Hermione gave him an amused sort of look, and he couldn't hold back a cheeky grin in return. "Just wait till I get my hands on your queen. She's got the best surrender I've ever seen in a set. Right brilliant charmwork."
They stepped out of the lifts and exited the main gates into the Atrium. It wasn't as crowded as Ron was used to seeing, but then he was used to keeping much different hours. "You know Mum. Food's gone, of course, but there's loads of drinks left. I suspect she actually buys extra to send home with us, because she forgets we've lived on our own for years now and can buy our own."
He rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling. If there was one thing that was consistent in all of their lives, it was his mum's habits.
"I'll see you there in a bit, all right? Just help yourself to whatever you like," Ron said, then immediately felt stupid for saying it. Hermione was more than used to spending time at their flat. It was only spending time alone with him that made the night so different. Giving her a little sheepish shrug, he stepped into one of the fireplaces, tossed down some Floo powder, and called for the Leaky Cauldron.
The place was a lot more packed than he'd expected for a Tuesday night. He was barely out of the fireplace more than two steps when there was a shout and suddenly various voices were calling to him, sending a barrage of questions his way. Had they caught those fuckers yet? Why wasn't the Ministry doing more to track this guy down? What was really going on? It took Ron a moment to realise he was still in his work robes, and that he'd just taken the Floo into the primary crime scene.
He managed to put them off by stating that the Enforcers were handling the investigation (because they were) and so he didn't know anything (because he didn't), but it took a few minutes. Ron dropped into the same Muggle Chinese place they'd been using since their day's in the Rat's Nest and then opted to find an empty alley and apparate rather than risk another encounter at the Leaky. He was far too tired and hungry to be as diplomatic as he should. He wanted nothing more right then than to lounge on the couch with Hermione and his chess set.
"Sorry," he said when he popped in the sitting room. "Had a bit of a delay."