So he was a free man now.
Ron didn't know how terrible it was to not be able to go outside whenever you wanted until now.
"Dobby is a free elf!" he muttered with a broad grin when they had finally left St. Mungos and Harry laughed.
Malfoys tests had been annoying to painful and Ron had seen Harry wanting to lash out more than once to prevent the healers hurting his friend, but just one look in Harry face made the hand relax and Harry stay back.
After such a long time without it was a bit exciting for him, that their friendship had so much control over Harry.
He was the chess player, the navigator and back then when they started as Auror their co-workers had been amazed by the way Ron was able to "control" Harry...in fact he didn't.
Ron didn't really matter in this.
Their trust in each other did though.
Ron only insisted on something when he was very sure that it was the right decision and Harry knew that, knew his talent to see the big picture and trusted him enough to at least consider Ron's opinion.
This is also why Harry apparated away instead of staying at Ron's side, like he obviously wanted.
Ron had told him that he wanted a bit of alone time with his family after having only Harry's company around for so long.
The redhead had seen the way Harry eyebrows kissed above the nose and the mouth becoming a fine line. But he decided to ignore the jealous sparkle in his best mate's eyes and after a moment of staring at each other wordlessly Harry had complied and got on the way to the Ministry of Magic.
Ron had waited a bit longer, enjoying the brisk winter air and the icy sun on his face before making his way to the apparition area.
It was the first time he apparated since years and he felt a but sick after he arrived in front of the Leaky Cauldron.
In front of the colourful window of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes he ran into Bill, who had tears in his eyes. Bill hugged so tightly that his ribs hurt and so long that people started staring at the two grown men clinging to each in the busy shopping street.
"Oi! Old man! Stop it! The people stare at us, like we're a bunch of exhibitionists!" Ron finally complained which made Bill let him go.
Back then he'd been in his thirties. A young father. Now in his forties his wrinkles have gotten deeper, the hair was paler, the face less round and he looked more like Dad.
Bill has really gotten older.
He still had this aura of perfection around him...he probably would always have.
"let's go inside." Bill grinned throwing one arm around Ron's shouldera and gripping his biceps in a form of brotherly affection. Bill had always been physical when it came to show feelings.

Meeting George was different.
Ron sometimes thought that George was a lot like himself.
They both liked attention, but their true ability was not the driver's seat it was the navigator.
Seeing him without a driver, without Fred, made a wave of sadness wash over him.
He looked at George who blinked, both unsure how to do this "reunion" stuff.
They'd seen each other before, but not with all of Ron's memories back.
Bill saved them by putting a arm around both their neck and dragging them the stairs up toward the private rooms of the family.
They had lunch and bit by bit the awkwardness vanished being replaced be the old feeling of "home".
Talking to his big brothers was easy and the slipped back in the friendly bickering and teasing that had been their way to communicate since Ron was able to speak.
He'd known Angelina since he was a wee first-year, they had played in the same Quidditch team and she'd been pretty close with Fred and George, so they knew each other well.
It was nice catching up to what happened to the family in the last decade and he it was good talking about this Ginny thing going on without Harry looking like he wanted to strangle Jan.
The German wasn't a bad guy.
He sometimes a bit too impulsive, chaotic, had trust issues and difficulties to be a good dad to his daughter...like Harry, Jan had no real father figure, since his father was a prat that didn't care about anyone but himself and his fame. There was no role model for being a good father...he tried though and he was fiercely loyal to his friends and his daughter.
Ron liked him and he was his biggest support when he was alone and overwhelmed with his life and caring for Fr...Jamie.
He hoped that telling his older brothers about Jan would make them less hostile towards his friend.
He still felt like beating up Jan the next time they'd meet, because as a whole this was still very, very stupid.

After lunch, George and Bill had to work and Angelina and the kids wanted to take nap so Ron left Number 93 and walked around aimlessly in the Diagon Alley for a while. He went to Gringotts to have a bit of money in his pockets and made a visit a Madam Malkins because the cloths that Harry had given him were way too short for him. He decided on a few simple robes in the lower price range and kept a dark blue one on when he decided that visiting the Ministry of Magic and find out how his co-workers did was not a bad way to continue the day.

