-PALACE-

That same day, Ron marched down the hospital halls. His stature was that of authority. Beside him was his best friend and brother-in-more-ways-than-one, a force field equal to Ron's. They were considered the best in their field, leaders to the force. Stern looks on their faces meant they were on Auror business.

Objective: Interrogate Lavender Brown. They were escorted to her room by her doctors. They were in a mental hospital— Lavender was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and sentenced to a mental asylum at Lamel Hill, York. The Retreat was a very fascinating mental hospital, operated by both muggle and magical folks.

The magical patients were at the far end, away from prying eyes and protected by barriers that neutralised magic.

As for Lycanthropy, it could not be supressed. That is why Lavender's room was fitted with reinforced steel and Wolfsbane potion on standby.

As Ron and Harry passed through the quiet halls of the Retreat, they felt an uneasy tingle of glances on the sides by patients of all walks of life. This retreat was famous for its pioneered the humane and moral treatment that now became the default standard method of asylums worldwide. Now under the Shared- Nations Act 2003, The York Retreat was now shared by both the muggles and magical people, the muggles of course were unaware of this, up until 2010 however, when word reached the muggle inmates then the cat was out of the bag. Deals were made to better the conditions and life went on.

In fact by then, all of the inmates knew of the Wizarding community in one form or another. It was the only place now where muggle and magical life could live in harmony next to each other, minus the fact that they were psychologically impaired.

Now, after their breakfast at home, when Ron ogled his wife and smiled at his kids, when life was perfect, Harry had gotten a summoning from work. The Department of Magical Law-enforcement was informed that Lavender Brown was demanding to see Ronald Weasley and that Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt was on his way down to meet them there.

The two Aurors bade their families, farewell and off they went to do what they did best.

'I don't know about you two, but I'm getting the feeling that this is an insanely bad idea,' Kingsley met with the Aurors at the Administrator's desk. The large figure of the Minister of Magic towered high over them. His up-right stance and facial expression spoke volumes of military service and experience, and also of power. No wonder he was chosen for the leading position of Minister. 'Okay, I'll let you two handle this on your own, and then I'll see you both at the Department. I have some things to talk to you guys about.'

They both bobbed their heads, 'No worries, Kingsley. It's a simple plan— we go in, see what she wants then leave with whatever information she has.' Kingsley considered Ron's words closely. He was trying to determine rather Ron was not compromised, seeing this case was very, very close.

But then again, Ron took everything personally. Sometimes that was his greatest asset. He treated his cases with importance, all of them. He said it was Hermione who tutored him to put 110% into everything. 'Just remember, Ron, don't get too carried away. She may have been a psychotic criminal that kidnapped your family but she is also one suffering from Schizophrenia and is now under the protection of the Ministry.'

Ron nodded, 'I know, she will serve as the link between the entire Wizarding World and the Werewolf Society.'

'That's important, Ron,' Harry spoke out. 'She may not be the best of examples of right, but she's the paragon of the wrong we've done and ultimately start to heal the wounds of time.'

Kingsley whisked around, facing the Red haired Auror, 'Plus she'll make a good case for Hermione's bid on a Care and Protection scheme.' Ron knew they were both right. He was quite furious with Lavender, it was true but he also wanted to help. It's what Hermione would pester him to do.

Kingsley dismissed them both to carry out their duty. He watched them leave, feeling quite unsure of himself. Everything that transpired, the entire unofficial Weasley case seemed out of place. No amount of politician could inspire such hatred and contempt enough to ignite such a sophisticated action.

What was Lavender's angle?

The two Aurors continued their approach. Soon they passed the barriers and their magic officially restricted, they could feel it. Down the hall and up a few flights of stairs they finally saw Lavender's door, out at the very end where a single ray of light radiated from it.

They approached the door and Ron peered through the small rectangular window on the door. He saw a figure huddled in a foetal position in the corner of her bed. Her hair masked her face but Ron could guess by the disarray it was in that she must not be all too happy about anything at that moment. He was soon contemplating whether it was a good idea to agree to come.

