Invisible Scars

So the funniest thing…proves the power of reviewers…I didn't intend on including Ron and Mr. Weasley's conversation in this installment, but it was mentioned more than once in your reviews, so I changed my mind. See, just goes to show you that reviews are a good thing. And my reviewers are the BEST!

This chapter will be the day before the wedding, and I apologize before hand for any gaps or holes. I just really want to keep the fic moving.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6 – Unexpected News

Ron didn't have time to figure out what he was going to say to his father. The second they arrived back at the house, he took hold of Ron's elbow and walked him straight outside. Hermione and Harry were busy being pumped for information by Ginny and his mother, so no one noticed the two of them sneak out.

Once they were safely encased in the privacy of the backyard, his father let go of his arm. "Go on," was all he said, folding his arms across his chest. Ron could barely meet his gaze. Somehow, he knew that if his father didn't agree with what they were doing, that doubt would plague him the entire time he was away from home. It would cause him to slip up, and that was one thing none of them could afford.

"First off, dad," he began nervously, "I want your word that you won't tell mum about this until after the wedding."

His father narrowed his eyes at him, making him feel as if he was ten years old all over again. He squirmed as he waited for his father's response.

"Although I don't think you are in any position to be making requests, I won't say anything to your mother," his father said finally, with a glance back at the house. "I want her to have this one thing…this one time where we are all together, safe, enjoying a celebration…" He trailed off, an odd look entering his eyes. Then he shook his head as if to clear it and focused on Ron again. "You have my word."

Ron took a deep, calming breath and began to talk. He tried explaining things as clearly as he could, realizing he owed his father that much. He told him of Dumbledore's quest with Harry at the end of last year…of the horcruxes and how Harry was set on finding them…of the letter he'd received and Lupin's offer to assist them in finding out the truth behind it…of his and Hermione's refusal to allow Harry to go it alone. By the time he'd finished talking, his father looked more tired than Ron had ever seen him look in his life.

"Did you even consider what this is going to do to your mother?" his father asked, staring at him with weary eyes. "Or your sister?"

"I did," Ron said quietly. "But I can't let Harry go off by himself because mum wants me safe. And Ginny understands…at least, she knows why we've decided to do this."

"She knows, then?" his father asked, looking slightly betrayed. Ron expelled a long breath and focused his gaze on the ground in front of him. He hated this whole situation, and wondered if it would have in fact been easier to simply leave and send a letter once they were far from home.

"What are you going to do for money? Where are you going to stay? What happens if you meet up with Death Eaters and you're outnumbered?" his father asked suddenly, his voice growing stronger with each word. It was as if he realized this was a last ditch effort, and if he failed to convince Ron now, there would be no hope of it in the future.

Still, Ron would not be dissuaded. "We'll handle things as they come, dad. Harry has plenty of money, and judging by how much we've already experienced at school, we'll be no less safe on the road then we were at Hogwarts."

There was a tense moment as father and son stared at each other, each waiting for the other to relent…for very different reasons.

"You're of age," his father said finally, simply. "I can't stop you."

"No, you can't," Ron said in a low voice.

His father sighed heavily, his gaze falling away from Ron's. "You know, the last time You Know Who was in power, all of you were just children. In fact, Ginny wasn't even born yet." His face looked pained as he recalled the vivid memories. "They were dark times, and people felt sorry for your mother and me for having so many children to watch over and worry about."

He paused for a moment, turning away slightly so Ron could only see the tired profile of his father's face. "It was hard raising all of you when we were constantly terrified that something would happen to one of you. But, for all the worry it caused us, you were just children and we could keep you safe. We could protect you…shield you…" his voice faded away slowly as he ran a hand over his balding head. "Now, all of you are grown, and it's a thousand times harder to let you go than it was to protect you when you were young."

Ron kept silent as his father looked out over the back lawn. He didn't know if he could speak now if he tried, anyway. There was an ominous tightness in his throat that he tried pushing down and away so he could breathe properly, but it didn't work. The only thing he could do was stand completely still and hope his father would somehow be able to meet his eyes again.

"When do you leave?" The question was asked so mournfully that Ron felt a sharp stab of pain rip through his gut.

"A week or so after the wedding," he replied quietly.

The silence stretched between them again, and in it, Ron watched his father grapple with his decision. Finally, his father nodded, sighing wearily. "Okay then. I'll make sure you have everything you think you'll need, and I'll help you talk to your mother."

