A/N1: From this chapter onwards, this story is going to be rated M, due to mature situations and language.


Confrontations

Ron, Hermione, and Harry, alongside a team of Aurors, checked the house thoroughly. They didn't find any clues, which lead them to decide their purpose had been to wreck the place and nothing else. Everyone helped organize and clean their house. After they left, Ron and Hermione went to St. Mungos for a check-up. The Healer commented on how Ron had gained some weight already and how his organs were fully functional and stable once again.

"Now," the Healer continued, "we're going to try to check your brain again. Are you ready?"

Ron nodded his head, and looked at the man in front of him expectantly.

Hermione observed the Healer trying different spells, moving his wrist in delicate and purposeful movements. She felt her stomach contract in anticipation; she couldn't help but hope that this time things would be different and that the spells would actually work.

As minutes went by, she could feel Ron's disappointment growing. Finally, the Healer dropped his wand arm, and looked at them apologetically.

"I'm sorry. We found some different spells that we thought might work, but they evidently didn't."

"What spells did you tried today?," Hermione asked. "I would like to know more details, if you don't mind."

"We have tried Reminiscor, Recordor, Anpraterei, and Nondediscus. We've also checked his mind for traces of magic, using Resigno, but it doesn't seem to find anything."

"But the Dark Wizards did something," Ron complained. "Twice a week, they would do stuff to me. I can't remember the words they used, but they did do magic on me."

"Nobody doubts you," Hermione reassured Ron, rubbing her hand on his arm. Then, facing the Healer, she continued. "I think that it sounds like they were using new magic. They must have used spells and charms they developed themselves."

"It's certainly a possibility," the man agreed. "It would explain why we can't find traces of them; we're not looking for the right things. It might also help understand what happened to the other Aurors that lost their memories."

"So what can we do?" Ron asked, anxious to find a solution.

"We have to figure out what is the underlying source of magic used, and what exactly is it doing. Then we have to find out if we can develop a counter-curse. It's not an easy process," the Healer explained.

"It can also be dangerous. Trying spells you're creating can result in a disaster. You never know what is going to happen!"

"That's why the other Aurors decided not to force their memories back. They had only lost a few weeks worth of memories; for them, it was not worth the risk."

"My options then," Ron said, "are not getting my memory back or causing an unexpected, worse consequence?"

Both Hermione and the medic remained silent, unhappy with the answer they would have to give.

A knock at the door interrupted them. It was Aurors John and Duncan.

"Hello, Ms. Granger. Ron, doctor," the Aurors greeted everyone in the room. The Healer excused himself and left the room.

"Just call me Hermione, please."

"Do you have any news?" Ron asked.

"In fact we do, Weasley," Duncan said. "We tried to triangulate your different memories, and found the possible place where the Dark Wizards are hidden. John and I just got back from scouting the place. We will go back tomorrow and try to find the cabin you recall, and if we're successful, we should be taking a whole team of Aurors there with us."

"Sounds promising," Ron commented.

"If everything goes according to plan," John continued, "we should have your kidnappers captured by the end of the week."

"That would be great," Hermione commented. "Maybe then we will finally know how to get Ron's memories back."

"That's certainly our hope," John asserted. "We want to help in any way we can to bring justice to the situation."

"Thank you, mate," Ron said. The Aurors took their leave then, and left the room.

"I really hope it works out," Ron told Hermione, breaking the silence as soon as they were alone. "I know it's only been a few days, but it feels like centuries."

"Do you feel comfortable leaving everything in the hands of other people?" Hermione asked, not commenting on Ron's statement.

"What do you mean?" Ron said, getting his things ready to leave the room.

"Well, right now there's not much we can do. The Mediwizards are doing something, Aurors are doing something... and I don't like being left to wait." Hermione held her breath for a moment, debating how to tell Ron about her research. "Ron... I have been doing some reading," she finally said, noncommittally. "I think I have a few ideas on how to find a counter-curse."

"You do? Brilliant! Is this the research Neville mentioned at Hogwarts?"

"Yes. But I have to warn you. I'm not certain yet that my ideas are safe. There's a lot more I want to read before making any decisions."

"Do you think you should have mentioned it to the Healer?"

Hermione paused. She knew it was the logical thing to do. At the same time, she knew that the chances of finding a solution were multiplied if different teams were working together, and in that case she didn't want to intervene on what the medics were doing. "I think I want to be more sure of what I've found before telling them anything. They're investigating too, and what I'm doing is not necessarily going to work. I don't want to burden them yet."