After entering the MoM through the visitor's entry in Whitehall, he stood for a while in the Atrium taking on the sight.
The big, dark Monument of Magic is Might was gone and instead there was the Statue of Responsibility showing a Witch that looked a lot like Minerva McGonnagal shielding a Muggle child under her cloak.
There were a few people that recognised him because of work or because they'd been in school together, but it was surprisingly anticlimactic after him being declared as dead for almost nine years...but after all he wasn't Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom...he wasn't a hero.
He ran into Padma Patil on his way to the Auror Department and she was started crying a little bit, so it seems like at least some people were happy to have him back.
Harry wasn't in the head quarter of the Auror Department on Level Two.
They had redesign the open plane office for the regular Aurors. The cubics were fully closed now and had doors. Probably a security measurement to keep informations from leaking.
He met a few faces he knew, but there were a lot of young Aurors he'd never seen.
He made his way to Department chief's office.
In the past Harry and him had shared this job for a few years.
He knocked at the open door before entering the office.
The new department chief was small, agile man a few years older than him. He had grey hair and when Ron entered he smirked politely before offering him a seat at the other side of the desk.

Twenty minutes later he left with the promise to check in from time to time even if he may decide to not return to his Job as an Auror.
Ron still didn't know if he wanted to do that.
Being an Auror and fighting at Harry's side had always seemed like the obvious choice and he still felt bad letting Harry go risk his life without being able to help...but he also liked his new job and wasn't sure if he wanted to make his family sad and worried by continuing such a dangerous job.
He still was a valuable source of information and experience now that he had his memories back.
At last that's what Ron thought, but it turned out that the main thing the Department chief wanted help with was Harry.
Ron chuckled when he made his way to the Department for magical Accidents and catastrophes one level above the Auror department.
He crossed the open plane office until he reached one seniors offices and knocked at the door.
"Mr. Finnagan!" He greeted tipping his invisible hat.
The Irish man looked for a moment like he'd seen a ghost before a broad grin spread over his face.
"Weasley! Were have you been, you bloody sod!" he boomed bumping in his desk when he jumped towards him and pulled him in a brotherly man-hug slapping his back in excitement.
"France." he answers and returned the hug shortly.
"So wanna tell me what my favourite Irishman had done in the meantime? Got a family?"
Seamus laughed and shook his head and told him about his bachelor life with his roommate and best friend Dean while they made their way to the custody cells.

The last time he'd seen Dean Thomas he still had been an Auror. He looked better than back then.
He'd put on a bit of weight and his skin wasn't as grey as it had been.
Their greeting was less exuberant than that with Seamus, but Dean still seemed happy to see Ron and he when to make them some tea in his office.
"Did they degrade you, Dean? Or why to do you sit here in an office. Such a waste! You were a great Auror, what are yo doing here?!"
Dean laughed quietly.
"No I just decided that I'm too young and sexy to be killed. Especially by my own team."
Ron's eyes closed for a moment.
Friendly fire happened but what Dean said sounded more like...
"No, it wasn't a traitor. Harry is my friend, but without you around he's a freaky lunatic. He doesn't care neither for his own nor for the safety of the victims and his own men matter only as long as he needs them and they don't get in his way. In his mind there's still war. He fights like a suicide soldier."
Deans voice it rough and his eyes stare through Ron as if he doesn't see him.
"We've seen him do things that even some Death Eaters would feel bad about. He has no problem with using the Cruciatus or other curses to torture, when he feels it is the only way to get what he wants and if he get his victim it is a fight against the clock for the Auror Department to get them locked up before he kills them."

Ron frowned.
This didn't sound like Harry at all.
Harry was very capable of inflicting pain to someone if he thought he was saving innocent lives with it. He was an impulsive person and it was like him to hurt someone in anger or despair, when he felt like they hurt people dear to him.
Harry had shown that in the war and Ron could see him torture.
Though...Harry would not deliberately take the life of a person even in anger. Harry never crossed that line and Ron knew him well enough that he never would.
It was the different between a fighter in a war, that fought with the purpose to protect the ones dear to him and a mere killer.
"Harry would never kill." he whispered staring at Dean and saw his old comrade hang his had low.

"Harry...doesn't kill because he wants to, but it happens as a collateral damage." Dean muttered taking a sip of his tea.
"He's too determined.
Like a lone beast on the hunt. He will destroy anything between him and his prey.
He's only put on the trail of the real bad cases and he's send in to fight alone in nowadays, because he doesn't care for the safety of anyone when he's doing the job. We can't afford losing newbies every time he takes someone with him and the seniors have the right to refuse a job when they feel they're not capable of doing it."
Ron sighed staring down in his mug.
"...and Harry prefers fighting alone especially when he feels his partner is holding him back."
Dean nodded.
"Seriously...I was thinking about continuing my nice civil job in my little kitchen while my partner is going berserk." grumbled Ron.
"You would think a grown up man like him would be able to take better care of himself. He didn't change a bit since the war. Show me the latest collateral damage, Dean? The child torturer?"
Seamus had been quiet until now but now he grinned and Ron could have been seeing things, but perhaps he looked a little hopeful.
"He told you about the guy? As soon as you're back he actually opens up to someone!" he laughed and got on his feet and emptied his mug.
"anyway I've got to go back to work. Thanks for the tea, Dean-o!"

