Brittany Malfoy was leaving St Mungos today. Ron was glad, and he could tell the nurse-healers were too. Too many blankets ruined. The Pittbourg boy had made a full recovery from the gnarles flu and would be at home in a couple of days. Pity Tommy Hill. Ron had already worked with him for three months. But the silencing charm gone wrong was not wearing away. Although Ron had felt a little hole in the spell's aura today. He would check it tomorrow. And the unborn baby of that welsh couple was also doing alright. Although he could not say the same about the McMillan baby, that was really sad, but not all the St Mungos Healer's power was going to save her. That was sad.

Ron run on this musings all the way to his room in the healers residence. The ministry provided cheap quarters for the trainee healers to rent while they studied. They were close to the hospital and it made a nice ten-minutes walk that Ron liked to take. He had not left the residence after graduating because he was too busy with work and too tired when he left it to look for a flat. His mum insisted on him returning to the Burrow, but Ron had enough with blocking the pained auras in the hospital all day to take on the loud auras his familiars had. He just had not the strength for that. He could endure a dinner, a luch, not more. Christmas had been different, he was on vacation and Hermione and Johnny had always been close. Ron thought it was because they had been friends for so long that Hermione's presence was soothing for him, with Harry had always been far easier. Funny, Harry was supposed to be a tortured soul. But although Ron could always tell Harry's mood he had never been sure if that had been because Harry's aura was easily mended with his or because he knew Harry too well. And Johnny, well, healthy kids always had nice auras, he always helped him block Penny's and his parent's pain.

Harry again. Gods, were would he be. Sure it was the reason Ginny was so angry with him, sure she thought he had help Harry in his escape. Of course he had not. Well he had not prevented it, not that day at King's Cross, but sure he did not deserve her wrath. But he had receive it, again, at Christmas. Damm her Prewlet temper.

And so Ron continued remembering his sister scolding and naging while he climbed the residence stairs so absorbed by his thoughts that he did not see the witch that had been knocking ant his door for the last ten minutes.

"Hi Ron" Smiled sweetly Hermione.

Ron groaned mentally. Not this, he was too tired to stand another sesion of "Hi, I'm the prettiest woman on earth and my favourite hobby is to make Ron fell like worthless shit". Nevertheless he casted a friendly smile.

"Hi! Such an honor Miss Granger." He bowed and unlocked the door ushering her inside his quarters "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing really, I just came to ask you if you fancied dinner at the Leaky Cauldron with me." Asked Hermione nervously. She had decided that it was better to ask for her second oportunity right ahead. But Ron frowned. "You're late, by the way, I thought your guard turn ended this morning."

"I had some extra business." He sighed. "Sorry Hermione, but I planned to dine at the Burrow. Its been three days since I last saw Johnny."

"Oh."

"Come with me, you know mum always cooks extra. She'll love to have you. Actually I'm just showing up, haven't told her I'm going" Ron bite his tongue. Damn, he'd ruined his alibi.

"Then why don't you leave it till tomorrow? Just floo Johnny and then come with me"

OK. No pretending then. Lets try the truth: "Sorry Hermione, but really, I'm not in the mood. I want to see Johnny, I miss him, and I have something I want to talk with my parents."

Now Hermione was intrigued. Something that needed to be talk with his parents. Perhaps the reason he had been so detached lately. She may get to learn something.

"OK, lets go then"

Of course Molly was delighted when they showed up. She engaded straight ahead Hermione in a conversation about Ginny's new hair cut while Penny excused herself to fix two more places at the dinner table. Ron was kidnapped by Johnny the moment he crossed the door.

"You know what Uncly Ron? Miss Jenkins has told us to make a painting of one important wizard and I was going to make a painting of you but Paul said that none can tell if you are you or other uncle or gandpa and that I am always painting you or mum or grandpa or grandma so I am going to paint uncle Harry because he has black hair but Miss Jenkins says that we have to paint too how the wizard is and I don't know how to paint uncle Harry because there is just this photo of him on top of the fireplace and he is always looking down and I don't know how he is 'cause I can not remember him and I have decide that you have to help me because he was you friend and the painting is for tomorrow and there is still ten minutes till dinner and we have time." The toddler finally took a breath and Ron couldn't hold it anymore and brust out giggling.

"And how come you haven'd done it yet, there are more photos of Harry in this house, you could have asked mum or grandma for them" Ron was laughing. Ginny apeared at the fireplace, greeted everyone, scolded at her brother and joined the women conversation while Mr Weasley pretended to read the newspaper while listening to Ron and Johnny.

"Because you hadn't come yet. You are going to help me" The kid answered with round eyes. Charlie entered the room freshy showered and joined Ron and their nephew. Just then his mum called everyone to dinner. Hermione was lulled by the atmosfere. She had wanted Ron to herself that night, but she couldn't help but love the Burrow. She felt sheltered and happy between its inhabitants. She allowed the conversation to flew around her and devoted herself to Mr Weasley's and Charlie's talk while Ginny, Mrs Weasley and Penny chatted and Ron was held captive by Johnny while cutting the kid's steak. Hermione could not hear what they were talking about. It seemed a really absorbing theme, they were completely oblivious to the rest of the world, untill, at a gap in the others conversation it was heard very clearly.