Ron considered him silently for a long moment, realizing that tonight he had seen a very different side of the man who had raised him. It was odd, in fact. He was seeing his father now as a man, and not just as his dad. He straightened his own shoulders and hoped that when his father looked at him, he saw a man as well.

"Thanks," he said.

His father looked at him with a level gaze, then put a hand on his shoulder. "I suppose you have to do what you feel is right. Just remember something, son," he said, increasing the pressure of his hand. "There are so many people who can help the three of you. You don't have to try and do it all on your own, like you lot tend to do. If you need help, let me know."

"I will," Ron promised.

There was a moment where Ron thought his father might hug him, but instead he patted Ron on the shoulder soundly, turning his head away quickly.

"Get yourself up to bed now," he said in a suspiciously thick, shaky voice. "Busy day tomorrow."

Ron nodded silently, reaching out quickly to grasp his father's arm for a split second before heading back to the house. When he reached the back door, he turned to see if his father was following him, and the sharp stab of pain he'd felt before developed into a searing ache as he watched his father put one hand against a tree, and the other over his face.

By the time Ron had made his way back into the house, everyone had retired for the night. Harry stirred when he opened the door to his bedroom, though, and questioned Ron in a groggy voice about his whereabouts after their return. Ron brought him up to speed as best he could, leaving out the devastated look on his father's face. He wasn't ready to remember that part just yet.

They dropped off into a deep sleep quickly, a testament to how crazy the day had been. Ron's dreams were haunted by so many images that it was impossible to recall any of them when his mother woke them the next morning.

"Alright, you two, time to get going," she called out through the open doorway on her way to the attic. "Much to do today, much to do."

Ron groaned and forced himself out of bed. He saw Harry feel about for his glasses sleepily, wincing when he could see his watch and realized the time.

"Your mum wants to get an early start on things, doesn't she?" he said, swinging his legs off the cot against the wall.

"I think Bill and Fleur are coming with her family around lunchtime, and by then she wanted the yard set up and the rooms ready for them," Ron grumbled, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "Do me a favor and remind me to elope when I decide to get married."

After they'd showered and dressed, they went down to the kitchen and found a blissfully empty room. There was a note on the counter written by his mother that explained that she had taken the girls to Diagon Alley to pick up all the wedding robes, and that his father had gone to the ministry to see to some last minute business.

"She says Charlie, Fred and George should be coming soon, too," he told Harry, glancing at his wristwatch. "A good thing, too, judging by the list on the other side of this note," he added, flipping it over to show Harry.

Harry didn't seem nearly as put out as Ron felt as they set about with the day's chores after breakfast. In fact, he seemed almost cheerful as they positioned the long tables in the backyard next to the garden.

Ron just shook his head and plowed on, sighing in relief when he saw his brothers crossing the yard roughly an hour later.

"About time we had a bit of help," he growled in greeting, earning a companionable shove of greeting from Charlie and a couple of sheepish shrugs from the twins.

"Harry! How've you been, mate?" Fred called out, clapping him so hard on the back that Harry stumbled into the table in front of him. "George and I have been meaning to invite you to the shop for an invention display after all this business is finished."

George grinned at Ron conspiratorially. "Yes, I believe some people found our invention room quite fascinating," he teased, then dodged quickly out of Ron's reach.

"Hello Harry," Charlie said, shaking Harry's hand in a much more civilized greeting than his younger brothers had extended. Ron was infinitely thankful that Charlie was here. He knew Fred and George well enough to realize they wouldn't have done any work if Charlie wasn't here as well to keep them moving.

Ron pointed out the list of things their mother had left them, and they began working again. Although, this time, there were more distractions and breaks than there'd been when it had just been himself and Harry. The twins were right in the middle of attempting to charm the chairs to tip anyone off who tried to sit in them when the girls arrived.

Fred let his wand drop casually as their mother made their way across the lawn to them, her eyes already shrewdly seeking out any oddities. She kissed Charlie, then began checking under the tables Fred and George were standing in front of. Ginny flung herself into Charlie's arms, scolding him for staying away so long.

Ron's eyes sought out Hermione, who was looking over the scene with a small grin on her face. He walked over to her and nudged her with his elbow. "I see that you made it through the morning alive," he said, nodding toward his mother, who was now pointing her wand directly at George's forehead and threatening him within an inch of his life.

Hermione laughed and gave him a look. "Barely. They didn't have Ginny's robes ready, and I could have sworn that your mother began speaking in tongues when they told her."

