After owling Susan Bones at her office and scheduling an appointment to meet with her, Ron and Hermione went home. As they flooed into the kitchen of their home. Immediately Hermione noticed a letter addressed to Ron lying on their kitchen table, Ron though seemed to take no notice and Hermione was slightly relieved. He looked very tired and she wasn't surprised to here him say, "I think I'm going to go on up to bed. I'm just really worn out."

"Ok, I'll be up soon. I just want to do up these few dishes." She was looking at him while she told him this, but she was thinking about the letter that lay on the table. After he left she went over and picked it up, it was from the ministry and she knew what it contained. Setting it back down on the table she picked up the few dishes there was and carried them to the sink. Reaching to turn the faucet on, it all hit her. All the emotions she had been holding in for the past few days came flooding out when she realized she was finally alone. All the anger, fear, and relief she had been bottling up came out by way of tears; her hands were gripping the edge of the sink holding her up. She didn't care about being strong now; she just wanted to let it all out. She let her hand slide over the faucet, turning it off and then slowly slid to the floor as her tears turned to sobs and her body started to shake.

She had been down there for twenty minutes and he was getting worried. Ever since he had escaped and made his way home Ron didn't want to let Hermione out of his sight for too long. He know that there was still a possibility this was all a dream, some horrible torture that Crusitux had conquered up to push Ron even further into insanity. He watched the minutes continue to pass and his anxiety grew. Be calm she is just downstairs, he repeated over and over to himself but finally he couldn't stand the wait any longer and made his way to the kitchen.

When he arrived at the foot of the stairs he heard a muffled sound coming from the kitchen. Confused at the noise he brought his wand up to the ready and cautiously made his way to the kitchen. Swinging open the door he was half ready to meet an intruder but the site that greeted him shocked him even more. His wife, his beautiful, strong wife sat on the floor leaning against the cupboards sobbing. Ron didn't know how long she had been like this but realized it must have been from the moment he went upstairs. Dropping his wand on the floor he moved deftly across the kitchen too her. She hadn't noticed his presence yet and he felt strange breaking in on her solitude.

In the fifteen years that Ron had known his wife he had never dealt well with her tears. He had tried and had come a long way but he didn't know what to do. Tentatively he squatted down beside her, reached out his hand and gingerly placed it on her shoulder.

"Mione." He whispered hoping that she would acknowledge him. She turned to face him and then threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest her tears increasing.

Stroking her hair, Ron searched for the words of comfort that Hermione needed to hear, but as always, he was at a loss. He slowly moved the rest of the way to the floor careful not to shake her to much, while he kept murmuring I love you over and over again.

For the first time, since he returned home Ron truly took in his wife's appearance. She had grown far too thin since he had left. He felt that if he held her to close that he would break every bone in her body. Her hair had lost some of its thickness and shine. He could not remember ever seeing Hermione look as fragile as she did in this moment.

He didn't know how much time had passed since he found her, but he didn't care. All he knew was his wife needed him. It was his turn to be strong for her. So he sat there, holding her, stroking her hair, murmuring loving words to her until she finally lifted her head. Tears were still streaming down her face, but her body had calmed itself and she was no longer shaking. "Hermione, love, what's this all about?"

"Nothing." she said through her tears her eyes telling him she was embarrassed that he found her like this, "It's really nothing."

"This, Hermione," Ron said as he wiped at her tears with his thumb, "is Far from nothing. The Hermione I know and love does not cry on the kitchen floor over nothing."

"It's really silly, Ron." she said as she pulled away from him and stood back up and started the dishes once more. "I saw that letter on the table there for you and thought it was the ministry wanting you back. I just,like I said,it was silly."

Ron gave her a look that clearly said, 'I don't believe you' and walked over to the table to look at the letter. As soon as he saw it he knew it was a ministry letter. At least now I know why she was so upset. Picking the letter up, he turned and leaned against the table. It wasn't a matter of opening the letter to see what was in it. It was a matter of when he wanted to read it.

He looked up and across the room at Hermione, her hands still in the dishwater. He knew she wasn't doing the dishes, her arms were motionless, her head was hung low, and he could still see her shoulders shaking a bit from the tears he knew were falling into the water. Watching her answered his unspoken question of when to open the letter, he sat it down beside him and walked over to wear she was standing. Wrapping his arms around her he kissed her neck lightly and slid his hands down her arms, lifting her hands out of the water. As he did all this he could feel her body tremble from the tears she was still shedding. He picked the towel up off the counter and dried her hands, "Come on 'Mione. It's been a long day. It's time to go to bed." he said as he guided her out of the room and slowly up the stairs, his arm never leaving her.

As he led her up the stairs and down the hall to their room, so much around him was new but this felt as familiar and right as anything had in the past two days. Reaching the bedroom he guided her in and closed the door behind him. Dropping his hand from her waist he quickly picked up her hand and led her over the bed where she sat down.

