Behind Closed Doors

Harry reached the barrier and passed through it with a frown. Ron was almost wrestling with Marmalade, who strained against the tight grip his master had on his collar and snarled at some unseen thing in the distance.

"Marmalade, behave!" Harry huffed as he tried to take hold of the dog so Ron would be free to use his hands again and have a word with his distracted companion.

The Retriever's whole body rumbled with the deep growl that was emanating from inside its body. Ron huffed and squinted across the open space and towards the thick wooded area. He shook his head with a confused sigh and shrugged before snuffling his hands against his nose to suggest some kind of rodent had caught the dog's eye.

"He's trained not to go nuts over little furry distractions. He's supposed to be one hundred percent focused on looking after you," Harry grunted as Marmalade tried to lunge away from him and began to bare his teeth at the unseen threat in the woods.

It was Harry's words that made them both share a serious look. Marmalade wasn't flighty. He would always wait until they got home to begin playing the fool with Ron in the living room, and he'd never abandon his master to run off after a rabbit. There was something out there the dog felt Ron needed protecting from.

That alone almost made Harry let Marmalade go.

Ron stepped back through the barrier and looked around before passing back through with a huff of annoyance. He gave a tut before stepping in front of his dog with it's ginger hackles raised, and looked at it sternly.

Ron made an 'O' shape with his forefingers and thumbs and drew them apart sharply. Marmalade's snarls grew into a low rumble but the animal's lip was still curled. Marmalade seemed to be a stubborn as his master when being told what to do. Ron had ordered the dog to be quiet so that was exactly what he did; Harry was still straining to hold onto the retriever though.

Ron huffed and lifted his shoulders to give himself a more intimidating presence before pointing upward with his little finger. Marmalade's noiseless growls ceased and the animal lowered its head with a whimper.

"Shit Ron," Harry gasped in amazement, "one word from you and he's cowering. That's incredible!"

Ron obviously didn't seem too happy about having to tell his four legged friend off and ruffled the fur between Marmalade's ears briefly. He glanced over his shoulder and Harry felt the dog pulling against its collar a little, as if it was worried Ron was about to wander off to investigate.

Ron looked back at his pet and shook his head once while curving his thumb and forefinger and moving them across his face, his finger wriggling like a worm.

"I don't think he's being silly Ron," Harry said, anxiously, "where's the prat with our wands to let us across the border?"

Ron bit his bottom lip and looked over to the little booth the man had at his checkpoint and pushed his finger down into a loose fist before nodding towards the rickety shelter.

"Hello?" Harry called, "Oi, clothears!"

Ron smiled worriedly at this and picked up a stone from the ground to throw at the side of the cabin. The stone struck the wooden door and thudded down to the ground.

"Wake up and give us our wands before we report you and get you sacked!" Harry called out, pounding on the door of the booth with some degree of desperation.

Ron's brow crinkled and his index finger and thumb snapped apart as his hand moved across his face to point away and to the side.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "it's very strange. He was such a jobs worth when we came through before. He's not the type to bugger off for a quick pee and leave his post unattended."

Ron stroked his fingertips from his temple and forward twice. Marmalade began his low growling and glared into the woods once again.

"I don't know what happened Ron but Marmalade is getting freaked out by something and the git's gone walkabout. We should get back to the clinic and report this to Stour."

Ron nodded and got back to his feet. He lifted Marmalade's chin so the dog was looking up into his master's face and released the animal. Ron maintained his focus and pointed at Marmalade before slapping his thigh sternly. The dog moved in tightly to Ron's side and began to walk at heel with him.

Harry noticed that the defensive creature had taken up a position between Ron and the woods and didn't tear its eyes away from the darkened undergrowth all the way back up to the clinic.


When Hermione unlocked the front door to Ron and Harry's place she screamed in fright at the vicious snarling that greeted her. Marmalade was standing in the hallway, teeth bared and ears flat, as he barked threateningly before backing away when he saw it was her. The dog relaxed slightly and turned to run into the living room.

Hermione had been so shocked by this she had drawn her wand and was pointing it down the hall shakily as Ron stumbled through the doorway and closed the living room door behind him to shut Marmalade out.

"Ron," Hermione gasped, "what on earth is going on? Are you alright?"

Ron ran his hand over his hair with a deep sigh before striding down the hall towards her and giving her a warm hug. Hermione hugged him back and listened to Marmalade scratching at the door frantically.

"What's wrong with Marmalade? Why is he so fierce all of a sudden?"

Ron leaned back and pushed Hermione's hair back away from her face and smiled tiredly.