They left the room and started walking. Suddenly, Ron changed subjects. "So," he said, the tips of his ears getting red. Hermione wondered what he was thinking; he lookeded shy. "Do you fancy going out for dinner somewhere? You know, just to talk and... dunno, reconnect or something."

Hermione looked at him, slightly surprised. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"If you want me to," he replied, evidently embarrassed.

She smiled, both happy that he had thought of that and out of appreciation for his effort. "Let's go this way," Hermione guided them to a place she knew nearby. "You don't usually invite me out like this."

"I don't? I should have," Ron replied.

Hermione felt bad for him. Even though he didn't seem too concerned with that kind of thing in the past, he appeared to believe he had to do those things now. Hermione thought that, maybe, he was looking for ways to show her his intent on getting back together with her, yet was at a loss on how to actually convey his hopes. She felt that he deserved for her to try to make him feel better. "Maybe you could have invited me out more, but I didn't mind that you didn't do it very often. Having known each other for so long, we didn't feel the need for that kind of thing very much. We were happy to just stay home and watch the telly, cuddling under a blanket, or I would read a book while you listened to a Quidditch game. "

Ron stopped walking and took Hermione's hand. He faced her, looking at her seriously. "If I don't get my memory back, I want you to tell me all about us. What we used to do, how I was to you… everything. I want to be the bloke I was before I left. I want to make our relationship work again, if you'll let me."

Hermione felt a flutter of happiness in her stomach, while at the same time she was sorry for Ron. She felt sorry for the two of them. In the past, they had felt like they had it all, to only lose it in an instant. Ron seemed to be trying to fill in the blanks in his mind by doing things the way traditional couples did, not knowing that they had never been a normal, traditional couple. How could she convey every detail of their story so that he would understand who they were together?

Hermione raised a hand to Ron's face. His eyes were telling her how much he longed for them to be the same. His brain might not be able to show him the images of their lives together, but she was beginning to understand what he meant when he said the emotions seemed to still be there.

She wanted the same things. She wanted to be with him again, not only as a companion during this difficult time, but as a couple. She longed to feel confident with him again, to experience the kind of intimacy where his body was as accessible to her as if it were her own. She found herself debating between kissing him and letting him take the first step. Like all those years before, she knew she would be the one to cross that bridge. He had tried, after all. Now it was her turn.

She balanced her weight in the balls of her feet and rested her body against his, just like she would have done before. He gave her a thankful, understanding smile that quickly turned to playful as he put his arms around her. She smiled back at him, and finally closed the distance between their lips.

The kiss was tentative and slow, both trying to wake up the memories of their shared past. She marvelled at the feeling of recognition; it didn't take much effort for her to get lost in the softness of his mouth, in the taste of his tongue, just like she would have done before. His hair was still soft under her fingertips, his chest hard against hers, his body supporting her and bringing their past right back to their present.

"Ron-"

A green jet of light flew past Ron's head, lifting strands of his hair in its wake.

"Bloody hell!" he screamed, taking out his wand as he pulled Hermione behind him in reflex. Hermione took out her wand too and moved to his side. They barely had time to pull themselves together when a series of curses began flying at them.

"Can you see them?!" Hermione asked him as she concentrated in defending herself.

"There's two around that corner on the left, and one behind that bush in front of us," Ron replied, bursts of magic flying off his wand. Suddenly, a curse flew past them barely missing its target. "One more around the other corner," he corrected.

"They're well protected. I can't hit them!" Hermione said as she silently used defensive magic, both her and Ron instinctively moving closer together and retreating towards the wall behind them.

All around them, green and red explosions of light kept coming in their direction. Both Ron and Hermione alternated between protecting themselves and trying to stun their attackers.

"We have to get out of here! We can't risk fighting them like this. They're surrounding us!" Ron asserted.

"When I tell you to stop using magic, you stop, alright?" Hermione told him, hoping he would trust her and do as she said. "Now!"

He did trust her. Hermione took his hand in a fierce grip, half expecting a curse to hit them in the second it took her to Apparate them to their place.

"You have to teach me how to Apparate again," Ron said as he looked her over, trying to make sure she was okay.

"I'm fine," Hermione tersely replied. "What did just happen?"

"What do you mean? I'm sure you noticed we were attacked. Merlin, imagine what would have happened if Muggles had seen us!"

"Of course I noticed. I've been attacked before; I can recognise the signs, you know," Hermione crossly replied, ignoring his comment about Muggles. "I'm talking about you. How come you knew what to do?" There was a shrill in her voice now. In the middle of trying to defend herself, Hermione hadn't missed Ron's apt use of magic. During the few minutes they had been under attack, Ron had been able to use several spells only the best Aurors knew how to do.