"But if he had won and was the hero why did he leave?"

"Because he was sick and he couldn't get well here."

"Why not? Was it flu? Couldn't you heal him, you heal me always when I catch a cold."

"No, none could, just himself. He had not a cold, he had an illness that is called "Depression"".

"Dep—"

"Depression. It consists in an illness that keeps you sad, very sad, and you can't cheer up youself, and there is no potion that could heal you." Before the kid could make his next question Ron continued. "He catched it because he was very, very tired for a very, very long time and people kept him from resting, sort of. It's kind of hard to explain."

"But then, how come he left. Couldn't he rest here, at home. Why did he thought he could rest best away from home?"

Silence had fell completelly on the party. And just when Ron was going to answer Ginny took over:

"Because your fool of "Uncly" convince him it was the best way. What a great healer."

"Ginevra!" Mrs Weasley was shocked with her daughter.

"It is not true Ginny, and you know it. Ron didn't tell him more than I did. And none of us told him to leave." Hermione scolded her.

"And Uncly Ron is the best healer there is! And you are just a fa--!" Johnny had stepped on his chair and Penny had prevented him from insulting his aunt by placing her hand over his mouth. "I don't like that language love, never again" She said sweetly, but Johnny looked guilty.

Ron had remained quiet all the time. He just sut his eyes tiredly for a moment and breathed deep. And then as if nothing had been said he continued.

"No, he couldn't have rested here, he tried but the people didn't let him. You see, he is too famous, so the only way he could rest was somewhere where nobody recognices him."

"Oh. And were is that?"

"Yes Ronald, Where have you hiden him?" Ginny continued. This time Ron reacted.

"Not again Ginny. How many times have I told you I have no idea where Harry went?"

"Too many" Mr Weasley ended the conversation in his "Minister of magic" tone. Everybody obligued. But Johnny's mind was bubbling with questions. Finally, when they were all eating pudding in silence he couldn't help it anymore.

"Is it true that he left his things and his wand here Uncly Ron?"

The tension eased somehow, though Ginny's frown deepened.

"Yes, it is inside his trunk in the attick, with the goul."

"Can you show me?

"Sorry kid, I can't, the trunk is magicaly sealed, none can open it, and many people has tried." He eyed Ginny sternly.

"And how come he sealed it and left the wand inside? And how come he is without a wand? How does he do magic? Couldn't Dumbledore open the trunk?"

Despite the topic everybody was smiling, and this time it was Charlie who answered.

"One by one nephew: No idea how he sealed it. Perhaps he is not without a wand, perhaps he has got a new one. Harry was very good at magic, and it is very provable that he still performs wandless magic, or perhaps he is gone to some muggel town and doesn't use magic at all, and about Dumbledore: He already tried to open the trunk and couldn't"

Several hundreds of questions were pussed aside by this surprising news: "He couldn't?. But he was the most powerfull wizard there is!"

Ron answered to this. "Nobody knows who is the most powerfull wizard on earth Johnny. It could be you. Anyway Harry is pretty powerfull himself"

Johnny had opend his mouth to perform the next question when Penny cutted him. "Time for bed little man, come on."

Ron stood "Let me tuck him to bed Penny, we have a painting to make and I have something I want to talk with you Johnny. Mum, Can I sleep here tonight?" Molly noded happily and Hermione frowned, she had lost tonight oportunity. "Goodnight then Hermione" Ron dismished her and launching the child over his shoulder he headed upstairs.

Later that night, when Johnny was finally asleep, Ron wend back downstairs and found everyone else but Hermione gathered at the living room. The moment he got into the room Ginny piped out.

"Great dear bro, you've got her down again. She's left almost in tears, are you happy?"

Now Ron was confused "Who is crying?"

"Who? Prat! Hermione of course"

"What, Why was she crying?"

"Why, because you take her here and then dump her, for example?"

"I don't get it. She came because she wanted, I didn't bring her. Stop this Ginny. Why is everything I do an offense to you?"

"Because you already broke her heart at school and now you're doing it again!"

"I did what at school, SHE dumped ME!"

"Oh, come on…."

"ENOUGH" belowed Mrs Weasley. "Johnny is asleep. Ginny, if you have work tomorrow this is a good moment to go to your flat. Why haven't you go to bed Ron, I thought you were tired."

Ron calmed down and pushed all the confusing thoughts about Hermione crying to the back of his mind, he'll talk to her tomorrow. "Because I came tonight to talk to you, I want to tell you something."

Charlie an Penny eyed each other and started to raise. Ginny was furious an decided to annoy as much as possible. "We'd better leave then" But Ron stoped them.

"No, not big deal, well, not much. It's OK if you listen" Now Ginny was really furious, she was not annoying Ron.

Mr Weasley left the huge report on foreing politics he was reading aside and focused his attention on his youngest son, a fine man by the way, he thought proudly.

"I've already explained this to Johnny and he has undestood it pretty well, he is not much annoyed. I mean that I've got his blessing or sort of…" Rambled Ron, OK, this was hard. "I don't know why I'm so nervous, It is not the first time I'll be doing this."