"Don't worry Hermione," Harry said as he stepped out from the kitchen, flinging a tea towel over his shoulder and leaning against the doorframe, "he'll be alright now he knows it's you. He's just on protective alert right now."

Ron scrunched up his nose apologetically. He hit three fingers against his open palm and then splayed both hands and made small movements with them before his face. Then he moved his hands to either side of his head and let them hover a little before tapping himself on the chest.

Hermione took a handful of Ron's jumper and swallowed on hearing the news that the dog's behaviour was due to it being confused and worried about him.

"What happened to you?" she said shakily.

Ron's eyes widened and he shook his head frantically.

"He's fine Hermione, I swear," Harry smiled before gesturing for them to join him in the kitchen, "I've got the kettle on. Come and have tea with me."

Ron took hold of one of Hermione's hands and led her down the hall and past the closed door to the living room. There was a whimper and then the door handle jiggled and the door swung open. Marmalade ran between Ron's legs and circled them to take in exactly who was in the flat with them. The dog seemed satisfied and looked up at Ron with a gentle wag of the tail.

Ron sighed and pointed at Hermione. Marmalade lowered his head and nudged the side of her leg with his nose. She tentatively ruffled his fur before slipping quickly behind Ron and into the kitchen.

"He won't turn on you, I promise," Harry said with a confident smile.

"So why was he so ferocious just now?" Hermione whispered as she took a seat at the kitchen table and watched as Ron signed instructions to the animal to calm down and go and sit in his basket.

Marmalade trotted reluctantly over to his dog basket and settled inside. Hermione noted that the Retriever kept watching Ron at all times as he took up a seat next to Hermione and smiled, taking her hand where it rested upon the kitchen table and giving it a squeeze.

"He's got the wind up him and he's just being a good guard dog Hermione," Harry said as he poured boiling water into three mugs on the counter, "I'm really proud of him, of the way he wants to keep our boy safe."

Hermione squeezed Ron's hand hard and pressed her lips together tightly.

"Safe from what?" she managed to force out as she stared into his warm blue eyes.

Ron leaned over and kissed her softly but briefly. Everybody still had this heightened sense of concern when it came to Ron. They'd watched a headache turn into a coma and seen him have a heart attack after all. While this eternal mollycoddling played on Ron's nerves he did make a special effort not to get moody about their worries. Most of the time a smile and a cuddle reassured everybody enough to release their tension and let their anxiety go. The twins would get a punch in the arm. Hermione, of course, would get more than a cuddle.

Ron shook his finger as he broke away from her, his eyes still staring into hers intensely, before making a chopping motion from wrist to elbow up his left arm with his right hand.

There was a problem earlier on.

Hermione felt her stomach twist inside her as Harry stirred the teas, the spoon tinkling against the mugs, and nodded for Ron to go on.

Ron held up one finger and then splayed the fingers of both hands, bringing them together to touch fingertips, before flinging his hands open and out to the sides. He made a fist before his chest with extended thumb and little finger and wriggled it from side to side before grasping his hands together and moving them apart, opening them.

"Somebody from the clinic is missing?" Hermione gasped, "A friend of yours?"

Ron snorted and Harry almost dropped the mugs he was carrying over to the table.

"Definitely not a friend of ours," Harry said darkly while Ron made a hand gesture that most certainly not British Sign Language.

"So who was this person then? What happened?" Hermione pressed on, stroking the back of Ron's hand and watching Harry sit himself down with his mug of tea clutched in both hands.

"This bloke who works on the border, the one who holds your wand when you go through, he wasn't there when we came out. They sent out a search party for him and Stour got someone in to get our wands back from the secure box so we could come home."

"Did they find him?" Hermione asked, seeming to know the answer from the way Ron avoided her eyes.

He shook his head and Harry took a sip of his tea before continuing.

"No, they had just telephoned for Aurors to come up and search both sides of the border when we were Disapparating. They did find blood though."

"Blood?"

Harry nodded grimly.

"That's what got Marmalade going we think, he could smell the blood, maybe the attacker if there was one, and he's been very protective of Ron ever since."

For the first time she could remember Hermione wanted to pet the orange coloured dog and smiled over at it in its basket. Marmalade wagged his tail and sat up hopefully.

Ron followed her focus and turned to look at his dog. He set his mug down and pointed from his mouth and away before rubbing his knuckles against his chest. Marmalade sprung from the basket and scurried over to Hermione and pushed his head under one of her hands, looking up at her with his tongue lolling.

"Apology accepted," Hermione stroked the dog from his head down his silky back, "thank you for keeping him out of trouble for me."

Marmalade leaned into Hermione's chair and seemed content to be made a fuss of while Harry continued.

