-CONSIDERATION-

Ron sat at the dining table eating beef and mashed potatoes, surrounded by his family—Rose, his daughter was smiling, talking very quickly about her first year in Hogwarts. She was relaying a story about Albus Potter, her cousin and her, and how even with the Dark Lord gone they were still able to get into the same trouble as their own parents.

Hugo had stopped listening completely and focused on eating his dinner in silence. Hermione however was listening intently to their daughter. She had never really gotten used to their first born daughter to grow up so fast. It seemed only two days ago had they been playing hide-and-seek with her in the garden.

Ron cherished these moments he had with his family. Being and Auror was a dangerous and time consuming job had him travelling often—moving from place to place, country to country and fighting off some very dangerous characters. He had to fight off a dragon before it reached Hogwarts once that same year. It was the pale dragon that Harry, Hermione and he had escaped Gringotts Bank on, right before the Battle of Hogwarts. The dragon destroyed some of the buildings in Hogsmead, the Shrieking Shack was completely rubble and so was the Whomping Willow Tree, oh how Ron laughed about that afterwards.

Yes, being an Auror was difficult and he had thought he'd seen enough fighting.

At the dinner table, Ron was contemplating. Bruce Wayne had offered him a job to lead a group of people and judging on the American's insistence, Ron had guessed it was a matter of great urgency.

'….yeah, and Albus and I went to the forest with James and there was these Centaurs being chased by Death Eaters by the looks of 'em,' said Rose, 'I managed to disarm some of them and so did Albus. That was when Dad came and saved the day, right Dad?'

'Oh, definitely, Rosie,' Ron chuckled before returning to his fortress of his mind. 'You two must have had a very interesting first year—more so than taking down a Mountain Troll anyway.' He smiled at her, his lovely daughter, a reflection of Hermione but with red hair and freckles. Even her complicated mind was that of her mother's.

Hermione rolled her eyes but soon when she noticed his puzzled look, she knew almost instantly what he was thinking. 'You're not actually considering the job that Mr Wayne offered you, are you?' she inquired accusingly at her husband.

Ron shrugged nervously, giving her an awkward half smile. 'Why shouldn't I? It's nothing I haven't done before, love—plus there is more than good pay including overtime and Health Insurance. Don't see many of that these days.'

Hermione knew he meant what he said as more towards a joke and just shook her head in disapproval. All the while the children just released a heavy breath and continued to eat.

Their mother and father looked like they were heading for a fight. 'And think about it, Hermione, if I take this and they pay me, the money would be more than enough to fund your entire campaign—'

'Oh, don't make all this about me, Ronald!' Hermione shot up from her chair, locking a glare upon her husband. 'Don't you dare put my campaign and work into this.'

Ron sighed and gently but indiscreetly advised his children to bed again. They were more than happy to comply and bolted upstairs, leaving the heat of battle behind and seeking solace in the coolness of their sheets.

'Hermione…' Ron started but then his wife dismissed him and stomped up the stairs and into their room, slamming the door behind her. Ron exhaled then followed suit, running and jumping up the stairs before turning down the hall way and to his right where his door was closed tight.

Ron suspired in relief when he saw that the door was not locked and quietly as gentle as glass he turned the handle. Inside he saw Hermione sitting on the edge of their king-sized bed, looking down at a black object in her hands. Ron recognised it straight away as Albus Dumbledore's Deluminator. It was a gift to him from Dumbledore before they left on the Horcrux Hunt.

Slowly Ron approached and sat down next to her on the bed following her gaze on the unique device like it was treasure and to Ron it was. It guided his heart and instincts back to his friends. Their voices, especially hers were the key. 'At Shell Cottage you made me a promise, Ron— that you would never leave me like that again.' She was crying, tears escaped her eyes and were travelling down her cheeks.

Ron gave a sad smile and took her into his arms. 'I know, love, but this isn't the same, this time I know definitely how to come back to you.'

'It is still the same, Ron!' she exclaimed and pulled away from his warm embrace. 'You want to leave, to leave me and be on your own…and for what?!'

'You heard Mr Wayne, he said that it was important, that it 'affects the survival of Earth—"

'It might, Ron. Even Wayne was unsure, even so, anything that affects the survival of Earth is beyond dangerous—you barely even made it out of something that affected mostly the Wizarding World.' By now Hermione was beginning to recompose herself, wipe away some of the tears.

Ron however broke out in laughter and said, 'Thanks, love, for your unchallengeable faith in me.'

'Ron, it isn't funny! I almost lost you on several accounts fighting Voldemort, and being an Auror is completely different to this.'