Dean hesitated for a moment but finally he took Ron to the cell that contained the man.
John G. Pugnus had a soft young face and, round eyes that looked like were constantly wondering. His voice was gently and if it wasn't for the swollen, badly healed nose he didn't look like the type to get into trouble.
Ron's felt the anger rise. This naïve, seemingly harmless guy was the reason why the children in the hospital could never reunited with their parents.
"Hello, you dirty, little murderer?"
Dean behind him made a step back when he heard the icy undertone in Ron's voice.
"Good day, Sir. Came to hit me, like your co-worker?" the man said politely and smiling slightly at them.
"Oh no. I'm no Auror. I'm just a regular cook...I just thought we could have a little chat." Ron crossed his arms and tried to be not threatening. There was no need to make the guy too scared just yet.
"Yeah...that why they let you walk around here."
Ron chuckled but didn't reply instead he changed the topic.
There was only one reason why Harry would lose control and that was that he still thought the case wasn't over. At least the Harry he knew.
"Say...do you have a second house? Four is an incredible small amount of test subjects, don't you think? Especially if you're so rough with them that they don't survive that long."
the young man stayed quiet and smiled friendly.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Ron took a sip of the tea that was still in his hands.
"You know there's a little spell that I picked up. It's nice because it only works on prats like you and it doesn't leave scars. It would be nice if I don't have to use it, but if you insist I can give you a little sample."
the boy laughed and for a moment his innocent act slipped revealing his cruel face and that was enough to make Ron mumble his curse.
"Poenae delice."
A moment later the guy was on the floor screaming in pain.

"Ron what did you do to him! You can't just..." Dean said but got quiet when they heard steps from the stairs they would stay alone for long.
"it's okay, Dean... it just a harmless little curse... that makes him go through the physical pain of his victims. A friend showed me how it works a while back." with a wave of his wand in a quiet Finite.
"So, boy... are you willing to speak with me now or to we need to get to the part were you blew off the kid's arm?"

Aurors where running in the hallway from the doors there were screams bit they were stopped by Dean.
Good, fast-thinking guy he was, that Thomas.
The man in the cell looked vulnerable and broken. More like a child than like an adult. Ron was painfully reminded of the fact how young this guy was.
"I...I'll talk...please stop! I'll talk!" he whimpered rubbing his arms subconsciously, his face wet from tears.
"That's a good thing to hear. I think these gentlemen here, will listen to you with pleasure."
Ron's smile froze when he heard Harry's voice behind him.
He turned around to see him stepping closer. Harry was angry.
"This is not your job anymore, Ron. Go home!" He whispered when he was close enough and for a moment Harry's hand rested on his shoulder blade.
"If it involves you I'm involved anyway, mate...look at him he doesn't even have a scratch and I've known you long enough, to know that you would have done the same."
Harry closed his eyes for a moment.
The short disturbance in his friend's magic made it known to him that he was fighting with himself, didn't know if he needed him close or wanted him gone.
"could you discuss this somewhere else?" said Dean softly.
"We've got an interrogation to do here."

"This is not some fun game, Ron! The less people know you're back, the less people want to go kill you!" grumbled Harry while they went quickly back to the Auror Department.
"I pissed of a lot of people in the last years and you're known to be my best mate."
Ron tutted.
Harry shouldn't treat him like a child. He was a grown man and he knew very well on how to protect himself.
"I've worn a giant target sign on my butt since I was twelve, mate. Never stopped me from doing what I thought was the right choice." he mumbled frowardly.

they reached Auror Department and a few steps later he was shoved in the Harry's office and the door closed with a silent click.
Harry waved his wand and mumbled a soundproofing charm and for the first time he really looked at Ron.
"Bloody Hell, Ron! Don't do this to me! You can't just use torture to make people speak there! You're not an Auror! You're not even fit to be an Auror at the moment!"
Ron felt Harry grabbing his collar and blink of an eye later he was pushed against the thin wooden wall of the office.
"You haven't being in magical combat for years. Even with your experience...you're out of training, Ron! If they get you you're as good as dead!"

