As Hermione was walking past the front window at Grimmauld Place, she had to stop and do a double-take. She had been heading to meet Lupin in the kitchen for some tea, but she saw a familiar head of red hair standing in the middle of the road looking lost. He had his trunk in one hand and his wand gripped tightly in the other.

"Professor Lupin?" she called as she continued to stare out the window. Ron couldn't be there. He just couldn't.

"Yes, Hermione?" he asked as he came towards her.

"Is anyone supposed to know we're here?" she asked.

"Other than Harry and the elder Weasleys? No. Not that I know of," he said. "Why?"

She paused for a moment, confusion written across her face. He could be a Polyjuice imposter, but she couldn't think of when they would have been able to secure the sample. "Because Ron's standing in the middle of the road with his wand in his hand," she replied.

He peered out the window in disbelief. With a sigh, Lupin grumbled something that sounded like "That boy is going to be the death of me" and then moved to the front door. He whistled and shouted, "Ron! Come in here this instant. What do you think you're doing?"

Ron scurried inside and dropped his trunk in the foyer before enveloping Hermione in a bone crushing hug. He felt like he had been separated from her for weeks, not mere hours. He made his decision right then and there that he never, ever, wanted to let her go again.

"Ronald!" she cried in an exasperated tone. "What are you doing here? It's not safe," she told him in a no-nonsense voice.

"I don't care," he protested. "Harry told me everything," he said, ignoring her gasp of protest, "and you know as well as I do that I'll never let that git lay another hand on you." He released her and looked her in the eye. "Why didn't you tell me about Malfoy?"

"There's nothing to tell. I'll die before I marry him. And I'll be well dead before I give him an heir. You know that."

"I won't let him lay another finger on you, Hermione. I swear it. As long as I breathe you'll be safe from him," he promised.

"That's what has me afraid, Ron. Don't you get that? I know you won't let anything happen to me and that's what scares me to death. You think I want you to do something stupid and get killed because Malfoy's new mission is to marry and shag me? I don't!" she shrieked. "I don't want to have to push you away, Ron, but I will if you force me."

"When the HELL did you turn into Harry, Hermione? Huh? When did it become the right thing to do to shut people out of your life? You've been nagging Harry for years that dangerous times are when we need love the most. Well, Hermione, look around! It's dangerous! You're being hidden in Grimmauld Place because Malfoy wants you! Don't you realize how bad this is getting?" He paused, breathing deep. He shot an imploring look to Lupin who obligingly left the room after surmising that this look meant a huge row was about to take place. Ron lowered his voice to a whisper as soon as he knew Lupin was out of earshot. "Get your trunk. You and I are leaving. We're not telling anyone where we're going. I'll leave a note for Lupin and have him tell the others. We're not safe here ... not while Malfoy's looking for you. We'll go off and live like muggles somewhere else for a while. Lay low, you know?"

She had surprisingly stayed quiet through his rant. She slowly moved a small hand up to cup his cheek and a soft smile graced her face. "You'd really put yourself into that much danger for me?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"I love you," he replied in an equally quiet tone. "Of course I'm willing to put myself in that kind of danger for you. I'd do anything for you." He kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Now go and get your things. You shouldn't be too settled in yet."

She hurried off up the stairs and he quickly removed a piece of parchment from his trunk. He grabbed a quill and scratched out:

Professor Lupin -

We had to go. She's not safe here. We'll let you know of our status when we get where we're going. No, I won't tell you where. Be sure that I will defend her life with my own. I love her and I owe her that much. Please tell Mum and Dad and Harry and Ginny. I'm sure they'll take care of the rest of the family.

I've always admired your uncanny ability to stay strong when you're needed the most. I hope to model myself after you. She's safe as long as I'm alive. I'm happy as long as I have her by my side. Nothing dark will ever touch her again. I swear it.

We're going to be living as muggles so don't try to track our magic because you'll find a dead end. We will send mail to Hermione's house by muggle post - that way you won't be able to trace us with the birds. We might try to call on the fellytone but I'm not too sure.

We're sorry we had to run off like this but right now it really is for the best.

Hope to be able to hear from you soon,

Ronald B. Weasley

Letter completed, he dropped it on the table by the door. Hermione reappeared and he took her hand briefly before grabbing her trunk. They both looked over at the door to the kitchen before walking out the front door.

"GONE!" Molly Weasley screamed at a sheepish Remus Lupin. "What do you mean GONE!"

"W-well," Lupin stuttered, "they were having a row about Malfoy in the entrance and Ron gave me a look that nearly begged for a bit of privacy. They must have left shortly after t-that." He stopped and took a gulp. "They row all the time, Molly. You know that. I didn't think it was just a ruse to get her out of the house. I didn't think he would ..."

