Like shadows on the wall they moved. Maybe with less grace but seeing as Ron's task force was quite weary now, almost too tired, they were doing a good job.

Ron took the helm as usual, their formation quite basic with Ron in front, covering his left flank was Barge, and his right was Aaron. Behind Aaron was Roger facing their rear while next to him was Simon. Each man made sure that all aspects of their environment were covered. Standard Auror training really.

They passed a part of the tunnel where it split into a narrow cross. As Ron passed facing forward, his side flanks turned to face the arm of the cross for a split second.

Finally they reached a series of doors. One of them was open with what appeared to be someone's leg just visible in the door.

Ron broke form and ran to the door. Maybe it was Hermione. God forbid it was. 'Blast!' it was not his wife.

They all circled the slightly twitching figure of a werewolf man, brutally huge if her were to stand. Luckily he seemed unconscious. Ron touched a button on his ear piece to tell Harry of his location and that they found where Ron suspected was where they kept his wife hostage.

Harry then told him that they had found his daughter and that she was safe and sound with McGonagall. Ron thanked him but told him to wait with his team. Ron sighed, his daughter was safe, now all that was left was to find his wife.

'Harry, I'm continuing on, I'm leaving the team here.'

'Ron, that's not a good idea. The guy that came with Bruce is here—'

Ron groaned, 'Harry, there's no time.' he gestured to his team to remain posted at the circular prison. 'I'm turning my tracker on, okay? Follow in but let me handle this last bit myself.'

Harry knew there was no arguing with him by then and just sounded his agreement. 'Good luck, mate.'

Ron continued down the passageway. 'Thanks mate, I'll need it.'

-PARIAH-

Ron was rather impressed with his team. Though limited was their contact, seeing as they had only just met, they looked like they could handle themselves well in a fight. Now usually Auror captains were a little iffy about taking on a team comprised of rookies. But to Ron, they were alright. He watched as he saw them scrambling for their communications to see if their loved ones were really alright.

'You guys did brilliantly out there guys.' He addressed his tea. As they sat to recuperate and rest. 'Now I know for a fact the trials that those creatures press against you. Your deepest, darkest and truest fears laid out in front of you.' Now they had lowered their gazes away from their captain. Hearts struggling to put trust in themselves. They had witnessed very disturbing scenes. 'Now, I will not hold what you've seen against you. It isn't the ability to live without fear, it's the courage to face them, accept and then use them to your own advantage.' All they could do was nod blankly at him and he could not really hold it against them.

'I don't think I remember boggarts in the training schedules,' commented Roger, taking a sip of water from his bottle. 'I mean I've heard of fighting inner demons but to fight fear itself?'

Barge patted the younger man on the back. 'You'll get to it, lad, and trust me...it won't be easy.' Roger's face went pale but the reassuring look on Auror Weasley's face wiped that clean off of his heart.

Ron walked over to the cell door. 'Gillian, I want you to lead the team throughout the tunnels as soon as Commander Potter arrives with his team,' he commanded and the Auror straightened up as accepted. 'No matter what try not to split up in the tunnels.'

Again Gillian nodded obediently but then a troubled look appeared. 'Sir, I must insist that you take at least one of the Aurors to aid you.'

Ron smiled at him but said nothing as he placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. There was much these recruits needed to learn before facing the big guys. Though he had to agree with him. Not only would it be a better idea for aid but considering this was bordering on personal, he would need a witness. Alas he did not care for laws that much. He often wondered if that was what agitated Hermione so often. He looked at the team and gestured for Gillian to regroup before he set out himself. Gillian obliged with a salute.

They would be fine.

The passageway seemed to go on forever, no end in sight, no divergence. One could grow mad through there. It sort of reminded him of a story Hermione once told him and the kids. A Greek Mythology about a bloke in Athens that travelled to Crete to kill a minotaur.

In Ron's recollection of history, centred on the pains and suffering of the minotaur or as he's real name was Asterion. It was his favourite story and the only history he remembered— mostly because he could sort of relate to Asterion. He was a person that was feared at birth and hated throughout his life just for existing.

Locked up under the city, in darkness and in misery, Asterion grew angry especially when his own father threw people who angered him, into his labyrinth expecting Asterion to eat them up. Though he did not, the people were afraid of him, established their own colonies in the labyrinth and yet still cast him out.