'Ron, I don't know about this.'

'Having second thoughts about the interrogation?' Ron asked, still gazing at the woman in the room, 'because if you are then I'm up for calling it a day and going home.'

'I mean…maybe you should go in, this seems private.' The look on Harry's face told Ron that his partner was onto something. Maybe he suspected Lav had more to say and she'd say it only to Ron?

Ron shook his head. 'Harry, we won't look too intimidating if only one of us go in.'

'You'd be surprised how scary just one could be. Plus I think she trusts you better than any, and she did say she would like to speak to you most of all. Now…I know how angry you must be, considering she was overturned to be mentally insane instead of in Azkaban—'

Ron looked annoyed, he rolled his eyes and was about to turn the handle but before he opened the door he turned to address his best friend and brother. 'Look, I really do want to help her. I have no grudge against Lavender. She means more to me than you think.'

Ron again gazed at Lavender, then back to Harry. He knew Harry trusted him a lot, and he in turn have trusted Harry. The dark haired man's faith in his brother-in-law never wavered in their adult years. But for this Harry could not tell. There was a lot of components now and so much required not to be said.

Colin had told Harry that he should not disclose the incident of the undead Basilisk to anyone until his Colin's people had a look at it. Said it was government business. What concerned Harry was which government?

For Ron, there was a lot he could not tell people. Not just the proposal from Bruce Wayne, a muggle billionaire, as well as the Deluminator currently in his pocket, or whatever it was that Dumbledore hid. It plagued his mind. Why did Albus Dumbledore, greatest Sorcerer in the history of the world— beside Merlin— give him such a mysterious item?

'I got Hermione to look at the files, then again to Neville, and then I called Luna. They said it wasn't possible for what the Professor had done with the serum.' Ron reached for the knob and was about to enter.

'You mean impossible to have done it?'

Ron shook his head, uncertain half smile to his brother in all but blood, 'I mean impossible to do it swiftly.'

-=O=-

'What do you want, Lav?' Ron interrupted the silence in the insanity room of constant white, the werewolf woman looked up; her hair all messed up, she miserable. Her face was smudged by tears, eyes as red as blood. She was dressing in a patient's pyjamas. Just looking at her made Ron want to pity her and just take it easy on the woman. But he knew he had to get answers.

There was something that she was keeping from everyone. 'I…I just wanted to…to see you again,' she replied between sobs, 'A…a…and to thank you for agreeing to keep me out of Azkaban. I know that you were the final decision that got me here.'

Ron crossed his arms across his chest. A stern look grew on his pale face with eyes concentrated. The room itself was quite bland with only one single window at the back. It was closed; dust settled around it suggested she had not yet opened it. 'You know, Lav, as hard as it must be to imagine, I do want to help you and your kind.'

'That was precisely why I had to kidnap Granger and her daughter—'

'Her name is Hermione and she's MY WIFE and ROSE is my daughter!' Ron's anger could have been felt from across the hospital, Harry certainly did. He took a breath in to recompose himself. He was almost compromised, a dangerous position. 'Why…why did you call me here, Lav? I know it isn't to see me because it was not until yesterday did you start asking for me. You have an angle…what is it?'

She examined him for a minute. Taking in his appearance, he seemed so different now. More different than last he saw him, and it wasn't just about his age and height. 'I just wanted to know if you'd come. You did not have to…so the question is…why did you come?'

Ron too was trying to read her. She certainly seemed like a maniac, but then again she always seemed like a maniac, even when they were dating. But still, she was supposed to be a friend. What could have pulled her down this far? 'The bodies of the guards that were escorting you were found in the Ministry of Magic. Gunshot to the head,' he could see Lav already knew where he was going with this. 'Who was the muggle with you?'

A wide grin appeared on lavender's strained face, a paradox to her previous misery. 'Wow, Mr Auror, when did you get so sharp minded?'