Ron stared at her, slow realization coming to his face. "I... I don't know."

"Don't give me that crap," Hermione replied, trying and failing to control the anger that was quickly rising inside of her. "You have to know. You either lost your memory or you didn't. You can't have it both ways!"

"What are you on about, Hermione?"

She could see a thread of hurt behind Ron's eyes. Still, her own frustrations and the distress caused by the attack were rapidly taking a hold on her. She didn't seem to have enough strength to calm herself down and talk things rationally. "You used advanced magic! How is it possible you don't have a single memory of your family, of Harry, of me, dammit, and still you manage to use spells only the best Aurors out there use?"

"I'm telling you, I don't know," he countered, barely keeping his own anger in control.

"Bollocks! Accept that you remember more than you let on!" Hermione got close to him, and punctuated her words by poking her finger on his chest. She barely registered her use of the expletive, as it normally happened when she was furious. "It would make things a lot easier on me."

Clearly not able to control himself anymore, Ron exploded. "And you think I wouldn't want things to be easier for me? I hate seeing the pity and hope in everyone's eyes every bloody time they look at me. It's driving me insane, this need to remember. I feel guilty as all hell for not being able to be the man you remember, Hermione, or the son to my parents or my sibling's brother or Harry's best friend! Everyone comes to me expecting me to suddenly make it all better for them; they all want me to be the man I was! Don't come to me and ask me that to my face, like I can do something about it, like I can do something about being kidnapped and Obliviated or whatever the hell they did to me. It won't hurt you to be a little understanding with me here!"

"Understanding, you say? And who understands me? I have no one, 'cause the only person who ever really understood me was you, and I still haven't gotten you back!" Angry tears were streaming down her face.

"I know this is unfair for you," Ron said, not longer screaming; now his voice low and coarse in rage and pain. "But you seem to forget how unfair this is for me."

"Oh, believe me, I know how unfair this is for the both of us. Only that you're getting all the help you want, but no one remembers to ask me if I need any help coping."

"I can't believe you," Ron looked at her, wounded by her words. "I've tried with all that I have to be here for you to the best of my abilities. I even held back from the pain and jealousy I felt when you told me you had gone out on dates. Every time I think about that I go bonkers inside. I just keep telling myself that maybe it was all my fault for not being here for you. I keep quiet, despite having the very real need to let it all out. I did that for you, just as much as I've tried to be here for you through all of this. If you don't recognise it, if you're not satisfied by what I can offer, then maybe I should go stay with my parents and relieve you of this responsibility."

Hermione felt her anger go down to a low burn, as cold fear suddenly took precedence. She realised that it would take only one word to send Ron away with her callousness, and were he to leave, she might finally have lost him forever. This time, it would be her own doing.

"I don't want you to leave," Hermione finally uttered. Then she gathered her strength, and resolutely added, "but I need to figure out what's going on."

"I don't want to leave, and I need the same thing. I don't know what else I can do to help you, or to get my memory back. This is my best, and I'm sorry if it's not enough."

Hermione could see that he was still angry; she could feel the rage simmering between them. She was aware she needed to be careful with how she approached him.

"Let's work with what we have, then. Let's try to be logical."

"Sounds good to me," Ron replied, letting himself drop to the sofa, a slight scowl on his face.

Hermione took a deep breath, forcing herself to shift gears and put her anger aside. She needed a cool mind to be rational. "What were you thinking about while we were being attacked?"

"Nothing. Just trying to avoid getting myself or you killed."

"You must have been thinking of something. In order to cast spells, you have to think of the incantations."

"I'm telling you," Ron insisted, a very clear edge to his tone, "I was focusing on defending us from the Dark Wizards. I'm sure whatever magic I used was something I would have used a bleeding thousand times while being an Auror. Couldn't it just come out naturally or automatically?"

"I suppose that's possible," Hermione conceded. "It is believed the words used to cast a spell have the function of self-hypnosis, so that you have the proper set of mind needed to control your magic and cast a specific spell. Yet I have never known of wizards not needing to use the words in their minds to do magic."

"It's possible, though, since I just did it."

"I guess," she replied, sensing a spark of understanding appear in her brain. With a calmer brain, logic was presenting a possible solution. Maybe, just a little shift and it would fit nicely...

"Did you kiss the blokes you dated?"

