Just a Wizard

Chapter Twelve

A few hours later Ron was ripped out of his peaceful slumber by shrill screams and he shot upright in bed, almost breaking the lamp as he tried to turn it on. Hermione was in the throes of a nightmare and was thrashing about next to him, making the most terrified noises he had ever heard since the end of the war.

Just as he was about to wake her up the door burst open and three sets of eyes stared into the room. Remus, Harry and Emmeline all stood gaping as he gently shook Hermione awake and then pulled her quickly into a hug, rocking her as she murmured, briefly fighting to get out of his embrace. A few seconds later she quieted and lay against him, her breath hitching in her throat from the fading fear of her dream.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Emmeline asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing the trembling woman's shoulder. Hermione nodded, not feeling very capable of talking right then.

"Okay. Well, we'll get back to bed, but if you need us just call, okay?" Emmeline said and smiled when Hermione nodded again and snuggled deeper into Ron's arms.

"Night honey," Remus murmured from the door, the sentiment was echoed by Harry.

Ron faintly heard Daphne talking then everything went quiet and he pulled back from Hermione slightly.

"Want to talk about it, my love?"

"It was just a bad dream, that's all," she whispered, trying to get back into his arms.

"Was it about Castleton?" Ron asked, his expression grim when she nodded. "If I ever get my hands on him, he'll wish he was dead."

Hermione shuddered and he finally drew her back against him, holding her as tight as he dared. "You're okay love, I'm right here," Ron murmured, squeezing her. "Feel like sleeping again or would you like to get up?"

"What time is it?" she asked, wondering why he'd want to get up in the middle of the night.

"It's nearly four in the morning," he replied, glancing at his watch.

"I guess we should get some more sleep," she said, wondering if she'd be able to drop off again.

"Hmm, I guess so. Want me to make you feel all better before you close those beautiful eyes?"

Hermione looked up at him and saw the sparkle in his eyes, the way he looked at her as if she were the tastiest morsel on earth, and she gave a slow smile and nodded.

"Well, jeepers, if I really have to..." he said, grinning cheekily before he lowered her to the mattress and proceeded to make good on his word.

Hermione had no trouble getting back to sleep when he finally found the strain too much to bear.

The next three days were fairly uneventful for Hermione, aside from accompanying Ron to his office. There were no more calls came from Roman and she was wondering and hoping if Ron bellowing at him had scared him off. She saw Harry again whilst she was looking for Tabitha and he stopped her.

"Hey, how's it going?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Fine thanks, you?" she replied.

"Everything is going well so far. So tell me, had any more floo calls from Castleton?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, thank goodness. Er...I'm sorry I just disappeared on you the other night. I didn't even say goodnight or anything."

"Don't sweat it, I think we all understood." He stared down at her and twisted his lips thoughtfully. "What are you doing right now?"

"I was just looking for Tabitha, but she seems to have vanished," she said, shrugging.

"So you're at a loose end, then? How about you come have some lunch with me? You haven't already eaten have you?" he asked her, raising his eyebrows.

"No, but....er..." she hesitated, wondering if Ron would mind. He had been extremely possessive in front of Harry, and Neville the other night.

"Don't worry about Ron," Harry said, grinning. "He won't mind. Anyway, I can tell you some things about him that'll turn your hair white. How about it?"

Hermione found herself curious about what Ron had been like in the time she was away and she smiled. "Okay."

"Great!" Harry said, taking her arm and leading her to the restaurant.

In the shadows behind them, a pair of eyes watched as the pair walked away together and narrowed, having heard every word they had said. Lavender sneered, as she looked the other woman over from afar.

"So you're the one," she whispered to herself, a cold smile tilting her mouth up. "Not for long." She turned and darted down the corridor, heading for the women's locker room and the one person she knew loved a bit of gossip as much as she... Cho Chang.

She found her preening herself in front of the mirror, and her eyes widened when she saw Lavender behind her.

"Lavender? What are you doing here?"

Lavender plastered a nice smile on her face and shrugged. "I was staying nearby and I flooed and asked Remus if it would be okay to come and see some people," she lied glibly. "He didn't seem to have a problem with that, so here I am! How are you Cho?"

Cho gave a small smile and looked at Lavender through several layers of make-up. "I'm okay I guess. What about you? You had the baby?"

"Yeah, obviously," she said pointing at her now flat belly. "A little boy. He's cute," she said, a touch of real warmth in her eyes.

"Where is he?"

"Oh, my parents are watching him for me right now. He's a bit tiny to bring to a place like this yet, but maybe I'll bring him in for you all to see sometime soon?" She smiled happily as she saw Cho starting to thaw out a bit. "So...er, how's Ron?"

"He's fine, seems really happy. He was like a psycho after you left, but he's good now," Cho said.

"Is he seeing anyone?"

Cho frowned. "Why would you want to know that?"

"I was just wondering, that's all," she said, shrugging nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter really. Oh," she said, changing the subject quickly, "I just saw Harry Potter. Is he back?"

