InsaneJournal

Hermione tried, really she did, not to stick her nose into other people's business. But sometimes she just couldn't help it. She had the best of intentions, she always did, even if she didn't always know what to do with the outcome of her meddling. Of course, her former Ravenclaw housemates only seemed to encourage this sort of behavior- investigation- which was, perhaps, not the best idea. But habits were habits, and they were hard to break for a reason.

They were even harder to break when you weren't even trying.

She was worried about Ron. Well, about a lot of people, really, but perhaps especially about Ron. With the recent arrests and murders… Well, she couldn't imagine he was having an easy time of things. So, inviting him out for lunch was just a peace offering, right? Just a way for a friend to show that she cared, that she was thinking about him. It didn't have to be anything more than that.


But Ron wouldn't mind if it was more than that. He walked up to her, meeting her outside the cafe she'd picked for lunch, and smiled nervously. He raced a hand back through his hair. Was this a date? Or was this just two quasi-friends getting together for lunch? He knew he was going to over think it.

"Hullo, Hermione," he said, stepping up alongside her. "How are you doing?" He was tired. The family had been spending a lot of time talking and stressing about Uncle Fabian.


"Hello, Ron," Hermione smiled in greeting, walking beside him to the counter of the cafe. It was a simple place, often frequented by Ministry employees, the sort where you ordered your food at the counter and then sat down to wait. Looking up at the menu above, Hermione considered her options as she replied, "I'm well, thank you. And you? I've been... thinking about you."


His head snapped around to look at her with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. "You have?" he asked, then turned red. "I mean, probably because of Uncle Fabian, right? He's all right, I s'pose. I think Bill's been in to see him." Ron knew his uncle hadn't done anything wrong, neither had Professor Black, and he and his family all hoped things would be cleared up sooner rather than later.


Hermione chose not to notice Ron's surprise at her statement. Why shouldn't she think about him? They were friends! "I'm glad to hear that. About your Uncle Fabian, that is." Stepping forward to the counter, Hermione placed an order- tea and a sandwich- then paid for her meal before she stepped back to let Ron do the same. "But how are you, Ron?" she prompted, a few moments later.


"I'm fine," he said, because he was. He was working and he was living at home and it was summer which meant that it was nice out and he could enjoy himself when he wasn't busy. He ordered a sandwich and some lemonade and then found the two of them a table to sit at while they waited.

"How's your new job?"


Sitting across from Ron, Hermione leaned her arms on the table, showing genuine interest in the conversation. Of course, when Ron asked her about her job, she didn't have to pretend or feign excitement. "It's wonderful," she exhaled, a happy sigh. "I miss Hogwarts, of course- I expect I always will, in some ways- but there are just so many opportunities at the Ministry! Everyone's been very nice, and the work is just so fascinating."

Her cheeks flushed, and she cut herself off before she went on and bored Ron halfway to death. Instead, she offered, "How is your job?"


He didn't mind listening to her talk about her job, because it was probably loads more exciting than his was. And because he liked listening to her talk. Well, watching her talk, at least, because he didn't always really pay too much attention to what she was saying. "What's so fascinating?" he asked, ignoring her question about his job.


"Everything?" Hermione offered, though her cheeks flushed at the simple word, and she looked down at her hands for a moment. She couldn't quite tell if Ron might be making fun of her or if he was actually, genuinely interested in what she had to say. "I don't have access to everything, of course, but just getting a taste of how international Ministries interact with one another. It's... like a dance, sometimes. Waiting to see where someone else steps so you can go and do something that works for the next step."


Ron really liked watching Hermione talk. And, he actually found that in this case, he was enjoying what she was saying too. "Do you get to go anywhere yet?" he asked. "I always thought it would be pretty cool to have a job where I got to travel all over the place."


"Not yet," Hermione frowned, for a moment. "But- someday, yes! At least, that's the plan." Or that was the hope, anyway, but Hermione tried for plans more than wishful thinking. "I need to remind myself that I really am still just in training, of course. It's," she smiled, almost laughing a bit, "not always easy to do."


"I'm sure your training won't last very long though," Ron pointed out. "You're really smart and hard working so you'll move up fast, I bet."

He looked up when their food was brought over and set before them, muttering a quick thanks to the server, then reached for his glass of water and gulped half of it down.


Hermione was rather used to people praising her intelligence and drive, yes, but there was some small part of her that still wanted to brush off such compliments- whatever she did, no matter how well she did it, there was still always more to be done. Still, it sounded nice, coming from Ron, so she just offered him a smile and a simple, "Thank you," in return.

With her own food having arrived as well, Hermione took a bite of her ordered sandwich- then, noticing Ron's apparent sudden and pervading thirst, she asked, "Are you quite alright, Ron?"


He nodded, maybe a little over-enthusiastically. "I'm fine, why?"


Hermione's expression clearly betrayed her lack of belief in that statement, but she didn't say as much aloud. "You never answered my question about your job," she said, instead.


He shrugged. "It's fine. I mean, I'm just helping out in the shop, with Fred and George. It's nothing really exciting."


"Nothing exciting?" Hermione raised her eyebrows, curious. "I've seen their shop, Ron, and- even I can admit that it is far from boring."


"I'm just stocking shelves and making sales," he admitted. "The twins get to have all the fun, inventing and fooling around. So yeah," Ron continued with a lopsided smile. "For me it is sort of boring. At least right now."


"Right now?" she prompted, hopefully. (Her sandwich was good, but she was suddenly more invested in the conversation with Ron than she was with the meal.) "Will that be changing, then, do you think?"


"I don't know," he said. Truthfully he didn't know why he said 'at least right now' when he didn't really see anything changing any time soon. "I guess it depends on what Fred and George need me to help with."


"I… see." There was a part of Hermione that wanted to grab Ron by the shirt collar and shake some sense into him, but she refrained, clinging instead to decency and manners. They were barely two months out of Hogwarts, yet with the way he was talking, he'd already given up any sense of ambition!

Breathe, Granger. Not everyone has your drive.

Yes, but-!

No 'yes but's. Leave him be.


But he smiled at her from over the top of her glass. "So I'm really glad you could come out to lunch. I didn't know if you'd be too busy or whatnot now that you're at the Ministry."


That, at least, she could agree to- with even a hint of color to her cheeks, once more. "I'm glad I could, too, Ron." Was she busy? Yes, of course. But she didn't mind making time for him- even as infuriating as he could be, sometimes. Merlin, there was something wrong with her.


His smile widened at that and he took a deep breath then reached out to cover her hand with his where it lay on the table. Only for a moment, then he pulled back and turned his attention to his food once again.