Chapter 56

Christmas had been an enjoyable event for everyone at the Burrow. There had been a lot of laughter, a lot of squeals of delight from the children (including Teddy), and as usual, Molly had cooked a delicious meal that would have fed them all twice over.

With extra mouths to feed these days, now that four of her children were married and one had children of his own, they were forced into the Burrow's garden despite the intense cold and light snowfall outside. Hermione, Bill and Arthur had performed warming charms and set some fires around the large, magically extended table in order to prevent them all from freezing.

The fires, flickering as they ate, had set a really good mood for the remainder of the day and evening. They'd played games of Exploding Snap, Bill and Ron had versed each other in chess, and then Bill and Victoire had versed Ron at the game, to which he had lost and Victoire had made sure to tell everyone of the fact that she had won despite her contributing nothing to the victory.

Everyone stayed until midnight that day, Bill and Fleur carrying their sleeping children over to the fireplace and Andromeda escorting a very droopy Teddy Lupin after them. Ron and Hermione Disapparated directly to their house and collapsed into bed moments after, sleeping until after nine on Boxing Day.

Despite finding his job manageable, Ron also enjoyed the time off he'd been able to scrape in over the Christmas break. He had a whole week to spend with Hermione, and they made the most of it with date nights, date lunches, date breakfasts, and spending the rest of their time catching up with Harry and Ginny, visiting Shell Cottage, or doing nothing — something that Hermione had become more acquainted with in the past months and seemed to enjoy.

It had been a wonderful week for them, but as the new year came round, all offices in the Ministry reopened and by the second of January, the place was bustling and back to usual again.

Ron couldn't help but sigh, pushing his way through the atrium in order to search for a lift that wouldn't be overcrowded and take forever to get him to his office. Hermione had hurried off already with a pile of paperwork in her arms, her robes flapping behind her as she was trailed by five other people desperate to ask her questions. She was quickly lost in the throng of Ministry workers, looking irritated and resentful that despite her trying her best to manage her workload better, the people she worked with didn't seem to get it.

That morning, Ron had heard her muttering to herself as she gathered everything to take with her, saying, "just two more days, just two more days." She'd come to look forward to the weekends.

A lift became available quickly and Ron entered with a few others from different departments, all engrossed in their own musings as they were taken to their destinations.

As he waited for it to reach his own level, Ron couldn't help but feel a small amount of despair in knowing that it would be back to business in a few moments. He'd be sat behind a desk with piles of paperwork building up in front of him — probably more so considering he'd been away for a week — and living in hope that someone would send him out somewhere to do something exciting.

Training to become an Auror had been thrilling, for they'd been assigned a balance of theory and practical challenges to give them a sound knowledge and thorough experience in all areas of Dark Magic. They'd always been on the move, learning and using spells that were new to them, Disapparating and Apparating all over Britain to chase down magical people or things that were causing distress to others.

Being an actual Auror was entirely different, however. The training tasks had been set up most of the time — illusions or spells to give them practice. The reality was that since the downfall of Voldemort, and most of the Death Eaters either dead or imprisoned, the wizarding world had become a harmonious place to currently live. On the few occasions there was an issue, only one or two Aurors were required, and they were fairly simple things that they gave to the trainees rather than the qualified Aurors.

It had been almost two years of this for Ron and if he was being honest, it was starting to wear him down. This had been his dream job for as long as he could remember — the prestige of it had always appealed to him and he liked the idea of catching Dark wizards — but that was back when there had been Dark wizards to catch. Now, it was just filing and paperwork and getting paid a decent amount to do it.

Really, he shouldn't have been complaining, but when he thought about all the successes Hermione had had in her career — as miserable as she currently was — it made him feel rather lousy. She was doing so many great and amazing things where she was and had literally made an impact on the whole of wizarding society with her work. And what were his successes? Getting the highest score on his combined theory and practical exams to become an Auror? What good was that when he didn't get to use any of that knowledge?