"I haven't seen him yet, but I hear he and Neville are stationed here now," Cho said.

"That's nice for him. He looked happy enough and he had a girl with him, must be his girlfriend or something. Do you know who she is?" Lavender asked, looking innocent.

"Like I said, I haven't seen him but I may have seen her around somewhere, what did she look like?"

"She was short, had brown hair, nice figure if you like that sort of thing, I suppose. I thought I heard her talk and she sounded....Australian?" she probed, giving Cho a confused look.

"Australian? But...that sounds like..." Cho broke off and narrowed her eyes at Lavender. "What were they doing?"

"Just chatting and they went off in the direction of the restaurant. I only assumed she was his girlfriend because they were holding hands, but maybe he has a sister I don't know about?" she added, hiding the hard glint in her eyes.

"You know very well Harry Potter does not have sister." Cho said, frowning.

"Who is she then?" Lavender asked again.

Cho looked at her carefully and then shrugged. She didn't quite trust Lavender still, there's no way the woman didn't recognize Hermione Granger. Lavender had been more obsessed with her than even Ron, and she wasn't going to offer any information.

"I'm not sure. Anyway, it was nice seeing you again, but I have to be somewhere. See you around," she said and left the room in a hurry, going in search of Ron.

She found Carter first. "Where's Ron?" she asked him abruptly.

Carter didn't have much love for this particular agent and he gave her a none too friendly glare. "I don't know. What do you want with him?"

"I need to ask him about Hermione," she said, pleased to see a spark of interest in his eyes.

"What about Hermione?"

"Oh, nothing much," she said, smiling smugly. She did love to gossip. "Just that she's been seen getting cosy with Harry Potter, that's all. I thought Ron should know."

Carter frowned. "That's Coddswollop! Harry and Hermione are best friends. They haven't seen one another in years, Cho. They're getting re-acquainted is all. Besides, Harry would never do that to Ron, and you know it!"

"Oh really? Well, they went in the direction of the restaurant, so why don't you go see for yourself?" she gave him a sweet smile and then walked away.

Carter walked off in the opposite direction, his frown getting deeper. Hermione and Harry? No way. Hermione wouldn't play Ron like that. Neither would Harry. If that man was anything, it was honourable. He was sure of it, and Hermione seemed so nice. But then, so had Lavender when he first knew her, so what the hell did he know? He decided to find Ron and tell him before someone else did.

He found him near their office, chatting to Seamus Finnegan. He was laughing at something the smaller man was saying and Carter almost walked away again, not wanting to break his happy mood. It had been such a long time since he had been that way.

Ron turned and saw him before he could leave. "Hey Carter, what's up?"

"Er...could we have a talk?" he asked, feeling uncomfortable.

Ron frowned as he saw Carter fidget. The last time he had been like that was when he spoke to him about Lavender and Ron had knocked him through the door. What now? He wondered. He nodded and headed into the office, throwing himself on the couch and waiting.

"Well?"

"Look, Ron, I heard a rumour and I thought I should tell you before someone else does, so don't get mad okay?" Carter said, raising his eyebrows and then instantly frowning again as he thought of how to say this. "It's about Hermione."

Ron sat up straight, his chin coming up. "What about her?"

"Remember I'm just the messenger okay?" Carter said, stalling.

"Fine, what about her?"

"Someone saw her and Harry getting cosy," Carter said reluctantly.

"Hermione and Harry?" Ron asked calmly, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah. Look, mate, I don't necessarily believe it, but..."

"...We've been proven wrong in the past," Ron finished for him, his brows lowering. "She wouldn't do that. Neither would Harry."

"Well, I'm just telling you what I heard. Apparently they went to the restaurant," Carter said, shrugging.

Ron went still and stared at the door, his frown deepening and his jaw hardening as he tried to fight off the suspicion Carter's words had caused. "She wouldn't do that," he said again, through his teeth this time. All the same, he jumped up and made his way towards the restaurant, having to see for himself.

Carter stood and watched him go, feeling like rubbish and hoping that Cho Chang had got it all wrong.

Ron stalked into the restaurant and looked around, scanning the large room until his eyes settled on Hermione's back. He walked slowly over towards the table, his eyes taking in the figure of Harry Potter sitting opposite Hermione, grinning at her as he suddenly took one of her hands in his. Ron felt his temper ignite when he heard her laughing and his legs ate up the distance between them.

Harry and Hermione both glanced up as Ron stood next to their table, neither of them looking particularly guilty, until Ron looked down pointedly at their hands and Hermione snatched hers back, her face flushing.

"Hey, mate," Harry said, his brow wrinkling in confusion when Ron glared at him for real this time. "What's wrong?"

"What the bloody hell are you two doing?" Ron asked, his voice quiet and deadly calm, despite his words.

"We're just having lunch," Harry said slowly, looking at Hermione and then at Ron again, sudden understanding hitting him. "You surely didn't think..."

