Upon returning to the Burrow, Ron found himself feeling furious and restless. His heart longed to be with Hermione and the kids but he also wanted to be with Harry to apprehend Malfoy for questioning. He wanted to be present when they questioned Malfoy in the morning and Jameson felt it would be best to apprehend and detain Malfoy right away to avoid the risk of him getting away. Ron felt nothing but gratitude toward his friend Jameson, who had himself come undone when he realized what had been happening and that Hermione had been a target. Jameson was a true friend to Ron, having been Ron's roommate in Auror training and because he had no family of his own, he was a constant fixture at the Weasley family events. Hermione often tried to set Jameson up with women she knew from the Ministry but Jameson had yet to find the perfect match. Hermione warned Ron that Jameson would likely become another Mad-Eye if he didn't get a match soon.

"Daddy!" Ron heard Rosie squeal from across the Burrow's large grassy field that separated the house from the woods.

"Hey, Rosie girl!" Ron put a happy face on for his daughter who fled across the field towards him. He could see Hermione sitting on the grass in the distance and Hugo jumped from her lap to chase after his big sister.

Rose jumped into Ron's arms and he started to trot towards the rest of his family, scooping Hugo up along the way. He held them separately under each of his arms as he continued to trot toward Hermione.

"Ron be careful!" Hermione cried out, as he expected her to do.

He laughed, as did both children, as Rose exclaimed, "We love it Mommy!"

"They love it Mommy." Ron said with a slight shrug and as he closed in on her for a kiss.

"Ewwww! No kissing!" Rose said as Ron positioned her and baby Hugo on the ground. For emphasis she made an "ick" sound that caused Ron and Hermione to look at each other in amazement. She was really growing up way too fast.

"What's wrong with me kissing Mommy?" Ron asked his little daughter.

She scrunched her nose and shook her head side-to-side, "Germs." she said.

The grown-ups laughed out loud and watched as Rose beckoned Hugo to chase her and accused him of having germs. Hugo was so excited for the invite to play with his "Wosie" that he happily obliged.
Hermione pulled Ron to sit down with her on the grass to watch the children and each could see the worry on each other's faces.

"Well?" she asked him.

"He had some information. Harry's following up on it now. He told me to tell Ginny he'll be late tonight." He responded looking out toward the children.

She knew she wasn't supposed to ask what information they'd learned tonight but she hoped he would tell her anyway. Truth was, Ron was content to sit here with her, watching their kids frolic and have fun and pretend that nothing was wrong, for a few minutes at least. She sensed his need for something normal and safe and so she pulled herself closer to him and wrapped her arms around one of his and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Your mum made shepherd's pie." she told him.

"My favorite." He smiled.

"I made some cheese biscuits." she said.

"You are amazing." he told her.

After a few minutes of quietly watching the children, Ron spoke,

"Are you okay love?"

Hermione wanted to tell him that she was okay, so he wouldn't worry. But those days were over long ago. He could always tell when she was telling him what she thought he wanted to hear.

"Not really. I'm scared Ron. I was scared today and I am scared to even know what the other notes read. I'm glad Harry was able to intercept them. I don't understand why this is happening." She said quietly.

Ron put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him. She went on,

"I don't understand why after all these years of me being part of this world I have to continue to be afraid because of my blood status. I thought we fought to end all that years ago. I mean, I'm not totally naïve I know there are still fanatics out there, I guess I just never thought they would have the resources or the will to do something like this."

Ron did not have an answer or explanation. It hurt him that she sounded so sad and defeated. He started to feel anger rise up again as he saw her turn over her arm to examine the faint scar left on her from years ago. It was a painful reminder of how much she had already paid for just existing in the wizarding world. Mudblood. The letters were almost impossible to make out now, especially since she had gone through several removal treatments after the war. Ron would still find her from time to time rubbing at her arm, as if trying to lessen some residual pain or rub it away even more. About a year ago, he overheard Rosie ask her about it,

"Mommy, you have boo-boos on your arm?"

"Yes, I do."

"Can I see them?"

Hermione must have held out her arm to let Rosie examine it.

"How?"

"I got hurt."

Rosie sucked in through her teeth and said, "Ouch. Still hurt?"

"Sometimes."

"Mommy its letters!" Rosie sounded like she had discovered something wondrous. Ron's heart sank.

