1Chapter 1: The Chance to Break Out
There was smoke, and flashes of light. He saw blood on the cold ground. He was scared. He was more scared than ever in his life, but not for himself. He couldn't find her. He had stopped fighting long before. He was pushing his way through the once peaceful grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which was now a battlefield. He had told her not to leave his side, but he couldn't find her now.
Ron knew that he didn't need to worry about Harry. He knew in the deepest parts of his soul that Harry would win and that would be tonight. Good always triumphed over evil, and Harry would beat the darkest wizard of all time. It was Hermione that he was worried about. She was the smartest witch he had ever met, but she had thrown her cautious nature to the wind during this battle. It was like something had come over her.
Hermione had always been brave, but she was just being foolish now. He needed to find her, and find her soon. The famous trio had ruined a lot of plans for the dark side, and Hermione was a muggle born. She was a prime target, and he needed to find her before someone else did. Malfoy was out here somewhere. Malfoy would drop everything to go after her. Ron couldn't let that happen. Nothing else mattered right now.
That's when Ron saw her. He ran as fast as he could. Every nightmare that he had ever had was about to come true, and he just couldn't let it happen. He met her desperate gaze and yelled to her, but she didn't respond. Lucius Malfoy had her in his hands. The sinister man was laughing loudly at the predicament he had put them in. It didn't matter what happened to Ron, but he was going to kill the man that was trying to hurt Hermione.
Then the earth shook suddenly, and he was thrown back forcefully. When he got to his feet there was nothing but destruction in front of him. A deep crater in front of him and body parts strewn on the ground. Ron fell to his knees and screamed.
Ron woke up with a start. He had the same dream over and over again for two years. He hated sleeping. It just brought him back to that fateful day. The end of the war. The day Harry won. The day that good indeed triumphed over evil. The day Ron lost the love of his life.
It had been mere weeks before that battle that he had proclaimed his love to his best friend. He had no idea how she would react, but he had hoped that she would feel the same way. She had. Ron felt like his life was complete the moment that she had kissed him. Every time that he had held her he felt that he was going to a safe place…a place like home.
Everything was so rushed then. No one knew what the next day would bring. Everything was so uncertain. Ron had watched everyone admit so many things. No one held anything back anymore, because if you didn't do it today, it may never be done. Too many had died. There were too many things left unsaid or undone. Ron didn't want to have any regrets, especially when it came to Hermione.
That is what gave Ron the courage to tell Hermione that he loved her. Whether she felt the same way or not, he knew that he needed to say it. If anything happened to her or him, she would always know that she was loved.
Ron was thankful that he had told her everything that he had felt for so long. He was overjoyed when he learned that she had felt the same things for him. In the midst of a terrible war, they had finally found love. To Ron, it was the purest of loves. It was a love that began when he was a child and matured through the years. He had fallen in love with his best friend, and he could finally revel in it and proclaim it to the world. Unfortunately, it had only lasted a few weeks, but Ron had no regrets when it came to Hermione.
Yes, he wished that she were still with him. He wished that he had never lost her, but they shared more in those few weeks than many did in a lifetime. Sometimes at night he imagined that she was still with him, lying there beside him. He remembered every inch of her body. He could recall the feeling of her skin against his own. And–it didn't matter. Harry kept telling him that he had to move on, but Ron still hadn't let her go. The pain was just too deep.
Ron rolled over and looked at his clock and groaned. It was nearly eight o'clock. He had decided to take a nap after he had visited his parents at the Burrow. He always went to the Burrow on Saturdays. What he was groaning about was that Harry would be home soon.
Ron had promised Harry and Ginny that he would go out with them tonight. Ron rarely went out anymore. He didn't see the point. He acted much like Harry did after Sirius died. Harry should understand what his best friend was going through, but Harry did get over it. Ron, on the other hand, just couldn't. It may have been a couple years, but he still just wasn't ready. He wanted to move on in some ways, but he just couldn't let himself accept that she was gone and move on. He couldn't handle the guilt of it.
Ron was ripped from his thoughts when he heard a large pop in the hallway.