To say he was hurt was an understatement.

But according to his mother, Asterion with the help of Theseus managed to escape, freeing the tributes and defeating Asterion's tyrant father and king. It wasn't until later that Ron found out that Asterion had grown crazy in his seclusion and constant persecution that in an act of vengeance hunted his intruders, though he did not eat them, he did not leave them in one piece. He said that because they treated him like a monster for no good reason, he was going to give them plenty about him to fear. He wanted his father beyond other to know he understood why they were afraid of him.

Ron believed he might have cried when he found that out. His childhood hero was a lie. Maybe a parenting trick to teach him to see the good in people.

Somehow, at that moment, he could relate the Minotaur to Lavender. He could try to understand her, maybe successfully but to truly know and comprehend was impossible and he would have to accept that.

Right now in this labyrinth he was to find his wife and face his Minotaur.

He only hoped that he could defeat Lav without doing what Theseus did in ripping the beast's bloody head off.

Sweat was running down the side of his face, his heart racing, he was afraid. Every bone in his body was stiff, his mind on high alert, to be honest, more so than normal. Soon the trickling of the sweat becomes annoying, Ron wipes it off, and he notices that his hair is also wet and not from the sweat. Well, the entire tunnel had grown damp and water was dripping everywhere. Small trickles of water were running down the walls, making puddles beneath his feet.

Ron could sense a familiar scent in the air. Funnily enough it smelt like parchment and books. It sort of reminded him more of Hermione.

Then came another smell, it was Hermione's, or at least the last perfume he smelt on her. He must be getting close…

Wait…

Ron paused. The smell was not faint, in fact it was too close and he knew he had a few more metres to go before he gets to the other side, the tunnel only went forward. And books?

Ron whispers into the darkness, 'Hermione?' then he looks at his forearm, the sweat that had been on his face…that was where the aroma was coming from. Amortentia, he thought.

Next to being an incredibly strong love potion, Amortentia could basically function the same way the Imperius Curse can. A person under such influence could be talked to do anything by the person that inflicted such manipulation.

He looked up to the ceiling where he notices certain cracks and separations between groups of bricks. 'Clever, Lav, but not clever enough,' the roof was rigged to open and flood the tunnel in Amortentia Love Potion. He then heard his pocket vibrate. His phone. It was a text…from B. WAYNE.

Put the phone screen on your mouth. Head facing the left…

Okay…Ron did not know what to make of that. Nonetheless he obeyed the American's directions and to his surprise the phone…morphed?

It changed, turned into a mask on his mouth which now Ron noticed was able to connect with his Omni vision glasses. The mask would help him avoid consuming the love potion. 'Wayne Enterprises,' he muttered one last time before continuing down the passageway.

He continued down a few more steps, knees bent and ready to pounce on any hostile movement. He was suddenly thrown back into his early training days. Only this time, he was alone and not facing minor boggarts or ghouls.

One werewolf rounded the corner and on pure instinct, Ron shot him with a stunning charm. Unfazed he continued again. At the moment it was child's play. His new mask would help against the Amortentia, his wand at the ready, his will at the ready, this should be easy. But somehow, Ron got the feeling it shouldn't be.

Lavender was once a friend— a close friend, she was a Gryffindor. It pained him to see fellow Gryffindors turn. Now the question was— how is he to confront his ex-girlfriend?

Ron had gone another twenty steps, he reached a cross intersection when…BOOM!

A man, a werewolf had tackled him from the right, pushing him unto the stone floor. Ron pushed the man in half werewolf form and staggered up again. 'Blast!' Ron cursed under his breath when he realised he dropped his wand. There it was sitting under the werewolf's feet but luckily he did not notice it.

The wolf-man charged at him again, this time Ron was ready and at arm's length sent a devastating blow across the man's face.

The beast staggered but was back in the battle quick. Again Ron readied himself— fists out in front, footing in the right places, the next time the wolf-man charged, Ron was able to dodge it. Angry, the beast quickly turned at punched Ron across the jaw.

Luckily there was Wayne's mask, the material was more stronger than Ron had anticipated and did not shatter upon contact, sadly it did little to dull the force of impact. 'Aargh…son of a bitch!' he cursed.

Ron retreated backwards in pain but was able to dodge another blow and enough time to send oneto the abdomen in return.

