Hey Ya'll I am not exactly a writer. I do apologize for all the grammatical errors. This is a prompt that has been in my head for a long while. I typed this up in about an hour, it feels good to finally have it out of my head. I hope ya'll enjoy.
Yes, I know I'm late gettin' home tonight
Can supper wait, I guess I lost my appetite
Yeah you can fix me a drink, anything's okay
Oh, by the way, I met a friend of yours today
I was workin' on the other side of town
And comin' home I thought I'd stop and have a round
And in this bar I heard someone speak your name
And that's how I met a friend of yours today
"Ron love is that you?" Hermione called out from the kitchen. "I was late getting home, dinner is almost ready? How was work? Did you and George figure out how to stabilize the potions individually?"
A flicker of anger ignited in his chest. How could she ruin our lives and carry on like nothing's happened? How long has this been going on? How long have I been a bloody fool? He had so many questions running through his head he didn't know where to start. He took a seat at their table, as Hermione babbled on.
"Hello?" He snapped back to reality, "Earth to Ron!" She laughed when he looked up at her. Not able to fully look her in the eyes. "I asked you if you wanted a fire whiskey?"
"Yeah sure" She kissed him on the cheek that made him shudder. He was on the verge of tears and shouting. He needed to keep a level head to get the truth out of his wife. Surely the slimy git was just trying to get under his skin. He and Hermione had gone through a rough patch, but things had gotten better over the last few months. Hermione would never step out on him.
"Here is your drink, give me a few more minutes and dinner will be done." She set his drink in front of him before heading back to the kitchen. He heard her turn her music up a little louder, and Ron was thankful for some time to gather his thoughts. He took a drink of his firewhisky savoring the burn, as he thought back over the events at the bar.
"I am headed over to the Leaky. I will see you tomorrow." He called out from the shop room door.
"Yea, yea giver Hermione my love" George yelled back from the back room.
Ron closed the door and turned towards the rest of Diagon Alley. The sun had finally gone down, and a slight breeze was flowing through the streets, as he made his way to the Leaky Cauldron. Neville and Hannah had bought out old Tom some years ago and renovated the place. Making it one of the favorite hangouts for many wizards and witches. The guys all agreed to meet there tonight for a round or two. They tried to meet up at least once a month. When he walked in he immediately spotted Neville behind the bar.
"Oi Ron, take a seat I'll pour you a pint." Ron gave him a nod and sat at their usual table. The bar was fairly full, not unusual for a Tuesday night. He took a look around and noticed a few familiar faces. There was a group of people behind him, and from what he saw as he passed they were all men. They must have had a muffliato cast around them because he couldn't hear anything coming from behind him.
"Here you are mate, let me finish helping Hanna clean the bar and I will join you. The other should be here soon."
"Take your time, Nev I will just enjoy this beautiful pint."
Neville gave him a pat on the shoulder as he walked back to his place behind the bar.
"Lu old dog, we have been waiting for you. While this establishment has cleaned up somewhat. It is far from desirable." Ron rolled his eyes, it seemed like the group of posh bastards from behind him were taking their leave.
"I do apologize for my tardiness, gentlemen." Ron's face scrunched up in disgust. There was no mistaking that voice. The bloody pompous pratt, how dare he have the audacity to come into this establishment. Ron snorted "Should be in bloody Azkaban." he thought to himself as he took another drink.
"I was held up at the ministry. Our reservation is not for another hour or so. Let us enjoy another drink before we take our leave." Ron heard a snap of the fingers, and he couldn't help rolling his eyes. Neville gave him a smirk as he walked passed, ready to take the order of Lucius Malfoy. They had not recharmed the table as he could hear their conversation. It was mind-numbingly boring until he caught his wife's name. Or maiden name.
"Come now Charles Miss Granger is not hard on the eyes." an unknown person spoke up. This caused Ron to sit up straighter.
"How dare they speak about his wife. He was listening intently. Ready to make himself known at any moment.
"Now, now Alfie. Let us not disrespect Miss Granger in such a manner. She is one of the only people at the ministry worth their weight in gold, and then some. Hermione is more than a pretty face… and pert ass" The last part was met with great laughter. Ron could feel the tips of his ears get hot. He was ready to snap as he slammed his goblet down with such force that drew some attention from some tables nearby.
"My goodness Lucius, don't tell me you have a soft spot for Potter's pet."
Lucius let out a chuckle "No, but I wouldn't be opposed to exploring her soft, warm spot." Once again the men laughed. Ron was ready to turn around and draw his wand when Lucius spoke up again, "Rumor has it Miss Granger has another side of her. Seems like the type to be a little hellion."
"I wouldn't mind seeing what the little chit is hiding under her robes." One of the other men chimed in. "Maybe I can discover what secrets lie beneath. Maybe a tattoo or two. Or maybe I can find the stick she has up her ass and replace it with my stick"
Lucius only let out a snort, while the others gave another hearty laugh.
