2. The Question

There was a noticeable swish followed immediately by a sharp pneumatic pop and Winky took full corporeal form in Hermione's small kitchen. The little house-elf took a moment to stabilize herself then immediately went to work to prepare coffee and a small breakfast for herself and Hermione. Winky had been helping Hermione for several months now and Hermione wanted to use her more but would just have to wait. The flat she lived in was much too small to utilize a full time house-elf. The remainder of Winky's week was spent working at Hogwarts kitchen where she had taken up employment after being dismissed by the Crouch household. The castle work was fine, but every house-elf pined for a family and Winky had been through many personal troubles without one. Hermione had insisted on paying her for her work. At first this practice disturbed Winky as most house-elves were quite unaccustomed to it. Over time she understood Hermione was simply trying to help, no matter how misdirected her intentions might appear.

Now that the coffee was started and breakfast was simmering, Winky went to check on Hermione.

"Is there anything I can do Miss Hermione?" she asked Hermione who was coming out of the bathroom and rubbing the sleep of of her eyes.

"Oh Winky... yes if you could press my black robes."

"Yes Miss Hermione – is there anything else?"

"No... that's all thank you."

"Breakfast is almost ready Miss Hermione."

"I'll be there shortly."

Winky quickly pressed Hermione's robes and had the table set with one large place setting and one small one for herself. Hermione insisted that Winky have a breakfast meal every morning and Winky was still trying to get used to the idea. House-elves were never allowed to eat alongside members of the household and Winky felt very uncomfortable about the whole idea. This was one of the many things that made Hermione 'different' from any other employers she had ever known or heard tell of. She had just placed a copy of the Daily Prophet beside Hermione's setting when the lady of the house arrived at the table.

"Oh thanks Winky... this looks great. What do you have planned today?" Hermione said and thumbed through the Prophet while sipping coffee.

"The kitchen needs cleaning Miss. Pretty badly from the looks of things."

"Oh yeah, you're right. I spilled some soup on the hob the other night and it burned in before I could clean it off."

"Yes Miss and the floors... well they definitely needs attention."

"Oh yes – sorry," she said apologetically while wrinkling her nose.

"Don't you worry about it. Don't you worry about it at all. That's why you got Winky here."

"And it's a good thing too – I've got a big day ahead," Hermione said over a smile and a sip of coffee.

"Yes mam... and will you be looking over Mr. Draco's case?" the little house-elf sheepishly inquired. Hermione looked up with a shot.

"Well no. Cynthia Sickles is assigned to be Draco's case officer. How did you know about this?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Oh well... we house-elves, we hears a lot you know. Dottie, a good friend of mine that works at the castle – she knows the house-elves at Malfoy manor and she tells me these things," Winky gingerly explained while sipping her coffee.

"Oh... I see. Well that makes sense. Well, better be going. You have a nice day Winky," Hermione said pushed away from the table.

"And you has a nice day too Miss Hermione. Don't you worry about a thing."

‡‡‡‡‡

The sun was settling softly below the rooftops and the city was changing it's face for the evening. As the glare of daylight disappeared, street lamps began to glow and bright colors began to take on a warmer hue. All along the streets, conversation and laughter were beginning to replace the sounds of automobile noises. The day's breeze was slowing to a still and the evening air was beginning to fall. So many restaurants and grills were working to produce distinctly different cuisines and the scents they produced were coalescing in the streets as a single aroma of cooking food.

"It was a long day today – glad it's over," Hermione said looking over to Ron with curiosity. "So where we going anyway – and what's the occasion?"

"Well, we didn't get to go out for your birthday... remember I was still in Romania. Thought we could do that tonight," he said.

"Yeah, but Ron that's been ages ago," she said with a chuckle.

"Oh, here we are – I think this is the place," Ron said as they both paused at the door of a small street-side pub. They stood in silence for a moment and then finally Ron made a move for the door. The hostess received them and Ron said something to her Hermione couldn't quite make out. The dining area was rather narrow but the small balcony area they were seated at was very nice. The lighting was warm and comfortable.

"So how did you find this place Ron?" Hermione asked inquisitively.

"Harry mentioned it one day as we walked past. Said it was really nice, and then he sorta gave me that look. You know that far away look he gets these days when..."

"Yeah – I know the look," Hermione quickly added cutting him off.

Hermione knew the look well. It was that far-off countenance Harry would occasionally drift into whenever he started thinking of Sandy Sparkelyn. He still hadn't gotten over her and Hermione felt the less Ron knew about it the better. Hermione still had hopes that he and Ginny could patch things up before too long and the last thing they needed was any meddling or interference from Ron.

The waiter had taken notice and was pleasantly striding up to the table.

"Can I start you two off with drinks?" he asked in his most professional voice. Ron paused and waited for Hermione to go first.

"Just a house ale for me please," she said.

