Well, here's the next chapter, again, it's a bit different--I hope you guys like it.

Chapter 8: A Familiar Stranger

Two Years Later

Ron heard the tip-tap of heels against the tiles, leading up to the staff room. He was sitting behind his desk, reading over a file, parchment and clipboards scattered all over the desk. He chewed on the end of his quill and waited for the door to open.

"Hey, Ron," said a young woman as she poked her head into room, "You taking the holiday shift, tomorrow?"

"It's my name on the schedule, isn't it?" replied Ron, not looking up from the file.

"Well, yeah. Just making sure. Anyway, thanks."

"Excuse me?" asked Ron, looking up. Why was Kelly thanking him?

"Well, it's technically my turn to take the shift; you did do it last year," pointed Kelly.

"Right," mumbled Ron.

"Really, Ron, you need to get a life."

"Thanks for the advise," said Ron, sarcastically.

"No prob," smiled Kelly, happily. "Oh, there's a new patient, a Casey Jenson, in room 414 with your name on it and Kevin is eagerly waiting," said Kelly, tossing a chart onto his desk, a smirk tugging on her face. "See you Thursday."

Ron groaned as she closed the door behind her. Kevin was a first-year Healer trainee who wouldn't leave him alone. Sighing, he picked up the new chart and scanned it over. He grabbed his wand and exited the staff room.

An hour later, Ron stepped out of room 414, exhausted.

"Wasn't that ever so exciting?" exclaimed Kevin. "I've never dealt with such complex spell damage before!"

"I sure Ms. Jenson doesn't share in your excitement," mumbled Ron, walking into his unit's Healers' locker room. He opened his locker and pulled out a set of muggle clothing.

"Oh well, you've probably worked with much worse during the War," continued Kevin, excitedly.

Ron, his back to Kevin, shut his eyes. 'Please just leave,' thought Ron, desperately.

"I could barely believe it when I found out that you were the second-year trainee that I was to shadow. Mum was speechless—to think, I get to shadow Ron Weasley—the one who was in charge of Hogwarts during the War.

He could feel his temper flaring. "Kevin—"

"Everyone knows that you probably out beat many of the veteran Healers, what with all that intense experience during the War. You already have Healer-in-charge experience and you're not even a licensed Healer yet!"

Ron slammed his locker shut. "Damnit Kevin, stop talking and write the bloody patient report—it's not going to write itself."

"Oh, right. I'll be seeing you soon then," said Kevin, unfazed by Ron's outburst. He waved as he left the room.

Having changed into a t-shirt and a pair of trousers, he headed for the elevator. 'St. Mungo's Hospital, 4th Floor, Spell Damage,' was written in elegant lettering facing the elevator.

The elevator doors opened and Ron stepped in.

"Hold the elevator," called a man.

Ron held the elevator open and was soon joined by Healer-in-Charge Bryan Dever.

"What floor?" asked Ron, after pushing the ground floor button.

"3rd, please," said Dever. "So, just a few more weeks until you get your Healer's license?"

"Got to pass the exam first," answered Ron, dully.

"I've been helping with the marking. We haven't reached the 'W's yet but I know you'll do well."

Ron shrugged his shoulders.

"How's that thesis coming along? Healer Becker believes that you're on the verge of discovering a successful reversal spell."

"Well, it's ok. I haven't tested it. It's just in the theory stage." Ron frowned. He knew there were too many glitches. 'Hermione was so much better at the research and theory stuff,' thought Ron. He closed his eyes. 'Stop thinking about her!'

"Ah, when you're ready, we have the perfect test subject for you in Gilderoy Lockhart," said the older man, chuckling. "As the story goes, it was your wand that landed him here in the first place."

"Serves him right—it was Lockhart who tired to erase our memories. He didn't even give a damn that my sister was in danger."

Dever chuckled again. "Speaking of Ginny, she wants you out of here by seven."

"When did she become my boss? I have lots of work, won't be leaving until ten."

"Ginny may not be your boss, but I am."

Ron groaned.

"Anyway, Ginny said something about not wanting dinner to go cold waiting on you.

"Alright."

The elevator came to a halt. Through the elevator opening, Ron could see the wide hallway, leading into different wards. In the centre was two large door and above it, in the same lettering were the words, 'St. Mungo's Hospital, 3rd floor, Potion and Plant Poisoning,' and in smaller letters under that it said, 'In memory of Hermione Granger.'

Ron looked away quickly and closed his eyes.

Dever sighed. "Have a good day, Ron," said Dever, somewhat sympathetically, as he left.

"You too," mumbled Ron as he pressed the first floor button again, absently.

As of tomorrow, it would be two years since Hermione's death. Ginny had said time could heal anything, but it couldn't because Ron still felt the wound in his heart. He still felt the pain of losing Hermione as if she had died just yesterday.