"Hermione Granger is such a bleeding heart, if she had a tattoo it would probably be some sort of sickening Gryffindor propaganda." This piqued Ron's attention. Malfoy's voice was more arrogant than usual. He couldn't help the hair that stood in the back of his neck as Malfoy spoke again. "She probably has roaring lioness above her arse, or better yet a born-again phoenix rising from the ashes on the right side of her hip. Risky enough to prove she isn't vanilla. But safe enough to not lose her golden girl reputation." The laughter was drowned out by the blood rushing through his ears. He felt his heart beating out of his chest.
"It is just a lucky guess. Malfoy is a prick, he probably hunted down the parlor he, Hermione, and Harry went to after the war. A drunken adventure, they weren't exactly discreet about it. I wouldn't put it past the man to try to use it against them in the future. The man is a death eater after all. He may not have gone back to Azkaban, but that didn't mean he was innocent. But how did Lucius Malfoy know where she had her tattoos? Hermione got her phoenix a year after her first one at a different parlor. Ron's mind was working overtime trying to rationalize what he had heard. Malfoy had called her Hermione at one point. He said her name with too much familiarity. It made his stomach twist with disgust.
"Well, what do we have here? A lone Weasley." Ron's thoughts were interrupted by the older Malfoy himself. Ron looked into the eyes of the man he hated more than Voldemort himself. Before he could think Ron was on his feet with his wand drawn, pointed at Malfoy's face. The man did not flinch. He stood stoic, his face arrogant and a smirk playing on his lips. "Now, now Mr. Weasley, so quickly drawn to violence. It must run in your family." It was Neville who lowered Ron's wand.
"Come now Ron I am not sure what happened but this is not the answer."
"Yes, I would listen to your friend Mr. Weasley violence is not the answer." The look on Malfoy's face added fuel to the flame.
"Neville he was saying vile things about. Hermi… about my wife." He said quietly.
"Ah well, I do apologize if you did take offense. It was all in… Jest." He said with his aristocratic draw. Ron's stomach dropped as he looked into the eyes of the older man. In them, he found a knowing look.
"Give the guys my apologies. I am not feeling well. I will see you all next time Nev." Ron had lowered his wand and tried to make his way past Malfoy when he was stopped by his shoulder running into the older man's.
Lucius leaned in and whispered, "Do, give my best to Hermione, she looked rather… flustered when I left her office this evening." And he was gone before Ron could even React.
"Ron? Are you okay?" Once more his wife's voice drawled him out of his thoughts
I listened for a while and I could tell
That that stranger there he knew you much too well
And I introduced myself and you should have seen his face
Oh what a shame I met a friend of yours today
Please don't cry woman 'cause it's much too late for tears
Yeah, I'm sorry too 'cause it hurts after all these years
And ain't it sad a love like ours should end this way
And all because I met a friend of yours today
"What?" Ron asked, unable to focus.
"I said dinner is ready. Here you go?" Before him sat a plate. It was a hearty helping of Shepard's pie, two yorkies, and a heaping serving of his favorite greens. Normally he would have no trouble eating this spread, it was one of his favorites after all.
Hermione sat to his left, just as she always had. He looked her over closely. He could tell she had already showered, and by the looks of it she had quite the appetite tonight. After a few more bites, Hermione looked over to her husband.
"Is something the matter tonight Ron?" She asked concerned, it wasn't like him to not dive right into a shepherd's pie.
"It seems I don't have much of an appetite tonight." He swallowed the last of his fire whiskey. "I was at the Leaky Cauldron earlier."
"Oh goodness, I forgot." She took a sip of her wine and smiled at him. "Well, how were the boys?"
"I didn't get a chance to see them."
"Oh? Is that why you are home so early? It is unlike you to be back this early on guys' night. Did something happen? Oh goodness, is everyone okay?" She was quickly working herself up in a tisy.
"No nothing happened, as far as I know, everyone is okay. I was just having a pint when I heard some puffed-up arseholes put me off. I thought it would be best if I just came home."
Hermione placed her hand on his. "Do you want to talk about it?" He could see the clear concern written all over her face.
"Nothing worth talking about Mione, really. They just put me in a mood."
She patted his hand and went back to her meal. A few more moments passed. The only sound came from Hermione's cutlery, and some soft music Hermione liked to play in the background at dinner.
"You know." Ron finally spoke up again, drawing his wife's attention back to him. "I met a friend of yours while I was there?"
Hermione smiled, "A friend?" She chuckled, "Was it Neville? I keep forgetting to drop his Herbology book back off. Did he tell you to remind me?"
"No, but another friend did send a message."
Hermione was now confused and it now showed on her face.
For the first time that night, Ron looked Hermione in the eyes.
"Lucius Malfoy sends his best."
Her eyes widened slightly as her smile faltered. It felt as if time had stopped before Hermione let out a soft, "Oh"