"Think what? That you two were having a cosy little meal together, holding hands?" Ron snapped his voice still fairly quiet but not so calm anymore.

Hermione stared up at him in horror. He actually thought...? "We weren't holding hands..." she began and he glared down at her, his eyes so cold she stopped speaking.

"Don't fucking lie to me. I saw you," he said, his words making the colour drain from her face.

"Yeah, okay, I was holding her hand, but it isn't the way you think," Harry said, standing up and facing his friend, his movement making Ron turn away from Hermione and stand with his back to her. "She made a comment..."

"Save it," Ron said, his temper starting to take control of him. "I don't need to hear your pathetic excuses, my eyes have told me everything I need to know!"

"Then you weren't looking properly, were you?" Harry snarled at him, losing his own formidable temper. It wasn't often that he lost it, but everyone knew it lived just beneath the surface these days. Almost everyone knew better than to push his or her luck though... almost everyone. "You listen to me, you bastard!" he snapped when Ron went to cut him off again and he was surprised when Ron actually waited for him to speak. "Hermione and I were reminiscing about Hogwarts and how we were rubbish at divination. I was teasing her and saying that I had mastered the art, and that I knew how to read her palm. That's why I was holding her hand, and that's the only reason!"

Ron blinked at Harry and his temper started to leave him as quickly as it had arrived. "That was what you were doing?"

"Yes. Why would you think it was anything else? You're my best mate, although Merlin only knows why!"

"Someone said they saw you two getting cosy," Ron admitted, pissed off that he still had a niggling doubt in the back of his mind.

"Then someone lied," Harry said, his eyes looking over Ron's shoulder briefly and then right at him again. "And who it was is your problem. So is the fact that your girlfriend just walked off."

Ron swung around and saw that Hermione's seat was empty, her food left half eaten, and he swore loudly. "Fuck!"

"My sentiments exactly. Why don't you think before you speak next time?"

Ron shook his head. "I'm a world class specialist in putting my foot in it," he murmured, his eyes fixed on the door where Hermione had gone. He looked back at Harry. "I'm sorry, mate."

"You should be. I guess you have good reason, but you know me better than that, and you know her. Go and find Hermione, and hope she'll be as forgiving as I am!" Harry gave a tight smile and walked away, still pissed off that his best mate could have thought he'd betray him like that.

Ron watched him go and grimaced. Way to fuck things up, he congratulated himself. "Well, no point putting it off," he said to himself, making the people at the nearby tables look at him strangely before he went in search of Hermione.

Lavender, sitting in the corner of the restaurant, smiled coldly as she watched him go. The seeds of doubt were being sown and she knew he wouldn't be able to get them out of his mind now.

Hermione hurried along the corridor towards Remus' office, her chest hurting where she was stopping herself from crying. Greek Gods, all she did lately was howl, she thought. But she was also angry. Angry at the way Ron had acted just now. He had spoken to her as if he hated her and it had hurt. He didn't even have any reason to be like that.

She knocked on the door when she got there and rushed inside, closing it and standing with her back against the wood as Remus looked up and frowned at her paleness.

"Hermione? What's the matter?" That was the last straw. Remus' sympathetic voice made her burst into tears and he instantly moved from behind his desk and put his arms around her, rubbing her back and murmuring soothing words. When she quieted down he moved her to a chair and sat her down, kneeling on his haunches in front of her and looking at her with concern. "Want to tell me what's wrong?"

Hermione sniffed and shook her head. "Not really."

"Well come on now, you just made my nice robes all wet with your tears, the least you could do is tell me why," he said, raising one eyebrow and pursing his lips.

"Ron swore at me," she whispered, her speech wobbling dangerously.

"He did what?" Remus asked, his voice becoming harder.

"He swore at me and now he hates me," she said, her lip wobbling to match her voice.

"Why?"

"He thinks that me and Harry...that we're...we're..." she broke off on a sob and covered her face with her hands.

Remus frowned. "Why would he think that?"

"I don't know," she said, her voice muffled. "I want to go home."

"Okay, Hermione," Remus said, standing up and patting her shoulder. "I'll drive you back. Can you wait for half an hour? I'll be finished up here then." When she nodded Remus motioned her over to the corner of the room where a WVN box was set up. "Go watch the wireless while I get this last bit of paperwork sorted out." He watched her sit despondently in front of the magical screen, sniffing now and then and he let his true feelings show on his face. What he really wanted to sort out right now was Ron.

Just as that thought entered Remus' mind, a knock came at the door and he called out for whomever it was to come in, his eyes narrowing when Ron walked in the room. Remus marched out from behind his desk again and pointed at the door.

"Out!" he snapped, glaring at the bigger man, his gaze shooting to Hermione and seeing her tense when she saw who it was.

Ron spared Remus one glance before moving over to where Hermione was sitting. She didn't raise her eyes to look at him and he frowned at her bent head.

"Go away," she whispered, still looking at the floor.