"Look, it's going to be a madhouse around here for a while, but what do you say we grab some time later to just sit somewhere and talk," he said, realizing with heightened sensitivity that Fred and George were watching his every move.

She smiled at him as his mother called out to her to follow her into the house with the clothes. "Sounds like a plan," she said over her shoulder, careful not to drag the garments on the lawn.

Ron watched her until she disappeared into the house, then caught Harry staring at the door as well. "Hey, Harry," he called out, trying to bring back the look of contentment he'd seen on his best friend's face earlier, "bet you a galleon I can finish my part of the list before you can finish yours."

Harry's expression changed as he reached into his back pocket. "You're on," he said, flicking his wand at the nearest string of lights. He yelped out in surprise when all his wand did was turn into a vicious looking plant that latched onto his fingers as if it was trying to devour his hand.

Ron laughed at him as he reached for his own wand, which he'd tucked safely under the hem of his shirt. "You know better than to leave your wand out with those two around," he said, moving to help Charlie as Fred and George rolled with laughter behind a still struggling Harry.

Hermione didn't see either Ron or Harry for most of the afternoon. Once Bill arrived with the Delacours, the tentative restraint on the household was broken and absolute pandemonium ensued. Mrs. Weasley spent the majority of the afternoon caught between fussing over Bill and hustling about the house making sure everyone was comfortable. Mr. Weasley arrived home only to find himself engaged in a severe battle between his sons, who Hermione found out later were arguing over the proper way to send Bill off on his honeymoon.

Dinner that night completely passed her by, as the conversations flew around the table with such alarming speed and sound that Hermione figured she'd be going off to sleep with a colossal headache when all was said and done. Still, she hadn't seen the Weasleys look so happy in such a long time, and it made her almost speechless. She was content enough to sit and watch them, and Harry, as they laughed and teased their way through the meal.

Very shortly after the dishes were put away and things were tidied up, Hermione heard the front door open and Mrs. Weasley cry out in surprise. She gave Ginny a questioning look, who shrugged in response, and the two of them moved into the living room to see what the commotion was all about.

Percy was being squeezed tightly by his mother, who was now sobbing openly. Mr. Weasley went over to his wife and tried to extract her from their son so he could breathe properly.

"Oh, Percy!" Mrs. Weasley cried, refusing to let go of her son. "You don't know what it means to me that you're here…you don't know…"

Hermione saw Ginny stiffen next to her, and she put a restraining hand on Ginny's arm. Ginny must have read her silent message clearly enough, because she didn't say a word as Percy extracted himself from his mother's arms.

With one look at his mother, Charlie, who was standing the closest to Percy, cleared his throat and extended a hand to his brother. "Good to see you, Perce," he said, attempting a natural smile of welcome and not quite succeeding.

"Yeah," Percy said, and Hermione instantly recognized the resignation in his tone. She had never seen Percy look so…defeated. Percy had always been the epitome of control and pompous arrogance. Now, he looked utterly at a loss as he stood before the family he had, for all intensive purposes, disassociated himself from in order to further his career.

There was a silence following the sound of Percy's voice in the room that threatened to swallow them all whole if someone didn't move soon. Hermione looked around at the Weasley siblings, wondering why they were all just standing there. Didn't they realize Percy was trying to make amends?

Then, Bill crossed the room to his younger brother and extended his hand to him. "Glad you could make it, Perce," he said. Percy hesitated only for a moment before grabbing hold of Bill's hand tightly. Bill covered their hands with his free one, and gave him a genuine smile. "I was starting to think that the invitation got lost in the post."

Percy's cheeks flushed scarlet and his eyes couldn't quite meet Bill's. "No, I got it about a week ago. I just wasn't sure if anyone wanted me here."

Mrs. Weasley uttered out a sharp cry, glaring pointedly at Fred and George as she spoke. "This is your home, Percy. You are always welcome here, and if anyone has issue with that, they can take it up with me later."

Just then, Hermione realized that Ron hadn't spoken a single word or made a single move since she'd entered the room. He was leaning against the wall, his arms folded protectively over his chest as he stared out onto his family.

The Delacours, who recognized a family moment when they saw one, retired upstairs to settle in. Hermione shared a look with Harry that clearly had them thinking of their own retreat, but Percy's next admission kept them rooted to the spot.

"No one in this room would be wrong if they never wanted to speak to me again," he said, his voice low in the now silent room. "I understand that. I have no excuses either, except that I was foolish." He looked over at Harry, who was standing beside Ron.