'When I got the job,' Ron replied simply. He then started to pace around the spotless room. 'I also know that you're not working alone.'

Lav began to laugh loudly, almost maniacally. 'Of course I do, my people helps each other—'

'That's not what I meant and you know it,' still pacing the room, 'several thing led us to where we are now. Your entire operation seemed…well, different.' Ron stood beside Lavender's bed, the neatness of the covers suggested she had not been sleeping. 'I know you, Lav. No matter how much I deny it, I know you well, and I know that if anything, you would have searched for a cure to Lycanthropy, a feat that others have tried but abandoned…not failed. You would have succeeded but then you'd end up where you started…dead, in a sense.' Ron held his index fingers to his lips. He was thinking. 'It would have been time consuming but easy. No you chose a completely different route— why is that?'

He allowed Lavender to think of an answer but alas she was compelled not to speak. He was unsure of whether she was testing him or she was just afraid to answer. Both proved his point though— she was hiding something.

'Next is that we had never heard of your nation before. Thus your operation was small, you had been travelling, never keeping to the same place twice but as expected you went as a pack…that was until you found yourself settled in the Chamber of Secrets.' He was on a roll. Ron's mind was on over drive, there was so many ideas coming in. he wondered if it was because of the device. 'But there was a flaw. The Chamber was on school ground so the only way in was through the sewers and pluming but you found your way guarded by a centaur family.

My next indication was when my daughter witnessed your men chasing the family. I thought it was weird to find Death Eaters in the Dark Forest but now it's clear.' Ron paused for a while, looking at Lavender. 'You know you left two of your operatives on the outside. At first I thought that they were sent to go after me but it just turned out that they were trapped from Hogwarts grounds. How I know this? The fact that only now was I given two files with photos of them, handed to me the day you kidnapped my family. They were over exposed and they did not know how to not be.

The big one told me he had witnessed my wife's alleged rape but obviously that was a lie, seeing as there was not physical change in the guy when he said it. Usually in sexual context just thinking about it is enough to get a rise. Plus he was staring at me, never broke eye contact. He was making sure I bought what he was sellin. He was not there because he couldn't be.'

Again he paused, this time to see the reaction Lavender was getting. She seemed pretty neutral, maybe contemplative?

'Then there was the Professor— which brings me back to the first statement I made, that you chose a different route, why this one?' He saw Lavender's eyes widen a bit. 'I saw the files. He was synthesising a serum that would take at least a decade to create in no more than a year, which explains why you needed a bigger place to stay. Less confusing and you'd be closer to the professor for drop offs. Also explains why he only had two variations for testing.' That was when he full out confronted the deranged psychopath that was his ex-girlfriend. 'You had someone else supply you with everything, from unfinished attempts and works that were stolen from dead Wizards. How I know this? I read their journals describing items not recovered by the Auror department.' Ron had to stop for some air but only a little while. He was prepped for the kill now. 'Someone smart enough to locate you when you were a ghost, wealthy enough to provide everything else for you and your people and get you started in so little time because let's face it, money speaks louder than ideas.' Then he saw it…her eyes widened a lot, her mouth agape, it was quick but he recognised her surprise. 'It had to be someone with power, to get a reaction out of you while I'm in the room.'

The observant Ron could see it in her eyes. Her world was crashing down around her like a stack of cards in the wind. Lavender began to stutter, she was scrambling for words, sentences, excuses. 'I…I…' She looked up as Ron came closer— he was now towering over her— eyes searching hers like they were books.

'Hermione taught me to be observant, Lavender. She said that the difference between seeing and observing is that with seeing, you know there are steps in your house. Observing means you know how many.' Ron then came to whispering distance. 'So please, don't wallow in your mental palisade and let me in, let me help.'

Lav stared wide eyed to her lap, fear seeping out of her. 'You…you have no idea what exactly it is you've gotten yourself into, Ronald Weasley,' she said to him. 'No idea how powerful and terrifying these people actually are.'

