Authors Note: I hope you enjoy! Please review if you read. I love hearing what you have to say.

Hermione was stricken with fear. Thomas? What could he possibly want? He turned me in. He was there when they beat me. Was he after me? Questions ran through her mind before she realized she was laying naked still. She reached for some clothes or a sheet but realized Ron had already worried about that. She was covered with a sheet and Ron was on his way to grabbing their clothes.

"What-" Hermione started but was interrupt by a furious Ron.

"Oy! This isn't Hermione's room and you know that! What gives you the right to go storming in here?"

"It's urgent and besides I heard you were sleeping in the same bed now."

"You heard?" Ron asked appalled. "Don't tell me-" Ron started, realization sweeping across his face. Hermione was curious as she started to collect her clothes and put them back on.

"Yes. Can I turn around now?" Harry asked impatiently bending over to pick up Hermione's shirt and handing it behind him.

"I can't believe this!" Ron yelled and Harry turned around, avoiding eye contact with Hermione, who had already redressed and was flushed with embarrassment.

"Ron, what did you expect? This is a safe house." Harry questioned tiredly.

"Well I'm the god damned co-head of the auror department. I thought I could have a little respect for Christ's sake!"

"Exactly! Thus, more protection. Nobody gets this many visits from ministry employees checking on their well being. You should have realized that."

"I wish they would have sent someone else!" Ron roared.

"What is going on?" Hermione yelled. She had been trying to cut in for the last two minutes without any luck.

"The house is tapped. You know, what's the muggle word? Bugged? They can see everything that happens here. And thanks to Harry" Ron pointed at him. "They probably just saw everything that happened here just now." Hermione's face turned a deeper shade of crimson.

"Everything?" She whispered, mortified. Ron nodded, his eyes were dangerous as they turned to Harry. This was not how she had wanted her reunion with Ron to go, with people watching. She groaned and sat on the bed with her head in her hands. Her face felt as though it were on fire.

"How could you do this to Hermione?" Ron played to Harry's guilt, trying to get over his own. He knew he should have realized but he hadn't even thought of anything besides himself.

"I thought you would have realized!" Harry pointed angrily. Ron said nothing because he knew Harry was right.

"I didn't know." Hermione said. "I didn't realized that people would be watching us." Hermione choked out.

"I'm sorry." Harry said bowing his head. "I-"

"Why are you here?" Ron snarled.

"Well one, I thought you'd like some more food and two I need to talk to you two about another guest in this house."

"Excuse me?" Ron grunted, disbelieving.

"What does this have to do with Thomas?" Hermione asked solemnly.

"Who's Thomas?" Ron asked curiously but Harry ignored him.

"He's the guest." Harry and Hermione stared at each other for a long time. Hermione sat in disbelief and Harry gave her a knowing look.

"Who's Thomas?" Ron repeated. He was irritated. He was once again left out and he hated the feeling.

"Hermione?" Harry motioned at Ron, indicating he wanted her to tell him.

"He was my partner while I was undercover." Hermione looked down at her hands, not saying anymore. She picked at her cuticles, hoping for a distraction, so she didn't need to meet Ron's eyes.

"There is no auror under the name of Thomas." Ron stated, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"No but there is a death eater." Hermione looked into his eyes and grimaced. Immediately Ron's nostrils flared as he put two and two together. That was the death eater that Harry and Hermione had been discussing, the one that Hermione had almost slept with, the one from the tea shop. A sudden wave of nausea hit him and he felt like emptying his stomach. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to steady himself.

"Explain." It was all he could manage to say. He supposed he shocked them by not yelling, but as pathetic as it was, he was getting used to being disappointed. The statement wasn't directed at anyone in particular and he hadn't reopened his eyes. He didn't want to look at either of them.

"Thomas and I were both in the lower ranks and we did minimal work, like recruiting and such. We, ah, lived together and, ah, he was the one you saw me with the day at the tea shop. He became suspicious after I visited you. He must have followed me but I have no idea how. Anyway, he turned me in and that is how I ended up off the assignment and here with you." Hermione thought it best to be brief. The sudden end of her friendship with Thomas hurt her more than she cared to admit. He had been her only friend for two years.

