Dark Days

Ron woke with a jolt. Looking around wildly, he realised that he had been woken by the sound of a firecall. As he shook himself awake, Sally opened her eyes.

"It's your turn to answer it," she said, sleepily.

"Since when to we take turns?" asked Ron, disgruntled.

"You're right. I'll draw up a rota." Sally made a few hand movements in the air. "The rota says it's your turn."

Grumbling, Ron slid out of bed and went downstairs, yawning. In the fireplace was the head of an unshaven looking Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Great, you're up," said Kingsley, as Ron entered the kitchen. "I need you to get here as soon as possible."

"But why…?"

"NOW, Ron."

"Fine," said Ron angrily, rubbing his face to try and wake himself up. "I'm on my way."

Having made his way back upstairs, Ron began to throw on some robes. Sally watched him sleepily.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"That was Kingsley," replied Ron. "I have to go in to work."

Sally sat up, concerned. "It's one am!"

Ron shrugged. "It's my job."

"Well owl me if it's a raid, so I know whether or not to pace the floor until you get back. I worry about you, you know."

"I know." Giving up on trying to make himself look presentable, Ron sat on the edge of the bed. "You shouldn't worry. You'll be stuck with me for a long time yet."

Sally looked up at him, unconvinced. Laughing, Ron stroked her forehead.

"Don't frown, you'll get wrinkles" he said.

Sighing, Sally gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Love you."

"Love you too."

Ron arrived at the Ministry along with several other Aurors, all looking tired and in various states of undress.

Once everyone had arrived, Kingsley began to speak. He looked more exhausted than everyone else, and gave off a 'Don't mess with me' air that stopped anyone from complaining about the lateness of the hour.

"Right," said Kingsley hoarsely. "I called all of you here because six prisoners broke out of Azkaban about an hour ago."

There was a stunned silence. After the fall of Voldemort, Azkaban had been fortified and strengthened. No one had since been known to escape from the wizard prison, and six people escaping at the same time was out of the realms of possibility.

Sturgis Podmore finally broke the silence. "Who was it? Who broke out?"

Kingsley took out a list. "Rookwood, Macnair, Nott, Jugson, Avery and Malfoy."

"Death Eaters," said Ron, quietly. "They're all Death Eaters."

Kingsley nodded. "All of the Death Eaters that bought themselves out of the Dementor's Kiss, to be exact. We have to get down to Azkaban, before the press gets wind of it."

All of the Aurors seated around the large table rose immediately. Something had changed, and they all knew it. Whatever happened now, the wizarding world would never be the same again.

After spending several hours at Azkaban interviewing guards and checking for evidence, the Aurors were dropping on their feet.

"Look," said Kingsley, calling them together, "you've all been brilliant, but this is all we can do for tonight. Go home, get some sleep, see your families for a change."

Everyone gratefully rushed for the boats to get them off the island.

Apparating home, Ron flopped down on the couch in the living room, mind racing. Ultimately, he had become an Auror for nights like this, but now he had actually experienced a crisis he wasn't sure how to deal with it. He had an uncontrollable urge to just scoop up his little family and take them somewhere where nothing could ever hurt them.

Nerves jangled, he crept upstairs, aware that everyone was asleep. He stopped outside his daughter's bedroom and gently pushed the door open. Emily lay sprawled on top of her pink duvet, fast asleep. Brushing the hair away from her face, Ron tucked her in and dropped a light kiss on her forehead before leaving the room.

As he entered his own bedroom, he stopped to look at Sally, also fast asleep. Seeing his wife looking so peaceful and serene, he was reminded of just how much he loved her.

"Everything is going to be okay," he whispered, lying down beside her.

A/N: Thanks for reading the first chapter – it would be lovely to get some feedback, just so I know how this story is going. Thanks especially to those who reviewed:

Rubber-duckiesofdoom: It is fantastic to get requests for sequels, you're completely right. Although this one would have been written even if people hadn't asked…I love it too much!

Emma Barrows: You have been so lovely, sticking with this for so long. Thank you so much!

Fippets: Harry? Happy? Hmmmmm…..

Juno Malabre: OW! That stick is sharp! And you're a lovely unofficial beta.