Ron's stomach sank. Lupin finished telling them how the Ministry was treating Muggle-borns and Ron felt his brain swim and his knees buckle. He kept hearing his former teachers words, "…must suffer the punishment." What the bloody hell did that mean? Punishment? Someone like Hermione was to be punished because she was born to Muggles? No. No. Unacceptable.
"What if purebloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-born's part of their family? I'll tell everyone Hermione's my cousin." He felt Hermione's hand squeezing his own.
"Thank you, Ron, but I couldn't let you -"
Ron couldn't believe she was arguing. He squeezed her hand tightly, partly from anger and party to reassure himself she wasn't going anywhere. "You won't have a choice. I'll teach you my family tree so you can answer questions on it."
Before Hermione could respond, Lupin cut in. "They'd want papers or..or a blood sample… something to prove..." He stated blandly.
"It couldn't hurt!" Ron said, a little too forcefully, staring at Lupin. He looked back at Hermione and inhaled, "What if we got married?" He looked back at Lupin, desperately.
"I appreciate your effort, Ron, but it won't work. It wouldn't change her blood status."
Ron became stiff. Clearly frustrated he began speaking to the ceiling. "You're telling me our wizarding government is separating families now? Husbands and wives?"
"There is nothing left, Ron." Lupin explained. "And the people who are left answer to no one but Voldemort."
"So that's it, then? That's it for her? We're just supposed to go along and HOPE nothing happens?" Harry, Hermione, and Lupin's eyes followed Ron as he began pacing. "This whole thing is just….bloody maddening! Damn effing Ministry….certain people…Merlin, you're the smartest, most talented…" Hermione never noticed how much Ron used his hands as he talked. Hermione stopped him suddenly, placing her hand on his arm. "No, Hermione. I don't care what you say. I don't care what ANYBODY says! No matter how much you argue, or how much you tell me it doesn't bloody matter, we need to think of something because I'm not letting anyone just come up and take you away and do Merlin knows what to you because of who your parents are!"
It was Hermione's turn to speak up. "I don't like it either, Ron but what choice do we have! We'll do our best to stay out of sight and hidden but this is the world we live in now! What can we do?"
"We'll do whatever is bloody necessary, that's what. Even if I have to lie, steal…kill…" He looked toward Harry and Lupin, so they knew he was serious. "…I don't care. And if that means you pretend to be my family because that is the best plan we've got then, dammit, Hermione, that's what you're going to do, okay?" He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Please."
Hermione felt her chest swell and her knees weaken for the second time today. She nodded and walked toward him, crashing into his embrace. Ron rested his head atop Hermione's messy hair and listened as Harry tried to change the subject.
"What's Voldemort planning for Hogwarts?"
"Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard, students must be given Blood Status – meaning that they have proven to the Ministry that they are of Wizard descent."
Ron felt Lupin's eyes back on Hermione and he felt like he might be sick.