"That's right! You didn't think and now my baby boy is missing! He's run off with her and no one knows where they're going!" she hollered, waving Ron's letter to and fro. "It's dangerous, Remus! And now they're out there defenseless. Whose idea was it?" she demanded.

"They have their wands, Mum," Bill Weasley said ignoring her last question.

"They did say they wouldn't use their magic though," Fred added.

"I'll have them put a watch out at the Ministry. If anyone sees them we'll know," Arthur supplied.

"No," Harry said, surprising them all. He and Ginny had been brought to the Burrow from Privet Drive as soon as they found out Ron and Hermione were gone. "I want them back as much as all of you but I don't think we can force them back this time. It would be like taking them hostage. Right now, this is the only way Ron knows to protect Hermione. He's doing the brave thing, not the cowardly thing, by running. He's not going to use magic, something's been doing nearly his whole life, just to make sure they're hidden. Don't you think if you can find them so can He?" He let out a huge sigh. "That's my big sister he's got out there and I'm scared to death about them being alone and living like muggles. He's lucky she's there, to be honest."

"Can't we trace the exchange of wizarding money to muggle money?" George asked Bill.

"First, I'm a curse-breaker not a banker. Second, we can only trace them as far as Gringotts. And I think Harry may be right. We have to let them go for now. I'm sure Hermione has access to her parents' muggle money and everything. She'll be safe with Ron."

Mrs. Weasley looked about to object again before Arthur placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He's of age, Molly, and in love with that girl. He's doing the same thing I would have done if the situation had arisen during the First War. He's smart and she's smarter. They'll be okay. I'll check in on Hermione's home every couple of days to get the post and everything. I'll let you know when something comes in the post and I'll set up my fellytone in here." He paused for a moment. "I've got to get back to work. Don't," he said, looking at Molly with a stern expression, "try to put together a renegade search team. They will be fine." With that, he disapparated out of the house.

"Harry," Ginny said quietly.

He looked down into her bright brown eyes and sighed, "I know, Gin, but we have to let them do this. It'll make them stronger. This will give them the chance to work out everything they never could with all the eyes and ears around Hogwarts and the Burrow."

"What if it doesn't make them stronger, Harry? What if it breaks them?" she asked as she watched the adults, save Bill, leave the kitchen.

"Then we'll have to put them back together."

"Will that be possible?" Bill asked softly.

"Donno," he replied as he wrapped his arms around Ginny. "But we'll try."

"I'm scared for them," she whispered as Bill took in the tender moment and left the room.

"Me too." He held onto her for a moment and then chuckled. "Reckon they'll come back engaged?"

"Married," she mumbled with a tiny laugh of her own.

"Pregnant," Harry added with a hearty laugh.

They both paused and looked at each other, eyes wide. "Oh my God," Ginny laughed. "That could really happen!"

"Do you think it will?" Harry asked.

"I'm certain at least one of the three will happen," Ginny responded.

"Which?"

"Ask me after the first post comes in," she said.

"Deal," he laughed before he led her to the sitting room to join the rest of her family.

"Here we are," Hermione said several hours later as she walked into a flat and flipped on the lights. She and Ron looked around the large living room. "Wow. Furnished and everything for a small amount of money."

"Helped that you said we were newlyweds shunned by our families because of a blood feud," Ron laughed.

"We needed somewhere to live and this was the place I liked the best," she pouted.

"It's perfect, Love. Great view of the ocean, comfortable ... romantic," he added with a grin as he shut the door and pushed her towards the huge windows overlooking the water and then wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"I feel like we've abandoned them," Hermione said suddenly. "Here we are in paradise and they're all back in England fighting a war. Our war."

"They can't do anything else until they get you, Hermione. He must be getting weaker and in need of another Malfoy or something. I don't know what's going on, but it seems like nothing's happened since they started targeting you and your family. No attacks or anything. Right now, honestly, I think we're all safer if we're here and they're there. As soon as word gets out that you're gone, and no one knows where you are but me, no one else will be a target."

"Don't you think ..." she asked as he turned her around to face him.

"Shh," he whispered as his lips met hers. "Let's not talk about this right now. Let's talk about our day." His lips came down to hers again in a soft, sweet kiss. His hand moved up to cup the back of her head as he deepened it. Her arms came around his shoulders to play with the hair at the back of his neck.

"We spent the day together, Ronald," she laughed as they broke apart. "Well, except for those few minutes there ..."

"I know but it's really something worth talking about," he replied with a cheeky grin.

"I never thought you would be this sappy about ..."

"... our wedding?" Ron asked with a mischievous grin.