"I don't know why she wanted to come in person, she just did," Molly whispered, choosing the seat closest to where the tea canister had been set up on the table and starting to fill cups with hot water.

Behind her, Arthur was escorting Muriel through the conference room door and Ron tried to keep his annoyance from making an appearance on his face; his mother had asked them all to be on best behaviour. Since the sale of the Spider, discussions surrounding Ottery finances had been taut with unsaid things and now was not going to be the time to say them.

Just before their parents had arrived, Ginny disclosed that Molly had been to see Muriel the week before and asked her to loan them the money to secure the castle's future. Even their parents had come to the realisation that moving on without Muriel's help was unrealistic and most probably impossible.

"I didn't tell her to, if that's what you're thinking," Ginny said, seeing Ron's face flare with anger. "They keep a closer eye on the figures than you think. They had the reports weeks ago from Bill. It was on the cards."

The red mist cleared a little and Ron reminded himself- hard- that everyone had a common goal here. They all operated from a place of wanting to keep their family home.

"Anyway," Ginny continued as they set out the accoutrements for making tea, "Mum said she got the impression from Muriel that it would be a yes but she wanted us all to meet first. To discuss terms."

Ron decided not to tell Ginny how much he disliked that seemingly innocent phrase, though he wasn't yet sure why.

"Yes, yes, thank you Arthur," Muriel muttered now, fussily arranging herself in her chair.

"Will you take tea Muriel?" Molly offered.

Muriel eyed the cardboard cups with disdain. "I won't, thank you Molly. Shall we get on?"

"I'll dial in Bill and Charlie," Ginny said, reaching for the phone, but Muriel raised a hand.

"That won't be necessary Ginevra. I don't require Charlie or William. Everyone who is needed, is here."

'This is just getting weirder and weirder,' Ron thought as he dropped into a chair. He sorely wished Harry hadn't needed to dash off to a meeting at the last minute. He didn't like the tone of whatever this was and Harry was the best back-up anyone could hope to have in perilous situations.

George had slid into place next to Percy, with Fred taking a chair next to his father. Once everyone was seated, they looked towards Muriel, who seemed to enjoy the undivided attention and basked in it for a moment, her lined face regarding them archly.

After a small, and in Ron's opinion superior, pause, Muriel spoke.

"I have decided to go to New York. The social season will be starting there soon and I have many acquaintances there I would like to visit."

The Weasleys remained silent.

"It might be the last time I get to see America; I don't expect to be able to withstand the travel much longer. So, while I still have all my faculties, I'd like to go. I'll be away for six months."

She stopped again and stared at them and Molly jumped in. "Well, that's wonderful Muriel. Good for you."

Muriel's mouth twitched impatiently. "Of course, while I'm mentally as sharp as I ever was, I'm slower and less able. The mind is willing but the body… can't keep up. I will be needing someone with me."

Ron could hear something ticking in the back of his mind. A warning. Something was about to happen here he wasn't going to like.

"I'm going to make you the best offer any of you are ever likely to get. If the four boys- Percy, Fred, George and Ronald- agree to go with me to America, I will provide you with the money necessary to keep Ottery afloat."

Eyes flicked around the table as everyone tried to understand what this meant.

Eventually Molly said, "I'm sorry Muriel, I don't understand. You want our boys to go away with you? Why?"

Muriel frowned. "Think of it as a last ditch attempt to save you from the gutter Molly, dear."

Beside him, Ron felt Arthur bristle.

"We aren't in the gutter Muriel," Arthur said reasonably.

"No, but you soon will be. Molly was scant on the details but I can read between the lines well enough. Think of it as earning a wage. I can't make the trip on my own, I'm just not able."

On noting Fred's slightly appalled face she added, "Calm down Fred. I don't need you to wipe the drool from my chin, I'm not completely infirm. But I do need someone to help me travel, move luggage, hire taxis and make reservations, that sort of thing. Very straight forward and painless. It's practically a paid holiday."

