Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter.

Previous Chapter: Luna seemed puzzled as she gazed up at him hazily. Ron couldn't face her, he felt suddenly dirty, filthy, dishonest. He did the only thing he could think to do; he ran.

Chapter 11

Ron didn't know where to go or what to do. Part of him wanted to go straight to Hermione and bare his soul and ask forgiveness. Part of him just wanted to run away and pretend nothing ever happened. And an embarrassingly large part of him wanted to return to Luna's flat.

Ron ended up Apparating to Harry's out of pure habit more than anything. A second later, he was outside Harry and Ginny's house. He hesitated with his hand half-way to the knocker before rapping his hand sharply on the oak wood. A voice that appeared to come from the door itself said, "Who the blazed is calling at this time of night?"

Ron glared half-heartedly at the door, for once sans a witty rejoinder.

Surprisingly quickly, the door swung open to reveal Harry Potter tousle-haired and pajama-clad. He looked to be half-awake at best, attempting to stifle a huge yawn. Ron either did not notice or did not care. He started right in without preamble.

"Harry, I messed up."

Harry blinked groggily and yawned again. "You did something bad?" he asked, thinking that anything short of murder could wait until the morning.

"No, well yes. Something wrong. And I knew it was wrong, but it felt right at the time and now I just feel so wrong."

Harry stared at his best-friend blankly. They'd been through a lot together, and Harry was more than willing to help, but at a sane hour. "Look mate," he said, "Maybe you should talk to Hermione about this."

Apparently that was not the best thing to say. Ron's eyes widened in what could have been fright. Gesturing wildly, Ron stated, "NO! No, no, no, no. I cannot talk to Hermione about this."

Harry favored Ron with a look that was two parts sleepy and one part confused, "What? Why? What did you even do?"

"I…"Ron's voice and manic energy faltered, and then he said in a strange voice, "I gotta go. Thanks Harry."

Just like that, Ron turned on his heel and Apparated away. Harry shut the door behind him and muttered, "Glad I could help."

Ginny's voice came floating up the hallway. "Harry? Who was that?"

"Just a crazy person, dear," Harry replied as he shuffled sleepily back to bed.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

When Hermione heard the distinct "pop" of Apparition, she looked up from the book she was reading. She had picked it up to calm her nerves. It had failed miserably. Thoughts of Ron and his distant attitude of late plagued her mind and kept her from focusing on anything else. But now it appeared Ron was back and Hermione was sure he'd have a reasonable explanation for why he was acting so different and where he'd been and everything would be alright again. Hermione almost laughed in relief; Ron was back and everything would be okay.

"Ron?" she called, rushing down the hall. "Ron, is that you?" She could see him now, just coming in, closing the door behind him. She ran down the stairs and wrapped him in a hug from behind. The way Ron turned around and rested his chin on her shoulder, Hermione never saw his haunted eyes or disheveled countenance. She did, however notice that he was dressed rather formally and with her head burrowed in his neck, she smelled something. Perfume maybe? Certainly not hers: it was far too exotic. But Hermione thought nothing of it. She held him at arm's length, beaming. Hermione didn't know it, but even this small act added to the guilt sluggishly bubbling in his gut.

To escape the feeling, even momentarily, Ron shrugged Hermione's arms off him and headed up the stairs without a word. His wife shouldn't be so happy to see him; he didn't deserve it. Hermione mistook this for another brush-off and followed him upstairs, cheerful mood already dissolving.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked off-handedly, hoping a direct question might start a conversation. Ron took this the wrong way.

Whipping around sharply, he asked, "Why do you care where I've been? You don't trust me?" Because you shouldn't Ron added to himself.

Hermione looked hurt as she replied, "No, I trust you. I was just curious…" but Ron had already turned away from her and was stalking down the hall. Hermione followed.

By the time she had reached their shared room, Ron was half-undressed, clothes lying haphazard on the floor wherever he'd thrown them. Usually, Hermione would scold him to pick them up but she sensed something was different tonight. She didn't like it at all. So much for everything being alright…

She quietly climbed into bed, a moment later she felt Ron slip in too. She rolled over to face him, hoping they might discuss whatever was bothering him, but he faced resolutely away from her. Hermione's face fell. She was about to roll over and cast Nox when something caught her sharp eyes.

Squinting, she reached out to Ron and plucked something off his shoulder. She stared at it, confused and knowing at the same time.

It was a single strand of long, blonde hair.

Author's Note: I apologize for the wait; the next one won't be as long if I get reviews…