Holding on for her love Chapter 7: Two Meetings, a harry potter fanfic

So it's been 2 1/2 years since I have updated this story. I feel pretty bad. I've been wanting to do it for ages but I just never found the time. A lot has happened during that time. I completed my GCSEs and then I completed my A-Levels and now I'm at University doing a degree in Chemistry. So there has been a lot of changes in my life. But I will only make that half of the excuse. The other half is due to my severe laziness and my limited talent for writing. I have ideas in my mind for this story and I keep on changing the direction I want to take it in. So I guess you are all asking why I finally decided to update it. I just didn't want to feel I abandoned it and recently I have felt a strong ambition to complete it and to start other stories. So hey presto, here's chapter 7. As you can see I started writing this before HBP came out so it's definately AU now. And as you guess no copyright infringement is intendend blah blah blah... just hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Chapter 7- Two Meetings

Ron woke up on the sofa the next morning with a pounding headache. The sun had just rose and it's rays were filtering through the curtains with a faint orange glow. He checked the clock on the mantel and found that it was only 6.00 am. He had never been up this early before for work, he said to himself.

He wasn't due to go back to work until Monday as he had taken a couple of days leave for the move but he felt anxious not being at work and having to think about what had happened the previous day.

"How could I have been so stupid," exclaimed Ron, sitting up and placing his face in his hands. He thought to himself there was no use sitting here feeling sorry for himself while he could be at work starting on the paperwork that was sure to be piling up on his desk during his absence.

He stood up and made his way to the bathroom. He had a shower and then got dressed into his work robes. He had just re-entered the living room when he heard the soft taps of an owl at his window. It was Hedwig again. What did Harry have to say this time, he exasperated.

Hi, it's Harry,

Come meet me for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron at 1.00 pm.

Saying no is not an option so I better see you there OR ELSE!

The last bit scared Ron slightly. "OR ELSE!" He knew that Harry was an exceptionally powerful wizard and certainly didn't want to get on the wrong side of him. The only thing worse that he could think of was that Harry was going to set Ginny on him. Ron gulped at the thought. Surely he wouldn't be that mean.

Ron then placed down the piece of parchment, glanced one last look in the mirror and then disapperated to the Ministry of Magic.

When he arrived he wasn't surprised to find that it was almost empty apart from a few other early risers and the janitor, magically polishing the main hallway floor with his wand.

He wandered to his department to find it completely empty. Usually most people in his department didn't start till 9.00 am unless there was an early raid occurring.

When he entered his office he took note of all the files that were pilled up high on his desk. Some even had to be placed on the floor.

"I guess I was right after all to come into work." He whispered to himself, sitting at his desk and grabbing the first file he saw.

By the time he was a quarter of the way through the files, he heard the other workers piling into the department and sitting down at their desks.

His door then creaked open to show the peering face of his supervisor.

"I didn't think you were back until Monday, Weasely?" Enquired Jenkins

"The move went more smoothly than planned and I had nothing better to do, so I thought I might as well come into work and start this paperwork." Explained Ron, holding up one of the many files on his desk.

"I Like the spirit!" said Jenkins, holding up a fist in passion. He was then about to exit the office until a thought occured to him. He turned around and addressed Ron again.

"When do you go for lunch Weasely?" asked Jenkins.

"Well, I'm meeting Harry Potter in the Leaky Cauldron at 1.00." Ron thought out loud.

"Splendid, I believe I am free at 2.00. Could you possibly meet me in my office then after your lunch? Jenkins happily requested. "There's a few things we need to talk about." Then Mr Jenkins quite quickly left before Ron could ask what they were about. Only a sickening feeling could pour through Ron. Was he in trouble? Was he going to be sacked?

For the next couple of hours Ron battled his way through his paperwork with the constant nagging thought of what his meeting with Mr. Jenkins was to be about. He was nearly all the way through the paperwork when he looked at his watch and found it was 12.50. He had to meet Harry in 10 minutes. There was no rush as it would hardly take him any time at all to get there but throughout the whole day he had been running early and he wanted to keep this up. He grabbed his cloak and departed his office.

When he got to the Leaky Cauldron he found Harry already at the bar. When he spotted Ron he said, "Just go and find us a table while I order us something." Ron grabbed a table in the far corner of the moderately busy pub. He was joined by 5 minutes later by Harry, who was carrying two glasses of butterbeer.

"So I guess things didn't go well with Hermione then." Harry said, taking a sip out of his glass.

"You can say that. I was late. You know Hermione...no one is ever supposed to be late for her. And when I sent her a letter explaining what happened she nearly took my head of in her response." Answered Ron. "I mean I know it's my fault and all but does she have to be so overly sensitive." Ron sighed into his butterbeer as he let Harry know his frustrations.