"You could hire someone to do all of those things. Why our boys?" Arthur asked in a softly suspicious tone.

The old woman's head snapped towards him, her mouth thin and mean, and Ron ground his teeth.

"Call it a business transaction, Arthur. Your family needs this money and I need accompaniment. It's very simple."

"Sorry Muriel," Ron said finally, unable to hold back any longer, "But it isn't simple. Ottery is a business and we all work for that business in some way or another. While it's a lovely offer"- strongly, sarcastic inflection on 'lovely'- "it isn't possible. We rarely take weekends off. Six months is ridiculous."

Muriel was unperturbed. "You aren't irreplaceable Ronald. I will be providing more than adequate compensation and you can hire staff in your absence. And you won't just be lounging around being useless and idle for half a year. There will be other… opportunities."

The last word was tinged with something unpleasant and everyone at the table felt it.

"Why us?" George said, twiddling a pen between his fingers. "The four of us I mean. D'you just like us the best or…"

For the first time, Muriel smiled and it did nothing to warm her face.

"In return for your wage and as well as aiding me in practical ways, you will participate in the social season, George. We'll be based in New York but we'll travel extensively, as much as I am able, to attend a few of the better events. While there, there will be opportunities to meet people and make connections. It would be impractical, not to mention ineffectual, to invite those of you who would be unable to take advantage of those connections."

George and Fred made eye contact. "Business connections you mean?"

"There will be the chance to network with some very affluent and influential people so yes, business connections are very possible."

Suddenly, something presented itself to Ron very clearly.

"Is this about women? Are you trying to take us away to find us wives?"

Muriel winced delicately. "You are tiresome Ronald but as you seem to want to be crude, I will be plain. There are many eligible women amongst my circle and yes, you will have the chance to meet and engage with them."

"Match-making?" This from Percy, who sounded horrified.

"Muriel," Molly began, equally troubled, "You aren't serious?"

Muriel whipped to face her great-niece, spritely given her age. "I warned you Molly. Over the years. I told you to prioritise the needs of the castle."

"But that doesn't mean marrying money…"

"It's precisely what it means," Muriel answered coldly. "As you have proved to be completely incapable of keeping the business above water, you have painted yourselves into a corner." When no-one spoke, she carried on. "Making a good match has kept ancestral homes alive for hundreds of years; people recognised back then that it wasn't prudent to be sentimental. There are more important things."

"This is bullshit," Ron said abruptly with Percy adding, "Agreed," and surprising everyone.

"Language, Ronald."

"Sorry Muriel, there's no-one at this table who is going to agree to some arranged marriage. It's just a big, fat no."

Muriel sighed. "Your reaction is to be expected because, as usual, you are looking at this from the wrong perspective…"

"There is no perspective where this is going to happen."

"Don't interrupt Ronald. It's rude."

Ron could feel his pulse in his temple. "And this isn't? Insulting our family and then telling us the only way you'll help us is if we agree to be dangled in front of a bunch of desperate, rich girls like bait? We don't want your help, thanks Muriel."

"But you need it," Muriel snapped, "Don't you? Without it you'll lose the castle."

"I don't care!" Ron slammed his fist onto the table, unsure if he was angrier at Muriel or himself, for allowing her to rile him up. Molly put her hand on top of his in an effort to calm him down.

Everyone at the table knew Ron, of all people, didn't mean what he said but nobody moved to correct his statement.

"We don't believe in arranged marriages in this family." Arthur sounded so quietly dignified that Ron's heart ached. "I appreciate that you feel that this is a generous offer, Muriel, and I am grateful that you care about the castle. I know your heart is in the right place."

Ron clenched his fist under Molly's hand and felt her press down on it hard.

"But it's completely out of the question. Our children have always been taught that the only way to marry is for love. Nothing else would be acceptable to us. Even if all four boys agreed right now to do it, we wouldn't let them. All of our children deserve happiness and that is what is most important. Ottery Castle isn't even worth that."