"Well the rain was coming down a bit and it washed the blood away so we didn't notice it but when the staff and more security came outside to look for Joe, that's his name, they saw the blood. They said it looked like an animal attack or something."

Hermione let her hand leave Marmalade's fur to settle it upon Ron's thigh and rub up and down gently.

"Well I'm glad you both came right home and didn't hang around longer than you needed to."

"Didn't have much choice with the dog acting up," Harry smiled, "otherwise we'd have helped out...not that that git deserved it." Harry added darkly.

"Excuse me?" Hermione blinked.

Ron sighed and shook his head at her before snatching at his face and miming the tossing of something over his shoulder.

"No, come on, what did he mean by that?" Hermione pressed just as Marmalade jumped to his feet and stood rigid, staring at the front door.

"He called Ron disabled and demanded to check his arms before le-" Harry was grumbling just as the front door began to open and Marmalade charged down the hall with a wild burst of barks and snarls that made Ginny scream and pull the door closed again.

"Shit, get him back in the living room Ron, I'll let her in." Harry snapped as he rose from the table at the same time as Ron.

Hermione watched as Marmalade savaged the woodwork of the door with his claws and growled scarily before Ron yanked him away by his collar. Whatever had spilled that blood outside the clinic had obviously been a very dangerous predator to get such a sweet natured animal so wildly defensive of one of his 'pack'.

Marmalade frightened Hermione a little but at the same time she understood exactly how the animal was feeling. If anything were to threaten her Ron she would be willing to tear them to pieces to keep him safe.


She opened the door to the bathroom and stepped over Marmalade, who lifted his head and looked at her before wagging his tail twice and settling down again, before she slid open the door to the shower and feeling her blood pump a little faster at the sight of Ron under the running water.

Suds slithered down his freckled torso and his usually pale skin was slightly pink from the hot water. He pushed his dark dripping hair back from his face and smiled at her. She removed her clothes and stepped into the shower with him, closing the door behind her to get some intimacy with her boyfriend that didn't have any chance of being interrupted by the dog.

The warm water weighed down her hair and soon it was smooth and flat. Ron's long expressive fingers played with a dripping ringlet before she stood on tip toe and began sucking upon the scar on Ron's throat tenderly. She heard Ron sigh and a curious sounding noise from the other side of the steamed glass of the shower cubicle. Marmalade was obviously curious about what could have stopped the pack grooming session.

"Down boy," Hermione said with a velvet tone that made Ron grin and lick his lips.

There was a grunt and a groan as Ron lowered himself down to his knees and kissed the inside of Hermione's thighs.

"Oh! Well, I didn't mean you but...that's fine if you...want to...oh my!"

Hermione braced herself against the wall and felt Ron's slick hands stroking her wet skin and his rough tongue dragging up her tummy and slurping at the cascade of water that snaked its way down her body.

He blinked rapidly as he looked up, trying to keep the falling droplets of water from his eyes, as his large hands rubbed small circles against Hermione's naked body – the sign for 'passion'. Hermione dropped down to her knees and launched herself into Ron's mouth hungrily.

She loved it when he signed with her body.

Ron pointed at Hermione and dragged his index finger across her forehead and then away with a flick. She lunged forward and sucked upon his finger. He'd told her she was hot, making him hot. Hermione felt sure the steam was not from the shower at all.

There was another whiny whimper from the other side of the door to the shower and an orangey blur appeared over Ron's shoulder. Hermione buried her fingers deep in Ron's hair and drank in a sweet kiss from Ron's moistened lips.

There was a slight scratching against the shower door before Hermione sighed into Ron's mouth and pushed in a little deeper while his hands slid down her bare back and settled at the curve of her arse.

Ron put his closed hand to his chin and moved it away from his face towards Hermione, splaying his fingers and stroking her cheek.

"You're beautiful too," she said as she kissed the palm of his hand, "so beautiful."

Ron grazed the pad of his thumb a little way down Hermione's breast bone and sucked on her bottom lip while Marmalade gave a frustrated sound and snuffled against the door noisily.

She grabbed Ron's hips and pulled them into hers while signing the same thing back against Ron's body.

"I need you too."

Ron smiled and tapped his chin with his fingers.

"So much," Hermione said roughly and Ron's chest rumbled with his breathy silent moan at the same moment Marmalade growled with frustration and gave a low gruff half bark outside the door.

