"So what have you two been doing if you're not allowed in meetings?" he demanded. "You said you've been busy."

"We have," said Hermione quickly. "We've been decontaminating this house, it's been empty for ages and stuff's been breeding in here. We've managed to clean out the kitchen, most of the bedrooms, and I think we're doing the drawing room tomo-"

Pg 68, OotP, US version

Keeping Busy

Disclaimer: Come on people. I don't own Harry Potter. --

Author's Note: Woo! Okay, first off, I know the idea is a completely unoriginal one, but I love R/Hr and figured I'd give it a try myself. After all, we all know a little sumthin', sumthin' went on a Grimmauld Place that they're not telling us about! ;) Anyway, the first two chapters are well…rather plotless…(a lot of cleaning! That's all Hermione gave to work with! -) but I wanted to set up a 'basic routine' I guess ;) If you're looking for the real story, it's in Chapter 3, which will be up soon. So, if you're not all too pleased with the first 2 chapters, please take a look at Chapter 3! Okay! Thanks for reading! :D

Sweet Nothings

Hermione Granger finished off her letter with her usual flawless signature and a tiny, thoughtful sigh. As she sealed the letter tightly closed, she shook her head. "It just doesn't seem right."

Ronald Weasley, who had been doing his best to ignore her, knew that though she hadn't asked a question, she still expected a response. He looked up from his own piece of parchment. "What doesn't seem right?" he asked obediently from where he was sprawled out on the bed.

"Keeping Harry in the dark like this," she frowned, running her hand nervously up and down the old desk she had been writing on.

Ron gave a large grumble and forced himself to sit up. "Hermione, it was Dumbledore's orders. He's just trying to do what's best for Harry. Besides, it's not like I enjoy writing these bloody 'secretive' letters either." He looked over his almost blank piece of parchment. The few words that were written were either meaningless, cryptic, or made no sense at all. He scoffed, balling up the would-be-letter and tossing it into the fire.

"I know we're doing the right thing," she said, trying to assure herself more then trying to assure him. "It just doesn't feel like it."

At this, Ron nodded in complete agreement. He sat for a second, wondering if he should pull out a piece a second piece of parchment and attempt another letter. He decided against it and instead, rose from the bed with new conviction. "Well, it's not like we can do anything about it, so it's best not to worry. I reckon Dumbledore knows what he's doing."

Hermione smiled, feeling convinced. "You're right Ron."

"'Course I am," he grinned. "Anyway, might as well start working on cleaning the kitchen if we want real meals anytime soon."

Hermione agreed and the two made their slow trounce down the stairs to the kitchen of impending doom. Hermione had only seen the kitchen once since she had arrived at Grimmauld Place, and the experience had not been a pleasant one. But Mrs. Weasley had requested the group of kids begin a mission to scour the entire filthy house, and the kitchen seemed a good place to start.

"Ready?" Ron asked as he held his hand out to open the door. Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron took a deep breath and let the door swing open.

"…it-…i-…thi-…" Ron started, attempting to find accurate words as he gaped, wide eyed, at the horror before him.

"Bloody hell," Hermione offered up, in barely a whisper.

Ron nodded, taking a large gulp, but never moving his eyes from the kitchen. "How are we suppose to clean this without magic?"

For once, Hermione didn't have an answer. She simply shook her head. "I have a feeling soap and water aren't going to cut it."

Ron decided to shut the door.

"Good idea," Hermione sighed. "That was pretty bad."

"Pretty bad?" Ron snorted. "It smelled like something died in there. Several large somethings."

"Well, we're going to have to clean it eventually, we can't just leave it like that," Hermione said, though she didn't especially want to enter the room EVER again. For some reason, it just seemed instinctive to disagree with what Ron.

"We really don't," Ron argued back.

"Come on Ron, we said we wanted to help the Order, this is the least we can do."

He paused for a second and thought this over. "Yeah," he sighed, "You're right." He hated that.

"Good," Hermione smiled, happy to have won as usual, "Then let's go get some cleaning supplies."

Four hours later, the two friends lay, almost completely passed out, on the floor of a sparkling kitchen.

"Finished," Ron exhaled, dropping the rag he had been using to clean up the last spot of dirt on the floor.

"We did it," Hermione laughed, elated. Ron idly wondered if that was a result of the cleaning fumes.

"Yeah," he agreed, looking at the spotless kitchen around him, "We make a pretty good team."

"Yeah," Hermione smiled, also enjoying the blissful feeling of looking over a job well done. "We do."

There was a slight silence and a blush washed over both of their flushed faces. It was only then that Ron realized how close they were laying. "Uh, yeah, well, we should probably tell my Mum then, she'll probably want to get straight to cooking." He said nervously, getting up and brushing off.

"Oh," Hermione said, now blushing redder then ever, "Yeah, of course."

As she moved to get up, Ron did something unexpected and held out to her, a bony white hand. Surprised though she was, she took it, still blushing, and mumbled a grateful, "Thanks."

-

Later that night, after the two had received bounds of praise from the Order and a delicious, home cooked dinner, they had settle down for a late night game of wizard chess. Ginny had long since gone to bed and the twins were off making mischief elsewhere (at least they assumed). The two sat on Ron's bed, chess board lying between them. Hermione let out a large yawn before sending her knight to take out one of Ron's pawns.