Molly exhaled contentedly, as though all of her own feelings on the matter had been adequately expressed by what her husband had just said.

Muriel glowered at each of the Weasleys in turn before speaking again.

"I knew, of course, that by coming here and saying my piece, I would likely engender this reaction. I had hoped for better or at least a more considered response. I had expected, at least, that you would hear me out completely before deciding on the appropriate action."

"What could you possibly have to say that would change our minds?"

Ron knew Percy was trying very hard at keeping the anger out of his voice; his lip had curled the way it always did when he was annoyed.

Muriel straightened, as though preparing for one final, devastating move.

"Simply this. It is not my intention to arrange marriages for any of you, if the opportunity does not present itself. This arrangement will be one of courtesy. As my only living family, I will pay you the courtesy of providing you with what you need."

She stiffly reached for her handbag and produced a plastic folder from its depths.

"Carl has laid out the proposed terms here. Every month, for six months, money will be paid into the bank account of your choice. We don't need to discuss the exact amount, it's all within. I presume you will want to review this Ginevra."

She slid the folder across the table to Ginny who placed a hand on top of it but did not move to open it.

"In return, you will pay me the courtesy of enabling me to make this trip and attending events with me and at my behest. You will be polite and engaging and do yourselves proud. There are all kinds of advantages you can gain from this trip and not just individually. The whole family will benefit. You will generate connections that will stand you in good stead for years to come, long after I am gone."

She cleared her throat.

"I won't pretend that I'm not of the opinion that you could, all of you, potentially meet someone who would make a very good match in marriage while there, or that it is not my hope. I know you are not of this persuasion but my beliefs do not require you to think as I do. All I ask is that you meet and engage with the people I deem suitable, personally as well as professionally. I won't ask you to court them privately. I would request, however, that you are open to the possibility of meeting someone. Someone you could grow to love. This shouldn't be so difficult. I believe the last time we spoke, Molly advised me you were all still bachelors."

Hermione's face bloomed in Ron's mind for the first time. He had been so preoccupied with Muriel's insanity, he hadn't even considered her in all this.

As if hearing his thoughts, Muriel added, "I should say. It's all of you or none of you. We don't have time to fool around deciding who stays and who goes and it is my wish that all of you are present. There will be a lot to do and I will need all four of you at my disposal. The schedule is quite congested."

Muriel stood now and grimaced at some unseen pain. "I'm going now to take a turn about the garden. I would advise you use the time in my absence to discuss this proposal. Truly I cannot see how there can be any opposition, once you have read the terms. You are, quite frankly, out of other options."

Her chair slid back noisily and she lumbered rigidly to the French doors that led out to the courtyard. The door clicked shut behind her.

"Do I need to open this or…?" Ginny tapped the folder in front of her.

"No," Ron said immediately, "I don't think you do."

"I think we should see what's she's offering," Percy said reasonably.

"Open it Gin," George nodded.

The Weasleys waited in silence while Ginny perused the finer details of the document but really, there wasn't a lot to take in.

She blew out a breath. "It's a ridiculous amount of money."

Wordlessly, she slid the folder to George on her left who eyed it before cursing. It passed around the table, each member of the family reacting in a similarly effusive manner.

By the time it reached Ron he already knew that whatever it said was going to create a problem but even he wasn't prepared for what he read.

"What the bloody hell is she thinking?" he exclaimed. "Is this serious?"

Ginny took the folder from him and looked at it again. "It looks genuine. And it's binding. She's had Carl tie her up pretty tight. I mean, there isn't a lot in here that is actually required of you guys other than being there and helping out. Muriel's the one who's held accountable mostly. She has to pay you if you are there, physically with her, each month."

Ron swallowed. This sort of situation would be viewed by some as the perfect, fairy tale solution to a seemingly impossible problem but it didn't feel like a fairy tale. It felt like being backed into a corner and being offered your only lifeline by something with fangs.