Hermione however chuckled lightly, "Yes it is letters."

"What does it say mommy?"

"Something ugly. Something not nice. "

"Why did somebody make those letters on you mommy?"

Hermione was quiet for a few seconds, "They just wanted to hurt me and make me feel bad."

Ron peeked around the corner into the room to see Rosie put her arms around Hermione's neck and heard Rosie tell her, "If it hurts mommy and you feel bad you can come and find me and I will kiss it okay?"

Hermione smiled at her and he could see the tears in her eyes as she whispered "Okay Rosie."

That memory was one of the sweetest he could imagine and he remembered thinking that he was perhaps the luckiest bloke in the world to have such amazing girls in his life.

Rose ran at them full force and enveloped them both in a giant hug as Hugo came stumbling behind. He tugged on Rosie's dress from behind, urging her to get off so he could get on his parents. The four of them spent the next few minutes piling hugs and tickles on one another until Molly Weasley shouted for them to come in for dinner.


At dinner, Ginny was disappointed to hear that Harry would not be home until late and she settled into a mood that set a negative tone for everyone. George had come over for dinner to see Charlie so the two of them together were giving Ginny a hard time about her foul mood. Ron had learned to keep his mouth shut when it came to his sister because her retorts were stinging. Especially given her recent frustrations with Harry, Ron felt it was best to just leave her be. He didn't like to see his little sister upset, but honestly, she harped on Harry like mad sometimes and Ron could see how Harry could want a break. But Ron knew the real reason for Harry's extra hours and he had a hard time listening to Ginny's complaints. He figured it was hard for Hermione as well.

"Well, I hope he at least gets to have a meal tonight. It's not like he's ever home for dinner anyway so I don't even know what he eats half the time." She said flatly.

"They usually get take away from the muggle Chinese place." Ron offered.

Hermione shot him a look. "What? They do." He told her.

"Oh, that's good to know." Ginny said as she stood up and slammed her dishes on the counter.
"Ginerva!" Molly warned her, "control your temper-children." she said out of the side of her mouth as she nodded in the direction of the smaller table across the kitchen where all the little ones sat having their own family dinner.

"Oh mum relax!" Ginny said and stormed out the kitchen.

Everyone shared an uncomfortable silence as Hermione went over to the children to wipe faces and refill plates. Then she stood and walked back over to her chair, put her hand on Ron's shoulder and said,
"Ron, maybe you should go talk to her?"

Ron looked startled, "What? Why me?"

"Because you are her brother and she is probably sick of me talking to her." she replied.

Ron saw the you-know-what-you-should-do look in Hermione's eyes and knew that he wouldn't be able to avoid going. He sighed and pushed himself back away from the table to stand. "Don't throw my plate out, I'm not finished." He said to Hermione with a fake scowl and Hermione looked slightly amused.

"I love how she can get him do anything! Let's see what else he'll do!" George cried and Charlie laughed and slapped his brother on the back.

"Oh shut it you two!" Hermione told them.


Ron found Ginny sitting on the front steps with her elbows rested on her knees and her face rested on her hands. "Hey Ginny."

"What do you want Ron?"

He sat down next to her and nudged her with his elbow. "Just to make sure you're okay."

She nudged him back hard with her pointy elbow causing him to yelp.

"Well, I'm fine so just bug off."

"You don't have to be so mean to me!" Ron scolded her.

Ginny laughed, "God you sound like Hermione!"

At this Ron laughed too, he had to admit it did sound like something she would say, and in her tone.

They were quiet for a minute.

"Ron, you and Hermione, you never get sick of each other do you?"

Ron considered her question. "I reckon she might get sick of me sometimes, but I can't say I've really ever been sick of her."

"No I don't think she ever truly gets sick of you. I mean you make her mad sometimes but she has never told me that she's tired of you."

Ron smiled, "Well, that's good to hear." he chuckled.

"Shut it prat." Ginny smirked.

"Why are you asking me that?" he wanted to know.

"I don't know, I just wonder if Harry is sick of me you know?" she said.

Ron felt a sudden pang in his heart for his little sister. She really did think that Harry was somehow tired of her and that he was using work to stay away from her. He knew this was one thing that Ginny communicated to Hermione. Hermione talked to Ron a little about it but he didn't really want to know too much and told her to keep him as uninformed as possible.

