12. December at Robards office:
Harry cleared his throat, to draw Robards attention to him: "Sir?"
"Auror Potter, what can I do for you, "Robards asked, without looking up from his
Papers.
"Sir, I need a permission to use a Portkey!"
"As far as I know, the Department of Magical Transportation is still responsible for the Portkeys".
"Yes, Sir, but Madame Edgecombe insists on your signature on the consignment note!"
"So, Madame Edgcome insists on my signature, " Robards shook his head and waved toward his desk shelf, "Place the note there, I'll take care of it later."
Harry cleared his throat again.
Robards looked surprised up: "Is there anything else?"
"Sir, I need your signature immediately!", Harry said firmly.
Robards looked at Harry for a moment of silence, then he held out his hand.
Harry handed him the consignment note.
"Helmsdale?" wondered Robards briefly . – "Yes, Sir!" – "Are you traveling alone?"
"No, my brother-in-law, Percy Weasley, accompanied me."
If Robards marveled from this information, he did not show it. He silently handed Harry the signed note and turns back to his papers.
"Harry!"
Harry, who was almost out the door, turned in surprise: "Sir?!"
"Good luck!"
Harry swallowed: "Thank you, sir!"
A little later in Helmsdale/Scotland:
Harry and Percy stood in the cold wind in front of a small cottage. After looking at a piece of paper, Harry called: "Here it is!".
Percy knocked on the front door, once, a second and a third time, until a voice rang out from inside: "One moment please, an old lady is not an express!".
As the door opened, the two men were confronted by a friendly old woman, who asked gently: "Yes, please?"
"Mrs. Clearwater?" – The old lady nodded – Harry pointed to Percy: "That's Undersecretary Percy Weasley and I'm …."
"Harry Potter", completed Mrs. Clearwater, "I may be old, but my eyes are still good."
"Mrs. Clearwater, we are here, because of your message to the Ministry!"
"It's about time, Mr. Potter, I've been waiting since yesterday! Please, follow me. " Mrs. Clearwater pointed with her cane to a shed, "I sealed the shed-door with a spell".
Percy looked at Harry and mouthed: "Shed?"
On the same evening, in the waiting-room of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and injuries:
George looked at Harry in disbelief: "In a shed?".
Harry smiled tiredly: "In a shed! But don't blame Mrs. Clearwater. Yesterday morning she was looking for her cat, who hides in the shed with a preference. However, this time she has not found her cat, but two half-starved men. While the dark-haired man – Henry Clarence – was asleep, the redhead" – "Ron" – "Yes, he seemed to be confused, because he claims that he was in the shed of his father."
Hermione exhaled and grew paler. Harry squeezed her hand comfortingly.
Mrs. Weasley choked: "My poor Ronnie!" Oh, Molly don't cry," Mr. Weasley said and putting an arm around her, "He is alive!"
"Should I stop?", Harry asked his friend softly. Hermione shook her head.
Sighing, Harry continued:
„Ron refuses to come into the house. He wanted to wait for his father in the shed", Harry cleared his throat, " Mrs. Clearwater brought blankets, hot tea and a heated soup in the shed. Ron covered Henry with the blanket and sat down beside him. When she asked Ron for his name, he smiled and said 'Roonil Wazlib'. Mrs. Clearwater locked the shed door with a spell and sent her owl to the Ministry".
"Unfortunately, this information was not taken seriously. Thankfully, Harry came across the paper, " interrupted an angry Percy.
Hermione closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She wanted only one thing: to hold her husband and never let him go!
"Hermione?" Hermione opened her eyes, before her stood an exhausted but overjoyed
Linda Clarence.
Hermione immediately jumped up and embraced Linda. "They're alive, they're alive," she sobbed. Linda sobbed and laughed simultaneously: "Yes, they're alive".
All of a sudden, an elderly man shouted excited: "Linda, please come, the healer said, we are now allowed to see Henry!".
"Yes, Dad, I am coming" Linda broke away from the embrace and said one last time to Hermione: "They're alive", then she ran hastily after her father.
Suddenly Hermione heard a soft "Mrs. Hermione Weasley?" behind her. Hermione turned to an older woman, who was holding out her hand: "Mrs. Weasley, I'am Healer Miller" Hermione shook the hand: "Please call me Hermione. There are too many Mrs. Weasleys!"
Healer Miller smiled slightly: "I think you're right. Shall we go to my office or.."