"For the record," Ginny continued, somewhat reluctantly, "There is nothing in here about marriage or personal relationships. There's no requirement for anything like that, from what I can see."

"But that's what she wants isn't it?" Ron looked round at his family. "She wants us to marry posh rich girls. Then she'll finally get her way. All these years she's been threatening us and now she finally wins."

"Or we win, mate," George replied, splaying his hands on the table. "We go with her and when we come back in six months, it's all over and we have all that dosh."

"It can't be that simple…"

"Ginny thinks it is."

"Keep me out of it," Ginny stated firmly, taking a sip from her now freezing tea. "I can only tell you what I see here. Of course I'll go over it with a fine toothed comb but I can't help you make a decision like this. Neither can Mum or Dad. It has to be the four of you."

"I say we go." George looked at Fred who nodded.

"Perce?"

Percy was frowning. "There's other things to consider, here. What about our jobs?"

"Exactly," Ron cut in.

"We can easily cover new starts with that package," Fred replied, "And me and George can manage the company from anywhere."

"But I can't work from America," Percy insisted. "I would need to take unpaid leave."

Fred raised an eyebrow. "And could you? Take unpaid leave?"

Percy paused for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes, most likely. It probably won't do my career much good but I'm starting to think Muriel is right. We haven't got many more cards left to play. In fact, I think this is all we have."

Ron could feel every face turn to him and, behind him, the French door opened.

OOO

Hermione's stomach bubbled with excitement as she made her way up the back stairs towards the apartments. Since Ron's text earlier asking that she come straight up after work, she had been on a happy high. The whole Weasley family had disappeared after their meeting with Muriel so she hadn't yet had the chance to ask Ron how it had gone.

Despite her brusque manner, Hermione believed that Muriel loved Ottery and wanted to protect it and the right thing to do would be to lend the Weasleys the money to get them back on their feet. Hermione took it as a good sign that Muriel had come to Ottery to discuss the terms.

When she pushed open the door of Ron's bedroom, she found him lying on the bed. His jumper had ridden up, exposing a strip of pale stomach. She stepped closer to the bed and reached out to run her finger over it when Ron sat up and the expression on his face stopped her.

It was odd, a mix of anger and a strange bereftness.

"What is it?" When he didn't reply she pressed him. "You have to tell me."

When he eventually answered, his voice was gruff and it pierced her heart, though she couldn't understand why.

"If I told you there was a way we could save the castle; would you think we should do it?"

"You and me?"

He shook his head faintly. "Me…and my brothers. George, Percy and Fred."

Hermione frowned.

"The four of you? Doing what?"

Ron laughed but it was mirthless. "I don't think you'll believe me if I tell you."

She tried to smile, if only to inject some warmth into the conversation.

"You say a lot of unbelievable things Ron Weasley. I'm used to it by now."

He lifted her hand and placed it squarely between his. Squeezing it, he replied, "Muriel wants us to go to New York with her. She's going to pay us to go with her."

"Why?"

Ron scrunched his nose. "Look, if I tell you why, you have to promise you won't read anything into it."

Hermione felt her heartbeat flutter. "Just tell me."

"She wants us to socialise with her, to go to events, to meet people. Meet women."

"Women?"

Several memories came back to her in quick succession. Sylvain's seemingly baseless accusations of the difficulty of marrying into the Weasley family. Her conversation with Ron that day at the flower farm; how he'd described Muriel's obsession that someone in the family should marry well. Muriel's stark warning at the Noth Foundation ball about the consequences of underestimating her.

"Match-making you mean?" she demanded as Ron winced. "What sort of antiquated rubbish is that? I mean, it's one thing to talk about it, but it's quite another to actually engage in it!""

"I know," Ron said soothingly, as though some of his anger had dissipated in the arousal of hers, "That's what I said. Madness. And if that was just it, there would be no question…"

"Meaning?"