"Ginny, you don't realize that Harry has some very complicated stuff going on at work, it has been going on for a few weeks now. He isn't sick of you." he told her gently.

Ginny stared out ahead of her. "You would tell me if he were seeing someone else wouldn't you Ron. I mean if you knew, you would tell me?"

Ron's face flushed bright red as he responded, "No I wouldn't tell you, I would just kill Harry and he would be dead and that would be the end of it!" he said incredulously.

Ginny looked shocked at his response and then they both burst out laughing.

"You're an idiot." She told him.

"I'm an idiot?! You think Harry's cheating on you-that is really idiotic! He's my best mate, I won't have you talking about him like that!" Ron said in a slightly amused tone.

"Okay Ron! I know I'm stupid to think that. But it did cross my mind." She admitted.

They were quiet again for a minute.

"You're a good husband Ron. I mean, I don't know what Hermione ever saw in you but you are a good husband to her, and she deserves it."

"Gee thanks." Ron said.

"I reckon you deserve each other." Ginny added.

Ron smiled at his sister.

"It was good of you to book that trip to Greece for you and Hermione, she was really excited when she told me."

"Er, yeah, she's always wanted to visit Greece." Ron was uncomfortable with this topic since he still wasn't sure if the trip would be possible given the circumstances.

"Well, I'm going to get my lot home and to bed so I can watch some of the telly before Harry gets home."

Ron laughed at this. Ginny and Harry had received a television set from Ron and Hermione for their wedding gift because Ginny wanted one very badly. Now she was addicted to a certain show where people did really gross things in some sort of contest.

"Oh, yeah, what's that show, Infuriator? Eliminator…?" Ron teased,

"Survivor!" Ginny corrected him.

"Right." Ron said.

They both chuckled and made their way back inside the house.


"So she was okay then?" Hermione was giving Ron the inquisition about Ginny later that night when they were back home.

"Yeah, she just thinks that Harry is spending more time at work because he's sick of her."
"Oh, I told her that was rubbish!" Hermione said sounding annoyed in typical Hermione fashion.

"Yeah, I did tell her that something was going on at work that called for Harry to be more on top of things."

At this Hermione sat down on the bed and looked like the air had deflated from her.

"Oh Ron, I just realized that this whole thing with me has been what has been keeping Harry so preoccupied with work. He's been working more because he is trying to sort this out." She said.

"Well, yeah." Ron was surprised that she was just now realizing this.

"I've been so consumed with all this I didn't even realize it. I feel awful!"

"Why?" Ron didn't understand.

"I just do." She replied.

"Well, don't. Hermione, none of this is your fault." Ron sat down on the bed next to her and took her hand.

"I just hate all of this." She said.

"I know, me too. But Harry is bringing in someone else for questioning tomorrow and we think it will all be over in a couple of days."

"Really?" she asked him. "I wanted to talk to ask you about it at the Burrow but I was worried about your parents hearing us and then I wanted to make sure the kids were in bed first…"

He stopped her with a kiss.

"Hermione, listen to me, this will all be over very soon. I promise you and Harry promised me. You know he doesn't quit until things are set right."

She nodded.

"Listen, I want you to take a few days off work and stay at the Burrow during the day with the kids. Will you?"

"Yes of course Ron. After today, I don't want to go back to the Ministry until things are sorted out. I don't think I could even if I wanted to."

Ron was happy to hear this from her. There was a time when suggesting that she miss work would have been a suicide mission. But since becoming a mother, Hermione's priorities had changed. They both saw the needs of their little family heavily outweigh their work and career ambitions.

Just as Ron reached out to pull her in closer…

"Daddy?" a small voice called out from down the hall.

Hermione smiled, "Needs her pink nightdress."

"No the purple one." He replied as he made to move down the hall.

"What's up Rosie Cakes?" he asked as he entered her room.

"I want mommy's shirt." She told him.

"Mommy's shirt?" he was confused.

"The one I sleeped in yesterday night."

Ron went back to Hermione, "She wants your shirt? The one she slept in last night?"

"Oh." Hermione went to the dresser and pulled out one of her old t-shirts, a pink Minnie Mouse t-shirt.

"Here, she asked me for something of mine to sleep in and I gave her this one, she liked it."

Ron took the shirt from her and went back to Rosie's room.

"Here you go-mommy's pink shirt."

"Help me put it on Daddy." She lifted her arms and he slid the too-big shirt over her other pajamas.

