Chapter 6 - In Vino Veritas
The next morning, Harry sat at his office desk, staring at new intel about Voldemort Youth having underground meetings in various locations across Europe. But he wasn't absorbing any of it. He was distracted by his personal problems with Ginny and the apparent dissolution of his best friends' marriage.
Ron had owled him earlier that he was taking a sick day. The note he had sent over had the address of the Ministry's guest quarters. Harry put two and two together and assumed that Hermione's talk with him last night did not go well.
Realizing that he was getting no work done, Harry got up from his desk and headed out his door. He soon found himself in front of Hermione's office door; he knocked and a female voice answered, "Come in."
Harry poked his head in the door and looked over at Hermione's desk but it was empty.
"May I help…oh…Mr. Potter, it's you."
Harry turned his head and saw Trinny, a blond witch and colleague of Hermione's sitting at the opposite desk.
"Trinny, how many times do I have to remind you to call me Harry?" he said, shaking his head. "Is Hermione here?"
Trinny shook her head. "No, she called in sick today. I had a feeling she would."
Harry knew that Hermione and Trinny were friendly as they shared an office. Had she confided in her about her marriage?
"How's that?" Harry asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Well, she accepted that new job with the IWR. I'll bet she went on a bender last night celebrating. The downside is that we were supposed to start her transition today, so when she gets back, it's going to be even more hectic."
Harry had a hard time picturing Hermione drunk; she never took to alcohol the way Ron had.
"Yeah, I'm sure that's it. So she's at home?"
"I suppose so." Trinny shrugged. "Is anything wrong, you look worried?"
"No, nothing's wrong, I just wanted to see if she was free for lunch today." Harry fibbed. "See you later, Trinny."
"Bye, Mr. Pot-I mean Harry."
Harry closed the door to the office. Instead of heading back to his corridor, he went into the courtyard where he and Hermione had their lunchtime chat yesterday and sat down on one of benches.
So Ron had called in sick and so did Hermione. He'd be willing to bet that neither of them was suffering from a cold or flu, but instead the symptoms that come with heartbreak.
Knowing that he'd get absolutely no work done today, Harry struggled with a dilemma. Should he go call on Ron at the guest quarters or pay Hermione a visit? Which one of them needed him more?
Harry decided to go see Ron first, proximity winning out. The guest quarters were housed in a hotel like building next to the Ministry. He approached the clerk who recognized him. Harry was used to this as almost everyone in the Wizarding World knew who he was.
"May I help you, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Ronald Weasley, I believe he checked in last night?"
"Weasley, oh yes, room 434."
Harry reached into his pocket and handed the clerk a galleon for his help. He took the elevator to the fourth floor and approached room 434. He knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again.
"Ron? Open the door, it's Harry."
After a minute or so, the door opened and a bleary eyed looking Ron appeared, dressed in his pajamas. He smelled like fire whiskey.
"Oh, hey mate. Got my owll, huh?" Ron slurred as he ushered Harry inside.
Harry took a look around the room. Ron's clothes were strewn all over the floor and it looked like he hadn't put away any of the things he had packed. There were empty bottles of fire whiskey on the coffee table. If anyone went on a bender last night, it was indeed Ron.
"Rough night?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, you could say that." Ron replied as he flopped onto the unmade bed. Harry sat down in a corner easy chair. "My marriage is kaput."
"What do you mean kaput?" Harry asked. "It's over?"
"Yup, Hermione and I have separated for the time being."
"Why? What happened?"
"Well, you got what you wanted." Ron murmured.
"Huh? What are you on about?"
"Harry….yesterday you asked me to be unselfish and give Hermione what she wants. I know she doesn't want me and she wants this job. So I've removed myself…. from the equation."
"She told you she doesn't want you anymore?" Harry asked.
"She didn't have to. Her actions speak louder than words. I know she doesn't love me anymore, hell I don't know if she ever really did."
"Ron, you don't really believe that." Harry asserted. "I know she loved you, she married you, didn't she? You raised two great kids together."
"Maybe she loved me once, Harry." Ron paused and took a swig from his bottle. "But she always loved you more."
There it was - the very thing that Harry did not want to hear, and from the very last person he ever wanted to hear it from.
"Ron, that's not true." Harry insisted.
"Oh yeah? Who does Hermione always go running to whenever she has a problem? Ron said, his voice rising. "Who is she always worried about and talking about? Who did she tell first about being pregnant with Rosie and Hugo? It certainly wasn't me, her husband!"
"She's my best friend." Harry said weakly.
"I though I was your best friend." Ron yelled.
"You are! You both are!" Harry was frustrated. "It's just that Hermione needs me in a different way than you do."
"Yeah, I'll bet she needs you." Ron sneered. "What does she say to you in bed, huh Harry? Does she scream `Oh Harry! I want to ride your broomstick!'?"
Fuming, Harry got up and approached Ron - he had gone way too far. He grabbed him by the collar of his pajamas and stared down his best mate of over twenty five years.
"Don't ever let me hear you talk about Hermione like that, do you hear me? She has been nothing but a devoted wife to you for the last fifteen years! How dare you accuse her of…how dare you accuse me? Is this how little you think of us?"
"So you admit there's an `us'?" Ron dared, staring Harry in the face, inches away.
Harry let go of Ron, ashamed of losing his temper. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.
"Ron, I swear on my parents' graves that I am not having an affair with Hermione."
Harry saw Ron's skeptical look and continued. "Listen, I am deeply sorry that you and Hermione have separated. And I know you both have issues to work out. I want to support you both but I don't want to be caught in the middle here."
"Sorry, mate but it looks like you already are." Ron said sadly as he looked away.
It looked like there was nothing else to say so Harry headed for the door. As he turned the knob and opened it, Ron's voice stopped him.
"Harry?"
He turned to face him hopefully. "Yes, Ron?"
"I've decided to take a leave of absence from the Ministry…I think it would be best, considering…everything."
Harry nodded, feeling numb. "Sure, take all the time you need."
He closed the door behind him. As much as Harry hated to admit it, Ron was right. He was caught in the middle. Things were only beginning to get ugly.
TBC
-->