Hermione looked first at her family and then with a firm eye back to the healer: "No, that is not necessary. We are one family".
"Would you like to sit down?", asked Healer Miller thoughtful. Hermione nodded.
The healer sat down beside Hermione: "Your husband has not eaten in over a week.
Fortunately, he seemed to have plenty of water to drink." – Hermione bit her lip and closed her eyes – "so he gets first only soups. He also has high fever due to a pneumonia. At present he gets a tonic, a Fever- and Cough-Potion". Healer Miller grabbed Hermione's hand and squeezed it comfortingly. "His head wound and several contusions are almost healed, but his right arm was broken twice and not treated immediately, therefore, the fracture needs a lot of time and patience until it is fully healed. Just as the partly rib."
"Am I allowed to see him?", asked a crying Hermione.
"Sure, a nurse will accompany you!" the Healer stood up and beckoned a nurse to her.
Hermione turned to Molly: "It's okay, if I go first alone?"
Molly nodded, sobbing. A pale George grabbing Hermione into a fierce hug and whispered in her ear: "Go, hurry!"
Ginny, who had laid her head on Harrys shoulder, sniffled: "But tell the idiot, if he makes us again so afraid, then, then…" sobbing, she pressed her head on her husband's chest.
Before she opened the door, the nurse said warningly : "Your husband has been given a sleeping drug, so he now sleeps for a few hours. Are you ready?" – Hermione took a deep breath and nodded.
"Oh God, you are so thin", exclaimed Hermione scared, "so terrible thin!" Gently stroked she his face with her fingers, as if she wanted to memorize this. "With the beard you look like a hobgoblin, " she laughed softly.
Hermione sat down in a chair on the left beside. "Shaky legs!", she explained, though Ron could not hear her. Carefully she listened to the rattling breathing of her husband
She gently caressed the back his left hand with her thumb. "Ron, love, I'm here. Can you hear me? I am so grateful that you've come back at us. Rose and Hugo miss their father terribly. We love you so much! You are not allowed, to go ever on a mission."
17. December
Lying next to her father on his left bedside, Rose showed him her new book. „Daddy, look, these dinosaurien.." - "Dinosaur", corrected Hermione gently – "Dinosaur has quite short arms, don't you think?"
Ron nodded and ruffed fondly her red curls: "But he is very tall" - Carefully Rose put her head against her dad's chest - "Dad?" – "Mmh?" – "Are at Hogwarts dinosaurs?"
"Rose, the dinosaurs became extinct long ago, " Hermione explained.
"But Uncle George says Professor Gonakall is a dinosaur!"
"More likely a fire-breathing dragon, " Ron muttered quietly.
"RON!" Hermione exclaimed in horror.
"Sorry, "Ron smiled sheepishly, "Rose, I'am only kidding. Professor McGonagall is an extremely powerful, talented, very wise and intelligent …."
Fortunately for Ron, there was a knock at the door.
"I open the door!" cried Rose and jumped off the bed.
When Rose opened the door, Linda Clarence stood there with her husband Henry, who was in a wheelchair. "Hello, you are Rose, right? Wow you're a really big girl" Rose nodded proudly. "Is your brother also here?"
"My mother looks after him, he is only a year old", Hermione answered the question, and greeted Linda with an embrace.
Both men watched their women surprised.
Then Linda pushed the wheelchair in the room.
"Hey Boss, how are you?", Henry asked with a grin.
"As if I had been struggling with a troll, "laughed Ron, "and you?"
"Apparently you're not bad at healing. The healers are very cheerful with your spell - you're really not interested in a career as a healer?"
"Nope!" Ron waved.
Henry took a package from his lap and cleared his throat: "My wife has something for you, as a little thank you – you know, for the good care!" Beaming, he handed the package to Ron, "It is …"
"I need no thanks and gifts!", interrupted Ron him sheepishly.
"Really, but it is a self-baked apple pie!"
"Apple pie? Give it to me!" said a happy Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes: "I'll get plates and forks!"
"Unnecessary, " Henry pulled a couple of forks out of his pocket, "We don't need plates!"
Ron took a large piece with his fork: ""A man after my heart, lets eat!"
Rose looked covetously at the apple pie, therefore Henry gave her also a fork.
"It's okay?", Linda asked worriedly Hermione.
"What can I do, after all she is her father's daughter!", Hermione raised her arms seeming desperate.
