Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Set right after the Second Wizarding War. Harry and Ron have just become Auror's, and Harry has taken Teddy into his home. But when Harry goes missing, who is left to take care of Teddy? Ron, with the help of Hermione, is forced to pick up the broken pieces, bringing the new couple only closer together.

CHAPTER 11

Ron apparated back into George's apartment to find George and Angela sitting on the couch, Angela cooing at Teddy who was clapping his hands.

"I'm back…" Ron said.

"How was your mission?" George asked.

"Pretty good…got a few others coming up. Local but…" Ron shrugged.

"That's brilliant, Ron! Well, tell Harry that Teddy was a charm today…really he was." Angela said, handing Teddy off to Ron before kissing George goodnight. "I've got to get going. I've got work early…"

"Night." George and Ron said in unison as they watched Angela disapparate.

"So…she thinks I'm Harry's babysitter?" Ron cocked an eyebrow.

"Couldn't tell her Harry and Mum and Ginny were missing…told her Harry was working, and Mum was visiting Ginny at Hogwarts so I had to watch Teddy." George explained.

"Brilliant. What are you going to say when you have to do it more often?" Ron asked.

"Bloody hell…I don't know…" George sighed.

"I'm sure I can figure something out with him. Kingsley knows Mum and Dad are missing anyway…" Ron said casually.

"He what? Why did you tell him?" George asked.

"I didn't. He had figured that much out on his own." Ron laughed a bit to himself. "Its good though…he's making my missions local so I can still keep an eye on Teddy."

"Well good…because the shops just been getting busier. I don't know how much help I'll be." George admitted.

"Brilliant." Ron rolled his eyes and moved to the fireplace to Floo back to Grimmauld Place.

Ron stepped out of the fireplace and was completely exhausted. The mission had taken a lot out of him, and he knew he would be lucky if Teddy slept a few hours that night.

"Come on, mate, lets get you into bed…" Ron cooed at Teddy but then stopped quickly when he saw a familiar face standing in the doorframe of the drawing room, her hands on her hips and her hair wild.

"Hermione?" Ron was shocked to see his girlfriend. "What…what are you doing here?"

"Who is that?" Hermione rushed forward pulling the baby carrier Ron had Teddy in so she could see the child. Instantly, the coldness in her face melted away. "Oh...its only Teddy…"

"Who in the bloody else would it be?" Ron cocked an eyebrow.

"I thought…my dad saw you with a baby…he thought…oh it doesn't matter!" Hermione threw her arms around Ron, kissing him square on the lips. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Hermione, again, what are you doing here?" Ron asked.

Hermione pulled away as Ron set Teddy's carrier on the table. "Aren't you glad to see me?"

Ron looked at her for a long moment, knowing what she was asking was, in fact, a trick question. "Well…yeah…I just…I mean you should be at school…"

Hermione frowned. "Your letters have been short. I was worried…"

"Been busy." Ron admitted, motioning to Teddy.

"Well, yes, but surely your Mum can help you with that?" Hermione did not like how short Ron was being with her.

"Hermione…you really shouldn't have snuck out." Ron did not want to be rude, but he did not want to explain about his parents running off either, and he knew the longer Hermione stayed there, the higher of a chance that would occur.

Hermione's brow furrowed. "Please don't tell me my dad was right…"

"What? That I have a baby? Of course I don't, Hermione…you already know it was Teddy…" Ron said, almost annoyed. He thought Hermione was smarted then that.

"Is there someone else?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"What?" Ron shook his head, shocked at her question.

"Are you seeing someone else? Is that why every letter I send you gets a short reply?" Hermione rounded on Ron, grabbing the letter from her that he had left on the kitchen table and waving it as he took a step back. "Or no reply at all?"

"Hermione…no…of course there's nobody else…" Ron said quickly, putting his hands up to stop her from moving toward him.

"Then you explain to me what is going on, Ronald Weasley, because I don't understand why you are being so cold with me lately!" Hermione folded her arms across her chest.

But Ron saw it flash threw her eyes and he hated himself for it. He had hurt her, again. He had promised himself he would never do that to her; he would never crush her like he had when he left her in the woods with Harry, and yet he could see it now. He was doing the same thing.

Ron sighed, rubbing his chin, not sure what to do anymore. He wanted to tell her the truth, and yet part of him understood why he shouldn't. "Hermione…I…I've just had a lot going on…"

"Ron, you don't think I have to? You don't think I worry about Harry and Ginny every night? AND YOU! You think I like knowing you are running around out there with same job that could put you the same way as Harry?!" Hermione roared.

Ron didn't know what to say to her. He could tell she was upset, and he hated it, but he did not know how to sooth her. Luckily, he didn't need to think, because Hermione's yells had caused Teddy to start crying.