"Then train with me! Do you expect me to be locked up somewhere hidden for the rest of my life?!"
Until now he was almost a bit amused that Harry went so out of shape because of him trying to help the Auror Department.
Not that he really thought about it. It had been a spontaneous decision to try it after he'd seen how smug that guy was.
Now though, he started to get a little bit displeased too.
"So you don't want me helping you ?! That is my JOB, Harry! Supporting you is what I DO!" he spat and tried to get lose from the Auror's grip.
"If you say, you don't need me here, then I'm going back to France. In case you forgot: I've got a job, a home and people there, that I care about."
As soon as he said it he regretted it.

All colour were gone from Harry's and his eyes became big with fear.
"NO!" he roared like a cornered wild animal.
"I won't let you leave me like that!"
Harry fingers clawed in his cloak, the eyes torn open in despair.
So pale, so scared.
"I couldn't stand losing you again! Ron, please! I...I'd do anything! Please don't leave me alone again! I need you with me!"
his voice became quieter and quieter until it wasn't more than a breath against Ron's throat.
"Come on, mate." muttered Ron hoarsely.
"We went over that years ago. As long as you don't want me gone, I'll be beside you, Harry."
Harry lifted his head.
His eyes had gone from panicky dark green to the usual attentive brightness again. There was hope glistening in them.
"Promise." Ron tried a grin and bumped his head gently against Harry's.

About an hour later he was sitting in Percy's strikingly boring car, his elder brother on the driver's seat.
"So what was that drama in the custody ward about?" asked Percy while they flew over Salisbury.
Ron watched his brother's reflection on the dark window.
He seemed like he was trying to hide that he was worried. It's not as Ron didn't knew that he was a big worrywart.
"I was a bit..." Ron sighed.
"I know Harry pretty well. I know how he acts when he thinks a case isn't over and I know by the way he acts when he's stuck. So...it overreacted and tried to help and neither Harry nor the Auror Department was happy about me getting involved."
Percy laughed.
"Why do my brothers always get themselves into trouble!"
"I don't try to get into trouble! Trouble usually finds me."
they shared a amused chuckle before Percy concentrated on piloting the flying car again.
"Jan...a few years ago he worked for an international ethic project. They wanted to decide if and if yes then which curses are allowed to be used for interrogation purpose by the executive forces. They wanted to standardise them in Central Europe."
Percy made a surprised sound.
"I remember that. There was a little conflict because we British, with just having a Wizard War behind us, weren't very keen on limiting our Aurors."
Ron nodded.
"Jan asked for my opinion as someone uninvolved and I told him, that I thought that if the officials were torturing the same way as the bad guys, then what makes them different. He showed me a few curses to explain what he meant."
Percy interjected him to ask if he knew about curses and the international community and Ron explained that he knew about it a bit since it was difficult to hide if you lived together and had two magically talented children in the family, but Jan kept him out if the most things.
Then he continued.
"One of them was pretty interesting...it was contributed by Poland I think. If you didn't do anything wrong, the curse doesn't work and if you do protect other it also doesn't...but if you enjoyed inflicting physical pain on others, it will make you go through the pain your victim experienced. Depending on what the person did it is very painful."

Ron could see a certain admiration in Percy's eyes, when he finished.
"So just from seeing it once, you knew how to use it? That's pretty advanced magic, little brother!" he muttered and preparing the landing.
"Well...just because I'm always around people that outshine me without even trying doesn't mean that I'm not pretty okay-ish myself." Ron laughed watching the lights of the Burrow come closer.
"Harry was pretty angry though. He doesn't want me back as an Auror...he's scared of me getting into his trouble and losing me. If it were for him I'd spent the rest of my life isolated from everyone else...the war might have made him a bit loopy, I guess." snorted Ron.
The car landed and the door opened just minutes later and Mum ran towards them followed by Ginny and her kids.
"My boy! My little boy!" Mum cried and threw her arms around Ron's neck. Even in her late sixties she still had a lot of physical strength, so he couldn't do more than letting her hug him until she was ready to let go and move on to the next son.

Ron smiled a bit sheepishly at his younger sister after taking Fr...Jamie in his arms.
"Hey, Ginnygirl!"
Ginny smiled similar insecure before making a step beside him and laying an arm around his shoulder.
Ron hand found a way to her waist he pulled her close.
"I heard there was a lot going on in your life the last days... mind to tell me what happened?"

This was a difficult chapter. Perhaps Auror was never the right job for Harry...not because he's not good a it, but because he's so used to being constantly vigilant and i can see him being pretty cruel, when it is for the people he cares about and/or what he thinks is right.