They sat there in silence after that. Ron took the Deluminator from Hermione's hands and examined the small black cylindrical device. 'It was always Harry, Hermione,' Ron started in a low voice close to a whisper in the air, 'It was always Harry James Potter to everyone. I know it doesn't matter anymore now but it did then…and to me. Even Dumbledore thought so.' A single trickle of salt water appeared off the corner of his eye. 'When he made me a Prefect in our sixth year I knew later on that it was purely for Harry's own good, connected to You-Know—Voldemort and all that, and I didn't mind. Mostly it was because I really couldn't do much about it but now I may be able to use those things I learnt being a Prefect to good use. I mean wouldn't you like to do the same if you were offered such an opportunity to make a difference?'

Hermione contemplated this. Ron could tell from her face that even she was considering it. He knew Hermione's answer would have been a resounding "Yes".

'I know that even now people know and love Harry and you more than me, Harry and Hermione are the names that wizards and witches and other magical beings would remember. Every time people writes stories about us I discovered that they have this thing sometimes called 'Weasley-bashing' where they continuously make up things that make me and my family look bad in any way possible, but I have noticed that the majority is targeted at me.'

Hermione was rather shocked at this revelation. Her husband was a loyal and sweet man and he had proven that to her on more than one occasion. 'When was this?' she asked.

'See nobody likes me, Hermione. Everyone I've met has thought that you would get together with someone more deserving, like Harry or even Malfoy—'

'Okay, Ron, now that's just gross. Where the hell have you been hearing all this?' her face had both disbelief and disgust plastered on it.

'All I'm saying is that perhaps I can change people's views of me or at least I can prove to myself that it's worth ignoring them.'

'Oh, Ron,' Hermione went on her knees in front of her heart-wrenched husband—she took his hands in her own and stroked them with her thumb. 'I love you, our children love you and so do your family and friends, Harry, Ginny and their children, the people whose opinion actually matter. Isn't that enough?'

Ron lowered his head and looked to the floor, 'Love? Hermione, they tolerate me, there's a big difference.'

Hermione grumbled, annoyed. There was no pleasing this man. 'Ronald, they tolerate the bad things about you because they can see the good. I thought that we'd made that clear already.'

There was more silence, Hermione moved back into Ron's embrace and they lay there on their bed and let the hours pass them by. Hermione's head was resting on Ron's highly toned chest, snug and well protected. They were in complete bliss and Hermione laughed that they didn't even need to have sex to feel in such satisfaction. But deep down, Hermione knew that it wasn't over. Ron still felt he needed to take the offer that the American businessman had.

'I know that you don't approve of this, Hermione but I think that perhaps it's the right thing to do. Something a Gryffindor would do,' Ron whispered into her light brown and slightly curly hair.

They both chuckled and Hermione sighed a 'yes,' before drifting off to sleep.

-O-

Ron tossed and turned in his sleep. Even in unconsciousness he could feel the shudder he got from having the locket around his neck and his body was responding. He could feel Lord Voldemort's raspy voice echo around him. 'I have seen your heart, Ronald Weasley, and it is mine….Least loved, always, by your mother who craved a daughter,' it said.

The scene changed and next he was at St Mungo's Hospital where a tired Mrs Molly Weasley looked upon her new born son, Ronald would be his name. Ron saw his mother's face, the look of utter disappointment on it made him tear up. He was a disappointment from the very beginning.

Molly had been trying for a daughter when Arthur and she were conceiving Ron, Molly wanted so desperately for a daughter to call their own. All this Ron actually already knew and because of this that Ron had always thought it his own responsibility to protect Ginny—the long awaited child.

'Nobody likes you Ron,' Voldemort's voice continued. 'No one will ever appreciate you.'

Then several scenes flashed around him. Ron trying to curse Draco Malfoy after the Slytherin called Hermione a 'filthy little Mudblood.'

Next was of Ron first heard of Hermione's petrification, Professor McGonagall had only requested for Harry's attention not his own, then when he agreed to accompany Harry and face off giant spiders.

In Defence Against The Dark Arts in his third year, Ron had spoken up against Professor Snape when the teacher went off at Hermione for answering a question out of turn, when everyone knew Snape was not going to pick Hermione only because she was in Gryffindor—when Ron pushed Harry out of the way of a charging dog that then grabbed hold of Ron's arm in its mighty jaws.

Ron then saw himself standing in front of Harry when Sirius Black (Unknown to be innocent at the time) had threatened to kill Harry, though his own injury made it difficult to stand.

