Ch. 1

"Oh yes, it had do be a Crumplehorn Snagraff," filtered into his consciousness. Ron listened intently to the world around him. He heard some constant tapping, a few congested sniffles, and the never ending whir of theories being strewn about the room.

"I thought it was a Crumplehorn…" another voice began. The casual baritone voice had to belong to Harry he thought.

"Well they are related but not the same. That makes sense doesn't it George?" Ron could almost see Fred and George passing knowing winks between each other. "The Snagraff is much more vicious and they tend to attack late at night." He heard another strangled sniffle and assumed that to be his mum. With some great effort he attempted to bring himself into full awareness and consciousness. He now felt a gentle hand on his brow, brushing away his recently lengthened bangs. With another mighty heave into consciousness he let out a small groan.

"Oh Ronald!" came Luna's dreamy voice. He felt her hand still on his brow and spread over it. He attempted to open his eyes but found them to be very reluctant to his wishes.

"Don't force your eyes to open too much, they are still very swollen," came Luna's knowing voice. "He's a bit feverish by the way."

"She'll be here as soon as she can," Harry answered. Mrs. Weasley bustled worriedly over to the bed.

"I still don't understand why we can't take him to St. Mungo's," she muttered as she put more Bruise-B-Gone on Ron's battered face.

"Ron just hates hospitals so, and he asked me before he fell unconscious to just take him into the house and take care of him here." Luna said calmly. Molly nodded her head silently and continued to administer the cream.

"He's so stubborn," she said more to herself then to the room full of people.

"I am here mum," Ron said clearly, or at least it was clear to him. Molly burst out crying again and gently caressed his cheek.

"What son?"

"I'm here, you don't have to…" he realized his words were coming out in an undecipherable mess of sound and coughs. He then realized that he should be in a great deal more pain then what he was feeling at the moment.

"Why…?" he began but Harry caught the idea before he could gurgle out more words.

"Don't worry that you can't feel anything right now. Hermione's last batch of pain killers is top notch." Ron groggily processed this and resigned himself to listening to Luna's worried, nervous prattle. He brushed her hand with his battered one and she stopped shaking for just a moment. Her small mouth tasted the sweat on his temple when she kissed him gently and left the room, too emotional to stay. Molly followed behind her; motherly expression superimposed over her panic. The twins moved to either side of the bed and gently, or at least as gently as they could ever have managed, leaned to whisper in his ears.

"We are going to have a talk dear brother," George began.

"Even if it kills all three of us." Fred finished.

"We know your frequent life threatening accidents…"

"Are not accidents at all, and we aim to have each…"

"And every one…"

"Explained!" They finished together. Ron felt rather than saw their determined gaze bore into his swollen features. He felt like he moved his head to nod but he couldn't have been sure. They simultaneously patted his hands and moved to their previous positions by the floo. Harry checked his watch for the umpteenth time before her heard the familiar sound of someone dropping in through the floo. As he turned from his station by Ron's bedside he watched Hermione ascend almost gracefully from the fireplace, the twins grabbing her bag and hand as if it were a rehearsed routine from a great show. She made a beeline for Ron and no sooner had she gotten into the room did she begin to shell out orders.

"Harry, move away from the bed and get some fresh sheets ready. George just set this down over here and Fred please make sure Molly and Luna stay out of here this time." She had been prepping her hands, face, and wand for her work while she spoke in an authoritative tone that still baffled them. A long incantation issued softly from her lips as her wand moved in intricate patterns. Every so often she would say something medical out loud so that her quill and pad could notate her every idea while she worked. When she finished this, she pulled out a few potions and poultices from her bag.

"Harry could you hold his head please." Harry smoothly lifted Ron's head and shoulder from the pillow. After Hermione administered three large doses from a few bottles he set him back down and began to massage his throat and chest to aid in the digestion of the potion. Hermione set to work on setting the broken bones so that the bone regrowing potion wouldn't leave him with any adverse effects as it had done once. Occasionally, small sniffles and sighs could be heard through the door and Hermione knew that Fred was losing the battle with his mother and sister-in-law. She prayed they would just give her a few more minutes.