Ron told her about the financial agreement that Muriel had proposed and, for the briefest of moments, Hermione felt she had to admire the old woman. She had to have known how repulsive the idea would be to the Weasleys. In order to get her way, she would need to provide something adequately persuasive. A carrot in place of a stick. The carrot didn't get much larger.

"How did you leave it? With Muriel?"

Ron shrugged. "I told her I needed time. I needed to speak to you about it, obviously."

"Did you tell them… about me?"

She wasn't sure which answer she wanted to hear most and she knew she'd be disappointed either way.

"No," Ron shook his head, "I told you I wouldn't."

He looked down at their clasped hands.

"I will, though. If you want me to."

Hermione stood up and walked to the window. "Would it help? I mean, will it change anything?"

He sighed before replying, "I doubt it. All of us or none of us, that's what Muriel said. Besides, I don't think she would care. She isn't interested in anyone who isn't part of the set. She looks down on everyone."

"How long would you be gone?"

"Six months."

"Leaving when?"

"Three weeks."

Hermione was aghast but she struggled to swallow it. Suddenly she wished that she and Ron had undertaken this conversation over the phone, so he couldn't see her face. She stared out into the garden, watching Liz patting topsoil into a plant pot.

Her mind reeled and she tried to sift through the information, tried to decide how bad it was. Six months wasn't a long time really. She knew Ron, or she felt she did. The idea of meeting someone to marry as the sole purpose of being introduced was abhorrent to him- she knew this. He wouldn't buy into it.

Their intimacy was new but their relationship was not. Ron was good to his word.

Still, the catastrophizing part of her felt wounded by this development. It felt there was no way to intellectualise what happened when two people met and liked each other. For God's sake, she hadn't intended on falling for Ron. She, the most rational, lucid person she knew when it came to love. If she could find herself head over heels for someone, couldn't anyone? Couldn't Ron?

Ron appeared at her side. "If you tell me not to go I won't."

"But if you don't go then no-one goes right?" He nodded warily. "And if you don't go, then there's no money. And we can't keep the castle without the money."

Ron swore and kicked the leg of his desk.

She looked up at his miserable face and realised then that she was making this much worse for him. At a time when she should be trying to help, trying to soften an inevitable blow, she was being thoughtless.

This was Ron's family home they were talking about. She imagined what it would be like to have to lose it all. The castle. Every precious artefact she had lovingly curated. All the time, blood, sweat and tears everyone put in every day to keep it going.

Ironically, Muriel had been right. Personal preference was a selfish notion and there were more important things.

"You should go," she said quietly but firmly, though she could hear her heartbeat in her voice. "I want you to go."

Ron froze. "Look, I know this is mental…"

Hermione took a step back and pulled together a neutral expression. "It's fine. Honestly. If this is what you need to do, then do it. It'll be fine."

She moved to step past him but Ron grabbed her and pulled her back.

"It's not fucking fine, stop saying that. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever been asked to do. I would only agree to go so we could hold onto this place and only if you say so."

"I know," she mumbled, not meeting his eye, "Of course."

Ron growled. "Stop doing that!"

Her head snapped up. "Doing what?"

"Pretending like it's okay. It's not okay! Well, at least I hope you don't think it's bloody okay."

He paused and uncertainty rippled over his face. "You're not okay with this right?"

She knew what he was asking her and she was afraid to answer in case she messed it up or said the wrong thing. In the end she simply said, "No."

Ron pulled her into his chest and held her there, his long arms locking her into a warm embrace. He smelt of fabric softener and familiarity and it hurt Hermione's heart.

"I'm coming back Hermione. Once this nonsense is done, I'm coming back." He spoke quietly and seriously, perhaps the most serious she had ever heard him. She leant away and looked up into his eyes.

"Look, I know how your brain works. You'll overthink things and convince yourself of the worst, so I want you to tell yourself that every time your mind spins off and tells you bad things. I'm coming back and we are going to be together and there is absolutely nothing Aunt Muriel can do about it. I'd raze this place to the ground before I'd allow any of us to be forced to marry someone we don't love."