Ron turned his head and frowned but Hermione grabbed his chin and directed his face back to hers and licked a droplet of water from the tip of his nose and then stroked along the curve of Ron's top lip with her tongue. He smiled and buried his face into the side of her neck, nipping and sucking at her wet skin for a moment before moving back a little and drawing a circle around her face with his index finger very slowly. The tip of his finger stroked the skin on either cheek and settled on her chin, lifting her head up so her mouth met his.

She loved it when he said she was pretty. It was always nice before but when he did it with signs, with touch, it meant so much more than just the word. They both had their eyes closed but she could feel Ron's thumb touching her chin and dragging away to the right.

"Mm-hmmm!" She murmured into their kiss before letting her hands slide down Ron's wet chest and over the ridges of his lean stomach, further down...down...down until...

The sudden impatient bark made them jump apart with fright.

"Oh really! It's like trying to have sex with a Scooby Doo album playing in the background!"

Ron shook his head dismissively and slapped his hands in a brushing clean motion before pointing upward and then reaching for her again. She huffed and shoved him away before sliding back the door and stepping out of the shower.

"It did happen Ron," she said as she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself, resisting the urge to kick Marmalade out of her way, "and you let it happen. Who allows their dog to go into the shower with them?"

Ron looked greatly affronted and gestured down at the dog, wagging its tail quite happily now he had his master back to himself again, waved his hand frantically on either side of his head and prodding himself in the chest.

"You're not going to get attacked by a mystery assailant in the shower Ronald. I know it, you know it," she turned and pointed down at Marmalade, "and he knows it."

Ron sighed deeply and began to sign her name but she turned her back on him, pausing to wrap and towel around her, and marched out of the bathroom defiantly.

"You're spoiling that dog Ron, and you're neglecting me. I won't stand for it anymore. Discipline it or start staying at my place when you want to be with me."

She didn't turn back to give him a chance to argue. Her hair dripped on the carpet and she left soapy footprints behind her all the way to the bedroom.

"Please don't tell me you just had a 'it's the dog or me' fight?" Harry pleaded with her from a slight opening in his bedroom door.

"No Harry, I'd never do that to him," she sighed wearily, "but he's got to put that animal in its place."

"Maybe tomorrow?" Harry said with a sadness in his eyes that let Hermione know he was upset that his thoughtful gift was causing so much friction.

"We'll see."


Harry woke with a start as Hedwig screeched on her perch and glared at the frantic owl tapping on the window as if worried a hungry cat was going to pounce at any moment.

"Shit," Harry grumbled, "who the hell is owling me at this time in the morning?"

Pulling on his glasses and adopting his most grumpy face he climbed out of bed and plodded heavily over to the window to slide it open and let the owl inside. He yawned deeply and ignored the smack around the head the owl gave him as it flew in and perched on the bedpost, waving its leg eagerly.

Harry huffed and ran his hand through his hair, which was sticking up even more than usual – Ginny called it his eternal bed-head, before heavy handily pulling the note free from the bird's leg and frowning at the sound of Hermione having a one-sided conversation on the other side of the door.

"Look I've said twice already Ron, I'm not angry."

Harry unrolled the parchment and began to read the hastily scribbled note.

Harry, Ron, things have escalated here since you left yesterday.

"I won't snuggle with you because I can't snuggle with you. There's a dog between us!"

Joe is still missing although other bodies have been found.

Harry's eyes widened and his face fell.

"I don't hate your dog Ronald. I want to brush my teeth!"

It appears there is a virus, something along the lines of Rabies the Aurors said – apparently there has been a secret investigation on the border. I'm not best pleased at being kept in the dark I can tell you.

Harry read and walked towards the door at the same time. He fumbled for the doorknob.

There was a loud pounding and Harry opened the door to see Ron hammering on the bathroom door furiously, Marmalade cowering at the end of the hall, watching his master unhappily.

"Ron I'm not ignoring you but I refuse to argue with you. Now leave me alone and calm down."

Ron huffed and spun around, ears pinking, jumping when he saw Harry. His eyes looked hurt and he kicked back at the door with frustration before gesturing to it and stroking his thumb down his cheek.

"Ron forget that for a minute," Harry said, holding up the letter, "I just got..."

Ron slammed himself in the chest with his palm, then moved his index finger to his nose across and forward, and held both hands with clawed index and middle fingers moving up and down rapidly. He finished his little rant by dropping his head and touching his index fingers and thumbs, splaying his fingers and then pulling his hands apart.

Harry let the hand holding the note fall to his side and took a step towards Ron, placing a hand upon his shoulder. He nodded sadly at Ron before calling over his shoulder at the closed door.

"Hermione, this isn't fair. He wants to talk to you."

"Harry I'm on the toilet!" Hermione said, sounding very flustered.

