Chapter 1: Uncomfortable Obligations

A light snow fell as Hermione headed toward The Leaky Cauldron to meet Ron for lunch. She was a little nervous about her original reason for asking him to meet her, but just before she left a letter arrived that had her stomach knotted in a tense ball. The owl that brought it looked exhausted when it arrived, so she knew it'd come a long way. She'd given the poor bird two treats and some water before she sent it to the Owlry. The firm, thick strokes of Viktor's handwriting were on the envelope. Hermione hadn't spoken to him since last summer at the World Cup, so she was surprised to hear from him.

The letter's contents made her decide to walk from the Ministry building all the way to The Leaky Cauldron rather than Apparate. She needed the time to clear her head and decide how to approach Ron with this information. When it rains, it pours, Hermione thought, or in this case drops great loads of snow. Why the hell am I out in this? Unusual for London, the intensity of the snowfall had increased dramatically since she started walking.

She stamped her feet and shook snow from her cloak before hanging it on a peg in the entranceway of the pub. She was casting a spell to get the snow out of her hair when she spotted Ron tucked away at a corner table, staring at a menu, with a glass of pumpkin juice in front of him. She made her way over to him, jostling past the lunch crowd.

When he saw her, he stood and pulled out a chair for her, kissing her as she moved to sit down. "You're frozen," he said as he came out of the kiss.

"I decided to walk." A large teapot was floating around the room. She picked up the cup in front of her and held it out. The teapot sailed toward her and filled it.

"In the snow? What on earth for?"

Hermione took a sip of her tea and cleared her throat. "To clear my head, I suppose."

Ron raised his eyebrows. "I don't like the sound of that. What's happened?"

Hermione pushed damp hair off her forehead. "Well, I'm thinking of taking a sabbatical from the Ministry. And I need to go to a funeral."

"What? Who died?"

Hermione shook her head. "You don't know him."

A waitress came over to take their order. Ron asked for bangers and mash and Hermione wanted a Cornish pasty with mushy peas on the side. When the waitress left, Hermione turned back to Ron.

Hermione held her teacup in both hands, appreciating the warmth. "Originally, I asked you to lunch to talk about something unexpected that happened at Hogwarts."

"Are you talking about Binns?"

"Yes. Who told you?"

"Harry sent me an owl this morning. I can't believe the old windbag finally passed over."

Hermione sipped her tea. "McGonagall came to see me this morning about it. The school is in a bit of a lurch, coming as it has in the middle of the school year."

"Yeah. Harry said right now they just aren't teaching History of Magic, but that's no solution."

"Exactly."

Ron chuckled. "Maybe they'll get a history professor that's actually alive this time. Hang on, you aren't thinking of taking the job, are you?"

Hermione smiled awkwardly and sipped her tea.

"Really?" He shook his head. "I could see you teaching Transfiguration or Charms, but History of Magic? Won't that be dead boring?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It was only dead boring because a dead man taught it. I think I'd rather like it actually. I've had loads of ideas ever since she suggested it."

"What made McGonagall think of you?"

Their food sailed over and landed in front of them.

Hermione poked at the mushy peas with her fork. "I ran into her at the Ministry a few weeks ago. We talked for awhile and I mentioned that I had considered teaching at some point in future."

"I didn't know you were interested in teaching, " Ron said around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"I've been toying with the idea for awhile now." She continued pushing the peas around on her plate.

Ron cocked his head at her. "I thought we were working on your next move."

Hermione dropped her eyes. "I know, but it isn't happening, and I'm wondering if my job isn't part of the problem, I mean, in addition to the actual problem."

Ron took her hand. "The healer said it might take awhile, it hasn't even been six months."

"Still, I just feel like a break from being an Unspeakable might help." Self-consciously she ran her other hand along the scar on her side. When she realized that Ron's eyes were following she moved it. "It's just a sabbatical. I'll finish out the year at Hogwarts and then, if I want to go back to the Ministry, I can."

Ron nodded. "All right then. Who died?"

Hermione sighed. "Todor Golakov."

"And that is?"

"Viktor's best friend. The funeral is in two days in Sofia." Hermione ran her finger along a groove in the tabletop and waited.

"Sofia, as in the city in Bulgaria, Sofia?"

"Yes," she nodded. A frosty silence descended between them.