She grimaced, as her knight trampled down on the head of the pawn. "I really hate this game."

Ron gave a fake gasp, already knowing full well of his friend's opinion. "But Hermione, chess is logical, strategically game. It requires thought, patience, understanding! Besides, who ever heard of a book worm that hates chess?"

"It's not chess I hate," she informed him, watching distastefully as his castle plowed down her bishop. "It's wizard's chess."

"Oy, like Muggle chess is any better!" Ron snorted accusingly. "Dad says the pieces don't even move!"

"Precisely," said Hermione snootily. "So they don't knock each other senseless, either."

Ron grinned, "But Hermione, that's half the fun!"

Hermione sighed. "Really Ron. I swear I'll get through to you one day."

Ron hid a smile. He certainly liked the idea of her trying. "So what shall we do tomorrow then? If wizard's chess is out?"

Hermione yawned again, reaching out to scratch Crookshanks behind the ear. "I'm sure there's plenty more for us to clean."

"Yeah," Ron agreed quietly and suddenly looked a great deal more somber. "I just wish there was more we could do- to help, I mean."

"There will be," Hermione assured him, her voice matching the soft cooing sound of Crookshanks' purr. "But for now, we do what we can."

Ron nodded. "Yeah," he said, but didn't seem convinced. Another short silence.

"Well," she said, stretching out her arms and hoping down from the bed. "I should get to sleep."

"Oh," Ron said, jumping up so suddenly he knocked over the chess board. He laughed nervously, blushing as he attempted to pile up the pieces. "Want me to walk you to your room, you know, it being this late and all."

Hermione smiled, picking up an unhappy Crookshanks. "Thanks Ron, but I think I can manage."

"Yeah," he blushed. "'Course. Just thought I'd offer. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Mmhm," Hermione said tiredly and exited the room.

Ron exhaled heavily and flopped onto his bed. Smooth Ronald, you're a regular Casanova, he thought bitterly. Wait a second, Casanova? What exactly had he intended to do anyway? She's your best friend, you horrible git, he bit, it's not like that. He shook his head. Something was definitely going on here…something with Hermione…and he wasn't all too sure he liked it.

-

"You're looking particularly lovely today, Ms. Granger," Ron joked as he watched his heavily clothed friend entered the room.

"Shut up, Ron," Hermione snipped, not especially happy that she was wearing 6 layers of old, tattered cloths and had her bushy hair forced up into a rather dirty bandana. "I'll be the one laughing when the potion touches your skin and you break out in a hideous rash."

"Sure thing, 'Mione," he smiled "Let's get started then."

Each grabbing a handle, they dragged a large bucket of purple liquid over to a big wooden dresser. Hermione was first to dunk in a rag and start the furious scrub. Ron followed suit, sticking his gloved hands into the pot. He grimaced as the rubber from the gloves began to quietly sizzle. "What exactly does this stuff do?" he asked.

"Well, it's some sort of Disinfecting Potion. It gets rid of all sorts of magical creatures and magic remains," she watched as a single drop of potion bubbled up and consumed the dust bunny it had landed on. "I imagine it does quite well with germs, too."

"And gives rashes?" Ron questioned, wondering just how strong his large yellow gloves were.

"Well, I'm not sure," Hermione admitted. "It either gives rashes or burns your skin off the bone." She pondered this for a second and then continued cleaning. Ron could only shake his head.

The two continued scrubbing into the cabinet was spotless. About half way through the day, Ginny arrived and though she had little to say, she offered a great deal of help. She pulled out just as they finished, claiming she had 'a letter to write' and giving a large wink to Hermione.

"Well," Ron said, looking once again at their finished work. "Let's report to Mum for our next 'important' mission."

They walked slowly to the door, less then eager for another maintenance job. They met Mrs. Weasley at the door.

"Hello you two!" Mrs. Weasley beamed. "I was just going to check how the room was coming along."

"All done," Ron told her proudly, opening the door.

Mrs. Weasley's jaw dropped as she looked into the room. "You did that all by yourselves?"

"We had a lot of help from Ginny," admitted Hermione. "But she had to write a letter."

"And the twins?"

"Fred and George?" Ron laughed. "No, haven't seen them sense you told us there was 'work to be done.'"

Mrs. Weasley took a second to take in all this information. "Well," she said, "You all did a great job. You and Hermione make an excellent pair." She grinned mischievously as the two exchanged blushing glances, just as she had intended.

"So, what's next? Anything but the lavatory," Ron begged.

Mrs. Weasley pondered this for a moment, as Ron and Hermione stared hopefully. "I'll tell you what," she smiled, "I think you've both worked hard enough for one day. Why don't you go out for a while, get out of the house."

"Really?!" Ron exclaimed, ecstatic at the chance to do something besides clean.

"Yes, really," Mrs. Weasley grinned, "Just be careful and be back by dinner, alright?"

"Sure thing!" Ron said eagerly, grabbing Hermione's arm.

"Oh! Hermione, dear!" Mrs. Weasley called after them. "You'll probably want to change…"

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