'You have done great services to the school, Ronald, but they never thank you for it. They thank Hermione when she acts accordingly or enacts great feats. Harry, oh they always thank him every time he does something great and heroic, but never you. They will never thank you for your little feats. Little but heroic feats.'

By this time, Ron had just woken up, the voice still in his head. To his left was Hermione, facing him but still sound asleep. Ron sat on the edge of the bed and sank his head in his hands. He was thinking of the voice—of what it said to him in the nightmare. 'That's because they'll never have to,' Ron responded to the voice in his own head, causing Hermione to shift slightly and mumble something, asking him what he said.

Ron was sweating, badly, though the air was so cold. He got up and headed down stairs and to the kitchen. He put on a jacket, his shoes and washed his face before going outside. The morning air was cold as it was still three O'clock A.M. He would usually go for an early morning jog around the neighbourhood before work so it wasn't too unusual. But at the moment something else was on his mind.

-O-

Ron stood in the hallway, in front of a dark chocolate and polished door. He had never been in the Chancery Court Hotel…he had never been to High Holborn before.

Feeling somewhat nervous, Ron knocked gently on the door a couple of times. After only three times of knocking the door opened up a few centimetres, revealing a curvaceous woman, brunette and quite stunningly beautiful. She was wearing a black V-cut, sleeveless dress, no make-up by the looks of it but he had to admit that she probably didn't need it. Her hair was long and had that natural shine to it. 'Yes, can I help you?' she asked.

Ron stuttered for words before asking for Bruce Wayne.

'Oh, you're Bruce's new 'Person of Interest," she said, nodding and then allowed him entry into the hotel suite. It was rather spacious and looked like it was built to express beauty and elegance. Quite fitting really, Ron thought. This Bruce Wayne must be a rich man indeed. The woman extended her hand and introduced herself. 'My name is Selena, Assistant to the famous Bruce Wayne, (in more ways than one)' she added the last bit as a mutter not meant for anyone to hear.

'Hi, I'm Ron, Ronald Weasley.' He took her hand and shook it quickly before she had him seated on a white leather couch. She informed him that Bruce was just getting dress and that he would be with him shortly.

'Can I get you anything, Mr Weasley: water perhaps?'

Ron shook his head in humble refusal, 'No, thanks ma'am, 'M alright.'

Selena laughed softly before leaving. Soon Bruce appeared from a room at the back, in a black suit and tie, hair combed neatly and just fixing up his suit jacket. Selena was on his right. She went up on her tip-toes and whispered something in the American businessman's ear that made him grin widely before planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

'Good morning, Ronald,' greeted Bruce. Ron stood and shook the man's hand before reseating himself. Bruce took a seat opposite him, 'What can I do for you today, or have you come to accept the offer?'

Ronald remained silent for a while, still thinking. He knew he wanted this but was fighting with whether he should. After last night's talk, Ron didn't want to hurt Hermione again but there was something in -side himself, calling for this…offer. 'I am still having some trouble with the offer.'

'Mr Weasley, I am not here to try and force you into this agreement. The success of the operation may depend on you to agree but I need you to agree willingly and of your own terms even.'

Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat and knew it was for no apparent reason. 'I know, Mr Wayne, and I would actually love to but my wife's a bit…concerned. I was wondering if perhaps I could take her and my family with me—'

The American saw this question coming and shook his head. Calm and gently, Bruce replied, 'No. That is out of the question. I'm sorry, Ron but if they come they will only be in more danger.' Ron had heard that being said before. Harry had said it to his sister Ginny before they left for the Horcrux Hunt. He understood it well.

'I know, it was stupid of me to suggest it,' Ron rubbed his head in shame. 'It's just…I want to go but Hermione won't really allow me to. We have a history about me leaving her.'

Bruce told him he understood. In Hermione's Autobiography she had stated her feelings regarding Ron's abandonment. She said she was torn and hadn't stopped crying for three days straight. 'She'll come around, Ron, I won't leave until next week and then I'll send for you a month after that when we need you. Sound good?' Bruce stood up and offered his hand to him again.

Ron examined his important choices again. There were so many things he could do with the wages that Wayne was offering for this job…to be a leader, and if Harry had suggested him, maybe it was the right decision. He smiled at the American before taking the offered hand. 'Okay, count me in, Mr Wayne.'

-O-

Author's Note: Any thoughts? Please review, it does help me and I'm not just talking about appraisals please, I need you to tell me if you see grammar errors, Spelling (Bear in mind that I am an Australian so my Grammar and spelling maybe different in comparison to yours'). Molto grazie.