Ron sighed, moving past Hermione and gathering Teddy in his arms. The child instantly calmed down as Ron, for a moment, gave him all of his attention.

"Is that necessary right now? I am trying to talk to you! Can you just take Teddy to your parents so we can talk?" Hermione asked, tears in her eyes now as she motioned to Teddy.

Hermione had backed Ron into a corner and he did not like it. He knew why she was asking that, but he also knew he wasn't supposed to answer it, and he felt as though he was in a lose-lose situation. Before he could stop himself, his eyes snapped up at his girlfriend. "No, Hermione! I bloody can't do that!"

That was enough for Hermione, who glared once more at him, wiped the tears from her eyes and disapparated before he had a second to apologize.

"Oh bloody hell…" Ron grumbled, once he had calmed himself and realized what he had just done. He quickly grabbed the rucksack he had been using to keep all of Teddy's things in, and moved to the fireplace, determined to floo to Hermione's house before she cut the floo network off in her anger.

Hermione disapparting into her kitchen, causing her mother and father to both jump from their seats at the table. They were both sitting over a cup of tea each, clearly waiting for Hermione to returning. The second she saw them both, the tears she had been holding back began to flow.

"Oh, Hermione…" Mrs. Granger quickly got up and held her daughter.

"What is it? What did that son of a b—" Mr. Granger started, his words almost causing Hermione to cry harder.

"Not now!" Mrs. Granger snapped at her husband.

"I just…I want to know…if I have to find that boy and beat him to a pulp I will." Mr. Granger offered.

The idea of her father trying to beat Ron up did cause Hermione to laugh a bit through her tears. After all, Ron towered over her father by at least three inches and was much broader then her father.

After a long moment, Hermione calmed down a little and was able to talk. "R-Ron had Teddy with him…it was Teddy…"

"Oh, sweetie, that's good! I knew your father was being silly!" Mrs. Granger glared at her husband.

"Yeah, if I'm so silly, why are you crying, Hermione?" Mr. Granger asked, glaring back at his wife.

"He just…he…" Hermione hiccupped as she tried to speak. She didn't even know how to explain it. She knew Ron was hiding something from her, but he had never been sneaky before. It made her feel numb. "He's…he's hiding something…"

"That little bloody bastard…" Mr. Granger growled.

"Hermione, are you sure?" Mrs. Granger asked, soothing Hermione's curls to her head.

Hermione swiftly nodded her head. "Y—yes…"

"Well, what did he say?" Mrs. Granger asked softly.

"Not very much…" Hermione sighed, gaining her composure a bit.

"Well, then how do you know—" Mrs. Granger started.

"I just do. I just…I don't want to deal with him if he is going to be like this…" Hermione wiped up a few tears.

"Well…maybe its best you found out now…maybe its best you look for a nice non-magical boy…" Mr. Granger suggested, still obviously sore that magic had been used to alter his memories for a few months.

Before Hermione could respond, the sound of someone flooing into the room and a baby gurgling from the fireplace. Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and Hermione all quickly turned to the fireplace to see Ron, holding Teddy, standing in the fireplace.

"Out! Get out!" Mr. Granger started at Ron.

"I can explain! Just let me explain!" Ron moved past Mr. Granger, not fearing Hermione's father for the first time in his life simply because he was concerned with Hermione. "Hermione…"

"Get out! I don't want to see you right now!" Hermione mimicked her father, anger in her voice.

Hermione's voice caused Ron to stop dead in his tracks, his mouth half opened in shock. He knew she had been upset, but he had never seen her this upset. Not even that time he had returned during the horcrux hunt. He was sure she would attack him if he wasn't holding Teddy.

"Hermione…I…I'm sorry…for upsetting you…" Ron started. "I didn't mean to…"

"You are hiding something from me, and I won't stand for it." Hermione marched out of the kitchen, down the hall.

Mr. Granger went to stop Ron from following, but Mrs. Granger beat her husband to the redhead and quickly, without a word, took Teddy from Ron, so that Ron could go after Hermione. Ron gave Mrs. Granger a weak smile, silently thanking her for being a little more understanding, or at least giving him the chance to explain to Hermione.

"Hermione, I…" Ron followed her down the hall. He wanted to tell her he wasn't hiding anything from her, but that wasn't true. He knew he was. He was lying to her and it was killing him, and obviously upsetting her.

Hermione twirled on her heal, glaring at Ron and daring him to continue, which he obviously did not, closing his mouth quickly.

"Exactly! Get out!" Hermione growled. "I…I don't want to see you!"

Those words hit Ron like a rock to the stomach. He never wanted to hear them come from Hermione's lips, and they were enough to push him. "Hermione, I never meant to lie!"