"Bye, hmmmpf, the way, mmh, – your cake is delicious, love - , hmmpf, Boss, I had a visitor this morning! Robinson's secretary was there, hhmmmf".
"Wha… hhmmmpf – oh god, mmmmmh, Hermione, you must definitely try a piece – what wanted him?" Ron asked with a full mouth.
"He apologized to me!" Henry licked his lips with relish.
"That's the least he could do, he used a," with a look at Rose, Ron spelled the next word: " ' y' on you! Hee, Rosie, please smaller pieces!"
"He doesn't want to come along, but his boss forced him to. When he saw me running towards him, he panicked".
Ron snorted.
"And he quit his job!"
Ron was silent, lost in thought "Maybe he's not an to..." – "RON" – toffee", he saved himself. "But now, guys, the cake has to be destroyed!"
19. Dezember at 17.00 Uhr o'clock:
Percy flipped through the latest Daily Prophet, while Ron and Harry were engaged again in a game of chess. When his brother announced checkmate, he looked up, but returned almost immediately back to the newspaper.
"Rematch, mate?"
Harry yawned ""Sorry, but 3 games in a row are enough for me!".
„Percy, fancy a game?"
"Sure, why not?", Percy replied to Ron's surprise.
"Really?"
"Place the pieces on the board", Percy rolled his head, then stretched his body, like an athlete before a competition.
While the two brothers full of ambition played, Harry reads interested the sports section of the Daily Prophet.
"Oh, tonight is the farewell game of Roderick Plumpton, " Harry muttered.
"A very good move, Percy! Roderick Plumpton from the Tutshill Tornados?", Ron asked distracted.
"Mmmm!", Harry confirmed.
„Seeker Roderick Plumpton?", Ron grinned at Percy, "Check!"
"Yeah, Seeker Plumpton from the Tornados!"
"Merlin! Roderick Plumpton - against the Caerphilly Catapults he caught the snitch three seconds after the start of the game! Tonight plays Roderick for the last time? I would give anything, if I could watch the game!" Ron looked dreamily into the distance.
"Ron" – "What?" – "Checkmate", Percy said calmly.
Ron looked stunned at the chessboard.
"Wow! Congratulations, Percy, you've defeated the great chess master, "Harry laughed amused.
At that moment Hermione came into the room: „Hello Harry, Percy!" She nodded to her brothers-in-law, then she hugged her husband, who still looked frozen at the chessboard, and whispered lovingly: Hello, my darling!" Ron did not respond to the loving welcome of his wife. She looked questioningly at the Harry and Percy.
"He lost against Percy", answered Harry with a grin.
Hermione shook her head: "Honestly, love, this is not the end of the world!"
"Today just is not my day", grunted Ron, "First I lose to Percy and then Roderick Plumpton plays tonight for the last time".
"Roderick Plumpton?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Seeker for the Tornados!", explained Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes: "Quidditch - what else"
"Hermione, Roderick Plumpton, is probably one of the best seeker our country!" Ron whined, " and I'm not at his last game"
Percy listened and gave Harry a meaningful look.
Hermione looked at her husband fondly: "My poor baby! We can still hear the game-broadcast on the radio!"
"I have probably no choice, " Ron mumbled quietly.
"Okay, lovebirds, we leave you alone. Harry, come.", Percy pulled a startled Harry with a quickly shouted 'see you' out of the room.
At about 19.00 o'clock:
Hermione grabbed just a bag with snacks, a book, a warm sweater and pumpkin juice, when her brother-in-law, George Weasley, contacted her by Floo-Netwerk. Hermione looked at him surprised: "George, what can I do for you?" George chuckled: "You mean, what can I do for you!" She looked at him quizzically. „ We know, that you're not a fan of Quidditch, so the boys and I thought: let's hear the game along with Ron. What do you think?" – "George, that is very nice, but I've brought Rose and Hugo already to my parents, they stay there overnight." – "Hermione, then enjoy your a free evening, you can paint your nails or read a romance novel…" – "Mmmh, I could use the evening, to sort my work papers, in the last few weeks is much left lying! And I'm not even Ron's first choice." -
"Deal?" - Hermione smiled: " Deal! And George tell my husband…." – "No way, I am not a messenger of love!" – "Honstley, George, tell him: tomorrow I'll bring the kids!"