The wolf-man then tackled him again, grabbing Ron by the waist and pinning him against the passage wall. Ron felt a pain in his back as he made violent contact with the stone. Then after failing to break free from the man-beast, Ron joined his hands into a ball and tried his luck at an assault on the werewolf's back.

One, two…thirteen hits before the werewolf staggered away from him. Using the time handed to him, Ron launched a series of punches in every direction. Left cheek, right cheek, left cheek, right, then hawk punch from above and while the wolf's head was low, Ron kicked the wolf-man in the jaw.

The wolf growled, hurt. While still struggling, Ron quickly slid to his wand, pointed it and chains erupted from it, tying itself around the wolf. The end of that chain then hit the wolf in the head as it made its last round.

With a clank, the wolf-man in chains fell to the ground, completely incapacitated except his mouth. Ron sighed, inhaling and exhaling constantly, trying for breath.

Ron limped his way to the intersection again when there came another werewolf from the other side. He shot at him, Ron could not react quick enough and was thrown back by the attack, landing on the wall behind him. He loudly swore at his misfortune as he tried to get himself up.

With his wand he shot a successful disarming charm and then with a reddish light from the tip of his wand, knocked his opponent out.

It was quick and simple. But he was not done yet, not finished. He need still face his true Minotaur.

Ron grunted in pain and annoyance, he wiped some blood from the side of his mouth and then ran off taking the left tunnel which would have meant he would be going straight were it not for the two werewolf attacks.

In a few more minutes Ron entered a large rotunda, circular and holders for flame torches decorating the walls.

He held his wand up, examining the dimensions around him. 'Halt!' he shouted when he spotted a dark silhouette in the corner. He summoned a ball of light to hover above them. The room became light, revealing the silhouette to be Lavender, Lavender holding Hermione by the throat threateningly, a wand pointed at Hermione's head.

'Ms Brown, put your wand down,' he ordered. She did not respond. Hermione continued to look at him with frightened eyes, pleading for his help. 'Come on, Lav, don't do this. I can help you— you and your kind, just let Hermione go.' Ron tried to avoid referring to Hermione as a spouse. Lavender looked somewhat distraught. Her cheeks stained by tracks of water. She had been crying.

She kept Hermione close. 'Please, Ron help me,' Hermione begged.

Ron was gritting his teeth. His hands tighten around his wand. What was he to do? Any movement from him and Lav might kill Hermione. 'I, I, I…don't want to have to put you down, Lav.'

'Please, Ron, just do it! Help me!'

'Hang in there, Hermione. I'll get you out.' Ron's eyes then turned to Lavender. 'Please, Lav. I know what you've been through, I can't understand how much or how far but I know what.' Still no reaction. She furrowed, her facing keeping stern, eyes blood shot red.

'Ron, it's no use. Just shoot her!' his wife called, shouting now.

'You're not helping, Hermione!' He had to be careful— he could now see Lav did not just have a wand pointed at Hermione but with the other hand, a knife at his beloved's pale neck.

What was he to do?!

They were the only people in the room but it seemed like a hundred people screaming aloud at him. His mind was spinning, yet focused beyond measure. He knew…he could not mess this up now.

'Please, Lavender…let me help you,' Ron tried, his voice, calm and soft. Trying to smoothen any rage Lav's currently held. Ron looked anxiously at both Lavender and his own wife. Hermione's look of pure terror was loud, as loud as shouting in his ear yet there was something off there. 'Please!'

What happened then was a blur. Lavender made a slight gesture, moving her knife armed hand across, almost making contact with Hermione's throat.

But then something else happened. Ron, as a member of the Law Enforcement knew almost instinctively what a person about to slash a throat looked like. Lav's knife had passed the slashing point but then he realised something else… an invitation, Ron was guessing but he knew a sign, a sign that Lavender was giving.

Ron took it.

'Stupify!' Ron roared and Hermione went flying back with a squeal. What had he done? He had just shot at his wife!

Time seemed to quicken and yet still remain perfectly still, such ensuing chaos made it impossible to predict thought. Ron ran, but not to the side of his wife, but to Lavender?! Lavender Brown whom had collapsed onto the floor grabbed Ron's attention first.

'Love?!' he called for her as he held her head onto his lap. He checked for a pulse… beating— she was alive. He allowed himself to sigh out a relief. Short lived of course. For Hermione had risen and picked up Lavender's wand.