'Tell me, Lav Lav, who are they? I know he is a muggle,' the room all of a sudden became silent again and Ron looked down upon the defeated werewolf witch, challengingly. 'Who's your puppeteer, Lavender?'

She was lost for words. Her heart rate was racing, charging, it felt like it could burst in any minute.

Ron saw the look of desperation; she looked like her life depended on it. He sighed, 'Look, I can help you. Tell me who he is and we can protect you, Lav.' Again, she searched his blue orbs desperately. 'You know me, you can trust me…I'm a shit liar.'

Lavender allowed herself to chuckle at his jest, she suddenly felt happy, her heart rate slowed, she was breathing normally, and it was all because Ron made a joke. But it was short. She got serious again. 'I can't tell you, Ron. I want to but I can't. What that muggle is capable of…'

The Auror furrowed, he backed up, shook his head in disbelief. 'Okay…I've over stayed,' he said and made for the door. But before he left her to her miseries in the asylum, looked after or not, Lavender called for him again. 'What is it, Brown?!'

All of a sudden she was feeling self-conscious. 'Can I…can I have your light switching thing?' butterflies were flying around in her stomach, almost making her nauseous.

As for Ron, he's eyes bulged out in surprise. 'What?'

'Your stick thing that turns lights off and on again. You know, so I have something to hold onto,' she said, sweat and innocent like. Ron now had to contemplate this…but not for long. He smiled at her and took out the hand held device passed down from a fallen legend and master manipulator.

'Take care of it okay, Lavender.' He sighed again, this time more to himself than for show. 'Look, I'll make sure you're well looked after and if you can or want to tell me more, please do so. Even if you don't just remember that I'm always here for you: me and my family.'

Lav took the Deluminator and it felt like she was relaxed to the maximum now. Her shoulder slumped and a huge and unthreatening smile was now on her scarred face. 'Thank you, Ron.' She looked like she was on the verge of crying, 'Hermione is lucky to have you.' She continued to sit in her foetal position, just holding the Deluminator in her hands.

Ron smiled— Actually, I'm lucky to still have her, he thought and then finally, he left. Outside, Harry was waiting near the stairway.

'So what happened?' the dark haired Auror asked.

Ron shook his head. 'She's got nothing,' then he went in closer so to make sure that only Harry could hear. 'She wasn't working alone. Whoever she was working for or with clearly scares her.'

Harry had a hand stroking his short ruffled beard in thought. The developments of this one case troubled him a great deal. 'Maybe it's another Voldemort Fanatic?'

'No, she said it was a muggle that approached her.'

What Ron said really opened Harry's protected eyes. It seemed implausible for a magician to have any amount of fear of a single muggle. 'It would have to be someone with a lot of influence. I'll talk to Wayne, maybe he knows?'

To be honest, Ron was beginning to trust the American Billionaire less and less. He did not have much to go on but the fact that Bruce Wayne is a very rich and very powerful man, at least enough to own a communications company and sell him a phone that might save his life before even meeting him, sort of fit the bill of anyone that might scare off Lavender.

Plus there was that incident when his son was about to be attacked and Wayne stepped in and disarmed their attackers with a sort of boomerang thing. He was a very peculiar muggle indeed.

'I don't think so, Harry,' he told him. 'Think it's best to keep it quiet until something more turns up.'

'You don't trust him?'

Ron sighed but nodded to his brother. Harry too shared his dread about Bruce, but unlike Ron, Harry knew the American most. He knew about this vigilante's antics. Bruce was terrifying but creating monsters was not something he would do… not intentionally at least.

'Okay, Ron, we gotta go back and report to Kingsley. We'll come up with something as the case goes, until then…its cold.'

Another sigh escapes Ron, a symbol of his annoyance and Kingsley. As great a man as he was, Minister Shacklebolt was quite a boring man especially to those who know him well…maybe a tad frightening to those who don't. 'Wonder what it is this time.'

Harry shrugged as they began descending, 'Perhaps you're getting promoted. You did ask him for the Head Office position didn't you?'