"Ron? Are you ready yet? Ginny is going to meet us. She's gonna be a little late," Harry called down the hallway as he approached Ron's room. When Harry entered, he didn't look surprised when he found his best friend in bed. "Ron, you're going with us. You'll never move on if you don't at least try. The only girl you've spoken to in the last couple years is your sister! Now get up and get dressed!" Harry demanded.
Ron looked at his friend for a moment contemplating his next course of action. Usually he would have just ignored Harry's pleas and just give a lame excuse of why he couldn't go, but for some reason Ron had really listened to what Harry had to say. Then he decided that maybe he could give it a chance. Going out one night wouldn't really hurt, and it definitely wouldn't mean that he loved Hermione any less. Maybe it was time to start moving on.
"I'm coming. I'm coming. Just give me a minute mate!" Ron said as he jumped up from his bed and rummaged through his things to find some clean clothes. "So, where are we going anyway?"
"Some place called 'Lady Luck's' in London," Harry replied.
"Whatever, let's get going!" Ron proclaimed and was amazed at his own eagerness. He hated having that dream. He wanted to escape it and maybe move on in the process. He knew that everyone else had, and that it would take him time. Maybe he just needed to get his foot out the door.
Ron found himself with Harry outside a small pub with an old fashioned sign above it reading "Lady Luck's." He followed Harry inside the small pub and was shocked at what he found.
"Harry? Where are we?" Ron asked hesitantly.
"A pub. What does it look like?" Harry replied looking at his friend suspiciously.
"Harry, this is a muggle bar! Look at this place! I bet they don't even know what butterbeer or firewhiskey is!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, we've never been to this one before, but we have a lot of fun at muggle pubs. I'm not a celebrity. No one knows who I am. No one asks what happened at the final battle. I can just cut loose ya know?" Harry replied as he led Ron to a table near the bar. "I'll get you a drink. I know exactly what you'll like."
Ron looked around at the alien establishment. The pictures on the walls didn't have moving figures. There were no warlocks or vampires or even hags. He could tell that it was a muggle pub because no one wore any traditional wizard clothing. They wore–well muggle clothes of course. The music was different than what he was used to as well. There were people dancing to it though. It wasn't the Weird Sisters, but it would do.
Harry returned with the frosty mugs. "Here you go mate. Cheers!" he exclaimed as he began drinking. He slammed the mug on the table and looked at his friend. "It's called a beer. Guinness actually. Try it. Don't look at me that way! You'll like it, I promise."
Well, as long as Ron was trying new things tonight, he might as well. He tipped the mug and tasted the refreshing beverage. "Wow! These muggles know what they are doing!" Ron said to the mug.
"Harry, have you already gotten him so sloshed that he is talking to inanimate objects?" Ginny asked giggling as she sat down at the table as well. "I can't believe you got him out of the house. Good job Harry!"
"Let's not make a spectacle alright? I'm here. Now what?" Ron asked.
Ginny giggled again. "You have been cooped up in your flat for too long! This is a pub. You get sloshed, you dance, you make a total fool of yourself, and then you go home with some gorgeous random person and have wild sex with them!" Ginny exclaimed. She must have noticed the frightened face on her brother and continued with, "I was kidding about the last part."
The three continued to drink for a while. Ron didn't mind the atmosphere or the drinks as much as he thought he would. He was actually having a decent time with his sister and his best friend. The two had been dating since shortly after Ginny graduated, which was about a year ago. Ron had always been overprotective of his only sister, but with Harry he didn't need to be. Harry wasn't like the other blokes that tried to date his sister. He cared about her and took care of her. Ginny had been infatuated with Harry since she was ten years old. They were happy and that helped Ron to be happy as well. He was hoping that they would get married soon so that he knew that he would never lose Harry. If his best mate was married to his sister then he would never have to worry about losing touch with him.
"Harry, I want to dance," Ginny told Harry. She could get him to do just about anything she wanted. That of course would leave Ron alone at the table, but Ron didn't mind much. He tended to stick to himself lately.
"Alright, Ginny, but what about you mate?" Harry said to Ron.
"I'll be fine. Just leave me here with my new found friends!" Ron exclaimed gesturing towards the drinks on the table.
"Why don't you dance too?" Harry suggested.
"I don't think so," Ron replied quickly.