"Hermione..." he began, but Remus grabbed his arm and pulled him away from her with a strength that shouldn't have surprised him, given that the man was a werewolf.

"I said get out, and I meant it," the older man snarled and Ron debated for a second what to do.

"Look, Remus..."

"Now, or you'll find yourself out of a job!" Remus threatened, in those few seconds meaning every word he said.

Ron gave a frustrated sigh and let Remus usher him out of the room, following him out and closing the door.

"If I were you, I'd stay well away from her for a while, she doesn't want to see you. She doesn't even want to be here, she's asked if I'll take her home. What the hell did you do?"

Ron ran a hand through his hair and sighed again. "Nothing minor, that's for sure. Carter heard a rumour and told me...no, not to gossip," he said when he saw Remus' expression change. "He just wanted to warn me about it before anyone else told me. Anyhow, it was about Hermione and Harry and when I found them in the restaurant holding hands....I guess I went off at the deep end."

"And you swore at her and made her think you hated her?" Remus asked, folding his arms over his chest and looking coldly at the bigger man.

"She thinks I hate her?" Ron asked, not having thought of that as a consequence of his words. He kept forgetting how sensitive she was. "Oh Merlin, what a mess!"

Remus found himself doing what he always found himself doing with Ron lately; he relented. "I said I'd drive her back in half an hour. Why don't you be waiting in the car for her instead of me?"

"Thanks Remus. Are you sure?" Ron asked him, grateful that he'd be able to get to Hermione so soon and let her know how sorry he was.

"At the moment I am but I swear if you hurt her again I'll make sure you never get within ten feet of her, got it?"

Ron nodded and Remus handed him his car keys, saying he'd get a lift back with Neville or Harry. He went back in the room, leaving Ron to make his way to the car park.

Remus worked for a while in silence, looking up now and then and finding Hermione still looking miserable. Finally he put some papers to one side and stood up, stretching.

"I have to take these over to Emma's office, Ninny, so you go ahead and go down to the car. I'll be there in ten minutes okay?"

Hermione stood up and nodded, then made her way out of the office and into the nearby lift. She stared despondently at her reflection as the lift made its way down to the underground car park, sighing when it stopped and the bell chimed, letting her know she was at her destination. She was expecting to sit and wait for Remus to arrive, so she was surprised when his car pulled up next to her only a couple of seconds later, but she shrugged it off and climbed in, not bothering to look at the person driving, expecting it to be the werewolf.

Ron watched her as she leaned her head back against the headrest and sighed, her eyes staring blankly out of the window, and he decided he'd better drive. That way she couldn't just get out and not bother listening to him.

He drove along for a couple of minutes in silence before speaking.

"I'm sorry, love," he said and he saw her jump, her head swinging round to look at him.

"What are you....where's Remus?" she asked, her voice husky from her crying.

"In his office working, I expect," he replied, giving her a quick glance before turning his attention back to the road.

"Take me back there," she said, her voice wobbling again and she cursed herself, angry that she didn't have more backbone than that.

"I'm taking you home, and then we're going to talk," he said, wondering if she'd argue and surprised when she did.

"I don't want to talk to you," she mumbled.

"Maybe not, but you're going to listen, just the same," Ron said, navigating his way back to Remus' house as quick as he could.

"I don't want to listen to you either," Hermione said, sounding slightly childish.

"That's a shame, but it still doesn't change the fact that you're going to," he said grimly, finally turning into the driveway and making his way towards the large house.

"You can't make me," Hermione said under her breath, finally feeling her anger start to emerge and welcoming it.

"What was that?" Ron asked, stopping the car outside the house and turning to stare at her in amazement.

She shot him a glare and didn't answer, unsnapping her seat belt and clambering out of the car before he could move. But he was quicker than she had hoped and he jumped out of the car and was right behind her when she opened the front door and let herself inside. He pushed her forward gently and walked in after her, closing the door behind him and folding his arms over his chest. "Going somewhere?"

"Yes, away from you!" she snapped, making his eyebrows shoot up when she stomped off towards the stairs.

"You are going to listen to what I have to say," he said, grabbing her resisting form and throwing her over his shoulder so he could carry her easily up the stairs to her rooms. Hermione gasped as he scooped her easily up and she started struggling, kicking at his ribs as he almost ran up the staircase.

"Put me down, you big Troll!" she shouted at him, struggling harder. "Tilly!" she yelled, calling for the housekeeper at the top of her lungs. She did it again and eventually heard the woman's voice coming from downstairs. "Tilly, call the Aurors!" she shouted as she saw her plump figure over the edge of the banisters.

"Don't bother Tilly," Ron said, turning to grin down at the woman. "We're just sorting out a bit of a problem."

Hermione watched in disbelief as Tilly grinned and walked away, her last hope of escape fading as she went. She gave a furious noise that sounded like a growl and kicked him heftily in the ribs again, pleased to hear a 'whoomph' of air leave him, but he didn't slow down and she soon found herself staring down at her bed. She only had the view for a split second before he threw her off his shoulder and onto the mattress, shocking a small squeal out of her as she bounced on the soft surface.