The lift came to an abrupt halt, announcing his level, and he stepped out, starting along the corridor that led to the Auror Office.

It was just because it was his first day back, he decided, doing his best to shake off his gloominess. Once he was back into a routine, he'd feel better. And besides, what other option did he have? He wasn't skilled in anything else, and he wouldn't earn the money he was earning even if he was. Being an Auror was just about the highest paying job out there considering it could be fraught with danger. The only ones who'd be earning more than him would be the senior Aurors, Robards, the Heads of other departments, and probably Kingsley.

When he reached the office, he found Harry at his desk with Kingsley sitting opposite him. Seeing the Minister there gave Ron pause for a moment, because it was rare for Kingsley to visit the Auror Office anymore. Being Minister for Magic meant that his attention needed to be divided equally amongst all departments and offices, not just his old one.

"Ah, Ron," Kingsley said and he stood. With a wave of his wand, the chair disappeared. "Good to have you back."

Ron smiled. "Good to be back," he said, though for once, he wasn't sure he truly meant it. "Good to see you paying us a visit, too."

Kingsley gave a short chuckle. "Unfortunately it's not an entirely social visit this time. I need to see the two of you — and Hermione — in my office at lunch time." He lowered his voice, but none of the other Aurors present paid them any heed. "It's about those proposals. Some are ready to be implemented."

"Alright," Ron said. "Does Hermione know?"

"More than you if she hasn't revealed anything as I asked."

Ron frowned. Hermione most certainly had not said anything to him.

Kingsley smiled. "It's nothing terrible. It's very, very good, in fact. I've left a reminder memo on her desk anyway. No doubt she's found it by now with how tidy she keeps it." He looked pointedly at Ron's desk, which had always been the messiest in the office.

Ron flushed, making a mental note to tidy it if he needed something to do.

"See you both at lunch," Kingsley said, and he left.

"What do you think it's about?" Ron asked Harry the moment Kingsley was gone. "I mean, which proposal? We had a lot. And Hermione hasn't said anything to me."

Harry shrugged. "I guess we'll find out. I'm keen to hear what he has to say, though."

"You know what we should have proposed?" Ron said, sitting in his chair and drawing a stack of paperwork towards him. "Hiring people to do the paperwork and sending us Aurors out to do other things. It's kind of boring sitting here, day after day, doing this, don't you think?"

The look that Harry gave in response told Ron that Harry seemed to think what they did was fun. Ron had suspected as much, which had always prevented him from saying anything about his own feelings until now. Harry seemed attuned to the Auror work — on the field or behind a desk — and he seemed to enjoy it all.

"You've just had a whole week away and you're already complaining?" Harry asked.

Ron indicated the pile that had predictably grown in his absence.

Harry shrugged, smiling. "Part of the job, isn't it?"

"The unofficial title of an Auror is 'Dark wizard catcher.' We haven't done much 'Dark wizard catching' lately, have we? Ever, really."

"And you're complaining?" Harry asked. "We did more than our fair share of that before we were even qualified."

Ron sighed. "No, I guess not. You're right. It's good… it's just…" Not what I hoped for.

He had no idea how to express that to anyone — not even Hermione — without saying things he wasn't sure that he actually meant.

"I, for one, am happy to be doing something that isn't all that dangerous or life-threatening," Harry said. He lifted his quill. "Using a quill and some parchment every day isn't going to kill me, and I am happy with that."

Ron could understand that reasoning, and to a point, he agreed. After spending so long on the run, after carrying around a part of Voldemort's soul, after almost being strangled by brain tentacles, he supposed a quiet job wasn't all that bad considering. Still, if he'd wanted that, he would have taken up a job like Hermione's and not become an Auror.

For some reason, that thought kept bothering him.

But he let the subject drop for the rest of the morning, getting stuck into his work. As usual, nothing happened, and by lunch time, he and Harry left the Auror Office and made their way to Kingsley's.