"Are you sure you will be comfortable?" he asked her.

"Yes, I am comfortable." She pulled the shirt around her and snuggled back into her blankets.

"I smell like mommy." She said sweetly.

"Good night Rosie." Ron kissed her on the head and started out the door.

"Daddy?" Rosie called him again before he was out of the room.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"Mommy's ugly word scar was hurting today."

Ron froze.

"Oh? Did mommy tell you that it was hurting today?"

"No, I just know it was."

Ron was intrigued.

"How do you know Rosie?" he asked her.

"I felt it."

"You felt it? Did your arm hurt too?" he didn't quite understand.

"No, I felt mommy, she was hurting."

Ron was completely confused now.

"Oh, okay, Rosie. Goodnight then."

"Goodnight Daddy."

As he walked back down the hall to their bedroom, Ron decided not to upset Hermione with this conversation. The last thing she would want to hear is that Rose was thinking about her scar. It would be best just to leave it be for tonight.


Harry and his team arrived at Malfoy Manor a little before 9pm to bring in Draco for questioning. Standing outside the front doors of the dismal mansion brought back an incredible sense of dread for Harry. As a substitute for Ron's presence, Harry brought along the trusted Jameson as his front line interrogator. Harry's team surrounded the Manor to be sure no one could flee.

Draco Malfoy himself answered the door to Harry's surprise. It didn't seem as though the family had any house elves in service at this time. In fact, it seemed there was little life at Malfoy Manor at all. As he opened the front doors, Draco snorted a chuckle,

"What do you want Potter?" he asked.

"We need to speak with you Draco." Harry replied.

"About?"

"We need to bring you down to the Ministry for this conversation."

Draco snorted another chuckle,

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

Jameson, known for his ability to keep Ron calm, lost his own sense of control at Draco's smugness.

"You'll come with us if we say you'll come!" he said fiercely as he pushed open the door completely and apprehended Draco by pulling his arms behind his back. Harry watched as another one of his team members searched him for a wand or any other weapons. "He's clean."

"No wand Draco?" Harry asked him curiously.

"I don't need it Potter, I am a peaceful citizen, just minding my own business here." Draco replied coolly.

"Let's go!" Jameson grabbed Draco by the arm and started tugging him out the front door and they disapparated to the Ministry right away.


Harry knew that he was going behind Ron's back in questioning Draco tonight rather than wait for the morning. Ron thought Draco would just be picked up tonight and questioned tomorrow, but Harry knew that this was best. Ron's temper and current state would not allow him to manage Draco face-to-face. However, after two hours, Harry was starting to get really frustrated and he was also getting worried about the direction Jameson was taking with his interrogation. Jameson was being really aggressive with Draco and so far it had gotten him nowhere. Draco was as calm and collected as he was when he was apprehended and his answers were always the same:

"What do you know about this?" Jameson demanded as he showed Draco one of the notes sent to Hermione that Harry's team had intercepted.

"I don't know." Draco responded.

"You don't know?" Jameson replied in a disgusted tone.

"I don't know." Draco would reply with a smirk.

It was infuriating. It was as if he and the Russian had planned how they would respond if they were interrogated. Harry was starting to think they did plan these responses, but Rolinski had broken.

"Listen, your friend Rolinski, he broke on you. We know it was you who did this. We know it was you who told him to bring them here to Mrs. Weasley's office."

Draco laughed out loud, "Mrs. Weasley?! You seriously call that Mudblood slag Mrs. Weasley?!"

Jameson grabbed Draco by the shirt collar and pulled him close.

"You show some respect!" Jameson's face was blood red and Draco looked amused.

Harry sighed, Jameson was not handling this much better than Ron would. Harry was about to tap on the glass to signal Jameson to come out but then he heard Draco's sneering voice,

"Why is the Ministry allowing Aurors to spend their valuable time investigating petty notes to a Mudblood, don't you lot have better things to do with your time? You seriously get paid for this?"

Before Jameson could attack Draco, Harry bounded in the room and grabbed him around the arms.
"Jameson, take a walk." Harry told him while meeting Draco's gaze.

Jameson shook Harry off a little more aggressively than Harry expected and then made his way out of the interrogation room, leaving Harry alone with Draco.