Ron didn't give her a chance to try and escape as he came down on the bed on top of her and grabbed her wrists, stopping her from hitting him. But he didn't get to her legs in time and she kicked out at him, landing a nice blow on his shin that made him wince.

"Will you stop!" he demanded, trying to still her small, agile body. Her only reply was another kick that made him see red and he hauled her up and sat on the edge of the bed, throwing her over his knee.

Hermione was shocked into immobility when he muttered a spell before an invisible hand came down hard on her backside in a series of quick swats. They didn't hurt, but they had the desired effect of making her stop fighting him and she hung limply over his knee as the smacking stopped and he rested his palm over her warmed bottom.

"You about done now?" he asked her, pulling her slowly up and sitting her on his lap this time.

She nodded slowly, and peeked up at him from under her dishevelled hair, her eyes wide and wary from the shock that he had just carried out his long-time threat.

"Good. Now, are you ready to listen?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and sighing when she gave another nod. "Hermione...I don't know where to start, I really fouled things up good, didn't I? Not only accusing you of being unfaithful to me, but also with a wizard who's my best mate." He shook his head in disgust and Hermione chewed her lip.

"Why did you think that?" she asked quietly.

Ron looked down at her and smiled mockingly. "I listened to rumours. Apparently someone's been saying they saw you and Harry getting cosy."

"And you believed them?"

"No, not at first, but I couldn't help coming to find you, and then I saw you and Harry sitting down and apparently holding hands. I lost my temper," he said, still sounding pissed off at himself.

"How could you think I'd do that to you? That Harry would do that to you?" she asked him and he looked at her again to see her bottom lip start trembling again.

He smoothed his thumb over her lip and stroked a finger down her face, a gesture that she was coming to love. "I'm insecure as hell, didn't you know? It wouldn't surprise me if you did go off with someone else. And Harry's everything I'm not."

Hermione frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He's a good looking bastard and he has this way with women... he's the boy-who-lived, Hermione. The wizarding world's most eligible bachelor, so let's just say in a competition he'd come out the winner every time. He always has and always will."

"No he wouldn't! I love him, and he is good looking, but...he's not you," she said, faltering slightly as she looked at his face. "You're handsome, you have beautiful eyes and sexy lips that make me want to kiss you all the time. You're nose is perfect too, not too big or too small, and I love your beard...I wouldn't swap you for a hundred Harry Potters." She ducked her head after this little speech, her cheeks flaming at the way he was staring at her in amazement.

"You...think I have beautiful eyes?" he asked her, still amazed at this little outburst.

"Yes, they're lovely," she whispered, glancing at him quickly and then looking down again.

"Really? And my lips make you want to kiss me all the time?" he said with a smile.

"Sometimes," she admitted grudgingly, regretting what she had said already.

"But not when I swear at you, huh? Love, I'm so sorry about that. I wish I could take it back," he said, lifting her chin with one finger.

"It's okay," she said, staring at his hypnotic blue eyes.

"No it isn't, I hurt you," he persisted, cupping his large hand around her cheek. "You told me to go away."

"I thought you hated me," she whispered.

"I was jealous," he admitted, giving a self-deprecating smile.

"There's no need, I wouldn't do that to you, not ever," she said softly, her small hand fluttering up to his face and smoothing out the frown line that appeared on his forehead. She gave a frown of her own and he raised his eyebrows in question.

"What's that look for?" he asked her.

"You used a spanking hex on me," she accused, her mouth dropping open as she thought of what he had done.

"Yeah I did, but I'm not apologizing for that. You deserved it. Just be thankful that it only tapped your butt lightly, otherwise you wouldn't be sitting down for a week!"

"You're really arrogant you know that?" she asked, still frowning.

"Yeah, and you love that I am, otherwise you wouldn't be with me," he said smugly.

"Maybe I don't want to be with someone who'll use a child rearing hex on me at any given opportunity," she grumbled as he lifted her gently off his lap and lay her down on the bed, coming down on it next to her, his gaze fixed to her mouth.

"Yeah, you do," he said softly, his eyes drifting closed as he covered her mouth with his and started kissing her, feeling her instant response and the way she lifted her arms to cradle his head. He broke the kiss and drew his head back. "What do you say we spend the rest of the day here making up?"

"I think I'd like that," she whispered and then smiled as he immediately started removing her top. "Tilly's in the house."

"Tilly won't disturb us," he insisted, grinning wickedly.

"What if Remus comes back?" she whispered, groaning when his head dipped down and started kissing the slope of her breasts.

"Stop making excuses and enjoy my apology," he murmured, his hands moving up her body to cup her soft breasts in his palms.

"Is that what this is?" she managed to gasp out as he nibbled slowly on her nipple through the lace of the bra.