Ron rolled his eyes and slumped against the wall beside the door, running his hand through his hair.

"No you're not and I know you feel like hell for closing the door on him now open up, there's a problem at the clinic and I need to speak to both of you."

Ron looked up and stared at Harry. He blinked and twirled his fingers enquiringly while the bathroom door opened and Hermione stood before him with an anxious look on her face.

"What's wrong?" she said fearfully.

"On the toilet my arse," Harry snorted.

"Did you just make that up to get me to open the door?" Hermione gasped accusingly.

Ron turned and looked at Hermione briefly before shaking his head and walking away with a huff, tapping his index and middle fingers to his throat and stomping away with his hand waving at them dismissively as he went.

"I've got a letter from Stour!" Harry yelled, "Aurors have found a serious, possibly fatal virus or something striking people down with a kind of rabies and we have to go and help her evacuate the patients."

Ron spun around and swallowed. He tapped the side of his face with his fingers before moving both hands, face up, in small circles just as Hermione said the exact same thing he was signing.

"When? Where?"

"Now and Merlin knows where."

Ron was striding back towards them signing, his closed hand moving forward from his chin and his fingers splaying open. Then he hit the edge of his right hand against the edge of his left to make an 'x' twice.

"You don't think?" Harry asked with great sarcasm at Ron's remark that an evacuation wouldn't work, "What makes you say that? Could it be the clinic full of people terrified of the magical world leaving the one place in the country where magic cannot be performed?"

Ron snatched the letter away from Harry and began to read.

"So there's a fatal infection and people are being forcibly removed from the location of this fatal infection and you two are planning on heading towards it?" Hermione said, looking as if she wanted to knock their heads together.

"We have to go. There are patients there who won't go unless they speak to Ron, they depend on him."

"And I don't?" Hermione exclaimed, "I don't need my boyfriend here with me, alive and well?"

Ron snorted and put his hands together like saloon doors and then mimed turning a key.

"Ron I'm sorry I locked you out alright?" Hermione said as she rushed to him and grabbed handfuls of the front of his t shirt, "That was just a silly argument over the dog sleeping on the bed. That doesn't mean anything. This is important Ronald, this is dangerous and you don't have to put yourself in danger anymore, neither of you."

Harry loved it when Hermione lumped him in with her 'Ron-concern'.

Ron finished reading the letter and sighed deeply. He looked from Hermione to Harry and back again. He dragged his thumb down his chest a little and gestured between himself and Harry.

"No they don't!" Hermione said furiously, causing Marmalade to jump up at both of them, ready to join in the wrestling he seemed to think was about to happen, "They don't need you for this."

"Hermione there are people in there who will go berserk if they try to move them. Witches and wizards who have no control over their wandless magic and will be a danger to people under stress."

Ron nodded and Hermione's eyes began to glisten with tears. She shoved Marmalade back down to the floor and hugged Ron tightly to her.

"I'm sorry okay, don't go, please don't go. I'm sorry I closed the door when you were talking to me. Don't do this to punish me Ron, please."

Ron curled his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Marmalade was about to spring back up at them again, tail waging happily, but Ron made a slow gesture with his hand that caused the dog to settle down immediately and sit still quite obediently. Hermione sniffed and looked up at Ron. Harry watched as he let Hermione go and pointed with both his hands to his shoulder.

"This isn't your responsibility!" Hermione said with a stamp of the foot.

"Hermione I'll be with him, they wouldn't let us go there if they thought the risk was too high," Harry tried to placate her with little success.

Hermione cupped Ron's face in her hands and pleaded him to stay with her reddening eyes.

Ron patted himself on the chest reluctantly before making a 'C' shape with his fingers and thumbs and made a wringing motion with them. Then he splayed both hands and brought his fingers together at the fingertips.

"What about your commitment to me?" Hermione said sadly.

Ron tapped the side of his head with his thumb and then rubbed his palm in a circle over the other before pointing at himself.

"He's right Hermione," Harry said as he made his way over to them with a sigh, "you know how much you mean to him but this is something he has to do. This is his job and this is something he...we care about, people we care about."

"Well," Hermione said as she looked down at Ron's hands and then took the parchment to scan its contents herself, "this is a Muggle and magical problem covering both areas and I know about both magical and Muggle healing so I'm going too."

Ron's eyes widened and he shook his head determinately.

"Oh yes I am!"

Ron lifted his hands to sign but Hermione grabbed them and pinned them to his sides. She rose up onto her toes and kissed him softly. Marmalade made an impatient sound at the back of his throat and Harry resigned himself to taking Hermione to work with him that day.


A/N Happy New Year to all you wonderful people!