AN: Wow, already a great response so far! To answer a couple of questions, both from buttercup88- Age-wise I picture them to be around 26/27. The timeline for the war will settle out in the next couple of chapters, but essentially it did not end at the Battle of Hogwarts and instead continued on for a few more years. It has been about six months since the end of the war. The next chapters will dig a little more into what each character has been going through individually and will help build that timeline.
Also, I used another character that Rowling created, however this character was never given a last name, so I made one up for the story's sake.

"I've got your back, mate." Harry clapped a firm hand on Ron's shoulder, both men grinning at each other, wands held tightly in their hands. Ron shifted around inside his uniform, trying to find a more comfortable resting place for the shoulder pads that protected most of his back. Harry slapped his shoulder again and Ron bolted out from behind their cover, wand flying in intricate hexes at the group of Death Eaters across the battlefield. Harry's footsteps echoed Ron's as the two men bounded around different obstacles, finally sliding to a stop behind a half disintegrated wall. Ron looked to Harry, the dark haired man smiling wildly.

"You've gone mad, Harry." Ron gasped for breath and Harry just let out a short bark of laughter. "Absolutely bloody mad."

"I think you're right." Harry laughed again and stood up suddenly, a fantastically aimed Bombarda blowing four Death Eaters into the air. Ron immediately followed with two Confringos and a last second Killing Curse as a Death Eater appeared to their right. Harry pushed hard on the red headed man's shoulder, forcing him to one knee and brandishing his wand in a flair, an eighth Death Eater dropping with a gurgled splutter. Silver gloved hands rose to the Death Eater's throat, rivers of blood gushing over the ghastly uniform. Ron shuddered and turned in time to see Harry rushing towards the front steps of Malfoy Manor.

"Harry!"

"Harry!"

"HARRY!"

Ron sat upright in his bed, legs kicking wildly at the sheets that had tangled themselves around his limbs. He was shaking visibly, his hands unsteady as he fumbled to get the bedside light on. He swung his now free legs over the side of the mattress, his elbows finding his knees as his fingers tracked deep into his long red hair. Behind him a feminine sigh let him know that his company for the evening was not pleased with his decision to turn the light on. Delicate hands soon ghosted up and over his back, circling his shoulders. Black painted nails raked lightly over his bare chest, pulling carefully.

"Come back to bed darling, it's not even midnight." The smooth whisper in his left ear had him relaxing into the naked form pressed against his back. She laid a sweet kiss beneath his earlobe and he reached for the light, enveloping the room in darkness before rolling and pinning the woman between his body and the mattress.

"Sorry for waking you last night." Ron apologized as he began buttoning his uniform, the deep charcoal tunic fitted expertly to his form.

"No worries, love." Leanne Watkins flashed a pearly smile in his direction and crossed the room, clad in a long ruby robe. Her thin fingers made short work of his final button, weaving into his hair as she completed the task. "You'll be home for dinner this evening? I've got a wonderful roast planned."

"That's the idea." Ron pulled at his collar, already uncomfortable. "If Kingsley doesn't work me to death this afternoon, that is. I told you about yesterday, yeah?"

"The later hours and more interns? It just means he appreciated your work and knows you can handle the responsibility." Leanne laced up the mid-calf boots she enjoyed so much and stood with her hands on her hips, admiring her reflection. Ron studied the woman for a moment. She was barely shorter than he was with the boots on. Dark hair was pulled into a fashionable tousled bun at the nape of her long neck, a few strands perfectly plucked to swing over her bright almond eyes. All in all she was attractive, someone Ron would have normally been very excited to settle down with, but lately he had found himself wishing her hair to be slightly bushier, or her eyes a shade darker, or her laugh less abrasive.

"I think I might pop in later this week to see Hermione."

"Again?" Leanne eyed her boyfriend uneasily. "That'll be the fourth time this month."

"She doesn't get many visitors." Ron mumbled, sticking his wand in the holster at his waist. Leanne pursed her lips but said nothing else on the matter, picking up the beaded clutch on the counter as she walked to the front door of the apartment.

"Owl me if you run late then. I can reschedule dinner." She left a kiss, colder than usual, on his right cheek and drifted out the door. Ron waited until he heard the faint pop of Apparition before he allowed himself to cast a forlorn glance at the framed photo on the mantle in the living room.

"Auror Weasley to see Researcher Granger, if you please." Ron used his business tone with the diminutive witch at the front desk. She regarded him over the frames of her glasses, her eyebrows shooting into her hairline as she confirmed his identity. She slid a gold badge across the desk and he quickly clipped it to his breast pocket, heading straight for the Floo that would take him to Hermione's private offices. He threw a handful of powder in and stepped over the grate, not needing to state his destination. Seconds later he landed less than gracefully on the other side, one hand shooting out to catch himself on the wall of the Floo.

Across the office a head full of brown hair peeked out from behind stacks of paperwork.

"Ron!" Hermione beamed widely at him but stayed seated. He returned her smile and began walking towards her even as she bent back to the paper she was working on. "So lovely to see you. How is Leanne? I hope you two will forgive my utter rudeness the other week, I completely forgot about the reservation and I couldn't break away. Loads to get done around here. How's work, Ron? I bet you're all-"

"Hermione." Ron cut across her monologue in an exhausted sigh. She paused, blinking rapidly to hide her tears. "Hermione, this isn't healthy." He gestured to the paperwork that she had buried herself in. She swallowed thickly and shook her head. "It isn't and you know it. Please, Hermione, listen to me."

"I'm perfectly fine Ron." She said stubbornly. "Work has been an absolute disaster lately! Nothing seems to get done but I'm doing just fine, don't worry on me a single bit."

"Alright." Ron knew defeat when he met it and he let the woman win the impending argument. "Perhaps you can come round for dinner this weekend?"

"I would love to!" Hermione exclaimed, looking up from her paperwork to grin at him. "It's been so long since I've been out of the house, it would be lovely to have some company for once. I could bring a bottle of that wine Leanne is so keen on."

"Right." Ron gave her a tight smile and rubbed her shoulder for a moment. "I miss you, Hermione."

"I miss you too Ron."

"No, I…" He stopped, shaking his head. "I hope you'll come by this weekend. I haven't seen you in ages."

"Of course I will!" She set down her pen and stood quickly, wrapping him in a hug that lasted all of two milliseconds before she was seated and working again. "Thank you so much for stopping by, I've been meaning to get out of the office one of these days and see what you've been up to down in the Auror Department but I just can't seem to find the time."

"That's alright." Ron fought the nagging emotion building in the back of his throat. "I should get back. Kingsley has probably been asking after me."

"It was lovely to see you." Hermione closed a book and tossed it from the desk, opening another one without glancing up at Ron.

"See you around, Hermione." He bent to kiss her cheek and she turned away, oblivious to his intentions as she immersed herself in the textbook. Hurt flashed across his face and he withdrew from her, his hand slipping from her shoulder as he walked away.

Please let me know what you think!