At 19.30 o'clock in Ron's room:
Ron beamed over the whole face: "Hey, guys, you're just in time, the game starts in 15 minutes. Percy, in the waiting room are a few chairs….guys?"
"Harry, please help Ron get dressed" – "Why me, you're his brother" – "And you're his best friend, you know him since he was 11 years old, and you have slept in the same dormitory!"
Percy shakes his head, helped Ron out of his pajama, grabbed his clothes out of the closet, pulled a sweater over Ron's head, helped him in his pants and in his boots.
Ron did not know what hit him. "What's going on?"
Harry, Percy and George took no notice from Ron's bewilderment, but lively debate with one another: "Polyjuice Potion?" – "No!" – "Apparate?" – "Anti-Disapparition Jinx – no one can Apparate or Disapparate inside from St. Mungos!"
"What's with the two Aurors?", Percy asked Harry. Ron watched with open mouth, as Percy put on his pajamas.
"They know.", Harry waved.
"Guys!" shouted Ron.
Finally the three men turned to Ron, who was sitting fully clothed on his bed.
"We'll get you to Roderick's farewell match, " George smirked.
"But how, I am unfortunately still a little weak on my legs, " Ron asked incredulously.
"With the wheelchair!" George said convinced, "Harry, look, if the coast is clear! Percy, go to bed and try to snore, as our Ronnie." – Ron looked at George questioningly –
"Percy's idea, he replace you, while we are away!"
Ron beamed: „Wicked!"
Harry shouted into the room: "The coast is clear, lets go"
Percy suddenly exclaimed: „Wait! Ron, I hope you'll get tonight no Potion?" – "Only the Sleeping Draught!" – "What?" – "I'm kidding!"
George gently pushed the wheelchair with Ron to the elevator, while Harry briefly with the two Aurors spoke.
3 hours later:
"That was a super game, don't you think, " enthused Ron.
"Pssst, the night nurse, but yes, Plumpton was really fast", Harry whispered.
"Now let's get Ron to bed," muttered George, "and if he is good, he gets also a good-night-kiss!" Harry opened the door quietly, so George could shove the wheelchair in the room.
"What were you thinking!", screamed an angry Hermione, who was standing with arms crossed over her chest in the middle of the room
Percy, sitting on the bed, saw miserably at his brothers: "She has listened to the game on the radio!"
Hermione spat: "I'm! But of course I did not expect to hear from the radio speakers, that Auror Weasley is also among the spectators. You've probably never thought of that in your great plan!"
"Hermione, sweetheart, they wanted to make me just a joy!", Ron replied.
"Stop with the Sweetheart-Shite, Ronald Weasley, sit down on the bed, so that I can strip you of the clothes."
George grinned wickedly.
"Stop grinning so stupidly. George. Do you know, that I'm already excited to see, what your mother says about this stunt", Hermione hissed.
Georges grin vanished instantly.
"Ouch, Hermione, my arm, the sweater can be gentler…" – his wife threw Ron a furious glance – "It's okay, I'll live" She pointed wordlessly to his boots. He removes his boots - without using his hands or untying his shoelaces. Hermione shook her head and opened his trouser button. Then she pulled him out of his pants. Ron's face was now bright red.
"Where is your pajama?" He pointed to Percy, which still wearing Ron's pajamas.
Percy looked horrified at Hermione and held firmly with both hands the waistband of the pajama pants.
Wordlessly, she took a new Payjama out of the closet. After Hermione had helped him in his pajamas, Ron lay down in his hospital bed. He knew, when it was better to say nothing.
"And now to you, you irresponsible idiots. Your brother had pneumonia, not a cold, a pneumonia! He could get a relapse."
„We've got him wrapped up warm", defended George.
"Shut up!", Hermione shouted, "You can be happy, if Ginny or I don't use the Bat-Bogey Hex on you. Now get out!"
„But I'm still in Rons pajama!" Percy stuttered embarrassed.
Hermione raised her right eyebrow: "And?"
"Nothing, I get my things tomorrow. Goodnight, Ron!"
The men rushed, to get out of the room and from Hermione's wand.
"And we'll talk tomorrow, Mister, tonight I'm too angry!", Hermione growled and left Ron's room without a farewell.
21. December:
Ginny told her brother just from the latest pranks of her son James, when the door opened and Healer Miller came in. According to her brother, Healer Miller never smiled.