"Make that two," Ron added and the waiter disappeared with a smile. Hermione smiled at Ron's conservative form of manners. When she was younger she was always so happy to visit the Burrow. It was so comforting to be around a large family where magic was the norm. She could never escape the feeling she was the odd egg in her own household. With so many brothers, a sister, and magical parents, Ron was always in the know with everything magic. At least it seemed that way. He certainly had a head start on Harry and her. But with every advantage with things magical, he never appeared completely comfortable in Muggle environments.

"So how was your day?" she asked, still fishing for any clue as to Ron's motives for the evening dinner date.

The waiter arrived with menus and the drinks before Ron could summon an answer. He took a heavy pull from the mug of house ale and then contemplated Hermione's question.

"Pretty much a normal day I suppose. Maybe too quiet actually," he said as if still pondering on the question.

"Did Kingsley talk to you about the new training program?" she asked after a tentative sip on the house ale. Ron looked back as if he just tasted something sour.

"Oh yeah. I'm to get with Ms. Rosemarkie." Ron looked around to make sure no one was near. "Begin the Muggle studies and all that. Harry says it's awful."

"Yeah, I know he hated it. But it'll be good training for you. This is definitely a good opportunity for you," she said, trying to be upbeat.

"Yeah..." Ron threw back the mug as if to wash away the thought of training with Ms. Rosemarkie. "The job should pay more," he finally added and looked hard into Hermione's hazel eyes. She looked back for a few seconds, still trying to guess what was on Ron's mind.

He's probably just in an overly amorous mood tonight. Hmmm... a weeknight. His chances are not so good. He should order us a light meal and one more drink if he wants to have any luck at all.

"Yes I would think it would be better pay for you," she eventually managed.

The waiter came back around wearing a curious expression and a towel draped over his arm.

"We have fresh fish special tonight. It's very good," he said with as much enthusiasm as possible.

"That's sounds good to me," Hermione replied and the waiter nodded pleasantly. That should be light enough – at least I'll give him a sporting chance.

At first it appeared as if Ron was to say, 'make it two', but he hesitated.

"I'll have the bangers and mash please."

"Certainly. Good choice sir," the waiter said disingenuously and immediately disappeared.

Not being able to sustain her curiosity any longer, Hermione was compelled to inquire as to the true cause of occasion.

"So why are we out tonight Ron – and I know it's not my birthday," she said grinning. Ron looked away and seemed put off by the question.

"Well, that's not all of it. How long have we been dating?" he fired back.

"Don't know – when did we officially start," she asked and Ron had no answer.

"Long enough I would think," he countered.

"Long enough for what," she implored. "Are you about to dump me?"

"Not at all. I was just wondering... now that I should be making more money. Uh – shouldn't I be making plans," he struggled to say and Hermione was somewhat clueless.

"What kind of plans exactly?"

"The plans that involve us both."

"I think I follow you Ron. But I'm not completely sure what you mean," she said slowly and deliberately.

"What if I asked you – right now – the question, you know?" he asked and Hermione's hazel eyes widened considerably.

"The down on one knee question!?" she asked with a look of complete bewilderment.

"Yeah... that question. I guess?"

Hermione shook her head as if to clear away cobwebs.

"Oh wow. I think I need another drink," she said without thinking.

"Waiter," Ron called out and pointed to Hermione's empty glass and then his own. The waiter brought re-fills over and Hermione was ready to break the silence.

"I don't know Ron. You'll have to get down on one knee and ask. That's the only way I'll really know for sure."

Ron frowned at the answer.

"I guess that's not a very fair way to ask is it?" he said as he realized the evening was not going as planned..

"No, it's a fair question... " she said in an upbeat tone. "Not very romantic, but I suppose it's fair," she replied and paused to add. "Ron, right now... I don't think we're ready," she added.

"You don't... why not?"

"Where would we live? My flat is two small for two, and I don't see how we could afford anything bigger right now."

"I've been thinking. We could add on to Bill and Fleur's. I don't think they would mind," he stated calmly.

"Oh, I don't know Ron. We'd have to talk to them. They haven't been married too long themselves and probably enjoy the privacy," she said and Ron nodded in sullen agreement.

"You're answers – they're all about practical things. Money, room and board, living space, and stuff like that?"

"Yes. And we can work on that," she said after a bit of reflection.

"I see - So how was your day today," he asked as if to give up on the original line of questioning. Hermione didn't wish to see his feelings hurt and returned briefly to the subject.

"I think we should work on our finances a little while and we'll talk on this subject again," she said while looking Ron in the eye firmly. "You'll never guess what Winky asked today?"

"Yeah, what's that?" Ron asked, trying without conviction to be upbeat.

"She wanted to know if I would be Draco's case officer – apparently this is the current gossip among the house-elves."

"I think the house-elves know more than we give them credit," he said as the waiter returned with the meal.

"She said she knew another house-elf working at the castle called 'Dottie', I think, and she was somehow tied in with house-elves at Malfoy Manor. It just seemed a little odd," she said nibbling at the fish.

"So what'd you tell her, about ol Draco, that is?"

"I told her Cynthia Sickles would be his case officer," and Ron nodded deeply.