"He didn't turn you in," Harry replied solemnly. "As soon as he saw them beating and torturing you, he turned himself into the ministry and told us everything he knew about Roberts."

"Why would he do that? Are you sure it isn't a trap? Is it safe for him to be here?" Hermione shrieked.

"We used veritaserum while questioning him. He isn't spying for anyone anymore." Harry had been there during the questioning and every step that had occurred throughout the process. He didn't want either of his best friends to get hurt and he refused to let there be a chance for any sort of revenge to befall him.

"Why would this man do that?" Ron spat, his eyes open again. Harry looked at the floor and Ron seemed to understand his silence. He loves Hermione, Ron thought immediately.

"Why here Harry? Why can't he be somewhere else?" It wasn't Ron who spoke, it was Hermione.

"I think he'd go crazy without someone to talk to." Harry said meekly. Ron let out a roar of irritation.

"No! No!" Ron kept repeating. "I'm not going to have some ex-death eater that is in love with Hermione, roaming freely in the same house as me!"

"I can assure you I can be quite friendly." Thomas stepped into the room commanding respect. He stood only a few inches shorter than Ron and was wearing a bemused expression. Ron quickly sized him up. He took note of his dark, brown hair and his olive skin. He was handsome, there was no denying that but as he continued to stare he couldn't help picturing Hermione in his arms. The image sickened him and another wave of nausea poured through him.

"Thomas Meyer, this is Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger." Harry pointed at them cordially. "Although I'm sure you remember Hermione better as Jackie Cole." Thomas nodded briefly his mouth twisted in a tight knot. He forced a smile and turned to shake hands with the two of them. Ron utterly refused and looked repulsed at the thought. Hermione on the other hand just looked perplexed.

"Thomas, why are you here? You turned me in." Thomas opened his mouth to speak but Harry interjected.

"He didn't turn you in, Hermione."

"Then how did they find out who I was?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. She didn't seem angry like everyone expected, just curious.

"I told Sal that I thought something was wrong with you. After that day you went for a walk, which I can only assume was not a walk, you acted strangely distant. I didn't know what had happened. It seemed like an innocent concern to voice at the time. Had I known Sal was going to go to Roberts, I never would have told him." Thomas took a step forward and kneeled in front of Hermione. "Can you ever forgive me? I didn't know they would do that to you." Hermione looked resistant.

"I don't know that I can trust you. This is all very strange to me and I don't know if what you are saying is the truth or a much fabricated lie." Hermione could not believe that less than a half hour ago she had been wrapped in Ron's arms. Now her world was back to being confusing as always. She feared that forgiving Thomas would create a wedge between her and Ron and that was the absolute last thing she wanted. She looked nervously at Ron who looked back at her, hurt in his eyes. He must have realized by now who this man was and how intimate, she almost choked at the thought, she had been with him.

"All he is saying is the truth, Hermione." Harry stated. Ron was fuming as he turned his gaze toward Harry. This was too much. First, Ron had discovered that Harry had lied to him and now he was defending this man? This Thomas? Who had touched, his Hermione. This man who obviously was a liar. Ron couldn't deal with it. He stalked toward the door.

"Can I speak to you for a moment?" Ron glared at Harry, daring him to deny his request. Harry glanced at Hermione and Thomas.

"Sure. They must need to catch up."

"I don't want them to catch up!" Ron gritted his teeth and walked past Harry. Harry rolled his eyes and followed Ron into the library.

"Are you trying to win the gold for being the worst friend ever?" Ron rounded on him.

"I thought we weren't friends?" Harry said callously. He didn't know what came over him. He had been in fights with Ron before but they were nothing close to this. Harry knew he had taken a chance by being Hermione's confidant and excluding Ron. Now he was reaping the consequences. Harry had been distraught at the idea of bringing this man to this specific house but it was in his orders. He didn't like the idea of an ex-death eater being here anymore than Ron did.