"Look. Over there in the crowd of dancing people. There's this girl with wavy hair. She keeps looking at you. I think you should go for it," Harry said quickly. He wasn't sure what type of response he would get from his friend, so Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and walked her to the dance floor before Ron could say anything at all.
Ron hadn't even noticed any girls. There were girls there, but he wasn't really looking at them. He decided to turn and watch the two go and dance when he saw her. Two people moved aside and there she was. She was tall and thin. She wasn't as curvy as Hermione had been. Her hair was wavy and just fell over her shoulders. It was a shimmering strawberry blonde. Ron was surprised that he hadn't noticed her before now. She was dancing so uninhibitedly. She was captivating. She smiled to no one in particular and sang the words to the song to no one but herself.
She wasn't Hermione.
He turned away and began drinking his beer again. The song changed to a slow ballad, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Ginny and Harry dancing together laughing. He was truly happy for them. Ginny had always cared for Harry, and Ron knew that Harry had always cared for her whether she had realized it or not.
Ron also noticed that the dancing girl was gone from the dance floor. It was better off of course. It's not like he was going to talk to her or anything. He wasn't interested in speaking to random women in muggle pubs. Ron came for Harry and Ginny, and maybe to feel a little bit more normal. He definitely wasn't planning on making new acquaintances.
He picked up his mug and noticed the girl sitting at the bar talking to the big, burly bartender.
"Come on Murph! When are you ever going to take a day off? I can't afford all this overtime!" The beautiful girl laughed. Her face lit up when she laughed.
"I'll take a day off when I can trust that you won't burn this place to the ground," the bartender named Murph retorted sarcastically.
"Very funny! I was a little girl when that happened. I don't think I'll ever live that down, huh?" she replied. "So, what ya say?"
"Same as every other night. You need to settle down and get back to school. I can take care of this place while you're gone," Murph said to her.
"Not again! Why go back to school when I already have a livelihood?"
"Maybe because I know that this isn't what you were meant to do with your life if you catch my drift," Murph replied a little more harshly. "I gave you a friend's name. Why don't you get in touch with him?"
"Oh yeah, what was it again? Meany? Moory? Something like that right? I've had enough of that nonsense. Can you please just let it go?" the pretty girl asked as she smiled coyly.
"For tonight, but not for good Anna. You look just like your mother but act nothing like her."
"I don't want to hear it again. It's Saturday! Stop reminiscing about the past and have fun!"
Then what she did next really surprised Ron. She looked over her shoulder at him and winked. Ron whipped around immediately. Was he really that obvious? He hadn't looked at a girl in two years, and the first one he sees notices. He already knew that his ears had to be bright red.
While Ron was berating himself for being a lousy git, the girl had filled a pitcher of Guinness and walked over to his table. "You might want a few more after that," she stated. Ron looked at her fully confused and did not respond. She just smiled and continued. "People don't tend to be so obvious and stare at me. I'm quite flattered." She pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down. Now what was he supposed to do?
"Well, I guess you aren't much of a talker, huh? Well, I'm Anna McKinnon," she said as she stuck out her hand for Ron to shake, but Ron still hadn't responded. She leaned in a little closer and said, "This is when you're supposed to shake my hand and tell me your name. Are you from a different world or something?" she joked.
"Sometimes I think so," Ron replied without meaning to and she laughed. "The name's Ron. Ron Weasley."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Ron Weasley. I don't think I've ever seen you in here before. I don't get many strangers in here. It's the same old crowd each night. Of all the gin joints in all the world, why'd you pick mine?" Anna asked him grinning.
"My sister and my best friend dragged me. Not like this is a bad place to go of course. I don't normally go to pubs much, but when I do it's usually the Leaky Cauldron." Ron knew immediately that he shouldn't have said that. He wasn't used to talking to muggles. She would have no idea what the Leaky Cauldron was, and he couldn't exactly explain what it really was to her.
"Never heard of it. Sounds a bit dodgy though. Sorry, mate. So, where are your sister and your friend?"
Ron glanced over his shoulder and replied, "The red head giggling as she's staring at us is Ginny and the bloke with her is my best mate Harry. They can be pretty persistent and quite annoying," he told her
"Family is like that. You love them one minute and can't stand them the next," she replied.
"I hear you! I have five brothers and a sister. It can be great fun, but then there are times when I wish that I were an only child."