He stepped out of the elevator on the Ground floor. The lobby was crowded with family members lined up at the front desk.

Standing, her back to Ron, was a woman in deep blue robes with bushy brown hair. Ron's heart began to race. "Hermione," whispered Ron, approaching the woman, who was animatedly talking to a man.

"Tara!" came a voice from behind Ron.

Just as he was about to say something to the brown-haired woman, she turned around and looked passed Ron and waved happily as the woman who had called out her name ran up to her and hugged her.

It wasn't Hermione. Ron shook his head. He had to stop this insanity. Of course, that couldn't be Hermione.

"Ron," said Ginny, stalking over to him.

"Hi, Ginny," greeted Ron, in his accustomed pretence happy voice. Everyone saw through the pretence, everyone that is except for his patients and their families. They were too worried about their own problems to notice. That worked for Ron, he could do his job properly that way.

"Why is your name on tomorrow's schedule?" demanded Ginny, her hands on her hips, frighteningly like their mother.

"It's my turn to take the shift," mumbled Ron.

"Ronald Weasley, don't you lie to me! You took it last year. I am quite sure that you don't have to take it this year."

Ron bit his lower lip. "I want to be busy tomorrow."

"Busy! Mom could put you to lots of work for tomorrow's dinner."

"I'm not coming to dinner tomorrow," muttered Ron, his voice barely audible.

"Not coming! Ron, you didn't come last year, at least show up this year."

"Ginny, just leave me alone, ok. I don't want to celebrate anything tomorrow…I can't…not on the day she…"

"How about respecting those who died in battle," said Ginny, narrowing her eyes. She was tired of Ron's attitude, it had been two years and she had expected some improvement.

"Doesn't seem like respect to me…eating and laughing and acting like no one is missing."

"You didn't even come last year, so you don't know what we did. It's the day the War end, Ron, people are going to celebrate but we haven't forgotten those who sacrificed their lives."

"Well I don't want too," hissed Ron, through clenched teeth.

"Mum said when Voldemort fell the first time, people were ecstatic even though Harry was orphaned that day. They died on Halloween…does Harry stop celebrating Halloween? No, he doesn't."

"Damnit Ginny, just leave me the bloody hell alone!"

Ginny sighed. His persistence celibacy and anything thus related and his withdrawal from life sure didn't quell his temper. Ginny decided to change the topic. "You are still coming to our place tonight for dinner, right? I told Dever too make you leave early," said Ginny.

"So I've been told. Yes, I'm coming. Anyway, I'm on my lunch break, just going to grab something to eat."

Ginny gave him a worried look but nodded and left, heading for the third floor. She had graduated from Hogwarts last year and had decided to pursue a career in healing, like her brother. Ginny was a first-year Healer trainee and Ron was a second-year Healer trainee, soon to by fully qualified Healer.

Ron knew why they were both here—as much as he wanted to forget the war, it seemed to be the force behind everything he did—his exclusion from life, his career.

The months spent dealing with the ill and healing the wounded left no other reasonable choice than healing as a career.

He had always wanted to be an Auror but after the War, he felt more comfortable at the healing end of the battle—the only thing he was really good at.

After all, they had all the experience ever needed—both Ron and Ginny were naturals at healing by the time they were accepted to the St. Mungo's Healing School.

Everyone knew what the two youngest Weasleys had done in that summer—handling more ill and wounded patients all at one time than most qualified Healers had and succeeding without any prior experience.

Applying to the school was just a formality—St. Mungo's wanted them on their payroll.

Ron tucked his wand away and entered muggle London, the sun blazing in the sky. He slowly walked down the street, heading for his usual eating spot. He spent a great deal of time in muggle London, in an attempt to avoid the wizardry world, who all knew his name and face.

He pushed open the door of the Pepper Diner, causing the little bell at the top of the doorway to ring.

A middle-aged woman looked up at him as he entered the quaint eatery and smiled.

"Hello, Ron," greeted the woman.

"Hi, Karen. How are you?" asked Ron.

"Wonderful and you?

"Fine."

Karen shook her head, not believing him for a moment. She had known him for about two months now, since the first time he ventured into her diner and not once did he have a genuine smile on his haunted face.

"The usual?" asked Karen, cheerfully.

"Yes, please."

Ron sat in a booth by the window and gazed out the window. Soon, Karen arrived with a steaming hot and hearty soup and a freshly baked bun.

Ron noticed that Karen was practically glowing. "Something special happening?" asked Ron, politely.

"Oh yes. Paige is coming home today; school starts in a week," explained Karen.

"That's great," smiled Ron. Ron vaguely remembered Karen mentioning Paige, who he assumed was her daughter.

"Yeah, she and her friends toured Europe this summer. See, this September will be her last year of high school and her friends convinced her to have some fun before tackling the final year, you know, with A-levels and all.

