“Is Harry available, Andre?” Ron hated that he had to check in with Harry’s assistant these days before trying to get a meeting with him, but such was the burden that came with having a best mate who was the Minister of Magic.
Andre somehow managed to look down at Ron over their glasses, even though they were sitting and Ron, standing, towered over them. Ron tried not to let the fear show on his face at the piercing visual inspection. Andre was worse than a dragon protecting its hoard when it came to keeping Harry’s schedule, and they weren't afraid to use intimidation to get rid of potential time wasters.
“I’m afraid the Minister’s previous meeting is overrunning, he’s currently tied up. He’ll probably be another half hour at least.”
Ron shot a look at the closed door to Harry’s office.
“He doesn’t happen to be in a meeting with Severus right now, does he?”
“I couldn’t say,” Andre said in a dismissive tone, “but please do sign the guest register while we wait for them to be done.” They slid the guestbook and a pre-inked quill over to Ron.
Ron followed down the column for that day’s visits, and certain enough, in Severus’s familiar writing was his name (or an approximation of it) None Of Your Business as the last entry.
Ron winced and looked again at the door. If they’d been in there for a while…
“You know what? I just remembered I have a thing, can’t wait, sorry!”
Andre smirked. “Still traumatised by that loose sock you found in there last time?”
“It was on top of Harry’s filing cabinet! What were they doing that they needed –” Ron stopped himself and took a deep breath. “Tell Harry I’ll catch-up with him about that budget allocation later, alright?”
Ron scurried off, certain he’d made the right choice. It wasn’t that his best mate and his ex-professor having sex made Ron feel uncomfortable. It was just how clearly very athletic about the whole thing they both were. It made him feel inadequate in ways that he struggled to voice. Fifteen years of marriage and Harry and Severus still couldn’t keep their hands off each other!
And Andre! They only saw it as a positive when Harry and Severus had an afternoon delight. Apparently Harry would thereafter spend the rest of the day with utmost focus, doing all the paperwork he otherwise neglected.
Ron made it back to his office and slumped into his desk chair. He put his head in his hands and tried to suppress the rampant thoughts of Harry and Severus performing their energetic, sensual acts together. Though his mind might be tricked into thinking about other things, other parts of Ron were more reluctant to stop considering what had been happening behind those doors. Other parts of him wanted more information, not less.
Eventually, Ron looked up back to his desk, mind at peace for the time being. The peace never lasted long, no matter how he tried.
He hadn’t meant to develop a crush on them, on their relationship. He hadn’t meant to be single in his forties, thinking way too often about his best friend and his ex-professor. No one else he met kept his attention like they could. No one else tantalised him or kept his imagination so captivated.
Somewhere along the way, Ron’s life had gotten entirely out of hand. Now he lived his life teetering between wanting more, and never wanting to ever see them again. For now, neither option was viable… but who knew what the future might bring.