"Mmm-hmm. Can you feel how sorry I am?" he said turning with his wand in hand to mutter a locking and silencing spell at the door. He dropped his wand on the floor before pulling the offending bra out of the way so he could get to her bare skin.

She managed to think that he felt very sorry indeed, just before she gave herself up to pure sensation and let him do whatever he wanted with her willing body.

The next day everything seemed to be back to normal between Hermione and Ron and Remus smiled at them as they all sat down to breakfast.

"What do you two have planned today?" he asked, munching on a slice of toast.

"Well, as I recall, I have an undercover assignment to oversee and then I want to go over a few strategic manoeuvres me and Carter will be making tomorrow night," Ron said, sipping his tea and taking Hermione's small hand in his. "What are you doing today, love?"

"I was going to start back working today," she said, her eyes shooting to Remus' and seeing him frown.

"I think it's a bit soon for that," he said, looking concerned.

"I feel fine and I'm there everyday anyway," she said.

"Yeah, but watching this big lug is different from working," Remus pointed out, shooting Ron a grin and then returning his attention to Hermione.

"Not really. Besides, I can't be with Ron all day and I get bored," she explained, shrugging. "I like the work and Tabitha could probably do with a hand again now."

Remus nodded. He had originally made the job up for her so she'd have a reason to stick around, but it turned out that she was really needed and she did a good job.

"Okay, you can start back today. But if you get even a tiny bit tired then you stop and return home, alright?"

"Okay," Hermione agreed, beaming at him and receiving a brilliant smile in return.

"Well," Remus said, wiping his mouth on a napkin and standing up. "I better get going, I have a couple of potential agents coming in today and I need to look my fiercest when I interview them!"

Hermione laughed at this. "As if they'd be scared of you!"

"Oh I can be scary," he said, dropping a kiss on her head as he went to leave. "Just ask Ron."

Hermione looked at Ron in confusion after Remus had left. "What did he mean?"

"He just thinks he's scared me in the past," Ron explained, smiling. "But he was dead wrong. Come on, we have to go too, or I'll be late and Remus will really try to scare me!"

They both went their separate ways when they got to the Agency and Ron gave her a long kiss as he left her, whacking her backside as an afterthought and receiving a glare from her in return. He made his way to his dressing room and found Carter already there, pulling his weapons belt and trying to get comfortable.

Ron eyed his movements. "What's the matter with you?"

"This belt, these trousers, and the charm are a bit uncomfortable," he grumbled.

"Well, that would be a problem to take to our surveillance team, wouldn't it?" Ron asked him, throwing his bag down and dressing in a sleeveless shirt and black leather pants.

"Yeah, it would, and she'll have a bit of explaining to do about how tight this brand new charm is. It's making me dizzy!" Carter said, smiling as he thought of what he would do to Tabitha when he saw her. He looked over at Ron. "How is everything between you and Hermione?"

Ron tied a bandanna around his head and adjusted it over his eyes. "Everything's fine, now. It nearly wasn't though."

"Yeah, Harry sort of told me you had words," Carter said, looking uncomfortable. "I'm sorry if I put my foot in it."

"It wasn't you, mate, you only told me what you heard. I'm glad you did. Now I can stop this thing before it really gets started. By the way," he asked, raising his eyebrows. "Who told you?"

Carter grimaced. "Cho Chang."

"She's nothing but a gossip anyway," Ron said, sneering. "But I wonder who told her?"

Carter shrugged. "I didn't ask her, I was just pissed off at the time. We'll find her later and get her to tell us."

Ron nodded and the two men left the room, heading to where they were going to be overseeing practice for the undercover op for the next day.

A couple of hours later Hermione and Tabitha looked up as their workroom door burst open and Carter stood there, frowning and planting his hands on his hips.

"I want a word with you!" he said loudly, pointing at Tabitha and sauntering into the room, instantly making it seem tiny.

"What's wrong?" Tabitha asked, so surprised by the fierce frown on his face that she didn't have the presence of mind to even stand up as he approached her.

"You want to know what's wrong, hmm?" he said, raising his eyebrows and then lowering them again and narrowing his eyes. "This is what's wrong!" he turned around and presented her with his backside, which was currently hanging out of a big rip in his trousers.

Hermione hid her face in her hands as mirth took her over, her shoulders shaking as she laughed helplessly at his outraged expression. Tabitha looked at her and then tried to straighten her mouth out so she didn't look like she wanted to burst into hysterics. Her eyes returned to Carter's butt, and she bit her lip.

"It's...er...well, it's very nice," she said, looking up at him innocently when he swung his head around and glared at her.

"Nice? Well I'm glad you think so, because by now so does everyone else in the building too!" He looked back at her over his shoulder and sounded so embarrassed that he had been seen with his backside half naked that Tabitha couldn't contain herself any longer and she started giggling helplessly. "Oh you think this is funny?"

Tabitha nodded, holding her stomach as she gazed once again at his backside and laughed even harder. "I'm sorry, but honest to Merlin....it looks so funny!"