Ron was hoping to see Hermione along the way so that they could all arrive together (and to get a few moments with his wife before they had, what he assumed was to be, an important meeting), but he discovered that she was already waiting for them, settled in a very comfortable-looking armchair.

Rather than looking nervous (which was her usual stance about these things) Hermione actually looked happy about something. Sitting in an empty armchair beside her, he asked her without words what was up, but she merely shook her head, still smiling.

Ron vaguely wondered what exactly it was she knew that she wasn't even permitted to tell her own husband about. He actually felt a little disgruntled about that — surely, even if she'd been asked not to, she might have told him. Hinted at it, at least. Had their situations been reversed, and he'd been privy to confidential information, he would have told her, as his wife.

But that was Hermione, he supposed. Always doing things by the book. If the Minister forbade her, then she wasn't going to do it.

Kingsley was sitting behind his desk, the usual pleasant smile on his face as Ron and Harry got settled.

He didn't give them long before he got straight into what he had invited them to his office for.

"Now, so you can all enjoy your break, I won't keep you too long. I just have two things to inform you of. The first being I am pleased to let you know that I have managed to put into place, almost effective immediately from today, your proposal of introducing a new office to the Department of Magical Law. It will be called — as you suggested — the Office of Personal Law. It will commence at the start of next week."

"Woah," Ron said. "That's great!." He looked to Hermione who was practically beaming now. No wonder she was pleased — another one of her suggestions had made it into the Ministry.

"And, the second news I have — which I think you'll all be pleased to hear — is I have already asked someone if they'd accept the position to be Head of the Office of Personal Law."

Just two more days, just two more days.

Ron looked fully at Hermione, who looked set to burst with joy. She beamed at Ron, cheeks red with pride and glowing. He returned her smile, absolutely thrilled. "I couldn't think of anyone better to do the job. You'll be amazing."

Hermione flushed, though now she also hesitated. "I haven't actually accepted it yet, though," she said quietly, her glow vanishing.

"What, why?" Ron asked. "Of course you —"

Before Hermione could answer, Kingsley continued. "Ron and Harry — and Hermione, if you are to accept the position — I have just one more favour to ask of you all. As these ideas have been yours, as we are working together, I am asking the three of you to help me find the people to work in that office — alongside, hopefully, Hermione. We are going to be accepting applications and then interviewing those we think are suitable. It will be a fair system. Anyone inside or outside the Ministry is welcome to apply and the best will be chosen. I want you to help."

Ron didn't say anything for a moment, and he was once again reminded of all the stunned times he'd sat in this very office, dumbfounded that Kingsley considered him worthy of such big changes that were happening.

But he wasn't going to say no. "I'll do it," he said.

Harry nodded. "Me too."

Kingsley smiled. "Excellent." He stood. "That's all I needed to see you about. Enjoy the rest of your lunch, and Hermione, I need your answer by the end of the day. Please."

Hermione nodded as Kingsley opened the door to let them all out.

As soon as they were in the corridor, Ron turned to Hermione and said, "You need to accept that job. Why haven't you?"

She smiled slightly. "I know. And I want to. I almost did. But… I wanted to ask you what you thought first."

"I think you'd be mad to say no," Ron replied quickly. "Besides, you don't need to ask me what to do. As I've told you a hundred times, I'll support you no matter what. And you've made it no secret about wanting to get out of where you currently are. Merlin, Hermione, why did you wait for me?"

Hermione smiled again. "I wanted to ask you as my husband, Ron." She looked to Harry. "Um, Harry, do you mind if we —"

Harry shook his head. "I'll see you guys later. But for what it's worth, Hermione, Ron's right. You'll be mad not to. You're the perfect person for that position. You'll do great."

"Thank you," Hermione said.

Harry left, and Hermione indicated for Ron to follow her back to the lifts. They reached the level of the Magical Law section and she led him into an abandoned office room that Ron had never known existed and closed the door behind them.