"Oh no! Never wish that! That would be horrid. Family gives spice to your life!" she proclaimed.
"You put up with them then," he said to her.
She laughed some more. "So, Mr. Ron Weasley, what is it that you do?" she asked innocently.
Ron wasn't sure how to answer. He was an Auror of course, but she would have no idea what that was. He decided to just stretch the truth a bit. "I'm in law enforcement, just a paper pusher. Nothing exciting," he explained.
"I'm sure it's more exciting than you're letting on. I don't see you living a boring life. Redheads need adventure and excitement."
Ron laughed at that comment heartily. "You would know," he declared suggestively. "So, how do you own a pub? You look a little young to be running this place."
Anna bit her lower lip a bit and her expression became somewhat darker. "My father left it to me." Ron realized that he had pressed a button, and he didn't want to ruin the first real conversation he was having with anyone but his family and Harry in two years. Ron was surprised when she continued. " My mum died when I was much younger. That's when my dad bought this place. Unfortunately, about two and half years ago there was a gas leak in my house and my dad and my four siblings died. Don't look at me like that either! I'm not a pity case. Everyone has a sad story. That one's mine, and I've dealt with it," she told Ron.
He couldn't believe that a total stranger had just unloaded so much onto him. He couldn't believe that she had lost her entire family about the same time he had lost Hermione, and she seemed so adjusted. He wasn't that adjusted at all. Suddenly his heart cried out for him to tell her about Hermione, but how could she understand? The muggles had no idea about the wizard war, but he wanted so much to talk about it. He had never spoken about it, not even to Harry.
Ron began contemplating telling this girl everything, but he was startled when she stood up abruptly from the table. "Well, Ron Weasley. I can't beat around the bush. There's something about you that I like. I knew it from the moment you walked into the door. Would you like to dance?" she asked.
This girl was so different from Hermione. She was so outgoing and even forceful. She was open and unashamed of herself. She just seemed comfortable. She wasn't Hermione though. He wasn't ready for anything like this.
"Er–I was just about to get going...sorry," he said lamely. She didn't stop smiling though. He liked her smile a lot. It wasn't a straight, perfect smile. It was kind of crooked and looked mischievous. It reminded him oddly of his twin brothers, in a non-creepy way.
"Don't give me any lame excuses. If you ever want to have that dance...you can always find me here," Anna said to him and winked. She turned and walked away towards the dance floor and began dancing by herself again singing to no one.
"Hey, Red. Just to let you know...she hasn't asked a bloke to dance in a very long time. I remember the last time, and it was before she ran the place," the bartender Murph said to him as he wiped down a nearby table. "If I were you, I would get my head out of my butt and go after her. They don't come any better than that. She's infuriating, but worth it." The large bartender had never even looked up at him. He just walked away as if he had never said anything at all. Ron didn't even have time to reply by the time he had left.
Ron's mind began racing. Hermione was gone. He had to accept that. It just felt like he was betraying her if he ever looked at anyone else, but he suddenly remembered something that Ginny had said to him recently. 'Hermione loved you. She wouldn't want you to waste your life away for her memory. You can't just love a ghost, Ron.'
Maybe it was time for him to move on. This girl was beautiful, and she seemed fun. She was independent and outspoken. If it didn't pan out, then it wouldn't matter. He just wanted to feel alive again. Maybe she couldn't do that for him, but it would be a start.
Ron jumped up from the table at that thought and briskly walked toward the dance floor. He saw her there. She was in the middle of the throng of people. She danced like no one was watching. She sang aloud to no one but herself. She was unashamed of her silly gyrations. Anna was so different from Hermione. Maybe that was what he needed. Hell, he had no idea what he needed, but he was sick of feeling so alone and empty. He had to get back out there just like Harry kept telling him. This would be the first step. This would be his chance to break out.
Ron walked straight up to Anna, and it was as if she knew he was coming after her. She turned to meet his gaze and gave him a crooked grin, but didn't say anything. She had made the first move...now it was his turn.
Anna had stopped dancing and just gazed up at him. Ron looked into her eyes and didn't say a word. He did something that he wasn't known for doing. Something he was completely frightened of doing. He put his arms around her waist and began to dance. For the first time in a very long time, Ron felt a little more whole.