hungry."

"Will you eat this morning?"

"I'll grab something on the way. But I have to get to work. I'll be late, and I have an important case today!"

"You don't start until nine."

Hermione returned to the bedroom, her hair brushed and her teeth cleaned. She gave Ron a half smile. "You know what I'm like. Earlier the better." She moved to the bed and kissed him. "I love you. I'll see you at work?"

It took him a moment, but Ron nodded. "Yeah, see you soon," he said, somewhat morosely. "Love you, too!" he added, but Hermione had already left.

…

Around midday, a package arrived on Hermione's desk. It was a plain, cardboard box with a tag that said Hermione.

"Weasley sending you love notes again?" Draco Malfoy asked from his own desk a few feet away.

Hermione shot him a scathing look, not even bothering to respond. After three years of working together, she'd learnt to ignore his taunts.

The box was from Ron. It wasn't the first he'd sent her, either.

Inside this one was lunch — he really worried about her eating habits, apparently — some chocolate, and — she glared at Malfoy — an envelope with a note.

She opened that first.

You're working way too hard and I miss you. Please come home on time tonight. I've got a surprise.

Love you.

PS. Please eat.

Hermione smiled and put the box on the ground beside her desk. She picked up her quill and began scribbling once again.

…

The clock struck ten, making this an early finish. Everything had been completed, and she would be ready to start tomorrow anew.

She bent down to pick up her bag and coat when something caught her eye. The box. The note. Ron telling her he had a surprise. Her lunch. She'd forgotten all about it.

Her heart lurched. Didn't he usually come to see her if she was late? Why hadn't he?

Feeling a rush of guilt, she packed her things and made her way back onto the street, carrying the box with her. She Disapparated the moment she was out of sight.

Seven past ten and the house was silent and dark.

She flicked the light on in the kitchen and picked up the note left on the bench.

Sorry you had to work late again. I went to Mum and Dad's for dinner, and Mum insisted I take some home for you. Love you.

PS. Please, please, eat it.

Hermione set her keys and bag on the table and picked up the bowl of food left with the note. She was hungry, and she'd always liked Molly's cooking.

She debated with herself as to whether or not she should go and apologise for ruining Ron's plans but decided to eat instead. He'd be asleep anyway, and she could always apologise in the morning.

As she ate, she wondered if she should check to see if he'd set an alarm. Just in case.

…

Most mornings, she was either woken to her alarm, or to Ron kissing her, saying good morning, and telling her he loved her.

This morning, nothing came. Her alarm was silent despite her having checked, nor had Ron woken her. When she rolled over to see if he was still asleep, she was surprised to find the space empty.

Something niggled at her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She knew she had been late once again, and she also knew that she probably should have let him know, but… it wasn't like him to stay angry over that. He'd always brushed it aside.

She climbed out of bed, her heart stopping when she spotted her clothes at the end of the bed. They'd been laid out neatly, along with her shoes and coat. He knew exactly what she had planned on wearing.

Once dressed, she went downstairs to find a large plate of breakfast and a steaming mug of tea waiting for her. Seeing her, Ron smiled.

"Morning," he said. "Have a seat."

"What's this?" Hermione asked, obliging to his request.

"Breakfast. I'm going to make sure you eat properly, because I don't think you have in days."

She stared at him, lost for words.

"Eat," he said, nodding at the plate. "Or I'll force-feed you."

Once again, she obliged, but stopped after a few bites. She set down the spoon and said, "Ron, about last night. I'm —"

"It's fine," Ron said. "Just eat."

They both fell silent after that, quiet, the mood sullen. Hermione stole a few glances his way, uncomfortable when she caught him staring at her.

Halfway through, she tried again. "I'm really —"

"— bad at being in a relationship," Ron finished.

That rendered her speechless.

"Terrible," Ron continued. "You should work on it."

She looked down at her half-eaten breakfast and nodded. She couldn't think of a time he'd been so blunt with her. But he did have a point.

"Can we try again tonight?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever you had planned. We can do it tonight. I'll be home on time. I promise."

She could tell by his expression that he'd lost hope in those words, but he finally nodded with a small smile. "I look forward to it."

…

Hermione spent the day watching the clock, checking it every few minutes, just to make sure she wouldn't miss her five o'clock finish. She'd hurried through as much work as she could in the short time available and had even remembered to eat something.

At four-fifty in the afternoon, she set her quill down, surprised to have finished early. She would be home by five, not leaving by then.

The fireplaces would still be open.

"Granger!"

Hermione spun. She'd just reached the grates and was about to step in, but Draco Malfoy had caught her.

"Granger, we have a case that needs immediate attention."

"Can't it wait?" Hermione asked, surprising even herself by the question. But she'd made a promise, and she intended to keep it this time.

Malfoy stared for a moment, then shook his head. "No, it needs taking care of now. An hour at most."

Hermione looked longingly at the fireplace.

Malfoy scowled. "I'm sure whatever plans you and Weasley have can wait another hour."