"Doing what Ronnie?" asked his mother.

"OK. Perhaps you have noticed that lately I am a bit…"off coloured"?…" Penny noded, she had noticed. "The thing is that I'm rather tired. I need a change of air" Now Molly looked fearfull. "So today I've gone to talk to my boss and he has apointed me as one of the healers of a researching expedition abroad. I'll be leaving in a week from today and it is most likely I wont be coming back before Christmas."

The room went still. Looking at every shocked face Ron decide to wait to let the news sink in.

"It's January the 20th Ron." Said Charlie quietly.

"Aha, I know"

"You are going to be away a whole year, why an entire year? What kind of expedition is that?" Asked Mrs Weasley in the brim of tears.

"Sorry Mum. It's kind of complicated. I can't tell you what it is about. All I can say is that it is the kind of expedition that has to take place at the end of all the other research expedition in some issue." It sounded chinese, realized Ron. He didn't have to look at his relatives to know they had not understand a single sylable.

"OK, lets get this step by step: I can't tell you what are we working on. It is about healing some illness, that is obvious, but this work is…listen, there had been many studies about this and a lot of work done and lots of people involved, for many years now. Everyone of us has made some part of the job and we have manage somehow to communicate between us, but it is not enough anymore. There have been some findings, very important ones, and some hospitals and study centers have made some kind of team for years now, but now it is the moment to get together and focus more on the subject." Ron sighed. "I know I'm not making much sense, but the thing is that I need to get away for some time and that I've been one of the healers working on this for some time now, so I am the right one from St Mungo's to take part on the project, so I'm going."

"But, where? Why the secret? Can't you tell at least me?" Asked his father.

Ron smiled wearily "The secret is because the illness is too serious to go …babbling about. All I can say it's that it summounes too much pejudice. The place I can't tell because the patients deserve privacy, sorry. And you already know why I can't tell you dad: Profesional secret. But don't worry, you know that the Minister of Magic allways ends up knowing everything."

Once again silence fell over the party. Everybody was trying to get the news sink in. Mr and Mrs Weasley were eyeing each other, as if mantaining some type of silent conversation between them. Charlie was shocked, but thinking more about it this wasn't that strange…

"This is not the first time you have gone on that kind of trip,is it? That's what you meant by "It is not the first time I'll be doing this", doesn't you? Why is this time different? Just because you'll be away a full year?"

"Emm, yeah, that's right Charlie. Remember last year when I went to Budapest and Auckland, those where two different studies, on ear growing diseases and maladies of the third right toe on newborn babies. And two years ago when I left for Oagadougou? That was on faun's pox. And when Healer Ferris invited me on my first year to Paris? That was to participate on a really great study that's been taking place about unborn fetus magical disorders that has…."

"OK, OK we get it" Interrupted Ginny. She was so impressed that she was forgetting to be mean.

Meanwhile their parents had reach an agreement in their thelepathic conversation. Mrs Weasley looked somehow resigned.

"All right then Ronnie. When do you say you are leaving?"

"A week from today"

"Then it would be best if you start moving, wouldn't it? Listen, Why don't you gather all your things from the residence and bring them here? This is the best oportunity for you to leave that place. Then, when you come back next year you can decide if you want to find a flat for youself or come back here."

"Then, are you OK with this mum?" Asked Ron with concern.

"Well, yes honey, of course!. And it is not as if you are disapearing, you'll call and write. A year will pass in no time." Replied his mum starting her interupted knitting again.

All seemed to be said already. But Ginny and Charlie were eyeing Ron carefully, he looked guilty. And both of them knew him well enough to tell he has somethong more to say that was not going to be to their parents liking. Ginny caught his eye and arche her eyebrowns. "Well?"

Mr Weasley raised his hed and gazed at his children "What happens?"

"Well dad, you see…" Started Ron. "I may not be in to much contact while I'm away."

"What?" Mrs Weasley stopped he knitting.

"I'm sorry. But the job will be some kind of "Secret" and I wont be in contact much. As I can't tell you were I'm going I won't be able to write or call….much. I'll try though." He added quickly.

And that was it. Mrs Weasley chagrin only peaked when the seventh day arrived. Ron packed all his things and left them beside Harry's trunk in the Attic. He was only taking a small duffel bag. He spent the next week bunked with Johnny but spending large amounts of time in the hospitall running over the arrangements for the trip. He was so busy in fact that he forgot all about Hermione and her crying only pausing to think about her a second before falling asleep at night and congratulating himself for it. He was already achieving what he wanted, he thought, get over Hermione.

But that was not the case of Hermione. She didn't found out about the trip till she walked on Ginny two days later (Three to go) at one of the ministry corridors. She was totally shocked. Ron was leaving. Hermone felt an acute loss in her breast. First Harry and now Ron. Her dreams of fixing things with him were shattering in the spot.

After spending all that night crying in her bed she decided she couldn't take it. She had to stop him, to make him stay. She couldn't lose first the closest she had ever have to a brother and then the only man she could love. She was not going to be able to stand the loneliness. There was really nothing else she could do, she had to talk to Ron, now.