"What was this place?" he asked.

"I don't know," Hermione said. "But this will be my new office… if I accept."

"When you accept," Ron corrected. "Hermione," and he almost laughed, "you really didn't have to ask me about this. Husband or not, this is your decision and yours alone. I'm absolutely thrilled that you've been offered this, and you'll be amazing. A Head of an office. And you've only been here for like three years."

"It's just… it's going to change things," Hermione said. "When I went to Kingsley when we got back from France in August, and told him about my feelings, I wasn't expecting this. I thought maybe a change within Magical Creatures, but not… Ron, this is going to change things."

"How?" Ron asked, not quite understanding her sudden hesitance. She had been absolutely delighted in the office. Was she worried he wouldn't approve? No, he'd already told her about three times how happy he was for her. It was something else.

"I'll be working in your department."

"Great, I might see you more."

"I'll be a Head, which means I'll be higher than you. I'll be making more money, technically your boss..."

Ron frowned. "Hermione, are you worried that's going to upset me?"

She hesitated, and Ron laughed.

"Who do you take me for?" he said. "When have I ever been bothered by the fact that you're like ten times more brilliant than I could ever dream to be? It's never worried me, not in the slightest. I think I always assumed you'd get here one day. Though, just be warned that not everyone likes you bossing them around as much as I do."

"Ron."

"Sorry."

"I just know you've worked really hard to get where you are —"

"And so have you," Ron said flatly. "You've worked harder, and you've made changes that mean something. I sit at a desk most of the time filling out forms. You deserve it all. Accept the job."

She nodded slowly, looking uncertain still.

"This is a one time offer, Hermione. And no one — no one — is more fitting for doing this than you are. You already have so much knowledge and experience writing laws, and you know both the Muggle and the wizarding laws like the back of your hand. Your expertise is wasted in Magical Creatures."

"Okay," Hermione said. "I will." Her smile returned.

"If you didn't, I would have accepted it on your behalf." He stepped forward and took her in his arms. Despite them being at work, she let him hold her.

He held her for a long time, not wanting to let her go. She had come a long way, he realised. Once, she wouldn't have even factored him into the equation and jumped on this offer without a second thought. It was touching that she wanted to make sure he was okay with it, but he'd never intentionally hold her back. He wanted her to reach the highest that she could go, wherever that would take her. It was him who was more likely to hold her back.

"I'm so proud of you," he said, burying his face into her hair. "And I love you."

She smiled, pulling away from him. "I love you, too." She pulled away completely and looked around the near-empty office. There were a few desks and chairs stacked against the walls, but other than that it was empty.

"So, this is your new space," Ron said, grinning. "You know, you're not too far from me now. I can annoy you by visiting you more often."

"That wouldn't annoy me," Hermione said.

Ron snorted.

"It wouldn't," Hermione assured him.

"Yeah, well, next time I'm probably in here, you'd hex me if I did this." He kissed her, pulling her towards him, hands around her waist. She kissed him back, relaxing against him. When he pulled away, Ron laughed. "I've always wanted to do this at work, but you've never been up for it. Once, you insisted on keeping ten feet away from me at all times and I'd be lucky if you even acknowledged me as your friend, let alone your husband. Now you're kissing me in empty offices…"

Hermione laughed. "Well, maybe I'm feeling rather happy by this change and have some allowances for my incredibly supportive husband."

"You deserve this, and you've earned it, Hermione. You have every right to be happy." He kissed her again. "I love you so bloody much."

Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. And there they stood — in the room that Ron knew would soon become the place where Hermione succeeded at everything she set her mind to.

He felt his chest fill with pride.

So, the past few chapters and the next few (and this one) were the victims of an entire plot elimination and had to be majorly reworked. I had a plot point in these chapters previously and it just never felt right so I completely erased it. Shout out to Autumn for helping me immensely with these chapters to make it make sense again! I appreciate it!