"So now it's funny? I thought it was nice?" Carter said, injecting a bit of disappointment into his voice.

"Oh it is nice, very nice, very..." Tabitha sniffed and wiped her eyes, staring at his butt again, "..very sexy," she finished, biting her lip as he gave her a heated look. "So was that what you wanted to show me?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to show you, so you could fix them! Those muggle devices in the seams are what caused it. The belt and the charm are uncomfortable too."

Tabitha saw the light of laughter in his warm eyes, even though he was trying to make out that he was angry.

"Well, you know, I didn't transfigure the belt or install the muggle devices, in the first place, nor did I do the Arithmancy equations for your surveillance charm. Hermione did."

Carter's face changed in an instant, his mouth falling open. "Oh," he said inadequately. Now how was he going to make Tabitha pay for embarrassing him? he wondered. He had made plans for payback and now they may come to nothing. He stayed silent for a while and Tabitha could almost see the cogs working in his brain as he thought of a way round his predicament. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers.

"Hang on, aren't you technically Hermione's boss?"

Tabitha smiled slowly at the devilish glint in his eyes now. "Well, yes, I suppose I am. Why?"

"Because if Hermione doesn't do something properly, then it would be your job to check it over, wouldn't it? That being the case, then it's your fault that my charm is too tight, and that my trousers ripped." he said smugly, reaching down and pulling her out of her chair. "Not only that," he added, looking positively gleeful as he thought of something else, "but you were the one who measured me, so maybe you didn't take my measurements properly?"

Tabitha frowned as she thought about that. "Maybe I didn't," she said thoughtfully, looking him up and down.

"Maybe you should measure me again?" he asked and he bent down to whisper in her ear. "In private." He straightened up again and watched as her face coloured under his appraisal, a grin finally curving his lips.

"I've got lots of work to do," she said softly, wanting nothing more in the world than to tell Hermione to go home so she could lock the door and rip all his clothes off. Her face went even hotter at her wayward thoughts.

"I haven't," Carter said, sounding really disappointed this time.

Hermione finished charming the device she was holding and looked across the room at the two people she was happy to call her friends. She smiled and then gave a theatrical yawn, making Tabitha look in her direction.

"Sorry, Tabitha, but I may have to give up for the day, I'm really tired. I guess I wasn't as back to normal as I thought," she said, shrugging and trying to sound convincing. Who was she to argue if Carter and Tabitha wanted time to themselves? Remus wouldn't mind her going home early, but she didn't intend to leave right away. She would go and see Ron first.

"Are you feeling okay?" Tabitha asked, genuinely concerned, smiling with relief when Hermione nodded. "Good. Look, you just get home and rest, don't worry about things here. And don't come back tomorrow if you still feel a bit off, I can manage on my own."

"Okay, if you're sure. I'll go and tell Remus. I'll see you tomorrow though, okay?" she said, smiling as she stood up and grabbed her belongings, her smile getting wider as she saw them turn towards each other when made her way out of the room.

"That was fortunate," Carter murmured, grabbing Tabitha and hauling her up against him.

"Hmm, wasn't it though?" Tabitha said, staring at his mouth as he bent towards her and kissed her, urging her mouth open and deepening the kiss in an amazingly arousing way. She groaned underneath the onslaught and he pulled back slightly, nipping at her bottom lip.

"Mmm, yummy," he said, grinning. "Right, hold that pose for me and I'll be right back," he said, arranging her so she was standing there with her arms open for his return.

"Idiot," she said, giggling at him.

"Careful or I may not kiss you again," he said, raising one eyebrow haughtily.

"Ok, I'm sorry," she said instantly, making him smile again. "Where are you going anyway?"

"To get something to change into, so I can take this stuff off in front of you," he said, watching her reaction.

"In front of me?" she asked, her voice slightly croaky as nude images of him flashed in her head.

"Yeah, all slow like," he said, and blew her a kiss before disappearing out of the door, leaving Tabitha fanning her flushed face as she thought of what was to come.

He walked along to his room, grinning like a fool and ignoring the whistles he got as people saw his backside. Ron had just finished changing into his sweats, ready to get a workout in the gym, and he glanced up as Carter walked in the room.

"What's that dumb grin for?" he asked the younger man, looking confused.

"Tabitha," Carter sighed, sounding like a love struck teenager.

"Pathetic," Ron muttered, shaking his head.

"You can't talk, you big prat," Carter shot at him, still smiling and Ron chuckled.

"Yeah, you have a point. You haven't seen Hermione have you? I thought I might go and see how she's doing."

"Yeah, she was with Tabitha, but she said she felt tired and was going to head home," Carter said, quickly grabbing a change of clothes.

"So she's already left?" Ron asked, frowning.

"She said she was going to see Remus first, so you'll probably catch her there. I have to go, I have to be somewhere," Carter said, his grin getting bigger as he hurried out of the room. Ron shook his head again as he watched him leave, going out of the door shortly afterwards to find Hermione.

