How to Play Nice by WeasleyForMe
Bill finds out that his new work assignment has him paired with Hermione. Can he learn how to play nice with her? Bill/Hermione
Acting fast, Hermione sent her Patronus directly to the Minister of Magic. "Cast a quick notice-me-not charm on the area and then follow me," she told Bill, pulling herself into a crouching position behind the shrubbery.
For the first time in months, Bill felt the sensation of excitement for his work. It was like he was in a Muggle police show, complete with a bad guy and a sexy assistant. He couldn't help but smile as he cast the charm, on the surrounding area, immediately bringing the culprit to full alertness.
"He knows we're here," Bill murmured to Hermione.
"Wait until his back is turned," Hermione whispered, watching the man turn back and forth, looking for the source of the magic.
In a split second, Hermione and Bill both appeared on the hillside and shot simultaneous jinxes. He was first hit with Bill's bat-bogey hex followed by Hermione's expelliarmus. Hermione caught the wizard's wand as Bill tried to bind his arms.
"Ginny is a genius," Bill called to Hermione over the sound of the bat-bogeys attacking their victim. "This hex is horrible!" It took Bill a few moments to tie him up, but once he did he threw him on the ground and towered over him.
"I think it is Macnair," Bill said of the rather ugly man on the ground before him.
Hermione examined him as well, and the man snarled up at her. "It doesn't make any sense," she muttered.
With a pop from the sound of apparition, Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared with two officers from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He immediately assessed the situation. "Walden Macnair is in Azkaban. Who the bloody hell is this?"
"His brother, Willard," snarled their prisoner, his black eyes sparkling.
"Impossible," Hermione countered. "We have on record that every known Death Eater is either dead or in Azkaban."
"You stupid Mudblood," he spat. "Not every follower of the Dark Arts has taken the Dark Mark. We are everywhere."
With the speed of a snitch in flight, Bill reached down and threw his fist across Macnair's jowl. "That's disrespectful," Bill growled.
"Enough," Kingsley said with finality, taking Macnair's wand from Hermione.
Hermione gave Bill a small smile as the law officers bound their prisoner and recited his rights. "Willard Macnair, you will be charged for crimes and conspiracies against Muggles. You have the right to remain silent. You will forfeit your wand unless your innocence can be proven."
"Thanks," Hermione muttered to Bill once the prisoner had been apparated away. His heart swelled as a blush spread across her cheeks.
"I don't know why I bothered to doubt you, Hermione. You always do the best work," Kingsley said grasping her hand in his. "The two of you make a great team."
Bill and Hermione shared an amused look; that was a pretty large overstatement.
"Why don't you let me file the report? Take the rest of the day off," Kingsley suggested before apparating away with a smile on his face for the first time in weeks, firmly grasping the hexed letter.
Hermione turned to Bill and ran her fingers through her hair. "Whoa, did he just suggest we take the rest of the day for ourselves?"
Bill chuckled and responded, "Yeah, I think so, and it's barely even lunchtime."
She beamed back at him. "Nice job today, lunch is on me."
A little while later they were sitting at a small table in the Leaky Cauldron, enjoying a pint, lunch and each other's company. "How many others do you think there are? Practicing the Dark Arts?" she asked, taking a small bite of her sandwich. She watched Bill's reaction closely.
"You mean the ones that haven't been identified?" he asked, popping some chips into his mouth. "Hard to say. It seems a little cowardly on their part, never having taken a Dark Mark, but trying to continue the Dark Arts now that Voldemort is gone."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "But I don't think there has been any record of Willard Macnair since he was a student."
"Makes sense, if he doesn't have a criminal record," Bill agreed.
"Ugh, I'm sure the Minister will be increasing my weekly meetings to every other day se we can get to the bottom of this," she groaned.
"Wait, you mean to tell me that Kingsley makes you sit down with him every week for a meeting? How can you be expected to do that?" Bill asked pausing before taking a bite of fish.
"It's not just me! Sometimes he has your father come as well, and sometimes Remus is there amongst a large group of Ministry officers he rounds up," she informed him setting down the last bit of her sandwich. "Do you know how hard it is to have a serious conversation with Tonks, Remus, Mad-Eye and your father? I can remember all of them getting sloshed at the Order holiday party! And Kingsley was dancing on the tables at your wedding!" Hermione said with a laugh before choking on her own words. "Sorry," she muttered apologetically.
Bill's expression remained neutral at the candid reminder of Fleur. Truth be told, he felt little emotion for his ex-wife at this point. He ran his fingers along a set of scars on his neck and shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he replied with a smile. "It's not so bad now that I moved out of Shell Cottage, but it would have been a lot easier if there was another assignment for me in Egypt."
Hermione couldn't help but feel that she and Ron would have had the same outcome if they had continued on their path. "Yeah, well Ron basically joined the Tutshill Tornados just to get away from me after we broke up, so I understand."
She examined Bill as he finished his beer. To say he was handsome was an understatement, and he had been so brave during the war. Was he cocky? Yes, he had his moments. Was he opinionated? Only as much as Hermione was. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out what happened to his marriage. He had seen Bill with Fleur, seen the way he adored his wife. He was a protector, someone who would fight for what was right. Perhaps it was Fleur who had brought out his snarky attitude.
He grinned at her, bringing to her attention the fact that she had been staring. She swallowed hard; Fleur's loss would surely be another lucky girl's gain.
"Oh, is it really five o'clock?" Hermione asked when she looked at the clock. "I've got to get going."
"You don't want another pint?" Bill asked gesturing to their empty mugs.
She smiled across the tiny table at him. "As much fun as it would be to spend my whole paycheck feeding you and buying you beers, I need go get ready for a date," she said feeling a little guilty.
Bill unexpectedly felt a lump in his throat. After a hard swallow he asked himself why that bit of news was so shocking to him? After all, wasn't she smart and beautiful and hadn't he himself thought about her on a date with him, or maybe even more? "Oh yeah, who's the lucky guy?"
With a slight hesitation, she said, "Zacharias Smith."
"Are you serious?" Bill asked almost falling out of his chair. "I've heard of that wanker! How do you think I got Ginny to teach me her bat-bogey hex? She was willing to show it to me, because she had just tested it out on that scumbag at school. You're way too good for him, Hermione!" Bill was suddenly seething.
"But he's changed a lot since Hogwarts. And it's only my second date with him," Hermione said, trying to justify her situation, not that she really felt any loyalty to Zacharias. She squirmed in her seat, fully remembering how badly he had acted when they were students.
"I also heard that he gave Harry a hard time until Fred and George threatened him," Bill said crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Besides, he's a Hufflepuff with no backbone. You're smart and beautiful; you deserve a brave, courageous Gryffindor, nothing less."
Hermione pulled out a few galleons and set them on the table. "Well since none of those seem to be jumping at the chance to ask me out, I will take what I can get!" she replied indignantly. "See you on Monday," she said and made her way to the pub door.
Just as she was about to apparate home, Hermione froze. "Smart and beautiful," she muttered, repeating Bill's words. But when she turned and looked back through the front window, Bill was no longer at the small table.
Oh Bill, inadvertently being charming! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please review.