Ron nodded, thinking that the A-levels must be something like the NEWTS.

xxxx

Ginny sat at the table, writing, piles of parchments stacked around her. She was in her pale yellow living room plowing through tons of paper work. Through the window of the flat, the brightly lit streets of London could be seen.

Pop.

She lifted her head and smiled as Harry appeared in the room. He pulled off his Auror robe and hung it over a chair.

"You're home early," said Harry, coming over to her and kissing her.

"I have lots of paper work to do, so I might as well do it at home. I seem it never ends," complained Ginny.

"Yeah, Ron had a lot in his first year of training. It will get better," assured Harry as he ventured into the kitchen and pulled out a parcel of chicken from the freezer.

Ginny followed him into the kitchen and smiled at him, lovingly. She walked over to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and looked up at his face. "So, you're going to make dinner, tonight?"

"We all know who the better cook around here is," teased Harry.

"Harry Potter," said Ginny, punching him, playfully, "I'll have you know, I can make a mean chocolate soufflé."

"Well then, it's settled; I'll make dinner and you make dessert," said Harry before kissing her.

Ginny placed her hand in his and his fingers played with the diamond ring on her finger. She smiled, looking adoringly at the ring.

"Admiring your ring," smiled Harry, his eyes lingering on her freckled face.

"No, I'm admiring the promise it holds; the promise of a wonderful life, with the most wonderful man for eternity," whispered Ginny into his ear.

"And who is this wonderful man?" asked Harry, playfully.

"Hmm, I'm not sure, certainly not in this room," laughed Ginny.

"Oh, really? We'll see about that." said Harry as he wrapped her into his arms and began to kiss her, passionately.

"Nah ah," said Ginny, wagging her finger, "If we go down that road right now we'll never make dinner."

Harry pouted, jokingly.

"Anyway, while we cook, we can decide on a date for the wedding," said Ginny as she walked to the cupboard.

"I say winter," said Harry, beginning to cut the chicken.

"A snowy wedding," said Ginny, dreamily.

"It rarely snows in England," laughed Harry.

"Harry, sometimes you forget that you're a wizard," joked Ginny.

"Ah, the influence of the Dursleys."

"Talking about the Dursleys, we should invite them."

"Are you crazy? I would never invite them and they would never come," said Harry as he put the chicken to bake and started making a salad.

"Alright, then, forget about them. Wow, we have a lot of planning to do. Guest list, wedding party, food, flowers, hall, clothes…"

"Whoa, slow down, first let's pick a date."

"Right," laughed Ginny, "One step at a time."

They had finished cooking dinner and were setting the table for three when they heard the doorbell.

"Must be Ron," said Ginny, heading for the door.

"He's early. This must be the shortest shift he's ever had," said Harry.

"I told Dever to make him leave by seven," explained Ginny, opening the door.

"Hi, Ginny," said Ron, handing her a bottle of wine.

"Hello, mate," greeted Harry.

"Hey, Harry," said Ron.

'A smile would be nice,' thought Ginny, sighing. "Come on, let's eat," she said.

They walked into the kitchen where the table was nicely set. Ron knew the 2-bedroom flat well. Ron and Harry had lived here while Ginny was at Hogwarts. When Ginny moved in, Ron moved out; he didn't want to invade on their privacy. He had gotten himself a small bachelor flat, not too far from the hospital.

xxxx

It was about seven at night the next day. Ron had just worked a long, tiring night shift from three in the morning the previous day to today at six-thirty in the evening. Ron was walking through a neighbourhood, deep in thought. He had become accustomed to wandering through the streets of suburban London after work for some fresh air.

Right now, his family was probably having dessert. He would have loved to have dinner with them, but he couldn't, not on this day, not on the day Hermione died.

As he walked through the quiet neighbourhood, he smelt something funny. It smelt like smoke! Ron ran ahead, as bright red flames came into view.

He came up to a house, fire blazing in through the upstairs window.

"Help!"

Ron could see a little hand on the windowsill. A few people were coming out of their houses.

"Oh my God," cried a lady from the opposite house. "I'll call 911!"

"HELP!" came the voice again.

Ron couldn't just wait for someone in some muggle contraption to come. It might be too late by then.

He ran into the house and up the stairs and pulled out his wand. The smoke was seeping out of the bedroom door. The doorknob was turning hot red.

Ron mumbled a spell and the knob cooled down. He could hear coughing from inside.

He pulled the door open to see flames of fire blocking the doorway. A little girl was trying to pull herself up to the window, crying and coughing. Flames were everywhere except around the girl—almost as if she had magically erected an invisible barrier around her.

"Close your eyes, sweetheart," gasped Ron.

The girl looked at him startled. She curled up into a little ball, her head buried between her knees and chest.

