Twists and Turns

It was midnight, the night after Hermione's ordeal. Ron had refused to leave her side all day. Usually, Hermione would've been sick of him and lashed out already, but she was still a little shaky. They'd gone over all the information they had, looking for where Rosie could be. Hermione would break down crying every few minutes and Ron would hug her or rub her back. Neither of them were used to her being this unstable. Hermione liked being the strong one. Not physically, but emotionally.

The Healer that had come to the house had assured that Hermione's baby was okay, but she'd have to be extra careful from then on. So there they were at midnight, Hermione in the phase just between awareness and sleep, wrapped in Ron's arms. He told her that he was keeping her that way every night until they got this solved. He wanted to make sure Hermione never left his arms.

Hermione hiccupped. Ron, not sure if she was more awake or just thinking about something, merely held her closer and brushed his lips against her forehead. She sighed, sinking back down and drifting into sleep. Ron followed about an hour later, his mind still racing. Every few seconds he'd graze his thumb on the numbers and letters carved into her skin, and his brain would start coming up with wackier and more outlandish meanings.

Ron woke with a start about two hours later. Looking around to the clock, he realized that Hermione wasn't there. Her side of the bed was empty. Nearly leaping out of bed, he grabbed his wand off the bedside table and quietly left the room, pointing his wand at every shadow.

He found the light on in Rosie's room. Heart pounding, he burst in, his wand pointing at the inside of the room.

Hermione leapt up, her hands in front of her, body shaking. She relaxed at the sight of Ron and sunk back down on Rosie's bed. Ron was shaking as well, of relief and also of fright at what he might have done to Hermione if he hadn't seen her earlier.

"What are you doing in here?" He asked sitting down next her. "And why didn't you wake me up to tell me you were getting out of bed?"

"I didn't want to wake you up! You were exhausted, you shouldn't worry about me at all hours. I can take care of myself sometimes, you know." There wasn't enough attack in her to make the words harsh, so they merely sounded informative.

Ron pursed his lips and glanced meaningfully at her new cuts. Hermione just sighed.

"What are you doing in here?" He repeated, taking her hand.

She blinked her eyes fast, holding back tears. She needed more than anything right now to re-establish her strength.

"I just don't know if I'm ever going to see my little girl again." She gulped and squeezed her eyes shut, gripping Ron's hand tightly.

He pulled her into his arms, and was surprised that she didn't start crying again. He almost smiled. He was proud of her. "Listen. We—"

"I just think it's my fault." She struggled even more to contain her emotions, but Ron could feel her shoulders shaking.

"Why?" Ron whispered.

She looked at him sadly. "When you were yelling at me the other day, you told me that it was all my fault. And it is…I should've have taken that case." She gulped but couldn't help the single tear that slipped down.

Ron felt ashamed now. Holding her tightly he whispered, "I didn't mean to." But he couldn't look at her. For as much as he loved her, it was her fault. She shouldn't have taken the case. She shouldn't have kept at it even after they took Rosie.

SCENE BREAK

"74. 74. 74." Hermione muttered. She was looking through files at the Ministry, anything that might include the number 74. Her 74th case. Her 74th day at the Ministry. Her—"

She stopped cold. She had picked up a file that had been tossed on her desk, by who she didn't know. It wasn't her case, it wasn't a case she had even heard of. There wasn't a single word on the cover. But opening it, she found a list of names she recognized faintly from old newspaper articles. And on top of that, "CELL 74."

She whipped out her Muggle cell phone, dialing Ron fast. He picked up immediately. "Are you okay?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. But get down here I think I found something." She was pacing and twirling a curl around her finger nervously.

"You found something? What?" She could hear him pounding down the stairs and decided to hang up and just tell him when he got there.

"Why'd you hang up? I—"

She brandished the paper as he burst in the door. "Look!"

He scanned the paper. "What case is this? You never mentioned this!"

"This isn't mine, Ron."

"Then how does it help?"

"No, I mean, it was on my desk but I don't know who put it here."

"Then how do we know no one put it there by mistake?"

"Ron! Think about it. The only thing on this paper that makes sense is CELL 74. And we only know the number 74. I don't think it's a coincidence."

Ron sat down on her desk. "Ok. So..Cell 74? Where does that put us?"

She smacked him off the desk and fixed the papers. "Azkaban."

SCENE BREAK

"Why?" Kingsley asked, leaning forward in his chair.

"It's the only lead we have, Minister." Said Hermione, at the same time Ron said, "Kingsley, come on, it's all we've got."

Hermione shot a he's the Minister of Magic show some respect look at Ron, who just rolled his eyes. Containing a smirk, Kingsley replied, "Ron, Mrs. Weasley, I'm not saying you can't go, I'm just saying you're going to need protection."

