A Dressing Down.
When Harry entered the office to prepare for the morning's training session he thought he was early, but Hermione had still beaten him to work and she was already sitting at her desk. If it hadn't been for the fact it was Monday, and they'd had the weekend off he would had wondered if Hermione had even been home, but he figured she was just early. He did wonder if she was so early so she could deal with the press attention that would surely follow their magazine that had appeared in the previous day's Prophet, but he quickly realised Hermione wasn't doing any work, she was just sitting staring into space.
"Earth to Hermione," Harry called, waving his hand in front of her face.
"Sorry." Looking up Hermione smiled at Harry, but he could see it didn't reach her eyes, which were troubled. "Morning, Harry."
"What's wrong?" Harry questioned, perching on his friend's desk.
"I guess I should tell you," Hermione began. "There was an incident with Ron yesterday."
"You saw Ron yesterday?" Harry questioned, his face contorting into anger at the thought of Ron bothering Hermione. "Let's guess, he turned up to have a go at you about the magazine."
"How did you know?"
"He tried it on with me at The Burrow. He came storming in, saying we'd only given him and Ginny half a page deliberately. I'd already had the same conversation with Ginny, but Ron seemed more fired up. I told him it was the paper that put the magazine together, but he didn't believe me."
"No, he thought that was my doing."
"I'm sorry Hermione," Harry said to his partner. "If I'd known he was going to turn on you, I wouldn't have left. I would have stayed and kept him under control."
"It's not your fault, Harry," Hermione said with a reassuring smile.
"I hope you told him where to get off," Harry said. "I think we need to have a serious talk to him about his conduct. He can't go around acting like this."
"You're right, we need to do something," Hermione agreed. "But it gets worse."
"Worse than him coming to have a go at you?"
Hermione nodded. "When Ron turned up, Draco was there. Ron saw him when he was leaving, so now he knows about us."
"He didn't take it well, I presume," Harry said.
"What do you think?" Hermione asked with a bitter laugh. "In fact he got rather nasty and implied that Draco got his double spread in the magazine because he was sleeping with me. He also implied that was how Blaise got his as well."
"He didn't," Harry gasped, genuinely appalled by Ron's suggestion. He'd always known his redheaded friend had a temper and often said things without thinking, but to accuse Hermione of something so horrible was just unforgivable.
"He did," Hermione confirmed. "I was ready to give him a good slap, but Draco beat him to it and punched him."
"Good for Draco," Harry said with a satisfied nod.
"Ron deserved it, but you know him and this won't be the end of it," Hermione said. "If he goes to the papers, we could have a media storm on our hands before the season even begins. At the very least he's going to spill the beans about my relationship with Draco."
"Firstly, anyone who thinks like Ron is a moron and doesn't deserve the time of day," Harry began. "Secondly, it was going to come out anyway unless you aren't serious about each other."
"It's too early to be planning the wedding or anything, but I certainly see a future for us," Hermione said.
"Then embrace the fact it's now going to be public knowledge," Harry advised. "And leave Ronald to me."
"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked warily.
"I'm going to remind him just who the bosses are at this club," Harry replied. "Friend or no friend, he can't go around behaving as he did yesterday."
"Don't do anything you'll regret," Hermione warned.
"I'm not the one who's going to be regretting anything, that will be Ron," Harry vowed as he got off Hermione desk and stalked towards the door.
Leaving the small office block they'd had built, Harry headed into the next building which were the changing rooms. By now the squad had all arrived, and he found the changing rooms deserted as everyone had already changed and were out on the training ground. Passing through the changing rooms, Harry emerged onto the training ground to find Theo and the other coaches were putting the squad through their warm-ups.
"Morning Harry," Theo greeted solemnly.
"Problem?" Harry asked.
"I'm assuming you know Draco's been seeing Hermione?" Theo asked.
"I knew," Harry confirmed with a nod. "I take it you did."
"Yeah, Blaise and I knew," Theo replied. "But it's now common knowledge with the rest of the squad. Weasley started the rumours, and I have to tell you, they're not flattering to Hermione. Blaise literally had to stop Draco from laying into him this morning. I've got them at separate ends of the pitch, but something needs to be done. The atmosphere between the pair of toxic."
"What's the rest of the squad had to say?" Harry asked. "They don't share Ron's views do they?"
"Of course not," Theo replied with a small smile. "No-one cares, Harry. They all know who Draco is dating won't affect his place on the team. Unless they're hiding it well, everyone seems to wish him and Hermione well. The only one who I haven't heard comment is your girlfriend. I don't know what she thinks, but at least she's had the sense not to say anything negative."
"I'm sure I'll find out about Ginny's views soon enough," Harry remarked. "But for now, it's time I dealt with Ron."
Spotting his friend over the far side of the pitch, Harry walked around the pitch until he was close enough to grab Ron's attention. When Ron flew down towards him, Harry spotted bruising around his nose and under his eyes. Ron's nose itself looked fine, and if it had been broken, it had been fixed, but he'd likely just left the bruising for effect or to try and get some sympathy.
"We need to talk," Harry said, not bothering with greetings.
"If this is about yesterday, then I'm sorry for having a go at you Harry," Ron said, actually sounding genuinely apologetic.
"This is about yesterday, but it's not about what you said to me," Harry said. "I want you in the office in five minutes."
"But what about training?" Ron asked, frowning at Harry's dismissive attitude.
"Training can wait," Harry replied. "My office, five minutes and don't be late."
Turning on his heel, Harry walked back around the pitch and after telling Theo to just get on with training, he headed back to the office. The only reason he'd given Ron five minutes to follow him was because he wanted to warn Hermione in case she wanted to leave the office.
