2. Chapter 2 (1/2)

chapter two: red hairsherlock crept through the back alley towards his meeting place with his female flatmate, eager to be the first one there. there was a price to trying to beat her, and this time it was trying to avoid the sludge in the sloped alley by climbing over dumpsters. they had a murder scene to go to.

"hermione? hermione granger!"

sherlock jumped from the dumpster he was on, already having seen that he'd failed in being first, and ducked behind the corner to observe. he and hermione had a sort of competition going, on who could learn more about the other's secrets. from the day he met her he'd known there was a secret, one that john obviously knew, but he had thus far had little to no success in discovering what it was. until the man with red hair.

"ron?" there was a pause and he could tell she was looking around to make sure sherlock wasn't there. "what are you doing in muggle london?"

muggle? sherlock had to be careful about this, having no illusions as to how intelligent his mark was and how close they were to each other's equal. the slightest move of a foot and she'd know he was there. what a delicious game.

"looking for you," the man said. english, from south west. possibly somewhere near devon. "haven't exactly been coming around the burrow, have you? mum's been worried. hanging around muggles now, are you?"

"we can't all have ministry jobs," she told him.

sherlock knew that tone of voice. she was uncomfortable and he could deduce that this was one of her childhood male friends he'd mentioned their first meeting. the living one.

"you could have. they wanted you for minister, and you know kinglsey always meant for you to take over for him once things settled. but you went off and disappeared."

sherlock risked a glance around the corner. her back was turned to him, and the man was both; not in a position to see him and too oblivious to even notice. hermione looked around, not turning to where he was, and had her hands in the pockets of her coat.

"besides," he continued. "i'm not an auror anymore. i help george with his shop."

"i was with luna."

the man, ron, nodded. "i know. in egypt. she's told us you were doing well and that she talks to you often. though that doesn't explain why you haven't come for family dinner. i know she and george have told you about them every time. and neville has mentioned your excuses when he comes by with ga

ielle."

she obviously wanted him to leave. "i've just been busy."

ron snorted. "with muggles? you're barking. look, i know we haven't talked since harry-"

hermione quickly turned her head away at the name. "no. we haven't."

"i know about you two," he told her softly. "ginny told me. you could have told me, well, not then. i wouldn't have taken it well. but you could have told me after the war. instead of ignoring everyone."

"i didn't want to talk about harry at all after the war. and that's all anyone wanted to talk about in our world."