He walked along for a few minutes and then gave a sniff as a familiar scent drifted towards him. No, he thought, that couldn't be... it was just the same scent. He turned around and narrowed his eyes as he looked up and down the corridor, his brows drawn in a frown. For just a second he thought he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, but there wasn't anyone there so he shrugged off the feeling and continued on his way. It is ridiculous to think that Lavender might be around somewhere, he thought. It was probably just one of the female agents using the same perfume. That was all. Just the same, he couldn't quite get rid of the strange feeling that he was being watched.

Hermione was laughing at the story Remus was telling her about one of the interviews he had done that morning with an apparently hopeless potential agent, when Ron walked in after a brief knock. She looked in his direction and her eyes lit up, her smile brightening at the sight of him.

Remus watched the way her whole face changed as she looked at the big man across the room and he couldn't help smiling, especially when he noticed a similar look on Ron's face.

"Carter said you were feeling tired. Are you okay?" Ron asked without preamble, looking faintly worried.

"I'm fine, I'm not really tired, but I could see they wanted some time alone, so here I am," she said, giving a grin that made dimples appear in her cheeks when he held his hand out to her. She let him draw her towards him and stared up into his beautiful eyes, taking a deep breath as a wealth of feeling tightened her chest.

Ron lifted a hand and touched the dimples that he had barely noticed before, and he grinned. "I didn't know you had these little dimples, they make you look even cuter than normal," he said, his voice deep and soft as he stroked his finger down her face in the way she loved.

"Yeah, yeah, get a room," Remus said with a snort of disgust, glaring at them. "I have work to do, and I can't do it with you two making out over there! Go and have lunch or something why don't you?"

"Okay, if you insist," Ron said, smiling at Remus and bundling Hermione out of the room and then pinning her up against the wall as soon as the door was closed. "Do you really want to go and get lunch? We could take his other suggestion instead and get a room," Ron said, giving her a pleading look that made her laugh.

"Can I come and watch?" a voice said over his shoulder and Ron groaned.

"Blimey, if it isn't Carter it's someone else. I think I'm cursed," he muttered.

"Yeah, with a bad temper and an ugly face," Harry said as Ron turned to look at him over his shoulder. "How ya doing mate?"

"I was doing great until you showed up thanks very much!" Ron said, pulling away from Hermione so that she came into view for the first time.

"Well, hello, Hermione," Harry drawled, watching Ron's reaction carefully.

"Hi Harry," Hermione said politely, slipping her hand into Ron's and virtually plastering herself to his side.

"You two okay?" he asked, looking from one of them to the other.

Hermione nodded and smiled, feeling Ron's big hand squeeze hers as he shot her a heated look. "We're doing fine. Listen, I'm really sorry about yesterday," Ron said, not in the least bit reticent about apologizing.

Harry grinned at him. "Don't worry about it...it happens to us all at some time or another. I totally understand. So how do you fancy having lunch with me?" He gave Ron a shit-eating grin. "Both of you, I guess."

"We were just on our way to the restaurant, since you mention it," Ron said, trying not to look annoyed at being interrupted.

"You were?" Harry asked, twisting his lips and rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Hell of a way to get there, pressing some poor defenceless witch into the wall."

"You didn't hear her complaining did you?" Ron drawled, smirking.

Harry looked down at Hermione, standing so happily pressed against Ron as she was. "You do have a point there. So how about lunch? It's either eat with you or take pot-luck and sit with whoever happens to be alone. That could turn out to be just about anybody, up to and including Colin Creevy. Save me?"

"Creevy works here?" Hermione asked, speaking for the first time.

"Yes, Dennis too," Ron said, smiling warmly down at her. "And they can still be a right royal pain in the arse!"

Hermione saw his eyes glint as he said this and she slapped his arm obligingly, knowing he was waiting for her to tell him off about his language. He sighed and shook his head, shrugging as he looked at Harry.

"You see what I have to put up with?"

"Mmm-hmm. She looks like a holy terror. How do you cope?" the raven haired man asked, walking slowly along beside them as Ron pulled her along, obviously having accepted the lunch invitation without saying a word.

"Beats me. Actually, she beats me. Regularly. I have bruises and everything," Ron said, trying to look like a wimp, something he couldn't possibly do.

"Hah! You'd soon know it if I did beat you," Hermione said, doing her best to look down her nose at him, not an easy task when he stood more than a foot above her head.

"That so? Hmm, maybe I'll let you prove that later on," Ron murmured, swatting her backside and making her yelp.

"Oh I'll prove it," she said, glaring at him as they all walked along.

Lavender gritted her teeth as she watched them, hating the warm way Ron spoke to the little bint. She'd always disliked Hermione at school, with her bookish ways, high standings, and know-it-all tendencies. Not to mention that she'd always had the undivided attention of both Harry and Ron. Her disappearance after they graduated Hogwarts had been a delight to Lavender.

Obviously the rumour mill wasn't working quite as well as it used to around here. That was something she determined she would sort out, and soon.