He kissed her and she let him though she barely had the energy for it, the weight in her chest was almost overwhelming. Then they sat on the edge of his bed in silence, her hand in his and let the reality of what was to come wash over them.

OOO

Three weeks can seem like an eternity or the blink of an eye, depending on where you are standing. For Hermione, it was a little of both. True to form, rather than deal with the dread that hung like a breeze block in her stomach, she carried on working, digging deeper into her research and generally toiling.

At first, she and Ron had tried to pretend that what was about to happen wasn't really and didn't allude to it at all for the first week. It quickly became apparent, however, that this didn't work, for either of them. There was a lot to do before the brothers left for New York with Muriel so reminders were around every corner of his impending departure.

They spent their weekends together when they could, although most of this time was taken up by other tasks as they tried to tie up as many loose ends within the castle as possible before they no longer had half the Weasley family there to help. Harry kept saying that they would only be a phone call away, it wasn't like they were going to Siberia, and Ron would laugh and reply that he'd be on the phone every five minutes checking up on them.

Hermione felt differently. The weekend before Ron's flight to America they were sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea and she told him she didn't want him to contact her while he was away. If he needed to speak to Harry about business related things that was fine but she wouldn't be reaching out to him and she would prefer if he did the same.

She knew Ron was hurt and confused by this in equal measure; he repeatedly asked her why she felt this was necessary, wasn't it enough that he had to go away and stay with his horrible aunt for six months? Why couldn't he at least be connected with someone who made him feel good?

It was hard to explain why Hermione felt so strongly that they break contact, though she tried to and proved useless at it. She could see how keeping in touch with Ron would be painful and distracting and it would remind her every day that he wasn't there. Plus, it might unsettle him while he was away and, though that thought was quite pleasing in some respects, she didn't want to give Muriel any reason to rescind her offer.

In Hermione's mind, breaking all contact was the best way to ensure they both made it to the other side as sanely as possible. Ron thought this was a ridiculous idea and it was a point of contention that didn't truly resolve itself before he left.

What Hermione didn't say, what she felt was impossible to say, was that she was frightened that Muriel would achieve her mission and introduce Ron to someone he genuinely liked and make one of these 'good matches' she was so fond of. In her eyes, Ron was being too near-sighted to assume this couldn't happen; who knew what sort of people he would meet in New York or wherever they ended up? He spoke so convincingly about their future but could he really be so certain?

OOO

When the car arrived at the castle before dawn, Ron had already been up for an hour. He was drinking tea out of his tin cup, mulling over what he imagined the next few months were going to be like, when George came to find him.

"Are we good?"

Ron nodded, throwing the rest of his tea into the sink and leaving the mug on the drainer. He knew Mag would find it first and that made him smile. It would give her something to grouse about.

George slotted Ron's suitcase into the boot and slid in next to his brothers while Ron locked the side door.

The morning was still and peaceful, too early for even the birds to commence their song. But Ron felt tumultuous, like his brain was thrashing about inside his head.

Hermione didn't offer to see him off and he hadn't wanted her to. He was already pissed about this rule she had created about not speaking to each other while they were apart and he didn't want to risk this infiltrating their last meeting.

They had eaten dinner together the previous night off plates on their knees in the playroom in front of the TV. Ron had no idea what they watched. Hermione had remained stoic and eerily calm throughout the last three weeks which annoyed him no end, though he suspected she was more upset than she was letting on. Sometimes he would catch her staring at him, as though she was committing his face to memory. She was embarrassed when he caught her looking.

They had held hands and kissed a bit, Ron keeping her close, reminding her of everything he had promised. They hadn't had sex; it just hadn't felt right. He regretted that now. He badly wanted to hold Hermione in this moment as he turned the key in the door, slid it into his pocket and got into the idling car.

The sky was streaked with pink and, as they pulled down the drive, Ron wondered if Hermione was looking at it too.