"George, please set a place for brewing a potion." George, used to such orders, quickly began to clear off the desk in the small bedroom and set up the cauldron and warded the area for accidents, like an overflow. He didn't think that an accident was likely for Hermione but one could never be too careful. Besides, he had become very good at finding ways to protect things since he and Fred had nearly burnt their shop to the ground thrice. Hermione placed a few more spells on Ron's now sleeping body and tiredly went to the desk. She quietly worked on the special brew of pain killer and body rejuvenator, she had dubbed "A Good Night's Sleep." Her work in the field of potions and medicine were well known, but this concoction was new and she had no qualms with testing it on her friends and family. So far, the potion had worked perfectly. After she was sure that she could leave the potion with only the light eye of George to watch it, she allowed Fred to let Luna and Molly into the room. They burst loudly through the door, not to be showy, but because they literally had knocked poor Fred through the doorway to get to Ron. Harry moved quickly away from the women and over to Fred's still twitching body. He blushed as he accepted Harry's hand. Hermione dabbed some Bruise-be-Gone on Fred's arm and chest when she had safely moved her small party to the corner beside her potion. George snickered when he saw the petite marks on his chest in the shape of hands.

"Ooo Luna really got you this time," he mocked. Fred glared at him before sticking his tongue out at Hermione.

"He goes next time." Harry and George chuckled softly, but Hermione frowned deeply.

"Hopefully there won't be a next time," she scolded. The three men sobered quickly and moved to hold the wall up with their bodies. Hermione stirred the potion twice counterclockwise and once through the middle before approaching Molly and Luna.

"Luna…"

"Oh Hermione, thank you! He looks better all ready! You're amazing; I don't know what we would ever do without you!" Hermione blushed lightly as she continued.

"It's not a problem. I'm glad you guys can come to me for anything. I will always be here if you need me, or even want me! Now, unfortunately, I think you know the drill. Don't let him get up for the next few days. Make sure he drinks plenty of water and lots of healthy food. Limit his sweet intake for a week or so also, and no alcohol!" She leaned forward into Luna's ear when Molly turned back to Ron. "I need to talk to you alone before I leave." Luna nodded somberly as fresh tears welled in her eyes.

"Mrs. Weasly…"

"You know I have told you countless times to call me Molly."

"Ah, sorry. Molly, unfortunately you also know the order of things. Please change his sheets in two hours. Do not be alarmed, there will be a lot of blood on the sheets, but it is all right. It is part of a technique that I had to use that I have not had to use here before. You may have to change them two hours after that as well but the blood should be considerably less. If it is not, please do not hesitate to call me. I will be here as soon as possible. Also; if you could make sure he takes three spoonfuls of my potion after every meal for the next two days and once before bed for a week after that I would be most grateful. We both know Luna would not forget, but would worry herself remembering." Molly nodded quickly, glad to have a place and a job again. Hermione patted her shoulder.

"You know I don't put you two out because I don't like you or…" Molly placed her small, warm hands on Hermione's pale, slightly shaking ones.

"I know you are only doing your job my dear girl. I know we are also not the easiest nurses to use. Thank you." Tears slid down Molly's face as she leaned over the kiss Hermione's cheek. Hermione, warmed by the affection, squeezed Molly's hand and moved toward the potion.

"Dear, are you well? You look very pale and your hands…"

"It's all right Molly. I think I'm just a little tired, I'll be fine as soon as I get home." Hermione hoped that she sounded convincing. Her body was aching with tension from her hours worrying over Ron before she could get to him. Her head was pounding and her hands were shaking from her continued use of heavy magic for the past 48 hours. She had been about to be released form her double shift at St. Mungo's when Harry and messaged her on Ron's condition. She knew her complexion was wane and she knew she looked just terrible, but she also knew that she had to help Ron no matter what.

Molly nodded not convinced for a moment, though, she knew better than to get caught up in Hermione's affairs. She squeezed the girl's shoulder, patted her limp hair, and turned her attention back to stroking Ron's hair. After she was sure that the potion only needed to set for six hours in the dark, she bottled the potion and shoved it in Ron's small closet. She caught Luna's eye and wandered out of the room. The two silently made their way to the front porch. Safely outside, Hermione turned to Luna's shaking form.

"What happened?" Hermione began. Luna shrugged.

"I have no idea. I just found him here on the porch early this morning when I was about to leave to take the kids to Molly's and to work. I panicked and disapparated from the back garden to get the kids away from the house. When I came back Molly and I were about to get him to St. Mungo's when he looked at us and whispered to me that he could not go there. He always refuses so I just took him upstairs. It couldn't have been too bad if he spoke to me, right?" Her words and motions were frazzled. Hermione couldn't imagine what she would have done in the same situation, but she was slightly upset that Luna had left him without help for so long.

"Did you think he was drunk?"

"I had supposed he'd just gotten in a pub fight, though now that I think of it he hasn't been to the pub in ages and he did have to go to work today and…"

"Relax Luna. I just…he was really, really injured. If this was a pub fight, then this is one of the most vicious ones I've seen." Luna cried a little harder.