'Clever boy, Ron,' she said, now a smile had appeared on her scarred face. 'How did you know?'

Ron carefully placed Lavender's head onto the cold floor. 'I observed,' he replied, gripping his wand tighter still. 'First thing about Hermione, is that she's smart enough not to shout out what she wants me to do, especially in this situation. It's quite stupid if you think about it. You're not just going to be giving your help a few hints but your also giving the bad guy a list of things to watch out and prepare for.' This time it was he who spoke with a smile. 'Next thing: Hermione never wants death to befall anyone, no matter the circumstance. She may incline to it or talk of a desire for it but she never really means it, and it's usually to me and about me.' He looked at Lavender's still body then reverted back to Hermione. 'Trust me, Lav, Hermione and I know each other a fair bit.'

To this Hermione's face grew grim and she lunged at Ron. The ginger Auror braced himself but then another peculiar thing happened. Everything paused… literally.

Ron found himself back on the ground starring at a Lavender Brown suspended in mid-air, wand out, a war-cry-like expression on her face. He turned to the figure on the ground. His wife now lay there.

What was happening? Ron quickly got himself up. He inspected his surroundings again. He was still in the rotunda in the Chamber of Secrets only this time there were lines on the floor and walls. These lines intersected each other, made squares and seemed to be glowing white. Small balls of light kept passing, travelling along the glowing lines.

He followed where the glowing balls were travelling from and to his surprise he found his Deluminator. That was the point of origin?

Ron bent over to pick it up and just as his hands made contact with the device handed down to him by Albus Dumbledore, in a flash of light too blinding to withstand, 'AAARGH!' it consumed him.

-=O=-

Ron Weasley found himself in a white plain, completely void of anything else it was. Just completely white and shimmering, Ron almost thought that he had died and was in heaven.

'What the hell…better not jinx it.' He said to himself. His heart was beginning to quicken. Had he died? He mustn't have. He was not ready yet, though the prospects were frightening, the possibility was sound.

He can't have died though. His wand was gone, though he still had his clothes on. He was under the impression that clothes did not have souls.

'Kon…' came a voice, an echo.

Ron quickly turned to face where he thought he heard a voice. But there was no one there— nothing but the void. 'Hello?!'

'Kon…El…'

He thought it had called his name. Again, Ron called out but still no response.

Then appeared before him, a woman, in white clothing, so strange he had never seen it before, not even in the books Hermione had shown him. The woman stood tall, just staring at him, her flowing blond hair waving, but there was no wind.

'Hello? Where am I?' He asked, she did not answer. 'Who are you?' he tried a different approach.

'That is not important right now,' she finally said. The woman inspected him up and down, her eyes focused, serious, yet Ron had a strange feeling, somehow Ron knew he could trust her— that she was kind and warm hearted. 'Ronald Bilius?'

Ron confirmed himself.

'You are troubled, my child?' she said, her voice was musical almost in a tune.

Ron shifted nervously. Was he that transparent? 'Nothing, ma'am, I am well.'

The woman giggled, warmly. 'You can tell me, Ronald.'

Ron furrowed his eyebrows. 'But I don't even know you.'

'No…you don't…but I know you quite well. I have been watching over you…as best as I can. You are troubled and I know it. You do too but alas I want you to acknowledge it. So tell me….What troubles you? Perhaps I can help?'

Ron had to think for a while. She wanted him to pour his heart out when there was so many other questions that he needed to ask. On top of the list was where he was and how he was going to go back. Perhaps once he's finished? 'I…I…have doubts, ma'am. About myself…about why I even exist when so much evidence tells me I shouldn't.'

'You doubt your worth?'

'Not just me…everyone,' Ron began to look down, his eyes now locked on his feet. 'The whole world is riding against me. So many people seem to wish I had never been friends with Harry, that I wasn't worthy to bask in his success. I don't think I deserved to either.

'I heard my mum say to Harry once that I was lucky to have had him befriend me.'

The woman smiled down at him, clinging onto every word he said with care, like she was his mother, 'And what of your wife?'

'That's even worst. Sometimes I feel that she has regrets about marrying me. The world seems to think I don't even deserve someone as great as her. That she was someone that should fall for a guy like Harry…the hero of the story.'