Ron pointed his wand at the flames and the fire moved aside, creating an entrance into the room. The flames licked the ceiling, threatening to make it collapse.

Ron ran into the room, scooped the girl into his arms, and ran out. The fire closed as he left and the ceiling began to cave in.

As he ran down the stairs, the girl clung to his neck, her tears falling onto his shirt.

He could hear sirens as he reached the main entrance.

"My baby!" cried a woman, running up to Ron as he came out of the ruined house.

"Mommy!" The woman took the child into her arms and hugged her tightly.

"Jewels, where's your brother!" asked the woman, frantically looking at the collapsing house.

"He went to Bobby's place."

Ron could see the woman's face turn from worry to anger. "He left you alone!"

"Only for a little while, mommy, he said he'd be back soon."

"That boy is impossible," yelled the woman, making the girl jump in her arms.

The little girl looked at Ron and smiled through her tear-streaked face, "He saved me, mummy."

"Yes, indeed he did. Thank you so much," began the woman, "I don't know how to thank you."

"Jo, God, Jo! What an earth happened?"

Ron looked in the direction of the voice and an expression of surprise crossed his face. "Karen?"

Karen ran up as the crowd began to disperse and firefighters put out the fire.

"Jo! Are you ok?"

"We're fine, Karen," said Jo, the panic still lingering in her voice.

"Ron? What an earth are you doing here?" asked Karen, surprised.

"I was just going for a walk and…"

"He saved Jewels," said Jo.

"No point staying out here. Come to my place, all of you," said Karen, in a motherly voice.

Ron began to protest but found himself being dragged away after they briefly talked to the firefighters.

As it turned out, Karen was Jo's neighbour. Ron sat quietly in the living room, sipping hot chocolate mulling over the coincidence. Jewels, who was five years old was sitting on his lap, animatedly talking to Ron.

He had told them how he had gotten Jewels out of the house, leaving out any mention of magic and Karen was now explaining to Jo how they knew each other.

Just then, they heard the door open. "I'm home," came a worried voice that made Ron's heart skip a beat. That voice…

Karen's face lit up and she walked towards the entrance.

Jewels jumped out of Ron's lap. "Paige is here," she said, excitedly.

Paige came into the room and went down on her knees, and hugged Jewels, burying her face in the little girl's hair. "I saw your house, I thought…" began Paige.

Ron looked at her and his hands began to tremble. He set the mug of hot chocolate down, not wanting to spill anything.

Karen looked at Ron, inquisitively. "What's wrong, Ron."

Paige looked up at him and their eyes locked. She was dressed in a knee-length beige skirt and a pale pink halter-top. Her heeled sandals gave her extra height and her glossy auburn hair fell in big loose curls until mid-back, covering her bare back. Her intense green eyes gazed into Ron's, as if bewitched.

She looked nothing like Hermione and yet, she looked so much like her. 'That's impossible,' thought Ron. He closed his eyes and then opened them again. She was still there, she wasn't a dream.

"Hermione?" whispered Ron, his voice so hoarse and low, it was barely audible.

xxxxxxxx

Well, that's that. As the title of this fic is Destined, you will see a lot of things fall into place, seeming like coincidence but actually, it's referring to destiny. I don't know if I personally believe in destiny but this is fandom, so I shall have some fun with it, lol.

Next chapter up soon. Please review... criticism is welcome; I love a chance to improve.

Review Replies

dancerrdw: Yeah, it was hard to write all that angst, though I love it, lol. Thanks so much! Weasleygirl-ca

legolascrazy17: Aww, thanks so much for the wonderful comments…more reviews would be nice but I love the reviewers I have. I guess it depends on what people like…but thank you so much for commenting on my writing style and characterization. I fear Ron is a bit off in this chapter but it's due to his current situation…his temper is still flaring, though:D. Again, thanks! Weasleygirl-ca

goblin monkey: The angst was hard to write. But I'm a sucker for angst :D. Thanks so much! Weasleygirl-ca

ronsREALgirl: Uh...I do mean Ron Weasley as he's my favourite character. Anyway, whatever floats your boat. (Ron)Weasleygirl-ca

SAKBL: It's good to know that it's not TOO angsty. Never read much L/J, I should try some of it…but then again, I don't much like James. Thanks for the review! Weasleygirl-ca

Magnolia Lane: I love angst too! And I love the sister/brother relationship between Ginny and Ron…Ron sobbing in Ginny's arms was my favourite part. Thanks so much! Weasleygirl-ca

Fallen Angel of The Skies: Ah, the final breakdown was hard to write. I love angst too much, lol. Thanks so much for the review! Weasleygirl-ca

AmyChris: I know, I can't imagine what it truly must be like. I'm a sucker for angst and emotion…though it was a challenging chapter to write. Thanks so much for all your lovely comments! Weasleygirl-ca