'I did, I'm pretty sure I was the only one at the time so I do hope I get it.' Suddenly Ron was feeling quite nauseous. 'He seemed happy when I handed in my report—wait I thought you were going for Head Office?'

Again Harry shrugged. 'I'm happier where I am now—it's much easier…'

Ron smiled and dabbed him on the shoulder. 'You mean it's less boring than a desk job?'

Harry feigned thought, weighing the two positions. 'Yeah, that and…well it's just that then, I suppose,' he said with a quirky half smile.

-=O=-

Ministry of Magic:

DEPARETMENT OF MAGICAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT

Harry James Potter, Veteran War Hero, Senior Auror, leader— sometimes Harry wondered about his life. He thought of all of his decisions that he has made and wondered about ones he did not. He's seen so much, done so much— defeated dark wizards, murderers, he's led armies, gone beyond life and back again.

All this and he'd come to the realisation…was all this inherited? He never asked to be a leader, it was sort of forced onto him with every new situation he finds himself in. Everyone expected him to have all the answers, to know what to do, and for some reason it made him worthy to learn things no one else his age would. He gained so many advantages out of his disadvantage. He was bred to be the hero they were holding out for.

Nobody else that he has ever know had gotten the attention and care that he had been given and sometimes it made him feel quite depressed. The only person that seemed to treat him the same after finding out who he was seemed to be Ron.

He owed Ron a lot…sometimes he should let him know that.

Now, Harry Potter stood before the single most important man in the Wizarding community after a whole week of dark wizard catching. Though Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt was a close friend of Harry's they were members of the Order of the Phoenix and both fought and lost in the Battle of Hogwarts.

'…so far, dark wizards are nowhere to be found,' Harry reported, mostly reading off his report, 'Crime-lords have either gone into hiding or retired completely. As for the Voldemort fanatics—they're mostly behind bars or wallowing in their own miseries.' He placed his hands behind his back obediently, like a real soldier. 'So what are you going to do now with a few months of clean streets?'

Kingsley did not say anything. He sat at his desk, hands mushed together in front of his lips, he was clearly in deep thought. 'Okay, good job, Harry.' Then he stood up and reached forward to shake the wizard's hand. 'Get some sleep—tomorrow you take the big job.'

Harry froze, his hand still shaking Kingsley's. 'What?'

'Well, you're going to need a lot of energy to handle being Head of the Department of Law-Enforcement.'

If Harry thought he was frozen then, now he was completely petrified, afraid now to even let his lungs do their job. 'You're giving me Head Office?'

'I am,' replied the Minister with a hint of confusion, 'and I believe the saying "Thank you" is in order?'

'But…but I don't understand…I did not hand in any forms or plays for the running,'

Kingsley smiled at him, at the hero of the Magical world. 'Actually, you did,' he waved the weekly report that Harry as Senior Auror was expected to draw up anyway. 'This Harry demonstrates how serious you take this job. Plus, look at the assault team you took into the Chamber of Secrets. You took a few rookies into a dangerous situation and without hesitation, they followed. You all even mourned for the loss of one, like you all knew him for years…like you were family.'

'You're ignoring the fact that I did take rookies into a dangerous situation and led one to his death!' Harry was on the edge now. He was getting commended for a job he failed, it was frustrating.

'Harry, you are a natural born leader.'

'Kingsley! I am not a natural born anything.' Harry sighed into his hands. 'Sir, I…I thought Ron applied, and seeing as he was the only one that—'

'Harry, I know Ron just as well as you. He is a good guy, a valuable asset to the Department.' Kingsley then took his seat again and began shuffling through files and papers, 'But I need him where he is, Harry— and he knows that.'

-=O=-

'Yeah, I knew that,' said Ron, looking up at his best friend and brother-in-law. 'He came to me as soon as we got back. Cornered me at the Department of Mysteries he did.'