The woman held Ron's chin and lifted his head up so she could gaze upon his ice blue eyes. 'My child…heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They are not inherited but formed by the individual deeds of a person. Your life is about you and don't let anyone deny you the chance to live it.'

She then disappeared…like static.

But after a while she reappeared, this time behind him. 'Ronald, the world is entitled a say in what they think. You are part of that world. Hermione loves you very much…I see it.' She placed a gentle hand on his right shoulder. Strangely, Ron could not feel her hand's touch, only warmth— it felt like light. 'I can see so a light in your life, Ronald...Throughout his journey, Ronald, it is your friendship he values.'

'See it? I...I don't understand,' said Ron, 'What are you, God?'

The woman shook her head. 'I am no divine. But I have seen through history- my own…the stories ahead of me.'

'Then tell me, what am I doing here?'

Then the woman's expression returned to a serious look. 'Because Ronald son of Arthur, you have no idea how much the world needs you.'

Ron was beginning to get agitated. 'What does that even mean?' he pushed. It sounded important but all she had been saying seemed to dance around it. 'What do you mean the world needs me?'

'…they…will …follow, Ron…' she was beginning to cut off like static again. 'I fear a calamity…he will need you…before he falls…'

'Falls?' Ron was scratching his head now. What was she talking about? 'Are you talking about Harry?' he asked, concerned. 'What's gonna happen to Harry?'

'Kin…you are all kin…league…family…kindred…Ronald, you must keep him levelled, the winged one…give him hope.' The woman's voice was beginning to echo, like it was a recording. It filled him with mystery and wonder. 'Show him what you naturally show Harry Potter. That we are flawed…and that's okay…that flaws only make our acts of heroism mean something more. He will need it…a teacher…a leader.'

'No!' Ron exclaimed to her. 'I am not the hero you need! I can't be!'

the voice came in echos like ringing in his ears. 'I did not ask you to save them...I asked you to guide...'

With that, the mysterious woman vanished the white begin to fade along with her. But before it completely disappeared he saw her face one last time, and she said, 'Good luck…' and then time seemed to continue only this time Ron saw it rewind just a little bit.

He was faced with Lavender Brown in Hermione's form again, about to leave the ground and pounce him. To his relief he also found he had his wand back.

Ron had the spell in mind…and when time continued at its normal pace, Ron quickly shot a body binding curse. It hit her straight in the face. Lavender fell on her back, unable to move anymore. Finally some air was allowed out from Ron's lungs.

He stared at Lavender, it was more in pity but alas he was indeed relieved. He defeated his Minotaur, his beast whom was a slave to her own instincts. But he did feel sorry for her. She had been alone, afraid...angry.

Sometimes that is enough to drive people insane, and he understood her. Despite his refusal to accept, he did.

Time rushed in like a wave against the rocks. He shook his head of the surreal feeling and ran to his wife. Her form was returning again. 'Ron?' he heard her say, 'what kept you?' He sighed and then brought her into his arms, kissing her forehead. She seemed a lot thinner now. God knows the torture she'd endured.

Oh he was such a happy man that moment.

Tears were seeping out of the corner of his eyes as he held his beloved Hermione. Words could never express how he was feeling. Not even the surreal experience he just had could beat how he felt now, with his wife close by. He showered her with kisses and apologies that she just forgave on the spot.

Ron got up and scooped his wife in his arms and carried her away.

Not long after, the Aurors came to help him out, Harry and Kingsley came. Lavender Brown was taken into custody. After seeing Ron standing there, Hermione in his arms, supporting her up, the Werewolf Rebel Leader screamed, and howled and growled, viciously like an animal. She was maniacal, an out of control psychopath and as Ron watched her screaming while being dragged out by the Auror escorts, he felt sorry for her.

As soon as Harry arrived he embraced both his friends tightly. He seemed less likely to let go. The Golden Trio stood there in the middle of the rotunda, hugging, like a family, and for everyone that knew them, knew that that was more or less true.

It took a while but Lavender Brown was safely apparated to Azkaban with little resilience. For some reason she had lost the will to fight on the first few days.

Azkaban had that effect on most inmates. She was however to be moved next to a psychiatric ward considering her mentally disturbed state...she was actually scaring quite a lot of the other inmates...and Dementors openly avoided her.

It was something about her that warned the cloaked monsters and kept them from her cage at Azkaban.

Lavender Brown was far from alright.

-=W=-

Author's Note: Nearly there.