Hermione nodded so fast she looked like a bobblehead doll. "Fine, fine, sure. Anything. When can we go?"

Ron stared at her while Kingsley thought it over. "Go ask Patrick Wells." Ron groaned internally. Wells was the head of the Auror office. He was the most rigid, condescending, and stiff person he'd ever met. Kingsley looked at Ron seriously. "Tell him I sent you." Ron and Hermione nodded and nearly sprinted out.

In Wells' office, they explained the whole story and how they needed the one lead. Hermione remembered at the last minute to give him the Kingsley reference. Ron held Hermione's hand behind her back as Wells deliberated.

He grunted. "I'd say you have about four hours of daylight left. Fine. I'll get some people. You two go wait in the Atrium and I'll send some Aurors down in around twenty minutes."

Ron glanced at Hermione. "But, sir, I'm an Auror—"

"And a fat lot of good you've done protecting her!" He snarled. "Now go before I change my mind!"

"He's always been like that, Ron, don't listen to him." Hermione pleaded as they hurried to the elevator. "You always protect me, I couldn't ask for any more. I ask for less sometimes, even."

Ron's mouth remained in a hard line. He'd taken what Wells had said hard.

"Ron, listen to me, I don't blame you for anything!"

"I blame me, though, Hermione!" Ron growled as they rounded as they got into the elevator. He lowered his voice so only she could hear amongst the many people. "I should have been there. I shouldn't have let you go."

She held his arm. "Please, Ron. Stop blaming yourself. For me." She gave him a quick kiss. He finally smiled back.

When Ron turned to talk to someone in the elevator, Hermione dropped his arm. She didn't blame him…not for everything. The words carved in her skin were none of his fault, but if he has been there to save her from those men…if she hadn't fought back at all, who knows what could've happened. She loved him, but she couldn't help feeling a little hurt that he had let them get to her…

SCENE BREAK

It seemed Wells had miscalculated the amount of time they had before sunset. It was growing dark outside by the time their boat pulled up to the prison. Hermione shivered.

"Are you cold?" Ron demanded, starting to take off his coat. Hermione rolled her eyes. She much preferred his normal, slightly rude self to the overhelpful, oversensitive Ron that took over whenever she was in peril.

"I'm fine Ron. This place just creeps me out is all."

"Yeah. Me too." Ron muttered.

The removal of the Dementors had made the place slightly less formidable, but only slightly. As they were led to Cell 74, Hermione held Ron's hand and kept her shoulders tense.

Ron cast a protective charm, a bubble of sorts, around the two of them as the cell was unlocked. Peering in, Hermione was shocked that the cell was empty. "Why is no one in here?" She demanded of the guard.

"Prisoner died 'round two weeks ago."

"Well who was it?" said Ron a little angrily.

"Er—" the guard flipped through a notebook. "Newton Jones."

"WHAT!" Hermione yelled. Ron jumped in surprise. "What? What?" He demanded of his wife.

"That's the prisoner involved in my case…he's dead? The case is over? She looked at the empty cell in confusion. "How did he die?" She shot at the guard, who was not prepared for a question.

"Er—" Ron wanted to laugh at how scared he looked of Hermione. "I dunno. But he's dead now. Buried him myself."

Hermione calculated in her head. "What are you thinking?" Ron asked softly, looking at her face.

"When the suspect died, I should've been informed. I wasn't informed…"

"Whaaaat does that mean?" Ron drew out.

"It means that someone at the Ministry is keeping me from information." She took once last glance at the empty cell before nearly dashing down the narrow hallway.

The guard let out a long breath. "Whew. Good luck with that one, mate." He said to Ron.

"Yeah." Ron muttered. "I need it."

A/N: Yayyyy an update! Sorry it took so long, hope you guys can forgive me! What did you guys think? Was this good? Was it an okay twist? REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. I'm getting a little slow with this, so I need some ideas! What do you want for RHr? Rose? This new Ministry twist? Pleeeeaaaseeee review! Even though Aidan gets annoyed because whenever I get a review in my email I squeal (loudly) with happiness. So my goal with this chapter is to get all you readers on a "let's give her so many reviews her husband goes nuts!" campaign. WHO'S IN? :) :) :)

Seriously, guys, at this point it's your story to write. Ideas pleeeease?

On a personal note, I'm FINALLY moving out of this crappy apartment that has no heat (which sucks, cause it's already snowing.) Aidan's super-rich grandparents finally visited and were absolutely appalled that these are our conditions. AND SO, they rented us an apartment near them, which is about two hours away from where we live now. Our parents emancipated us, so we're moving to a cute little apartment in a much nicer neighborhood. And it has heating! YES! So the next time I update might be from a U-Haul truck!

XOXO, Love always,

Elena