"We're not." Ron replied, taken aback. "But I thought I would see at least some remorse from you and a little more effort on your part to make things right. Apparently, I was mistaken."

"Would it have worked?"

"What?"

"If I had tried to make things right?"

"Probably not." Ron replied honestly.

"Look-"

"No, Harry. He can't stay here. I won't let him. I'll probably end up killing him. You saw how he looked at Hermione. He was all goo-goo eyes at her and ogling her. I won't be able to take that especially considering-" He swallowed and stopped mid-sentence. He couldn't bring himself to say what he was thinking. Saying it would make it more real than it was now. He didn't want that mental image to be seared forever in his brain.

"Well those were my orders and I am sticking to them."

"God damn it Harry. When the hell did you become so cold?" Harry wasn't sure how to respond. He had noticed lately that his work was becoming increasingly easier. He had grown accustomed to disappointment and hurt. He was afraid his conscious was growing smaller by the day.

"I suppose it comes with the job."

"No it doesn't! I do the same thing as you and I can still feel!" He beat a fist against his chest.

"Just like you can feel for Thomas?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"This isn't about Thomas and besides that's different. This is about you and me."

"We're all human, Ron."

"Don't you go lecturing me, Harry. Right now I'd rather have Thomas be here than you. How could you do this to me?" Ron's voice softened a little. Here we go. Harry thought. He knew he couldn't put it off forever.

"I was following orders. It is as simple as that."

"I was your best mate! You saw me in the worst condition I've ever been in my life and one word from you would have saved me so much agony."

"Would it have? Really? I don't think so. You would have chased her down and put her in harm's way. I couldn't let you jeopardize your safety, Hermione's safety and compromise the mission. Hermione's my friend too Ron and I couldn't betray her. Can't you understand that." Ron looked at him for a long moment.

"No." He stated flatly. "I know I was a mess back then but I would have never done anything to hurt Hermione. You of all people should have known that." Harry closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. I should have realized."

"You're damn right you should have. God! Seriously, Harry did you honestly believe I would have searched for her? I didn't get this far by being an idiot." Ron leaned against the desk and folded his arms.

"I thought that, yes, you would. I know the thought would have crossed my mind if it had been Ginny."

"I didn't say it wouldn't have crossed my mind, but to act on it? That is highly unlikely. Then I would have just waited patiently and worried like any normal person. Not spend half my time drunk or with other women. By the way, why was it necessary for you to tell Hermione that?"

"What?" Harry asked innocently. His stomach rolled over. He had spilled his guts when he had met Hermione one day. He hadn't meant to say anything but it sort of came out. Ron looked at him pointedly, feeling a response was not necessary. "It sort of slipped."

"Slipped? It sort of slipped that I was sleeping with other women? How the fuck does that slip out, Harry?" Harry smiled nervously.

"Um, well, one day I was checking in with her and she asked how you were."

"And your first response was to say, 'Oh he's having a lot of random sex?'" Ron was incredulous.

"No… She asked how you were and then I said not so great. Then she asked if you were dating anyone and I accidentally replied by saying not unless you count a new girl every night." Ron wanted so bad to punch Harry he clenched his fist at his side to prevent that.

"You accidentally replied?" Ron asked slowly. Harry looked sheepish and nodded. "Harry step back or I will punch you right now." Harry remained rooted to the spot.

"If that's what you need to do." God knows I deserve it, the thought flashed across Harry's mind. He looked at Ron who immediately became annoyed. Ron unclenched his fists deciding now wasn't the time for this. There were more important things to take care of right now. He hadn't forgiven Harry but he was worried about Hermione. He didn't like that she was left alone with some man that for all he knew could be a raging lunatic. He didn't even know where her wand was and if it had been in her pocket earlier, there was a greater chance that it wasn't now. It certainly would have slipped out sometime during the last hour or so. Ron couldn't believe that an hour ago, everything had been fine.

"This isn't over Harry. I haven't forgiven you but I'm starting to worry about the fact that Hermione is alone with that piece of trash."