Harry just stared at him, dumbfounded look playing his face. 'I…I…I just…' that was not the expression the Chosen one was expecting from his usually overreacting friend. Ron now however, seemed calm. He just stared up at Harry, confused.

Ron knew what his brother would be thinking. He supposed he should have seen that coming. 'Look, I know what you're thinking, and I just had to learn when someone thinks I'm not adequate enough for such responsibilities. I'm a little cut, but I can get over it. Besides, I've thought over it and it's for the greater good of the Department, you'll do great so congratulations, mate.'

Again, Harry was left dumbfounded. 'I don't get it, Ron. So you're willing to just drop it?' Ron nodded at him. 'You're not going to punch or yell at me?' the ginger haired man shook his head. This was odd indeed, thought Harry. 'It's just…I didn't even have any full intention to sign up for Head Office. I mean you did, I didn't.'

'Well things just happen, Harry. Besides— Kingsley's reassigning me.'

Interesting, Harry silently stated. Kingsley hadn't told him this. But as long as the Ministry would be willing to do something with his best friend, then it was all good. 'Where?' he asked, once he'd gotten his head around the idea.

Ron held the bridge of his nose in the attempt to remember, 'It…was...it was the Dark Magic Behavioural Analysis.'

'That's over at Major Crimes?'

Ron shrugged, in truth up until then, he had never heard of the unit Kingsley was assigning him to. It was quite hushed up around there. Major Crimes dealt with domestic crimes and anything that affects the National security of the United Kingdom. It was different to Ron's routine of travelling the world on cases specifically to track and detain Voldemort's fanatic supporters. Now he was going to deal with a whole new class of criminal.

'Well…okay then,' Harry pressed, his feeling of anxiety was ceasing and he started to relax a bit more, 'if it's all okay for you. Um, I needed that Court case for Bartimus Crawly.'

Ron smiled at and then handed the files to his new superior. But then, just as Harry opened it…

BANG!

Ron was laughing out loud, unable to contain himself, not that he was trying. Harry emerged from the files all drenched in dark blue paint splattered over his entire face, leaving an even more dumbfounded look on Harry. He took his glasses off that were now covered in blue paint, leaving circles around his eyes that were untouched by the blast.

A paint bomb hidden within the files—it was a classic Weasley pranking alright, and Ron was a Weasley in every spirit of the name.

After a while of looking quite stupid, Harry decided to brush past the annoyance and joined his best friend in the laughter. Ron approached him and the two hugged it out like old chums again. 'Guess that makes us even?' Harry had to ask. 'I mean, I am covered in paint.'

'Well, I'm hugging ya, so now I'm covered in paint too…so no,' of course he did not mean it and Harry knew that. It was perfect, for that moment there, they were not Aurors, or heroes or leaders— they were just best friends again.

After Harry left, Ron was left to his office, alone. With tons of paperwork now on his plate he sighed. He guessed he had just dodged a bullet of boredom with the Head Office position. Then he got a text on his muggle mobile phone, he never bothered to change it after finding out its other hidden features. The text was from Hermione. He sighed again, this time it was not of annoyance for a smile followed. The text read 'Don't forget the routine we practice.' Ron quickly replied a thank you and then dropped everything he was doing. Next he just sat at his table. Hands by his lip he was in deep thought.

It was a memory technique that Hermione and him and started when he got the position of Auror nearly seventeen years ago. She said it was called a Mind-Palace and it helped him recall things, details in cases. The key factor in his success in the Auror Department came from this exercise and Ron's showed his gratitude to his wife in many explicit ways…lovingly of course.

Thus he now sat at his desk, exploring the details of the week in his Mind-Palace, keeping himself sharp and fully aware. Now, Ron's day was complete.

-=W=-

Author's Note: I do hope you have enjoyed my work so far. Not long to go— both in this fic and my merged Universe. I also hope that this merging is okay to people. I just thought that it was a good idea is all. Something I've dreamed about really. So please to comment, criticise, do whatever, just let me know what you think and if I should continue. Molto grazie.