"Have any idea what kind of work they'll have for him," Ron asked while gnawing on a sausage.

"Not completely sure, but it should be easy enough I would think."

"That's better than what he deserves," Ron quickly added.

"So how's Ginny? Heard from her lately?"

"Nah... she's totally involved in Quidditch. Should be home for Christmas. She hasn't asked anything about Harry – that's kind of odd, don't you think?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Really? Yeah, that doesn't seem like Ginny," she replied with mock surprise and Ron nodded without a clue. Harry and Ginny had gotten into quite a row but Ron knew few of the details. It was a big mess really and Hermione wasn't about to let Ron in on the story. It had involved her and Lance, then Sandy and Lance, and then Harry going out with Sandy, and in revenge finally Ginny and Lance.

She knew part of the problem was her fault and the rest of the blame belonged to Arthur and Molly for being so damned strict on Ginny. Hermione had gotten involved with Lance while looking for her parents in Australia. She had somewhat paid for her transgressions on this matter as Ron had always known somehow. But he never pressed her for details, and she wasn't about to volunteer any at a time like this. Kingsley had stayed in touch with Hermione during her search, through the Australian Ministry. It was during this correspondence that the Australian Ministry learned of the shortage of Aurors in the UK, and Kingsley heard how Lance was a good Auror but needed finishing abroad.

Lance had shown Hermione around Perth and turned out to be a very helpful friend. After she found her parents, sadly, there was still weeks of recovery left to reverse all the memory spells. At times it seemed like she would never be able to undo all the magic, and her world would never be like it was before the war. On just such an evening, when things were going badly, she walked down to a nearby beach bar to get away from it all. She had just sat down with a beer when Lance showed up bringing his outdoorsy good looks. He had asked her out a number of times and while very tempted to go she had to refuse. She had found him gorgeous and hard to resist, but her life was all hosed-up and she desperately wanted to keep it simple. On this evening, she laughed at his persistence and they talked for a long time before taking a walk down the beach...

"Do you have any idea what they're fighting about?" Ron interrupted her dream to ask. She hated to lie but couldn't tell the whole story.

"Would you hate me if I just said, I'd rather not get into it?" she pleaded and Ron shrugged as Hermione took a belt of the house ale and slipped back into dream-like memories.

...It was a beautiful afternoon and they stopped to sit atop the dunes to watch a lovely sunset. The sun that day sank slowly into a molten sea, and they continued to watch from the dunes as the moonlit cooled waters turned into shards of blue. She felt his arm around her and then his mouth fumbled for hers. All her reserves melted like the golden sunset and they crawled further into the dunes as wave after wave broke on the beach. She awoke from the dream, biting her lip nervously.

"You're blushing," Ron said.

"Ah, it's just the beer. Very good actually."

They finished the meal and Hermione was thinking now of Ginny as Ron signaled the waiter for the check.

...She had left Perth for the UK content in thinking that what happens in Australia stays in Australia. She was as surprised as any when Lance showed up for a bit of extra training with the UK Ministry. She played the dangerous game of juggling time between Ron and Lance until, with enough discouragement, Lance stayed away long enough to form an attraction to Sandy and disappeared. But only until Harry came along and messed that up.

Molly and Arthur had never been convinced all the troubles from the war had truly ended. They were worried that an of act of vengeance against Harry might go so far as to include their daughter. They thought it best the two should stay apart until Ginny had finished school and ugly aftereffects of the war had a chance to cool down. Harry didn't understand this and had been seeing Sandy in Ginny's absence. On the night before Ginny left for school, Harry had suggested 'they see others', and Ginny was hurt and Hermione was furious. So the stage was ripe for revenge. Hermione set the two up and they met in Hogsmeade. The incredible irony was that no one suspected. All eyes had been on Ginny and Harry. No one ever suspected Ginny was sneaking off to Hogsmeade to meet with Lance.

Before long Ginny found Lance just as addictive and hard to get rid of as Hermione had. When Harry found out what had been going on he went ballistic. To avoid troubles – serious troubles, Lance took a leave of absence for Australia. There was no way now that Hermione could ever explain all of this to Ron.

"You about ready?" Ron asked her.

"Sure, the meal was great Ron – really nice," she said and Ron nodded, not looking very happy about the evening. "You Okay?"

"Sure."

Back out on the street, the evening air was cool but not unbearable and Hermione reached for Ron's arm.

"What's on your mind Ron?" she asked playfully.

"I expect you'll need to get back," he said sullenly.

She had enjoyed a light meal, a couple of drinks, and now enjoyed a warm tingly feeling in her tummy.

"Wah yeah... as long as it's with you," she said in his ear.

AN: Ahhh... I worried about this chapter. All the racy back story about Lance and the girls came from Twelve Gates but wasn't appropriate to tell in that story. Somehow it all had to come out, and this story was just the place to tell it. Or so I thought... It's all just fun right?

The first few chapters will come out quickly, then after the third will begin the two week trickle...