Harry and Ginny marry nearly right away, all pomp and circumstance, though Ron's certain Harry wanted something smaller. They leave for an extended honeymoon, and soon after, Hermione gets a call from an archeological expedition in Brazil. She leaves too, in a flurry of panicked packing and hurried goodbyes and suddenly Ron's life is quiet, quiet, quiet.
The apartment is silent, and Hermione's empty half of the cupboard remains untouched. The new Hogwarts term starts, and so do the Ministerial campaigns. Between loudly speculating on the Celeste Diggory vs. Emmanuel Higginthorp race for the Minister's position and paparazzi shots of the newlywed Potters on their around-the-world honeymoon, the tabloids nearly forget about Ron Weasley.