Chapter Text
‘I need someone else to be my support.’ Tonks had offered a chair but I declined even as Ron relaxed into one of the plush chairs across from her desk, Harry remained by the door, his eyes assessing.
‘You've got to be kidding me.’ Ron's voice was incredulous, the words little more than a scoff. I could feel the head of the DMLEs gaze bouncing back and forth between us although she didn't say anything just yet.
‘I'm not kidding, not in the slightest. I'm not comfortable with you holding my actual life in your hands, Ronald.’ I was as matter of fact as I could be, my voice even and calm as it could be as I shifted just slightly.
‘What the fuck, Mione?’ I could see the colour rise into his face as he pushed himself upright and leveled his gaze on me, eyes flashing with anger.
‘Auror Weasley, I would advise you to think about your next steps carefully.’ There was an edge of warning in Tonks’ tone as she stood behind her desk; Ronald barely spared her a glance.
‘I can't even believe you, Hermione. You KNOW I can do this.’ The words were dropped with a sneer and I could hear Harry's footsteps on the ground as he crossed the office to stand behind me.
‘While you may be able to technically do the job, I just don't trust you, Ronald. I CHOSE this assignment and when I do that I have to be safe, no room to question and, frankly, I don't trust you.’ It was simple and honest, as matter of fact as as it was and Ron was LIVID
‘You don’t TRUST me? After fucking everything we went through?’ His voice raised again and Tonks opened her mouth to speak but I shook my head just slightly; this needed to happen.
‘After fucking everything, Ronald? Of course I don't feel safe around you, you put your hands on me.’ I could feel the anger rising, sparking through my veins as memories flickered through my mind that I had tried so hard to push away.
Ron laughed, hard and cold, none of his formal jovial nature showing through. ‘PUT MY HANDS ON YOU? I grabbed your hand. You were being unreasonable.’
‘Unreasonable? Ronald I didn't want you touching me, I shouldn't have needed any further explanation but since you have such a fucking hard on for it, let's go. You cheated on me. In what situation would I possibly want you to fucking touch me after that?’ My voice was even although my head throbbed, a sharp pain behind my eyes signaling a forming migraine; of course. I tilted my chin up, standing all of 5’4 in my heels and didn't waver; Ron's hands clenched as he glared, face mottled with anger. Harry was still silent, but moved closer; he had seen this film before, and he didn't like the ending. I had gotten over his shit eight years ago, but it seemed he was still the same Ron.
‘Hermione, we can do this another time.’ Tonks, still standing behind her desk, had her gaze snapping between Ron and I. Shaking my head, I gave my friend a small smile and darted my eyes to her wand in advance; it was about to get real ugly.
‘It's okay, Tonks, but thank you.’ I could feel magic sparking through my veins and my fingers nearly twitched to grab my wand from my holster. Turning my attention back to Ron, I gestured for him to continue, keeping my expression neutral.
‘What the hell else was I supposed to do, Hermione? You were always working and when you weren't you wouldn't even come near me. We had plans, Hermione and you didn't fucking care, you ignored me! How was I supposed to deal with that? You were a frigid bitch.’ The words were spat coldly, Ron's eyes hard as he tried, AGAIN, to justify his bad decisions and hurtful actions, the same way he always had. He was never at fault, never the villain, regardless.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and teased my fingers on the handle of my wand, the vinewood almost vibrating as I grasped it, my voice even. ‘I lost my fucking baby, Ron. You weren't the only one going through shit.’
The color drained from his face and his mouth opened and closed but no sound came out; it was eerily silent and then he stepped towards me, barely making it two steps before my wand was at his throat.
‘I suggest you fucking stop Ronald. I don't really want to be arrested for assaulting an auror.’ As casual as my words were, grief had settled in my gut, swirling and sticky.
‘You bitch, you can't just-’
‘I assure you, Auror Weasley, she can.’ Tonks voice was hard and it was impressive to watch the normally bubbly woman take control of the situation. ‘Leave, now. You will be reassigned by this afternoon.’
‘But-’
‘Now, Ron.’ Harry, silent until now, did not hesitate to bodily guide Ronald to the door, shutting it tightly behind him and casting a double locking charm.
My eyes trembled as I finally sank into one of Tonks’ comfortable chairs, Harry sitting beside me.
‘He'll come around.’ Harry's voice broke the silence after a moment as I slid my wand back into its holster.
I'd known Harry Potter for more of my life than not, he was almost all I had to call family at this point and although he was many things; Head Auror, devoted father and husband, former Chosen One and The Boy Who Lived, he was, as time had shown, a terrible fucking liar.
‘That’s fantastic, Harry, I hope he does but come on, he is an ass and you know he won’t.’ I wasn’t upset at the realization, I was rather fine with it; I had realized who Ron was years ago and was far too pleased that someone, ANYONE else was seeing it as well. Offering my best friend a small smile, I gave Harry a wink before turning my attention back to the Pink-Haired department head who was scribbling away in a battered looking journal.
‘Tonks, I-’ She cut me off with a quick raise of her finger as she scribbled one last message before closing her journal and clicking her ballpoint pen before setting them both aside.
‘Sorry, I was touching base with Charlie; I don’t have any other Aurors that I would trust on this, BUT we have used the company he works for to consult in the past before.’ Her hazel eyes met Harry’s for a moment and I watched as recognition dawned behind my best friend’s glasses. ‘Despite a rather… checkered history, the owners of the company are willing to consult for your personal protection, no questions asked. I just.,.. Give them a chance, Hermione.’ Her voice broke just a little and she took a shuddering breath. ‘They watched Connor and Murphy when I couldn’t.’
The confession was so soft as to almost be whispered and I wracked my brain for the memories of the incident. Shortly after coming back to work from having her sons, Tonks had been hit with a curse that had landed her in St. Mungos for nearly two weeks in a magically induced coma. The attack had happened just outside of her and Charlie’s home in a muggle section of London and remained unsolved, though not for lack of trying; had I not been in New Orleans on assignment, I would have joined the search. The stack of files locked away in my office at home was a testament to the work that was still happening.
‘I trust you, Tonks.’ While I was curious as to who exactly she was calling in, the fact that they had watched her newborn children, the most important things in her life, was good enough for me. ‘Who is-’
My curiosity was cut off quickly as her private floo roared to life and two tall wizards stepped from the emerald flames, looking equally graceful, poised and absolutely deadly in head to toe black suits that were immaculately fitted. Platinum hair, so bright it was almost white nearly glowed in the overhead lights while his companion had a crop of thick, dark brown hair.. Well fuck.
‘Morning, Malfoy, Nott.’