As Hermione and Ginny got up, to leave the room, she waved her hand: "You can remain, I have only to listen to Captain Weasleys lung."
"I'm still alive, so I'm still breathing ", Ron tried to joke.
"Be quiet!"
Intimidated from the stern tone Ron did not move.
"Mmh, I am sending the nurse with a new Pepperup Potion. So, Captain Weasley, I heard of the race – I thought you were adult men, but apparently I was wrong. Our station is not a playground and we will not tolerate such pranks, do you understand!"
"Yes!" Ron replied timidly.
"Good! I'll be back tomorrow!" Healer Miller nodded at Hermione and Ginny in a friendly way, and after a last hard look at Ron, she stormed out of the room.
"A race?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Yes, your brother, "Hermione looked at her husband meaningful, " and Henry Clarence
organized a wheelchair-race in the hall!"
"And," Ginny asked eagerly, "who won?" Ron grinned.
Before Hermione could rebuke her sister-in-law, Melanie, a nurse in her forties, came with a bottle Pepperup Potion into the room.
She smiled kindly at Hermione and Ginny, then turned with a seemingly strict face to Ron: "I heard, Healer Miller held you a lecture?!"
Ron grumbled: "Healer Miller could work as an instructor in the Auror-Academey. The recruits will be strapping on her commanding. I swear, she does not like me!"
"No way", grinned Nurse Melanie and pinched Ron affectionately in his cheek, "she loves you."
Ginny observed with a smile the banter between her brother and the nurse. Suddenly she heard an angry snort beside her. Surprised, she turned to her sister-in-law, who has her eyes narrowed, her mouth in a thin line and red spots of anger in the cheeks.
Ginny looked confused to the bed, then back to Hermione, then her eyes widened: "Hermione, you're not really…"
"What," Hermione said impatiently, not taking her eyes away from Ron and the nurse.
"Yes," Ginny grinned, "You are!"
"I'm what?", demanded Hermione to know.
Ginny looked at her knowingly and then with a grin at Ron and the nurse.
"Ginny, don't be ridiculous!", Hermione whispered furiously, but blushed guiltily.
"Oh, God", Ginny lowered her voice, "my sister in law is jealous of Ron's nurse!" Ginny giggled at first, but as the embarrassed expression on her best friend, all dams were opened.
"Don't be childish," Hermione hissed
But Ginny could not stop her laughing fit.
"Ginny, what's the matter?", asked Ron confused, while nurse Melanie calmly moved his arm bandage.
"Nothing, nothing!" Tears of laughter running down Ginny's face, "I'll g..go, just before the door, I'll be right back!". Outside the door, Ginny's body shook with laughter.
23. December
"Hermione, I don't need a the cardigan sweater, see, I've already got mums-sweater on!"
"You've only just recovered from a pneumonia, Ronald Weasley, you'll wear the cardigan!"
"Fine, but I'm not wearing the scarf!"
"You're worse than your daughter, " Hermione scolded.
The knock on the door interrupted the dick heads.
Rose opened the door: "Hello Healer Miller".
"Hello, I hope I'm not disturbing?"
"No, of course not," Hermione threw her husband a dirty look, "my husband is again
unreasonable."
"Like all sick men. I wanted only to say goodbye" Healer Miller knelt before Rose: "Miss Weasley" Rose giggled "Please eat always your vegetables and fruits, so you will as strong as your daddy!" Healer Miller took an apple from her pocket: "Here for my little Nurse"
Rose looked at her mother questioningly, who nodded in agreement. Beaming Rose took the apple from the Healer Millers hand: "Thank you!"
"An apple, typical!", Ron muttered. Hermione nudged her man with her elbow. "Ouch!"
Healer Miller stood up and looked at Ron, who anxiously took a step back. "Ronald, I will see you next month for the checkup Try not to stay out in the cold too long," she said sternly.
"Yes, ma'am".
Then she turned to Hermione, who had a tired Hugo in the arm.. "Hermione, I know your husband is stubborn. But remind him, that he still needs a lot of rest". Gently she stroked Hugos hair, " and make sure to watch what he eat!"
Hermione smiled at her tearful "Healer Miller, thank you very much for everything and merry Christmas!"
"I wish you a merry Christmas as well" Healer Miller is smiling to them and quietly left the room.
As the door behind Healer Miller closed, Ron destroyed the sentimental mood with: "I wanted to salute in front of her."