"I owe you a huge apology for all the things I wrote," he said, referring, Hermione knew, to the letter he'd sent Ron back in fifth year. "I had a dozen people in my ear telling me all sorts of things…I know I shouldn't have listened, but I guess I was too scared by the alternative not to."

Hermione held her breath as Harry took in Percy's apology. She knew that Percy's advice to Ron to stay away from him had stung him deeply, but she couldn't help hoping that he would forgive him. It was almost as if the rest of the room was waiting to see what Harry did, and they'd take their cue from him.

"I understand," Harry said finally, causing Hermione's pent up breath to escape silently. "It's alright. A lot of people have been wrong about things for a while now."

Percy nodded and glanced toward his father. "I know. Dad has been tracking me down all week at the ministry, telling me everything he knows about what's been going on. I started to notice the changes in the administration shortly after Dumbledore's death. Rufus Scrimgeour is strutting about the place as if he's glad the headmaster is gone. He's saying that now the ministry can go after You Know Who with the force he felt they always should have, and he's been putting many prominent wizarding families in positions they are not comfortable with." His face hardened and his eyes flashed sadly.

"He started asking me about where my parents stood on the matter, and began using me to issue the orders to those families. I just couldn't do what he wanted me to do any longer. I couldn't send parents away from their children…tearing families apart…" he trailed off.

"Let's just say I quit," he said with finality. "Dad had come to the ministry to drag me here today if he had to, just as I was handing in my resignation."

Mrs. Weasley began crying again, looking to her husband. "Arthur," she said, her voice incredibly soft.

Mr. Weasley put an arm around her and let her cry into his shirt. "We couldn't have a wedding without all of our children, now could we, Molly?"

Hermione felt her own eyes well up with tears, and she fought to hold them back. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ron push away from the wall and silently slip out of the room. She looked to Harry to see if he was going to follow Ron, but his eyes were focused on Ginny as she stood stiffly next to Fred, watching her parents and Percy with an unreadable expression on her face.

Hermione backed out of the room quietly, knowing that no one would miss her with all that was going on. She pushed the back door open and saw Ron's shadow disappear around the corner of the house in the direction of the garden.

By the time she caught up with him, he was sitting at one of the tables he'd set up earlier that day, gazing out over the area where the wedding would be taking place in a little over twelve hours.

"Hey," she said, her voice sounding quite loud in the stillness of the evening. He turned in his chair and she could instantly see the range of emotions brewing inside of him. Ron had always worn his feelings on his sleeve.

"Hey," he responded, not quite meeting her eyes.

"Strange night, wasn't it?" she said, not really knowing what else to say. It was obvious Percy's sudden appearance had him rattled, but she didn't want to get involved. It was a family matter, and he had every right to feel however he wanted to feel.

Ron huffed and rolled his eyes, turning back around in his chair to look out over the lawn again. "Strange week, is more like it," he said.

She took the seat next to his. "A lot has happened, I'll give you that," she said, wanting to touch him very badly, but restraining herself with effort. "Did you maybe want to talk about it?" she asked.

Ron sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair with an air of impatience. "Look, it's not like I wanted Percy to stay away forever. He's my brother. I just can't get the image out of my head of my mum's face last year every time his name was mentioned. I can't simply forget what he said about Harry…" he said, his fist balling up on the table. "I guess if Harry can forgive him, I should be able to…but I guess that's why Harry is a better person than I am."

Hermione straightened her shoulders at his words and grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at her. "Don't ever say that," she demanded, meeting his gaze determinedly. "Not even joking, don't ever say that again."

Ron stared at her, his eyes focused intently on hers for a very long moment.

He broke the silence a moment later, clearing his throat. "Well, my little pity party is over. What do you say we change the subject?"

"Alright, what do you want to talk about then?" she asked, leaving her hand on his arm as if it was the most natural thing in the world. A small smile played across his face and the very tips of his ears began reddening a bit.

"I'm looking forward to the wedding tomorrow," he said in a quiet voice.

Hermione's heart leapt in her chest at his words, and she tried to conceal her pleasure by averting her face. "Me too," she admitted, her own voice sounding equally as quiet. "It should be a lot of fun."

When he was silent for a while, she had no choice but to look at him again. She found him studying the side of her face with serious eyes.

"I wasn't really talking about the wedding itself," he said.

If she didn't get her heart rate under control soon, she was afraid she'd pass out right there in front of him. She was still getting used to hearing sweet words coming from the one person who had always been able to get a rise out of her by simply looking at her the wrong way. He had always made it nearly impossible to control her emotions, but now it was completely different.