"His name is —"

"I don't care. But I want this dealt with so I can go home." He was gone before she could respond.

Hermione sighed. If it was as important as Malfoy said it was, then surely Ron would understand. Especially if it only took an hour.

…

She knew she'd been wrong the moment she found the note.

Gone to Mum and Dad's for a few nights.

No I love you and no reminder to eat. She'd made it home by eight, even remembering to send him a memo to let him know. Perhaps he'd not received it.

But he had. She found it torn up in the bin.

Fighting back tears, she opened the refrigerator. There was food in there, but it occurred to her that she hadn't cooked anything in months. She had no idea where to begin.

Had Ron really made all that food he'd brought her, only for her to throw it out? Had he been the one to buy the food that was in there?

The guilt she'd felt that morning crept over her once more. She'd been so caught up in her work that she'd completely failed to notice anything else. Everything had always just been there, and only now did she realise it was there because Ron had made the effort.

He'd been right. She was terrible at being in a relationship.

…

It hadn't occurred to Hermione until she was standing inside it, but she had never seen Ron in his office. He'd always been the one to visit her. Sometimes, he'd even eaten down there, which, at the time, had annoyed her. Now, she realised, he'd just been desperate to spend time with her, and he didn't care how that happened.

She wasn't sure what to expect when entering the office. But he stopped writing when he saw her. His expression was blank, and it didn't look like it would change no matter how long she stood there. It hurt that he wasn't smiling. Once, his face would have lit up by her just being there.

He'd shut her out for four days, despite her attempts to reconcile, and it had been the worst four days of her life. He'd done so much for her, and she'd only realised when it wasn't there anymore.

His expression, now, was so intense, so pained, all she could manage was a weak, "Hi." Never in her life had she felt more vulnerable standing in front of Ron. He'd always made her feel safe, welcome. He loved her, and she'd taken those feelings for granted — over and over and over again, without even realising it, which was worse.

He continued to watch her, contemplating as she moved to arms' reach of him, and, by some miracle, a hint of a smile crossed his face. "Hi," he said.

They continued to watch each other, both lost for words. Hermione knew she had to be the one to say something, to make it right, but how? How was she supposed to apologise for what she now realised had been three years of assuming he would just be there, no matter what?

"I'm sorry." That was a start.

The declaration clearly surprised him. Was it so rare for her to admit fault that he'd not expected it?

She heaved out a sigh. "You've done so much for me over the years, Ron, and I never really thanked you for it. I just expected it. And you never asked for anything in return. You — "

"I never wanted anything in return. Your happiness was — is — enough."

She looked into his eyes, seeing the hurt, but also seeing something else. Love. He loved her so much, and that was what hurt. Seeing it, realising it, made her chest almost explode. She loved him, too, but Merlin, she was bad at letting him know that.

"I'm so sorry, Ron. I really am. I know I've disappointed you, let you down, but I'm going to try and make up for it."

For a moment, he said nothing. Her heart rate increased, terrified that he was going to tell her there was nothing she could do to make it better. A few days ago, she'd been blissfully unaware of the possibility he could break up with her; but now that possibility was all too real, and it frightened her.

Eventually, he… smiled? "I don't think it's possible to be disappointed by you. I'm extremely proud of you, actually. For everything you've achieved in such a short time."

"Really?"

"You're a workaholic. I knew what I was signing up for with you; I'm not a complete idiot. All I want is to be with you. And not feel like second best, I guess. I just want some time in that busy schedule of yours."

She might have laughed had she thought he was joking. Instead, her heart ached. Did he see himself as part of her schedule? Something she ticked off each day? "Ron… you're not…" He was so much more than a schedule, and it broke her heart to know she hadn't ever given him a reason to believe otherwise.

The words wouldn't come, but perhaps her actions could convince him. She flung her arms around his neck, her force causing him to stumble backwards. But he responded; he kissed her back. Despite everything, he still loved her.

When they pulled apart, she smiled up at him. He returned it, but his eyes showed sadness, too.

"I know that doesn't get me off the hook, but I hope it's a start," she said. "You're more important than any schedule, Ron. I hope you know that."

He didn't say anything; instead, picking up something off his desk. "I got your note."

"I figured. It's why you stayed back, isn't it?"

He nodded.

"You've spent years doing little things for me and I never really showed you my appreciation for them." She Summoned a picnic basket she'd outside, onto his desk.

Ron looked at it, amused.

"I know this isn't going to make up for it all, but I just want you to know that I appreciate you. I love you."

"So you're giving me food?" he asked.

"I'm trying to do something nice, something romantic. I thought we could eat… together."

"Here?"

"Anywhere you want."

Ron opened the basket, peered inside, and then looked back at her. "You know where I've always wanted to go with you?" he said.

"Where?"

"Home."

Thank you to my AMAZING team (the Chudley Cannons) for beta-ing this, and then beta-ing again. This took some work to cut, to change the ending, then to cut words about 10 more times lol. But I am finally happy with the finished product. I hope you all enjoy reading it!