Ron knelt down in front of her, and rose up on both knees so he was eye level with her. Reaching up he smoothed her hair out of her face tucking the curls behind her ears. A few tears were still sliding down her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumb before reaching down to slip her shoes off, never breaking eye contact with her. Slowly he stood up; taking her hands in his he pulled her up off the bed to stand in front of him. Holding her eyes with his, he gently reached forward and started to unbutton her dress. Neither said a word as he continued button by button, his eyes told her all she needed to know this was his way of making love to her right now. He couldn't do more than this for her, but it was enough. She knew that this gesture was him showing her he was here and that was what mattered, he would protect her and stay by her side. The buttons undone he pushed the dress off her shoulders and guided her to step out of the circle of fabric around her feet.

She knew he was in control of this moment, so she stood there waiting. He reached across the bed and under her pillow pulling out her simple white gown. She felt the

goose bumps appear up and down her arms and she wasn't sure if it was from the cool spring breeze coming from the window or from having Ron so close to her. It had been years since she had felt this loved and desirable.

Ron lifted her arms with the slightest touch and he placed nightgown on her. Then pulled her against him; rubbing his hands along her arms warming her skin. "I miss the red one." He whispered into her ear and she shivered again, this time knowing the breeze was not the cause. "Come to bed, Janie." He continued, leading her to the bed with one hand and turning down the covers with the other.

Not wanting to break the moment they were sharing she slid into bed, tucking her feet under the covers as he gently laid her down. She watched as Ron walked back around the bed to his side and started to undo his jeans and take them off and then his shirt leaving him in only his undershirt and boxers. He started to pull his undershirt off, but stopped when he looked back up at Hermione. Dropping his hands he started to pull the covers back but stopped when he heard Hermione's voice, "No, Ron take it off. I'm ready to see them."

He looked into her eyes, asking with his if she was sure. When she nodded her head he pulled the shirt off closing his eyes when he heard her gasp. He knew what it was like seeing it for the first time; it was painful for him even the first time he looked at his chest in the mirror. He stood there not moving watching her take the scars in with her eyes, when she sat up in the bed he moved over to her. He pulled the covers back on his side and then joined her underneath. Turning towards her he watched her hand slowly come up and begin to trace the raised skin that now crisscrossed over his chest. He tried not to wince as her fingers moved over them; he didn't want her to see how badly they still hurt.

Hermione let her hand linger over each new scar; taking the time to memorize each new line that marred her husband's chest. As she explored him she couldn't help but remember what he had looked like before his capture. Her hand brushed over his right shoulder, this scar was smooth as if it were one of the first ones. There used to be freckles here, she thought sadly, he used to love it when I kissed this spot. It was this thought that brought the tears to her eyes again. She felt him take her hand and then wrap his arms around her and pull her into him, letting her cry.

"Let it go, Janie. Just let it go." Ron whispered in her ear. He soon felt her body begin to shake and her tears starting to run down his bare chest. The harder she cried the tighter he held her. He didn't know for sure how long she cried but he held her the whole time. He listened as her breathing slowed and her body began to relax. He let his hold loosen but he never let her go completely. Once he was sure she as a sleep, he let silent tears roll down his own cheeks.

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When Ron woke the next morning he was still holding Hermione close. He carefully eased his arms from around her and slid out of bed careful not to wake her. He could tell by the light coming in the window it was still early, but he wanted to read that letter before she woke up. He put on a dressing gown, and headed down for the kitchen.

The letter still lay on the table where he had left it the night before. He stood leaning over the table, his hands pressing into the hard wood as he stared down at the letter. Finally, after what seemed like an hour he picked the letter up and sat down. He knew what the contents of the letter were, he didn't want to read them. He could just send a letter back to ministry as his reply, what that letter said was not going to change his mind. He decided what he was going to do the previous night while he held his crying wife. He didn't hear Hermione come into the room while he sat contemplating what to do, it wasn't until he felt her hands sliding over his shoulders and down around his neck that he knew she was there. Sighing, he leaned back into her body, "Why did you get up? You should be sleeping still."

"I couldn't sleep after you left." she said. Her voice was soft and quiet.

"I'm sorry I scared you love. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to read this letter."

Resting her head on his shoulder she said, "Ron, you've been down here for twenty minutes. If you were going to read it before I came down you would have already."

He knew she was right, deep down he knew he wasn't going to read that letter until she was with him. Opening the envelope he pulled the letter out and let out a breath he didn't remember holding. He felt Hermione press her body closer to his as he opened the folded paper and together they read the words.

Mr. Weasley,

Please report to work by 10 am tomorrow. You will receive information on your next overnight mission at that time.

Department of Aurors.

As the words soaked in Hermione could feel Ron's body tensing under her. She waited for the explosion she knew was going to come. She was shocked when it didn't happen. As quickly as he had tensed up, she felt his body relax as he wadded the letter up and threw it across the room.

"Hermione, come on we need to get ready for that meeting with Susan."

"Ok, Ron. But what about the letter? They were meaning today."

"I know what they meant. And I'm not going back, not today, not tomorrow. I'm not going back." That said he left her standing in the kitchen staring after him.