Then, in one singular flash, she realized that she didn't need to control or monitor herself any longer. She was allowed to show him how happy she was, and she found herself wanting to do so very badly.

Her hand slid down his arm, lingering on his wrist for a moment before she moved it further down and entwined her fingers with his.

"I bought new robes," she said, blushing a bit at the girlish impulse she'd given into earlier that day with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny in Diagon Alley. She had been prepared to wear her robes from fourth year, but somehow she had known that wasn't the right thing to do. With Ron, everything was new – so she figured her robes should be as well.

"You did? What do they look like?" he asked, another smile playing across his face.

"Oh no, you'll have to wait until tomorrow," she said, her entire body tingling as his thumb started to trace slow patterns on the inside of her palm.

"No fair," he chided lightly. "You got to see mine and they weren't even ready yet."

Hermione moved closer to him, their arms now touching. "Think about how you'll be surprised when you come to escort me to the wedding."

Ron's eyes laughed down into hers. "I was thinking about that earlier," he said. "What should I do…meet you at the bottom of the stairs? Next to the stove in the kitchen?"

Hermione laughed. "Maybe inside the fireplace?" His laughter joined hers, and it surrounded them in the night air.

Suddenly, his face turned serious again as he focused his eyes on their entwined hands. "How do you do it?" he asked.

"Do what?" she asked, still grinning at him.

"How do you always make me feel like everything is just fine…or that it will be?"

She didn't know what to say right away. It was another one of those comments that, if spoken by her best friend, she would have taken in stride – or at least with minimal blushing. But now, the words cut straight through her, making each nerve in her body feel as if it was touched by a live wire.

She understood in that moment that she didn't have to say anything. All she had to do was show him that everything would in fact be just fine.

She leaned toward him, reaching for his face with her free hand. She touched his cheek gently, turning his face so he was looking at her. When their eyes met, she could see what looked like desire in his eyes.

Leaning further into him, she closed her eyes and let her mouth find his on instinct. Their lips met softly, with infinite tenderness. Ron released her hand and she wanted to protest, but she understood a moment later when his hands came up to frame her face gently.

They remained like that for a while, kissing, still learning each other's mouths with slow caresses. Hermione felt herself spinning delightfully out of her normal range of control as she let her hands settle against his chest. She felt the pounding of his heart under her palms, and she smiled against his lips.

The back door banged open then, and they parted quickly, looking out across the lawn to see who was coming. They saw Ginny walking slowly, hunched as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders, toward the practice Quidditch field they'd set up last summer. A moment later, they heard the door again, and watched as Harry followed her at a safe distance, never getting close enough to seem intrusive.

When they'd disappeared from sight, Hermione sighed and turned back to him. "I kind of feel selfish when I'm around Ginny and Harry," she admitted. "I mean, here we are trying to figure out how to be together, while they're trying to figure out how to be apart."

Ron reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know. I feel the same way, but I don't want to stop how I'm feeling about us, either."

"Neither do I," she agreed, closing her eyes as he let his fingers move around to the back of her head and get lost in her hair.

"That's good to hear," he said quietly. Without opening her eyes, she knew she was about to be kissed again, and although she really was concerned for her friends and their relationship, she was more than willing to put off thinking about them for the time being.

At least until she could once again form an actual thought, anyway.

Done! Not the whole thing, but this part. Sorry it is late in coming. The computer literally kicked me off of itself the other night and I was terrified it had lost what I'd worked on…but everything was fine, just delayed things a bit.

As I said before, I wasn't going to include Arthur and Ron's conversation, but I love that you all thought it would be that important. I hope I met expectations. I see Arthur as the kind of man who lives and breathes for his wife and family. The kind whose whole existence is wrapped around making them happy.

Also, the Percy part. I went back and forth about this forever. I finally came to the decision that in a close family like the Weasleys, they would never have a major family event without the whole clan. I had to bring him back to be true to what I feel this family represents. I know there may be disagreement on this, and I totally understand, because I had different thoughts about Percy as well, but it simply broke my heart to have a wedding and not have him there…so to make myself happy (I'm so selfish!) I brought Percy home.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. I actually worked pretty hard on the balance of the fluff and facts, and I'm pleased with how it turned out. I seriously wouldn't be doing this at all, though, if it wasn't for all of you. You truly make my day when I see your reviews. I grin like a fool, then think about them all day, then think about what I can write next to please you…

Thank you!