"I know mate, Women!" Harry said more loudly than he intended, making a couple of middle-aged witches at the table beside him give him glaring looks while tutting. Harry just ignored them. "I mean take Ginny for example. She keeps on saying to me that your mother wishes for her to be married soon. I know it sounds like something your mother would say but Ginny has been mentioning it a lot ever since she heard of Hermione's engagement. I think she is hoping that I might just suddenly take the inspiration to get down on one knee and propose to her." Harry said sounding quite terrified. "I just don't think we have reached that point yet truthfully. I want to at least give it one more year before any thoughts of wedding bells. So when she mentions it I just sort of say "really!" and then change the topic which of course prompts her to go off in a big huff since she thinks I don't get the message."

Ron chuckled into his half empty glass. Tom then came over to the table with two plates. "Two dish of the day." He said placing the plates down on the table.

"Ah, thanks Tom!" greeted Harry, before he turned to Ron. "I hope you don't mind I just ordered us the same, my treat too!"

"Thats no problem," said Ron gratefully, "but you sure you don't want me to pay for my own."

Harry held up his hand, "What have I said before, we are friends, this is what friends do for each other."

"OK if you insist." Sighed Ron. He knew when it came to money and paying for things there was no use in arguing with Harry. The two tucked into their lunch and talked about the recent performance of their quidditch teams and then Ginny's up and coming trip to France for her work.

"I bet you'll be right and lonely without her." Smirked Ron

"Too right I wont. We love each other and everything but even we need a bit of time apart." Laughed Harry in response. "Which reminds me, I'm having a bit of a get together in a couple of weeks while shes away. Just a few people from work and such. Just wondering if you'll be there."

"Mmmm...If Ginny finds out she wont be too pleased but I guess why not. I've faced Ginny's wrath plenty of times and still managed to live." Said Ron as Harry laughed.

Ron looked at his watch and realised that he had to be back in 15 minutes. "Look I've got to get back to work, so if you don't mind I'll have to depart."

Harry finished the contents in his glass and then looked at Ron. "Course I don't mind but I thought you were supposed to be off."

"Just thought I'd go back early and you know get the paper work done." Explained Ron once again.

"Too true." Replied Harry in agreement. "I've got a ton of it waiting on my desk for me too." Harry sighed "I guess I'll be seeing you later then and maybe I'll get Ginny to talk some sense into Hermione."

"You do that and I'll see you around some time." Ron picked up his cloak and left for his office.

He had 5 minutes to spare when he arrived back. He took of his cloak, quickly fixed his appearance in the mirror on his wall and promptly walked to Mr. Jenkins office. He never told Harry about his meeting as he didn't want to imply that he might be in trouble again. His lunch with Harry had cheered him up slightly and he decided not to tell Harry in case he ruined the atmosphere. He slowly knocked on Jenkins office door.

"Is that you Weasely? Come on in." Jenkins motioned. "Sit down if you please." Ron sat down in the chair opposite to his desk. He noticed high official from one of the field sections of the Magical Law Enforcement standing behind Mr. Jenkins on the other side of the desk. What was he doing here? Had Ron manage to screw up some important paperwork on one of this man's cases?

"You must be Ron, Arthur's son." implied the man. "I'm Senior Detective Brigstone, I work for the serious crimes and demeanors section of the Law Enforcement department." That's weird, Ron thought. He had never done paperwork for that section before.

Ron before letting them speak about what the meeting was about cut in impulsively before either men had a chance to say another word. "Look I have a few things to say about my work performance before you fire me."

There was a brief silence before anyone decided to speak.

"Fire you!" Jenkins questioned. Both men behind the desk looked at each other before they started to laugh heartily. Ron looked at them puzzled. "Why did you think I would fire you?" Jenkins asked after the laughter stopped.

"You mean I'm not fired?" Ron said treading gently for an answer.

"Of course not!" Jenkins shouted loudly. "In fact I've brought you here to talk about your fantastic work recently and your subsequent promotion."

"Promotion?" questioned Ron, looking between both men.

"Yes, a job has opened up in the Serious crimes field section. And Jenkin's here has put your name forward to me." Explained Brigstone." Of course it's only a Junior Detective position but once you are fully trained up and gain a couple years experience your rank changes to Detective. But looking over your record I should say you could accomplish that no bother. You'll be working as my assistant, that is if you take the job."

Ron didn't know what to say. He was overwhelmed. This was the exact opportunity he was waiting for all this time. All he could do was smile at the two men as they awaited his answer.

Brigstone began to smile back. "I guess that's a yes then?"

"I expect to see you in my office 9.00am sharp on Monday morning, Junior Detective Weasely."

So that was chapter 7. I'm going to be starting on chapter 8 soon but for now just R&R to tell me what you think of this chapter and to perhaps tell me off! ;)