"I do have a few things I need to do," Hermione said. She felt bad for running away, but she knew she wasn't ready to deal with Ron just yet and in all likelihood if she saw him anytime soon she would end up giving him a well-deserved slap.
"I don't think this will take long," Harry said as Hermione gathered a few bits and pieces and slid them into her bag.
"It's okay, I'll probably be out all morning now," Hermione replied. "Maybe we can have some lunch together?"
"I'd like that," Harry replied with a smile. "How about the new café in Diagon Alley at twelve?"
"It's a date," Hermione said with a smile as she hurried out of the office before Ron arrived.
With perfect timing, Ron knocked on the main door just seconds after Hermione had exited via the back door. Settling down at his desk, Harry called for his friend to enter and when Ron did, he gestured to the chair that was sitting in front of his desk.
"This all seems very formal," Ron said, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
"That's because it is," Harry replied. "How could you, Ron? Hermione is your best friend, do you really think so little of her?"
"It's nice to know whose side you're on, Harry," Ron snapped. "Has it ever occurred to you to get my side of the story? I'll have you know, I was assaulted yesterday."
"From what I hear, you got exactly what you deserve," Harry shot back. "Or is Hermione lying, and after you accused her of deliberately sabotaging your piece in the magazine, you didn't imply she made sure Draco and Blaise got more coverage through sleeping with her?"
"It wasn't quite like that," Ron muttered. "Although, I take it from your lack of surprise that you knew she was shagging Malfoy."
"Yes, Hermione confided in me she was seeing Draco," Harry answered. "Maybe if you weren't such a judgmental arsehole, she would have told you too."
"This isn't about me, Harry, this is about Hermione," Ron protested. "She's the one carrying on with one of the team. You do know her reputation is ruined now. Everyone knows Malfoy is just shagging her to ensure his place on the team."
"No Ron, no-one but you believes such tosh," Harry replied, working hard to keep his temper under control. "Draco never had to sleep with anyone at The Tornadoes to get a place on the team, and he certainly doesn't have to do it here. He's a genuinely good player, and he'd walk into any team in the league. No-one with any brains would ever suggest his relationship with Hermione was to aid his career. Firstly, he doesn't need to do it, secondly, Hermione isn't the sort of person to indulge in such things, and thirdly, as it's been said many a time, Hermione has no say over the team, that is my call. Sleeping with Hermione won't get anyone on the team. If anything, it's your sister that could face calls of nepotism since she's the one sleeping with the one man who chooses the team."
"Don't bring Ginny into this," Ron warned in a low voice.
"I'm just saying, she's the one who could potentially benefit from shagging the boss," Harry said with a shrug. "Not that she will, and she knows it. I'm not picking this team on friendships, romantic relationships or anything else of a personal nature. I will pick the best team for each game, and I will pick the best players. I've made that clear, and if you don't believe me then that's your problem."
"Do what you want, Harry," Ron spat. "Now, can I go, I've got training to get back to?"
"Actually, you haven't," Harry said. "I can't just let this drop, Ron. You went round to Hermione's home and insulted her, and she's your boss. I can't let you get away with such blatant disregard for authority. Like it or not, this is our club, not yours, and we can run it as we see fit. So I'm suspending you for a week without pay."
"But the season starts in eleven days," Ron protested. "We play our first match next Friday evening. If I miss a week's training, I won't stand a chance of making the first team."
"And whose fault is that?" Harry returned, unmoved by Ron's pleas. "This will be going on your record, Ron, and if you carry on like this we'll be left with no choice but to terminate your contract."
"You're going to sack me?" Ron asked in a hollow voice, hardly able to believe what Harry was saying.
"If you continue to show such disrespect to your bosses," Harry confirmed with a nod.
"And what about Malfoy? Is he going to be punished for hitting me?" Ron demanded. "Or does that not count because he's Hermione's shag buddy?"
"Draco will be dealt with," Harry said. As much as he agreed with what Draco had done, he did know he needed to reprimand the blond wizard as they couldn't have anyone bringing the team into disrepute. "And just a final warning Ron. If you even think about going to the papers and spreading stories about Draco, or Hermione and Draco's relationship, you're finished with The Cannons. You're my best friend Ron and I don't want to lose you, but I can't let you ruin my club."
"You've made your position crystal clear," Ron snarled as he got to his feet. "Since I'm suspended, I'm going to go and get changed and go home. Thanks for nothing, Harry."
"You only have yourself to blame, Ron," Harry said sadly as his friend stalked out of the office.
Once Ron had left the premises, Harry went back down to the training ground and grabbed Draco for a quick chat. The first thing he did was thank the blond for defending Hermione's honour, but then he had to issue him with a warning and made it clear that violence wouldn't be tolerated at The Cannons.
"You won't get any trouble from me," Draco vowed. "But you need to get Weasley to wind his neck in. You can't expect me to stand back and listen to him spread nasty rumours about Hermione."
"I've dealt with Ron, and he won't be spreading any more malicious gossip," Harry assured the blond. "Just do me a favour, and when he comes back to training next week, just ignore him. I know Ron and once he realises he's not getting to you, he'll back off."
"He better," Draco said. "I don't want to ruin this chance you've given me, Harry, but I care about Hermione and I won't let her name be dragged through the mud."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't let that happen," Harry promised. "You just focus on your quidditch and keeping Hermione happy and leave Ron for me to deal with."
After sorting things with Draco, Harry headed off to meet Hermione for lunch, where he filled her in on how things had gone with Ron. Hermione was rather shocked that Harry had suspended Ron for a week, but she was hoping it would be the wake-up call he needed. Maybe it would finally help him accept that her and Harry were the bosses, and being their best friend afforded him no privileges. And if not, it looked as though this would be the beginning of the end for Ron and The Chudley Cannons.