"I just know he wasn't at the pub, I just, don't know where…" she cut herself off and tried to dry her eyes with her handkerchief. Hermione patted her shoulder and rubbed her back.

"Luna we have to do something. This is the fifth time I've had to come over here for something like this in the last year. Something has got to be happening. Is he in some kind of weird club? Wrong kind of people? Has he been having trouble at work?" Luna just shook her head.

"I just don't know Mione. He's been a little quiet over the last year or so and I just…just don't know." Hermione had seen that broken look of so many pent up emotions before and she couldn't believe she was seeing them on Luna's bewitching face.

"You don't think…"

"I don't know what to think anymore." The two women stood in silence.

"I, um, I know…"

"I know Mione. Thank you. I've wanted to come and talk to you but I felt so foolish. Ron is so good and he loves me, I know it!" Hermione could not believe what was happening.

"He does love you. There has to be another explanation. I know Harry has been trying to find something out since our last meeting for the same reason in April." Both women sighed.

"You look awful Hermione. Do you want some Efferloric tea?"

"Ah, no thank you. I think I'll be home soon."

"Are you sure, I just got it. It does wonders for a tired body."

"I believe you, I just…don't think I will need help going to sleep."

"Ah." Luna knew this was Hermione's polite way of saying "what the fuck have you come up with now" but she kept her mouth shut. At least she was being polite about it… now.

"I just wanted to ask about that. Harry and I will find out what's wrong. We've been so worried and we weren't sure what to really do. I can't seem him like this again."

"I know. I haven't been this scared since…you know…he just got so pale and still while we waited for you," fresh tears leaked down her cheeks. Hermione embraced the small woman and stroked her golden hair with familiar hands.

"I'm so sorry; I came as soon as I could." She sighed again, a sure sign of her exhaustion creeping up on her. "He is going to be ok. Just, make sure he takes those potions. He lost a lot of blood and took several severe hits to the head. He also broke a lot of little bones and needs all of his potions to heal. What are you going to tell the kids?"

"I suppose that daddy got into a few rounds with a Crumplehorn Snagraff."

"Good. Luna, please try not to let him out of you sight for the next two weeks. These injuries were very serious. I almost moved him to St. Mungo's myself. He has to stay here with you; the longer the better." With that, Hermione hugged the woman again and trudged up the stairs. She could feel her body attempting to stop responding to her commands.

"Just a few more minutes," she begged herself. When she got upstairs she checked Ron's vitals once again and checked the potion. It was coloring nicely, so she placed it back into the closet corner.

"I have to go now. If anything happens, contact me right away. I should be home for the next two days." Fred and George moved to help gather her things and gave her a tight hug as they helped her to the floo. They had seen her in this position once and gave a pointed look to Harry before they wished her a good afternoon and stepped away from the fireplace. Harry; however, had not needed the hint and was ready to follow her as soon as she was through the floo.

"Harry please watch our girl," Molly whispered. The twins nodded in agreement and Harry nodded in return and followed Hermione to her flat.

He noticed the dark before he found himself on the floor. Slightly panicked and on full Auror alert, he rolled behind the couch quickly and got into position. After a moment he shouted for the lights to come on and pointed his wand at the air in front of him. Harry found himself in the familiar setting of Hermione's small, neat flat set on the outskirts of London. He looked down to find what had caused him to stumble and found Hermione's ragged form in a heap on the carpet. A jolt of energy spurred his feet and in a second he was kneeling by her side.

"Hermione!" he said the panic not completely removed from his body. He shook her a little and found that she would not answer. He was about to contact the hospital when he heard a soft snore drift out of her lips. A large smiled replaced his frown of worry and he gently picked her up off of the floor and headed towards her bedroom. The lightness of her body was slightly disconcerting for him. Why was she so much lighter than she had been? The journey to her bedroom was very short and for a moment he contemplated on not letting her out of his arms. He had to admit that he was comfortable and not quite ready to lose the contact between them. It had been a long time since Hermione and he had simply taken some time for a cup of coffee or an evening movie. At her soft sigh, he reluctantly laid her on top of the bed, but not before hugging her a little closer to his chest. When she was laid out, he swiftly removed her jacket and shoes, and moved to let her hair out of its restricting bun. Her once great mane of hair simply lay limp on her head as he ran his fingers through it. That was something new as well. When had her hair become so sad? He sighed deeply as he removed her blood covered pants and shirt and put a nightie over her head. With a sly grin he removed her bra without seeing anything he was not supposed to see, before arranging the covers over the still sleeping form.

"Sleep well," he whispered before he kissed her forehead and shut off the lights.

­­­Yea, I did another chapter! This is kinda fun to write. I'll be playing more with this one later! Thanks for reading!