Draco just shook his head and tutted, "Honestly Potter, what kind of beasts work down here? I thought Weasley was the most uncivilized animal I knew but this guy…" Draco nodded toward the door indicating his insult was aimed at Jameson.

"Look Draco, just shut it alright. We know you are involved in this and you should start talking now."

"Or what?" Draco looked unaffected by Harry's demands.

Harry felt his blood boil as he watched a smile form on Draco's face.

"You have nothing on me Potter. Just the broken English of some half-breed Russian who would do anything to get his estranged family back." Harry looked at Draco suspiciously.

"Yeah I know him!" Draco offered, "Came to me a few months back looking for some money, thought he could extort me. He even tried to break into my vault dressed like me."

"Are you saying you have no business relationship with Rolinski?" Harry asked.

"None." Draco said flatly.

Harry had to admit that Draco's story was believeable. Rolinski did seem a little unstable. But there was something about Draco's smugness that struck Harry in a way that made him believe that Draco was more involved than he let on.

"Listen Potter, I need to get out of here and back to my mother. She's home alone with no one to look after her and she needs me."

Harry knew he had no reasonable evidence to keep Draco at the Ministry. But he dreaded the thought of telling Ron that he had been let go. He didn't have much of a choice.

"You can leave Draco but if you try anything we'll bring you right back here and if you try to flee, back to wherever you've been hiding the past few years, you will be found and will look more suspicious than ever." Harry warned.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you." Draco said dismissively as he stood, pulled on his jacket and started to leave.

"I mean it Draco." Harry warned again.

Draco gave him a long cold look and then said to Harry quietly,

"You know Potter, I figured you'd end up part of the Weasley clan, that seemed about right, but I am surprised that Granger stooped to that level. I mean she was top of the class and all, she had a chance at Viktor Krum, she's certainly easy on the eyes, what gives?"

Harry was fuming, "What the fuck do you care?!" he snarled at Draco.

Draco smirked again, "Just doesn't make much sense to me that's all. But I guess when you're a Mudblood and you get a chance to marry into a Pureblood family you jump at it-right?"

Harry got in Draco's face and spat his words out, "Get the hell out of here and don't even think about trying anything."

Draco smiled and made his way smoothly out the door.

Harry sat down, running his hands through his hair and said a quick thanks that Ron had not been present for this interrogation. Things would have surely gone off if Ron were here. He knew Ron would be sore at him for not waiting until morning but this was best. Now the only thing he had to figure out was how to tell Ron that they had Draco in for questioning tonight and they had to let him go. Ron would not take this news well.

Jameson entered the room just then, "Where's Malfoy?" he asked Harry.

"Sent him home."

"What? Why?!" Jameson asked angrily.

"We've got nothing on him Pete. Just his word against Rolinski and since he's carrying a record and we've got him on some other things, his information is as good as shite." Harry said sadly.

"Well, we still have him in custody, maybe we can bring him up again for more questioning?"

Harry stood and wallked slowly toward the door, "Yeah, good idea." He patted Jameson on the shoulder as he walked by. "Get some sleep and we'll be here tomorrow early."

"Harry, what about Ron?" Jameson asked.

"Yeah, he'll be pissed for sure but he will get over it."

"Do you still have Keller keeping watch?" Jameson asked Harry.

"Well, she's been at the Burrow all day pretty much and Ron saw her home. She'll be staying at the Burrow during the days so we won't need him to be on here there, it is well-protected. Ron will be with her if she's at home. Why do you you ask?" Harry was curious.

"I don't know Harry, I just, I don't like how he talks about her sometimes. He doesn't do it in front of Ron but I've overheard him say things that are just off."

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"Well, like joking with other guys about how pleased he is to be following her around. Teasing about how she went into a lingerie store once and how watching her in the store got him...well..." Jameson turned pink.

"Bloody hell that tosser! Why didn't you say something?!" Harry bellowed.

"I don't know Harry, thought it was just stupid bloke shite and I was afraid of Ron's reaction if he heard. Tried to tell the other guys to keep it quiet and not encourage Keller with this stuff, but you know how they are sometimes."

Harry sighed, "Ok, thanks for telling me. I am officially taking him off the assignment for good."

"That's good Harry, I would hate for Ron, or me for that matter, to get thrown into Azkaban for beating Keller to death!" Jameson chuckled. Harry had a laugh himself and then made his way out feeling exhausted and disappointed about the night's events.