Chapter 43

Disclaimer: I think, therefore I am NOT JKR.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. I regret to inform you that this will probably be the last chapter I post until after my spring break, which is next week. Sorry! I will try to post the second chapter of Nymphadora Tonks and the Seven Deadly Sins before I go, and perhaps another chapter of The Power of the No.

This chapter is dedicated to Alex Boyd, who wanted to know more about the Death Eater fight. : D

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"Oh, Ron! I love it! Of course I'll marry you! Of course, I'd love to shag you right now in celebration of our engagement if you don't mind."

Ron showed his appreciation of this with a passionate kiss. He worked his hands under her shirt, trying to force it over her head.

"Ron…"

"Hermione..."

"RON!" Why was she yelling? "RON WEASLEY WAKE UP THIS INSTANT!"

Ron woke up from the best dream he'd had in ages. He should have known it was a dream—when did Hermione actually use the term "shag?"

"Five more minutes," he grumbled, burying his head under the pillow.

Hermione shook him. "Ron! Honestly, you have to report to work."

"Hmfofray" he replied.

"What?"

"I'm off today!" he cried, coming out from under the pillow and staring at Hermione. "Let me sleep."

"Some things never change," Hermione muttered. "You were off work today. You got an owl about five minutes ago telling you to report to work. The Auror Department wants the details of the Death Eater attack."

"It can wait," Ron replied, flopping back down on the bed.

Hermione pulled the covers off him. "No it can't. Now get to it!"

Ron reluctantly got out of bed. "Geez, Hermione, you're not my mum."

"Well, somebody has to make sure you get up. You think you would learn by now."

Ron walked to the loo. "Do I have time to take a shower, Mum?"

She vaulted a pillow at his head. "I suppose."

"Do you care to join me?"

"Ron…"

He smiled. Her defenses were weak. "Just about fifteen minutes?"

"Well, the girls…"

"Are probably still in bed, as any normal person would be."

"But your work…"

"They'll understand."

"You can't tell them!" Hermione looked horrified at the prospect.

"Of course not. I helped you get the girls ready of course."

"You devious little liar." Her grin belied her words.

"You know you like it. Now come on. Then I'll help you get the girls ready."

"Thoroughly domesticated Ron? What's sexier?"

"Why don't we try out wet and covered with soap?"

And so they did.

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Thirty minutes later, Ron finally appeared at the Auror Headquarters at the Ministry of Magic.

"Come when you can, Ron," Kingsley Shacklebolt teased.

"Hey, you try getting two two-year-olds up and ready."

Kingsley laughed. "Point taken. Come on, they're waiting for you."

He led Ron into a conference room. Harry Potter, Mad-Eye Moody, Gareth Roberts, and five other Aurors were sitting around the table.

"Ron, there you are!" Harry cried.

"What's this about?" Ron asked Roberts, the Head of the Aurors. "I thought I was off today."

Roberts sighed. "We need to know what happened after Hermione Granger and your brother Fred Disapparated, Ron. We have their testimony and that of the Aurors that came to help you," he motioned to the other three Aurors in the room, "but we need yours."

Ron sighed and sat down beside Kingsley. "Okay, what do you need to know?"

Harry sighed. "How many did you yourself kill?"

Ron frowned. "Just one. Hermione had managed to restrain one, and I had stunned one and knocked out another. I knew we needed all of them, if possible, for questioning. But one wouldn't relent. He was quick with the Shield Charm. I was getting tired, so I killed him."

"How did he make you angry enough?" Kingsley questioned.

"He threatened Hermione and the girls. And Ginny. They're my family. I can't allow anyone to touch them."

Roberts nodded. "I see. Do we need to put you behind a desk, Weasley? We can't have you too emotional?"

Ron looked stunned. "Desk job? That's for the Aurors recovering from injuries, not me. Sir, I promise I am quite capable of doing my job?"

"When were you last psychologically examined at St. Mungo's?"

"Just a few days ago. I passed with flying colors," Ron replied, his voice beginning to rise.

"How is Hermione?" one of the other Aurors asked, wisely deciding the subject needed to be changed.

"Fine."

"Are you going to make an honest woman out of her?" another joked.

Ron shot him a glare. "I fail to see how that is any of your business." He turned to Roberts. "What else do you want to know?"

"How you're still alive."

"Luck, sir. Luck and a whole lot of determination."

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A/N: There it is. I hope you enjoyed. Sorry for teasing you at the beginning—I threw that in for my beta jwoods471—I knew she'd get a laugh from it, and indeed, she did. I hope you understand the attack a little better now. Only two more chapters!

Please review!