"What?" Hermione was shocked out of her thoughts. "Of course I didn't! I didn't even want to go out with them!"

His body relaxed. "Merlin, I'm so jealous. That you didn't kiss them makes it better, but only slightly, mind."

"I don't even know what to say. I thought this was done with. I thought you were holding back from asking anything related to those stupid dates."

"I can't help it. I've had that damn question stuck in my throat awhile. I just pretended to be alright. And believe me, I'm holding back from another fight right now. It's a big effort, you know."

Hermione pondered the best course of action. Looking at him, she could see him feeling slightly defeated; his shoulders bent and his head hanging low. The last shreds of anger left her to be replaced by sympathy, giving her the strength to focus on him once more. She knew, despite the words she had thrown at him before, that she needed to support him through this.

She sat close to him, taking his hand in hers. When he looked at her, she cupped his face with her hand, and brushed her lips softly against his. "Please, don't be jealous. I made the mistake of listening to people that didn't understand the way I felt. I regret it to this day; I hated going out with those guys. All I could do was think about you. I was a horrible date, I'm sure."

He breathed out a soft laugh. "I understand what you're saying, though it doesn't make me feel all that great. I just can't help wanting to smack the guys in the head for trying. I can't help wanting you for myself."

"I've been yours basically since we were 13, more or less. That's when I had the frightening realisation that I fancied you quite a lot."

She loved seeing the genuine smile that split his face.

"Is that so? That young, huh?"

"Yes, that young," she said, feeling her face mirroring his smile.

"Can I kiss you again?"

"You don't have to ask anymore, Ron."

Even though Hermione had given him explicit permission to kiss her, she wasn't prepared for him to pounce on her. His arms went around her to keep her close as his mouth attacked hers, his hands tangled in her hair.

It took her only a second to reciprocate with as much passion as he was pouring into the kiss. She could feel her body start to buzz with the excitement of it, enjoying the way it became alight with needs she had ignored for too long. She sensed one of his hands freeing itself from her curls and start going downwards, casually exploring just as he pushed her backwards so that they lay on the sofa.

She loved the weight of his body on top of hers, and how it felt both new and familiar. His tongue played with hers in just the right way, making it easy for her to just fall into the moment and wrap her legs around his waist. This seemed to spur him further, so that he started grinding against her, a suggestive rhythm that echoed the last time they had made love.

Ron finally broke the kiss, his hot breath on her neck. "Please tell me I don't need to ask permission for this, either."

"Oh, by Merlin's crooked hat! I didn't need to see this!" Ginny almost screamed, as she briefly raised her hands to block her eyes.

Ron and Hermione scrambled to their feet. Hermione felt only half embarrassed, the pleasure of feeling him against her in such a delightful way winning over everything else. She still wished she had remembered to take precautions, though; she hadn't even heard the whoosh that announced there were people coming by Floo Network.

"What an awful time to come here uninvited," Harry added.

Hermione looked at Ron, whose ears were showing the characteristic shade of pink signaling his mortification. "It's alright," she said to him. "It's not like this is the first time."

"Please don't bring back memories to my brain. I don't need nightmares tonight."

"It's your fault for not letting us know you were coming, isn't it?" Ron replied to his sister.

"Well, excuse me if we were too worried to think properly!"

"You heard about the attack, then," Hermione stated, connecting the dots.

"Oh, yeah, I guess it makes sense, then," Ron said, clearly having forgotten about it for the moment.

"I just heard from the Auror department that there was magic used in a public Muggle place, and that you two were involved," Harry explained. "Care to tell us what happened?"

"Just what you're imagining, mate," Ron told Harry. "We were walking to a restaurant to have dinner when we were attacked."

"We were lucky to escape unscathed," Hermione added. "They seemed set on cursing us."

"Probably the same Dark Wizards that trashed this place, right?"

"Yeah, definitely," Ron conceded, shrugging his shoulders. "Not much we can do about it, really, until we catch them. We can only hope that happens soon."

"If John and Duncan find the place where they held you hostage, we should have them all in custody in just a couple of days."

"Let's hope that works, then. So far, they seem to hold the key to get my memory back, and I can't fucking wait."


A/N2: I was stuck on this chapter for so long! Thanks so much to Diva-gonzo for helping me out with this one. I hope you like the way I resolved the issue at the end- which is all thanks to you.

Also, I'm forever thankful of Pili, beta-extraordinaire and wonderful cheerleader and friend.

Thanks to reviewers, who put the biggest smile on my face. Also thanks to followers and those who favourite this story... it's always nice to know someone is enjoying my it.