Hermione furrowed her brow in shock. Part of her had not wanted to believe Ron could hide anything from her. "You…you did lie…"

Ron sighed, knowing he was committed now. Despite what George, or Kingsley, or his parents had wanted, he had to tell Hermione what was going on. He couldn't lose her over it. "Yeah…yeah I did…"

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she realized she had no idea what to say.

"I mean…I wanted to tell you what was going on…my parents promised me I wouldn't. So did George and Kingsley…" Ron admitted, glancing down at his feet.

"Kingsley? Ron…what are you…I mean…you aren't lying about someone else then?" Hermione questioned, knowing if Ron was seeing someone else his family, let alone the Minister of Magic himself, would not be involved.

"Bloody hell, Hermione, no! It's not about a girl…it's 'bout my family. I told you…" Ron tried to remind her.

"Ron, what are you talking about? Ginny? Did something happen—" Hermione started, now panic in her voice as well as confusion.

"I wish I bloody knew! I haven't heard a think about Ginny…or Mum…or Dad…" Ron counted his family members on his hand to emphasis his point. "They're all bloody gone, and the reason I haven't been so nice with you…so…so open…is that I've been busy pulling baby duty on top of trying to work and worry 'bout my parents and sister and Harry!"

Ron was yelling, but he had no idea why. He was just so frustrated.

"What are you talking about? Where are your parents?" Hermione asked, her voice just as loud as Ron's, though she could not explain why she was yelling either.

"They left! They left the second they found out Ginny left! Remember the morning they sent you home? They went to find Ginny. My Mum said she won't lose another kid…so they have been gone for—" Ron started.

"For weeks, Ron. They've been gone for weeks and you never said a word to me!" Hermione was outraged.

"I know…I know…I just…my parents asked me not to, and Kingsley thought that was a good idea too, and I've been so bloody busy with Teddy I can barely think straight anymore." Ron sighed now, calming down a bit, as if he were defeated.

"So you thought it would be smart to lie to me? To keep me out of the loop? I could have helped—" Hermione started.

"Oh, helped with what, Hermione? You're at school and you belong at school. You don't belong worrying 'bout my family or any of that…" Ron said to her, meaning every word.

"Ron…don't you dare shut me out like that!" Hermione was yelling again. "I will chose where I need to be and what I need to be doing! You didn't even give me a choice, and Teddy is just as much your responsibility as he is mine! Harry was both of our friends!"

"What?" Ron shook his head, wondering how Hermione could possibly be mad at him. He had done her a favor. He had kept added stresses out of her studies.

"How could you keep all this from me?" Hermione seemed hurt now, as she folded her arms across her chest.

"I…I don't know…I just did what everyone said to…I just…" Ron scrubbed his face in frustration as he saw Mr. and Mrs. Granger, with Teddy in her arms, move cautiously into the doorframe.

"Hermione, dear…maybe Ron was doing what he thought was best…" Mrs. Granger said cautiously.

Hermione turned on her mother, glaring slightly. "Lying to me?"

"I didn't want to. I just…I didn't want to bother you with all this. What could you have done anyway? You're at school—" Ron started.

"I don't need to be." Hermione said simply.

"Like hell you don't—" Mr. Granger started, but stopped when his wife stepped on his foot as she rocked a silently Teddy in her arms.

"Exactly." Ron motioned to Mr. Granger. "Hermione, you belong at school. Its what you want to be doing, and where you belong. You don't need to be worrying 'bout things you can't control and you're wrong about Teddy. Harry is both of our friends, but I was going to be living with him with Teddy, not you. Teddy is my responsibility—"

Teddy's sudden cries broke Ron off.

Ron sighed and moved forward, gathering Teddy from Mrs. Granger. The baby instantly silenced his cries and Ron glanced up at Hermione's mother. "He's probably just a bit hungry…"

"I've got some milk in the refrigerator…" Mrs. Granger said.

"That would be great." Ron smiled at the woman who disappeared into the kitchen, taking her husband with her.

Ron then sighed again and turned back to Hermione. "Teddy is a lot of work. I didn't want to bother you with him because I knew you would do exactly what you just said. I'm not trying to stop you from getting your education or a good job—"

"And what about you? You didn't sign up for baby duty…" Hermione motioned to Teddy, though she had to admit, she was slightly awed at how natural Ron seemed to be with the infant. "You have a job—"

"Mine can wait. Its my family whose made his mess…and Kingsley knows what's going on…he's working with me the best he can with my job." Ron said.

Hermione studied Ron for a minute longer. He looked so tired, and so old with a child in his arms. She took a step closer to him.

"Ronald Weasley…you don't get to decide what I need to do. I want to help you…" Hermione told him.

"I want you to finish school." Ron said back.

"Well, I guess we are going to have to meet some sort of compromise then because there is no way you are doing all this on your own right now." Hermione said simply, folding her arms across her chest.